After moving from London to Berlin Cromby is back on Tenderpark with his second EP for the vinyl label. The young man recreates our love for Deep House with two sample-based tracks which showcase his ever advancing skills with the old school Akai sampler MPC 2000 XL as well as his cool understanding of mixing haunting melodies with gripping groove patterns. The remix on the flip side comes from Hip-Hop super producer gone House lover Hodini who has collaborated with the talented bass player Chez Kerim for this funky workout. The cover image shot by Achim Valbracht is the start of a new artwork series developed by Tenderpark art director Till Sperrle which revolves around critique of investor-driven architechture that has been dominating Berlin for several decades now. The speciously precious and glittering image displays a normalised and globally standardised kind of beauty but at the same time reveals a strong sense of loneliness. As always both the mastering and as well as the lacquer cut of this record have been carefully executed by vinyl sound mastermind Helmut Erler at Dubplates & Mastering.
One half of Canyons, Pink Gin and the Hole in the Sky label, Leo James releases his solo debut You're not a machine on his new imprint Body Language. Record comes with printed sleeve.
You're not a machine is the first solo release from Leo James (one half of Canyons, Pink Gin and the Hole in the Sky label). Part 1 builds around a hypnotic, programmed percussion rhythm. White noise swirls at the ceiling, while a single note bassline punctures through from the basement to the first floor. Part 2 shovels an industrial-funk-feeling through a train tunnel with its raw 606 beat, crushed cymbals and dubbed out bassline. The synthesizer at the end really takes you there.
'Eagles & Butterflies has taken storm in electronic wonderland' - Boiler Room Arpeggiator was originally titled '14 minutes of Arps' and its exactly that. Its one of the simplest tracks I'v ever made with probably only 8 layers that your weaves in and out the whole way through, really love the subtleness of this track where at the same time it is also a beast! Oyeme is maybe the E&B sound people are familiar with, big marimba melodies, fat sub and rolling hats with a big break, love this one Prophet was originally just an experiment when i purchased a prophet 6, its a little crazy and pretty full on, love the funky bass in the one from the SH 101. All the parts for this where recorded in a few takes live and two whole track was made in 2 hours!
U.K.-born, L.A.-based producer/DJ, Chris Barratt - aka - Eagles & Butterflies breaks all boundaries across the electronic music spectrum. His productions flow seamlessly through Downtempo, Techno, House and beyond, with releases on Innervisions, Bedrock, Exit Strategy, Sapiens and his own imprint Art Imitating Life. From remixing Underworld, RY X, Agoria, Moby, Andhim and Ludovico Einaudi, Eagles & Butterflies is the newest toast of the underground. His live sets have electrified stages around the world at events such as Circoloco, Awakenings, Mosaic By Maceo, Coachella, Junction 2, Lightning In A Bottle, Sacred Ground, Secret Garden Party, Tomorrowland and many more. With support from dance music heavyweights such as Dixon, Ame, DJ Tennis, John Digweed, Maceo Plex, E&B was also named one of Mixmag's Breakthrough Acts this year, was featured numerous times in DJ Magazine and was plucked for a guest mix on Pete Tong's BBC Radio show. Upcoming releases on Agoria's fresh imprint Sapiens, Art Imitating Life 003, features on Nic Fanculli's debut LP, a collab with John Digweed and a remix for RY X, the Eagle has most certainly landed.
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For someone who went from growing up in a secluded Norwegian forest to producing for some of the biggest hip-hop and pop megastars on the planet, Peder Losnegård has had quite the journey.
It was through a series of remixes that Lido catapulted into the sets of the most high-profile DJs around the globe, capturing the ears of numerous notable tastemakers. Reworking acts like Disclosure and Bill Withers, the producer set the Internet ablaze with talk of his four-note piano tag and speculation as to who was underneath the moniker. While his playful, restless musicality saw him adopt an array of aliases — but he'll keep those under wraps for now.
Debuting on Pelican Fly with 2014's 'I Love You' EP, followed by the 'Superspeed' EP, and remixes of Banks, Alt-J and MØ, Lido's anti-formulaic style emerged. His tracks bounce from one idea to another voraciously, but always with that clear Lido stamp. You don't just get a drum and a bassline on a track of his; you're more likely to get an entire string or brass section that elevates his sound to cinematic heights.
