Seventh Sign At Juno Download

Review: Like Marty Bonds or Mike Huckaby, Santiago Salazar is one of those Detroit producers who have yet to receive the acclaim that his work deserves. It's a pity because as Smile Now demonstrates, he brings a polished, classy feeling to techno music. The title track is a wonderfully deep affair, populated by playful piano keys and sensuous strings, but it can't compare to "The Battle Within". Taking the warbling acid of UR and combining it with the spaced out jazz of Galaxy 2 Galaxy, this is Detroit futurism at its most seductive, more so because it is being interpreted by one as sophisticated as Salazar. Indeed, it's a sign of his refined approach that even when he ups the tempo considerably on "Varrio Clarkdale", his musical approach still sounds cultured.

Review: Glaswegian label Seventh Sign score something of a coup, securing the services of Detroit machine funk technician Marcellus Pittman for their 21st release. The 3 Chairs member (alongside Kenny Dixon Jr., Rick Wilhite and Theo Parrish) opens proceedings with the tense 303 squelch-out that is "The Mad Underdog", which bubbles along with acidic intent for the entirety of the A Side. Warmer textures abound on the flip, with the gentle synths and shuffling percussion of "An Afternoons Delight" (dub), before "You Want Me (Never)" brings it home. Another fine release from a producer with a discography that already includes 12"s with Fit, Sound Signature, Track Mode and FXHE.

Review: It's hard to believe that in such a high-tech musical environment, a 20-year-old record can still captivate audiences. Nonetheless that's exactly what G Strings' evergreen "Dreams" has achieved. Thanks to some smart A&Ring on the part of Seventh Sign, this release by a mystery Chicago producer has been resuscitated - and it sounds just as fresh as the day that it was recorded. Raw, driving beats are combined with surging basslines - in particular check the predatory feeling of "Motivation" - and crashing snares that are reminiscent of those used so effectively on Ron Trent's "Altered States". On both "Images" and the title track synths capture the middle ground between eeriness and melancholia, culminating in the best reissue since the Virgo represses.

Review: This single track from Glasgow?s Sub Club resident Hutton Drive keeps the tempo a few notches down for most techno releases but it really benefits for it, especially when the gliding organs and buzzing stabs are as tasteful and affecting as this. Having the snare clap wait and wait is the masterstroke - you can't fight the feeling when it finally drops.