The Europe-centered techno scene might be thinking: Where is techno in a city as vast, dynamic and electric as New York It's alive and well, and keeps growing through aptly-named NEW YORK TRAX. Founded in 2015 and based in Brooklyn, NEW YORK TRAX is an outlet for New York music, by New York artists, in New York city.
NEW YORK TRAX storms out of the gate in 2016 with a crushing release from none other than RICHARD HINGE. Mr. Hinge, a pioneering proponent of NY techno since the early 90's, has outdone himself once again with this no-compromises gem, plumbed from the depths of his hardware based Brooklyn studio. Having taken a hiatus from production since his seminal releases on Conrail, Sonic Groove, Hidden Agenda, Disko B and Path Records, Hinge triumphantly reclaims his seat at the table of NY techno greats with this 12'. Only available on NEW YORK TRAX.
Changes' is a track which sounds like changes. Steadily and intently, it evolves and progresses until it breaks the surface and becomes part of your reality.
Ever had voices in your head Auditory hallucinations Well, you like techno, so likely the answer is yes. Now, imagine those voices over a heavily distorted beat. Unless you're headstrong, Voices in my head' might be your worst nightmare, but given the right dance floor, time, and space, serious damage can be done in the best possible way.
Movement', a deep and dreamy affair, rounds out the EP. Here Hinge has no mercy and he wakes you up from that sweet dream with a short rain of intense hi-hats and throbbing subsonics.
Here Hinge has no mercy and he wakes you up from that sweet dream with a short rain of intense hi-hats and throbbing subsonics.
Over the course of five albums, Manchester based trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader Matthew Halsall has carved out a niche for himself on the UK music scene as one of it's brightest talents. His languid, soulful music has won friends from Jamie Cullum and Gilles Peterson to Jazz FM and Mojo as well as an ever-growing international following. His new album Into Forever, puts the spotlight on Halsall the composer, arranger and producer. Halsall draws on a diverse range of influences from Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Phil Cohran and Leon Thomas to the more contemporary sounds of The Cinematic Orchestra, Max Richter and Nils Frahm to deliver his most complete recording to date. Into Forever features renowned Manchester based soul poet Josephine Oniyama and rising star vocalist Bryony Jarman-Pinto (Werkha) as well as regular collaborators, flautist Lisa Mallett, harpist Rachael Gladwin, koto player Keiko Kitamura, pianist Taz Modi, bassist Gavin Barras and drummer Luke Flowers (The Cinematic Orchestra) and two percussionists Sam Bell and Chris Cruiks. The result is arguably Halsall's finest record, asublime melding of stripped back soulful funk and deep, minimalist, spiritual jazz, that will take you on a journey deep into forever!
Confirmed reviews Mojo, BBC Music Mag, Jazzwise, Record Collector Independent On Sunday, Guardian, Quietus, all main jazzy blogs, Airplay from Jamie Cullum, Gilles Peterson, 6 Music, Jazz Line-up, Patrick Forge, Ross Allen and many more
9 date national tour including Liverpool Capstone Theatre Oct 1, Bristol St Georges Oct 15, Manchester St Peter's Church Oct 23, St Mary's Hastings Oct 28 and London Union Chapel Oct 29 plus Uber Jazz Hamburg Oct 31
Rich, sweet, orchestral bossa nova/MPB from the excellent Claudia, another of our favourite artists and featured several times in this series. Taken from her 'Você, Claúdia, Você' LP released in 1971 by Odeon Brazil.
Os Tres Morais - Freio Dynamico
Uptempo, cinematic, vocal MPB/Jazz with muted trumpets, pinging bass guitar strings and even a little bit of fuzz for good measure! Os Tres Morais we're two brothers and a sister; Jane Vincentina, Sidney and Roberto do Espírito Santo. They formed in 1963.
'Freio Dynamico' is taken from the groups self-titled LP on Odeon 1971.
This deluxe overview Of Boston's creative jazz scene is presented as a double LP Set, packaged in deluxe box with each piece of vinyl housed in its own euro-style glossy jacket. Also Included is an 8 ½ x 5 ½, 80 page book documenting the rich history of the music with in-depth analyses and photos. Check!
