House News

The brilliant John Heckle joins the M>O>S fold for this excellent EP ...full info soon!

The first offering on BoomChik comes from N & N Tracks. Produced by Neville Watson and Nigel Rogers (aka Perseus Traxx) in an impromptu recording session lasting just one afternoon, the love of classic sounding Chicago tones and feelings are immediately present. The sound is that of effect drenched raw machinary, hammering out beats and
synth parts intended to transport you on the dance floor, all beaten out of the machines live to tape with Neville and Nigel just performing the occasional edit here and there.

Black Loops have previously released on labels like Toy Tonics which brought them fans like Groove Armada, Huxley, Art Department and of course Audiojack who signed them to their own Gruuv Recordings. Simplon is a New Jersey jacking house track that bumps along when remixed by Sidney Charles, who ups the ante and increases the energy of the super smooth original. Cabron is next up with its moody b line and gravelly vocal snippets. Up on you is the last on the Ep and this verges towards the deeper end of the scale with soft pads, bass tones and shimmering house grooves. Four very useable quality house tracks on a great label.

DJ support;

Eats Everything (Dirtybird, Pets),
Justin Martin (Dirtybird / Buzzin' Fly / Freerange / Classic)
Paul Woolford
Michel Cleis (Cadenza)
Droog (Culprit)
J.Phlip (dirtybird)
Oliver $
Gorge (Gorge (Reclick - 8-Bit))
Waifs & Strays (Leftroom)
Slam (Soma)
Martin Landsky (Poker Flat)
Rodriguez Jr (Rodriguez Jr, Mobilee, Mothership, Systematic)
Doc Martin (none)
Kenny Glasgow (Art Department)
No Artificial Colours (Madtech / Nervous Records)
Joyce Muniz (2020 Vision / Exploited / Snatch!)

Thema's latest 12' welcomes back an esteemed and prolific deep house artist, Christopher Rau, with another fellow member of the Thema extended family, Detroit's Norm Talley, on remix duties. Choosing to go only by his surname, Rau crafts a sexy, undulating track entitled 'Lost In Brooklyn' that marks his second release on the label from the same Big Apple borough. Thema is known for its quality take on dance music, marked by decades of experience and careful listening, this release is of the same elevated calibre that we've come
to expect from the internationally renowned label. It's layered, complex, and completely essential!

A syncopated pattern of stabbed chords remains the benchmark of the track, anchoring a groove that initially builds using off-kilter, intentionally grating background noise. As resonators get turned up and tensions mount, the moment when the funky, hi-hat led percussion finally arrives around the 2:20 mark is met with the kind of exuberant release that dancefloor-heaven is rooted in.

'Lost In Brooklyn' continues to ebb and flow throughout its remainder, with peaks and troughs that power through until the end and renders it more than a bit of DJ weapon.

Besides Rau, Norm Talley is also back on Thema and with a kind of focused fury that only he can sustain. He infuses Rau's upbeat production with his Motor City hypnotic soul and reworks it for a deeper, later hour. The motif that makes up the A-side is eschewed in favor of subdued pads, skittering cosmic washes drenched in delay, and driving drums that straddle the line between house and techno. The contrast between each side of this vinyl plays off the other nicely, but they both retain the sophisticated charisma that ties everything on Thema together.

Finally Repressed!
Post Detroit hi-energy techno tracks on this first release on Epm music's new vinyl label! Known for their dj agency that used to represent artists such as Robert Hood, Underground Resistance, Marco Passarani and Alexander Robotnick, they became one of the first digital distribution companies in Europe. These guys always have been on the forefront of techno music and now go back to their roots and old love for vinyl!! Its Paul Mac dropping the bomb with Berghain resident Marcel Fengler on the remix! Solid techno tracks in a timeless manner that already proved its quality on international dancefloors. Limited marbled vinyl! Check!

1x each Customer !
Big Doint's Back!!! Limited copies as usual, order ASAP to avoid disappointment!

