Review: Nightmares On Wax relaunched DMC's 'Back To Mine' series after a 10-year absence in January, and now next to slide into the selector's hot seat are chart-bothering pop/indie-dance duo Jungle. They've curated an impressively varied selection of downtempo grooves that runs the gamut from the contemporary jazz of Kamaal Williams and Mansur Brown to the psych-pop of LA hopefuls The Marias, the Balearic disco of Admin's 'Space Cadet', the lo-fi George Harrison vibes of Paul Cherry's 'Like Yesterday', the deep tropical house of DrumTalk's 'Red Haze' and the sunny Afro-funk of Inflo's 'No Fear'. A whimsical, engaging collection that's best served whole for maximum effect.
Review: The latest volume in Local Talk's occasional reworks series comes from label regular Crackazat, who duly serves up a fine collection of mostly fresh remixes of back catalogue tracks. There's naturally much to admire throughout, from the rubbery electrofunk bass, drowsy piano riffs and cut-up vocal samples of the producer's revision of Art of Tones classic "The Rainbow Song" and a sparkling, riff-driven peak-time tweak of HNNY's loved-up "Tears", to wonderfully retro-futurist reworks of Deymare's "1990" and "Unconditional" by Terrence Parker, a re-imagining that's the epitome of feelgood deep house. Throw in a string of slightly jazzier revisions and you have a rock solid collection of cuts.
Review: This an altogether epic offering from Deetron; a vast collection of un-mixed tracks from his brilliant DJ Kicks mix (naturally included as a bonus cut) that is little less than a lesson in the evolution of techno over the last three decades. Amongst the 38 tracks you'll find fine representatives of a myriad of sub-genres (intelligent techno, dub techno, IDM, ambient techno, gospel techno, and so on), as well as past, present and future classics (Damier and Trent's "Morning Factory", Spacetime Continuum's "Swing Factory", Mark Ernestus's recent Equinoxx remix, the Motor City bliss of Rhythim is Rhythim AKA Derrick May's "Ka-o-tic Harmony", a brilliant old Black Dog Productions workout). In other words, it's a breathlessly brilliant collection of both well-known and obscure gems. It comes heartily recommended.
Review: Ibiza institution Cafe Mambo needs little introduction. Starting as a sunset hangout, it soon became a perfect venue for the island's pre-parties and has developed an iconic status worldwide. It has served up thousands of sunsets since it first opened it's doors in 1994 and here's Sunset to Afterdark: an expertly crafted collection compiled by the team behind the successful Future Disco series and Needwant label. This one takes you from those unforgettable sunsets to, like the name suggests, the nighttime where things really heat up. If there is one essential soundtrack required this summer, this is it. Highlights not limited to: Zero 7's sublime drifter "Last Light", Dutch trio Kraak & Smaak's emotive and bittersweet little ditty "Stumble" (Blue Hotel Mix) through to the gorgeous remix of Tempelhof & Gigi Masin's "Blue 13" by Declasse main man Steve Coby. There's even a bit of slinky and uptempo tech house from hot UK duo Dusky. Comes with two continuous mixes for your convenience: Sunset and Afterdark, naturally.
Review: From behind the counter of Amsterdam's Rush Hour record store, Young Marco has quietly amassed a worldwide reputation as seriously happening producer. Now he launches his own label, Sorry For The Late Reply, with a compilation that features all his best remixes. The mood is deep, percussive enchantment, with highlights including the spacey Latin shuffle of "Coffee Cola", the haunting fizz of "Snowball" and the new wave pop gem "Mys" by HNNY.
Review: Given the hype surrounding HNNY over the last few years - fuelled, primarily, by a string of celebrated singles on Puss, Local Talk, Let's Play House and YUMMY - it's somewhat surprising that Sunday marks his first foray into the album market. Wisely, the Swedish artist embraced the opportunity for eclecticism that the format provides, filling his debut full-length with a mix of tracks variously designed for sofa-bound listening and dancing in clubs. There's a jazz-flecked beauty to the crackly downtempo grooves offered up by the title track, while the dreamy, guitar-laced head-nodder "Sylvia" recalls the best of his Balearic-influenced work. It's these luscious moments, such as the twinkling ambience of closer "My Baby", that really resonate.
Review: In a bid to celebrate 16 years in business, Mallorca-based Garito Cade Bar has joined forces with the like-minded souls from Sweden's Local Talk imprint. The result is a collection compiled and mixed by resident DJ Nacho Velasco, featuring both well-known and previously unheard gems from Mad Mats and Tooli's well-loved label. While many people will have some of the better known material here - think Fred Everything's excellent "Brothers & Sisters (PM Atlantic)", HNNY's "Fr The Very Forst Time" and Kyodai's "Something Special" - it's the previously unheard selections that make it Music Joined Us worth investigating. Of these new cuts, it's Tommy Rawson's lusciously loose "7 Days" and Jesse Futerman's smouldering "Life Is A Gamble" - smoky soul re-made as Latin-tinged deep house - that stand out.
