Review: Following the First Contact release back in 2020, Cologne's Tim Engelhardt returns to Poker Flat Recordings with a new EP. In the meantime, the acclaimed producer/DJ appeared on many other esteemed labels like Stil Vor Talent and Watergate Records, showcasing his unique approach to deep tech house. "Follow" is a fine example of such; an emotive composition with slight hints of jazz and electro making their way into its smooth, four-to-the-floor formula. Second offering "Burning" is more straight-ahead but takes a darker turn, led by its infectious melodic bassline and hypnotic atmosphere.
Review: Maga's first '...and friends' compilation on Children of the Future, which appeared in the summer of 2020, was an expansive, 36-track beast that boasted a wealth of high-grade material from a mixture of established producers and rising stars. This belated sequel is a little more manageable - a solid 13 tracks this time round - but no less alluring. In fact, such is the high quality level throughout, picking highlights is tough, though our current favourites include the druggy, chugging dancefloor psychedelia of WhoMadeWho's 'Panopticon', the gently melodious and uplifting progressive house revivalism of Tim Engelhardt's 'Insides', the All Day I Dream style melodious dreaminess of MIICHII's 'Together', the Afro-tinged tropical house bounce of 'Modern Liquidity' by Rapha Fernandes and the warming, wall-of-sound roll of Maga's 'Tell Me'.
Review: German wunderkind Tim Engelhardt returns to Watergate to follow up 2020's Rooted EP. The Cologne-based producer was prolific throughout 2020, seeing the release of the LP Idiosynkrasia on Stil Vor Talent, and remixes for the likes of Trentemoeller. From the sublime deep house stylings of the title track, which is as glassy-eyed and bittersweet as it gets, there's also the sunny and uplifting open-air vibes of "Polygon Particles" with a strong influence of Afro house and an innate soulfulness. Finally, Engelhardt executes one more expression in perfect dancefloor drama on "Connected in Silence", guided by a wonderful melodic progression and underpinned with moody elements which intensify the track's overall tension and suspense.
Review: German house wunderkind - his first single dropped when he was just 14 years old - and Poker Flat regular Tim Engelhardt comes to Watergate with a three-track EP. The title track 'Rooted' is by far the standout: with its nagging three-note synth bassline, this dark, hypnotic throbber should serve you well pretty much anywhere that house music is played! Elsewhere, 'Brought To Bare' and 'Future Matter' are perhaps more specific to the prog/melodic floors but just as accomplished in their production, with a hint of an Italo/disco sensibility nudging 'Future Matter' into the Silver position.
Review: It has certainly been a big year for German veteran Steve Bug, who celebrated 20 years of his famed Poker Flat label and the recent release of "Mantis On The Moon" with UNER. Collaboration is clearly his thing, and once again he's made the right choice of studio partner, this time in the form of Koelsch wunderkind Tim Engelhardt - himself a Poker Flat staple - they both stare directly into the "Eyes Of The Python" here for Sasha's ever reliable Last Night On Earth. From the slinky and hypnotic sensuality of "River Of Babylon" which offers up something more uplifting, to the sinister atmospherics of the title track which is perfect for those heads down moment during the warm up set - or the end of the night alike.
Review: Since its inception in 2015, Jeremy Olander's label and event series, Vivrant, has become a home to new and established artists such as Khen, Finnebassen, Henry Saiz and more - all presenting their unique take on melodic house and techno. Now it is releasing its first ever mix album for Melbourne's Balance Music - and also happens to be the first in Olander's career thus far. With this long overdue project, he is bringing two discs of exclusive music from himself (under his darker techno alias Dhillon), and friends such as La Fleur, Ejeca, Locked Groove, Marino Canal and Tim Engelhardt, in addition to newcomers like A Friend Of Marcus and Carl Dern. Olander stated that the mix 'encompasses what the label sounds like in 2019 and beyond.. a true manifestation of our style, and what it's grown to become in the four years since we started.'
Review: With a considerable catalogue that includes releases on Poker Flat, Tim Engelhardt now debuts on another German dance music institution, Watergate. In keeping with the melodic sound that the sister Watergate club champions, "Rhy" is a wonderfully esoteric affair. Supported by crisp kicks and tight percussion, Engelhardt lays down hypnotic synth riffs, accompanied by a throbbing low end. It's exactly the type of track that will resonate at the Berlin club. On the flip, "When The Sun Illuminated Her Eyes" is a more woozy affair; led by rickety drums, it sees the Cologne producer conjure up a beautiful, hypnotic synth melody.
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: Made in Berlin but with an international focus, Einmusika celebrates 10 years of creative journeys and visions, They asked some friends and highly respected musicians to pick their favourite track from the past decade for a very particular remix - this is the first of two volumes. The legendary Gabriel Ananda delivers an evocative remix of Betoko's "Foreverness", Berlin couple Mira & Chris Schwarzwalder of Bar25 fame turn in a splendid rendition of rising star Budakid's "No Human Is Illegal" and Upon.You head honcho Marco Resmann's version of Piek's "Does Your Love Fade Away" is absolutely perfect for those heads down moments under the strobe light before peak time.