Fear of Flying's next instalment sees the label launch a vinyl only 4 tracker with revered artist 'Schatrax' providing the previously unreleased lead track 'Get it Right'. A booming sub bass, a few cut up disco samples and 5 1/2 minutes later you have another fine addition to Mr Josh Brent's exceedingly impressive CV.

Following on from their last 2 EP's on Rinse as well as there unique take on Route 94's - My Love, Maison Sky are welcomed into the "Materials" fold with their latest record, "69". This well rounded EP shows a real depth to the duo, progressing on from their previous efforts & fitting in perfectly with the textural aspects of Mak & Pasteman's Materials Imprint.
"69" leads the EP. Subtle textures, organic drums and dusty stabs build over a hypnotic rhythm. Maison's booming kick drums and skippy percussion combine with a simple catchy hook. "Dedo's Song" shows real emotion and progression building on atmosphere and the subtle interlacing of chords creating a rich and deep enviroment. Combined with an almost live sound to the beats, the lads give this track some real warmth and depth. "Lido" completes the EP, musically pushing their sound forward whilst maintaining dance floor impact. Layering lush melodies over powerful kick drums to establish Maison Sky's signature sound. Dynamically a great record which works as well in the club as on your iPod.
We're very pleased to have Maison Sky join the Materials family as friends and artists we admire.

Legotek's newest release is all about the power of string melodies. Each episode showcasing the finest in groovy anthems. The first two kick off strong and uplifting combining classic house tunes. On the flip side the listeners are invited to deeper and darker zones. All in all the first three tracks lean towards driving piano elements but never compromising the analogue soul. The finisher releases the crowd with a typical deep US style. In a nut shell the string power EP demonstrates the timeless force of high quality pumping house rhythms.

vinyl only, handstamped

By now, Frak needs no formal introduction. Let's just say they are the Swedish House Mafia for people who actually know what house music is. Lately, there has been somewhat of a surge in house and techno influenced by synth, ebm and obscure sub-genres that ends with "-wave". So the timing couldn't be better for Frak to return to Kontra-Musik with this remarkable synth and acid flavoured release. This is of course a bit ironic as no-one could possibly care less about trends and hypes than Frak and Kontra-Musik. Time is an illusion. Our music, however, is not. But it may flabbergast you all the same. Machines drifting away is an intriguing piece of music; straightforward and multi-layered; futuristic and old school. The first half of the track molds itself around an ebm-like bassline which seems to be moving through a desolate landscape with hard hitting kicks, claps and drums marching on beside it, while the sky above is filled with the wails of brooding synths. The second part introduces a mean 303-bassline as the intensity of the journey heightens. To find a way home has a more elaborate rhythmical body, which only can be described as Frakish. The sound of an echoing metronome sets the tempo at the beginning, soon to be joined by heavy kicks and toms. Several analogue synths then joins in; bending, distorting and moving through the soundscape, almost battling for space. Everything is kept on the right path, though, thanks to an ingenious use of hi-hats - a trademark trick and treat from Frak. Everything is composed and recorded in legendary Studio Styrka, Karlskrona.

Finally Repressed!
Auf ihrer neuen 12" für Ostgut Ton zeigt sich Steffi von einer überraschend harten
Seite. Nach ihrem Track "Yours", der unverzüglich seinen Weg zum House-Klassiker ging und dem Album "Yours & Mine", auf dem es sehr intime Momente gibt, beweist Steffi mit ihrer neuen EP, dass sie noch viel Unentdecktes zu bieten hat und produziert elegante, tief gefühlte Technoklänge, die an unvergessene Warehouse Partys erinnern, als Techno und House auf nur einer Tanzfläche vereint wurden.