Review: For this latest instalment by House Of Records the compilation-focused label turns to Jeudi, a Hamburg-based operation that's been releasing laidback, often minimal and disco-tinged house since 2010. This 12-track compile features music from names like HNNY who provides a summery, Axel Bowman-like disco-house groover, while James Silk & Lee M provide some Ibiza popping, bassline house. There's also some downbeat disco from Lesale and some dubbier moves by Monitor 66.
Review: Johan Cederberg has enjoyed a productive year under his HNNY alias, dropping a trio of hush-hush 12" singles on Puss, as well as further acclaimed singles for Let's Play House and Local Talk. Here he returns to the latter with "Tears", arguably his strongest release of the year. The title track is deep, evocative and emotion-rich, offering up a sublime mixture of heart-aching vocal samples, unfussy, US garage-influenced beats and tactile electric pianos. It's subdued but rush inducing, prone to bringing grown men to tears (fittingly, we suppose). There's a woozier, deeper dub in the shape of "No Tears", while "Gymnastics" sees him impressively trotting off towards arms-raised disco territory. Not disco house, mind, just good, honest, string-laden disco.
Review: It's a sign of the ludicrously prolific nature of Mad Mats and Tooli's Local Talk imprint that this is their third compilation of label highlights this year. That the quality threshold remains impressively high is credit to their A&R skills. Encompassing revivalist US garage, twinkle-eyed deep house and enveloping groovery, Talking House Volume 3 is packed full of distinctive dancefloor highlights. Check, for example, the fearsome acid tweakery of Anaxander's breathless "My Aniseed Lollipop", the wide-eyed, piano-laden rush of Deep Space Orchestra's brilliant remix of The True Rebels' "Bitter Love", and the baggy, organ-heavy samba-house warmth of Tommy Rawson's "Don't Lose It". And that's just for starters. In a word: essential.
Review: It's not all that long since Local Talk's first Talking House compilation dropped. Given the sheer volume of 12" singles from the label - there seems to be one every week these days - it's little surprise to see this follow-up dropping in double-quick time. The label's best material has always been superb, and there are some real gems here. Check, for example, Dirtytwo's clever (and exceptionally well executed) fusion of HNNY's "For The Very First Time" and Midnight Star's "Midas Touch", John Mood's "Basement Romance" (clearly inspired by classic Mood II Swing), and Cle's colossal piano house bomb "The Jam". Oh, and the thrill-packed blast of Balearic magic that is Fred Everything's "Brothers & Sisters (AM Pacific)".
Review: Rising Swedish house producer HNNY scored one of last year's most ubiquitous cuts in the shape of "For The Very First Time" which appeared on his debut EP of the same name for Mad Mats' unstoppable Local Talk label. Yearning marks HNNY's long overdue Local Talk return and features yet another immediately infectious production from the Stockholm-based producer's armoury along with a superlative remix of his aforementioned hit. As soon as those warm keys wrap around the loose rhythms of "Yearning" you get an sense that HNNY knows how to craft a house production and the subtle vocal hook that comes swooping in will undoubtedly cause requisite chaos. On the remix tip, Local Talk's secret weapon Dirtytwo gets his 80s electro funk on for a blinding rendition of "For The Very First Time". Tiger & Woods would be proud of this one.
Review: Given the runaway success of Mad Mats and Tooli's Local Talk imprint - one of the first labels to go all-out on the '90s garage revival tip - it was probably inevitable that a compilation would appear at some point. Talking House Volume One presents a pleasing selection of label favourites (HNNY's "For The Very First Time", Will Maddams' "Stand In For Love", Gerd's remix of Mateo & Matos' "Maw Basics") and lesser-known gems (Fulbert's brilliantly uplifting "First Time House", Dirtytwo's Mood II Swing tribute "Moody", Andreas Saag's jazzy, string-laden "Back To Life"), with the odd unheard cut thrown in. Taken in context, it's excellent, and touches on many more vintage house and garage strands, whilst remaining current, than many similar releases.
Review: Having come to the fore via some rather divisive edits of Dorian Concept, Steve Reich and Mariah Carey, the Stockholm based producer HNNY serves notice of his capacity for original productions with this rather fine release on the Local Talk label. This fifteenth release for Mad Mats' resolutely deep house operation maintains the standards set by previous emissions, and it's easy to see why opening track "For The Very First Time" has already been embraced by HNNY's former overseers Studio Barnhus. That all too authentic take on the early 90s NYC house sound is a good primer for what to expect from hereon in, with the similar equation of pitched vocal snatches craftily twisted around infectious yet simplistic melodic motifs and thick bass lines also characterising "Apricots". Do check the percussive 10 minute long behemoth that is "Trummor" for an example of what else HNNY can do - an expert DJ tool in the mould of how they used to be done, back in those days.
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