House News

Matt Tolfrey drops the second single from his 'Word Of Mouth' EP this ... via his Leftroom imprint, opting for the infectious groove of 'Encarta' and pulling in Marco Bernardi and DJ Sprinkles on remix duties.
Matt Tolfrey's, Leftroom, imprint has gone from strength to strength over the past seven years, and his debut full length 'Word Of Mouth' earned critical acclaim amongst peers and press alike. Here Leftroom offers up another stellar addition to the catalogue, further showcasing Tolfrey's undeniably on point A&R skills by pulling in sought after artists DJ Sprinkles and Marco Bernardi to present yet another refreshing release from the label.
The original version of 'Encarta' kicks things off here, its cosseting Rhodes melodies, whispering vocal licks, gritty shuffling snares and sheer elegance draw you in, and further display Tolfrey's experience in the industry with its classic meets contemporary vibe. Clone, Planet E and Futureboogie artist Marco Bernardi steps up first to rework 'Encarta', putting a slightly more driving spin on the original number with insistent arp lines, crunchy distorted drums and raw saw wave bass tones thrown into the mix. Bernardi displays his more than capable production skills through evolving melodies and subtle nuances, resulting in an up-tempo, tasteful interpretation.

Last up to close the release is the forever on-point DJ Sprinkles, stamping his signature emotive, ethereal touches on the original. Sprinkles, as he often does, goes to full lengths with an eleven minute mix, meandering through an amalgamation of synth and drum variations with a genuine song structure, as expected it's an intelligent, forward thinking rework.

2nd in the lost tapes series from a true boss in German Electronics....TIP!
* Written & Produced by David Moufang
at KM20, Heidelberg

This Irish producer lands in the SPM universe with a versatile movement from the norm. experimental yet functional, deep yet accessible. Essential cosmic sonics for the discerning listener.

Four track split ep from Chicago producer Dj Skull and Victor Santa. 'Different Connections' contains a hybrid sound of Chicago rooted house and Detroit techno.

Finally a repress from the 1992 classic Rainforest EP on Serious Grooves. It features 3 classic and highly sought after detroit tracks. Produced by Claude Young & Santonio Echols, limited copies. Pre-orders essential.

Middlesborough duo Perfume Advert (Aaron Turner & Tom Brown) follow up their long sold out debut release on 1080p with their first 12' drop 'Kappa Downs' for Where To Now Records.

Side A leads with the 7 minute drugged out deep techno stepper 'Fata', where precise woodblock drums meld themselves around a stark basin of heavy dub and experimental pulsations that are primed for both the dancefloor and in ear exploration. 'Fata' perfectly showcases the duos ability to create something that is both completely 'heads down' and minimal, yet managing to completely burst with light, soul, and bounce - a feeling that continues to flow throughout the whole EP.

'The Fens' follows with a thunk-and-junk percussion, combined with a deep rolling melody, evoking skewed fantasy imagery and absolute pastoral ambience, and 'Creep Pop' closes the collection with the thickest rhythm section, where deep-fried pads, skillfully chopped vocal samples and deep dub textures perfectly melt into each other.

'Kappa Downs' captures the rich, clubbed-up face of Perfume Advert in full flow. The release retains the DIY ethos and one-take production approach of 'Tulpa' but refines the sound palette to suit club-play and party atmospheres. There's a clear step up in this work from the 1080p release - where 'Tulpa' found the duo experimenting with rhythm and texture to a degree that created an almost collage like effect of direction, 'Kappa downs' on the other hand completely breathes the confidence that the strongest moments of 'Tulpa' showcased - the lo-fi grain of their previous work has been dropped and in it's place strides a new glossed out groove that demands attention.

