Review: Although still best known for delivering high grade reworks and re-edits, Adesse Versions has previously released some killer original productions, too. Predictably, the three sample-heavy house jams included on this debut Delusions of Grandeur experience are pretty darn hot. Check, in particular, the Clavinet-heavy Blaxploitation bounce of "Pulp Fusion", where sampled '70s instrumentation rides a bouncy, filter-flaunting house groove. Or, for that matter, the lolloping, undulating, glassy-eyed sweetness of the sun-kissed, extra percussive "Fade Out", which makes use of elements from a particularly Balearic disco record. Flip to the B-side for "Raw (Live Edit), a bustling, big room friendly jack-track that sounds like a long lost David Morales Red Zone Dub.
Review: Adesse Versions is undoubtedly a canny fella. Few others would have thought have re-casting Yardborough & Peoples' "Don't Stop The Music" is a sweaty acid jam, but that's exactly what he's done here. It sounds like he's replayed the bassline on a TB-303, accompanying it with clattering drum machine percussion, wonky acid lines and a plethora of delay-laden vocal samples. It's a simple idea, brilliantly executed. Elsewhere, he cuts up a well-known, disco-era soul groover and turns it into a chunky house loop-jam ("Slide"), before beefing up the beats and reaching for the TB-303 once more on disco-acid stomper "Kameleon". File under: guaranteed party-starters
Review: Heist Recordings brings down the curtain on another successful year with their now traditional Roundup release, an expansive EP featuring "family remixes" of material released over the previous 12 months. As usual, there's much to enjoy, from the cheery, disco-tinged goodtime bump of Detroit Swindle's rework of Obas Nenoor's "Wakee", to Frits Wentink's jazzy, lo-fi, swinging deep house remake of Detroit Swindle's "Future Imperfect". Other highlights include a skuzzy, acid-fired interpretation of Nebraska's "It Won't Be Long" by Nachtbraker, and Nebraska's sunny, jammed-out fix-up of Frits Wentink's "Rising Sun, Falling Coconut". Best of all, though, is Ouer's remix of Nachtbraker's "Pollo Con Pollo", which boasts twinkling electric piano solos riding a thrusting analogue bassline and breezy disco guitars.
Adam Port - "Tonight" (Adam Port 12" Autobahn edit) - (6:14) 122 BPM
Skatebord - "The Bells Of Mist" - (9:29) 111 BPM
Tensnake - "Freundchen" - (6:11) 121 BPM
Pale Blue - "The Math" - (5:50) 124 BPM
Sandboards - "Nothing But A Freak" - (5:16) 120 BPM
Cubenx - "First Wave Front" - (7:24) 122 BPM
VIMES - "Mind" (Reprise) - (8:45) 115 BPM
Various - "Future Disco Vol 10: Complete, Repeat, A Disco Drama" (continuous DJ mix) - (1:08:46) 120 BPM
Review: The Future Disco crew has described this tenth volume in their popular compilation series as "the closing of a chapter". In effect, though, it's business as usual, with the un-credited compilers gathering together their usual mix of nu-disco, Balearic-minded floor-fillers, and house cuts inspired by original disco and boogie. Among the many highlights you'll find the deep disco wooziness of Snacks' "Matinee", a throbbing Tiger & Woods remix of Kraak & Smaak's "Way Back Home", the bombastic disco-techno of Adesse Versions' "Explain It", and some Italo-disco influenced Scandolearic business from Skateboard. Oh, and DJ Koze's anthem-like Disco Edit of Lapsley's "Operator", which is undoubtedly one of the dancefloor success stories of 2016.
Review: By his own prolific standards, 2016 has been a relatively quiet year for Adesse Versions, AKA hyped producer Kevin Gorman. Happily, Push It Along was worth the wait. You'll struggle to find a track with as much pent-up energy as opener "Tout It" - think spiralling, constantly building synthesizer motifs, electronic bleeps and a dense, bass-heavy rhythm track - while "E to E (Original Mix)" joins the dots between filter-heavy disco house and more muscular, warehouse-friendly vibes. Elsewhere, he doffs a cap to Theo Parrish on the jazzy deep house thrust of "Push It Along", before finishing with the deep, dreamy, dubby and beat-free warmth of "Ebony Roses".
Review: Mancunian Kevin Gorman is back with some more lo-slung soul excursions as Adesse Versions. Although usually appearing on his own eponymous imprint or for Glasgow's Numbers, he appears this time for Berlin's Toy Tonics. Starting out with the emotive and dusty deepness of "After Hours" (which soon introduces the most phased and psyched out guitar lick ever) there's then the thumping yet soulful vocal house of "Radio Rahman" with some seriously Kerri Chandler style keys. Closing out this EP in style are the filtered disco loops of "Explain It" which is so infectious and would make even DJ Sneak or Phil Weeks stand up and notice!
Review: Manchester's Kevin Gorman really found his sound with the Adesse Versions project, mixing the dark and techy sensibilities of his old Mikrowave imprint with his love of house music to stunning effect. "That's What Friends Are For" is testament to this, featuring seductive vocals used sparingly backed by dark strings and a razor sharp bassline that'll set any dancefloor on fire. The dub version up next is quite handy for those of you not keen on the vox. "In The Sticks" injects some latin flair with layer upon layer of rich and exotic percussion not limited to steel drums and congas with some rich synth tapestries to boot. The kind of track you could imagine Derrick May or Laurent Garnier playing mid set; it's a sweet one.
Review: Few deep house producers are quite as hot right now as Adesse Versions, whose lovingly executed bootleg reworks and original productions have proved hugely popular in recent times. Here, he pops up on Local Talk, providing more lushly produced deep house gems for discerning DJs. Opener "Wash My Soul" impresses from the off, with bold synth riffs and sparkling electronics building in intensity over a chunky groove. The saucer-eyed "The Light" is a touch deeper but no less immersive, with mangled vocal samples rubbing shoulders with swirling pads and twinkling pianos. Finally, he makes great use of a joyous, life-affirming vocal sample on the deliciously positive and upbeat "Thank U". It's arguably the pick of a very strong bunch.