In the 1970s Boston was a fertile ground for a very creative jazz scene. Small, independent venues ranging from lofts to churches to clubs opened up to support this thriving backdrop while jazz musicians set up their own labels. One man was there through it all, playing music and documenting the musical landscape. His name was Mark Harvey and here is his story....
Mark Harvey and Deano Sounds pulled together the most comprehensive package of Boston
Jazz released to date. The album has been assembled as a deluxe package that includes, in
addition to the music, an 80-page book documenting the rich history of this music scene with in-depth analyses and photos of the jazz musicians involved.
The music on this album is culled from rare private press Jazz LPs that were pressed in small
quantities of a few hundred for members of the band and the local jazz community at the time.
The music here runs the gamut of funky jazz from Arnie Cheatham's "Thing" to the deep free jazz
of the Phill Musra Group or the spoken word brilliance of Worlds, to the complex metric structures of Stanton Davis' "Play Sleep." This is a collection of very rare eccentric jazz pieces for your
enjoyment!
Jamie Roberts is no stranger to the more experimental tenets of the Techno genre, and much of the British artist's output of late has hinted at more leftfield leanings. A recent return to Will Bankhead's Trilogy Tapes imprint saw a brace of meditative, post-Detroit workouts - employing the same heady, hardware aesthetic as much of his work on Ternesc - though at a drastically reduced tempo.
It's this same willingness to break down perceptions regarding his own music that marks Walk Type - Roberts' debut on the Avian label, as a notable chapter in the artist's discography.
In terms of aesthetic finish, AVN027 might be Roberts' most comprehensive and well articulated ode to the culture of machine music - but it's also his most organic offering. Corroded drones provide the basis for much of the material, pitching & bending at will - shifting & warping in and amongst furtive drum work, that by and large sits uncharacteristically deep in the mix.
For the most part the record eschews traditional dance floor functionality in favour of this rich, experimental premise - it's early moments are generally unclassifiable, though nods towards a caustic IDM variant offer some context. In it's later stages, the material moves tentatively closer to the club environment, as Robert's offers up a handful of anxious, low slung tools - that, whilst not straying far from the crushed, greyscale tone of their predecessors, round out an enviable addition to the Avian catalogue.
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.
San Fransisco meets NYC for the third release on Fifth Interval.
Rose Bay from Federsen sets the tone for the record: drenched in tape hiss, the warm pads and delays create a richly textured environment for deeper club sets or for 2am sessions on headphones.
Dub Techno luminary Brendon Moller offers up two versions of the title track to complete the EP - one in his own name and the second under his Ecologist guise. Fans of the label will no doubt be well aware of Moller's formidable discography, which includes 10 albums under a variety of aliases, exploring the outer reaches of dub music.
Coaxing two captivating versions from his studio in upstate New York, Moller focusses on the chord stabs from the original for the Echologist Dub, pushing the stabs and percussion through the desk, twisting the tails through tape delay and creating new vistas through crafty use of panning and bona fide dub production techniques.
Closing with the outstanding Tidal Dub, Moller dons his Beat Pharmacy cap and pushes the mammoth bassline to near speaker-crushing levels to create a deeply hypnotic groove that is accentuated by waves of ferric pads and fractured percussion.
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Acid techno, oldschool minimalistic UK style... New Tune from A.symetric members... A project that tooks 1 year and a half to buil up... First track goes classic progressive TB303 style... Slow and with a clean round kick... Second track is a scout of acidcore, bringing a light and speed kick... B side opens on a superb mental acid progression, served by a dry oldschool kick, hypnotic. Last track defenitly reminds the Kill it style, with an electronica sound, a vocoder and some dirty kicks... Well, this is defenitly something different to any otehr acid record... A superb EP fully realesed for this project. ENJOY !
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Warm Tapes Adjustment returns with the Second Volume once again performed by SCM a Gari Romalis.
On the A Side two raw and dusty live sample sessions from SCM.
On the B side two lo-fi disco styled house tracks from one of Detroit's finest underground producers
Four house tracks fused in a combination that makes this record unique! Vinyl Only release
Deconstructed EBM from the Nous affiliate Spoiled Drama kicks off the new Science Fiction compilation - 10 tracks of crazed machine grooves further diversifying the Science Fiction's exploration into synthetics. The opener driven simply by an obnoxiously saturated digital drum machine and a mechanical body music bass loop simultaneously hints to late 80s darkside Chicago roots with hard flanged hi-hats and a detuned string machine.
