Review: Mind Against have released on well-known labels like Hotflush and Afterlife - now they bring their distinctive sound to this collection for Fabric. "Freedom", the pair's collaboration with Dyzen, encapsulates everything that Mind Against are associated with; widescreen synths, dreamy deep house textures and crisp break beats. There are similarly hypnotic contributions from Yotam Avni and Marino Canal. However, this selection is not one-dimensional; it also features tough dub techno from Echonomist and Toto Chiavetta, as well as more left of centre selections like the organic, tribal drums of Aera's "Ketosis" and Red Axes' electronic disco, "Connector". That the Mind Against duo are able to integrate these disparate elements and put their own mark on the end result speaks volumes about their talents.
Review: If you can't remember Butch's 2010 dancefloor smash "No Worries" then where the hell were you? German label Cecille present a 2022 remastered and reshaped version here which recaptures the energy of this house classic for modern dancefloors. A remix comes from tech house underground luminary Toman (NO ART) where the Dutchman largely forgoes the infectious First Class vocal sample and takes the track deep into the afterhours on his rolling and bass-driven rendition.
Review: The cafe and sanctuary for first class chill out and new age vibes returns and it's always good to be back out on the terrace. And from the get-go it's a party with Der Dritte Raum, Beg & Steal Or Borrow's hook up with Bsb's Stella Polaris alone! Deeper still you'll find classic US house referential tracks by Butch, two trancey drops from Lake Avalon alongside some breathyand melodic bassline burners from Vhyce. A compilation that truly inspires that just after sunset feeling, with techier twinkles of star-light to boot - check numbers by Evren Furtuna & Gab Rhome, Jetlag and Kidnap, to Baril's deeply inspiring, breakbeat-esque and Laurie Anderson contributing "Lockdown".
Review: CircoLoco Records is a new record label forged in partnership with the iconic video game creators Rockstar Games. After four editions of colour coded releases, we now have the entire collection of 20 tracks compiled here in one package. From the Black edition there's the tunneling techno of Adam Beyer's powerful "Break It Up", from the Violet edition you have Margaret Dygas' majestic broken beat journey "Wishing Well", TINI with the neon-lit disco of "What If, Then What?" featuring Amiture (Green) and Sama Abdulhadi with the steely and hypnotic techno of "Reverie" taken from the Blue series - plus many more.
Review: As minimal house continues to hit the mainstream, there's no denying the likes of Rockstar Games and Ibiza hot house CircoLoco have something to do with it. Combining to create CircoLoco Records, it continues ist summer run of releases with a new various artist EP in Dreamin' Violet - featuring future classics from Luciano, Red Axes, Carl Craig, Butch and Margaret Dygas! With Luciano going deep, stripped back and minimal in "Mantra For Lizzie", Red Axes sends in a frenetic number of drum machine and synth laden mayhem. Carl Craig delivers a bass heavy, beat free and epic synth number "Forever Free", with Butch throwing down a stuttered rave vibe in the broken beat, drum and bass centric "Raindrops". With a slight Detroit mode surfacing too in Margaret Dygas percussive "Wishing Well", she keeps it slightly abstract to complete a package that presses all the right buttons - peak time or after hours.
Review: Future Disco invites you poolside and guides you through the long hot summer days, where the parties begin early and finish late. Taking you from lounging by the pool under the clear blue sky to sunset house, this is perfect for any laidback occasion. an essential summer soundtrack that features key artists such as: Dutch trio Kraak & Smaak who present the sensual lo-slung disco of "Don't Want This To Be Over" (Jean Tonique Remix), U.S. artists David Marston & Life On Planets who team up for the evocative deep house groove of "Contortions" feat. Hannah Noelle & Dan Izco, and Berlin-by-way-of Vancouver artist Jayda G who serves up the hypnotic Detroit vibe of "Rishikesh". Elsewhere, the ever reliable Butch delivers the main room dancefloor drama of "Lale", and Brazilian techno legend Renato Cohen makes his comeback on "Sweet Nightmare" but makes a departure from what we're used to on this funky house anthem. Also comes with a continuous DJ mix.
