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DB 089
16 Apr 13
Played by: Low Slung, Eric Sharp, Mat Cant, S-File, Diplo, Aka Tell (A.g.trio), Carl Cox, Xpress 2, Trevor Vichas, 2 Good Souls, Jeremy Glenn, Caserta, Groove Armada, Resident Advisor, Nice7, Tocacabana, DJ Hell, Sister Bliss, Phuturelabs, Umut Akalin, Ntfo
Review:
Ben Westbeach's Breach alter ego continues to frolic wildly in the lush pastures of low-end house music with "Jack". The bassline swings like an acid house pendulum while the beats shuffle nonchalantly in the background and a sultry staccato vocal delivers concise instructions on how to unleash the sexual potency of the groove. "Let's Get Hot" continues the timeless less-is-more jack magic but does so with much more of a techno twist. Getting hot is not an order... It's a promise.
BEDMIAMICD 2
25 Mar 13
Review:
Bedrock mainstay Vassiloudis dives deep into the Miami vibe with a selection of vibes that represent the best side of the mega music conference. Not the obvious 'hands in the air' peaktime anthems but the more mature, discerning backbeat of the event. Spanning from more chilled poolside party pieces to more full-bodied slabs of euphoria, highlights include Guy J's spellbinding "Twenty 11", the ocean-like synth washes of O'Donovan's rush-tastic "Crimson Flare", and the warm chords and tribal rhythm of Eagles & Butterflies "Pharoah". Not the most obvious Miami tracks, but that's exactly the point of this lush, well selected exercise.
K7 306DTM
29 Apr 13
MINUSMIN 2
24 Apr 13
Played by: Juno Recommends Minimal/Tech House, Sean Danke, Resident Advisor, Timo Maas, Troy Pierce, DJ Hell, 2000 And One
Review:
Richie Hawtin's label has long been associated with the minimal sound, but this release frees itself from that sound. The title track is stripped back, but it serves up a new take on classic electro thanks to its shuffling 808s and woozy, reflective synths. Tale of Us return to a more conventional approach on "Discochord" but they still avoid hiccupping mnml sounds and the squelchy acid line is accompanied by atmospheric synths. Finally, "Lost City" is more grimy and nocturnal, but again the menacing 808s and reflective synths make it sound a million miles away from the label's trademark sound.
FMD 003
25 Mar 13
0058
16 Apr 13
PH 23D
01 Apr 13
Review:
The spirit of rave and 'ardkore is alive on Future Four. "Gwad Bwash" (a reference to ragga jungle?) rolls out a low-slung bass to support reconstituted hard-core riffs and insane piano vamps. "Phase 2" approaches the old school from a different perspective; this time the focus is on the insane hoover riffs of Belgian nosebleed and the "Mentasm" style bass that powered so many early 90s tracks. The proximity to this defining era for electronic music is also audible on "Into Orbit". The groove is slamming and the kettle drums are borrowed from Chicago house, but the joyous piano line sounds derived from the classic hardcore tune "40 Miles".
SAVED 096
25 Mar 13
Played by: Alexander Robotnick, American DJ, Resident Advisor, Hot Since 82, The Martinez Brothers, Yousef
Review:
Burnski (aka the distinctly less exotically monikered James Burnham) is actually approaching a whole decade in this game called dance music. This could make one feel old, but who cares, it's all good! There may be only one original track on here, but with "Lost In The Zoo" clocking in at just over nine minutes, we don't need another tune: it's all about long, linear good time house, based around a Professional Widow-style bassline and lots of filtered cheering. The Martinez Brothers go for clippitty-clop beats with deep, dark tech-house business on top.
PFR 137
25 Mar 13
SPRLTD 010
02 Apr 13
BPC 263
11 Apr 13
ELL 011
25 Mar 13
Review:
Jupiter Jazz is the new alias for our main man, Danny Daze, who's been keeping busy as of late releasing plenty of EPs and recording one hell of a podcast for RA. His first experimentation under the Jupiter Jazz moniker comes courtesy of Maceo Plex and Alta's Ellum Audio, a label reserved strictly for the freshest tech beats around. "Shake It Mama" takes some gorgeously crunchy percussion shots and goes for the all-out chug-a-lug, whereas "Technology" is a slightly more Detroit-slanted pouncer, merging 90's style vocals to one of the warmest basslines you'll hear in a while - it really is a pleasure to be caressed by their mesmeric power. Last but not least, "Good Girl" goes for a broken-beat approach, where the previous shots of 4/4 are replaced by sharp, rustling snares and haphazard mutant bass bleeps - big vibes on this one and we can't wait to hear more from Jupiter Jazz...
