Artist: Resoe Title: The Black Void Of Space EP Label: Echocord Genre: Techno Format: 12", Digital
Denis Bog makes the transition from the relatively obscure Baum label to underground staple Echochord. Like the rest of the Danish outlet’s releases, the overall mood here is evocative and introspective, but Bog belies the notion that the dub/ambient end of techno is incapable of providing unsettling sounds.
Drawing more on Biosphere’s legacy than Basic Channel’s back catalogue, Bog presents “Minus & Plus” against a backdrop of tight, rolling drums and prowling chords. Like a radar tracking unknown bodies in space, every pulsing wave brings with it a sense of foreboding and menace. “Demoon” is less eerie, and it finds Bog in a mood approaching playfulness, as slow motion grooves underpin an undulating groove and the kind of wistful dub shanty sounds that’s audibly inspired by Tikiman and Rhythm & Sound.
It only proves to be a brief respite from the prevailing mood however; Hot Flush artist Sigha’s take on “Minus & Plus” reverts to the sense of menace found on the original, while pushing it towards the dancefloor. A sinister, panning rhythm is the centrepiece, but the cold, almost detached percussive twists and sinister bleeps make this an unusual, eerie pleasure. Approach this release with caution and you’ll have a great time.
Kompakt have announced details of Kompilation, a selection of tracks from Jurgen Paape, the spotlight-shy co founder of the esteemed label based in Cologne, Germany.
Shackleton is undoubtedly one of electronic music’s most interesting and enigmatic characters. Having been there since the birth of dubstep, his elusive and shadowy presence, disregard for the media, hype and attention and obscure take on bass music have not placed him in the limelight. But in the words of Mary Anne Hobbs, “this is his time…”
Hot on the heels of the launch of his new label Woe To The Septic Heart and it’s debut release Man On A String Part 1 & 2 only last month, the Lancashire raised, Berlin based producer mixes the 55th fabric mix and in doing so cements his stamp on the series with a superb collection of predominantly unreleased tracks alongside material from now defunct Skull Disco (which he co-ran with Bristol’s Appleblim in the mid noughties), Perlon and Scuba’s Hotflush imprint. Inspired by his times at London’s flagship club, Shackleton returns to the tracklist from a set he played at fabric last year and in doing so blends dancefloor vibes with his unique, dynamic touch, focusing on atmosphere, mood and effect with masterful precision.
Abstract and enticing, the mix kicks off, rather aptly, with dubbed out roller “Come Up”, which stews in a sort of intoxicated haze of bongo drums and heady bass – a sound which is echoed again in “Visontele”. From here, we are taken through moments like the oceanic grandeur of “Operatic Waves” with disorientating narrative clips and swooshing atmospherics, via the tougher, contemplative cuts like “Negative Thoughts” and “Death Is Not Final”, with their focus on bass weight sculpting out a purposeful position. Later on we get the aforementioned “Man On A String Part 1 & 2″ which changes the pace again, as we move into the frenetic rhythms of “Busted Spirit” with its sense of being possessed or haunted by another, the glitchy mutterings coming more and more into the audible range as the track progresses.
The final passage marks a return to the murky atmospherics of the beginning, with eerie vocal snatches urging us to “let go…let go…let go”, unerring tribal drums and creepy atmospherics swirling around from beneath. Short, deftly positioned one-minute sonic sketches, such as the poetically titled “Moon Over Joseph’s Burial” and “Something Has Got To Give” join the dots between tracks. Elsewhere, clearly marked interludes make clear distinctions between parts. Overall, it’s a superbly sewn together collection of tracks, which echo and interact with one another throughout the eighty-minute duration.
Artist: Chamboche Title: Closer Label: Under The Shade Genre: Disco/Nu-Disco Format: 12", Digital
Since launching in early 2009, Birmingham’s Under The Shade has steadily built a reputation as a label with its finger firmly on the disco/house pulse. Thanks to a simple formula – pairing high quality original cuts from up-and-coming producers with interesting remixes from better-known talent – the JiscoMusic offshoot has rapidly become a ‘must check’ imprint. Whether releasing sparkly nu-disco or smoky deep house, Under The Shade rarely fails to impress.
