AUS Music continue to bolster an ever expanding roster in uncovering an adroit and overlooked producer - the Dublin born producer Timothy Blake. In amongst those in the know, Blake is an artist whose reputation reaches back over 20 years and one whose releases have touched the likes of Dirt Crew, Fatty Fatty Phonographics and Kleine Reise. For his first ever outing on AUS he teams up with man of the moment Marquis Hawkes in delivering 'The Stormy Search' EP. Now residing in Berlin, Blake's idiosyncratic productions have been described as 'joyous freewheeling Funk' by Infinite State Machine as sounding 'like Stephen King decided to start making house music' (Trevor O'Shea Bodytonic) and also 'kinda like some lost Prince demos from an alternate world' according to Golf Channel's Dan Selzer. That goes part way to elucidating his creations and - as you'd expect from these descriptions his latest offering is a meld of jubilant synth lines, bumping 909 drums and Funk-indebted bass grooves. Having originally made the introduction to Will Saul which eventually lead the record - Marquis Hawkes offers up a remix of the title track which he additionally co-produced. Also on remix duties of the title track - Hawkes does as he does best in dimming the tenor, driving percussion through purring tape machines and adding in the signature dose of granular soul that's been his calling card throughout releases on Dixon Avenue Basement Jams, Houndstooth, Clone and Créme Organisation.
LAB.OUR 06 features offbeat, dancefloor techno from Hermans. Hermans (Jerry Riggs 'Dick Diamonds' & Maxwell Church) already have releases out on labels such as Run Out Run, Klasse Recordings, Zodiac44 & Extended Play, among others.
A1 is Sweat Box Rock, an epic stormer that sounds like a techno jam session with alternating beat patterns and dirty keys.
B1, Dustin Tombtones, is an uptempo acid workout destined to move dancefloors. B2 is a remix of Sweat Box Rock by Lab.our Music bosses Basic Soul Unit and J-UL.
We were very excited indeed to see the third release from the quite promising Love Notes from Brooklyn imprint! Marco Zenin was a featured artist on the last release under his DJ Octopus guise, and this time he's featured again with his other project, the more techy/ more minimal Die Roh, who recently had an underground athem with their release on Black Venison. The duo here seemingly lean their sounds in the direction of the label's and offer two-cut EP which is their deepest effort yet to date. Surely more DJs will play the dancier A side, Behind 6000, but for us, the groovier B side and title track Genghis Kahn is the choice cut. Label owner, Nathaniel Jay, continues in the precendent he's set with each release having its own unique "Love Note", authored by him, making every one of these records collectable.
The Organ Grinder, AKA Cayne Ramos, got it right first time. His first solo release 'Obsession/New Age People' was brought out on Cardiff's Catapult Records and gained him huge kudos points with an international DJ fraternity, gaining support from Move D, Ryan Elliot, Steffi and Jackmaster.
He got it equally right with his second release, the anthemic 'I Don't Love You', also on Catapult which featured the vocal talent of Jessy Allen. These releases put The Organ Grinder under the spotlight and he was soon invited to play his career highlight gig at Berlin's famous Panorama Bar. from there releases followed. A collaboration, with Chesus of Darkhouse Family and CRST fame, entitled Audio Porn on Addison Groove's newly Lost In Translation label. In 2012 The Organ Grinder caught the ears of Gerd and very soon came Enoonmai! on 4Lux supported by Laurent Garnier, Sebo k,Ben Westbeech,Boddika and Ryan Elliot.
In 2013 the Grinder kept on grinding with another CRST collaborative release, titled Monster Munch on the infamous Local Talk, and then with his second 4lux release "The Dancing Angel" getting him widespread support from just about everyone in the house scene, Kenny Dope of Masters of Work, Dennis Ferrer, Kerri Chandler, Steve Bug, Xpress 2, Dusky, Eats Everything, plus many more.
The production is one side of The Organ Grinder, he also makes us dance to his tunes, and he has played alongside an incredible international roster of artists to date including Darius Syrossian, Martinez Brothers, Phil Weeks, Huxley, DJ Wild, Steve Lawler and Kerri Chandler. During the summer of 2013 The Organ Grinder spent his summer in Ibiza playing at Kehakuma alongside Edu Imbernon, Steve Bug, Ryan Crosson, Robert James, Brawther and Gerd.
Blossom Kollektiv returns to vinyl once again after the success of Jepe's 'Spring Shadow,' this time around inviting House and Techno veteran Matthias Vogt to the label. The two-track EP of finely crafted melodic and emotive Techno features remixes from Oliver Gehrmann and Jepe and is sure to find its way into DJ bags world wide.
Starting the EP off on a strong note with Solace, Matthias Vogt takes us on a magical journey like we're floating in the clouds with a driving kick and lush melodies that keep us soaring through the sky into a land of beautiful and lovely emotions. Then just when we feel like we're about to fall the track uplifts us once again into a place of cosmic bliss with rich piano notes full of substance.
