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:
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:
Budapest's Collective Machine (All I Want) and Austrian Philipp Straub (Bedrock/Intec/Deeperfect/Yoshitoshi) collaborate on this killer EP for Nick Curly's always reliable 8bit. On "Baychimo (original)" we see the dynamic duo throw down the sound so typical of Nico Dohringer's label: deep and atmospheric tribal house with an emphasis on percussion of the most hypnotic kind. "Revolution Of House" is a much more druggy and strobe lit affair geared for optimum dancefloor impact and those pitch shifted vocal monologues work a real treat over the dubby chords and tough drums. Finally, "Stalactite" rounds off this great EP with something a bit deeper and adrenalized than the previous efforts: this one nailing a progressive house vibe that will have cross genre appeal, possibly ending up in the Rekordboxes of Guy Matzur or Henry Saiz.
Review:
Straddling the world of tribal house and European minimalism is Nick Curly. Although his catalogue shows that his sound usually inhabits the same techy terrain as Johnny D and Nick Okpara, the title track has more than its fair share of minimal signatures. Spluttering, hiccupping vocals and whooshing effects unfold over tough drums and the kind of relentless, jacking rhythms one would associate with Detroit producers like Dan Bell or even Claude Young. On "Headcount", Curly returns to what he knows best. Over dense, doubled up drums, he delivers insistent claps and filters that churn and surge without a single pause.
Review:
Nick Curly and Gorge's 8 bit imprint is still running strong out of Germany's proud city of industry: Mannheim. Following up a terrific release by progressive house elegant Danny Howells, it is over to current hero of the British tech-house sound Darius Syrossian. The Leeds based DJ follows up releases on top labels like Hot Creations, VIVa Music and Sankey's Music with the Fixation EP - featuring four house slammers, right in time for the Ibiza season. From the thunderous "Kapan", the funky main room energy of the title track and the tough rolling functionality of "Curzon" that is just perfect to lead-in to the peak time.
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:
Following up some terrific EP's by some right legends of the scene such as Danny Howells, Danny Sanchez and Darius Syrossian, Mannheim heroes 8 bit have reeled in some contemporary heroes for these two bombs - that'll sweeten up the remainder of your summer. Francisco Allendes of Lost/Desolat/Snatch! fame teams up with the mysterious Be Manu on the tough rolling backroom dub of "Eres", while rising Hungarian DJ Collective Machine (Bedrock/Alliwant Music/Stereo) presents "Idive". It is an entrancing epic, powered by tribal drums, tunnelling bass and all round moody aesthetics - definitely geared for some heads down moments on the dancefloor.