- Beautiful 1 LP Edition with heavy 350g Sleeve, Poster Inlay with Liner Notes and Photo, includes CD with incl Bonus Tracks - 33 rpm LP mastercut by Emil Berliner - Midori Takada and Masahiko Satoh's 1990 masterpiece LUNAR CRUISE LP available on vinyl for the first time ever, as well as on CD, sourced from the original studio masters, with all new liner notes. - Featuring Yellow Magic Orchestra's Haruomi Hosono (bass) and Kazutoki Umezu (saxophone, clarinet). *** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN *** Following the successful reissue of Midori Takada's Through The Looking Glass, WRWTFWW Records is delighted to announce another release from the legendary Japanese percussionist: 1990's LUNAR CRUISE, her superb collaboration with jazz pianist, synth master, composer and arranger Masahiko Satoh. Arguably the best kept secret in Midori Takada's fascinating discography, LUNAR CRUISE is an under the radar masterpiece that captures Takada (on marimba and minimal percussion set-up) and Satoh (on Korg M1 and Yamaha DX7II synths, Ensoniq EPS sampler, and acoustic piano) vibrantly fusing traditional African and Asian percussion with jazz, ambient, and minimalism. The album also features the great Haruomi Hosono (Yellow Magic Orchestra, Happy End...) and Kazutoki Umezu. LUNAR CRUISE is available in two versions: a first-time-ever vinyl LP cut at Emil Berliner Studios, housed in a 350g sleeve and including a bonus CD of the album with 2 extra tracks, and a standalone digipak CD version. Both versions are sourced from the original studio masters (DATs) and come with new liner notes. Tracklisting Vinyl LP
You take a trio of the fnest traditonal griot musicians from Mali and put them in a studio with Western music's most revolutonary string quartet - and the resultng album is one of the most richly rewarding musical collaboratons you are likely to encounter.
Together the Kronos Quartet and Trio Da Kali have created an album that is rich in texture, hauntngly melodic and strikingly inventve as violins, viola and cello combine with balafon, ngoni and the powerful female voice of Hawa 'Kassé Mady'
Diabaté in transcendental style. David Harrington, who founded the Kronos Quartet in 1973, describes the album as one of the most beautful Kronos has done in forty years.' All three Da Kali members come from hereditary musical families, Balafon
player and musical director Lassana Diabaté was a long-tme member of Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra and has recorded with Salif Keita, Taj Mahal and many others. A musician of great subtlety and inventon he has honed a virtuoso
two-balafon technique to perfecton. Bass ngoni player Mamadou Kouyaté is the eldest son of the instrument's greatest exponent, Bassekou Kouyaté and he holds down the groove in his father's band 'Ngoni Ba'. Singer Hawa 'Kassé Mady' Diabaté
is the daughter of Mali's greatest traditonal singer, Kassé Mady Diabaté, and the power, range and phrasing of her voice led David Harrington to compare her to the late queen of American gospel, Mahalia Jackson.
Kronos Quartet have earned an enviable reputaton collaboratng with contemporary composers such as Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Laurie Anderson and with world music icons from Argentnian tango hero Astor Piazzola to Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle.
We are very excited to welcome ROCCO & ESQUIVEL to COSMICA's roster this year.The duo formed by Rodrigo Desentis (México) and Eduardo Esquivel (Uruguay) provide an uptempo gem strictly designed for the dance floor. Esquivel is a well know name in the Latin American electronic music scene, since he started his residency at the mythical club EXTASIS in Montevideo. After 25 years of career and extensively touring through Uruguay, Brasil and Argentina, Eduardo has settled in México city with residencies in the acclaimed BLANCO COLIMA and CASA DISCO.DUBMASTERS was our first choice for a Remix candidate, and we could not be more stoked with the outcome. The spacey pads and reverberating drums of the intro, already announce the departure to a cosmic destination well know by all familiar with their previous releases on our label. The tight bassline provides the classic 'Electro' background for the wanky guitar chops to flourish into a flock of migrating melodies that fly in all directions in the sky above.EDDIE C, the Canadian / Berlin resident 'SLO-MO DISCO MAESTRO', closes the EP and puts the cherry on top, adding a latin feel good climate to the package. The summer vibes can be felt all over this track, with a driving percussive beat and a climaxing vocal breakdown that will have you begging for more PALTA CON CREMA!COSMICA MUSIC is a vinyl only record label from Patagonia, Argentina, and our releases are being supported by seasoned selectors such as DJ Rocca, Daniele Baldelli, LTJ Experience, Ali OOFT!, Salvatore Stallone, John Paynter, DJ Garth, Jeno, Hugh Herrera, Mark E Quark, Eddie C, Tim Sweeney, and Prins Thomas to name a few.
Sublunar is glad to introduce their new release. Following the trilogy signed by one of the two founders of the label, Sciahri, it is now time for a new artist's debut.
Ladan, young Iranian producer at her first release, presents 'Section', a record made of 5 carefully selected tracks that range from bass-driving techno to sharp experimental excursions.
The EP's opening piece is 'Spectres', characterised by an increasingly deep, disquieting atmosphere. The body of the piece is stroked occasionally by metallic elements which make the whole sonic spectrum resonate.
On the same side we find 'Zone.2', an elegant, propelling techno piece painted with a similar colour palette of the previous piece.
The B side starts with 'Rebound', where hypnotic, overlapping melodies and broken rhythms entwine in an enveloping, uplifting musical development.
We also get a glimpse of Ladan's fierceness with 'Fault Line', an outburst of stomping, plastic rhythms sculpted synthetically, followed by 'Knives', a razor-sharp groove that creeps under the listener's skin.
(en) Constantly on the move, never standing still. Always looking ahead and never back. Everything sooner rather than later. This is what our modern lifestyles feel like, keeping us prisoners in the wake of time while everything around us is in a permanent state of change. It seems as though Andrei Anto- nets, aka OID, could sing a song, or at least produce a track about it. But rather than the soundtrack to our hurriedness, the Russian musician has seemingly created the opposite with his new track - Perma- nent Departure'. He achieves this by letting various sounds meander alongside a bass drum for about eleven minutes. Guitars, pads, Hi-Hats, everything comes and goes, arranged with tremendous flair. Antonets has already proven his capability to do exactly this with his project Alexandroid or with his work on labels like Pampa and Sealt Records.
