Highly Recommended. Marieu is back on his own imprint Enlightened Wax after a couple of critically and acclaimed EPs on Hypercolour.'Ultra thin' is a sure hit dance floor filler manufactured with super catchy funky bites wrapped on heavy rhythms and crunchy 8bit percussion. On the same side, 'Way Out' is a premium hi-energy filtered house anthem.
On the B side, the original mix of 'Manner' is a mellow deeper cut built on a long spoken word tale floating over hypnotic beats, while the remix of the young talented Federico Brasi is an acid jacking minimalistic reinterpretation featuring solid vintage flavored drums.
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Following Secret Chapter, Architectural's debut LP, and the release of Amour in 2015 with the Dutch imprint Wolfskuil, we are delighted to bring you release number 7 which continues a saga of EPs that are very effective on the dance floor without renouncing to their atmospheric and experimental roots. Presented in an elegant 10" transparent vinyl, its two tracks, 7.1 and 7.2, share the limelight and will both leave the dance floor in ruins.
In 7.1 Architectural goes back to his roots with marked low lead lines that star in a very intense episode. The resulting sound is dense and compact, and connects the American essence and feel to European abstract futurism. Many will define this track as pure Architectural.
7.2 is not suitable for heart patients. Its intense and rhythmical bassline can put the listener in a hypnotic state for several minutes waiting for something to happen. The repetitive rhythm from the start is so strong it becomes strongly addictive. The track evolves towards an end worthy of a terror movie, where the snare provides an aggressive beat complemented by striking atmospheres.
Both tracks are the perfect weapon for any DJ willing to put to the test the best sound equipments.
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Gone with the flow - after a little break the German musicians Julius Steinhoff and Abdeslam Hammouda revived their musical adventures and left all electricity untouched this time. For their new acoustic project the duo has chosen the alias Tonight Will Be Fine - a name that is familiar to those who followed their work in the past years. As Steinhoff & Hammouda they used the name for their first 12" on Smallville Records, the worldwide acclaimed house and beyond label and record store that Steinhoff co-runs. Now they reheated the phrase and chose it as the alias for a bittersweet acoustic singer/songwriter project. Their wonderful, captivating new musical venture came into life due to happenstance and old ferventness. After their trips into house music the duo parted geographically. Hammouda moved away from Hamburg while Steinhoff strengthened his label Smallville, built up a global DJ career and produced acclaimed house records on diverse labels - solo" and with his buddy Dionne as Smallpeople. In all the time Steinhoff and Hammouda never stayed out of touch, bound together through deep friendship.
At some point they met again for musical missions and started to record music that had nothing in common with their prior work. Steinhoff re-activated his self-taught guitar abilities and entered the studio of his friend Lawrence in the back of the Smallville record store to capture some steeldrums and vibraphone sounds. Hammouda brought more instruments like a banjo, a violine and tablas and they just started to record sketches and songs. Hammouda's musical backround leads to a widespread range of influences while growing up, before he got into producing hip hop and electronic music. For Steinhoff, the transformation from an electronic music producer into a singer/songwriter wasn't that new too, as his first musical steps have been routed in band music. Until his late teenage years, when he discovered house and techno, he played drums in a local indie group in Freiburg and for Tonight Will Be Fine he now also freed his old drum kit from cellar dust.
After the duo felt that their musical communication elevates into something more profound then a session thing, they provided themselves with additional instruments like new guitars, claves, an accordion, a piano and more. Initially the songs were very rough and sketchy. Musical ideas that did not have a real song structure. Then we started to arrange the tracks and added our voices and lyrics.' both reveal. Their charming singing covers almost the whole album with a characteristic sense of deep winking melancholy. Their lyrics are exercising the possibilities of words and are inspired by life, the world and all the those questions a human can ask in his time on earth. At some point both started to show their new songs to some friends and they liked it and encouraged the duo to move on. Somehow one of the tracks landed in Toshiya Kawasaki's mailbox. He instantly fell in love with it and asked if they would like to do an album for Mule Musiq. They did what was asked and after some reformatting and reinventing Tonight Will Be Fine originated 13 songs full of sweeping acoustic guitars, airy rhythms, piano melodies, gloomy accordion emotions, touching voices and a bunch of other exotic instruments, done without the help of electronics. They all form Elephant Island' - an incredibly inspirational place where impressionistic lyrics dance gently with kinetic acoustic music that comes out of plain jamming fun. The melange of a structured song base and free improvisation injects all songs a loose feeling. And shows two handsome fellas carving out their own musical utopia. It is a warming one, full of hope and musical freedom powered by an unabashed instrumental playfulness.
nstrumental playfulness.
