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Free tracks, award nominations, podcasts galore, a mountain of quality releases – it’s been a chaotic week at Juno Records and Juno Download.
Featured DJ Chart: James Curd (January 2010)
James Curd has beaten his own path from cult indie band Greenskeepers (a favourite of John Peel) to a respected DJ and beat-merchant over the last few years. His new EP In With The Old, In With The New shows off the range of styles that the Chicago-born producer has got under his belt. We chased him down to find out what tunes are floating his musical boat so far in 2010, and he admits it wasn’t an easy choice.
Artist: Tiger & Woods
Title: Caddy Shag
Label: Editainment
Genre: Disco/Nu-Disco
Format: 12″
Buy From: Juno Records
The electronic music loving and buying public like nothing more than a mystery identity producer. Actually, scratch that, they like nothing more than endlessly speculating on the internet about the true identity of a mystery producer. Currently occupying the space formerly kept warm by the likes of Fake Blood, Monarchy, Silver Columns et al are Tiger & Woods.
Alleged to be the handy work of an established producer, Tiger & Woods first came to the fore in late 2008 with the Hole In One EP which was a masterclass in the art of chopped up disco, getting props from the likes of Turbo artist Matt Walsh.
This talent for emphasising the thump in disco is matched by a sense of humour and appreciation of good cinema. All are very much in evidence on Caddy Shag, only the second Tiger & Woods EP which of course not only gives a sly nod to the Rodney Dangerfield classic but also a cheeky reference to the current front page malaise being suffered by Tiger & Woods golfing namesake.
“Gin Nation”, a superlative dubbed out take on Imagination’s “Music & Lights” has already been given the Tensnake seal of approval after appearing on the German’s excellent contribution to the R******t A*****r podcast and is backed by “Deflowered”, a much more straightforward housier edit which loops and filters in all the right places – DJ Sneak would be proud.
Review: Tony Poland
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Lou Reed, Gil Scott Heron, Speech Debelle and Chrome Hoof will peform at Ether, the Southbank Centre’s annual music festival of innovation, art and technology.
Artist: Soulphiction
Title: Featured Artist
Label: Sonar Kollektiv
Genre: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Michael Baumann, aka Jackmate, aka Soulphiction, is clearly a man who likes to keep busy. On top of his Detroit-influenced Jackmate output, and running his own Philpot label, there’s also the not-so-small matter of his Soulphiction alias. A more funky and soulful affair, this album really does pack a lot of different influences into the 15 tracks, and its refreshing to hear so many styles working together.
While opening track “State of Euphoria” is tough and belligerent, with a loop that slowly worms into your head, others like “No Jealousy” are lush and gorgeous, sounding almost like classic Philly Soul at times. The beats are jazzy but never cliched, like the slowed down 2-Step on “Sloburn”.
“Make It Slow” again has a harsh and driving loop at it’s core, but it’s given so much life by the building vocals that you stay hooked the whole way through. Probably the most conventional song is Baumann’s remix of Eva Be’s “No Memory of Time”, which is given a more dancefloor-orientated treatment complete with lingering strings and rising synths. But even this formula sounds fresh and vital.
One of the highlights comes on “Deranged” when an unnamed vocalist in the mould of Gil Scott Heron or Gift of Gab talks about how “If house music was air, then ‘You Got The Love’ would be my song, and I would only take deep breaths”. It’s a sweet moment, and with any justice people will be writing lines like that about this album in a few years – it’s that good. Highly recommended.
Review: Oliver Keens
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Artist: Heaven & Earth
Title: Prescription EP
Label: Running Back
Genre: Deep House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Running Back Records chief Gerd Janson has decided to revive a piece of dance history by reissuing Heaven & Earth’s classic 1995 house offering. Back then, producers Luke Solomon, Rob Mello and Zaki D teamed to form a collective known as Heaven & Earth. Paying homage to their favourite label, Prescription Records who were putting out the deep, acid house that they loved from owners Chez Damier and Ron Trent, the trio collaborated on two original tracks – the now legendary “A Space and Time” and “Prescription Every Night”.
The release blew up, turning the three London producers into household names overnight. – so much so that collective pronged off into their own solo careers. Such has been the demand for each, that a remix of “Beau Mot Plage” and Red Nail’s “I Think of You” are the only times that they worked together again.
Fifteen years later, Gerd Janson secured the rights to re-issue the release and even loaded the EP with a couple of note worthy additions to entice record collectors to pick up a copy even if the original sits proudly in their record box. An unreleased edit of “Space and Time”, where the piano takes on a more dubby feel, is joined by the disco tinged “Prescription Every Night”, immortalized in Carl Craig’s infamous 1995 Essential Mix.