'Kappa Downs' showcases a more functional and direct approach to Perfume Advert's unique take on textural house. The Korg ESX-1 is still the clunky, beating heart of each track, slamming through with throbbing kick drums and fizzing hi-hats swung to the hilt. Brown's ultra-mutated synth work conjures rich, fizzing textures and heavy pulse rhythms throughout the EP. The Korg EA-1, several DIY noisemakers and some other quirky sound generators all find their way into the pieces and Ableton Live is once again utilised as the main production canvas and performance enhancer.

This fall, Trevino makes a rare appearance off the golf course with a four-track EP on his brand-new label, Birdie. Up to this point, the Manchester-based producer's work has been scattered across imprints manned by industry heavyweights like Ben Klock's 'Klockworks' and Martyn's '3024', but now he's made a home for his own relentless output. It was a natural step for a stalwart who never stops creating, and manning his own platform has allowed him to explore the depths of his sound with no holds barred. The EP opens with "To The Core", a driving house track with melancholic synths and metallic percussion. "Warmer" is more of a sunrise jam, it inspires a sense of wonder with gliding synths, yo-yoing melodies, and cute bleep-bloops. The b-side features the more ominous track "Playtime", which develops a menacing edge with a gritty bassline, and "Mesmerize," another psychedelic cut with wavering synths and glittering instrumentation.

Quintessential blend of Detroit house tracks.

Last Supplement - The debut album from Nathaniel X & the culmination in the "Supplement" series kicks off with Part 1 of what will be a 3 part series that will span the mind, body, and sounds of New York's very own Nathaniel X.

Australian based producer Garry Todd, takes time out from his fashion and record label Contemporary Scarecrow to release this 12' of straight up house bombs aimed directly for the dancefloor. Limited edition hand stamped 12'.

Limited Repress of this huge Levon Vincent Release!!! Essential to say the least. Get your orders in now!

Founded in 2008, Paris-based MEANT Records is exposing some of it's hidden gems through the launch of an exclusive vinyl only
series. 12"s carrying rare/previously unreleased tracks (you never knew you loved and missed) from the MEANT catalogue and new
hits from the imprint's stalwarts.
Meant - Limited Whites Vol.1
EWAN PEARSON remixed REMAIN.
REWORK wanted a talk.
KIKI remixed REMOTE.
CRACKBOY gave an alternative mix of MONOBLOK&PSLKTR's Damage Done.

Starting in 2004 with 'Made Within The Upper Stairs Of Heaven' and 2008 with 'Toinen', Lindblad has a tendency for symmetry, and now with the release of 'Third Encounter' in 2012 is no coincidence, just a scandinavian way of saying good things take their time and it's worth the wait. Analog synthesizers, sequencers and tape decks are something which are widely used in todays electronic music, but it is the mixture of the old and new - keeping the tradition of live jams instead of pre defined arrangements, choosing high standards in fidelity but keeping the rough feel to it - these elements together keep the sound of Sasse one step ahead of the competition, and why he is considered to be one of the most consistant producers in the scene. While 'Fingers Inc' and '707 Heaven' pays homage to the gold era of Detroit and Chicago house, songs like 'Analog City' and 'Fantazy' brings memories of the mid 90s Sasse material, true Deep House as it used to be done. While 'Alpha' and 'Der Groove' takes a naked live jam approach to how to abuse analog goodies, 'Low Slove' and 'Treat Me' are raw sample based tunes, perfect for a late night dj-set. The album Third Encounter showcases the 20 past years of Klas Lindblad as a musician, dj and sound engineer, one who's seen most of the modern musical styles evolve and dissolve. Always relying on the basic principles of Electronic Dance Music that less is more, Lindblad brings another fine full-lengt artist album out, surely to be considered his finest work til today.

Album sampler of a new Tevo Howard project. As a step into the Chicago Electro House genre, Sequence Report is an Alias or A.K.A. of Tevo that came about as an intended exploration of Popular music. Featuring "Been Steppin' to your Love" and "Tragedy" for side A, and two unreleased versions of "Don't Make Me Wait (Tonight I Wanna House You)" for side B. All extended for the DJs...