Tyler Friedman returns to Kontra-Musik with a series of immersive wax maelstroms, adorned with the mind-melting artwork of Rafaela Drazic. Every track on CCC: BB: BBB: JJ is a controlled experiment in lysergic dance music; an examination of how far you can warp the constitutive elements of techno without loosing it's essential spine. The result is four evolutionary techno suites full of movement and life that make your brain move just as vigorously as your body. As the personal work of a composer creating soundtracks for artist projects - most notably as a long-term collaborator of The Otolith Group, the filmmaker collective spearheaded by pioneering Afrofuturist theorist Kodwo Eshun - CCC: BB: BBB: JJ sums up everything Kontra-Musik is about: dancefloor celebrations challenging the boundaries of expectation and genre.

Raw Tools returns with four powerful tracks from the vaults of talented Scottish producer Stephen Lopkin, who already made his vinyl debut with a banging 12' on the mighty M>O>S. Chicago flavored beats and acid driven grooves bolted onto Detroit rhythms and swirling pads of analog goodness. Comes with a special illustration by Bucharest artist, Silviu Andrisoi. Limited as always.

For Legwork's first outing, we've recruited a seminal techno-soul producer from Dallas, Texas, who prefers to stay in the shadows, remaining nameless(ish). That said, anyone who's serious about Detroit techno know's his work on Matrix, Down Low, and most receintly Delsin. On Remix duty are fellow Dallas alumnus Lance DeSardi, head honcho at Legwork, and DJ Cle, the hardest massaging man in house music.
A1. Down Off Cooper If this bassline doesn't hook you, check your pulse. Add some twisting and sliding pads to relentless machine-funked rhythms, and Robert's your mother's brother.
A2: Where's Cityboy The perfect complimentary tune to Down Off Cooper, this one's slightly deeper, while still keeping the drum patterns moving and bass rumbling enough for the most discerning of dance floors.
B1: Down Off Cooper (Lance De Sardi & Cle Remix) Lance & Cle take Down Off Cooper to a more House-oriented dimension, never losing the techno soul of the original. The extra vocal snippet reminescent of classic M.A.W. dubs or Global Communication shoots this one into space.

Gerome Sportelli presents "Sporty Limited", a new record label managed by himself as a limited vinyl series. After big success with his KRAX Records in 2004, veteran Gerome Sportelli is back with a new label project. The genre of the label swings between dance floor oriented house and techno, with a touch of acid and of course some dusty old school flavours. Gerome's already active in the music industry since the early 90's as a producer, DJ, label manager, party promoter and graphic designer. His music 'smells' old school, just like the early age of acid house, but infused with today's intelligent constructions and an engaged vision on music. Gerome's music is made from bronze age analogue synths, love, passion and modern digital mixing techniques.
For this first Sporty Limited release, Gerome comes out with three stylish tracks. The first track, A side 'Drive', is a fat house stomper with strong stabs and female voice hits. The break is intense and works effectively on packed dance floors. B1 is called 'Free Range' and feels like summer. It's full of classic house sounds, filtered strings and hypnotic loops. This is a Chicago­styled, disco sampled, deep and classy house track we love and cherish. The B2 track, 'Don't Go', is composed with a classic house bass, shuffled 909 drums and dark space strings. You'll immediately recognize the deep and melodic Detroit house sound.

That Place's concept is to give a musical tribute to a place that marked the life of the artist. The label leaves space to the subjectivity of the artist in both musical style as visual on the cover because it's him who chosen the illustration. That Place is intended to be broad in terms of musical style, it can be house, techno, disco edit, ambient, acid, etc.. As long as the music reflects the soul of the artist.
That Place is a label run by Juliano. He honors for this first release a Lyon's artist: Visitors for Reworks. The latter has happened here 4 House, Electro and Techno tracks.
"Space 1" is the opening track fot this Ep. VFR puts forward a basseline ever bounce and go in acid tones while the instrumental part takes us in a constant dynamic. The second piece is entitled "Space 3 (Flight of Stairs Version)" and is a journey towards experimentation with electro acid sounds. On the flip side of the disc there is the track "Space 2" who is Breaky and goes on the lovely flavour of Blip Techno. Closing the disc, "Space 3" which is probably the most dancefloor piece of this Ep and shows the ingenuity of VFR to give groove and voltage to a song.