Review: Osaka experimentalist Kohei Matsunaga aka NHK yx Koyxen has been subverting electronic music's timeless DNA for two decades, creating a unique space in which unusual and freeform ideas meld both seamlessly and timelessly. He dons his signature 3D glasses again for Zurich's -ous- imprint, following up some impressive outings for the likes of Diagonal, L.I.E.S. and the legendary DFA - who presented his second full length album last year. From the the tough mentalist techno groove of Parallel Displacement and M, to the scattered polyrhythmic experiment of "Blue and Purple Horses" or the jagged and angular acid express of "Strange Gesture". Parallel Tempo is yet another example of this unique producer's singular sound.
Review: K7's DJ Kicks compilation series is given a new makeover with their latest juggernaut from London-based electronic deviant, Actress, who gives one of his rare appearances out of the live format and onto the decks. As expected, the techno shape-shifter puts through a diverse mix of 20-plus tracks spanning old-school Chicago house to more contemporary experimental techno and ambient-filtered dance music. This continuous DJ mix includes vintage Detroit techno from Reel By Real, distorted outsider disco from the Shit & Shine crew, Gherkin Jerk's "Red Planet" and a new cut from the man himself, "Bird Matrix". It's safe to say that this mix is comprehensive of the current state of affairs in the techno world: cuts ranging from the distorted house of Breaker 1 2, golden era electronica from Autechre, TTT's Zennor, Germany's STL and even PPU affiliate Moon B! An essential collection of music from 2015, highly recommended, of course!
Review: London-based, Australian-born sonic alchemist HAAi is called up for her instalment of DJ-Kicks. At 17 tracks large, including three exclusive numbers from the artist herself, it's a mix taking inspiration from techno through electronic pop and the intense sound design of acts like Pan Sonic. Meticulously woven into a euphoric narrative that makes its way through unexpected BPM shifts, dramatic accelerations, and liminal transitions - it's tracklist alone should be enough to pique your interest with rare cuts from the likes of The Blessed Madonna, Agoria and Perc, to John Selway, Manny Dee and Cocktail Party Effect. And fun fact, it follows HAAi's 2022 album, "Baby, We're Ascending".
Review: There's much to admire about Kamaal Williams' contribution to the long running DJ Kicks series, not least the producer, DJ and keyboardist's blend of self-made exclusives (both under his name and his alternative Henry Wu alias) and largely overlooked gems. Highlights in the former category include a stunning live version of "Snitches Brew", the jazzy Latin house of "Projections" (a Henry Wu hook-up with Earl Jeffers) and "Lowrider", a jazz guitar-propelled cut from his collaborative Yusuf Kamaal project. In the latter category, we'd suggest wrapping your ears around Awanto 3's dusty and ultra-deep "Pregnant", the deep jazz-funk bliss of Diggs Duke's "Cause I Love You", the up-tempo dancefloor soul of Peven Everett's "Stuck" and the slow motion wonder that is Steve Spacek's "Hey There".
Review: The story goes that !K7 regular James Alexander Bright and his manager were blown away by a Flying Mojito Bros set at Glastonbury and, as a result, handed the American duo six of his tracks with a view to infusing them with some of their magic disco dust. Before that, though, the album opens with a brand new track created collaboratively: 'Let's Get Lost', which sounds a bit like Hot Chip wandering around the New Mexican desert fired up on Mezcal and party smarties. Elsewhere, with Bright's indie-soul vocals sitting atop backings that are one part west coast country rock to one part disco, the album's overall effect isn't dissimilar to the Phenomenal Handclap Band, but perhaps a little less 70s-rooted and with more contemporary pop appeal.
Review: !K7 continue to celebrate The Exclusives DJ Mix series that takes a 'best of' selection of tracks that were produced and performed by the DJs who mixed some of the earlier DJ-Kicks albums. Highlights here include the moody ballroom house of Jayda G's "All I Need", Cinthie's all time classic "Organ" to Leon Vynehall's deeply seductive "Ducee's Drawbar". Mr. Scruff & CyberPunkJazz make the cut with their space oddity "3001: A Space Disco Remix" next to some higher tempo experimetalisms from Laurel Halo's "Sweetie" - and let's not leave out a rare Robert Hood number via the etroit legend's dubbed out "Focus". That, and much more!
Review: With a rich musical journey that spans from early electronic experiments with tape decks to their distinctive dub compositions, Tosca's recent album Osam gets re-rubbed & re-dubbed. Enter Mirage the OSAM remixes - named after a quaint café in Vienna that holds a special place in the creative processes of Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber (aka Tosca). Collaborating with familiar remix partners like Brendon Moeller who sends in three distinct versions - next to an Ambient Diary mix by Cay Taylan - a bevy of other remixes take in the reflective sounds of piano crescendos, dubbed-out interludes and ambient explorations. Tosca, too, contribute their own reinterpretation by giving "Shout Sister" its own ambient remake.
