A double album of dirty, raw, bone-grinding Techno from post apocalyptic survival times by Franziska Lantz released on Global Warming Records, London 2017 Loaded with heavy distortion, fat textures, harsh beats, relentless rhythms, moody synths and erratic melodies, this sound is bursting with rawness and urgency. Harness your speakers and dance!
Gqom Oh! records presents "The Originators", a five track EP respresenting the past, the present and the future of Gqom - the thunderous club sound from Durban, South Africa. The Gqom Oh! label was set up by Rome-based DJ and musician Nan Kolè to highlight the music and artists of Durban, the often overlooked cradle of the new South African sound. The label's 2016 compilation - 'Gqom Oh! The Sound of Durban Vol.1' - broke the sound out of South Africa, Pitchfork calling it The largest and most thoughtful survey of the genre available to western audiences to date'. Recently joining Kolè is Sboniso Brandon Luthuli aka Citizen Boy on the ground as local A&R. The EP's A-Side is dedicated to two of the genre's most prominent producers. DJ Lag is a frontrunner in pushing Gqom worldwide. Making music from a young age and building up a solid reputation in South Africa, he's known as the "King of Gqom". Griffit Vigo, a real innovator in the Gqom genre, grew up in the same area as DJ Lag and has attained a legendary status amongst his peers. "When I was in Durban the first time I noticed that Griffit Vigo was a kind of legendary figure, he'd been inspiring all the Gqom Durban artists for a long time. Nobody knew where he was but everybody was playing him and sometimes using his beats to make new songs. The main track 'Ree's Vibe' was the peak moment of DJ Lag's sets all over the world. If Lag is the Gqom King then Griffit Vigo is the Gqom Legend."- Nan Kolè. Sbucardo is one of the most respected DJs around the streets and the townships of Durban. Featuring Abnormal on 'Iphoyisa', whose lyrics in Zulu translate to We at the club, Mr police man don't disturb us", the track represents the South African scene and Gqom culture in Durban very well. Naked Boyz (officially the first in Durban to explore new territories in broken beat in 2011) 'Story Teller' is characteristic of the Sgubhu style, a blend of Gqom with more conventional house sounds, the new genre taking over Durban and finding its way onto mainstream radio. Scene kingpins Rude Boyz round off the release's line up of Gqom originators with 'Umshunto'.
Tadd Mullinix first made a name for himself as Dabrye in the early 2000s with a pair of instrumental albums combining the rhythmic finesse of Detroit hip-hop with the ingenuity of electronic music. But instrumental beats were only a temporary goal, a way for Mullinix to catch the ears of MCs. On Two/Three, his second Dabrye album for Ghostly International, Mullinix brought together a formidable crew of local and national talent to make the statement he'd always intended. Released in 2006, Two/Three o-ered a fevered vision of rap's future that remains just as intoxicating a decade on. Ahead of the long-await-ed conclusion of Dabrye's hip-hop trilogy in 2018, Ghostly is reissuing Two/Three.
Dabrye's move towards rap began in 2004 with the album's first single, 'Game Over' featuring Jay Dee and Phat Kat. An early inspiration of Dabrye's, Jay Dee invited Mullinix to his crib in 2002 for a listening session during which he picked the 'Game Over' beat to rap on. Crucially everyone involved was in accord that despite perceptions of their respective work this would be a hardcore rap song. Together with Kat, Jay delivered a one-two lyrical punch on 'Game Over' that no one saw coming. Detroit made the world go round and everyone's head spun. 'Game Over' set the tone for the album and, over the next few years, became a Detroit anthem — shortly after Jay's passing in 2006 the audience at Movement Festival sung his verse.
Moody, propulsive, and above all ambitious, Two/Three emerges from a sonic stew of Detroit and UK dance music, Jamaican sound clashes, and hip-hop sampledelia. The guests, a who's who of the mid-'00s underground rap scene, engage in a raucous rhyming session that pays as much attention to the realities of the streets as it does world events. MF Doom, Wildchild, Vast Aire, Beans, and AG represent for the various coasts while local talents — Waajeed, Ta-Raach, Invincible, Finale, Kadence, Guilty Simpson, Big Tone, Phat Kat, and Jay Dee — bring Two/Three alive with an infectious energy. In between bursts of raw rap and hard beats, Dabrye showcases detailed instrumentals that evoke bleak industrial futures, underwater meditations, and smoky late night sessions. With Two/Three Dabrye placed himself at the forefront of hip-hop's new wave, throwing a Molotov cocktail into the rap world as uncompromising as the head-twisting cover art from WK Interact. The independent press praised Mullinix's audacity. Over the following years the impact of Two/Threewas felt in slow increments as Dabrye's music became central to the sonic makeup of a new generation of producers. As this beat scene grew and moved away from rap, it showed Mullinix the influence of his work and the value of his vision for Dabrye as his own brand of Detroit hip-hop.
