Review: Following the release of Part 15 during the summer, Innervisions drop the latest secret weapons that feature in Dixon and Ame's sets. With a focus on vocals and woozy melodies, this collection captures the energy of the Innervisions owners' DJing. A case in point is the flowing groove and haunting tones of Ivory & Filippo Nardini's "Could You Feel The Love" or Hardt Antoine's woozy, acid-frazzled and appropriately named "Inside Your Mind". On other occasions, the collection veers close to pop territory, audible on the electronic groove of Cipy's "Trip" or flirts with 80s synth pop and electronic disco on Samantha Loveridge's "The Pusher". But no matter the direction, like all previous selections, Secret Weapons 16 makes for essential listening.
Review: Running Back's popular multi-artist series returns. As with its predecessors, EP six boasts a wealth of previously unreleased treats from label regulars and hand-picked guests. The EP begins with a deliciously colourful piano house explosion courtesy of Llewellyn ('For The Weekend') and ends with the tactile, mid-80s, Pet Shop Boys-esque instrumental synth-pop excellence of Senor Chugger and Count Van Delicious's amusingly titled 'Micket's Vegan Fillet'; in between, you'll find some dark, driving and percussive sweatiness (the rave-igniting 'Radius' by Ede), a dash of EBM-goes-electroclash (Zillas on Acid's 'Pleatherhead'), a spot of Latin freestyle-meets-proto-house fun (Stereocalypse's 'Mad Theory') and a storming, hard-to-pigeonhole chunk of retro-futurism by Storken and Hammer ('Marabou').
Review: The second of the three part EP release by Danish electronica legends WhoMadeWho (and their new Watergate 26 mix) finally arrives. This edition features German ethereal tech house hero Tim Engelhardt's "Under Armour", Echonomist's delivering some moody dancefloor drama on "At The End Of The Day", right through to the artists themselves delivering a stellar remix of Magit Cacoon & Lonya's "Shma IL" which is adrift in layers of intoxicating melodies. Finally, French enfant terribles dOP arrive with their new one "Radiowaves" which will take you deep into the exotic with its tribal rhythms, charming vocals and seductive orchestral arrangements.
Review: Although there's always been some subtle variety within Innervisions' output, Dixon and Ame's imprint has become known for a particular type of grandiose, tech-tinged house. Props to them, then, for releasing this EP of arpeggio-driven, 1980s style Italo-disco created by contemporary Italian producers. Muscemi and Phunkadelica kick things off, first layering exotic Middle Eastern synthesizer melodies over druggy arpeggio lines on "Babilonia", before slowing the tempo a little via the ghostly tunefulness, robotic vocals and chugging bottom-end of "Velluto Blue". Stereocalypse then takes over, serving up two more killer cuts: the long, bold chords, slap bass and rush-inducing melodies of "Lone Solo Drummer", and the Rimini '84 pomp of the arguably superior "The Cunning Man".
Review: It's that time again: Berlin institution Innervisions returns and rounds up this year's melodic techno futurists on Secret Weapons' tenth edition. Indeed it's a big one, but not with the usual suspects, would you believe. Take for instance Marc Romboy: the German tech house legend behind the respected Systematic imprint appears with the spacey and euphoric dancefloor drama of "Infrared", rising star of the Berlin scene Nitam (previously on Ostgut Ton sister label Unterton) appears also with the seething, late night adrenaline of "JS/42" which nails that Panorama Bar vibe so nicely. Elsewhere, the always impressive Southern Italian duo Underspreche make a welcome appearance with "From The Exotism To The Future" yet another example of their contorted take on Afro house, while minimal don Marc Houle reappears, with a nifty rework by German power duo Frankey & Sandrino on the epic journey of "Paligama"
Review: Stereocalypse is a relatively new act, but clearly its members have a lot of experience, which they combine, according to their brief biog, with 'analog feel and modern textures with no cares (sic) for rules'. Certainly, the title track is unusual; it sees the duo lay down a rolling techno groove to underpin the kind of evocative trance melodies that have always been at the heart of Get Physical. On "Little Sad Orchestra", Stereocalypse lower the tempo, while simultaneously, the mood becomes more serious. Led by insistent hi hats and a dense bass, the sound is gloomier and the melodic flourishes imbued with a spine-tingling sense of melancholy.
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