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: The latest missive from Phonica's occasional Karakul imprint is a label debut from Lea Lisa, a French producer who has previously released on Wolf Music, Inner Balance and Mona Musique. She's in fine form on 'Keys of Life', a gorgeous, warming and musically expansive slab of classic deep house brilliance rich in mazy vibraphone solos, glassy-eyed piano riffs, hazy vocal samples and livewire synth-bass. Remixer Glenn Underground emphasises the latter element on his 'Esoteric Chicago' mix, reaching for spacey chords, jazz-flecked drum machine percussion and a stargazing deep house vibe. As you'd expect, the long-serving Chicago legend's accompanying dub is deeper, darker and more obviously sub-heavy, with plenty of special effects to enhance the druggy, late-night mood.
Review: Since making her debut two years ago, Lea Lisa has delivered a handful of quietly impressive EPs full of on-point deep house workouts. Here the French producer makes her Wolf Music label debut with what could be her strongest outing yet. "Something For The Dancers" is a deliciously melodious saunter through warm, heavily electronic deep house pastures rich in ear-catching motifs and eyes-closed piano solos, while "From Garage" sees her expertly joining the dots between rubbery nu-disco and late 80s, New York style garage-house. The accompanying remixes of "Something For The Dancers" are superb, too, with Kerri Chandler's bustling, near-perfect take on "dark" remix (which, of course, isn't dark at all but rather warm and immersive) just edging out the more hypnotic and synthetic Black Tone "reshape".
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