Jose Rico launches the new Le Disque Record Store's project: Ambiwa Records, a label dedicated to abstract House music.
"Declaration of Intent EP" is a collection of songs with a history, 4 pieces of his life talking about hypocrisy referred to poverty, the trivialisation of music as money source, the days in the studio with Ron Trent, and the night music-workers.
Beyond any related stories, here you can find all the Jose Rico's Music standards: Impossible Mpc percussion patterns, black keys, vocal textures, distorted kicks and tons of suspense and tension. This just means ... music for the most demanding dancefloors and open minds. As it could not be otherwise, mastered by Jose Rico.
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Fresh imprint Basement Night Feeling Sound releases Richeart's debut EP.The producer follows his spontaneous live approach to analogue production shaping dfour leftfield cuts.
300 hand numbered copies, vinyl only release...
Early Support :Robert Crash
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.
Richard Fearless delivers some Transatlantic love with his third Drone instalment, and the fifth release from this growing label. Overview Effect is dubbed out Detroit-esque techno with with an epic two and half minute string workout and a cognitive shift to pure Fearless magic.Metal Dub is stripped-down, metallic, hypnotic techno with haunting pads, and it's been smashing it in the darkest of rooms of late. A deep, heavy release on Drone.
Luke Hess and Dj Richard remixes to come.
This is France in the Mitterrand years: fashions fleet as fast as governments. In the early eighties, the happy-go-lucky gather the nectar of each and every new release.
Believing in a bright future for videotex, and loosened up by the sexy talks broadcasted on the budding pirate radios, the new generation dreams of dance floors and holiday clubs. French Boogie, which preserves the spirit of these years of boodle and bunkum, is the ideal soundtrack to their dreams.
What the web now refers to as French Boogie is some synthetic funk reflecting the spirit of those days when nothing was impossible, or so it seemed. Its syncopated flow heralded the dawning of French rap. Often considered as some kind of post-disco, inspired as much by black music as by new wave, this carefree pop music with bawdy lyrics indulged in simple pleasures: holidays, swank and sun were recurrent themes. Totally in tune with its time, it incidentally glorified luxury, success, and a certain consumerism embodied, for instance, in Bernard Tapie.
In popular clubs such as La Main Bleue in Montreuil, or L'Echappatoire in Clichy-sous-Bois - where Micky Milan could be seen behind the decks - an enthusiastic audience discovered this new sonic wave, influenced as much by French pop as by Sugar Hill Gang or Kurtis Blow. The artists who first launched the movement engaged in it wholeheartedly, but as often the case with new music trends in France, humour and casualness quickly became a decoy to impose a new style. This explosive mixture, in which startling and typically Frenchy French lyrics go along New-York-style tunes, is sometimes reminiscent of the kinky comedies directed by Max Pécas or Claude Zidi. On this prolific scene, partly originating from the Jewish community, everybody was looking for success, trying to hit the jackpot with what was to hand. Famous media personalities, one-hit wonders or John Does in quest of fame, all had a go at French Boogie - more or less successfully. Apart from « Vacances j'oublie tout » by Elégance, « Un fait divers et rien de plus » by Le Club, or « Chacun fait ce qui lui plaît » by Chagrin d'amour (produced by Patrick Bruel), very few songs became hits: the story of funk in France is that of a half-baked robbery.
In this myriad of new musicians, the very young François Feldman and Phil Barney pioneered a fresh and hybrid style. Other well-known artists like Gérard Blanc from Martin Circus (Attaché Case), Richard de Bordeaux (Ich), or Jean-Pierre Massiera (Anisette, Pirate Scratch Band, Mandrake, Scratch Man...) added an eccentric touch to this sound-wave, making it often entertaining, and sometimes showy.
Capture d'écran 2015-10-26 à 12.55.43Singers like Agathe (the author of 'La Fourmi' and of the hit song 'Je ne veux pas rentrer chez moi seule') were far more than just window dressing. They even tried to give an ironic and subversive twist to this rather harmless genre. The very vindictive rebel Gérard Vincent shared in this spirit, but as a whole, French Boogie became associated with nonchalance and sauciness. Thus, Stéphane Collaro, Gérard Jugnot, Alain Gillot Pétré and other TV clowns would clumsily contribute to this French variation on funky sounds. In a few but intense years, French Boogie gave all the tips to party with style.
