Review: 2020 has certainly shown the world that unless we make the necessary changes to our way of life and save the earth - we may very well have no other option but to Repopulate Mars! And if you think our observations there are 'deep' well.. you'd best get a load of the tracks on 'Repopulate Stars Summer Jams'. Highlights not limited to: the sultry mood music of John Summit & Dead Space's "Dreams", Rone White & Rowen Clark bringing the afterhours minimal funk on "The Whistle", as does Miami's Kristi Yang on "Touch Me With Your Mind" (feat Ms.Chin). For bangers they have you covered too: Aussie larrikins Yolanda Be Cool are back with the cheeky and wonky slammer "In Your Arms" and the ever reliable Piem delivers tough rolling UK tech house for the main room on "Absolutely".
Review: Amsterdam Dance Event holds a special place in the electronic music community's calendar, and it just wouldn't be the same without the Toolroom family putting on a very special showcase for the industry and punters alike. The Dutch capital's clubbing culture is one of the best in Europe and there's only one place to be this October. They join the fun once again this year and this are kicking off the week at Chicago Social Club for an opening to ADE like no other. In celebration, Mark Knight & Co. anticipate the event with this solid collection of sonic arsenal with highlights not limited to: label staple Weiss serving up classic vocal funky house on "Let Me Love You" (extended Club mix), legends Dirty Vegas getting remixed by CamelPhat on the extended remix of "Days Go By" (which reaches near acid moments), the ever impressive Alan Fitzpatrick providing austere peak time tackle on banger "The Approach" and rising stars like Jacky (with Example) on the wonky tech house of "Another 24" and label newcomer Maxinne dropping the riveting main room thriller "The Message" amongst many more. Comes with two continuous mixes: the first by Romanian upstarts Sllash & Doppe and the second by Swiss scene hero Mendo (Clarisse).
Review: We're not sure if Lee Foss runs this operation from the sunny shores of Los Angeles or the barren landscape of the label's namesake - but this latest compilation is sure to bring the summer heat wherever it's played! Repopulate Stars Summer Jams features a who's who of international tech house at present, with a wealth of peak time and main room material not limited to: the ascendant UK star Jacky (with Skapes) on the tough rolling groove of "All My Life", the ghetto house referencing trippy banger by Berliners Mat.Joe that is "Sayhoo", through to rising Spaniard LumaK's gutsy stomper "Papparazzi" and Jay De Lys' infectious and potential anthem "Bad Soul" - which sees the Argentinean in fine form.
Black Girl & White Girl - "Mystikal" - (6:16) 129 BPM
Sosa - "Booty Shake" - (6:09) 126 BPM
Review: Repopulate Mars, the LA-based label headed up by Lee Foss and born out of the nomadic party of the same name, bring us their first compilation album, which features 18 house and tech-house cuts built with one purpose in mind: to get booties moving on dancefloors. Black Girl White Girl, Martin Ikin and Andre Salmon are among the better-known contributors but more undergound names make up most of the tracklist, and the overall mood throughout is fast-paced and energetic, with highlights including Ikin's Donna Allen-sampling 'Serious Talk', Mhod & Federico Ambrosi's phat n' funky 'Groovin' and the robotic techy stomp of Syap's 'Two Fifteen PM'.
Review: As per usual, the UK's Toolroom imprint has put together the definitive summer collection when it comes to tech-house and anything minimal. As you can see - and hear - there are 67 tracks on here, all from the very best and most coveted talent in the scene; Mark Knight features prominently, of course, alongside established house entities like Erick Morillo, Format: B, Sascha Funke, Nic Fanciulli, and many others. But, don't stop there, as there is plenty of new talent to discover in artists like SecondCity, GotSome, Marcellus Wallace, ANOTR, and many more. There are three continuous mixes available, also, one for each summer setting. This is BIG!
