Korg’s new souped up Kaossilator Pro is the elder sibling to their Kaossilator, bringing lots of new and exciting features to the table, but can it live up to the legacy of it’s younger brother? Juno Plus investigates.
KORG Kaossilator Pro review
by Juno Plus on 17.03.2010 at 10:16amJames Blake – The Bells Sketch EP
by Juno Plus on 08.03.2010 at 15:44pm
Artist: James Blake
Title: The Bells Sketch
Label: Hessle Audio
Genre: Dubstep/Grime
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
21 year old south London producer James Blake certainly turned many heads in 2009 with one of the strangest yet most beautiful remixes of the Bass world with his rendering of Untold’s “Stop What You’re Doing”, championed by the likes of Mary Ann Hobbs and Gilles Peterson. Incredibly, this came from a man with only one solo release to his name, the dubstep-heavy “Air and Lack Thereof” on Hemlock Recordings. Blake, also a live singer with the group Mount Kimbie, is building on the momentum of last year with his new release on Hessle Audio, the label run by Ramadanman, Ben UFO, and Pangaea.
James Blake’s combined use of his own warbled, pitch shifted vocals and freaky, manic synths conjure up aural images of a Burial-Joker hybrid wonderkid. On “The Bells Sketch”, Blake’s eerie bent vocals unfold over backwards sounding synths and flickering cricket-like sounds that all collapse together over slow, throbbing thumps. On “Give a Man a Rod”, Blake mutates his voice even more (if possible) over serene rolling beats with more space in between. Meanwhile “Buzzard and Kestral” starts with snare hits that give way to harmonic yet disjointed sounds of voice and keys that playfully keep you listening for new sounds every time you play it. In fact, every time you listen to this whole EP, you’ll notice something interestingly different—quite a feat in the increasingly crowded world of bass.
Review: Steve Phillips
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Rodec/Sherman Restyler review
by Juno Plus on 04.03.2010 at 13:57pm
Rodec and Sherman are brands synonymous with producing high-end analogue equipment built to an extremely high standard. This means the build quality of their new collaboration isn’t really an issue. The real question is: does a hardware effects unit have a place in a modern studio or DJ setup? Ben Daly investigates.
Numark NS7 / Numark NSFX review
by Juno Plus on 12.02.2010 at 13:25pm
With Numark releasing their NS7 DJ controller last year and their brand new add-on, the NSFX effects controller this year, Juno Plus’ Ben Daly explores both offerings to find out what all the fuss is about.
DJ & Studio Equipment: What’s hot in 2010
by Juno Plus on 12.01.2010 at 16:31pm
From turntables to headphones, synthesisers to software – there really is a plethora of DJ and studio equipment on the market. So what’s right for you? Here Juno staff guide you through some of the must-have items for 2010… We’ve tried to include something for everyone, whether you’re a bedroom enthusiast or stadium-filling superstar.
Review: In Flagranti – Sounds Superb Volume 6
by Juno Plus on 27.11.2009 at 16:19pm
Artist: In Flagranti
Title: Sounds Superb Vol 6
Label: Codek
Genre: Disco/Nu Disco/Re-Edits
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
The imperious In Flagranti continue to channel their love of obscure 70’s danceteria, imaginary bands, anagrams and disregard for copyright laws with this, the sixth installment of their Sounds Superb series of edits. The somewhat murky nature of these releases means that the original source material is never disclosed, which delights the countdown loving disco trainnspotters and frustrates music reviewers in equal measures.
The standout track on vol 6 is “Psuedo Wind” by Sanda Doris, with a typically percussive beat combining with a vocal sample familiar to fans of L-Vis 1990’s best work before dropping into a male vocal cover version of Diana Ross’s wedding disco classic Upside Down.
The spirit of Melvin van Peebles is channeled throughout Exotic’s “Sip Lace”, a moog heavy blaxpoitation funkateer that is perfect early set fodder. “Fried Fence” is further demonstration of the Brooklyn duo’s penchant for slap bass and rough vocal editing and “Calico Quiver” takes the disco to the Carribean with a steel drum heavy two minute track that drops in disco strings to perk things up.
Review: Tony Poland
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DJ & Studio Equipment: Ableton Live Intro
by Juno Plus on 27.11.2009 at 14:53pm
Review: Clouded Vision – Neon Rain
by Juno Plus on 29.10.2009 at 09:04am
Artist: Clouded Vision
Title: Neon Rain
Label: Clouded Vision
Genre: Disco/Nu-Disco
Format: Digital (Juno Exclusive), 12”
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Clouded Vision consists of Turbo Recordings’ Matt Walsh and partner in crime Steve Cook, who in the past have donned their disco hats to remix the likes of Moby, Brodinski, We Have Band and The Golden Filter.
The London-based duo bring us their first full EP, Neon Rain, a superb piece of acid-tinged disco, already championed by the likes of DFA’s Shit Robot and French tastemaker Cosmo Vitelli.
The Astronomer (aka Alex Egan of Skull Juice) chips in with a superb, pounding remix, while Dissident’s Niallist offers a more cosmic take on the original.
Review: Aaron Coultate
