Review: Having previously released well-received material on Moon Harbour Recordings, DFTD, Get Physical and Rebirth, Emmanuel Satie arrives on Crosstown Rebels with a rising reputation and a delightfully intoxicating EP. As the title suggests, the Frankfurt-based producer has drawn influence from the traditional music of Ethiopia, layering sampled percussion, voices and instrumentation atop chunky, low-slung tech-house grooves. The formula works wonderfully on opener "Injera", a co-production with Ninetoes featuring feverish flute solos and indigenous vocal yelps from Tassew Wendim. Mowgan lends a hand on "Argew Neka", a bouncier and more obviously tech-tinged affair that makes exemplary use of traditional Ethiopian vocals. Matador remixes, turning the cut into an ultra-psychedelic, acid-fired chunk of trippy late night hypnotism.
Review: Stuttgart's Ninetoes has garnered a catalogue of great releases and remixes on acclaimed labels such as Crosstown Rebels, Saved, Suara and Mobilee of late, in addition to running his own outlet Head To Toe. He can now add the ever reliable Hot Creations to the list, where he brings his best on the sun-kissed and mesmerising loops of "Same Same", with its addictive vocals and infectious keys hypnotising you into submission. A second offering arrives in the form of "Feel It", a tough rolling UK tech house inspired cut which is aimed squarely at the moon room dancefloor.
Review: Ozgur Yelmen aka Ninetoes steps up for his third EP on Moon Harbour in as many years. As Stand Up shows, he is rightly at the fore front of minimal house's resurgence. The title track is an unusual combination of rickety percussion, white noise break downs and the kind of melancholy, sun-dappled melodies that you'd normal associate with Border Community or Dominik Eulberg. By contrast, "Be" is a straighter affair, with Yelmen delivering a chugging, linear groove and a pitch-bent vocal sample exhorting the listener to 'be who you want to be'. Add to this a rolling, percussive version of "Be" from label owner Mathias Tanzmann, and you have an impressive minimal release.
Review: Stuttgart's Ninetoes continues on with his musical winning streak, with a killer for Leeds based Gruuv. Rest assured that this is a tough and rolling affair for the main room, but they can trust the DJ on this one. After all, he's had releases on top labels such as Saved, Mobilee, Toolroom, Snatch and Noir to name but a few. The shuffling and sleazy boompty bounce of "Big Boy" gets followed up by a sick remix by Italian legend Davide Squillace - which injects more peak time power into proceedings, complete with some big drops and even some Caribbean style steel drums for good measure! Finally "Drip Trip" (original mix) takes things down a deeper, minimal and hypnotic path - this proper heads down groove reaches near tribal moments and is perfect to take the crowd into the late night.
Review: Ozguar "Ninetoes" Yelmen has barely put a foot wrong of late. Here, he continues his fine run of form with an EP that pays tribute to his Persian roots in a number of different ways. There's an undeniably exotic feel to standout opener "Bonita", where Yelmen peppers a bouncy, bass-heavy, jazz-flecked groove with a combination of fluttering Turkish flute lines, falling melodies and glitchy electronics. There's more than a hint of the Orient to be found on "Omur", where wonky, Villalobos style percussion and intoxicating vocal samples rise above an hypnotic tech-house groove, while "Define" sees him drag tech-tinged deep house through an Istanbul market kicking and screaming.
Review: German rising star Ninetoes returns after stellar releases on the likes of Saved, Kling Klong and 'that' collaboration with none other than Fatboy Slim! Now he brings in the goods for Matthias Tanzmann's esteemed Moon Harbour out of Leipzig with "All Night Long". This deep and soulful tech house journey uses one absolutely dramatic build up and perfectly delivers the message before the drop comes; delivering one dark and tunnelling epic. Homeboy Sante gives an equally stunning rendition with just as much suspense, but much more adrenalised and druggier with that ping pong delay breakdown in full effect. Finally, it wouldn't be a complete Berlin affair without local hero Re:You making an always welcome appearance. His remix going for something much deeper, drifting and stripped back: absolutely perfect for that morning set at Kater Holzig or Ritter Butzke.
Review: Will 2015 be remembered as a year when the vocal prevailed in techno? It's impossible to tell yet, but there are already a number of techno records out that draw heavily on vocals - and Ninetoes' Papaa is one of them. With a background in hip-hop, it's not surprising that this veteran German DJ and producer loves the sound of the human voice. On "Jiving", he sets a smart call and response approach against the backdrop of loose tribal drums, but the title track is more impressive. Faster and more furious, its dense drums and insistent stabs play host to a vocal sample that gradually becomes more prominent as the track progresses. It's not a new trick, but it's a hugely effective one nonetheless.
Review: Stuttgart's Ninetoes released his hit "Finder" back in 2013 on Kling Klong. With its sample of Ralph MacDonald's "The Path", this funked-up afro house jam gets some commemorative reworks by some top stars. The mighty Carl Cox steps up to the challenge first for a rare remix - and indeed the don of dance music does not fail to deliver the goods. His moody and atmospheric rework is purposely engineered for main room dancefloor drama. Next up is former m_nus affiliate and now Rukus main man Matador; the Irishman delivers a groovy, acid inflected tech house rendition which isn't as dark as some of his more recent efforts - it's even refreshing.