Review: Back in 2010, Tom Flynn was named as Pete Tong's "breakthrough producer" of the year. Since then, he's gone on to release on Mobilee, Hypercolour and Dirtybird. Here he pops up with an EP of robust, hypnotic deep house for 8 Bit. There's a warmth and fluidity present throughout the four tracks, with retro-futurist basslines and pads catching the ear. "Everything I Am" is suitably loose and wide-eyed, while the tougher "Shelter" sounds like a '90s New York house remake of Jaydee's "Plastic Dreams". "Loose Your Mind", meanwhile, feels thicker and more rigid, whilst retaining just the right amount of looseness.
Review: It's interesting to hear that some contemporary producers are drawing inspiration from UK garage from the 90s instead of deep house from the same period. "The Way" features those unmistakable shuffling drums and a soaring bassline, but the inclusion of rich strings and a filtered disco riff mean it's as musical as it is moody. In any event, Sante has conjured up a more resonating feeling on the title track, which features Gjaezon on vocals. The evocative narrative about "it's gonna affect my state of mind" is backed by dark claps and a rolling, acid-flecked groove. "Blended" is more driving, and its booming bassline lends it the same kind of eerie atmosphere as classic Suburban Knight.
Review: Bringing the pristine production and punchy funk to 8 Bit, Andre Butano and Demian Muller make for a formidable pairing on this four track EP. The vibes move around quite fluidly, starting with the techy bounce of "Zhummir" which feels poised to decimate the peak time dancefloor. "Crystal" is a more rolling, sexy kind of house jam bolstered by the croon of Manu on vocals, while on the flip "Dr Beauty" returns to that functional groove space that cries out for the endless night of Berlin partying. Rounding things off, "Purple Light" heads into the bleary eyed end of such a session, letting layers of vocal and texture fall into the whirlpool of sound with pleasingly disorientating results.
Review: Gorge is no stranger to 8bit Records and he delivers yet another groove laced ep for the Mannheim imprint. The repetitive nature of "Drip Drop" means its kick-snare-clap combo remains in the track for its entirety, albeit for one EQ fill three-quarters of the way through. Soft deep house chords and light strings couch themselves nicely into the mix rounding out an extremely danceable production. "DWTG" employs a funky bassline and stylised "I'm down with the crew" and "I want you to hear this" vocal shout outs that encourage those at the bar to make their way to the dance floor. The stabby bassline of "Changin'" is not to dissimilar from "DWTG" and it too employs vocals - this time of the female variety - capping off a relatively minimal release, which if in the right hands has the potential to work any club into a sweaty frenzy.
Review: Bunte Bummler delivers a range of moods and styles on Come Together. At one of the spectrum, there's "Chance To Follow". Its rumbling, menacing synth underpins a muffled male vocal from the kind of sexually charged individual who frequented the Sound Factory. "Baby Get Lost" is much gentler and more mysterious-sounding with a focus on gypsy fiddles and breathy melodies. The title track is more upbeat still: over a sinewy funk bassline and shuffling garage drums, an unnamed female, despite her suspicions about her partner's activities, admits that 'you always find some little way to let me know you love me'. Apart from some quality underground house, isn't that the kind of assurance that we all want?
Review: There's no danger that Stefano Libelle's latest release will get lost amid the slew of monochrome mnml or tool fodder. "Tall Bold Slugger" is a seductive, playful groove, its rolling rhythm unfolding to heavy claps and a male vocal that sounds like Rutger Hauer's character in Blade Runner after a few downers. The text even has a similarly existential theme, especially the line 'I give them back a stare and say come and show me another city'. "Losing The Physics" is different, its bassline recalling a classic prog house track like "Plastic Dreams". However, "We Need To Stop" sees Libelle revert to a more playful approach, with a stepping rhythm and ponderous vocals achieving the requisite effect.
Review: A number of different influences come together on San Jose Del Mar. In the case of Alejandro Vivanco & Dorian Chavez's "Ghost in the Machine", it's the rolling rhythms of London tech-house, the metallic, whiplash percussion of new school techno and the stepping rhythms of UK bass. "Walfkfunk" takes its cues from a less diverse set of influences, but here too the stabbing keys and vocal snippets sound like they are derived from early noughties minimal house, set to a contemporary rolling groove. Meanwhile, Chavez' tracks with Mobius Strum focus on modern tool house rhythms, but with a difference; "MAE" is pepper with insistent vocal snippets and the muffled vocals and acidic tinges of "Rainforest" are more exciting than the standard DJ fare.
Review: One of the most popular post-minimal house producers impresses again with this Latin-fuelled release. Mendo sets himself apart from typical tool house on "Cuate". Boasting the languid Spanish vocals of Yvan Genkins, its dark drums are also laced with trippy squiggles and out there riffs. The title track, which features Andre Butano on vocals, is deeper and more cerebral, with the rolling groove lent a sense of funk by the organic bongo samples. Finally, Miguel Lobo and Andre Butano's take on "Gringo" is less dense than the original, with lighter beats but an equally rolling groove guaranteeing serious mileage on the dance floor.
Review: The talent demonstrated on a series of releases for the Freerange imprint by Pezzner is given further room to shine with the producer's debut drop for the 8bit imprint. The title track "Mesh" sets the tone for what to expect, with tough, tribal rhythms and a bumping bassline the core around which Pezzner draws in hypnotic vocal hooks and slick Rhodes flutters, building proceedings up to the inevitable and oh so very effective explosion of the main kick groove! "Introductions" provides a deeper accompaniment, serving up smudged textures of rhythm over a stripped back throb, whilst intermittent vocal yearns which are dipped in glitch add an emotive sheen. Up next, "Circles" splays playful vocal loops over a bouncing house rhythm embellished with more delightful touches of Rhodes whilst Zepp01 finishes off proceedings with a nice bubbling, colourful remix of "Mesh".
