Secretsundaze Music At Juno Download

Review: The Fear Of Flying label's co-owner BLM returns with his first new material in some time on the label of cult London party Secret Sundaze with a three track EP that feels significantly darker in tone than his releases for Tsuba and Underground Quality. "Sudden Death" is a hefty piece of loop techno that would put Skudge to shame, whose chugging bass and clattering percussion is contrasted with some softly placed keys. "Chemistry" is another weighty production whose dimly lit dub chords slowly emerge from the gloom before leading into an unexpected section of gentle 303 and spoken word vocal, while "Brick" is a lighter jam whose swelling synth waves catch a restless bassline and looping chords in its wake.

Review: With its classic Detroit strings and delicate piano melodies, this beautifully simple deep houser from Birmingham natives Ethyl & Flori was crying out for a weighty Motor City remix. Step forward former Underground Resistance man Rolando, who delights in turning the fragile but calming original into a pulsating chunk of classic D-town techno. In typical Rolando fashion, his "Shelter" rework pushes the synth-strings to the fore, giving them space to shine on a mix that should delight anyone who likes their dance music sweet and emotion-rich. There's also a neat bonus cut in the shape of "THD_001" - all bespoke tribal percussion, bubbling synths and heady vocal edits. Impressive stuff.

Review: Having establishing a reputation for finely judged and deeply melodic house music with a selection of well received collaborative releases alongside Ethyl for labels like Freerange, Quintessentials and Secretsundaze, Flori is now setting out to prove his worth as a solo producer. Landing with aplomb on the aforementioned Secretsundaze imprint, Lucy might be the most accomplished work from Flori to date, demonstrating a confident grasp of tonality and structure across both "SU-Z25" and the title track which further justifies his standing. The former is a crunchy, bleep laden delight that will please the deeper heads, whilst "Lucy" is all about those beautiful swirling keys. Recommended!

Review: Secretsundaze main man James Priestley teams up with R-A-G regular Marco Antonio again after their last outing on the Baia 2012 EP, and between them they create a dramatic and brooding affair poised to go off at any given moment. "Speed" comes on like the most soul-searching of Larry Heard's output, letting the mournful synths lead the way and holding back on the drums to leave just a kick drum for guidance in many places. For his remix, Trevino does away with such delicacies and brings some fearsome drums to bear on the situation while the haunting pads linger intimidated in the background.

Review: On this fresh release for the infrequent Secretsundaze stable, main man James Priestley links up with occasional M>O>S collaborator Marco Antonio for a journey into sultry and psychedelic deep house aimed directly for hazy sessions on the open-air terraces of the world. Interloping organic percussion meets with punchy box beats, while evocative saxophones come cooing into the mix, only to leave reams of feedback behind. With some dreamy pads to finish it off, a sticky summer treat is born. That leaves it to Aybee to smudge out the angles and create two dubbed out cuts of vaporous house music.

Review: Gilles Smith and James Priestley seem rather excited by the dancefloor potential of "Configure 8", comparing it in favourable terms to tracks by various tech-house heavyweights. It's easy to see why. "Configure 8", the work of fast-rising producer Ryan Davis, offers a delicious mix of fluid synth wooziness, tumbling bassline heaviness and cowbell-and-woodblock-driven percussive power. Flipside "Three Form" is noticeably deeper, working delay-laden chords and atmospheric synth washes around formidably sturdy bottom-end. It's like a beefed-up, heads-down version of Pepe Bradock's "Deep Burnt". Tobias Freund delivers the obligatory remix of the title track, adding a brooding intensity previously lacking from the pleasant original.

Review: Secretsundaze - the legendary party launched by Giles Smith and James Priestly - is a staggering 10 years old and still going strong. In this fast paced industry that's one huge achievement and we're massive fans of the guys and their parties. The Secretsundaze imprint relaunched this year in consummate style with an essential 12" from Parisian house don Brawther backed by a remix from George FitzGerald. Up next, the Two Armadillos (Giles Smith and Martin Dawson) take to the stage with the People Of The World EP. "Warriors Return" is jazzy and elegant as delicate hats, warm keys, a slick bass guitar and perfectly spat brass breeze along. It's low slung, jazzy, sexy and grinding - our pick of the bunch! Up next, "People Of The World" speeds things up with urgent pads and sharply syncopated hats while "Night Ridin" goes old school and deep. Rhodes keys, rapid rim shot taps and raw hand claps lay down the basis for a sampled crowd vocal chant, rounding off a refined and deliriously groovy EP.