Bodyjack returns to his BodyTrax label with another 3 outstanding BodyTrax. "Is He Always Like This" is an infectious groove-based techno workout which has been tried and tested by a select few DJs over the last few months. Kamala's Revenge is a hypnotic tribal roller with darkside vocals, off-kilter rhythms and & tripped out FX. One for the heads down crew. Last but not least, the uptempo house jacker "Disrespect" combines a killer bassline and Bodyjack's now signature razor sharp beats n' stabs to round off the EP. Oh, and there are 4 locked grooves on the 12" release for the heads. Don't sleep on this one!
Beautifully Designed 1LP, 180g Vinyl Press kit: Following his Extended Play EP on Other People last year, Jream House is the turbulent and spiritual debut LP of Mark Hurst aka A Pleasure. Blending mathematical composition with an unrestrained studio experimentalism, the sound of A Pleasure charts a space where formative influences confront the most immediate performative impulse. Using a process of numerical transposition, the names of personally significant bands and composers are converted into drum patterns. He then lets loose, improvising around these structures with a variety of traditional and unorthodox instruments: bass and guitar, bowed cymbals, drum machines juggled like turntables, blowtorch on aluminium, to name but a few. With his influences as start-points, he builds rhythmic structures literally in their namesake, blasting their hulls with walls of noise, monolithic basslines and any other jam-yielded shrapnel. Despite the chaos and complexity of the process, the results sound neither clinical, nor garbled. The tracks always find their way to an emotive melody or strong groove. Lush guitar strums and yearning keys ride the high-speed beat of Slow Channel", which seems to soar through cloud-cover as one snaking mass. The Order of Things' folds a cosmic guitar-part into a backdrop of heavily side-chained noise. Arthur Russell' features a neck-snapping rim-shot and crushed snare that splash up the bits of an elegiac vocal part. Through violent and idyllic atmospheres, Jream House jettisons its inspirations like landing shuttles, always in search of new ground. These are songs, not just experiments.
Sheffield DJ/Producer Louis 'Taiko' Robson has consistently agitated the boundaries of dubstep music, manipulating eclectic influences in to his productions with bold, original arrangements, intricate percussion, experimental instrumentation and unforgettable subs, and he's not held back with ALBION002.
Title track Splinted dons the A Side of the release and sets the standard high with its heavy sub, percussive melody, and string lead. Robson has taken inspiration from contemporary orchestral composers such as Terry Riley and Steve Reich initiating the creation of the drums and percussion, which add a rich analogue sound to the track, and with that an almighty atmosphere. Folk-like scratchy strings take the lead which is a theme set for the EP and highlights Taiko's tenacity for sound design and disregard for convention. Each eclectic element of the track compliments the next resulting in a guttural, energetic dance floor cut, with dark undertones making the listener feel agitated or anxious. A pulse raiser strictly for sound system use.
Over on the flip side, starting with the outer, Taiko offers a much warmer vibe throughout Fractal, flexing another experimental set of instrumentation, this time round building rhythm with an accordion sample. An enormous rolling sub bass instantly becomes dominant after the short intro and meticulous percussion exaggerates the astounding impact from the drums. In the break expect a much murkier tone with a grimey string sample leading to the second drop. Robson achieves a certain level of feel-good whilst maintaining a dark and aggressive tone in his unmistakably raw track.
Nickel takes the inner side on the flip, following form to the prior with its accordion sample adding a distorted guitar drone for the melodic intro. The acoustic instrumentation couples up with irregular drum work solidifying the EP's 'live' aesthetic, whilst maintaining a dance floor orientation. Tonnes of energy meets masses of bass, Nickel is a recommended set opener and a great close to the EP.
Madeira-born Robert S makes his Konstruktiv debut after appearances on Sleaze, Arts, Planet Rhythm and his own Robert Limited imprint.
Moderna is straight shooting techno, hard-hitting with hints of rolling funk and a bleak contrast to the sun-drenched Portuguese setting that saw its inception.
The synth stabs of EP opener Moderna steadily rise and open up, driving the track forward while low-slung drums keep the beat in check. Label-boss Rekord 61 drops in on A2 with his remix of the title-track. The original stabs take an aerial backseat and a compact beat powers through vapor and wear.
Trilha Acida sets things straight from the first second on the flip. A threatening acid line pummels the listener with mechanical consistency while a startling chord rehearses a monosyllabic monologue. Black Jocker, the fourth and final cut closes on a dystopian note, with austere drums and a dark souvenir triggering arpeggiator.
Miami ex-patriate Alexander Suàrez debuts on Unknown Precept with A Los Mártires. Conceived as an ode to those who spilt their blood in vane for political ideologies that failed them and countries that were never their homes, the five tracks that make up the release show the Brooklyn-based producer sinking into odd techno hybrids manipulation; shooting down unrestrained grooves and rusty samples while excavating lush sound exploration tinged by local folklore and grievous metallic tones. In his own words, Suárez discloses that the embodiment of this strange intermingling sound like an organic and humming invitation to an uninhibited meditation on our inevitable assimilation into modern industrial society; an overarching rhythmic theme built on the idea that the resistance to and the seduction of these systems might trap us in a push and pull limbo from which the only escape is rage or submission.