"Non semper erit aestas!" - wie Erasmus einst zu sagen pflegte, es wird nicht immer Sommer sein. Aber wir sprechen hier über Sommer mit einem s : Summers Sons! Ein aufstrebendes Hip Hop Duo bestehend aus den Brüdern Turt (Rap) und Slim. (Beats) aus London/Bristol. Charlie Tappin, der mit Turt auf Twit Ones letztem Album Hay Luv' vertreten war, steuert Keys und Vocals bei. Slim. hat bereits Beats über Brownswood Recordings, Benoffee Pies und KO-OP veröffentlicht.
'Rothschild 12' operated between 2009 and 2017 in the heart of Tel-Aviv, near the bustling intersection of Herzl street and Rothschild boulevard. Located on the ground floor of an elegant eclectic-style building which was built by Mr. Abraham Fogel exactly 100 years before it opened, 'Rothschild 12 began as an art gallery and quickly became a popular relaxed café and bar. While its front terrace faced the hustle and bustle of the city's main boulevard, in its back room 'Rothschild 12' hosted nightly live shows by a variety of established as well as up and coming independent musicians. What started off as improvised jam sessions soon developed into a full program ranging from jazz and rock to world music, hip hop and electronica. Now that 'Rothschild 12 is relocating to a new venue on Herzl street, it is time for a summary - a snapshot of the musical diversity which filled its walls - in the form of the compilation you are now holding. This musical summary of 'Rothschild 12' brings together a modern remix to a pioneering Israeli-Yemenite disco number from the seventies, a bundle of colourful and psychedelic beats,
The new Saint Petersburg based label is focused on underground sounding of house and minimal. This is the first release of the label and the debut of a new artist Matpri from Saint Petersburg. Four original house tracks with a shuffling drum beats and solid basslines will add a dose of positive energy to your mix.
So Low is an occasional night in Glasgow run by Iona Fortune, JD Twitch, Katie Shambles and Becky Marshall. So Low is strictly for creatures of the night and plays music that could perhaps be described by the words Dark Waves / Cold Waves / Minimal Synthesis / Maximal Industrial / Lo-Nrg / Forgotten Flemish Goth Bands, Teutonic Apocalyptic Beats +++
It is now also a label, administered by Optimo Music.
The third release on So Low is a 5-track EP from Ian Hicks, formerly one half of Soft Metals. Ian also appeared on our 'Now & Then' compilation EP. Here he commands his own release and sets the synths to stun with 5 tracks of analogue waves ranging from the XTC bliss out of 'Character Collapse' and 'Depths Of Psyche' to the shockwave klang of 'Chemical Environments' and 'Specter', perhaps leaving the very best to last with the ultimate hypno, sex slug groove of 'Continuous'. Subliminal vocals. Wrecked drum boxes. Synths spiralling.
Full colour picture sleeve designed by So Low collective member and acclaimed Glasgow artist Katie Shannon.
Vidab X returns with a new artist, Faltin, who chooses to remain anonymous, plus a stepping rework by Gowentgone aka label owners Oliver Deutschmann and Stephan Hill.
Faltin's 'Phobos' is a stripped down analogue masterclass. Rolling and snaking, its arpeggiated lead growls with a hot headed tension, climbing while never losing balance and poise.
The 'Gowentgone Stepper' translates the original into a heavyweight, early-morning trip - a certain hybrid of broken beats and techno attitude that melts between genres. Waves of euphoria are carried by rumbling drums in this essential version.
Strata-Gemma's eponymous debut album is set to provide a soundtrack to 2018.
The trio hail from Modena, the Northern Italian motor city. As with the Ferrari and Maserati cars that are designed and manufactured in Modena, Strata-Gemma produce a music of beautiful symmetry.
Strata-Gemma create jazz for the head, the heart and the body. Their sound is shaped by the ambient adventures Miles Davis and Ron Carter engaged in alongside the electronic pulse Mo' Wax and Ninja Tune carved out of clubland. Add to this a touch of Nino Rota's Fellini film scores, employ a pinch of Balkan and klezmer brass arrangements, and you have an instrumental trio who create music so fresh it stimulates the senses.
Strata-Gemma are a collaboration between Billy Bogus, Luca Cacciatore and Andrea Moretti. The trio first took shape as a club jam between DJs and musicians. Their ability to create atmospheric music, pulsing with rhythm but never solely reliant on beats, music that breaks free and explores sonic possibilities, quickly won notice and lead to the trio playing their freeform music in clubs, music venues and festivals across Italy.