The French Band dOP's remix on the B-side is much shorter but sends us on the same trip as the ori- ginal. Shortened to just eight minutes with a slightly new route, the dOP remix takes us directly to the club and peak time for the advanced. If we have to have a departure, then this is the way.
Also available as a digital mini album together with the MMR 28 and four other tracks by OID.
(de) Stets auf Achse, immer unterwegs. Den Blick geradeaus, nie zuru¨ck. Und alles lieber heute als morgen. So fu¨hlt es sich an, das moderne Leben, das uns gefangen im Sog der Zeit und alles um uns herum im permanenten Aufbruch ha¨lt. Es scheint so, als ko¨nnte Andrei Antonets alias OID ein Lied davon singen - oder zumindest einen Track dazu produzieren. Doch statt den Soundtrack zur Hast, erschafft der Russe mit - Permanent Departure' lieber einen kontemplativen Gegenentwurf dazu. Knapp elf Minuten lang la¨sst er dafu¨r weitla¨ufige Sounds entlang der Bassdrum ma¨andern. Gitarren, Pads, Hi-Hats, alles kommt und geht, arrangiert mit massig Gespu¨r statt purem Geto¨se. Dass Antonets genau das kann, hat er bereits zuvor mit seinem Projekt Alexandroid oder auf Labels wie Pampa und Sealt Records bewiesen.
Fu¨r die Ru¨ckseite lo¨sen die drei Franzosen von dOP mit ihrem Remix von - Permanent Departure' hin- gegen nur ein Kurzstrecken-Ticket - das uns aber genauso auf einen Trip wie das Original schickt. Auf acht Minuten und eine neue Route verku¨rzt, steuert der dOP-Remix ohne große Umwege geradeaus gen Club und die Peaktime fu¨r Fortgeschrittene. Wenn schon Abfahrt, dann bitte so. Auch als digitales Mini-Album zusammen mit der MMR 28 und vier weiteren Tracks von OID erha¨ltlich.
On a hot streak Danny Wolfers is knocking out Jewel after Jewel at the minute. After his gargantuan album for Clone comes this knock out blow for UTTU.
Star Gazing is just as space-stradling as the title suggests, off-key, offworld discords colliding with breakbeats and detroitian atmospherics, intricate electronics, the burblings of a robot examining the earth of an alien world, before huge bass enters the party.
Visions In My Mind is Legowelt's take on the disco-tech vibe, Wayfaring Stranger completes the picture, a slamming acid jacker!
New Yorks' Matuss returns with the eighth release on her Absence Seizure imprint this September, comprising three originals from the Ukrainian born artist.
Julia Matuss, better known as simply Matuss has been steadily carving out a name for herself over the past decade, initially finding her feet as a prominent DJ in the Ukrainian scene she grew up in before a move to New York saw thing progress and the launch of her Absence Seizure imprint shortly followed. Now eight releases deep the imprint has piqued the interested of DJ's such as D'Julz, DJ Deep, Derek Plaslaiko, TWR72 and Beaner.
Taking the lead on the package is 'Fairy Dust' setting the scene via warbling Rhodes chords, raw dub sweeps and a pulsating low-end drive before a spaced out, sinuous resonant synth lead ebbs and flows throughout the focal point of the composition.
'Baelfire' follows and strips things back to raw percussive feel, employing thunderous claps, a weighty kicks and sweeping filtered sample as the foundation before the latter half of the record works in a frenzied acid-tinged hook. 'Faramant' then closes the package with an amalgamation of organic percussion, natural bass licks and glitchy percussive chimes which all subtly evolve and retract throughout.
Fresh from his 'Vanishing Point single on UK label Hypercolour, which saw the lead track hit the Beatport Leftfield House & Techno sales chart at #1 for four weeks, A Sagittariun is back on his Elastic Dreams label with the 'Slightly Ajar' EP. As always, A Sagittariun brings an eclectic melting pot of flavours to each of his EPs, blending Detroit techno, ambient house, highly charged electro, dramatic synths and transcendental vibes. 'Stingray' combines future techno beats with apocalyptic bass and melodious keys, with an almost early 1980s synth pop vibe to it, whilst 'Burning Crystal' is the kind of introverted and deep ambient electronica that has shaped the two A Sagittariun albums (2013's 'Dream Ritual' and 2016's 'Elasticity'). 'An Infinite Number Of Possibilities' is relentless, frenetic and funky, as a myriad of warped sounds and riffs flash past the heavy drum work, and '720 Degrees' closes the EP with crunchy 808 electro patterns, FM bass and huge melancholic strings straight out of the Derrick May rule book. A Sagittariun will be performing at the Berghain, Berlin on 26th August, showcasing a new live set before embarking on further dates at the end of the year.