This 7-inch is a gift from the past, reissuing two rare Thai treasures from the late 1960s, big hits from that time which were actually covers of Japanese songs.
Pan-Asian music produced by Surin Paksiri, a legendary presence in the Isan music scene from the 1960s until the present. The first song "Ya Deon Show" was Paksiri's first hit, a Thai-language version of "Soran Bushi", a traditional work song of Hokkaido fishermen, sung here by popular actor Banchop Chaiphra. The song fuses a Luk Thung arrangement with a Japanese "Dodonpa" rhythm. The second singer here is Samai Onwong, a key force in the development of Thai pop music, with "Sakura La Kon (Goodbye Sakura)", sung in both Japanese and Thai. The original was a 1968 hit by Pinky & The Killers and features some fine Khaen playing by Samai, lending a bittersweet Thai feeling. With English lyrics and liner notes, this is a lovely treat, guaranteed to bring a smile and perhaps a tear.
Following a summer of fifth birthday celebrations, Tom Trago's Voyage Direct label returns to action with a brand new 12' from Amsterdam scene stalwart Simon Weiss.
Although a new member of the Voyage Direct family, Weiss is no newcomer to the scene. He's previously delivered high grade EPs for Rush Hour, Deepermotions and Home Taping Is Killing Music, and his contribution to First Mission, Voyage Direct's fifth anniversary compilation, was one of the undoubted highlights of that set.
It's that track - the gloriously positive 'Tele-Vision', and it's cyber-house fusion of darting synthesizer arpeggios, Detroit-influenced percussion, and thrusting acid bass - that heads up Weiss' first EP for Voyage Direct.
Dutch veteran and longtime friend of the family Dexter turns in a stunning remix, putting a well-placed boot up the backside of 'Tele-Vision' via speaker-shaking sub bass, kaleidoscopic electrofunk motifs and thumping techno rhythms. It's a stunning re-make, and one that takes Weiss' fine original to even greater heights.
Flip the record for two previously unheard Weiss productions. First up is 'Ghost', a supernatural house shuffler full of alien synths, wayward melodies, intergalactic electronics and crunchy drum machine hits. Weiss flips the script slightly on 'Super Sub', pairing his now trademark vintage synthesizer refrains and tumbling electronics with a heavyweight, bassline-driven groove. It's a sweet and evocative track, but critically also packs a punch.
After last year's well recieved album 'The Phoenix', King Britt returns under his Fhloston Paradigm moniker for the first in a series of 'Cosmosis' EPs. 'Cosmosis Vol 1' is three spacey perfumed hardware workouts of the kind that Fhloston Paradigm built his name on. The EP starts with 'Sonic Six', matching bumping drum machine rhythms with gurgling bleeps, and mournful strings building the emotion through the noise.The second track is the slowly evolving ambience of 'Faith', which builds up into radiant, shimmering clouds of sound before a bass line drops midway, grounding the track melodically and switching the emotion from ecstatic to bittersweet. The EP closes with 'Past', where broken sounds are dragged over a warping piano line, and a flickering static melody engulfs the track as the noise dies out. 'Cosmosis Vol 2' will follow early in 2016 ...
When commissioning remixes, the best labels think outside the box. That's exactly what Firecracker's Lindsay Todd did when seeking out producers to rework tracks from Linkwood's excellent Expressions album. On this second 12" in an ongoing series, that faith has paid dividends. Whereas the original version of "Ignorance Is Bliss" was a warm, woozy, sun-kissed deep house affair, Healing Force Project has reinvented it as a stargazing chunk of 21st century space jazz, complete with twinkling chords, low-slung double bass and reverb-laden drum solos. The Musephased interpretation of "Love Lost" by Kimochi label head Area sticks closer to the ultra-deep, melancholic vibe of Linkwood's original, but adds a frisson of excitement via bubbling, Detroit-influenced electronics and hypnotic rhythms.
Norman Jay MBE presents his latest compilation, titled 'Good Times Skank & Boogie', set for release 9th October 2015 on Sunday Best Recordings. This is his first compilation since 2011's Good Times 30th Anniversary Addition and follows on from his hotly anticipated Good Times Goes East party at St John Church at Hackney on 29th August.
Norman Jay is undoubtedly one of the finest and highly respected DJs in the world today and yet again pulls from his impressive collection to provide the ultimate eclectic selection.