This re-mastered and re-shaped EP is an original slice of the disco-house sound that has become so fashionable of late. As dance culture becomes more and more reflective, it is testament to the classic early tracks that inspired a generation that they are picked up again fifteen years later and re-issued for a new generation to treasure and cherish.
Review: Tom Jones
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Artist: Danny Byrd feat. Liquid
Title: Sweet Harmony
Label: Hospital
Genre: Drum And Bass
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
What more can be said about an absolute copper-bottomed classic like Liquid’s “Sweet Harmony”? A seminal release on XL, it’s a hardcore anthem that still makes men in their 30’s and 40’s rip their shirts off and lose it in ravey nostalgia. Even though it pinched heavily from CeCe Roger’s “Someday” (both the piano breakdown and that memorable vocal sample) it was still totally original and a big influence on the fledgling jungle scene.
This updated version by Hospital hotshot Danny Byrd will doubtless introduce it to a whole new generation. Byrd has been golden of late, with his double A-side of “Red Mist/Fired Up” getting serious attention last year, as well as bagging Radio 1 support from Zane Lowe and Annie Mac.
The two mixes here give “Sweet Harmony” a propane-fuelled D&B treatment that’s bound to get rinsed over the next few months. The original mix will probably be the one that proves most radio and student friendly, whereas the Jungle mix (complete with that authentic Amen break) will satisfy anyone who still holds the original close to their heart. Expect to hear both versions all over the shop very soon.
Review: Oliver Keens
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Artist: Four Tet
Title: There Is Love In You
Label: Domino
Genre: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Format: 180 gram vinyl gatefold 2xLP, Digital, CD
Buy From: Juno Records (CD, vinyl), Juno Download
It’s been almost five years since Four Tet’s last LP. However, you could never accuse Kieran Hebden of being lazy, having spent the years since 2005’s Everything Ecstatic working on a number of EPs, collaborations and mixes, not to mention enough remixes to keep any student going throughout their perpetual revision period.
His fifth studio album to date forms a combination of minimal dance and amalgamations of sounds and ideas from his career so far. It serves a timely reminder of the joy of genre mashing in what is one of the first important releases of the new decade.
After the delicate and disjointed vocal-led opener “Angel Echoes” we move into the album’s first single, the hypnotic nine minute colossus that is “Love Cry”. Jazz percussion is layered over a sprawling house sentiment that builds exponentially throughout the saga. The aptly named “Circling” uses hazy synthesizers to progresses from a soft, folk-like beginning to flamboyant end before we are treated to the fantastically warped female vocal that gives the defining factor on “Sing”. Following “Plastic People’s” clap-infused melodic wandering, we reach “She Just Likes To Fight”, which seems to capture the emotional undertones that lay covered throughout the whole LP in a heart-warming sense of utter contentment.
It seems the long wait for an LP was more than worth it as Four Tet guides us through a labyrinth of musical tastes and genres whilst never losing his way in experimentation or self indulgence. Pushing limits, but in an ear-pleasing way, There Is Love In You is yet another reason to jump aboard Four Tet.
Review: Tom Jones
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Artist: Exercise One
Title: Several Things At Once
Label: Wagon Repair
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Named after a Joy Division song, Berlin duo Exercise One have honed their sound over the years, to the appreciation of minimal fans and followers of the more sophisticated end of techno. Marco Freivogel and Ingo Gansera released their first album, In Cars We Rust, on Anja Schneider’s Mobilee label, and it came as a fresh and distinctive treat. Those skills thankfully spill over onto this new EP, out on Canadian label Wagon Repair.
The title track is definitely pacey, with trademark tight kicks and splashy hats getting overtaken by a slow-release synthline that becomes addictive after a while. It’s definitely bouncy and big enough to work in DJ sets of a lot of differing styles, not just those on a Richie Hawtin tip.
“Breeze” offers a nice change of style though, reminiscent of the band that gave them their name with a solemn, stuttering vibe driven with chiming ride cymbals. “Colony” also has an engaging and slightly haunting mood, breaking down to a hypnotic sea of filtered-down keys at one point. “Prowl” is just as interesting, an ambient sidestep away from simple 4/4 beats. “Twin” is a more pulsing, driving techno tune with an absorbing bassline and some heart-stopping filter crescendos to boot.
Review: Oliver Keens
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Breakbeat don Richie Balboa already knocks out the odd mix for Juno, which we think is rather good. It seems we’re not alone in thinking that either – it’s been nominated for Best Podcast in the 2010 Breakspoll awards (vote here). With such a talented man on our team, we thought we’d rope him in for a featured chart too. Here are his top picks for January – enjoy…
We have teamed up with seminal imprint Strictly Rhythm to bring you an opportunity to win a copy of the 2xCD compilation marking 20 years since the label’s first release.