MOBILEECD 016 / 0208648MBE
05 Apr 13
Review:
Former Youngsters member Olivier Mateu aka Rodriguez Jr is the latest member of the Berlin label's roster to mix a volume of Back to Back. The French DJ's selection gives an accurate view of Mobilee's catalogue and should dispel any notion that it's all about stripped back minimalism. From the belching acid of And.Id's "Black Mamba" to the jazz-infused Relief style trackiness of Rodriguez Jr's take on Ray Okpara's "Chi This Wonder Up" through the cut-up disco of David Labeij's "AEM" and the shimmering synths of Sebo K's sublime "Scenario", Volume 7 is a proper journey through the catalogue of one of Europe's finest house labels.
FMD 004
22 Apr 13
Played by: Adam B (Homegrown Music/Palooza), Roberto Rodriguez, Tom (Shur-I-Kan) Szirtes, Juno Recommends Minimal/Tech House
Review:
The fourth Faux Metier release serves up a range of influences. "Unstoppable" is based on a stepping, metallic rhythm, its spiky beats underpinning a foreboding bass and menacing robo vocals as well as psychedelic chords and rasping cowbells. It takes the esoteric elements of Detroit techno and unites them with classic deep house. "Slab" is more moody thanks to its slithering bassline and rasping percussion, while "See It Feelingly" features noisy broken beats. But the underlying narrative here is a deep, hypnotic sensibility, as heard on the dreamy "NP". There, lush synths and rickety percussion play host to the most seductive flutes since Bobby Konders.
ONE 021
15 Apr 13
SGR-011SMUG
03 Apr 13
MB 012BP
06 May 13
Review:
Having previously appeared on Grizzly with the decidedly tough and breathless "Work That", Odysseus pops up on Jaymo and Andy George's Moda Black imprint with three tracks of sultry, late night house. "Hit It Again" kicks off proceedings by offering bold, grandiose electronic chords, cut-up vocal samples, garage-influenced drums and more drops than your average game of rugby in the middle of winter. The loose and languid "Over You" - all military drums, hypnotic stabs and spinetingling chords - offers a deeper alternative, while the brilliantly titled "Drug Fool" is six minutes of revivalist '90s Belgian techno disguised as 21st century rave. Which, in our book at least, is a very good thing.
COR 12103DIGITAL-X
22 Apr 13
REKIDS 070
29 Apr 13
Review:
Rekids signal a change in focus after the raft of Nina Kraviz related remix releases and instead turn to a classic from the archives of label boss Matt 'Radioslave' Edwards for a pair of fresh remixes. It would be hard to find two more diverse remixers than Mr G and Prins Thomas, but both turn in superb reworks of the 2008 Radioslave bumper "Tantakatan". Mr G calls shotgun and his self styled Nighttime Dub is a wonderfully dirty analogue groover that takes Edwards' original production into notably darker territory with those deep dubby chord stabs overshadowed by rumbling bass. Naturally Prins Thomas takes a different approach, implementing an acoustic guitar to replay the stabs and using live drums for a loose, laid back groove. There's a notable dose of reverb and delay used throughout that lend this Diskomiks a real druggy feel.
KOMPAKT 278
08 Apr 13
Review:
The Cologne operation celebrates twenty years in business in 2013, and if you're looking for a reason why it has enjoyed such longevity, take a listen to Orbit. It's an ethereal slice of electronic pop, featuring an angelic, unfeasibly beautiful vocal performing amid a cloud of blissed out chords. The remix from Pictures Music artist Dauwd opts for a similar approach, albeit with a more trancey feeling; the groove remains languid, but the vocals are more tripped out and lazy, like the unnamed vocalist has downed a pot full of Valium laced honey. Turbo duo Clouds also get in on the remixing act, and push the track towards the dance floor, with a purring bassline seething underneath lithe breakbeats.