Strata-Gemma consist of producer Niccolò Bruni (aka Billy Bogus), horns player Luca Cacciatore, double bassist Andrea Moretti. Bruni is a DJ, producer and founder of Pizzico Records. Over the past two decades he has striven to mix jazz, beats, soundtracks and funk. Coming together with Luca and Andrea allowed Bruni to explore a vision of post-club jazz that is as rich as Modena's food and as elegant as Modena's cars. Strata-Gemma create a sensual sonic storm, music to be savoured and explored, the opposite of much of today's fast-food music.
Lorenzo Bandiera, the London-based Italian founder of Fly By Night Music, heard a Strata-Gemma demo via friends and was immediately impressed. "I thought 'this is great!", he says. "Music as strong as this can't be ignored. I'm excited about releasing Strata-Gemma."
Legs 11 was formed when members of various underground bands in Oslo, Norway, met during a karaoke-fuelled haze in the seedy parts of Oslo, and discovered a shared love of synth pop, post-punk, new wave and house music. Drawing on these influences, the band has created a diverse musical universe, ranging from dark repetitive guitar driven tracks, via infectious pop gems, to deep yet melodic dancefloor-orientated grooves.
The 'Another Wave' album is hand-picked tracks from their latest works, focusing on a more dancier approach. The house and nu-dance influences of today are mixed with heavy influences from 90's UK indie-dance acts like The Shamen and the Madchester scene, and hints of new wave from the 80's.
Bleu Nuit (BN) is glad to introduce to you to its second release Red Light City (BN02) by Nice-based French duo Gabardines.
Rising French DJs from the South of France, Gabardines is composed by Olivier aka Ghini-B and Régis aka Redj.
If Ghini-B and Redj already have a couple of vinyl-only releases to their respective solo alias, Gabardines is about to release his first EP under this name. Indeed, in 2017, Gabardines brought out Sweat Things EP on Simple Things Records via bandcamp as well as a remix of Lady B's Liaisons on their own imprint Swipe White Limited a couple of years before.
Red Light City EP follows the lead or rather, the musical line, introduced by both the label and Gabardines' predecessor Flavio Folco (BN01). As can be listened from all three tracks, Gabardines are sticking to these break and gangster beats, offering a balanced release with some warmup (A1), peak-time (A2) and closing/after spirit (B1).
Off the back of Rudeboyz follow up EP entitled Gqomwave, Goon Club Allstars are back with an EP from UK Funky producer KG. In 2007 Karen Nyame, otherwise known as KG, was at the Nottingham Trent University producing beats on Fruity Loops. Slightly isolated in Nottingham - away from the UK Funky scene's London epicentre - KG posted her tunes on popular UK Funky message boards and Facebook pages, but never had an opportunity to properly stake her claim as one of the scene's heavy hitters. 808 and Midnight (Flute Riddim) are two lost anthems from that era, although receiving support from the likes of Marcus Nasty and others, they were largely forgotten amongst the numerous stand out tracks of the era, appearing rarely in mixes of those lucky enough to have digital copies. 808 is the party anthem, it's joyous, quivering melodies ascend above the thumping kick drum, while relentless crashing snares and carnival whistles rain down - guaranteed to heat up the coldest of dancefloors. Midnight (Flute Riddim) on the flip side is the softer, slinkier bubbler. Built for smouldering club action and hot sunny days. BSNYEA is a new addition to Goon Club Allstars' burgeoning family of artists. Hailing from the Bronx he is a veteran of the Borough's Litefeet genre that soundtracks the performances of subway dancers cross New York City's transit system. On his remix of 808 he focusses on the whistles and gutter synth lines adding in booming bass drums and lock inducing chants. Hitmakerchinx comes fresh from his anthemic Night Slugs compilation. Bringing his signature FDM energy he drops the tempo and builds on the light, airiness, letting the flutes play out softly underneath the thumping drums.
A rich and diverse palette of 7 tracks occupies the record, touching on italo disco, some sparks of bass driven synthwave and the late '80s house sound. 'RITMO!' is full of melodies, injecting beats and energy that create an addictive drive and momentum. The record is featuring an impressive list of artists as vocal collaboration as well, leading to an expressive journey that evolves throughout its infectious grooves and powerful 4/4s. It's the dynamic and propulsive power sparked by the 80s sounds that makes 'RITMO!' an album you would want in your collection, or on your decks while playing at the club
7"
For our second release we may introduce the Rotterdam-based beatmaker The Soul Pilot. He is known for his funky, soulful and beats heavy productions. For Les Cidres he created two summer tunes Lawless and Craving showing more of his repertoire.
