Ibadan Records is an independent record label established in 1995. With a repertoire deeply rooted in the influences of colorful New York life and home to many classic releases, Ibadan Records continues to be a groundbreaking taste maker. You can always expect nothing but the highest regard to quality.
Ibadan Records ® is controlled and owned by 2012 Odyssey UG.
Kerri Chandler - "Ain't That A Bitch" - (4:16) 110 BPM
Review: For the second salvo in the label's retrospective New York Chronicles series, Ibadan Records has decided to showcase some choice moments from the epic discography of legendary producer Kerri Chandler. First up you'll find a fresh Jerome Sydenham edit of Teule's Chandler-producer 1990 soulful deep house shuffler "Drink On Me", before we're treated to the dreamy, mid-tempo soulful house bliss of 1998's "While We're Young". There's another chance to savour the jaunty U.S garage organ riffs, tactile bass and rolling drums of the big man's brilliant Jazzy Mix of New Jersey duo Bas-Noir's 1992 classic "Shoe-B-Doo", before Chandler takes to the mic to muse on life on the streets in New York on the 110 BPM, hip-hop influenced goodness of the previously unheard "Ain't That A Bitch".
Review: The sound of Jerome Sydenham's Ibadan imprint has noticeably changed since he relocated to Berlin. Where it once bristled with African rhythms and spiritual deep house jams, recent releases have focused more on hypnotic, occasionally dark, tech-tinged rhythms. While this EP does include one life-affirming blast of constantly rising spiritual house - see Sydenham's edit of Toto Chiavetta's "Become One" - for the most part it's suitably murky. There's a genuine looseness and swing to the Martinez Brothers' tracky Dub of The Angry Kids' "Lullaby", while Sydenham and Sally's "Lady MacBeth Strategy" is a twisted chunk of acid-flecked techno designed to tease and titillate dark, sweaty after-parties. Lo Hype's "Something Special" is tasty, too, with bouncy samples and weird noises riding a shuffling, cowbell-laden groove.
Review: The latest release on Jerome Sydenham's ever-busy Ibadan imprint is a release that brings together a rag tag selection of tracks. First up is Sydenham's "Special Edit" of Carl Craig's "Angel", which moves with all the functional poise and warm synth work you would expect of two techno veterans, making all the right moves for a big room experience without any of the fluff. Sydenham's own "Sun Ark" appears in its original form, throwing down an unshakable blend of drums with that rugged techno-meets-house concoction that the man has been making his own for decades now. The flipside is given over to relative newcomer Lo Hype, also known as Japanese producer Katsuya Sano, whose "Route 303" represents a more patient approach compared to the chunky dynamics of the first two tracks. The steadily trickling acid of the original mix also comes in a more raw form in the shape of some "Bonus Beats" that ditch the atmospherics and focus on the rhythm.
Review: Greek deep house producer Quell has been around the scene for some time, impressing with releases on the likes of Tsuba, 2020 Vision and Ibadan. The latter label have been particularly supportive - head honcho Jerome Sydenham is a big fan - and here present his debut full length, Them Crowd Kids. It's a typically impressive set, variously touching on classic US deep house ("Some Time"), mid '90s Mood II Swing style late night beefiness ("All I Have", "Them Crowd Kids"), deep afro-tech ("Forgive Me (Club Mix)"), jaunty afro-house ("Root Effect", with Sydenham), and fluid, heavily electronic dancefloor anthems ("Regret").
Review: The always-impressive Argy delivers his second full-length - the first under his familiar moniker - and it's arguably his most impressive body of work yet. The fact that it's on Ibadan gives a clue to its contents; from start to finish, Fundamentals is an album that reverberates to the grooves of 1990s New York (and specifically the trademark sounds of the Shelter and TWILO clubs). There are early Tenaglia-ish organ dubs, string-drenched piano jams, heady vocal excursions, a Kerri Chandler tribute (the wonderful "Dinner At Kerri's") and a very Ibadan-ish piano piece ("Absent Friends") - all accompanied by Argy's trademark high quality production.
Review: If there's one area in which Jerome Sydenham's Ibadan label excels, it's extra percussive deep house dubs. This second Deep Strokes compilation gathers together more of Ibadan's greatest late night drum dubs and bleary eyed deep house, throwing in cuts from some of Sydenham's new Berlin friends - the likes of Argy (who contributes three exquisite dubs) and Radio Slave (whose "X-Beat" is a stripped-back delight). Naturally, the standard is high throughout, with Clausell's vintage remix of Ten City's "All Loved Out" - five minutes of beautiful, beatless piano, followed by six minutes of brilliantly programmed afro-house percussion - standing out. Sydenham's own afro-jacker "Jango 01" is pretty special, too.
Review: Few producers are placed so strategically at the interface between house and techno as Ibadan owner Jerome Sydenham - something that is obvious on "Spray". The title track is a driving club jam, but the bassline has an intangible melancholic feeling, which its evocative filter sweeps augment. "Daphne" is tougher, with tight claps and a rougher bassline providing a superbly weighted unison, while the Brooklyn dub take veers towards the techno end of Sydenham's canon. On that version, the bass is more droning and menacing and evil bleeps lap up against it, while razor sharp, snapping percussion that wouldn't sound out of place on Klockworks provide the killer blow.
Review: Ibadan drop another excellent split here. Jerome Sydenham remixes Motorcitysoul and then joins Dennis Ferrer to continue their acclaimed run of collaborations. "Mbali" is classic New York style deep house where as "Jero"steps into driving dub territory. Extra delights include extended and dub versions. Do not miss!
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