First there was 'Machines', then there was 'Rituals', now comes Enei's third album 'Humans' and it's quite possibly his best and most accomplished one so far. Flexing from all-out rave fire ('No Man', 'Acid Shot') to slinky heads-down bubblers ('Move In Silence') to purring soulful vibes ('Show Me') to percussive hypnosis hurters ('Falling') and back again via massive grizzly dancefloor blow-outs ('Calm'), the London-based Russian maverick has delivered a serious trip that keeps things 100% dancefloor, fully heavyweight, fully DJ friendly but totally sick to listen to as an album experience. Nine thumbs up.
The Funk District strikes back with a brand new label that will take you deep down the rabbit hole with a mix of styles and original sounds, not to mention a global reach when it comes to talent. The very first release arrives with four outstanding mixes that combines a smoky blues flavour with laid back funk for uniquely soulful and danceable results. Mixes including a hot reworking from Italy's legendary LTJ Xperience and a smooth collaboration with Argentinian key wizard Sokur. A sumptuous, subtly disco-infused house mix completes the package with a flourish of funky guitar and languid Rhodes piano.
We've banged on about how much we enjoy Felipe Gordon's work before, noting that nearly everything he touches turns to musical gold. Predictably, his first outing on Clone's Royal Oak offshoot is superb, too. Opener 'Impresiones Acidas' is particularly impressive: a near-perfect fusion of hazy deep house, Tourist-era St Germain jazz-house and undulating, near psychedelic acid lines. It comes accompanied by a TB-303-free take, 'Impressiones' (where the original's luscious jazz guitar solos get more of an airing) and two bonus cuts: the sunshine-ready, jazzual deep house wonder of slowly shifting loop jam 'Can't You See' and the chunkier, piano-sporting deep house heaviness of 'Displacing Resolution'. In a word: impeccable!
A missive from Berlin this week courtesy of one of its scene's brightest stars. David Dorad presents part one in the "Murmel" series on Kiosk ID, the in-house label of Kater Blau (where he is resident) featuring club residents and assorted artists from the Holzmarkt 25 scene. We particularly enjoyed Canson's deep and dreamy remix, which creates the perfect backdrop for watching the sunset on the River Spree where the famous club is located, while acclaimed local duo Mira & Christopher Schwarzwalder take you deeper into the night with their serving of acidified dancefloor drama.
Almost a decade after the release of his last solo album, Marcel Dettmann delivers this follow-up. Unlike many of his peers, there is no concept at the heart of Programming, rather it's a reflection of a continuous period spent in the studio. This explains why it shifts in style, with its author never staying in one place for too long. "Suffice to Predict" is a dense, bass-heavy roller, while on "Renewal Theory" spiky Detroit rhythms prevail. These dance floor tracks sit between the ambient swirls of "Coral" and "Transport". Elsewhere, Dettmann explores Motor City influences, with the lithe electro of "Pxls" and the Juan Atkins-sounding brittle groove of "Water". The mood darkens on the droning, repetitive "Batteries Not Included" and "Selective Dissolution" but as the expansive title track demonstrates, Marcel Dettmann's music takes in many perspectives.
After a near eight-year hiatus, Andy Vann has reactivated his Auckland-based imprint, Grassgreen Recordings. The label's first release since early 2015 comes from long-term roster member (and bona fide house veteran Chris M Reed under a new alias, Mono/Loco. The former DiY Discs and 3 Beat Music artist is celebrating 20 years as a producer this year, and there's something pleasingly timeless about title track 'Step In To My Life', a chunky, low-slung house number rich in sampled horns, swinging beats, jammed-out electric piano motifs and sparkling, undulating lead lines. 'Minter 4 Tha Munter', meanwhile, boasts even more 'classic house' flavour, with warming keyboard riffs, tactile synth-bass and sultry synth-strings riding crunchy, unfussy, subtly nostalgic beats. No frills house music to keep dancefloors happy - what's not to like?