For their latest offering, Under The Shade have turned to Nottingham’s Chamboche – the nearest thing the imprint has to a ‘label stalwart’ (it was he who provided the label’s first ever release). Lead cut “Closer” is an interesting concoction; a bongo-laden deep house/nu-disco fusion that quickly builds into a spiraling dancefloor headtrip. If Mark E made appregiated electronic disco, it would sound something like this. Flipside “The Show Must Go On” inhabits a similar headspace. Building the action around a chunky house groove, it utilizes some distinctly old skool Detroit synth sounds alongside the sort of touchy-feely pads that are guaranteed to give you goosebumps. It’s quietly uplifting – a bit like watching a distant sunrise from the comfort of a cozy seafront hotel.
As usual, there are a couple of remixes to tickle the tastebuds. While Moscow’s piano heavy nu-disco take on “The Show Must Go On” excites, it’s the Runaway Remix of “Closer” that really impresses. Continuing their recent forays into bumpin’ deep house territory, the New York duo offer up a bassy, retro-futurist rework that should cause serious damage on purist house dancefloors.
After a week in which we’ve cast fond glances back at our favourite labels, albums and more besides from the past 12 months, now is time for the pièce de résistance – our top 50 tracks of 2010. From sprawling disco chuggers delivered in one take to brooding techno, boundary pushing future bass and killer throwback house primed for sweaty dancefloors, there’s been something to suit everyone’s musical palette.
The collection you see before you are the 50 tracks that have soundtracked the past year at Juno Plus, and considering the site launched in late 2009 this serves as a neat little snapshot of where we are at. Our small team of contributors have all had a say, with the final list assembled through the kind of open, democratic process that would make Sepp Blatter blush. Some of the tracks included are obvious selections that will populate many a ‘best of’ list – and rightly so – but we’ve also taken time to include some of the less heralded but equally awesome tracks from 2010. Drum roll please…
Ace London imprint Young Turks continue their bid for world domination with the release of “Days”, a debut single from Creep which features a vocal contribution from The xx’s Romy and some Juno Plus approved remixers.
Artist: Theo Parrish Title: Ugly Edits Volume 11 Label: Ugly Edits Genre: Disco Format: 12"
We’re in the midst of the Theo fever at Juno Plus HQ with the Detroit don already provided the office with some staunch listening material in the shape of his Stop Bajon edit and Amerie meets Lil Louis blend. The real gold is delivered unto us in the form of the long overdue eleventh edition of Parrish’s highly prized Ugly Edits series some six years after the last volume. Anyone who’s worried their bank manager by indulging in previous Ugly Edits releases will know the score here, bottom heavy druggy refixes of some of Parrish’s favourite soul and disco tracks that focus on embellishing your senses with lustful energy.
The A Side sees Theo mess with “Peace Pipe” by BT Express, chopping the vocals up before dousing the groove in a swathe of echoey reverb and then ascending into the track proper. Real sweaty warehouse vibes on this one! The flipside sees Parrish tweak a long sought after standard from his DJ sets in the shape of “Mr Bump Man” by Jackie Beavers (which was also the source material for The Revenge on his recent 12″ for the Hometaping Is Killing Music label). A less frenetic counterpart to the percussive beast that is the A Side, Parrish’s version of “Mr Bump Man” is all about keeping that killer disco funk groove locked in, which is achieved with effortless aplomb.
Much deliberation, heated debate, banging of fists and vociferous dismissal took place within the walls of Juno Plus before we arrived at the list you see below. 2010 has been a particularly strong year for all strands of electronic music which is more than evident in the surfeit of genres included on this list. Each of these releases however are albums in the truest sense of the word; something you can pop on at home, in the car, wherever, and soak up over its entirety…
Moustache (Half A Scissor), the cultish second album from French producer Mr Oizo, will get released for the first time on vinyl via Flying Lotus’sBrainfeeder imprint.