If some hits made it possible for the happy few to get a real house under truly exotic palm trees, the wave actually ebbed away very quickly, leaving quite a few musicians stranded on the shore. Whether they were sincerely motivated, or simply opportunistic, they had failed. In 1984, French Boogie was already breathless, and got merged with other genres: on the one hand, rap and breakdance adapted its flow to a more urban world, especially with Sydney's show, H.I.P.H.O.P, and Dee Nasty's broadcasts on Radio Nova; on the other, italo, new beat and house began to rule over dance floors, even more strongly asserting the will to develop music for clubs.
Squeezed in between the age of disco and that of modern electronic music, French Boogie was a transitional phase, but it remains an amazingly refreshing testimony to the intermingling of pop and underground cultures. The genre was hastily categorized as anecdotal in spite of its pioneering synthetic groove and matchless bass lines. An attentive ear will discover the poetry of the ephemeral beyond the eccentricities of the genre, as well as a certain unexpected avant-gardism. At the origin of major music trends, always cheerful and catchy, French Boogie is what you need to party.
Soul Jazz Records’ new album 90 Degrees of Shade features the music of the Caribbean – Mambo, Calypso, Mento, Merengue, Latin Jazz and much more. The music of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and more all feature in this lightning journey through the many island sounds.
This is the sound of independence, righteous and hot jump-up sounds from the 1950s and 60s, an exciting period of endless new musical styles that would travel across the world – Mento, the Jamaican precursor to reggae; mambos and descargas from Cuba, Dominican merengue, Haitian compas – and more.
This album coincides with the release of Soul Jazz Records’ massive new deluxe large format hardback book 90 Degrees of Shade: 100 Years of Photography In The Caribbean (with foreward by Paul Gilroy) featuring hundreds of fascinating and unique photographs spanning one hundred years of Caribbean history.
The new album comes as a deluxe two-CD pack complete with large outsize booklet, packed full of info and original artwork. There are also two limited edition separate heavyweight double LP vinyl editions, each one housed in gatefold sleeves complete w
Soul Jazz Records’ new album 90 Degrees of Shade features the music of the Caribbean – Mambo, Calypso, Mento, Merengue, Latin Jazz and much more. The music of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and more all feature in this lightning journey through the many island sounds.
This is the sound of independence, righteous and hot jump-up sounds from the 1950s and 60s, an exciting period of endless new musical styles that would travel across the world – Mento, the Jamaican precursor to reggae; mambos and descargas from Cuba, Dominican merengue, Haitian compas – and more.
This album coincides with the release of Soul Jazz Records’ massive new deluxe large format hardback book 90 Degrees of Shade: 100 Years of Photography In The Caribbean (with foreward by Paul Gilroy) featuring hundreds of fascinating and unique photographs spanning one hundred years of Caribbean history.
The new album comes as a deluxe two-CD pack complete with large outsize booklet, packed full of info and original artwork. There are also two limited edition separate heavyweight double LP vinyl editions, each one housed in gatefold sleeves complete with insert, full text and free download code. Also comes as a worldwide digital release.
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.
On his album Songs from Okinawa, Sven Kacirek explores the traces of a unique traditional music from the famed Pacific islands south of Japan. He recorded a wide range of local musicians - both amateurs and well-known figures - and carefully wove in his own instrumentation: marimba, xylophone, and piano. The result is an album of timeless beauty and quiet elegance. The southern Japanese archipelago of Okinawa has a complex and turbulent history, particularly shaped by the conflicts between Japan and the United States - an aspect thoughtfully outlined in the liner notes by Mina Mermoud. Over the centuries, this layered past has given rise to a rich and distinctive musical culture. During the U.S. military occupation of the islands, Okinawan musicians began blending traditional forms with Western styles. Today, Okinawan music is recognised in Japan as a genre of its own. "I"m fascinated by the sublime simplicity and precision of Okinawan music - from its orchestration to the phrasing of the singing voice," says Kacirek. True to this admiration, he keeps many of the original vocal and instrumental recordings intact, gently adding his marimba or percussion without ever pushing himself into the spotlight.
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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.