Playing with the rich piano notes of the original Oliver Gehrmann creates his own vision of Solace bringing a deeper and more after hours feel. The track takes us through the elements of the original but reworking it ever so slightly while never losing the strong emotional sense of the original.
Next we come back to Matthias with Fluorescence where we once again are whisked of to a fascinating place full of melody and care free attitudes. However don't let this allure fool you, powered by a heavy kick drum and tight percussion this track will work wonders on any peak hour dance floor bringing a sense of euphoria to the crowd.
After returning from our blissful land Jepe brings us right to the floor with his straightforward house version of Fluorescence. Putting his stamp all over his version using classic piano stabs and funky percussion to make the track uplifting in a rhythmic way, then subtle synths from the original peek their heads out to create a little drama and suspense until the slamming kick drum kicks back in making the crowd move.
New artist Daniel Wainwright brings his psychedelic vibrations to Is It Balearic ... Doing It is a slow motion sleazy trip into the acid house. Swirling vocals and psyched out guitars melt into chuggy acid beats and effects. Coyote up the tempo a touch and strip back the whole track on their remix. Dubby vocal samples and muted guitar groove along to an acidic finale. The second remix is a real thing of beauty from Mushrooms Project. Keeping the same slow tempo and adding space and texture with mellow guitars and extra sitar. A subtlely developing tribal workout. Groovy man.
Part 2 of Editors Kutz 005 pressed on Purple Vinyl feat cuts from JKriv / Noodleman / Riccio & EmVee who round things off nicely.
With edits and reworks on little known or impossible to find originals, and some beloved classics, this release covers various disco styles, keeping the right balance between the up-tempo and low tempo vibes. Limited Repress act fast.
Vanguard Sound! returns with it's first full EP by a Vanguard Crew Member other than Chris or Amir. G. Marcell's Model Music EP is a
special tribute to the Legendary Chicago Artist named Paul Johnson who has been both a friend and mentor to G. for quite some time.
4 tracks of Modern Chicago house music with that classic vibe, G flips beats, chops samples, and flexes synths to keep dance floors moving from opening to peak-time, as well as late late night/after hours closing sets.
Special Words from artist himself.....
"It was an honor to create a project for such a musically creative pioneer in the house industry. I thank him for his seal of approval to create this release and it's great that he enjoys this release". - G.Marcell
Godfather Sage USA 8/10 #2 Superb production and original ideas make this EP stand out from the rest. True artistry at work.
Ryan Origin USA 10/10 #4 One of my favorite releases of the year. Brilliant.
Script 9/10 #3 really interesting music. great vibes on every track. i get sent lots of music that tries to be like this but they fail miserably. deffo going to keep my ears open form more hidden turn on 31 :)
Das Kapital 9/10 #3 Always love Hidden Turn's stuff. Subby and expectedly menacing work.
Tony Addison Groove 9/10 #1 very nice 1
Reso UK 9/10 #3 love it. So refreshing to hear stuff someone wanted to make rather than a load of old hyped up bollocks. Nothing is awesome. Top work!
Chris Muniz 8/10 #4 Hidden Turn pushing the boundaries and digging in deep for a synapse-twisting exploration of beats, atmospheres and bass..
Daniel Boden 8/10 #1 Really like the minimal/dancehall vibes going on throughout the EP. Solid work from Hidden Turn. Never seems to disappoint
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Daniel.T. has been subtly making waves over the past few years as one half of the LA duo Cosmic Kids with releases on labels including Throne Of Blood, Let's Play House and DFA.
A record collector and selector at heart, 2015 has seen him flesh out his solo productions with world-leaning contributions to Chit Chat's Brazilian tinged 12 and American Standard's African summer stunner.Young Adults brings Daniel into the fold for his debut Tetrachromat mini-LP spanning a sprawling spectrum of sounds, but unified by a signature West-Coast sheen.
Opener 'Mission Hill Morning' stretches its arms in the early AM mist, 'Tetrachromat' jogs steadily toward the horizon and 'Planetesimal' accelerates the MPH in the drop top down PCH.
On the flip, 'Laced' takes a smoke break down a dusty dirt road, 'Akoussah' sprinkles some sultry spice and 'The Sun & The Sky' sits back while the sea sips up the last remaining daylight.
The stage is set from minute one on Clay Wilson's new 4-track EP, "Skandha," his second release for The Bunker New York.
The eponymous first track begins with a familiar techno throb, but is quickly overcome by a blooming swirl of coruscating synthesizer pulses that seem to gather inside the listener's head, a phenomenon Wilson seems particularly interested in: "I've never been into really straightforward club techno that works in neat 8- and 16-bar sequences," he says. "I'm always looking for things that have forward momentum, ways to escape that 'block-y,' downbeat-centric feeling that you find in so much contemporary techno. For me, it's the drone—what's going on in the background—that serves to hold my interest."