Artist: Simian Mobile Disco Title: Delicacies Label: Delicacies Genre: Techno Format: 2xCD, Digital
It seems somewhat apt that Simian Mobile Disco releases this collection of Delicacies in the same week that the tenth edition of Kitsune’s Maison compilation drops; the duo of James Ford and Jas Shaw seemed ever present on earlier editions of the French boutique label’s annual collection circa 2006. Since those heady electro days led by the distorted riffage of Justeece, Simian Mobile Disco have drawn further away from this sound towards the raw primal techno thump that unfolds on Delicacies. Ostensibly this is a CD package rounding up all the vinyl-only tracks named after international exotic foods released by Ford and Shaw over the course of this year, and the nine tracks present demonstrate SMD in their element.
In no way is this Sunday afternoon easy listening material – the opening pressurised strains of “Aspic” make that perfectly clear, and the following eight tracks play out in similarly wall reverberating fashion. Resolutely hypnotic machine funk through and through that demands to be played in dark confined spaces with lots of speakers, the only drawback being watching SMD manipulate the tracks themselves as part of their special Records and Machine set is the best way to experience them. A welcome concession is made in the shape of an additional live studio mix CD containing all the tracks melded together by Shaw and Ford.
In news that constitutes a wet dream for nu-disco fans, Tensnake this week revealed that his “Need Your Lovin” track has been remixed by mysterious duo Tiger & Woods.
Artist: Bassanova Title: Chicken Lover Label: Grizzly Genre: Electro House Format: Digital
Upon unveiling plans for his record label Grizzly, Sinden outlined it would be “music you can’t quite put your finger on, stuff that sits between genres and puzzles you at the same time. Grizzly will bring this sense of unexpectedness, flitting between styles – it’s serious music without taking itself too seriously.” After releases from Wafa and Brodinski, Grizzly deliver on these expectations once again with the debut release from Bassanovva, the brainchild of two hardworking DJs in Toronto’s Grahamzilla and Brooklyn’s Jubilee. The former was the beat maker and DJ for electrocrunk boombappers Thunderheist, the latter co-curates the heavy bass and twisted club music imprint Night Shifters and promotes the Flashing Lights Brooklyn parties with Catchdubs and DJ Ayres. After years of friendship and shared appreciation of leftfield dance music, the duo start the real talk with Bassanovva.
The resultant EP which drops three Bassanovva originals and a multiplicity of remixes fully explores the sonic extremities of club music’s grey zone. “Chicken Lover” is a five minute dancefloor work out full of rooster noises, rave whistles and rolling sub bass augmented by a vocal proclamation of love for chicken over marching snares, clanking cow-bells and thumping toms. The three remixes included here push the vocal into other directions. Internet super-producer Munchi comes with a reggaeton inspired electro cruncher which contrasts nicely with Trouble & Bass’ latest signing, Samo Sound Boy, who brings an uptempo festival ready jam with squelchy synths and carnival percussion. Nottingham producer Hackman delivers perhaps the finest remix, bringing some UK garage flavour to the track.
Bassanovva go Jurassic on “Terrodactyl”, sampling a dinosaur-esque shriek and laying it on top of a catchy synth melody that’s intertwined with handclaps and toms that really thump. Nacho Lovers and Greenmoney go toe to toe on the remix front with the former paying homage to Chicago house and the latter delivering a bastard mutation of UK funky and hard house. Bassanovva round off this fine debut with the cinematic 140 BPM knocker “Ovva” which sits nicely alongside recent output from the likes of Jam City, Nguzunguzu and Girl Unit. Chicken Lover is an essential release for DJs or listeners wishing to explore the serious but not-serious grey zone of club music.
Artist: Delta Funktionen Title: Setup Two: Fusion Label: Ann Aimee Genre: Techno Format: 12", Digital
Delta Funktionen caused ripples of excitement with his Setup One: Decorum release a few months back, and here we see the Dutch producer return with his second Setup 12″ on Delsin sub-label Ann Aimee, entitled Fusion. It’s tough, raw and unrelenting – in other words everything you’d expect from a release bearing the name of Niels Luinenburg. Once again packaged in sublime artwork, “Devolution” kicks things off with some robust, industrial-strength bass, the result sounding similar to Karl O’Connor’s “Haiku” track on Sandwell District a couple of years back under the Kalon pseudonym. “Evolution” maintains a more linear progression, almost like early 90s Detroit techno recorded at a tempo palatable for 2010 ears, with a thumping, granite hard kick drum underscoring gurgling mechanics and tense snares interspersed by robotic bleeps.