PETS 030
01 Apr 13
TINKTWICE 015
06 May 13
NK 42
29 Apr 13
OVM-228
15 Apr 13
Review:
Josh Wink's label takes it back to the old school on Elixir. "No Loss" is like an amalgamation of 90s deep house and early 00s San Francisco tribal, its rolling groove and bouncy, buzzing bassline providing the basis for a breathless vocal sample. By contrast, "BDRK" opts for a more purist sound, its tight claps and brittle, metallic groove and powerful bass undercurrents sounding like the output of labels like 20/20 Vision and Paper. On "Champion Sound", Alvarez opts again for an approach loosely based on the San Fran sound as plaintive reggae vocals are fused with contemplative keys. Finally, "Treat Me" opts for a stripped back rhythm, populated by heavy claps.
SYST1006-6
10 May 13
Played by: DJ Butcher (Chopshop Music)
Review:
It appears that Systematic label boss Marc Romboy and his Chicago veteran old pal Blake Baxter have got lost on a road trip. We can just see them now, in a Delorean and struggling with maps and compasses before exiting the vehicle to find themselves in Paris circa 1998. Yep "The Art Of Sound" sees the normally jack-obsessed producers explore the whole French touch sound, and it largely works - the main version being faster, vocal and less retro. Version 2 though is all about looping and filtering those disco samples to within an inch of their lives!
REKIDS 071
01 Apr 13
Review:
This release seems a number of classics from the Rekids vault get a re-release; both Radio Slave's latin infused house roller "NINA" and Runaway's seminal NY house bomb "Brooklyn Club Jam" feature with some classic remixes with Innervisions' Ame at the helm. Their take on "NINA" coats the original in a liberal splash of technicolour synths while maintaining that tribal house feel, while their remix of "Brooklyn Club Jam" (here in edited form courtesy of Gerd Janson and Lopazz) ups the hypnotic quality of the original whilst beefing it up considerably for the floor. Timeless stuff from Rekids.
EBM 003JUNO
05 Apr 13
DESOLAT 031
05 Apr 13
Played by: &me
Review:
Loco Dice's label has discovered a number of talented producers, and they can add Pulshar to that list. "Wasting Time", which features Dice on vocals, isn't a typical stripped back groove, but rather an evocative, downbeat affair, underpinned by dusty beats and tonal bleeps. "So Tired" is in a similar vein, its spacey synths providing the basis for a deeply melancholic vocal performance. Vocals also feature on "Different Drum", but in this instance Pulshar raises the tempo and leads the arrangement into a tranced out, clubby shuffle. However, the overall tone is dubbed out and restrained, with "She's Got A Ticket" impressing most, its dreamy vocals combined with coy glockenspiels to create a unique mood.
880319 619113
06 May 13
Review:
The wilfully eccentric pushes in a new direction with this compilation. It starts off with Carisma's "Muerte Instrumental", a stomping house affair with a heavy, acidic bass and noisy filtering, sounding like an acid rocker has decided to engineer himself some Chicago jack. Gladkazuka's "El Untitled" is an adventure in Terrence Fixmer-style techno, with grinding EBM basslines and a doomy sensibility prevailing, while Matias Aguayo's "El Transatlantio" is based on a humming bassline and insidious bleeps. Alejandro Paz restores some semblance of normality with "El House", a clap-heavy acid groove with typically nonsensical Spanish lyrics.
UY 070
13 May 13
Review:
KiNK has deservedly won a reputation as one of the finest modern interpreters of Chicago house and on My Space, he takes his understanding a few steps further. In its original format, My Space is a deep, pulsing affair with more of a swinging rhythm than some of his previous releases. However, what it may lack in forcefulness it compensates with its use of ponderous vocals. The 'Hardcore' remix is more psychedelic sounding and sees spacey synths unfolding over broken beats, while the Black 80s Home Studio version sees the collaboration go back to KiNK's more typical, bass-heavy, jacking sound. The Luna City Express remix pares the arrangement back without losing sight of the original's melodies.
KA 157
05 Apr 13
COMEME 021
01 Apr 13
Review:
Comeme is one of the most brilliantly unpredictable labels and Beating PC shows why it is held in such high esteem. "Puqui" unfolds with psychedelic chords drawn out over a low-slung groove, the synths veering into the realms of tripped out. The title track sees loose drums combined with a languid funk guitar, while there are further surprises on "Eat Me", where a dubbed out bassline and lost vocal intoning 'what are you doing here' is fused with dreamy synths. It's a similar situation on "Voy a Ver", where darker guitar riffs chimes in over a groovy disco rhythm. Maintaining its unpredictable edge, "Berberecho" is a faster, jacking affair with a rubbery bassline and squelchy bleeps.