Review: If it's been anyone's year; it's definitely been Djebali's. The Ibiza dwelling Frenchman's acclaimed series of 12's on his eponymous imprint have fast become the stuff of legend, delivering surefire rolling and hypnotic maximal house: volume after volume that have included works by Mr KS, Tuccillo and Romanians Premiesku. On the 5 LP he presents his debut album and proves that he's been saving up some of his best grooves yet. The number not only marks the number of years that have passed since his label was conceived, but also represents the months it took to complete his very first long player. There's so many highlights, but our picks are: the very Derrick Carter/Sound Patrol sounding "Flamingo", the druggy dancefloor maximalism of "Mister Bastard" or "DB Cooper" and the blunted hip-hop beats of his collaboration with John Dimas "Suzaku"
Review: The Unknown Cases' "Masambabele", first released way back in 1983, has long been considered an "Afro-cosmic" classic; a Daniele Baldelli favourite popular for its' tribal chants, growling guitars and chugging electronic groove. It's been remixed numerous times over the years, and here Emotional Especial have a go, handing over the original parts to Justin Van Der Volgen and The Durian Brothers. The latter jammed with some of the original musicians when creating their interpretation, which brilliantly fuses their renowned wonkiness and polyrhythmic beats with dubbed-out snippets of the original horns and electronics. While fantastic, it's Van Der Volgen's shuffling afro-cosmic-goes-dub-disco take - an altogether breezier proposition - that will undoubtedly get most plays from DJs.
Review: Emotional Especial return with a release from Romanian duo Khidja that comes packing some excellent remixes from senor Fairplay and Juju & Jordash! Brought to the attention of EE thanks to Hardway Brother Sean Johnston, who returned from a Bucharest DJ gig singing the praises of two young DJs, Khidja's productions are as impressive as their selections on the evidence here. "Mustafa" is more immediate with shuffle percussion, swirling sirens and acid bubbles leading to a perfect horn break. In the hands of Mr Fairplay, the track takes on anthemic qualities; the stabbing bass and build have allegedly seen howls of appreciation when it's dropped at A Love From Outer Space. "Abdul" finds Khidja in a more calming mood reminiscent of Art of Noise, though the kick and bass ensure there is plenty of rhythmic emphasis, whilst the Juju & Jordash remix edges towards a Balearic digidub vibe.
Goat - "Run To Your Mama" (Cage & Aviary remix) - (8:52) 95 BPM
Review: Following their acclaimed debut album, Migration, on Prins Thomas' Internasjonal label in 2012, Jamie Paton and Nigel Hoyle (aka Nigel Of Bermondsey) have seemed relatively quiet save for the odd remix here and there. Tucked away deep in their South East London base though, a series of remixes and solo projects have been steadily forming. With new C&A material planned for 2014, plus more to come from Jamie's new solo efforts, as well as Nigel making a long overdue reappearance in Maurice & Charles, now seems the right time to draw a line under their collective work to date. Here then are a collection of unreleased interpretatons, including the sought after vocal remix of psychedlic darlings, in Goat's anthemic Run To Your Mama. This is followed by a late night dub of 80s pop duo Blancmange that mixes strings, guitar and some dub bass with a dose of space echo before bringing Neil Arthur's classicly recognisable refrain shining through. To finish is a remix of Goat's label mates Teeth Of The Sea. FX-soundtrack vocal, bubbling 303 and 808 combine on a proper 3am dub that builds beyond some mere drug-chug.
Review: Akio Nagase joins Especial with an EP of global acid tracks. Centred around his heritage, Osaka based Nagase infuses his sounds with a mixture of dub and ethno-dance, wrapped in 303 infused mid-tempo 4/4 grooves. Making music for over 20 years, as well as running his Makedub parties, Nagase has released for Sound Channel, Darker Than Wax and cult Japanese digital label Chillmountain. It is here, on the latter, that the connection was made and his tracks unearthed. Rearranged, re-edited and remixed especially for vinyl, Jurassic Shanghai Acid starts, fusing sound effects, dialogue and samples atop squelching acid beats. Following is Mongol 303, as Khoomii throat singing and acid vibrations loop and flow across the Altai Mountains down to Steppe Plains - Madrugada Eterna. Okinawa Yunta crosses the South China Sea to home, perfectly mixing unique folk song from Taketomi Island reconstructed with Nagase's gentle, wiggling acid accompaniment. The incessant repetitive groove an Acid mantra, flowing through consciousness to move mind and body. The bpm's rise for the close. Saigon Acid mixes tradition and Acid House for fun, a 3AM basement jam where Dan Nhi meets 808 and Nagase presents his ethno-acid love in.
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