For this 12th compilation, for those of you counting, Norman kicks off with St Germain's version of Henry Mancini's Pink Panther Theme. A cult favourite from 2004s Pink Panther Penthouse Party album, it of course immediately brings Peter Sellers to mind and a smile to your face. Next up former Uniques front man Slim Smith's Everybody Needs Love is a classic from 1968, cut at the legendary Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio. Penned originally by Motown heroes Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland and covered by household names including The Temptations and Glady's Knight & The Pips, Slim's version became something of a signature tune until his mysterious death in 1971. Sticking with Motown, Stevie Wonder's Living For The City is up next but it's the Michael McDonald rendition from his 2008 album Soul Speak, which proves the man who gave us the sublime Sweet Freedom had lost none of his class 20 plus years on.
D-Influence's Good Lover takes things up and brings them closer to home, to the streets of London infact. After a couple of independent releases the band, who had strong connections to the London Jazz and Soul scenes, served up this contemporary boogie tune as part of their 1992 debut long player for East West. They would subsequently score hits as a production team for a number of British R&B acts. Homegrown soul continues with Paul Johnson's Better Than This, released here via longstanding UK soul imprint Expansion to deserved acclaim last year. It's quality and appeal are simply timeless, whilst master Dego and Kaidi's mix adds a classic 80s soul dimension to proceedings.
The Chi-Lites I Keep Comin' Back To You and The Real Thing's Love Takes Tears continue and expand the 80s theme, bringing in 2-step and boogie, as does Deodato's Never Knew Love from the same period.
We switch again with Delroy Wilson's Better Must Come, a massively popular sufferers lament from 1971 by this former Jamaican child star, it would go on to be used in election campaigns by various Jamaican political parties. Kent People by Laurel Aitken & The Gruvy Beat is the next one out the box and was the flip to the 1969 anthem Skinhead Train. It features the UK's top reggae band of the era The Rudies, who along with Aitken, the widely-proclaimed Godfather of Ska, comprised of Earl Dunn (lead guitar), Trevor White (bass), Sonny Binns (keyboards) and Danny Smith (drums). They would go on to enjoy UK chart success backing singer Freddie Notes before they evolved into Greyhound. From the same year Splash Down by The Crystalites is another slate that ignited dance floors in both Jamaica and the UK upon release. Some of you will have noticed the rhythm track is the same as that of the earlier Kingstonians' best-seller, Sufferer, which came courtesy of legendary producer Derrick Harriott.
As the end draws close The Stone City Band featuring Rick James serve up some hard edged boogie, hotly followed by a classic Tom Moulton slice of late 70s disco courtesy of The Fantastic Four and their I Got To Have Your Love. If that doesn't have you dancing then Chanson's superb Don't Hold Back featuring James Jamerson Jr. on bass will leave you no choice. Classic Good Times indeed.
After more than 10 years in the game and a string of successful
EPs to his name, Idriss D releases his first proper album on his
own Memento Records. At first conceived as a succession of
singles for his Dib 00' series (the first two being Constantine
and Alger), the project then became more of a collection of
dance floor tracks influenced by what he likes to play in his DJ
sets. The title Amalgamation' comes from the desire of
bringing together his life experiences over the last few years,
both music-wise and from a marketing and management angle,
this time exclusively focusing on himself and gathering all the
inputs in one single piece of work. Transition''s atmospheric
vibe and ethereal sounds open the LP with a blast of hazy
vocals and noises, followed by the percussive and trippy Casa
Baratas', a nod to the early 90s Acid House movement.
Karma''s pounding kick drum and stripped down arrangement
are a true example of Minimalistic Techno at its wildest. The
more personal RIP Ouarda' was composed in memory of his
grandmother who passed away: dark and hypnotic, it stands
out as one of the most experimental on the album. Title track
Amalgamation''s landscape of lush eerie synths makes it a
blissful comedown number, while Parall-el''s bouncing rhythm
speeds up the pace to high effect. Strong Hayet' is dedicated
to his mum, a source of continuos strength in Idriss' life,
both in good and difficult times: the heavy bass line and almost
obsessive looping vocals and hi-hats are icy and dramatic.
Barn''s pitch shifts and manic vocal samples swing through a
maze of rim shots and toms, its stomping groove and pulsing
beats closing off the album with a bang.
Apes Go Bananas is the new imprint from Steve Bug and Clé, and also the moniker for his new project with long time friend and collaborator Clé. The vinyl only debut release sets out the stall in fine style - this is straight up dance floor rocking house music with a sense of fun and plenty of influence from the golden age of the art form. First up, Kerri On pays homage to one of the greatest, with Mr Chandler's signature crisp drums and deep, jazzy chords present throughout. Bug and Clé relive some classic New York deep house vibes yet retain a strongly contemporary take. Bananas is more late night in approach - the driving 909 and dirty descending synth line evokes a sweaty warehouse, complete with smoke machine and lazers. Yeah You Know fits perfectly into this three track EP - a tightly programmed rhythm track replete with a shuffling breakbeat is the foundation for a simple yet highly effective synth line and a classic cut-up house vocal. Yeah, Apes Go Bananas know house.
