Review: In 2003, amid a shifting landscape of closing record stores and evolving electronic music genres, Phonica Records emerged as a haven for dance and electronic music enthusiasts. Founded by Simon Rigg, Tom Relleen, and Heidi Van Den Amstel with backing from The Vinyl Factory - Phonica aimed to be a welcoming hub for all genres. Starting quietly, the shop gradually gained a strong reputation, fueled by the founders' ties to Koobla Records. Phonica thrived in its early years by championing emerging genres like electro house and minimal-micro house from labels like Kompakt and Perlon. In 2007, the Phonica record label was born, evolving into a platform for both staff and emerging talents, featuring early releases by now-established artists such as Peggy Gou and Four Tet. In 2023, celebrating its 20th anniversary, Phonica showcases its journey with 20 Years Of Phonica - a compilation boasting 18 exclusive tracks from established and rising artists across the label's diverse musical spectrum. Hot tips include tracks by Willow, Dorisburg, Ron Basejam, Roman Flugel and more!
Review: This is not the first compilation to drop whose sole aim is to raise funds for NHS Chartities Together - R&S Records and Bass Agenda both delivered similarly epic sets - but "Care4Life" may well be the strongest and most diverse. As you'd expect, each one of the 45 tracks is previously unreleased, and the cast list reads like a who's who of dance music culture. Notable highlights include an ultra-deep, saucer-eyed number from Daniel Avery, an unheard rework of the Chemical Brothers' "Catch Me I'm Falling", a superb revision of Harvey's Locussolus project by Kiwi, Matthew Herbert in jazzy broken beat mode, a rare solo outing from Optimo's JD Twitch, a rip-roaring rave workout from Jas Shaw, and thumping peak-time bangers from Dusky, Eats Everything and Patrick Topping.
Review: For 'BORIV' read 'Best Of Relish 4', as Headman's label serve up another best-of collection, this time drawing mostly on the years 2009-2011. Featured artists include Daniel Avery, David Gilmour Girls and JR Seaton, as well as label boss Robi Insinna in both his Headman and Manhead guises, and the album comes packed with exactly the kind of angular, new wave-y nu-disco and electro you'd expect, complete with some new mixes to tempt long-term fans. What's most interesting, though, is that these tracks don't sound half as experimental or out-there as they did 10 years ago, which speaks to just how influential a label time has proven Relish to be.
Review: On New Energy, an impressive cast of artists remix UK producer Daniel Avery's original material. Representing German house music is Roman Fluegel, whose dubby, expansive version of "All I Need" fuses jittery keys with blissed out vocal samples. Surprisingly, Volte Face from the BleeD club delivers a similar deep house take on "Platform Zero", its chiming keys unfolding over sweeping filters. There is also an unexpected remix from Token's O [Phase], whose version of "Naive Response" favours a blissful, percussive workout rather than his usual, abrasive sounds. Silent Servant's take on "Spring 27" is one of the few real techno remixes with an insistent, stabbing chord and a rumbling bass prevailing, while Factory Floor's version of "Drone Logic" is a mutant disco dub, laced with bubbling acid and detached vocals.
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