Review: Canada born, LA based Syney Blu has been making serious waves over the past few months on both the DJ front and with singles 'Another Late Night' and 'Chemistry'. Merging the genre barriers of trance, house, and electro and fitting in very well with the edm explosion stateside. 'Nightlight' ticks the boxes of all the aforementioned and with the tried & tested talents of Betsie Larkin on lyrics and vocals the whole thing is most definitely lifted up a gear. There is much more depth to the production and musicality then some of her previous, and the trance influences really shine through more so than house. With everyone from Bobina and Ashley Wallbridge to Ian Carey and Fedde Le Grand supporting, it look set to be rocking the clubs for a while.
Review: Steve Lawlor's Viva Limited dropped the first Club Cuts compilation about a year ago, making quite an impression with its 12-sizzling house and techno jams. Here's a teaser for the follow-up and the line-up seems real strong. First up label fave Claire Ripley looks to early Chicago for the pumpin' "Jackanory", the mighty David Keno hooks up with Dalson for the bouncy tech-house "Honey Boo Boo", a track that benefits from the retro synths stabs and soulful vocal snippets. Lastly Sydney Blu closes with the stomping "Momento" a big room banger if ever there was one.
ONNO, Lewis Boardman - "Lost In Space" - (7:10) 125 BPM
Athea - "Lazarus" - (6:07) 123 BPM
Rafa Barrios - "Physical Beat" - (8:23) 124 BPM
Review: Ahead of the annual ADE, Hot Since 82's label has compiled an exclusive seven-track release. It starts with Romano Alfieri's "The Flagman", a rolling chord-heavy slice of filtered techno that breaks, drops and builds in all the right places. Vibe Killers' "Means of Escape" sees the tempo slowing down to focus on the house sound of New York as tribal drums underpin muffled vocal chants. The sampler swings back towards techno as Montel Citizenn drops the dense rhythm and trance-y synths of "I Feel So" - which, rather fittingly, has echoes of the classic Dutch techno record, Timeless Altitude by Secret Cinema - while Sydney Blu's "Mind Games" is more contemporary sounding thanks to its rolling snares, shrieking siren riffs and wild build-ups.
