Artist: Ben Rourke Title: Blue EP Label: Autoreply Genre: Minimal House/Tech House Format: Digital, 12″ Buy From:Juno Records, Juno Download
Autoreply’s aptly named ‘After Hours’ edition sees Ben Rourke subtly create a sonic landscape in which every note matters, and reminds us that techno can indeed be a deeply emotional form of music.
This is the kind of EP you wish would magically start playing during the taxi ride home from Berghain or some other temple of techno; it’s music to soundtrack personal reflection; deeply introspective and atmospheric.
“Blue” features shuffling synths bouncing off delicate keys and deep scrapes that appear unannounced alongside ethereal vocal snippets.
Pier Bucci’s remix utilises the title track’s subtle instrumentation and takes it up a notch. It’s beautifully constructed and textured – just as we’ve come to expect from the Chilean producer – with the trademark hint of South American flavour.
The three-track EP is rounded off with Rourke’s “Squareb”, which is possibly even more introspective and thought-provoking than “Blue”.
Following on from our in-depth interview with Jamie Odell aka Jimpster, earlier this month, we’ve roped the Freerange boss into talking us through his top tunes of 2009. Unsurprisingly, there’s some stellar choices from the deeper end of house music.
Artist: Megadon Betamax/Hollywood Nites/Benjamin Sun Title: Voyeurhythm EP 2 Label: Voyeurhythm Genre: House, Disco/Nu Disco Format: 12″ Buy From: Juno Records
Little is known about this fledgling London-based house troupe, although the sheer quality of this EP suggests this won’t be the case for long. The second Voyeurhythm offering is loose and raw, evoking the spirit and sound of Chicago in a way that few can manage these days.
It opens with Megadon Betamax’s “He Can’t Love You”, a complete remake of the Chemise classic “She Cant Love You” on Emergency. This version flips the script on the original with a vocodored male vocal, but keeps true to the analogue 80’s boogie sound.
On the flip, Hollywood Nites chimes in with “Chi Intentions”, deep and raw proto-house which features sinister keys bouncing off a rumbling, Chicago-style bassline (as the name suggests).
Benjamin Sun rounds off the release with “Victoria Park”, a lovely slice of warm house in the mould of Motor City Drum Ensemble’s Raw Cuts series, and a worthy follow up to his effort on the first Voyuerhthym EP.
Fabric have released an enticing teaser to promote their new Elevator series, which captures the sound of second wave dubstep producers who draw on house, techno, garage and grime influences.
Another year is over – perfect time, then, to not only reflect on the year that was but look ahead to what the future holds. We’ve compiled a short list of the acts we think are primed to break through in 2010 – there’s the usual assortment of sickeningly talented twenty somethings, plus an old hat or two to keep it interesting.
Artist: Bot’ox Title: Blue Steel Label: I’m A Cliche Genre: Disco/Nu Disco Format: 12″ Buy From: Juno Records
You could forgive Cosmo Vitelli for lapping up the applause when the nu-disco world gave him the golf clap for snapping up Toronto duo Azari & III to his I’m A Cliche label, but no, he was back in the studio with his Bot’Ox buddy Benjamin Bouget working on their fiftth release, this most excellent of two track EPs.
“Blue Steel” is that most difficult of achievements for Electronic music producers – a finely crafted slice of three minute pop music. A unique intro akin to sampling a ping pong ball slowly melds into the twisting melody that is retained throughout, upon which the quite swoonsome vocal talents of the mysterious Anna Jean sit perfectly.
In an alternate universe shorn of Simon Sauron Cowell and Kanye West, “Blue Steel” might go so far as to ripple the main stream. As it is, some BBC intern is likely to ensure it sound tracks Top Gear. Sad.
“Bearded Lady Motorcycle” is aimed sqaurely for the dancefloor. Already a favourite with disco posterboys Aeroplane, it’s the sort of live instrument disco workout you would imagine In Flagranti coming up with if they donned guitar and drum. The title even sounds like a In Flagranti song. Superb.
The new CDJ-900 multi-format player from Pioneer is the younger sibling to the CDJ-2000, but can it compete with its feature rich elder brother? Ben Daly takes a look.
Talented Croatian techno producer Jolka wraps up a landmark year by talking to Juno Plus about his top tunes of 2009. Davor O, Planetary Assault Systems and the Marcel Dettmann/Shed collaboration Deuce all come into the reckoning, as does his own debut 12″, The Jolka Experience.
