Artist: Riton, Primary 1 Title: Radiates Label: Atlantic Genre: Electro House Format: 12″ Buy From:Juno Records
One of the more fortuitous collaborations of 2009 is back, with a followup to their smashing Who’s There EP. Avant pop hero Primary 1 saddles up with nu-disco’s man-about-town Riton for another dash of twee but forward-thinking electro-pop. Both these guys boast a load of certified weaponry to their names. Seriously, how could anything poor come of this?
“Radiates” picks up where “Who’s There” left off – slightly less frantic but just as sonically adventurous. Once again there’s a strong, deflated lead-line, instantly recognisable and delightfully synthetic. Like “Who’s There”, big vocals are on the table for disco singalongs.
It’s up-front pop in the vein of Hot Chip and Datarock, composed in a short but sweet verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure. Suitable for finicky indy dancefloors and radio jocks (who I’m sure Atlantic have firmly in mind on this release).
Riton steps up on remix duties with a trademark ‘rerub’. Not swaying too far from the original, but adding an elongated electro-jam breakdow. Ripping stuff. Next generation electro for the disco-hungry in crowd.
Cross-over dubstep specialist Joker, as one would expect, uncompromisingly pulls things back a few gears. Joker is the master of grafting pop vibes onto incroguent wobbles and half-time crunches, and this remix stays true to form.
It’s pop music, son, but not for your mum. Great release!
The Rane Serato Scratch Live SL-3 is the 2009 upgrade to the SL-1 interface. Ben Daly takes a look at what improvements have been made, as part of the Juno Plus roundup of 2009’s key DJ & studio equipment.
Creative Review have reported that the Royal Mail will launch its stamp programme with a set of ten 1st class stamps designed by Studio Dempsey that celebrate classic British album covers – including Blur’s Parklife and New Order’s Power, Corruption and Lies.
Artist: Jabberjaw Title: A Goat On Fire In The Garden of Eden Label: Spectral Sound Genre: Minimal/Tech House Format: 12″ Buy From: Juno Records
Matthew Dear comes reeling back into view with his second release using his Jabberjaw alias with the interestingly titled Goat On Fire In The Garden Of Eden.
The title track is a more paired back rhythmic sound than usual. This is definitely one for the tech house faithful, coming with all the requisite elements to get you doing that shakey wiggly pouty thing on the dancefloor. A big, skittering monster drum track of slow-burning sulphuric house complete with chopped up bongos, a wonderfully druggy synth arrangement with a cut up vocal leading to a killer repetitive hook. The sort of track that will be be caned at 2am on dance floors by all the notable minimal and techno heads from Berlin to Chicago.
The second track “Connie Shake” is another hypnotic groove aimed straight at sweaty late night discotheques. A relentlessly funky groove of the highest order with a simple bassline leaving space for the percussion to build and do the damage.
“Safety Flirt” with it’s squelchy backing, off beat kicks has a more minimal feel and would sit well in sets from the likes of Ashken and Tolfrey. Plenty of dark stabs and twisted rhythms to fire the synapses. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Artist: House of House Title: Rushing to Paradise (Walkin’ These Streets) Label: House of House Genre: Deep House, Disco/Nu-Disco Format: 12″ Buy From:Juno Records
“Rushing to Paradise (Walkin’ These Streets)” was released earlier this year to almost universal acclaim, with House of House – aka Saheer Umar and Still Going’s Olivier “Liv” Spencer – hitting the nail on the head at the first time of asking.
For the uninitiated, it was a deep house record full of decadence and feeling. The vocals, “down on my knees, I’m begging ya please” screamed vintage soulful house, but the sharp production gave the track a contemporary edge that ensured it remained relevant in today’s musical climate, and, clocking in at 13 minutes, it soon achieved anthem status.
A vinyl-only release, the 12”s sold out everywhere started fetching ludicrous sums on online auction sites, which has prompted a re-release, this time with a remix on the flip from DJ Harvey (who else?)
The inimitable Black Cock boss provides a suitably driving rework, chopping up the vocals and taking the original into even deeper territory, in the process reminding anyone who may have forgotten exactly why he is so revered.
Indeed Harvey’s effort may – whisper it quietly – even eclipse the original.
Our friends over at Knowledge have taken a look into the most popular samples adopted by D&B producers down the years, from “Amen Brother” to The Matrix.
Artist: Layo & Bushwacka! Title: Deep South Label: Juno Genre: Breakbeat Format: 12″, Digital Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Following on from the superb Linkwood & House of Traps remix effort on “Deep South” (which we reviewed here), Danish breakbeat artist Badboe provides the second remix package, with an irresistibly funky dub remix on the a-side and a rolling, percussion-heavy original remix of the flip.
Badboe has developed a style that has clear echoes of 60s and 70s funk yet still fits seamlessly into the modern musical landscape. This man has dipped his toe in almost any genre you care to name – from house to trance; hardcore to trip-hop.
He eventually came to conclusion that funky breakbeat is what he does best, and, based on this evidence, he’s made a great decision.
Don’t be fooled by the name – Motor City Drum Ensembleconsists of just one man: Danilo Plessow, who hails from Germany’s very own motor city, Stuttgart. Combining a knack for clever sampling with a penchant for analogue equipment, MCDE has cultivated a style that is somehow incredibly loose and tight at the same time.To many, this man is the producer of 2009 – his ubiquitous Raw Cuts series draws on the spirit of Detroit legends like Theo Parrish, Moodymann, while other productions stray into techno territory. Add to that a slew of superb remixes for the likes of Tom Trago and DJ Sprinkles, and you have one very special producer. Here Danilo speaks to Juno Plus about the mainstays in his DJ box over the past 12 months.