Nowhere is this more apparent than on the record's second track, "Cataleptic." The meat of the track is its tightly-wound techno core built from insistent, hypnotic percussion, but it's what's happening in the background that keeps you coming back for more: The sound of a babbling brook and a plaintive, meandering bird call ("the only actual recorded animal sounds on the record," notes Wilson) gently give way to the tintinnabulation of a distant bell, whose meditative timbre brings to mind a Tibetan singing bowl. It turns out that the naturalistic, organic sounds in many of Wilson's tracks are often just that: "I make field recordings all the time, actually—on my phone," he says. "I've found field recordings have been a great way to pull things along, never repeating themselves, but also never being so upfront as to draw your attention away from the synths and drums."
That's a key point, and make no mistake—for all the flora and fauna lurking in the background of Wilson's productions, they're designed for the dancefloor through and through. "Feres," the EP's third track, slows down the pace a little bit, keeping time with a static kick-hat pattern while chunky, stepped percussion laid on top makes the track feel remarkably dynamic. The final cut, "Pict," seems to slowly unfurl like flowers at dawn, while a ghostly vocal sample (or merely something approaching it) repeats itself underneath it all.
While at times the drawn-out shimmering tones in Wilson's work may recall modern minimalism, "getting into techno, and more specifically techno production, was kind of a way for me to get away from (formal, classical musical) training," he recalls. "I had been headed down an open-minded, anything-goes path with a compositionally-geared approach, and ... all those paths led to techno." And for that, we're glad.
Over the past years Bézier has seen releases under the Dark Entries record imprint with the most recent 'Telomeres' EP this year. The title track or pronounced 'mina' translates from Japanese to 'Everyone'. Mina is a journey through space with the initial ascent marked by a moody window of time in which uncertainty dominates the mindset of the passengers. Once they break through the atmosphere and are proceeding as planned they land on the final destination, an interplanetary discotheque. Mina was recorded this year with Mark Pistel on the helms for mixing and features SF drummer Kevin Woodruff of Tussle fame providing live drumming for the last portion of the track. Along with the title track the b-side includes tracks previously released on compilations but appear here for maximum record playing enjoyment. 'Serengeti Drive' which appeared on Honey Soundsystem's earlier HNYTRX compilation of queer dancefloor artists is the slow burner of the group. 'Mysteries of the Deep' which appeared in the JACKTONE cassette compilation of Bay Area electronic stars is the soundtrack to an underwater expedition. Both tracks were recorded, produced and mixed by Robert in his home SF studio in 2009.
Now here's something special. A straight up, bona fide summer smash. A massive dancefloor-smashing beast of a tune. Daniel Dexter continues his long and fruitful relationship with Poker Flat by channelling the sound of classic Clivillés & Cole in 'Deeper Love', an early 90s house bomb that will send shivers down your spine. Underpinned by a resounding synth riff and dancing counter-motif, Kaori Kaneko's vocals provide the perfect foil, packing a powerful and soulful punch. Prolific Parisian Alexkid provides a radical reinterpretation: stripped down, muted and glitchy, with the vocal cut up into fragmented shards that flutter and fibrillate in an ear-tingling fashion. While on the flip, Berlin's Bay Area import Kevin Knapp intones the names of classic Hollywood starlets over the smooth groove of 'Heroine'. The fulcrum of the track - a fat and rubbery analogue bass - comes to the fore on an instrumental mix, perfect for long blends and deeper palettes.
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South London producer Paul White and Florida vocalist/rapper Eric Biddines have joined forces to form new duo Golden Rules. Their debut album of soulful, psychedelic hiphop features Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) and its sound recalls Outkast and Cee-Lo.
Golden Rules have already seen radio support from BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens, plus 6 Music's Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft, and Mary Anne Hobbs, while key online hip-hop sites such as The Source and 2 Dope Boyz have been quick to recommend the group. Paul White has been described by the Independent as a 21st Century DJ Shadow', counts Madlib and Diplo among his fans and is best known for his production for the likes of Danny Brown and Charli XCX. Newcomer Eric Biddines has built a career in Florida and his last video received heavy rotation on MTV Jams, but this is his first step on the international stage.
Der Aphex Twin will es wieder wissen. Nach seinem sensationellen Comebackalbum "Syro" in 2014 (inkl. Grammy-Nominierung!) und der "Computer Controlled" EP Anfang 2015, knüpft der Soundtüftler nun an seine Acid-Zeiten aus der Mitte der 00'er Jahre an, als er als AFX mit der "Analord"-Serie auf seinem eigenen Rephlex-Label den Dancefloor unterminierte. Die Zusammenstellung "Orphaned Deejay Selek" enthält komplett unveröffentlichtes Material aus den Jahren 2006-2008, auf dem das Genie seine Liebe zu weirden Acid-Grooves auslebt.