42935
22 Apr 13
Review:
London based DJ and producer Earl Grey has tried his hand at numerous styles over the years, most notably house, techno and electronica, without finding his true calling. Here, he may have found his sound. Not Everyone's Cup of Tea is built around the sort of sharp, alien synths most frequently found in synthwave and leftfield electro-pop productions. Throughout, there are used to good effect on tracks that veer from ice-cold, slo-mo synthwave (see the delightful, vocoder-clad "Through The City") and drifting atmospherics ("Jus Clap"), to stylish nu-disco ("Pong") and skewed synth-funk (the mascara-boasting "Regent's Park"). Impressive stuff, all told.
LGN 030
01 Apr 13
ECB 365JX
06 May 13
Played by: In Flagranti
Review:
It's been nearly three years since we last heard from former 'next big thing' Rex The Dog (aka producer Jake Williams). His career has stuttered somewhat, following a string of well-regarded singles on Kompakt, Kitsune and Compuphonic. This, though, is an impressive return. While hardly groundbreaking stuff, there's something irresistible about the Moroder-on-pills groove and Jamie McDermott's spinetingling vocal (think Anthony Hegarty meets Sylvester meets Donna Summer). Yes, it sounds like a modern update of "I Feel Love", but its been lovingly rendered by Williams. It also sounds like a big hit in the making.
BAO 041
25 Mar 13
Review:
Shlomi Aber just gets it right every time, and this latest EP is further proof of the man's talent behind the production wheel, bringing back his usual flair to the Be As One imprint. "The Doppler" is certainly a peak-time belter, where its squelchy bassline hits you right in the chest and takes no survivors, but the track is so hypnotic it'll have you lost within two bars. "Limited By You" takes a more laid-back approach and heads deeper into the percussion, creating an almost tribal feel within those stripped-back melodies and sporadic vocal samples. Clean and honest floor productions from the one like Aber!
HSEO 041301A
05 Apr 13
880319 075520
29 Apr 13
Played by: Paul Hazendonk
Review:
If you're going to call an album In Technicolor, it ought to be at least a little bit kaleidoscopic. Thankfully, Cologne scenesters Coma are up to the task. Then again, given their history of fusing melodic electronica and warm synth-pop with deep house and post-punk alternative rock, you'd expect nothing less. Certainly, In Technicolour is an enjoyable listen, delivering a range of ear-pleasing songs and instrumentals that effortlessly blends analogue and digital instrumentation. There's a breezy, soft-centred feel to proceedings that's surprisingly attractive, and a string of standout cuts - the blissful "My Orbit" and Justus Kohncke-ish "TED" amongst them - that demand repeat listens.
LOT 49CD031
25 Mar 13
PTTRCOMP 049
04 Apr 13
BBR 02
01 Apr 13
Review:
Owen Jay's Batti Batti label has always fought the battle for "genuine deepness", championing the sort of raw, soulful fare that should impress all those with a love of the best Detroit and Chicago productions. This split EP, featuring a number of regular label contributors, is defiantly deep. Jay and Melchior Sultana's "Spheric", for example, sounds like classic dub house with an ocean-deep finish, while Natan H's "Alpinism" could pass for a classic Three Chairs cut. The most striking cut of all, though, comes from Cleveland, whose clicky "Pandora" is a deep, string-laden beauty. Almost as good is Bittersuite's bongo-laden "Monk Vibe", which could easily pass as a Jus' Ed production.
880319 616419
29 Apr 13
SCHOOL 002D
20 May 13
Review:
Crisp, on point production meets lo-fi aesthetics in "Half Out", the first track on this two sider by Manchester-based techno/house rising star Paleman. Simple and emotive, his influences clearly come from the garage and deep house section of the record store, and for that there's a real depth to his sound. "Etch" is a slightly more flamboyant affair - if there ever was such a word in Paleman's vocabulary - with bruising techno kicks underpinning a series of percussive sections and a seriously addictive bassline. If this tune isn't gracing the pinnacle of the night in your local discotheque, you're going to the wrong places, mate.
KH 004
12 Apr 13 |