Manchester based producer Sameed delivers us a very nice EP for the Skylax n°141. After his first weapon "Spend EP" on the swedish label Local Talk, he confirms here his taste for house music with "Ma'Thang". This new release is perfect to bring a dark and sensual amosphere to a warm up set.The first side begins with "Bad You", a perfect mix between a deep bassline, a mysterious background and soulfull vocals. The only element that kept you stuck on the floor is the raw clap. "No one else" is more focused on the beat and the repetition of the funky voice sample through the patterns. By using flanger effects, Sameed gives even more energy to this track, moving away from the keyboard softness. The third one, "Blue", could be the expression of what you hear while dreaming. We find again a mystic musical background but it is added to a very light melody, the sound of the sea and what seems to be whoops of joy."Hustle", the first track of the second side, is definitely darker and more nostalgic. Remebering us some Rick Wade sounds, the melody seems to confuse itself but keeps a clever coherence. The hi-hats manage to provide the sensation of speed and continuity all along the musical trip. "Watching U", is really about rythm and bass : the raw beat and heavy bassline deliver to this title all its identity. The jazzy notes and asexual vocals fit very well with this body oriented track. "Grg-Jam" is certainly the most particular element of this EP. Even if we can find the same kind of melodies as in the other titles, the beat is really different, remembering drum'n bass but in a very soft way. During this imaginative jam session, Sameed alternates the textures of the hats, bringing a frenetic rhythm to the conclusion of Ma'Thang.Sameed proves us that he is definitely a safe bet of the "Madchester" house scene. To be continued.
Barker & Baumecker and IVVVO remix 2 original tracks from the Groovement catalogue and contribute with exclusives for the '10 is not enough' compilation to celebrate the label's 10 years journey.
These 2 reworks are dense, dee023p and rhythmically strong. Being distinct, the tracks complement each other giving this 12' a coherent authorship.
Already being played in clubs such as Berghain (Berlin) or LUX (Lisbon) this release marks the label's longevity and also its connection with the main music cities of the world.
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Stephen Brown presents his next new Mirage EP for Mojuba sub label a.r.t.less. The Scotish techno mainstay who just released an EP for the magnificent Indigo Aera returns after his huge debut Illuminance EP with a killer techno tune called 2FM in finest Robert Hood / M-Plant tradition on the A-Side! The B-Side is a very emotional synth laden track that will work perfectly for those opening or closing set moments when everyone is in the zone, eyes closed floating on the dance floor following the funk created by rhythmic melodies!
Since the release of his first album in 2013, Lucas Arruda has quickly established himself as one of the most talented young artist and composer from Brazil. His music is filled with fusion style, mixing influences and elements from his Latin musical background, with his genuine admiration for Jazz, Soul and Funk music.
In spring 2015, it was also not surprising to find Lucas Arruda back with a new LP called SOLAR, receiving great supports and feedbacks from international medias and tastemakers. One of the highlight of SOLAR was the track 'Melt the Night', on which Lucas asked legendary producer Leon Ware for his help, reminding his collaborations in the 80s with Marcos Valle, when they perfectly merged together the sophisticated Boogie and AOR touch from California, with the blazing sense of rhythm from Brazil.
Willing to enlighten even more this timeless song, which could easily be produced in the early-mid 80s, Favorite Recordings decided to give it a brand new suit and found the perfect tailor with Nu-Funk raising producer, XL Middleton. Part of the modern-funk movement and based in Pasadena, XL has released volumes of work, the sound of which embodies the party feel, bringing music back to where it was before it found its way into upscale clubs, while at the same time mixing it with a futuristic brand of funk inspired by legends such as George Clinton, Roger Troutman, or Morris Day.
The result is a stunning remix, bringing 'Melt the Night' into a futuristic Boogie-Funk world with massive basslines and heavy beats!! This great vinyl 12inch comes with Original and Instrumental Versions on the B-Side, to finalize a perfect package for DJs and diggers.
The Brstl label reaches it's tenth release with a return to where it started with a 12 from October & Borai. The label was set up by Rhythmic Theory, Chris Farrell and Shanti Celeste in 2011 from the Idle Hands record shop as a means to showcase the finest house and techno being produced in their city, Bristol.
October's 'Head 4 Phuture' is a nod to the acid pioneers without resorting to revivalism. Instead a heady groove is teased out over several minutes, perfect DJ gear. October & Borai 'Too High The Future' is a heady stoned house groove, from Bristol's highest producers - with some weighty sub to propel things along.