- CD in Innen- und Außenhülle (ähnlich LP-Cover in CD-Größe, gestanzt)
- schwarzes Vinyl in Innen- und Außenhülle (gestanzt) inkl. Download Card
Once A&R for Trax record and the man behind some of the rarest Chicago House records on this earth, UTTU present 3 RAW AS FUCK REAL Chicago Jackers! VINYL ONLY!
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"Hey Boy Hey Girl" is a song by British big beat duo The Chemical Brothers. It was released as a single from their 1999 album Surrender. The vocal sample "Hey girls, B-boys, superstar DJs, here we go!" was taken from "The Roof Is on Fire" by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three.
It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in June 1999 and remained on the chart for ten weeks.(citation needed) The song dates back to 1997 when it was in the Radio 1 Anti-Nazi Mix. The song is also a track in the dancing video game Just Dance 3 and also featured in the 2012 video game Lumines Electronic Symphony.
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Dakini9, co-boss of Plan B Recordings and Sound Warrior Recordings, launches her first solo vinyl 12' EP on Jersey City's Green Village label. In keeping with her previous releases, Dakini9's work is always emotional and cinematic, and here we find her stretching out into tougher beats and speedier tempos. Made for the dance floor, this EP includes a DJ Spider remix on the B side.
2015 will prove a benchmark year for Scissor and Thread with the rising momentum of Frank & Tony and Desert Sound Colony and now with the introduction after many months of work of their new enigmatic artist, Rosas Nievas, with a sublime debut EP, Every Inch of You. Like a tip of the hat to Herbert, the title track entices with easy piano licks, a cooing vocal and a lush atmospheric enveloping the 'floor in a warm embrace. Flipping the switch, the bounce of "Opinions" propels dancers into hands-up, Chicago-style elation, while the rollicking, looping closer, "Hear Me Rain", entrances with its early morning psychedelia. Completing the package is a breakaway edit from label heads, Frank & Tony, who transform "Every Inch of You" into a sun-drenched, euphoric deep house stormer, in a way only they can do.
With Dan Curtin on the 4th release, Melodymathics has undoubtedly one of the key players in the development of electronic music as we know it today. With 'deserted station' Dan Curtin is as innovative and vital as he has ever been.
This funky production, with the typical Dan Curtin edge, covers the sound of the past, the present and the future.
'I want you' the result of a collaboration between 3 Belgian talents, discovered by Melodymathics. Amtek&E-Freak ft. Mike Ekim are bringing the contemporary club sound, though remaining funky and soulful, with catchy vocals. A real dancefloor killer!
Melodymathics holds the tradition alive to indulge the vinyl dj's. This time the funky loops are provided by the mysterious Melodymann and Sjef Wanders.
Extended remix versions of some of the best pop music ever made. Vocals, drama, dance rhythms and witty lyrics: the intellectual shuffle! What more do you need
After "III" Dusty Kid is back with a new album that is a trip and homage through and for his native land, Sardegna. "The Arsonist" anticipates this trip from its most dramatic part, touching upon an issue that haunts the island every summer: arsons. Setting itself apart from the contemporary techno music trends 'The Arsonist Part II" delves into 90's trance, reminiscent of legendary Jam&Spoon and rave parties. An intense explosion of pathos reminding us of the glorious Loveparade to describe a dangerous situation, a desperate attempt to save the Sardinian land. The pathos peaks with "Doa" when the fire leaves behind utter desperation and desolation, ashes and smoke. "Doa" is another stage in this new journey for Dusty Kid. It is an emotional and melancholic stop, drenched in the magic of the spaghetti western genre, honoring Morricone that has always been the artist's idol. The track is dedicated to the date of July 18, 1983, when in the north ofSardegna the worst arson happened; here 9 people lost their lives and 15 reported terrible burns in the attempt to extinguish the fire. This has later become the European date to raise awareness against forest fires. The EP ends on the balearic notes of "Serpentara', little abandoned island in the south east of Sardegna, that represents a small batch of land that is untouched by men, their doings and their fires. 'Serpentara' recalls the likes of "Sueno Latino', the summer of love '88 and Ibiza, when ravers wanted to take a break from the hysteric acid house and needed softer and dreamier sounds. Dusty Kid is back with a masterpiece that cannot be missed, a perfect soundtrack to the Summer of 2015.
Hailing from Tel Aviv, Israel, the DJ/producer trio PARTOK MATUSHKA APFELBERG is a well-known entity in its hometown, with the involved artists holding residencies in one of the most acclaimed clubs these days: Tel Aviv's The Block has been named "one of the five best sound systems" in the world on England's BBC Radio 1, perfect proving grounds for the slick, propulsive techno to be found on our latest 12" offering. Title track NAI NAI bum-rushes the stage with prowess, inflicting its bass-heavy demeanor with some funky voice cut-up work that will conciliate the hardcore floor heads with the more casual headbangers. The flipside shines with STATION, a relaxed, somewhat introspective belter giving its epic synth pads enough room to breathe without sabotaging its percussive agency. All in all, this is an impressive calling card putting these fresh talents on the road to worldwide floor domination.