B Side opener “Theatre” offers plenty of thrills, with beatless interludes building swathes of tension before dropping back into a rock solid banging throb, while “Conflict Data” rounds off the 12″ with on a more playful, spacey note, taking its cue from Jeff Mills’ Something In The Sky series and bathing it in a shuffling sunrise groove. He may still a relative newcomer to the production game, but make no mistake, Delta Funktionen deserves to be held up there with the big boys.
What makes a good record label in 2010? There are, of course, multiple answers to that question: some of our favourite imprints this year excelled because they lovingly dug up unappreciated gems from the past, restored them and made them available to a new generation, while others were totally focused on exploring hitherto unexplored terrain with new and exciting music. What unites them is passion; a group of hard working individuals who put a focus on quality over quantity (although some manage to do both), with painstaking attention to detail put into every lovingly packaged release. Without further ado, we present the Juno Plus top 5 labels of 2010.
Former Riot In Belgium and Bang Gang member Beni has signed on for a debut album with Modular that features guest spots from Ex Hercules & Love Affair and The Rapture alumni.
Artist: Brenmar Title: At It Again Label: Discobelle Genre: UK Funky/Garage Format: Digital
The more musically broad minded amongst us might recognise Brenmar as the glowstick wielding drummer from arch Brooklyn noise trio These Are Powers. A mainstay of the band over the course of their two albums and numerous EPs, this year however has seen Brenmar break free with his own productions. Early bootleg productions of Cassie and DJ Deeon cut an impressive swathe with taste maker DJs such as Ikonika and Bok Bok flipping them repeatedly, whilst media attention from The Fader and Dazed has added a sense of inevitable momentum.
Recent remixes for Teengirl Fantasy and Gatekeeper have set the tone for Brenmar’s debut EP, delivered courtesy of Swedish blog cum digi label Discobelle. At It Again draws influence from Brenmar’s hometown of Chicago but melds it to the rhythmic thrust currently coursing through the UK underground; taking a full helping of house and layering it with the percussive styles of UK Funky and a liberal dose of R&B vocal sampling.
The title track sets the tone, with some herky jerky synth work and extraordinary percussion the backdrop for a female vocal sample that announces Brenmar’s “At It Again”. Key Juke producers DJ Rashad, DJ Earl and DJ BMT collaborate on a remix of “At It Again”, injecting the track with some BPM fuel, embellishing the percussion with a frenzy of frantic claps and pitched toms. The sampled vocal is pulsed repetitively against the techno synths with a sense of ingenuity that reveals why there is so much attention on this niche Chi town genre.
From this heart racing moment, Brenmar introduces “Taking It Down”, notable for one of this year’s most infectious synth lines that in tandem with the sultry male vocal ride the rasping beat and throwback UKG bass with aplomb; this is likely to be a crowd pleaser. In contrast, “Like It Like That” revels in the dark menace that seeps out of the Dutch house synth work wrapped in jerked Dirty South rap vocal sampling.
“You Make Me Say” sits somewhere between the dark menace and sultry bounce of the previous two tracks, and is characterised by the infectious vocal. Ikonika and her Hum & Buzz label partner Optimum flip the track into a Dance Mania referencing future bass anthem. If Brenmar’s subsequent output retains a tenth of the quality that this release is soaked in, he’ll be a star.
So Fabric have just released the astounding blend of original material from reclusive Berlin resident and all round sonic wizard Shackleton that makes up their 55th Fabric mix.
The Tannoy Mercury V1 bookshelf speakers are the replacements to the award winning Mercury F1’s. The original, highly popular model offered superb performance and their successors do not disappoint.
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