With his new EP '4FRIENDZ' the production style of the now 21 year-old SCNTST again continues to grow in stature. After 'Puffer' (his second LP on Boysnoize Records) was released in early 2015 this is his second oeuvre on BNR this year. With vibrating bass kicks creating a thrilling rhythm full of emotion the sound of '4FRIENDZ' displays an excursion into danceable beats. A new sound produced with perceptible blood, sweat and tears.
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Tackling the challenge of a second album head-on, COMA
return to the fore with THIS SIDE OF PARADISE, a comprehensive and meticulously arranged collection that
never strays far from the duo's well-established modus operandi: rich in melodic and rhythmic content, these tracks appeal to fans who love their music at home and in the club. Featuring artist contributions from DILLON (vocals on THE WIND) and MIT's EDI WINARNI (cover artwork), THIS SIDE OF PARADISE is truly refined pop music taking its cues from both sides of the musical fence. A further exploration and expansion of the territory initially marked with the first fulllength "In Technicolor" (KOMPAKT 279 CD 106), the new outing shows the artists commanding their craft with confidence and style - a sonic treat for seasoned connoisseurs and recent scholars alike.
Black Booby is back with the Mighty Jordan Fields from Chicago, IL and Richard Rogers, London, UK for BB-09 4 tracks of retro inspired, raw, stripped machine music.Jordan's A1 blaster is pure Gherkinesq analogue, mind melting, building mayhem, designed for dancing Richard Rogers Debut on BB gives A2 a Workshop vs Detroit styled Bass workout with subtle paperclip percussion bringing up the rear. Black Booby tears up the seminal Kenji Tsujisaka produced Shinobi coin op level music to new club dance floor heights on B1, B2. Direct 8 bit coin op pressure with stripped 707, 808 and 909 rhythm sections. Retroactive music for arcade junkies.
Something is looming on the horizon, a flickering presence, a sparkle in the twilight, hardly visible at first, then slowly taking shape and finally coming into view: "I will depart/I see, I will, I won't go far," Stefanie Boehm (Couch) sings on "Sirens", one of 10 tracks Ms. John Soda have recorded for "Loom", their first album in eight years – and it's true: It's a return that often feels like yet another departure, like it's time to say farewell once again, one last hug and off it goes into the valley, where life is already waiting.
A lot has changed since Ms. John Soda released the first 7" back in 1998, since Micha Acher (The Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio, Alien Ensemble) joined Stefanie Boehm and completed the creative nucleus of this band around the turn of the millennium; day-to-day life indeed feels different some 16 years later (and half as many since the release of their sophomore album, "Notes and the Like"), but the basic chemistry, the intricate balance of electronic and analog molecules that orbit this nucleus – and thus, the resulting mood and vibe -, they're still recognizable, still undeniably Ms. John Soda: Whether it's the dense, intensely rushing soundscapes of "Hero Whales", numerous layers pushing and taking off into the same direction, the propelled clatter of "Sirens", a track like "Millions" that blows off more and more steam, a glistening, wheezing sort of madness even (though there is a tender side to it as well), the perpetual, magic lantern-like motions of "Name It" (think Trish Keenan and Broadcast) or the gradually descending melodies of opening track "In My Arms" – they're all lined with a certain tension, underpinned by a certain atmosphere, a unique brand of melancholy that never quite gives in, keeps searching for new outlets and answers.
The album title Ms. John Soda have chosen for their third full-length, "Loom", obviously hints at this feeling of re-emergence, gathering and looming, but according to the singer, it also refers to a weaving loom: It's about "weaving and combining a vast number of influences, ideas, instruments, melodies, rhythms, and layers to create a whole," says Boehm, whose vocals span these new tracks like thick, reliable ropes that glow with marine luminescence. "It's about weaving individuals into a group ('Millions'), weaving and merging former ideals and hopes with reality ('The Light'), combining 'hi' and 'bye', beginning and end ('Hi Fool'), interweaving opposite or contradicting concepts, such as pushing forward vs. being pushed ('In My Arms')." And while the weaving, just like life itself, can easily get out of hands, "because you lose track, and yet life goes on ('Name It')," a lot of these songs – e.g. "Hero Whales", the billowing "Sodawaltz", "Fall Away" – revolve around a shimmering sense of something we can't quite grasp or put a finger on just yet: "Intuitions, hopes, dreams, wishes, affinities, distances, temptations…"
Whereas Cico Beck aka Joasihno (drums, electronics), also part of Aloa Input and the latest addition to Ms. John Soda's live band, and drummer Thomas Geltinger helped out on various tracks they recorded with Oliver Zülch in Weilheim, Boehm and Acher were also joined by Karl-Ivar Refseth (percussions) and Matthias Götz (trombone). Together, they keep feeding the loom with countless spools of yarn, until epic piano closer "Fall Away" seems to offer a temporary respite: "find your way/take the dry suit off/for a night". Time to rest, to take a deep breath. Or is it already the first rays of dawn looming on the horizon?