Aus Tel Aviv, Israel, stammt das DJ/Produzententrio PARTOK MATUSHKA APFELBERG, in der Heimat eine anerkannte Grösse: die beteiligten Künstler stammen samt und sonders aus dem Umfeld von The Block, einem der besten Clubs zur Zeit, wo sie auch als Resident-DJs walten und wirken. Vom englischen BBC Radio 1 als "eines der fünf besten Soundsysteme der Welt" gelobt, entpuppt sich The Block als das ideale Testgelände für den smarten, antreibenden Techno der unser neuestes 12"-Release schmückt. Der bassgeschwängerte Titeltrack NAI NAI stürmt gekonnt die Bühne, auch dank der elegant zersägten Stimmsamples, welche die Hardcore-Flurfüchse mit den Gelegenheitsheadbangern versöhnen wird. Die Rückseite glänzt mit STATION, einem entspannten, tendenziell introspektiven Schieber, der seinen epischen Synthieflächen genug Raum zum Atmen gibt, ohne jedoch die perkussive Schlagkraft zu sabotieren. Alles in allem eine beeindruckende Visitenkarte für diese frischen Talente auf dem Weg zu weltweiter Flurdominanz.
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atom™'s ep »riding the void« is, together with the visual works of »HD+«, the conclusion of his critical yet delightful examination of pop music and culture on raster-noton.like the previous ep »ich bin meine maschine«, »riding the void« is set up very functionally,
aiming at being used in the club. techno maverick scuba, for example, turns the track with his »pulse mix« into a straight and dense march, whereas atom™ himself shakes the groove out of »riding the void« with his own two lighthearted remixes. his »nought remix« presents itself as slimmed-down yet very vibrant, while »tool« is a perfectly dance floor-ready reinterpretation of the original track. further more, an additional remix by hanno Leichtmann can be found on the digital version of the release.
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Front Left represents a very special corner in a very special spot on this planet. Every week the front left people gather together to celebrate techno music.
Techno is what brings us together and what makes us family to one another. We rejoice listening to it, produce it, talk about it, share it and mainly dance to it.
It is incredible how one physical spot creates so such magic and human connection.
This label brings the productions of the front left people to the world.
In the first release, you will find Elad Magdasi, a heavy dancer and an emotional producer. His productions are wide-ranged and loaded with a true rave spirit, combining an acid-line treatment and his melodic point of view. In the last two years Elad's productions turned to the techno side, and now he feels it's time to finally let his music out. Gathering knowledge and figuring out his style brought him to this point. His love for raving is what keeps his mojo going and brings the inspiration to his life.
Joining the first release is Matrixxman (Charlie Duff), the talented producer who's been shaking dance floor with his hit "Protocol" for already 2 years and now releasing his debut album on Ghostly. Not surprisingly, the connection between Elad and Matrixxman was also formed on the Front Left.
The first release combines a slick collection of sounds.
180gr! This 12" features remixes from Henry Wu and Ben Hauke, two rising South London natives whose dusty house sounds are reminiscent of the jazz-wise swing of the West London broken beat sound, a movement Sean Khan himself was heavily involved in.
London based jazz appassionato Sean Khan, will release his second album 'Muriel' later in 2015. Dedicated to the driving force behind his musical career, his mother Muriel McGinley, the album is virtuosic free, Latin and nu-jazz experimentation, drenched in soul with the help of the vocal talents of Omar, Sabrina Malheiros and Heidi Vogel (Cinematic Orchestra).
This 12' features remixes from Henry Wu and Ben Hauke, two rising South London natives whose dusty house sounds are reminiscent of the jazz-wise swing of the West London broken beat sound, a movement Sean Khan himself was heavily involved in.
On the A side, Henry Wu, a key member of the tight-knit label/ loose collective 22a Records (also home to the likes of Mo Kolours and Al Dobson Jr.), imbues the original track with a distinctly organic and off-kilter groove: a loose and earthy quality which is hallmark of the Wu sound and makes for a perfect complement to Khan's delicious melting pot of jazz, soul and broken beat flavours. Sturdy yet swinging with strong jazzy synth stabs and topped with a child-like, wordless, sing-along vocal, it's sure to be an underground summer club hit.
The B Side sees the mysterious Ben Hauke, whose previous releases have been courtesy of Melodica Recordings, steep Khan's 'Things to Say' in his own murky yet soul-drenched sound, one that falls somewhere between hip-hop and broken house. Not much is known about this young producer, but what we can glean from his work on this remix is a sound drenched in syrupy, slightly sinister keys and a plodding, unpredictable thump not entirely dissimilar from previous Far Out remix contributor Theo Parrish. Like the work of that Detroit innovation, these two young Londoner's contributions both look set to lend a funkily idiosyncratic and offbeat edge to all the right dance floors.
