Review: Sasha brings us collection of tracks that have featured in his Spotify playlist series of the same name, which is oriented towards midtempo, contemplative but still beats-driven cuts spanning breaks, ambient and leftfield electronica. While much is being made of this "new direction", a more cynical observer might say it's the first CD of 'Northern Exposure' plus drums; all the same, there's much to enjoy here if you're in a laidback kinda mood, with standouts including MJ Cole's haunting, fractured 'Maestro' and Cortese's 'Circles' with its air of restrained menace. The album also includes two fresh cuts from The Man Like himself, 'Corner Shop' and recent single 'HDNI'.
Review: Manchester producer and vocalist Artche makes his way to Sacha's Last Night On Earth label with two originals and the fresh "Siren Chords" collaboration. Next to some solid, rocksteady and trademark Sascha break beats, Laurie Anderson-esque "Oh Superman" vocal expressions add a backing track to the tremolo-effected chorus of Artche lyrics in "Siren Chords". With warping effects and reversed synths pitched alongside the melancholic twist of the track's heavy bassline and trance-centric nature, pure production bliss meets seething nostalgic heat. With booming 808s pumping at full tilt in "Split Open", Artche's vocal here are reminiscent of the aching expressions in Junior Boys hit "Work", while yearning bleeps are furthermore soothed by the crooning tones of Artche's delivery and articulation in "One Who Knows". Mancunian master at work.
Groove Armada - "Wesley Nightshade" - (6:11) 118 BPM
Unkle - "Catch Me When I Fall" (Fabric club mix) - (10:49) 115 BPM
Review: This second 20 Years Of Fabric compilation presents a new arranged selection of the defining network of artists that have come to call fabric home. Taking in deep and atmospheric loops from Groove Armada to the light and sprinkled chords of Call Super, the sound of the Farringdon trips through the live and acoustic percussions of Margaret Dygas, the devastating hardcore cuts of Special Request and pure strads of drum and bass by Source Direct and J Magick. More recent tracks include the epic classicalisms of B.Traits acid-flecked "Mameya" to the industrial and dubbed out techno from Marcel Dettmann and Imogen. And not to be overlooked of course are bonafide classics from Unkle, Shackleton, Cassy and Sascha with "Comet Chaser".
Review: Berlin institution Watergate Records celebrates its 10 year birthday, with this special 50 track anthology of their favourite records. Over the last decade, the imprint has set a standard for captivating electronic music from across the house and techno spectrum, successfully mirroring the club's booking policy. Now up to over 60 releases including a remix of the Josh Wink classic "Higher State Of Consciousness" by residents Adana Twins, and the 26th installment in their acclaimed mix series by Danish legends Whomadewho - this compilation presents some of its most memorable cuts since its inception in 2008. Highlights come from: label staple Mathias Meyer - the Hanseatic hero presenting several tracks including "Love Letters From Sicily" with Ryan Davis, local legends Tiefschwarz on "Fire It Out" feat. Ruede Hagelstein, resident La Fleur getting remixed by Detroit legend Kenny Larkin on "Nightflow" and rising duo Adriatique's 7am remix of "The Spirit" by the ever impressive Butch (featuring Hohberg) amony many others.
Review: Earlier this year, Sasha - arguably the original "superstar DJ" - made his live debut at the Barbican, delivering a set to an adoring crowd that blended his recent ambient and soundtrack-inspired work with new interpretations of classic, progressive house-era material. Refracted: Live documents that performance, offering a thoroughly atmospheric trip that gradually moves from chilly, synthesizer-heavy soundscapes and moody downtempo grooves to peak-time dancefloor debauchery. Along the way, there's plenty of impressive musicianship, a pleasing variety of synthesized drum patterns, spine-tingling moments aplenty and a healthy dose of soaring, progressive house style euphoria. Long-term fans will particularly relish the life-affirming re-makes of "Bellfunk" (his 1999 riff on Orbital's "Belfast"), 2002 single "Wavy Gravy" and all-time-classic "Xpander", which fittingly draws the album to a close.
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: More than a few eyebrows were raised when Sasha returned last year with an album of previously unheard ambient and IDM cuts recorded over the course of his lengthy career. Here, that set gets the remix treatment, with a mixture of scene stalwarts and rising stars behind the mixing desk. While there are some gentle dancefloor revisions - see Max Cooper's melodious and atmospheric tech-house interpretation of "Channel Deq" and Matthew Dear's hypnotic, late night take on "Pontiac" - many of the most rewarding and entertaining remixes are those that take a more horizontal approach. In this category, you'll find Sasha's own rising, near symphonic version of "Pontiac" and a stunning, standout mix of "Abacus" by Warp Records veterans Plaid.
Review: On Scene Delete, Sasha has decided to flip the script, jettisoning his usual progressive-leaning club fare in favour of original productions that wallow in their largely beatless, ambient nature. In some ways, it's a surprise move, but in others, it makes perfect sense; his DJ and production style has always emphasized atmosphere and texture, making it perfectly suited for the ambient genre. Musically, Scene Delete has some genuinely superb moments, with the obvious Eno, Yokota, Namlook and Reich influences joined by nods to obscure new age records, early synthesizer pioneers and, on a couple of occasions, the glitchy IDM of Autechre.
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