Review: Fresh from their fine collaborative single on Running Back - the rather heavy "Desire" - Butch and C.Vogt join forces once more for an outing on another admirable house imprint, long-running London label Freerange. In its original form, "Vogue" is undulating and gently mind-altering, with the pair wrapping angular electronic motifs, soft-touch chords and dreamy synth sweeps around crunchy, drum machine style percussion. Label co-founder Jimpster provides the headline remix, opting for deeper bass, warmer chords and oodles of layered tribal percussion, which Butch provides a "Bonus Edit" that seems even dreamier than the original mix. The EP includes another tasty bonus in the shape of Vogt's edit of saucer-eyed retro-futurism gem "Windeck".
Review: Berlin institution Watergate Records celebrates its 10 year birthday, with this special 50 track anthology of their favourite records. Over the last decade, the imprint has set a standard for captivating electronic music from across the house and techno spectrum, successfully mirroring the club's booking policy. Now up to over 60 releases including a remix of the Josh Wink classic "Higher State Of Consciousness" by residents Adana Twins, and the 26th installment in their acclaimed mix series by Danish legends Whomadewho - this compilation presents some of its most memorable cuts since its inception in 2008. Highlights come from: label staple Mathias Meyer - the Hanseatic hero presenting several tracks including "Love Letters From Sicily" with Ryan Davis, local legends Tiefschwarz on "Fire It Out" feat. Ruede Hagelstein, resident La Fleur getting remixed by Detroit legend Kenny Larkin on "Nightflow" and rising duo Adriatique's 7am remix of "The Spirit" by the ever impressive Butch (featuring Hohberg) amony many others.
Review: Burlent Burler is Butch - the Mainz-based producer's career has gone from strength to strength ever since his fabulous hit "No Worries" nine years ago on Cecille. Fast forward to now, his new EP Hijacking comes courtesy of Watergate: the infamous Berlin superclub where he is one of the DJs in residence. Go deep into the exotic with the Arabic charm of "Bepsi", which then gets a wicked makeover by ascendant Brit wAFF - this bass-driven groove rolls tough! He then goes back to the disco - Middle Eastern style - on the absolutely electric "Yallah!!!" which is followed by a great dub version for your convenience.
Review: Frankfurt house hero Butch is back on the ever reliable Italian imprint Rebirth alongside Cvogt - son of the renowned German violinist K.Vogt, He started as an academic student of piano and saxophone, but the discovery of electronic music gave new impetus to his creative personality. Butch saw the potential talent and they started to collaborate. This will be their second hook up since 2016's terrfifc "Bliss". Perhaps a reference to an estemmed Offenbach base club, "Live At RJ" is a melodic and emotional expression in deep house no doubt geared for weepy moments on the dancefloor. This is followed by a beatless Reprise which takes the vibe of ambient balearica that's perfect for back rooms or Sunday summer open air parties.
Review: There is no doubt that Butch aka Bulent Gurle is one of the biggest names in European dance music- and this release confirms why he is so popular. In essence, "Countach" is a re-invention of 90s German trance. Its central riff contains the same kind of melancholic qualities that the releases on Eye Q, one of Sven Vath's previous labels during the 90s, boasted. Allied with a buzz-saw bass, Butch now gives those melodic characteristics a tough dance food focus. Cocoon has drafted in Butch's peer, Kolsch, to remix the track, and he deploys a mean, rolling rhythm and prowling bass to give "Countach" a more contemporary flavour.
Review: It seems as if 15 years have just flown by since Berlin institution Watergate first opened their doors at the base of the famous Oberbaumbrucke, overlooking the River Spree and where long queues run down the street every weekend to get into one of the best clubs in the world. To celebrate their journey over the last decade and a half, they have put together a special anniversary release of 25 new, exclusive and formerly unreleased tracks. Residents of the superclub all appear, such as Hamburg native Matthias Meyer who teams up with Ryan Davis on the evocative "Hope", famed local duo Tiefschwarz deliver the slow burning and moody tech house of "Control", Sweden's La Fleur (of Power Plant fame) delivers the acidic bump and shuffle of "Femton" and former Stattbad resident and Beste Modus boss Cinthie gets deep on the classic house sound of "Hatschi Hatschi" which has a whole heap of swing to it!