The forthcoming debut album titled, SECROMANCE, is no exception to early pioneer work of artists such as The Art of Noise and Kraftwerk who crafted and pioneered the computer automated voice in electronic music. Secromance , nonetheless, utilizes tuned and pitched automated vocals in a bit more of exploration within the Chicago Electro House genre. Our special feature for this album is a popular gem for the Chicago Steppin' community titled, "Been Steppin' to your Love..." So please get down to this one..

Common Dreams is a new techno project. Serving as both the artist name and the label, it's vision is to bring you a steady flow of futuristic, harmonic and rhythmic techno tracks. 'Data Waves' is a deep and mental journey that is intended to send the listener or dancefloor into a hypnotic state of mind, while 'Twisted Future' is a funky, soulful techno track, also with a dancefloor edge.

Steve Huerta returns to Amadeus with his follow up EP, Apotheke. The transcontinental artist, having recently relocated to Berlin, sees the core of his sound developing, which is especially prominent in a-side belter and title track "Apotheke." The tune, dusted with a slow slung bassline, driving percussion and airy synth melodies, is undoubtedly built for the floor. Backing this you'll find Huerta's joint efforts with ultimate bud Urulu, who's collaboration was last seen on the label in the form of a remix for Huerta's "Take Me Closer" single. The track, entitled "Swing Set," pushes its 4/4 signature through pulsating kick drums, filtered pad work and an unconventionally swung groove.

On the flip you'll find Steve's third contribution to the release, "Kingsley's Groove." given its name as an ode to a feline friend. Backing this you'll find Tartelet Records' own Glenn Astro flipping the track into it's pumping glory.

We at Audio Visual are excited to release our first piece of vinyl and what a great honor it is to have our first release with no other then Mr. Terrence Dixon and Michael Zucker both are no strangers to the underground techno and house scenes with there solid release backgrounds and superb record labels such as Reduction and Finale Sessions. Now we come to this release and we start with Terrence Dixon and the track "MTA" with its fast pace drums and its melodic pads and detroit drive bassline and it is true minimalism to the core. then we go to his second track called "Over The Bridge" one of my personal favorites with more of a bassline driven detroit sound with a slower vibe to it , typical Terrence Dixon sound for sure . Then last but not least we come to Michael Zucker and his track "Foundation Pt.1" which I might add is a dancefloor killer already getting tons of play from the circuit with its strong bassline and its killer acid synths and its wicked percusiions very peaktime for all the right moves. Then we come to the last track called "Reflection" which is very deep lasting piece with its lush pads and its filtered keys and fantastic drum arrangements gives it a different vibe all around.

Silk-screen printed sleeves / handnumbered and limited 220 copies

Late Night Running is a Rotterdam-based multidisciplinary initiative that is created out of sympathy for those who are willing to run hard for their beliefs. When one is sucked through the barriers of time, where days become nights and vice versa, we like to speak of ''Late Night Running''. The first physical effort out of the LNR camp comes in the form of a nicely designed 12'' by the likes of 25 places. This duo has it's roots in the working class city of Rotterdam, but also lived elsewhere for some time, working long nights in the advert industry. They've been based in Berlin for several months in 2012, where the X9 ideas were first created.
Those who are familiar with the city of Berlin will realize that both tracks are in reference to certain bus and metro-lines of the city. In 2014 these well produced tracks will finally see the light of day on a special handstamped 12'' with a diptych silkscreened limited sleeve. It wouldn't be Late Night Running if we hadn't bring in two of the most respected hard working acts in electronic music on remix duties. USA based and well respected ''Aakmael'' delivers an excellent journey of deepness which leans on the use of analog gear and mesmerizing synthlines. ''Innerspace Halflife'' came up with a progressive piece which evokes obstinate feelings that will remind you of concrete buildings and otherworldly enviroments. For the digital release Rotterdam based ''Gitchell Moore'' tops off this special first effort with an intergalactic synth voyage.