Following the huge success of the lead single "Settle Down" (played twice on one show by David Rodigan!), Blend Mishkin and the Roots Evolution band deliver their stunning debut album "Survival Of The Fittest" for NICE UP! records. Having spent most of his professional career behind either a computer screen or pair of turntables, Athens based producer Blend Mishkin (real name George Mantas) has been putting in work since the mid 90s with releases on labels such as Pork Recordings, Tru Thoughts, Shadow Records and many more. For this, actually his 8th studio album, he decided to do something a little different and step out from behind the computer. A chance meeting with some like minded musicians led to a conversation about them re-creating some of his past tracks for a potential live show, but after much thought it was decided that something brand new and fresh was needed. After numerous sessions and jams, a collection of tracks had begun to take shape. Recorded live and then taken back to the lab for mixing and dubbing, "Survival Of The Fittest" is the fruits of these sessions. The next step was to scout for vocal performers to bring the rhythms to life, with the focus on using both international and local talent to give a wide breadth of influences and themes. Lining up are Rebel Salute show-stopper and Juno award winning Exco Levi and seasoned veteran Skarra Mucci from Jamaica, UK reggae/dancehall don Gappy Ranks, Italian raggamuffin KG Man, Mandinka Warrior from Denmark and fellow Greek BNC amongst many others. Retaining an authentic vibe whilst keeping it current, "Survival Of The Fittest" is a truly modern roots reggae album.
Tough, to the point, no-nonsense machine music is a longstanding Midwestern tradition.
Drawing a line all the way back to the old guard, The Bunker New York's latest EP is Walk The Distance, courtesy of Mark Verbos, a techno veteran and New Yorker by way of Milwaukee who put together four pieces of heavyweight dancefloor artillery, informed by an intimate, inside-out knowledge of the machinery used in the production of these tracks.
"I've been doing this for a long time. In the beginning, there was only hardware, and it feels better to make music with physical objects. Plus, I make hardware, too," says Verbos, recounting his production processes. Verbos not only produces music, he also produces the hardware he uses to make music—his company, Verbos Electronics, manufactures Eurorack synthesizer modules with a vintage sensibility. When he's making music, Verbos says, "I try to get to know the devices I use well enough that whatever I imagine can come from them. Techno is machine music. When I'm recording, it's just me and the machines."
The music, however, speaks for itself. No punches are pulled here—the record starts in top gear with "Start Up Drive," a devastating techno bomb centered around a throbbing, repeating bassline and a meaty kick drum that builds to a massive climax in the span of five minutes. "In The Back Room" kicks the tempo up a notch, featuring spaced-out atmospheric synth leads floating atop syncopated percussion. "Just A Little Late" is funkier than the other two, built around a rubbery, insistent synthesizer groove that worms its way deep into your head and doesn't let go.
The aforementioned three tracks alone would comprise a solid techno EP suitable for any number of dancefloors. But the last track on the record—its namesake—shifts gears entirely. "Walk The Distance" is a moody, pulsing slow burner, introspective and emotional. It's a haunting listen that adds remarkable depth and complexity to the record. "Walk The Distance, the track, is a reference to the fact that music is not a career. Any advice you could offer someone on how to have a successful career doesn't really apply to a career in music. By that I mean to say, process is everything, and the results don't really matter."
Sage advice indeed, but judging by Walk The Distance, Mark Verbos has figured out how to produce results that matter.
Shimmer was the record that put Stefan Goldmann on the map of techno. The dark and throbbing tracks, reduced to the essentials, were love at first sight for many of the DJs who ruled the scene back in 2004. Josh Wink threw in one of his most focused remixes for Stefan Goldmann's debut on Ovum - which was also the first one by a German artist on the label. As so often in dance music, things have come full circle. About time to give a mint copy of "Shimmer" to the DJs who play this prototypic sound today. Remastered meticulously by Rashad Becker at D&M, with the title track cut to a full 12" side, it never sounded better.
U2XProductions presents, "I'm Yours" - written by Niko Marks and featured artist, Sadiqua. Niko expresses true Detroit deepness while allowing room for a sultry female vocal to carry a bit of melody throughout each mix. A1 starts off low tempo and very dance friendly while B1 delivers a very funky baseline and leans to a more aggressive beat. B2 gets really deep and plays down to a minimal pulse. This release is a definite Dj record with smooth and rich grooves that will make a great fit into your playlists!