While we wait for the follow up to last years heavy hitting Tayi Bebba the 'Tuscan speedball' returns with a new EP of sizzling world beats to reignite Summer!In contrast with common thinking Clap! Clap!'s beats are as indebted to the Inuit tribes of Alaska as they do the Staccato footwork of Chicago and LA's low-end theory. Cristiano's music features traditional Italian folk rhythms and melodies mixed with a global harvest of found-sounds smashed through an electronic beat machine mindstate. With all these disparate influences it would be easy to lose form and style but our fully-fledged Jazz practitioner adds his own unique gait to each track. The Simple EP is a return to the basics for Clap! Clap! Brave and exciting music for your carnival.
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Auntie Flo returns with his 'Theory of Flo' LP masterpiece, his
first release on H+P in over 3 years!
Following his critically acclaimed 'Future Rhythm Machine' LP,
'Theory of Flo' is a bold step ahead from FRM, as it takes us on
the trip of a lifetime, spanning continents, genres, languages and
cultures to create a wholly unique listening experience, and one
which is only possible in 2015.
Teaming up with long term collaborator, Esa Williams, the album
also features collaborations with the incredible Ghanaian singer,
Anbuley (who last appeared on the Autonomous Africa hit
'Daabi'), Shingai Showina (of The Noisettes / Matthew Herbert /
Dennis Ferrer fame) and has experienced a lengthy recording
process between Havana, London and Glasgow - with outstand-
ing results.
'Theory of Flo' lands this November, in the meantime, his 'So In
Love' smasher and the spellbinding 'Waiting For A (Woman)' drop
on limited 10'..
Tunnel is a minimal techno and dark techno EP inspired by the
thought of getting into people's minds simulating the feeling of
driving into a tunnel or during a dream, A three tracks Ep
focused on groove and percussive sounds with effects and pitch
variations.
A side is based on different rhythmic and percussive patterns
research with Direct track, a simple minimal piece, able to
reach and let the listener into a tunnel of sounds with effects
and pitch variation and the self named track Tunnel, a groovy
track characterised by the continuous insertion of batteries
allowing the listener the continuation of the trip.
B side is a one hard acid track, working with operators and with
its 4 oscillators and a filter with LFO, a linear piece that follows
the wave of acid, specially made for the dance floor.
Bond commander ''Petter B'' lands on Planet Rhythm with a bombshell record that contains 3 staggering originals
and a fierce Re:Axis remix. The opening effort ''CC21'' is a rough repetitive pacer that will definitely turn some heads.
''Transporter'' serves as a vibey yet evolving piece of work that builds up the tension but let's go every now and then.
Protoportal is yet again a repetitive grower with a somewhat less dark build as the opening tracks. ''Re:Axis'' closes
down with a robust rework of transporter. Belter record.
Defined as an independent entity, drawing its inspiration from the deconstructed walls of an imaginary and utopian society where music is king and artist is servant, Forsaken Cell is a Paris and Lyon based structure composed of a small ravers community, aimed to show an indie, radical and experimental face of the french underground scene.After showing a raw and anarchic vision of techno with Deikean's debut release, the Forsaken Cell keeps on exposing a radical and experimental face with, this time, a brighter and oniric aspect. This EP, debut of TheSolid System, presents itself as a fine mix of industrial and psychedelic textures inspired by the diversity and eclecticism ubiquitous in the rave culture. Thus this character, as discreet as he is, shows up at the scene: naked, assuming from the outset to be as much influenced by the bass music sharp rhythmic and dusty textures of industrial dub techno, that warm colorings and transcendent sounds of psychedelic music.
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Last delivered 10 years ago available to reorder, subject to availability
The G man returns to his Phoenix G home with a somewhat special album release.
Where the usual MR.G sound is still present on this 2x12'' LP, Night On The Town showcases G's more adventurous works and exposes some of his more exotic infuences.
African Rhythm sections, hints to EBM and low tempo chugs make this album very actual yet unique. Night On The Town will be available on 2X12'' and will get a digital release a while later.
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.
'On the second vinyl of Shaded Music we have a split release by Calli and Pagalve. Deep and hypnotic techno with refined layers of soundscapes and powerful kickdrum together well crafted percussion opens the vinyl on A side as a 'Railroad' by Calli. A2 is a pounding detroitish remix of Pagalve's track 'Acidized' with Slovakian techno legend - Loktibrada on duty. Previously released tons of vinyl records on respected labels as 'Tresor', 'Planet Rhythm', 'Numb', 'Olga+Jozef' or 'Palicavonzvreca' - Loktibrada delivers his first appearance on vinyl since 2011. On other
side of the record - 2 tracks by Pagalve. 'Stories' is an addictive piece of music with spacey taste of TB-303 while 'Reverse 4' is a slamming atmospheric techno track for a prime time dancefloor shaking. From Oslo, Vilnius and Bratislava with love!'
