Review: For several years, the team behind Lyon's Nuits Sonores festival has been building bridges between artists in Colombia and France, via a project that pre-pandemic organised Trans-Atlantic tours for electronic artists from both countries. When Covid-19 hit, they refocused on producing a compilation that showcases the work of producers and musicians from both territories. There's much to enjoy across Atlantic Stereo, from the terrifically intergalactic, low-slung post-punk boogie of Dani Boom, Cornelius Doctor and Tushen Rai's 'Transatlantic (La France C'est Pas Paris)', and the twisted, spaced-out psyche-chug of Veracco & Voiski's 'Full Friction', to the mutilated ghetto-house-goes-cumbia madness of Flore's remix of Ghetto Kumbe's 'Pide Mas' and the bleeping, hard-wired electro insanity of 'Despega' by Elo & Maelstrom.
Review: This is the first in a series of Five Eps from label co-owner Laurent Garnier, and this release gets off to a great start with "Sake Stars Fever". Redolent of classic material like "Sound of the Big Babou" and "Crispy Bacon", the track revolves around an epic, all-encompassing bass that seethes with tension. Garnier builds brittle percussion and a jittery rhythm around this core element to give it the necessary dance floor clout. In contrast, "Let The People Faire La Fete" is a deeper track that builds gradually, using doubled up claps and insistent stabs to reach a seductive crescendo. As always with Garnier, satisfaction is always guaranteed.
Review: Mysterious split release series COD3 QR reaches double figures with a fine four tracker. The label, which has previously put out music from Remotif, Agents of Time and JoeFarr, promise that it will reveal the identity of the producers behind this tenth volume in the coming months. In the meantime, it's all about the music:
"How D'ya Like Your Beef" is a grinding, low-slung electro jam, while in contrast, the fluid groove. purring bass and airy synths of "Poliritmo" and "Bye Bye" are reminiscent of producers like Vince Watson and Circulation. Meanwhile, "Internal" is based on a tougher rhythm and features more dystopian synths, which is sure to make the reveal fascinating.
Review: Laurent Garnier hooks up with Berlin producer Chambray for his first production in a few years. The fact that it has landed on Rekids is no surprise, as Garnier has been a longtime supporter of the label. In its original form, "Feelin' Good" sees the duo lay down a dramatic piano melody that surges and swells its way over a tracky rhythm and dramatic, building filters. It's both uplifting and functional. Radio Slave delivers two remixes: the first is a tough workout designed exclusively for maximum dance floor impact, while on the second 'Revenge' remix, the Rekids boss turns "Feelin' Good" into a thing of Balearic beauty thanks to the addition of rolling break beats.
Review: Having reached its seventeenth volume, the Total series is making its transition from adolescence into adulthood, but it has lost none of its youthful charms. Like previous editions, it features highlights from the German label's recent releases - including anthems from Laurent Garnier and The Orb - alongside some new gems. The latter category sees Thomas/Mayer deliver the tripped out, acid playfulness of "25", while Kompakt regular Superpitcher chimes in with the angelic vocals and skipping groove of "In My Head". Speaking of otherworldly moments, Jurgen Paape's "Always Disko" is a spaced out disco track from another dimension. Trends and fads come and go, but Kompakt will forever remain a constant, defined by its Total series.
Review: Long-standing German tech-house legend Steve Bug, founder of both Pokerflat and Dessour, returns to the latter label with something a bit special, and likely to satisfy all of your DJ needs. The producing don has taken it upon himself to remix a twelve tunes, all from different artists that have shaped the sound of house and techno as we know it today. You'll find Bug's retouches on artists like Simon Baker, Manuel Tur, and even Lovebirds. However, the special moments come from his sleek Re-Dub of Chez Damier's mythical house bomb "New York Dub", a stripped back edit of Laurent Garnier's "Whistle For Frankie, and the gorgeously deep swells of his remix of "Pensum" by Francis Harris. Masterful, and very much recommended.
Review: Don't worry if you weren't able to get to hear veteran DJ and Bedrock co-founder John Digweed's recent set at Treehouse in Miami's South Beach, because its all here for you to enjoy. There are a whopping 41 tracks included, spread over three mixes and also provided in their individual form including such gems as Agoria's moody synth-drenched reworking of Damian Lazarus' "Vermillion", the fuzzy Fairlight fancy of Solaris Heights's "Nightfall" and Digitaria's Art Of Noise-style electro jam "Little Boy".