Artist: Al Kent Title: Secret Sounds Label: BBE Genre: Disco/Nu Disco Format: CD, Digital Buy From:Juno Records, Juno Download
Scottish disco producer Al Kent is resident at Manchester’s Northern Disco club night and the man behind the live disco collective The Million Dollar Orchestra, who released the Better Days album last year to much acclaim.
The Secret Sounds EP comes from the mind of this true disco connoisseur, drawing from influences that range from Northern Soul to psychedelia, while reinterpreting and restructuring each track in a way that generates endless intrigue.
The standout tracks are hard to decide, but “Come Back Home” and “Strung Out” stayed in my head for long after I listened. This is an ambitious, meticulously sourced and composed disco which is essential for all lovers of the genre.
Remember Ed Banger? French electro exploded into everyone’s consciousness in 2006/07, only to be met with the inevitable backlash that comes with overexposure. DJ Mehdi was – and still is – at the forefront of this scene, but he was around long before the hype, and his quality production means he’ll be around for a while yet. From humble beginnings on the outskirts of Paris, Mehdi has become one of the world’s best party DJs. He spoke to Juno Plus editor Aaron Coultate about Hong Kong brawls, movie soundtracks and his new collaboration with Riton.
Artist: Various/Moonbootica Title: Save The Night Label: Moonbootique Genre: Minimal House/Tech House, Electro House Format: CD, Digital Buy From:Juno Records, Juno Download
Moonbootica have become synonymous with original, energetic compilations, using them as a forum to grow a huge fanbase in their native Germany. Their latest double-cd compilation mix glides easily between electro, deep house, disco-soul and tech house in a three hour musical education of dance music in 2009.
At times banging, at times melancholic, the mix never falters from being completely compelling. Tracks featured include offerings from relative newcomers such as Alex Metric, Aeroplane and Disco Trash Music, while evergreen veterans like Adam Freeland, Evil Nine and In Flagranti provide the perfect accompaniment.
The unexpected inclusion of two brand-new tracks from Moonbootica, “The Ease” and “Men Of The Future” is a highlight, two epic contributions that one hopes indicates the style of their next studio album. This collection transcends the countless mixtapes knocking around at the moment, as the pair crown their ten year musical career by once again reminding fans of electronic music why we love it so much.
We’ve got a lovely mix from Jonas Imbery (aka Telonius), one of the founders of Munich-based disco label Gomma (you may also know his work as one half of Munk).
The Telonius project allows Imbery to explore his musical roots, namely early house music from the 80s and 90s and the disco sound of the 70s.
Artist: The Revenge Title: Just Be Good To Me Label: Needwant Genre: Disco/Nu-Disco Format: 12″, Digital Buy From:Juno Records, Juno Download
The Revenge – aka Scottish producer Graeme Clark – caps off a fine year with a complete disco overhaul of the SOS Band’s classic “Just Be Good To Me”.
Calling on the considerable vocal talents of Crazy P’s Danielle Moore, Clark maintains his trademark production style, keeping it slow and sexy throughout with a BPM count that barely sneaks into 3 digits.
Remixes come from The Revenge himself, with an epic dub mix that clocks in at just under 10 minutes.
Ron Basejam aka James Baron, also a member of Crazy P, chips in with a funk-infused remix that ups the tempo a bit. Basejam already excelled this year with his role in another slow burning disco chugger.
The digital-only Bodypop mix takes it back to the original tempo, laying on the bass nice and thick, while the 12″ offers up a very DJ-friendly “Accatool” which should keep disco jocks around the world happy this festive period.
Shadow Dancer combine an encyclopedic knowledge of music with an ear for obscure samples to produce a unique, driving form of glitchy electronica. The duo, which consists of the Farrier brothers Paul and Al, released their debut album Golden Traxe in early 2009, on Boys Noize Records. They spoke to Juno Plus about the year that was.
We’ve got London’s premier disco duo Faze Action back on board to mix the latest Juno Disco podcast.
For those in the know, the Juno Download disco podcast is the industry standard resource for new and classic disco downloads – this week’s mix features Ronnie Dyson, Neurotic Drum Band, Atmosfear, Supersonic Lovers, Ilija Rudman, Dutch Rhythm Combo and plenty more.
You can subscribe for free in iTunes here and buy the individual tracks featured in the mix here.
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