Composer, musician and producer Nils Frahm steers the new edition of Late Night Tales, set for release on 11th September. A hypnotic voyage through modern and classical composition, experimental electronics, jazz, dub techno, soundtracks and soul; Frahm's Late Night Tales haunts and beguiles. It's not mixing, so much as gently layering, like a particularly fluffy goose-down duvet folding in on itself, the folds part of the attraction, the layers part of the overall picture being painted. Many of the tracks have been edited, effected and re-made. The subtly overdubbed parts on Rhythm & Sound's 'Mango Drive' adding to the haunting hypnosis, while choral interruptions aid Miles Davis' 'Générique' on its journey towards the light. Meanwhile, on Boards Of Canada's 'In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country', the tempo is somewhat sluggish, the organs slurred, as Frahm slows it down to a funereal 33rpm that nevertheless fits perfectly. The purring of his girlfriend's cat Cleo transitions playfully between Nina Simone's definitive version of 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes' and unearthing the gentle electronics of Dub Tractor. Eddy Arnold's 'You're The Only Star', a country tune that sounds like its transmitting from a mid-west diner wireless circa 1947, is straight from the soundtrack to an imaginary David Lynch movie, comforting and dismaying all at once. This crackly reality abounds, as on Finnish band Gentleman Losers' 'Honey Bunch', that adds an unsettling texture, with a sound that is modern but as nostalgic. Frahm's own tracks bookend the mix, opening with an inspired "rework" of the infamous silent John Cage piece '4:33' ("I sat at the piano in silence and worked from
there. I listened and took in the atmosphere and this is what came out of it") and ending with a solo piano version of 'Them', taken from his recently released score of the film 'Victoria'. The traditional Late Night Tales spoken word epilogue is voiced by actor Cillian Murphy (Inception, Batman, 28 Days Later), reading a short story by Edna Walsh (Hunger, Disco Pigs).
A booming clavinet led banger from everyone's favourite disco uncles, Eric Duncan and Dean Meredith.Heavy on the lasers and scything hi hats with a bassline as deep as you’d expect from these fellers.Marcellus' trademark sound is all over his remix - sultry rhodes and sweet, driving funk, and The Central Executives version strips it to the bone, revealing not a skeleton but a robot.
A robot playing a fucking saxophone! Rock on, dudes.
Mbongwana Star is a newly formed band from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratc Republic of Congo. Made up of a sprawling network of shanty-towns and night shelters, day-to-day life in the city is far from easy, but the band don't want sympathy. Tired of pre-conceptons around African music, Mbongwana Star ('Mbongwana' means 'change') are creatng their own identty, fusing traditonal Congolese rhythms with post punk and´electronics inspired by life in the townships around them,
'making magic out garbage' says producer and band member Doctor L (who produced Tony Allen's
'Black Voices' album). The result is revolutonary. This isn't an African band per se. It's a trans-global barrier-bustng sound
machine. '..an altogether unique vibe. We will be paying close atenton' - Boilerroom
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.
The project named after his own label brand presents four cuts ranging from cosmic quantum nervous compulsion to introspection. Harmonious combination of complex percussive rhythms gives way to the already identifiable sonic universe of 30drop that turns into an effective formula at any club aimed at the forefront of the electronic dance music. Sacred geometry and style, concept and form, all to the service of the fundamental search. The roots are deep and horizon is vast. >Superconductivity EP< extends the scope of 30drop positioning on the edge of the sideral dance floor.
Amazones de Guinee - SambaPure vibes to start our series. Live and direct, high energy African funk with a powerful vocal, recorded live in Paris in 1983.Hailing from Guinea they were the countries first all female group, formed by members of Guinean army nonetheless. Their lead percussionist Kade Diallo was killed in a car crash just days after returning from a tour of France in the early 80's. The group did not record again until 2008, but they continue to tour now, with a new generation of fans.Taken from the sought after 1983 album 'Au Coeur De Paris', previously unreleased on 7'.Moussa Doumbia - SambaMalia born Moussa Doumbia and was a prolific saxophonist, composer and arranger, who lived in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.He fused African and Funk rhythms in his own unique style, comparable to the likes of Fela Kuti, Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou and Ebo Taylor. Moussa's voice is strongly reminiscent of the almighty James Brown. Similarly to Fela and The Shrine, Moussa played at 'Boule Noire', a club in the cosmopolitan area of his town, Treichville. Every night they would play their own styles for hours to rich businessmen and locals.'Samba' is taken from his 1980 LP 'Lassissi Presente Moussa Doumbia' released on Sacodis. Extremely hard to find.
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.