Continuing on from Vol 1's theme of established artists working in disguise, 'Music First Vol 2' delivers another sonic assault with this absolute rollercoaster ride of a record. The mysterious Scorpio T opens the EP with 'Neptune Rising', a squelching acid-bass boomer that can simultaneously spiritually elevate and physically devastate any dancefloor. Rounding off Side A it's followed by Scandalous Arthur's 'Acid In My Mind', a lo-fi tape-hissed jacking beast of a banger that sounds like it's genuinely been brewing in a vat of highly toxic acid for at least 25 years and guaranteed to melt your mind. On the flipside comes JaX DaX returning from Vol 1 with the low-frequency moody slo-mo electro workout 'Fucking Computer' that oozes bad attitude and booty-shaking basslines in equal abundance. Bringing the trip to a close is Kyrenic Azalee with the self-titled 'Kyrenic Azalee', an x-rated new beat tour-de-force of epic proportions that will fry minds and bodies with its relentless energy. Limited edition so don't sleep on it, not that it would let you.
WRR is back on the scene with a new record from the label owner Giovanni Damico aka Ron Juan. Freshness and grooves are the key words of this new release projected into the summer and Gio is serving them to you on a beautiful piece of yellow wax! Laying the needle on side A and listen to "O Pais Do Sol", feel the smell of the sea and have a mojito, then when the sun is burning, smoke a cigarette in the shade and check what Trinidadian Deep thinks about that sound on the side B...Yeah you feel it, right The party is on! Now dance until the sunset and when you feel tired, the "Someone Is Gr8" track will bring you home safe!
When a label within thirteen catalog releases has only one of them branded as 'various artists', than the focus on this release seems to be really interesting. Exactly that is the case with DREIZEHN and it's three protagonists. Der Dritte Raum co/pilot ‚Ralf Uhrlandt' opens up the split-release with his elegant-motor - skills house to techno track New Sights on the A side. With his contribution the door's lifted from the hinges and when the guitar hook line appears you're kissed from the sun in a world of an easy-going, feather light dance expressed manifest. On the B1 CLICK FARM crafts a wonderfully layered, deep minimal bassline driven hunter-techno masterwork which surely will be heard this summer on the dancefloors. B2: Der Dritte Raum - an old friend and labelowner of the swinging addiction- grooves here with his tune ‚El Sonido' and shows again the great school of easy techno music production. Big 12 release.
Tasty Treats, another side project of the multi-talented Ronald Burrell dropped this 4 track EP way back in 1993 on the cult Citi label out of NYC.
As expected the tracks contained within have all the facets of that magical "Burrell sound"; healthy doses of Soul, sleaze, deepness, late night atmosphere and that solid, no nonsense NY/NJ House attitude, for the heads, the dancers, the all nighters and the freaks! This is pure Shelter/Garage joy!
The Burrell brothers back catalog is just ridiculous in terms of releases, styles and quality control and this EP sits comfortably up there with some of their classics. An all round solid EP for all true House music lovers regardless of area code or geography!
%100 legit re-issue, re-mastered and brought back for the summer 2015 flex - Don't snooze!
Over the past few decades, there has been a seismic shift in Brazil's musical landscape. A plethora of varying musical undergrounds has developed across the nation. While Rio and São Paulo have been overwhelmed with networks of talented musicians for a long time, creative life is now bursting all over the country. Amplificador exists to document and propagate the wonderfully diverse music currently blossoming from Brazil's vivacious and geographically varied musical undergrounds. Presenting an up-to date insight into Brazilian music, this compilation draws together some of the components of 'Novíssima Música Brasileira' (brand new Brazilian music), ranging from afro-grooves to rock, to modern samba and MPB. The music reaches back across Brazil's incredibly rich musical and cultural traditions, while also taking in influence from other movements around the globe.
Having begun life in 2012 as a Brazilian music blog run by Marcelo Monteiro, Eduardo Rodrigues, Mateus Campos, and Ricardo Calazans, the aim of Amplificador is to document and propel to wider audiences, Brazilian music of the '00s and '10s generation. This is a task made more significant by obvious changes in the way music is consumed. 'People are no longer obliged to listen to what the radio and TV are presenting. There is a whole new generation that wants to listen to new bands and new sounds and we try to connect those bands with other bands, producers, fans and even the mainstream.' These changes in technology and the way music is discovered and shared have developed parallel to the proliferation of these emerging scenes. The ostensible decentralization of the music industry means the promoting and filtering work of journalists and blogs, like Amplificador, have become increasingly important, as people try to keep up with the tsunami of new music and media flooding the country on a daily basis.
Marcelo uses the example of the Mangue Beat movement to explain a trend in contemporary Brazilian music that looks both inwards, to Brazil's own musical traditions and outwards, to movements around the world to create a novel, localised identity: 'The 90's Pernambuco art-social movement was inspired by Coco, Maracatu and Forró all mixed with modern riffs and grooves. The mythical
revolutionary Chico Science, his Nação Zumbi, Mundo Livre, Siba, and many others do this blend perfectly. There are also the references to the older generations and masters - Gil, Caetano, Luiz Gonzaga, João Gilberto, Tim Maia, Jorge Benjor - as a constant inspiration for all bands.' This is very much the case for the Brazilian artists of today.