Review: Up next for Defected's In The House series is the UK's DJ Haus, 'a decidedly untraditional DJ, producer, originator and DIY label innovator.' The Unknown To The Unknown and Hot Haus Recs boss has received big props from the underground house community and in Defected's opinion: he's an ambassador for the future of house music. Quite a compliment there! Serving up a a wicked collection of raw and jacking sounds that encompass electro, Chicago house, disco, techno and UK garage: and all very much on the lo-fi tip. The supporting cast on DJ Haus In The Haus is quite a remarkable one and musical highlights are not limited to: NYC hero X-Coast (who is fresh off a killer release on Underthesea) with last year's sleeper hit "Mango Bay", Aussie larrikin and Steel City Dance Discs boss Mall Grab with the wicked "Pool Party" through to stateside jams by Justin Cudmore - who gives us a taste of the acid life on "Forget It" and so does the master Matrixxman on the epic "The Spell" (Original Mix).
Review: As Summer peaks, Berlin clubbing institution Watergate brings you the brand new series where standout tracks from their discography are remixed by some of their favourite artists. Kicking off the first instalment we have Matthias Meyer and Jimi Jules stepping up to deliver their twist on two big tunes from heavy-hitters Butch and Henrik Schwarz. First up is Meyer's remix of Butch's "Shahrzad", where he dishes out a truly timeless piece of dancefloor euphoria. With his trademark organic groove and swirling pads, Meyer guides you through a heavenly journey into the distant reaches of sonic elation. On the flip, Jimi Jules brings his A-game with a revision of Henrik Schwarz' classic "Words In Return" and in the process demonstrates an incredibly mature restraint, with precise and calculated efforts which results in an enchanting trip.
Review: Two heroes of the new breed kick off a new mix series for Jamie Jones' esteemed Hot Creations imprint. Jones began Paradise at DC10 (Ibiza) five years ago and it's gone on to be a huge success, inviting the biggest names in the business to come play alongside his crew of residents. The first mix is courtesy of Toronto's Nathan Barato, a frequent collaborator with local heroes such as Carlo Lio and The Junkies and whose career has been on the rise with releases on Cajual, Saved, Circus and Defected. Highlights include the Derrick Carter classic "Where Ya At?" (Mix Originale), Makam's brooding "Loleatta" and Jared Wilson's rusty acid odyssey "Girl, I'm Waitin". UK talent Patrick Topping this year completed his third summer as resident at DC10 in Ibiza for Paradise. Here Topping showcases the sound and style of his sets with high energy from the word go. His mix features several of his own productions guaranteed for maximum dancefloor impact, as well as Metaboman's lo-slung and exotic "Next Please" through to Dave Clarke's massive remix of Jark Prongo's "Movin Thru Your System".
Review: Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers are really on a roll at the moment with their Tuskegee imprint. This time they've got Frankfurter Butch onboard for some sure fire tech house for any situation. "Jack The System" is a nasty acid excursion; the 303 workout on this is totally off the scale! Don't worry there's a "Jack a Pella" which focuses on those wonderfully.. well, jacking vocals. On the flip we've got "The Message" which keeps on with it's love of the acid life, but this one's deeper, darker and more of a journey track; think "Acid Eiffel" or something along those lines. Finally there's a "Message-A-Pella", of course for those of you more interested in the tough guy monologue.
Review: German house hero Butch is back on the scene and doing what he does best: cleverly sampled disco house tracks reminiscent of his 2010 breakthrough hit "No Worries" on Cecille. "Dope" is filtered funky house at its finest, reminiscent of late noughties anthems by Brian Tappert and Eddie Amador, while "Praise The Lord" samples James Brown and Todd Terry at the same time on this cheeky, funked up hoedown that ticks all the right boxes. This will have just as many girls as boys on the dancefloor. It's imperative!
Review: Some DJs use the opportunity of a DJ Kicks mix to showcase the eclectic nature of their record collections, while others see it as a chance to give an airing to the dancefloor records that have inspired them over the years. Seth Troxler's selection sits somewhere in between. On the one hand, there are impeccable jazz and downtempo moments from the likes of Sun Ra, Herbert (as remixed by Phil Parnell) and DJ Koze, whose "Bodenweich" is an undeniably atmospheric, off-kilter delight. On the other hand, Troxler has picked out some genuinely brilliant, mostly US-centric house selections; deep, soulful and bumpin' fare from the likes of Butch, Kerri Chandler, Jasper Street Company, Mood II Swing and Derrick Carter.
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