This second half of 2017 Quintessentials will offer a lot of south american music. Like from our long time friend and regular guest Soul of Hex! Hailing from Tijuana, Soul Of Hex (also know as Sebastien Vorhaus) has a rich, nuanced and grainy style with an authenticity that's closer in sound to vintage Detroit or New York pastures, despite his Mexican heritage. Busy DJing, producing and running his own label Vicario LTD, Soul of Hex is a driving force in the Mexican scene. His new Helipop EP offers different styles like a downbeat intro, a deep bassy rough house cut (Helipop) plus 2 back to oldschool rave/warehouse tunes not afraid using some uplifting pianos, catchy vocals and deep basslines. House music all night long!
Brixton's Dream Diary continue to bolster a blooming catalogue of classy electronic music with a fresh 4-track EP courtesy of label owner Oslo Roma. Staying true to their canon - Roma's 'Bubbles' EP spans Ambient, cruising Deep House, Minimal and Electro balancing water tight drums with eyes down melodies throughout.
The title track opens things up with gliding Juno chords and a steady, hypnotic pulse. Shimmering cymbals and spoken snippets ferry the listener into a trance before 'How Good Is The Party' rolls loose limbed drums under sweeping tones and expansive dub delays. 'Mars Water' then dims the lights with a driving bass line set under reversed vocals and clipped, neat drums. 'Twotet' then finishes the package up with sharp 808 drums and soft allaying melodies that work to round off another rich and varied addition to the Dream Diary catalogue.
How Is It Going To End It's split single time at Studio Barnhus as we come correct with two pieces of proper-not-proper house music for the daredevil deejay. Jonathan Fernandez is only 23 but has lived in Glasgow forever - under his Wheelman moniker and as head of label/party Stereotone, our brilliant new friend has quickly become Scotland's worst kept secret. Track comes overflowing with mind-expanding rave signal and ruff-ruff square bass for your face! Hanky - secret new alias of one of Stockholm's most recent and most exciting dance music exports - delivers a chaotic yet steady super-groove', equally primed for the club floor and the anger management class. Artwork by Johan Jonason, award-winning film director/artist and elusive lead singer of Man Tear. Studio Barnhus, 2017...
Cosmin TRG is back on Sportiv with two tracks of stark, angular beauty. Afterburn harks back to 90s era Techno of the hyperkinetic variety, in the vein of Regis's seminal 'Gymnastics'. The obssessive vocal mantra adds to its hypnotic, frantic rhythm. Electra on the flip is on a trance-inducing mission, with it's cavernous 808 kick driving a tribal groove, carried by a pulsating bassline and eerie percussion. Sportiv is a dexterous white label operation that brings you heavy-weight rhythmic performances from the world of techno athletics.
Nisantashi Primary School are Vlad, Lucy and Mykhaylo from Kiev. This electronic-pop trio embraces weird sounds and holds omnivorous but clearly discerning appetites for mixing disco, funk and dub grooves. Their debut EP is a mix of snappy and moody synth sounds, vintage-tinged bass lines and gritty rhythms.
The selection of tracks is a showcase of moods and influences: from the feverish and psychedelic "Mr. Fingers" with Fumaça Preta's Alex Figueira on drums, to the nocturnal dancefloor gem Hills'. Hints of dance records from 80's NYC, synth-based disco and krautrock come through, but an eastern european immediacy and faux-débutant approach brings its own flavor to the table.
While dance music from Kiev might seem surprising, what do we really know about this city's energy From the place where so many things are happening these days, maybe it's time to see something else unfold.
Rude Operator's dissonant intro on Witchdoctor synthesizes a half-time beat with jazz undertones before bouncing into a percussive bassline. Constantly evolving drum patterns, punctuated with horn bursts and upright bass from Ornette Hawkins, keep the dance floor moving.
Gunman's blissed-out atmospherics pave the way for a heavy combination of chopped up breakbeats and a juked-out drumline. Equally influenced by early jungle and contemporary footwork, 808 percussion and congas punctuate the undulating bassline.
Arrowhead fuses dubbed out elements with a running apache break and ominous synths. Percussive vocal stabs propel the song forward, while a deep, driving bassline and amen cuts bring the pressure.
War Diamond pays homage to DC's indigenous sound, Go-go. A hypnotic conga drum workout rinses oscillating bass with nature sounds, taking you above the canopy with a relentless swing. Lightly toasted by Born I Music, this fresh take on jungle delivers a heavy, tribal perspective.
* The production duo behind the rave-new world sounds of 'Turbo Mitzi' and 'Big Slug (Feat. Riko Dan)' have been busy in the studio recently and return to form with 2 killer cuts designed to shock out the dancefloor.
* 'Control' picks up the tempo from the duos previous cuts, rolling at 140 beats per minute, in it's apocalyptic form. Powerful pads create the tension before sub-heavy kicks and cybernetic snares come pounding and chopping in, building up the mood before a radioactively charged Reese-bassline emerges, rising to the surface, unleashing its terror. This is a stone-cold banger.
* 'Strobe Light' returns to the more familiar 128bpm tempo that the pair have previously worked with. Taking a quite unique approach, 'Strobe Light' builds evermore, moving into the light, layering percussion up as an intoxicating drone of swirling strings swells and swells - entrancing and empowering in equal measures. this is a highly versatile DJ tool that also makes for an engrossing listen from start to finish. Refined dancefloor ear candy.
