Review: Magou is apparently a new alias for a producer who is "very well known in the contemporary disco scene". We've no idea who it may be, but we can safely say that all four tracks are luscious blends of 1980s synth sounds, the loved-up colour of Italian dream house, and the rolling grooves of deep house. Opener "Sample Dream" lives up to its title by turning a saucer-eyed 80s soul gem into a chopped-up synth-house masterclass, while "Clockwork Lemon" joins the dots between acid, tactile synth-pop and electronic disco while retaining a suitably loved-up vibe. Elsewhere, "More More More"is a slap-bass heavy loop-house gem in the style of Tiger & Woods, and "Heather's Body" is a bubbly, electro-sampling treat.
Review: Truth steps up with two superlative half-stepping riddims on the Tempa imprint, which really put the dub back into dubstep. First up is the evocatively entitled "Dreams" featuring a gloriously enticing wailing vocal from Yayne in the intro. We are sucked into the main tune as if hypnotized by the warm, murmuring bassline and clip clop beats and bubbling SFX. "Last Time" continues in a similarly dark and mysterious vein, but with more snapping snares, clipped sounds, rolling atmospherics and an insistent drive throughout the track. Utterly excellent from start to finish.
Review: Digweed's label may have tipped its toes in mainstream dance with the recent Japanese Popstars album, but this release from long-time associate Jimmy Van M shows that its staple remains drum-heavy house. The tribal groove of 'Dreams' rolls in like thunder clouds on a clear sky, its rhythm breaking to reveal tantalising, tripped out vocals. "Lucid" is even more twisted, with a cacophony of horns threatening to drown out the chord-heavy breakdown. Just when the track threatens to spiral out of control, the dark drums kick back in. Finally, "Dreams (Dub)" is a more pulsing affair, its sleek riffs and throbbing bass speeding past like a nightdrive along Las Vegas' main drag.
Review: Aside from a string of successful EP's on the steady ship known as Toy Tonics, Berliners Black Loops have been nomadic in terms labels, and that just suits them down to the bone given their eccentric strain of house. We love "Cassette 5.1", it's a traditionally driving house tune with big chords and a begrime mentality, remixed here by Ed Herbst into a deeper, more gentle beast. Then there's "Rue De La Paix", a kick-heavy chugger that sits under the deep house umbrella but that does a lot more in terms of style and swagger; Baldo is on the remix duties for this one, dropping a beautiful woozing bass into the mix, accompanied by a Mr Fingers-style synth wormhole.
Review: Smallville has clearly been paying attention to the output of Cosmic Rhythm, the Bari-based imprint renowned for its' futurist infusions of vintage Italian dream house sounds, tropical melodies and the far-sighted ethos of Detroit techno. Here, they've served up an EP from one of the label's rising stars, Rhythm of Paradise, who particularly impresses with the skittish Motor City percussion and swirling deep house aesthetics of "Dreams". Elsewhere, "Into Your Eyes" doffs a cap to Calypso Records on the chunky but loved-up "Into Your Eyes" and wonderfully wavy, sunset-friendly warmth of "U". Fittingly, Cosmic Rhythm boss Cosmic Garden steps up to remix "Dreams", delivering a deliciously glassy-eyed take that sits somewhere between early Italian ambient house and the analogue-rich swing of classic Larry Heard productions.
Review: London's Cracklin Claps is a label purely dedicated to championing 'artistic music' and over just a handful of releases, they've been doing a pretty fine job of it too. Bimbotroinc are all about setting moods, arty ones even. "Sky" is a gorgeous slice of downtempo garage, with sweet chiming chords and soothing vocals. "Flower" is slower again, with deep, deep bass notes and gently rolling beats, "Dreams' is a totally widescreen wall of synths and finally, "4 08" returns with the urban beats holding together a patchwork of loopy loops and evocative sounds.
Review: Following on from last year's Dualism release, the Fireground pairing of Daniele Paduano and Angela Dragonetto return to Tresor for another club-focused release. The title track is a filter-heavy summery affair, while "Scirocco" sees them go deeper to deliver a lush US house groove. On "Be Wild", they up the ante with a driving, loop-heavy techno track, whole "Baia" is a dense, frenetic affair, led by clicking, frenetic percussion and surging chords. Remaining in this field, "United" revisits the kind of ethnic chants and insistent vocal samples that prevailed on Andrew McLaughlin's classic, "Love Story", while "Dense Blue" is a breathy ambient piece.
Review: Rising house duo Tough Love (aka Alex and Stef) might be tough on love, but their music is light, soft and dreamy. Not a bad thing mind, as "Dreams' is an infectious, airy and bouncy melodic house anthem if ever there was one. They also worked a lot with the guys from Toolroom on the remix package, and have come up with an impressively varied offering including Amtrac's accelerated electro-house version and Audiowhores' sprawling synth-drenched epic mix.
Review: We were blown away by Massiande's previous release, a fantastic four-track exploration of spiritually enriching deep house on Karakul, so hopes are naturally high for the producer's first release on Groovin Recordings. Opener 'The Original Man' sees him doff a cap to Kerri Chandler via bouncy, impactful house beats, undulating synth-string sounds, spacey riffs and undulating bass, while 'Everything' is a sumptuous slice of spacey, soulful and immersive deep house lusciousness powered forward by a killer analogue bassline. Elsewhere, title track 'Dreams' boasts chiming, sun-splashed melodies, positive-sounding chord sequences and a squelchy synth bassline, and 'Deeply' is as enveloping, atmospheric and groovy as you'd expect given its title.
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