This week at Juno Download we were very excited to get two Betty Botox albums (The World of Betty Botox and G4 Faggot) as a digital release for the first time ever, as well as the rather tasty Aeroplane remix to Lindstrom & Christabelle’s “Baby I Can’t Stop” (check it out here).
Artist: Various Title: Significant Others Too Label: Wolf & Lamb Genre: Deep House Format: 12″, Digital Buy From:Juno Records, Juno Download
A stunningly lush and laidback deep house release, Significant Others Too showcases some of the best chilled and spacey producers of the moment.
New York-based Wolf + Lamb label owner Zev leads the way, utilising a smooth classic house sample in “Forget the World” amongst a soulful groove-filled shuffle piece as featured in the ‘In New DJs We Trust’ mix on Heidi’s Radio One show. A soaring, uplifting track with softly rising build-ups, it prepares for the rest of a gradually shifting EP.
The slowness of the songs are balanced with intricate percussive layering such as in Slow Hand’s remix of No Regular Play (aka Nicholas DeBruyn), not failing to impress following their “Fast Tongue” single also on W+L.
A more tropical and upbeat vibe, “Ladyluck” mixes piano stabs with whispering vocals and spaced out effects.
The B-side from Lee Foss (aka one half of Hot Natured with current deep house favourite Jamie Jones), “Grinding” is the highlight, with a deep spacey vibe and catchy as hell soul vocals in the breakdown.
The heaviest track saved till last is Just One Night’s buzzy electro-tinged shaking bassy number, wonderfully dark with sparse brass leads and some cowbells.
With a career spanning two decades, Luke Slater is woven inexorably into the fabric of modern day techno. This year saw the release of the new a much awaited Planetary Assault album on Ostgut Ton, which was rapturously received in most quarters. Slater continued touring his live show this year whilst juggling DJ dates and remixes, even finding time to compose a special hour long piece for the Staats Ballett in Berlin. Juno Plus picked Luke’s brain about his favourite tunes from 2009.
Check out Hell’s new single “U Can Dance” featuring Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry, to be released on February 8, 2010. The video is directed by Jo Apps (whose previous work includes the clip to Simain Mobile Disco’s “Audacity of Huge”) and styled by Nova Dando of La Roux fame.
Artist: Moodymanc/Paul Hardy Title: Sizzler EP Label: Baker St Genre: Minimal House/Tech House Format: Digital Buy From:Juno Download
Paying titular homage is definitely becoming the done thing. Not only do we have Todd Terje’s tip of the hat to Todd Terry, but there is also Manchester’s Moodymanc’s none-to-subtle referencing of the similarly named Detroit legend.
A quarter of 2020 Soundsystem, Moodymanc (real name Danny Ward) releases the Sizzler EP alongside fellow Leeds resident and co-owner of Baker St Recordings, Paul Hardy and, while you can still hear the trademark warm synths and house kicks associated with 2020, this latest independent collaboration still manages to retain an identity of its own.
The title track chugs along with a likeable, almost summery mix of melodic pads and playful chords, whereas track two begins in a mournful minor key before building to an electro-fied, menacing, bass-lead conclusion.
Sizzler also comes remixed courtesy of Sei A (Turbo / International Deejay Gigolos) who provides it with a tech house incarnation which is possibly more suited for peak time consumption than the original.
You could forgive A-Trak for taking his foot off the pedal. A world DMC at the age of 15, a stint touring as Kanye West’s DJ, selling out clubs and festivals around the world; it would easy to adopt the “been there, done that” attitude and allow your career to plateau. Yet the Canadian steadfastly refuses to let this happen – instead constantly altering his DJing style, starting new projects and taking his label in interesting new directions. He spoke to Juno Plus from a Lisbon hotel room about managing fan expectations, the Duck Sauce project and signing bands to Fool’s Gold.
Artist: Betty Botox Title: The World Of Betty Botox Label: Botox Genre: Disco/Nu Disco/Re-Edits Format: Digital Buy From:Juno Download
Betty Botox is the mysterious alias of JD Twitch, one half of inimitable Scottish duo Optimo. The World of Betty Botox – first released on vinyl in 2005 – is full of obscure disco and leftfield joints reshaped into a dancefloor and mixing-friendly format.
Betty chops up and samples everything from Richie Haven’s “Going Back To My Roots”, through to Dennis Coffey, Tata Vega and even Dr Feelgood’s “Roxette” amongst other unexpected gems.
Among the highlights are the tumbling piano lines and scattered percussion of “Spin” by the Impossible Dreamers, and the pounding, insistent bassline sampled from Crass tune “Nagasaki Nightmare”.
Meanwhile the G4 Faggot album, the second re-release from Betty Botox, is swirling with tracks which veer playfully between obscure and well-known; from rockabilly and krautrock to disco – the exact kind of eclecticism anyone who’s seen a JD Twitch set would expect (indeed many of these edits have been staples of Twitch DJ sets down the years).
These edits have never been released in digital form – until now. A must for any disco DJ – in fact, just about any DJ full stop.
Forward-thinking Aussie label Modular have taken a step backwards – to explore some of the bands that helped shape the musical landscape Down Under in the 70s and 80s.
SECURE SHOPPING
Breakbeat producer Richie Balboa doubles the length of his fortnightly podcast as a seasonal treat. 