The third Eclectic Limited delivery is landing directly from Osaka! 3 fantastic tracks by Ryuji Takeuchi with his powerful groove full of explosive kicks and aggressive basslines. To finish this beautiful EP an exciting LAG remix with its unmistakable groove that always set off the dance floor.
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For the third and final part of Jerome.c, Dubfluss - Friendship connection we invited Julian Alexander and Guy From Downstairs to join our artist roster. A lot of hard work was made into this 3 part LP by our good friends and we hope everyone enjoys it as much as they did producing it. Lots of Melodic grooves and solid bass lines, proper house music dance tracks on this release. Cheers from Berlin
KSMISK drop three atmospheric techno cuts for their second release on Norwayís PLOINK this August.
Made up of Truls Kvam and Robin Crafoord, the Scandinavian duo are well known under their Trulz & Robin moniker and have released on the likes of Prins Thomasí labels Full Pupp and Rett i Fletta, not to mention their own imprints Cymasonic and Cymawax.
ëMagmaí is a deep and mesmerising production that continues to evolve as more elements are incorporated, blending crunchy kicks with serene pads and otherworldly effects.
ëLavaí is a dark and suspenseful number in comparison, establishing a raw hook and ominous nuances at its base whilst sci-fi inspired synths cut in and out of the mix.
Finally, an ebbing beatless track titled ëTuyaí generates a melancholic aesthetic to conclude the release.
Mixmag - September 2017 (Techno Review):
'Seductive stuff from one of our favourite labels (..)
Ploink is fast becomming one of our favourite techno labels, and the Norway-based imprint brings the goods once again with this killer new cut from KSMISK. Magma is probably about as deep as the earth's own magma pools, with a bassline that penetrates every atom of your being as it pulls you into its seductive web.'
9/10
Spatial Cues is a series of split singles sounding out main(void)'s and Kon Janson's shared musical space. Operating out of Berlin and London, the two artists join forces to showcase their mutual vision of techno music.
CUES003 explores the darker side of the series with a focus on low frequencies, echoing percussions, and vast spaces, evoking a deep introspective motion.
Diffracting a manifold of sounds around its massive kick drum, CUES003 A builds and releases tension through a dramatic sequence of smooth swells and intense surges.
Grounded by its captivating groove, CUES003 B evolves around the sinister funk of fierce FM bass stabs, leading up to a powerful break that introduces a razor-edged hi-hat.
From the outset Craig Armstrong and Scott Fraser decided their collaboration would be based on an electronic aesthetic. We intentionally limited ourselves almost entirely to using vintage synthesisers, modern hardware synths and soft synths. The use of electronic bass and piano were the only exception to this rule
No musician embodies more the dramatic transformation in the British jazz scene over the past thirty years than Courtney Pine. His debut album, Journey To The Urge Within in 1987, was the first serious jazz album ever to make the British Top 40, notching up sales to qualify for a silver disc.
Aside from being the preeminent figure in the resurgence of British jazz, Courtney became a renowned presenter and broadcaster, best known for his long running radio show for BBC Radio 2, 'Jazz Crusade'. He was also awarded an O.B.E in the 2000 New Year's Honours, and was also made a C.B.E in 2009 for services to Music.
As an artist always looking to work outside of and across established musical genres, it is easier to list the musicians and artists he hasn't worked with, but now in 2017 Courtney releases brand new music featuring another British music legend of equal repute, his Freestyle Records label mate and an artist also honoured for his own creative endeavours, Omar Lyefook M.B.E.
Both tracks of this single are taken from Courtneys' forthcoming album Black Notes From The Deep - the 19th of his stellar career. The exciting and fresh interpretation of Herbie Hancocks' Butterfly demonstrates straight away that this is a dream team combination. With Alec Dankworth laying down the bass, Rod Youngs' drumming underpinning the groove, the song also gives the outstanding keyboards of Robert Mitchell space to stretch out - Omars fantastic vocal performance rides sweetly on top of the dreamy backing vocals of Charleen Hamilton - and of course Courtneys' flowing, imaginative and creative solo perfects this modern version of a much loved classic.
Rules is a brand new, collaborative composition by Courtney & Omar - the punchy drums and bass line patterns hints simultaneously at classic jazz and funkier club-centric sounds. Courtney cooks on tenor saxophone and also the organ - whilst Omar marinades the super catchy melody with that unmistakable voice.
As an introduction to the forthcoming album Black Notes From The Deep this single points the way to what 2 British legends, both exemplary in their own right - can come up with when joining forces.
Having made her mark on Brazil's rich musical legacy with three best-selling albums to date, Rio's original nu-bossa queen returns with a tour de force of golden-era Brazilian soul music. From the spiritual swing of the early pioneers of modern Samba, to the dizzying hedonism of Brazil's eighties disco/boogie craze, Clareia is a life-affirming journey through the rich and varied sounds Sabrina Malheiros has been immersed in since she can remember. For her most up-lifting and danceable album to date, Sabrina has (as always) enlisted her father Alex Malheiros - bassist of samba jazz-funk legends Azymuth - and visionary London based producer Daniel Maunick (aka Dokta Venom), son of Incognito's Bluey.
