Review: The third volume of the Broken Promises series sees some familiar names reunited. Italian duo Hunter/Game deliver the brooding ambience of "Distance", while on "Electric Soul", Spanish producer Juan 'Reeko' Rico dons his Architectural cloak to raise the tempo with a tight, metallic rhythm track, punctuated by relentless bleeps and dense claps. Just This regular Pisetzky opts for a looser techno sound on "Anterial", as layers of evocative synths warble over a rolling groove. Having appeared on previous Broken Promises split EPs, Altman ends this release on a trippy note with "No FX". Once again, a rolling drum track prevails, acting as a backdrop for a mysterious melodic segue that leads the listener into psychedelic realms.
Review: This is the latest spilt release on Just This and it seeks to represent different sounds from a variety of artists. First up is Italian duo Hunter & Game. Inspired by the drums of Poker Flat and the mysterious trance textures of Donato Dozzy they conjure up "Dead City". Label regular PIsetzky follows a similar trajectory on "Self Dimension", but on this occasion the deep atmospherics were likely inspired by Detroit techno and the surging bass from the late 90s work of UK producers like Mark Broom. Finally there's Altman's "Assault"; dense drums and snares flail as he conjures up the spectre of classic hardcore and brings a dramatic end to this high-quality release.
Review: Innervisions' Secret Weapons series is always worth a look, if only for the opportunity it gives to delve into Dixon's CD wallet and see what he's been hammering over the last six months. As usual, there's plenty of Grade A material to enjoy, from the undulating rhythms and drifting chords of Hunter Game's "Ice", to the forceful electronics, woozy pads and dreamy vocal snatches of Flowers & Sea Creatures' picturesque "Overworld". Elsewhere, Nu Tone delivers some intense afterparty fare in the shape of "Rumble", while Ripperton reaches for the lasers on the shuffling deep house gem "Unfold". Arguably best of all, though, is Aera's "Freak Wave", a midtempo shuffler that boasts a wonderfully warm, organic feel, with rich percussion and fuzzy analogue synth-work.
Review: Emmanuele Nicosia and Martino Bertola aka Hunter/Game were already known thanks to their releases on Innervisions and Last Night on Earth. However, it makes perfect sense that their debut album, Adaptation, issues on Kompakt, the Cologne home to techno-trance experts like Gui Borratto. Certainly the title track's crashing drums and tunnelling melodies are reminiscent of Brazilian Borratto's most epic moments, but it would also be a mistake to assume that the pair are only interested in tripping the light fantastic. "Hexagon" sees them venture down a tougher, harder techno route while the reflective "Intro" and the slower, shimmering "Origins" show that Hunter / Game aren't a typical trance-lite outfit.
Review: With releases on Sasha's label as well as an album and Eps for Kompakt, Hunter/Game have a deep understanding of how to make melodic electronic music. This is apparent on the title track of their latest release, "Dead Soul". Over a stripped back, understated groove, the Italian pair conjure up a melancholic melody that sounds tailor made for Mediterranean sunsets. On "Isolation", the feeling is just as evocative, with Middle Eastern drones underpinning the Italian pair's subtle groove. Joey Anderson's version of "Dead Soul" doesn't depart much from Hunter/Game's approach, but does see the New York producer add in some dubbed out percussion and drums.
Review: Italian duo Hunter/Game released "Silver" in 2016 as the lead single from the album Adaptation, which has continued to be played and supported in a timelessness that Cologne institution Kompakt strives to find in the music it releases. Fast forward to 2019, they now deliver their live mix of "Silver" that brings a whole new dimension and feel to their hypnotic techno masterpiece - led by its seductive vocal, slinky rhythms and entrancing melodies. Also featured his a handy "Silence Live Instrumental" for those of you you not so keen on the female vocal.
DJ T - "Burning" (feat Nick Maurer - Art Department remix) - (8:58) 118 BPM
Dakar - "I've Got That Feeling" - (6:59) 126 BPM
Lopazz - "Share My Rhythm" - (5:06) 125 BPM
DJ T - "Philly" - (8:15) 126 BPM
Fuckpony - "Cell Phone Hit" - (6:09) 120 BPM
SIOPIS - "I'm On Miami" - (5:55) 126 BPM
Snax & Ianeq - "Fill Me Up" - (7:11) 121 BPM
Tying Tiffany - "You Know Me" - (6:23) 126 BPM
Chelonis R Jones - "I Don' Know?" (Starsky & Hutch remix) - (5:55) 131 BPM
Audiofly vs Big Bully - "I'll Tell Ya" - (8:10) 118 BPM
Jona - "Smart Cats Vs Dumb Dogs" - (8:22) 124 BPM
MANDY - "Word Don't Come Easy" - (6:47) 122 BPM
Voltique - "Whoop" - (8:36) 120 BPM
Sid Le Rok - "Naked" (DJ Koze remix) - (6:08) 120 BPM
Chelonis R Jones - "Mythologies" - (10:16) 125 BPM
Raz Ohara & The Odd Orchestra - "Kisses" - (3:20) 121 BPM
Various - "M.A.N.D.Y. & DJ T Present 10 Years Get Physical: Mix 1" (continuous DJ mix by M.A.N.D.Y.) - (1:10:36) 123 BPM
Various - "M.A.N.D.Y. & DJ T Present 10 Years Get Physical: Mix 2" (continuous DJ mix by DJ T) - (1:08:36) 121 BPM
Review: This compilation celebrating ten years of the venerable German label shows that its modus operandi doesn't focus exclusively on trance melodies and low slung electro house. It's certainly true that Get Physical excels at these two variants as the eerie synths and rumbling bass of MANDY's "Word Don't Come Easy" demonstrate, but this only tells part of the story. Soul Clap's "Incoming Bitch (Get Low!)" sees tripped out acid added to the low-slung grooves, while Fuckpony's "Cell Phone Hit" is all jazzed out minimal weirdness. DJ T surprises with the string-soaked "Philly", but he can't compete for sheer out there-ness with Raz Ohara's "El Zahir", a mad mixture of warbling ethnic vocals and dense, organic drums.
Review: Whatever you think about Hot Creations - and opinions are, of course, divided - you can't deny that Jamie Jones and Lee Foss's label has been a game-changer. Their combination of contemporary house grooves with classic house, disco, boogie and garage influences now dominates dancefloors the world over. This label retrospective tells the story of their runaway success between 2011 and 2012, offering up three hours of unmixed floorfillers from the likes of Waifs & Strays, Miguel Campbell, Burnski, PBR Streetgang, Jamie Jones and Lee Foss, plus a smattering of lesser-known gems. For those who missed the label's formative years, there's also a tasty bonus mix of early material from Russ Yallop.