It’s fair to say 2010 has got off to an auspicious start for young Clement Meyer. Read the rest of this entry »
Artist: Skream, Instra:mental
Title: No Future
Label: Nonplus
Genre: Dubstep/Grime
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
With the slightly tinny, echoing monotone vocal sample “Lies, confusion, government, control, crime, money, panic, terror…” broadcasted over a hard-hitting stabbing beat, it’s a bold start for track that propagates an acutely felt cultural and musical zeitgeist.
At once dramatic and apocalyptic but also rather dreary and defeatist, the drilled, spoken message of No Future is quickly overcome by Skream’s expert deployment of grinding, grating SFX and wobbly, uncertain synths. Capturing the spirit of the origibnal Instra:mental version, Skream pairs acerbic, grizzled sounds with occasional glitchy moments and a building wave of bass coupled with gravelly sub-bass to create a rising sense of tension. A soundtrack for our generation, this is a chunky b-line monster that is deep, dark contemplative to the core.
On the flip, the aptly named Minimalistix sees the dubstep pioneer and musical phenomenon delve into sparser soundscapes with a distinctly minimal, genre-hopping, boundary-pushing overtone. Sharp, spiky beats, high-pitched suckerpunch sounds and bouncing, bleepy rattles predominate in this bizarre, experimental territory for a full 50 seconds before a smashing, thunderous beat kicks in. It’s interesting, very abstract and rather reminiscent of the Russian artist, Bop, as it retains a sense of beauty in its reduction and minimalism.
Review: Belinda Rowse
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Singular Dutch producer Martyn is the latest name to join the Bloc Festival brigade for 2010.
Artist: Seth Troxler, Matthew Dear, Lee Curtiss and Ryan Crosson
Title: Document Part 1
Label: Spectral Sound
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″
Buy From: Juno Records
From Spectral (Ghostly International’s arguably more interesting and definitely more danceable sub-label) comes the first part in a series of ‘Document’ releases consisting of their most infamous stars Seth Troxler, Matthew Dear, Lee Curtiss and Ryan Crosson.
Being the imprint’s all-round charmers and most well-loved American producers, charismatic duo Troxler and Dear had released the much lauded single “Hurt” back in 2009 to a receptive crowd having featured in Konrad Black’s Watergate mix and DJ charts all over.
Martinez’s remix of it is no surprise, but adding rhythmic hi-hats and cheery beats to the shuffles and eerie lyrics for most will be a treat compared to his previous downplayed ‘Dark Soul dub’ of the track.
However, equally dark and subdued is “Life Lessons” by Detroit’s Curtiss, with lows featuring a rumbling kick and bassline and highs built with claps and wandering vocals. Ryan Crosson, who made his name on Wagon Repair and M-nus, brings a whirring builder of energetic percs and a groove-heavy bassline on his “Don’t Look Further”.
Review: Flora Wong
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We’re pleased to announce that Juno has been nominated for ‘Best Retailer’and our new Breakbeat Podcast mixed by Richie Balboa is up for ‘Best Podcast’ in this year’s Breakspoll.
Read the rest of this entry »
Karin Dreijer Andersson didn’t fail to live up to expectations when accepting the award for Best Dance act at the recent P3 awards.
Check out the video for Danton Eeprom’s epic house jam “Give Me Pain”, from the London-based Frenchman’s debut album, out February 12 on InFine Records.
Artist: Telefon Tel Aviv
Title: Immolate Yourself
Label: BPitch Control
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Primarily releasing on Hefty Records and BPitch Control, Chicago-based Telefon Tel Aviv also had a track in the first Ghostly compilation which probably indicates a bit about what he sounds like.
Blending electronica with almost Mars Volta-esque experimental elements and emotive vocal points in a past catalogue of three albums (and one remix album), Joshua Eustis has, since the tragic death of one half of the production team in 2009, been working alone.
“Immolate Yourself” from Telefon’s third full-length album via BPitch has undergone a series of remixes from Berlin’s best. Ben Klock shapes the track into a mechanic techno beast with swirling pads and an almost slow-soca rhythm before BPitch’s Sascha Funke moves the vocals to create a subtle and eerily romantic piece with delicate synthy layers.
Thomas Muller’s heavy guitar riffs and rumbling sub-bass gives the track a darker turn and Miss Fitz aka Maayan Nidam on Raum and Freak n’ Chic, offers a slice of demure ethnic-tinged techno (also featured on Wolf + Lamb podcasts), breaking up the drums with an off-beat rhythm and layering the vocals to round off the package.
Review: Flora Wong
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The latest exclusive Juno Plus mix from our disco chums at Gomma comes courtesy of the label’s newest signing, Mustang.