Sabrina Malheiros' career has often been characterised by her place in the succession of those special Brazilian women who, with unmistakable talent and effortless grace, have encapsulated the magical energy of Brazil with their voices. Elis Regina, Astrud Gilberto, and Joyce all had it, and Sabrina Malheiros has it in spades.'(MOJO) With her debut album Equilibria in 2005, Sabrina arrived on a wave of instant acclaim, carving out her place as the pioneering voice of a new brand of Brazilian soul music, rooted in the traditions of samba and bossa, but with an edge of contemporary electronic sophistication. Sabrina's innovative nu-bossa sound would continue with the 2006 remix album 'Vibrasons' followed by sophomore 'New Morning' - declared the best album of summer 2008'(Evening Standard), before 2011's best-seller Dreaming.
Six years on, Sabrina returns with Clareia. Itmeans to clear, light, brighten or illuminate, which, after seeing Brazil and the rest of the world go through some very difficult times, is exactly what the writing of this album brought to my life.' All tracks are written by either Sabrina, or in collaboration with her father Alex Malheiros and producer Daniel Maunick. Written and recorded in Niteroi, Brazil, overlooking Gunabara Bay and Rio's beaches, mountains and forests, the music basks in its surroundings and sings of ecological beauty, peace and sanctuary. Echoing Sabrina's emphasis on clarity, Alex notes that the album's title represents an appeal to the minds of our civilization today, to clear our thoughts for good and for peace.'
This pursuit of clarity continued into the studio: It took a little longer than usual' notes Sabrina, which was good in way, as all my previous albums were recorded in rush and we usually had a week for pre-production and another week in the studio, which always gave me the feeling that I could do better. With this album it was different... we took our time.'
Sabrina's unmistakable voice has never sounded better. Packed out with high-octane swinging samba-soul, like the title-track and 'Salve O Mar', the album also features some bottom-heavy Brazilian boogie cuts, like rejoicing album opener 'Celebrar' which harks back to some of Marcos Valle's cult '80s disco output, and 'Sol Ceu E Mar' is a Tania Maria-esque future classic of scorching latin-funk. Mellower moments are found in 'Em Paz', on which Sabrina's beguiling harmonies find an anchor in the rhythmic acoustic guitar of Ze Carlos', who Sabrina heralds as being the best guitarist I have ever worked with'. Azymuth's keyboardist Kiko Continentino's deft Rhodes, piano, organ and synth playing, add ever more textures of distinctly Brazilian brilliance throughout, while tropical brass and flute arrangements on cool bossa-jazz movers 'Vai Maria' and 'Sandore', come from Brazilian saxophone legend Leo Gandleman, a man who has worked with everyone from Gal Costa to Gilberto Gil. The rhythm section combines Daniel Maunick's seamless drum programming and the organic polyrhythms of Brazilian percussion legend Jakare, all punctuated by Alex Malheiros' inimitable (occasionally slapped) jazz-funk bass, giving the album its irresistibly danceable pulse.
Set for release at the height of summer this year, Clareia is an intergenerational masterclass of Brazil's soulful spectrum, led by a pioneering voice of today's scene on the very top of her game. The up-lifting compositions, which take inspiration from the stunning natural beauty amongst which the album was made, and the call for the clarity of mind needed to preserve it, are enriched by this special team of some of Brazil's most established musicians. Like the sun breaking through tropical storm-clouds, Clareia is a vessel of joy, as Sabrina puts it simply, I hope Clareia brightens the soul of whoever listens to it. That's the spirit of this album.'
Having reached double digits on its release roster, Amsterdam-based techno label Format presents its 11th release. And it s a three-piece ensemble by label honcho Juan Sanchez himself
FR011 delivers three techno bombs that perfectly reflect the Format sound. Things kick off with Despite the... , which combines deep grooves to staccato bass pulses designed for peak-time moments. Spanish DJ/producer Aiken delivers a superb remix that is propelled by a nasty industrial groove and coated in dark atmospheres. Closing the release is the sinister In The Dark , which is as deep as it is trippy...
FORMAT second 2017 release is another prime example of the label s coveted sound.
The Crooked Man returns to Bitter End with an 'Emotional Copy Only' limited pre-release of powerful club pieces...
Keen eyed aficionado's may spot the homage to Mel Cheron's classic US label West End Records here
But while their motto may have been 'Where The Sun Sets & The Stars Rise' Bitter End Records embarks on a distinctly more 21st century path to dancefloor salvation...
'Echo Loves Narcissus - Part 1' is the opening salvo in a sonic saga across four movements, marrying, as it does irresistibly uplifting chords and vocal ad-libs to a bass line so thick it'll rattle the windows right out of your ride and knock the tiles straight off the walls of your cerebral restroom.
Once you've adequately composed yourselves, we invite you to the 11 minute MONSTER which is 'Get The Love' on the AA...
This recalls the brief but genre defying 1990 jams from Mundo Muzique's 'Revelation' project: synth assisted house-nosis, buoyed by the mantric voice imploration to accept higher states of carnality atop an immersive blanket of propulsive rhythms.
Once again Bitter End rips up the rule book, and crafts a whole set of new, better ones in which freedom reigns
Although not a band in a traditional sense of the word, this record was created by a rotating ensemble of players: for a brief moment, musicians from different backgrounds (in this iteration: Preslav, Kenny Peagler, Waajeed, Joe DeFazio and Phil Boyd) became a band and then went their separate ways.