Lifting off with Lawless. In this hot, sweet, bassy piece of sexyness, being true to his name he shows his passion for vocalizing himself - letting you blush and sweat with him in this heat.
The journey continues with Craving - with this funkiness blowing through your hair, body and soul.
A summer must have! <3
The Aroma are a production unit from Bristol UK who supply a bedrock of masterfully crafted soundscapes for a very carefully selected set of guest MCs. The beats are created by DJ Rumage and engineered and produced by Rola (both from the mighty Bristol Hip Hop crew The Numskullz) with scratch wizard Sir Beans OBE on turntable duty.
Volume 1 has vocals supplied by Junior Disprol, Upfront MC (of Split Prophets), NK (p/k/a Blaktrix), NiLLa, Retna, MCM (of Caveman), Stepasaur (a/k/a Stepchild), Kelz (of 3PM) and last but not least additional vocals by Lizz.E (of the legendary Fresh 4).
At 8 tracks deep this album is short by modern standards but takes you back to a time when albums were 7 or 8 tracks long but overall were a higher standard. Too often now albums have 20 plus tracks with 10 or more fillers and quiet vinyl pressings.
Here you have 8 killers no fillers cut nice and loud and so gives a better sounding product which is something very important to Ruztik Records and AE Productions who have joined forces for this release.
For the second release on their Black Series, Ravage invited electronic music veterans Al Matthews and Patrick Walker to team up under their Forward Strategy Group moniker. The last release of these legends was quite a few years ago, but the wait was worth it. Their East Port Rangers EP kicks-off with Nine and One, a hypnotic, heavy-loaded stomper containing some uplifting, loopy vocals. Following is the most minimalistic track of the EP, Lisp Your Way, yet it still has a lot of substantial punch and lash to it.
The B-side starts off with heavy broken beats, combined with a classic rave sound, taking the listener back to the blistering sound of the nineties. Finally, the EP oozes down with the track In Abeyance; a haunting, down-tempo track with a melody to send shivers down your spine, which could be deemed a real creeper.
Deep Club resident dj and head strobe controller Lone Dancer marks our label's 4th entry with his
first solo 12' on vinyl. After finishing two quality tape albums in 2017 already for Jacktone and Always
Human Tapes, 'House is a Tunnel' arrives packed with 4 club-ready jagged tekno bangers and one cut
for the chillout room. Side A - Communication: The title track is a sure-fire party starter centered around
a thick kickdrum and a repeating synth rhythm laced with weird percussion and synth stabs trickling
through the texture. Next, 'PO12-3' combines crisp claps, hats, and a central synth theme that calls
for an intergalactic rave. 'Colony Dwelling' kicks off the Transportation side, taking our extraterrestrial
dancers to a new dimension steeped in fog juice and flangers. 'Floor' has a chill intro until it launches
into a gritty track that throws broken kickdrums and distorted synths in every direction. Finally, 'Night
Rain' puts the party to rest utilizng soft pads while hinting at moments from the night before.
Overall, 'House is a Tunnel' is a fitting dance-centric conglomeration of Lone Dancer's unique style of
jacking techno, broken beats, and spaced out tracks that has set him apart in 2017.
—Ryan Scannura
Support by:
Jackie House
Derek Plaslaiko
Noncompliant aka DJ Shiva
Heidi Sabertooth
Bil Todd
Dee Washington
This initial release on the new Futurepast label marks Davy's first output as a producer, crystallizing his endeavours in the studio and bearing witness to his long-standing experiments in electronic music.Built between London and Berlin over the last four years, The Long Now lays down the blueprints for following ventures on the label: using old and new gear to create unique, obscure soundscapes both outside of memory and away from nostalgic projections of lost futures. In a timeless and precise collaboration, Davy has brought together two historical figures for this release: 1990s R&S Records associate David Morley mixed the tracks,
while Simon Davey of The Exchange lent his renownedmastering skills to the project.Temporality, time travel and perception are key concepts for Davy, and not only in the EP's title.The four stripped-down tracks move forwards, sidewards and backwards in a bid to get us lost - not in space but in what time might sound like should we be swimming through it.Mysterious and ageless synths mesh with the beats of an unnamed drum machine under Davy's control.We move through a non-linear story told by three distinct forward-thinking techno titles:No Memories Planned, Circular Weeks and Causal Loop.Finally, the titular ambient track pans out cinematically over the images left in our heads:an invitation to begin it all again in The Long Now...