Music is unquestionably informed by place. Brazil has always been famed for its regional differences in this sense. Indeed there are still pronounced variations between the scenes of Rio, Sao Paulo, Natal, Goiânia, Belo Horizonte and Belém for example, there are also great divergences within cities and while technology has brought changes to the way musical influences are shared, there are cultural differences, rooted in folkloric traditions, that aren't going away. Expressing his appreciation for this fact, while highlighting the potential of Brazil's spread of musical flavours, Marcelo explains that 'what we have now is new ingredients to make an even better mixture.'
This compilation heavily features music from a scene in Brazil's current musical make-up, which draws inspiration from African music, particularly Afro-beat music. Abayomy Afrobeat Orchestra from Rio formed because of their shared love of the music of Fela Kuti, uniting initially in 2009 for a jam session in his honour. But what sets Abayomy apart from other groups of a similar nature, is the fact that their sound also brings with it the songs and rhythms of candomblé. In this sense, Abayomy was the first band of its kind. The thirteen members of the orchestra have a palpable current of Rio's musical heritage - its rhythms and culture - running through them. So while their sound is distinctly African, it is also inherently Brazilian. Similarly, Zebrabeat Afro-Amazônia Orquestra draw upon traditional guitarradas and carimbos from the state of Pará and fuse these with the poly-rhythms of Afrobeat to create another regional hybrid, which stays true to both its Amazonian and African roots, yet which results in a very fresh, Brazilian sound. From Belo Horizonte (capital of Minas Gerais), Iconilli are another key band on Brazil's Afro-groove scene. With influences as varied as funk, jazz and psychedelic rock, congado, mining harmonies, maracatu, coco, ijexá, carimbó, Iconilli somehow manage to balance all of these sounds in such a way that makes it impossible to pin them down. From the Northeastern city of Joao Pessao, Parayba, Burro Morto's pshychadelic afro sound leans more towards rock and funk influences, with hint of regional Brazilian rhythms such as frevo and forro. They add another flavour to the Brazilian afro-groove scene: just one of the many exciting facets of Novíssima Música Brasileira.
While African-inspired music features heavily on the compilation, it is just one of the many styles within. Ive Seixas has a fresh approach to MPB, based on traditional rhythms and instrumentation, punctuated by a pop sensibility, coupled with a powerful female vocal. As an artist she is a product of a 'Do It Yourself' outlook to creativity, taken from her love of rock growing up. In 2013 she embarked on a project of street performance: wandering, like a lonely troubadour with just her guitar. Ive and her project began to gain notoriety and shortly after, her first EP was recorded, featuring some important names of South Rio's underground scene. 'Cervejas Populares' taken from the EP, is a beautiful, sombre piece of modern Brazilian pop, with a traditional samba rhythm. Another artist of the new MPB scene is Fabricio, from the city of Vitoria, who's 'Feito Tamborim' melds rock and funk and is also clearly reminiscent of the old Brazilian masters. It's an appreciation for the national musical heritage, alongside a keen ear for melody and an acceptance of foreign influences that results in these promising new sounds of Brazilian MPB.
Sao Paulo's super group of the underground 'Passo Torto' have been at the helm of an emerging scene in the city: an innovative approach to samba which draws in and experiments with afro grooves, jazz melodies and rock structures. Their sound is naturally very Brazilian, but the nylon twang of Faira Lima Pra Ca, interspersed with ominous strings and light rolling percussion, seems reminiscent of Captain Beefheart or Tom Waits, as the band lament their frustrations with their native city through their music.
The Future of Novíssima Música Brasileira looks very bright. The main challenge (and purpose of this album) is to get the music beyond Brazil's underground and into view of international audiences. In the last 10 years this goal has become somewhat more attainable, as the Brazilian government has begun to see the internationalisation of the nation's culture as a strategic objective, with public projects gaining increased investment and backing. The continuing project of Amplificador is to reinforce this international bridge by writing, filtering and promoting the scene as a whole. There is a wealth of great music currently blooming in Brazil and using new media tools, Marcelo and the team, alongside many others, will passionately continue to get the voices of Brazil's underground heard.
Since debuting in 2013, J.Tijn has found his corner of the electronic music world, developing a hard techno sound that is raw and unforgiving. A core member of Untold's Pennyroyal label, Jesse Tijn has also released on Overlee Assembly, Power Vacuum and Bedouin Records. For Naked Naked's eleventh release, J.Tijn gives us two versions of 'Pick Your Battles' that are ready for damage on the dance floor.
On the A side, 'Pick Your Battles V1' gives us a dark rolling rhythm being led by a crisp snare hit through a sea of machine bleeps and grinding waves of noise. An unrelenting groove which is sure to keep the floor heaving. On the flip, 'Pick Your Battles V2' hits harder with distorted kick drums, an array of hats and attacking synth bleeps. After almost imploding, the track reaches another level, taking us to peak time madness with aggressive percussion. Heads down, hands up, this is sure to bring heat wherever it goes.