Rhodes, funk basslines, neo-soul chords and tight drum programming are the lingua franca of the 24 Hour Band.
The title of each song represents the time of day that inspired it and collectively, they point to the goal to create records that can be enjoyed not just in a club, but throughout the day, at home, or in your car.
Anthony Nicholson Chicago deep house maestro delivers here two amazing soulful deep house tracks for the Attias brothers label Visions.Visions open mind and wide vision returns here with their 15th release continuing their journey into the world of electronic dance music On the A side Anthony and William Kurk have produced an amazing soulful vocal track mixing lush pads Rhodes and beautiful vocals sustained by a solid house beat. This is a sublime journey into a soft and beautiful Chicago deep house jam that we fell in love instantanely with and wanted to share itwith the music lovers and vinyl collectors.The B side is a jazz funk number that rolls deep into Rhodes chords, moog leads and funky basseline for an 8min 20 long amazing dancefloor instrumental bomb.
With one track per side and with the great mastering and the loud cut , these two Chicago slices of goodness will find place in any dj bag for sure.
Italian artist Blasted is ready to spread his stunning music with an intense four-track EP, Aelien I. The industrial architecture of this project defines the lines of his modern techno concept. Blasted welcomes two remixes from the acclaimed, Berlin-based producers Unhuman and Blush Response. The EP goes straight to its revelation, neurotic patterns which bump into a dark misanthropy, an experimental sound that becomes more and more cryptic. The second track is a powerful remix by Blush Response and it is the result of a metallic explosion due to a mental calculation of dusty beats and low basses. Unhuman's remix closes the EP, dark forces make it clear about the distorsion and intensity of Aelien I's noise, techno rhythm. Welcome to a unique variation of massive techno sphere.
Soul Deep Recordings and Blade are pleased to present the Blackbird EP. The EP features 2 richly crafted rollers that will rock the dance floor. The title track, "Blackbird", has received support from LTJ Bukem and many other top deejays around the world. The song starts off with a heavy amen break and light background atmospherics. At each turn, the break seems to get heavier as layers are added to the mix. When the bassline drops, the groove is undeniable, and will have your head nodding in approval. The song chugs along and builds to a crescendo with it's epic pads and tasteful atmospherics. "Bella l'amour", is the second offering, and it shows a different side to Blade's diverse productions. The track begins with a light break, airy efx, and chiming keys, that set the backdrop for this tight production. At the drop, the drums fill in nicely and the warm 808 bassline punch through the mix. Overall, Blade delivers big on this release, and will surely satisfy his fans with this slice of D&B heaven.
The Scene: The Welsh mountains, remote and harsh, a special place. A good place to produce a special album. The characters: Volker Bertelmann in his friend Adam Fuests' studio, equipped with only a piano and a laptop. The Project: To record a album of piano music. Title: Hauschka.
Piano music is highly personal music, which is the reason why piano solo albums occupy a particular place of importance in a musician's work - not that Volker Bertelmann wants to hype his first foray to that extent, hence the pseudonym. Nevertheless Hauschka is personal music, simply because it has accompanied him for so long, because it has always been there in some shape or form, because it has always been important. The title points to the fact that it is dealing with something of import, not just a few finger exercises or background ivory-tinkling.
Substantial' is a snapshot of a life spent with the black and white keys, and is simultaneously both moment and history, thought and feeling, yet without turning into a unduly meaningful concept album. Rather, Substantial' is based upon the least conceptual of all concepts: Improvisation. Each track is based upon an opening sequence, the theme of which is extended, modulated and varied with, as far as form or length is concerned, no specific objective in mind. What has come out is music of a differing, well, substance: Eleven atmospheric pieces in which a variety of different techniques overlap and rhythmical images with narrative depth unfold, in which further instruments, such as double bass or vibraphone make a fleeting appearance, at once lending a hint of pop, but at no time detracting from the piano as central instrument, in which experimental and electronic music is accessed without compromising the directness and ease of the improvisational approach.
The confluence of Bertelmann's multiple musical personality can be apprehended here: Whilst the pop-oriented musician plays the melody, the electronic producer gently experiments with sounds, leaving the pianist quite literally to manipulate the piano, - plucking the strings with a plectrum, dampening them or bowing them lengthways to achieve a variety of percussive effects. Following the recording, the tracks were adapted, supplemented and finalized. Using multi-tracking, up to four piano tracks were superimposed, electronic sounds from the laptop added, as well Stefan Schneider's bass (Mapstation, To Rococo Rot, Music A.M.) on three tracks.
DJ Harrison is Richmond VA-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Devonne Harris.
The son of a radio DJ who introduced him to the world of record collecting, Harris grew up with music, progressing from violin, to high school drum-line, to the Jazz Studies program at Virginia Commonwealth University. He also continued working with other instruments and developed an interest in sampling. His development as a producer - at first, without a computer or sampler - came first learning to replay samples on the drums, piano, bass or guitar.
DJ Harrison finds himself inspired by local musicians in the Richmond scene that's as diverse and nonexclusive as they come. Among rappers, producers, punks and bluegrass bands, he falls within reach of an expansive pool of musicians to collaborate with. He lives and works in Jellowstone, a house turned recording compound occupied by his band mates in Butcher Brown, a 'garage punk jazz funk' group.
Sydney s Post Pluto are back with the debut No Doors EP from riggles, a four track blend of crunchy beats and dusty house grooves. Doomsday takes us back to 99 with a sun drenched edit of the classic MF Doom beat. Shine follows with a bass heavy groove and stretched out vocals. On the flip, Perfect Day gets moody with textured drums and back alley sax solos. Sydney duo, Sonderr, are on remix duties with a melancholic approach to Shine , bringing it to a darker club atmosphere.
Sunlightsquare keeps on exploring multiple style of House music this summer. The previous single from the last month "Oyelo" was a winning combination of authentic Latin Cuban music and classic 909 House beats. It was championed by Ron Trent, Osunlade, Hunee, Bradley Zero, Nick The Record and Atjazz to name a few. This time, the main man and keyboard wizard Claudio Passavanti deployed two remixers for deeper and more spiritual endeavour to showcase his magical composition.
Hailing from the birth place of South African House music Pretoria, the talented young producer Blaqtone laid out beautiful sunset pad, earthy African percussions and solid rolling beats, all work like magic with Claudio's original spiritual keyboard works.
On the flip side, Kay Suzuki pulled off another dubbed out psychedelic mix with "Astro Dub", just like the previous release, and the more dance-floor oriented classic deep House style of "Moon Mix" influenced by the likes of Larry Heard. The track features sequenced Mini-Moog bass line and call & response drum programming before blissful harmonies and melodies kick in.
Short Bio:
Critically acclaimed Jazz pianist, multi-instrumentalist & bandleader Claudio Passavanti aka. Sunlightsquare has been associated with Latin & Cuban music since his top selling vinyl releases such as "I Believe In Miracles"(2010), "Pastime Paradise"(2010) and "Heart's Desire"(2012) as well as producing the main title of the soundtrack on the feature film "Cuban Fury" (Studio-Canal/Film4) starring Nick Frost (2014). Claudio's talent also extends to house music production with the 2016 Osunlade's Yoruba Soul Records release "Celebration Of Oggun", as well as his remix work for Gilles Peterson's Brownwood Recordings.
Copenhagen's Echocord Colour returns this August with Stephen Brown's 'Power Factor' EP, featuring three originals from the UK Techno stalwart.
Scottish producer Stephen Brown is a name synonymous with Techno across the globe having been releasing material since the mid nineties on imprints such as Derrick May's Transmat, Subject Detroit, Skudge Records, Ben Sims' Theory and Holland's Djax Up Beats amongst many more.
Here we see Brown join the roster of Echocord's sub-label Colour, slotting him in alongside the likes of Mike Dehnert, Nick Ho¨ppner, Luke Hess and Deadbeat in the back- catalogue.
Up first on the release is 'Sandtext', a stripped-back dubbed out opening cut fuelled by a robust kick and minute percussive hits running alongside a sturdy sub bass drive and spiralling dub stabs before 'Wet' takes things even deeper via muted kicks, shuffling shakers and delayed synth chords. 'Back Stroke' then rounds out the release with an amalgamation of airy reverberated stab hits, rumbling low end pulsations and a thunderous kick drum to once again create an understated, hypnotic composition.
Juicy Lucy formed after the demise of The Misunderstood. Steel guitarist Glenn Ross Campbell, and Blackburn saxophonist Chris Mercer recruited guitarist Neil Hubbard, bassist Keith Ellis, and drummer Pete Dobson to complete the band. Their eponymous debut album was originally released in 1969, and is a heavy form of blues-rock, often played at break-neck speed. The album’s cover features Burlesque dancer named Zelda Plum.
The band immediately notched a UK Top 20 hit with a cover version of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?”.
Juicy Luicy is available as a limited edition of 750 individually numbered copies on translucent yellow coloured vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.
After his memorable 'Wolves' EP of last year (which garnered great support and earned record of the week on B.Traits BBC Radio 1 show) Florian Busse returns to connected for his new release 'Heus' EP on vinyl and digital,retaining and developing his idiosyncratic sound sculpting, Florian has delivered another unique take for the dancefloor.
1. 'Heus' A hypnotic tom and bass groove, heavy on atmosphere and noise, foreign and far away synthesizers and a deceptive bass note, the melody starting slow with a repetative phrase, then telling its whole melancholic, wistful, but powerful story before an arpeggio in the main break brings things to an end and delivering a powerful moment in the club when the beat comes back. Memories of summer.
2. 'Intro'. As the track name says, the long intro is the 'featured' part of the track, a good starter for any dj-set where people do not leave the dancefloor if the beat hasn't kicked in after the first 10 seconds. Child like voices, steady synthesizer note coming and going and a low bass create an intense first 3mins before the beats kicks in for the first time continuing with a pretty minimal beat before the elements of the intro come back and voices replace the synth line.
3. ''Guem'. A steady bass note and a waylaying, moody synthesizer theme ,tastefully selected drums, heavy beat and percussion ,joined by weird bird like sounds place you into a wood where the sun has already set.