Optimo Music release THE GOLDEN FILTER's 'PS1103' in late September.
We are very happy to welcome The Golden Filter to Optimo Music. In fact we loved all the tracks they sent us so much that as well as a 4-track EP, they will be sharing an EP release on Optimo Trax too.
Penelope and Stephen originally hail from opposite sides of the planet (Australia and America) but have united to create a distinctly unique electronic sound. Following several previous releases, their sound has progressed into a deeper, richer, advanced hypno-sound with state of the art synthetic sound design and vocal phrases ricocheting around the mix. It's hard to pull off tracks that constantly morph and develop over the course of a few minutes but The Golden Filter accomplish this with seeming ease on the "PS1103" EP.
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.
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.
"...don't ask if there will ever be a Volume 2. We don't know yet. What we do know is that if we ever come across a similar tour de force as Don McCaslin's composition, Praise Poems, then there will certainly be one..." These were the final words of the sales notes for Praise Poems Volume 1 - which we proudly released earlier this year. And indeed, since then, we have discovered a tune which led us to continue to curate this series of obscure, soulful, jazzy and spiritual sounds from back in the day. The song to which we refer to is Abraham Battat's jazz-samba masterpiece, Fly Away. Fly Away is a righteous combination of sonorous jazz guitar, crackling drums and warm acoustic piano. Floating through the tones as if in a private concert for you in your very living room, it is an earnest, honest vocal performance bringing a rainbow message of freedom and liberty to the world. This is the standard by which we judged the entirety of this compilation. Though they may be known in some circles, selections by Richard Martian, Larry Covin, and The Gingerbread Express are in the same category of pure beauty. Of course, good luck finding a copy of Larry Covin's Masquerade or the Portis Brothers' Summer Love. The single hit you receive while doing an online search is the exact same copy from which we took the master. To find a needle in a haystack is a cakewalk compared to turning up a copy of some of these gems to be found here.
Geneve Based Pascal Viscardi bring his rich and sweltering textures to SAFT with his first EP for the Spanish label. The swiss producer's Paradiso EP is already the 9th installment and by no means an odd addition to the family. Strongly rooted in soulful sounds with firm aesthetics and blissful melodies, this release is exactly what SAFT is all about. From the moment the pad in the title track starts riding, Paradiso immediately hints to a deserted paradise.
Tales From The Emax (A2) is a groove laden Anthem that will soothe those that are into soulful but firm sounds. On the B side, we find remix work of both originals. Swiss house stalwart 'Agnes' stirs things up with his thriving rework of Paradiso called 'Agnes' La Charme Chambertin Mixx'. On the B2 cut we find SAFT familiar 'Jefferson Belmondo' with a cracking rework of the title track 'Paradiso' called Jefferson's Beach Mix. 4 strong, groove-laden cuts that celebrate the SAFT sound like never before.
Von Carl Bown und Colin Richardson (Slipknot, Machine Head, Trivium) in den Metropolis Studio in London produziert, entpuppt sich VENOM als kompromissloser, erbitterter Schritt für Bullet For My Valentine. Ihr heftigstes Album bislang packt den Hörer sofort an der Kehle, wofür die mächtige Performance von Sänger / Gitarrist Matt Tuck, die bissigen Riffs von Gitarrist Michael "Padge" Paget und das Drumming-Sperrfeuer von Michael "Moose" Thomas sorgen. Auf VENOM hält das Trio perfekt seine ureigene Balance zwischen Heaviness und dringlichen Melodien und schraubt sich so auf das nächste Level.
"Es ist schwierig, ein komplettes Album zusammenzufassen, nachdem wir soviel Zeit mit dem Songschreiben und Aufnehmen verbracht haben und Blut, Schweiß und Tränen flossen," erzählt Frontmann Matt Tuck. "Es war hart, für die Texte wieder an einige äußerst dunkle Orte zurückzukehren, aber sobald ich Fährte aufgenommen hatte, war es OK für mich, gewisse Themen einfach rauszulassen - und die Hölle brach los. Dieses Album ist ganz klar das aggressivste, das wir je eingespielt haben, und textlich wird es sicherlich Viele aufhorchen lassen.
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!
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.
With a magnificent compilation Dial Records celebrate their 15th anniversary! ALL offers a collection of exclusive works by long related label artists and friends. Part 1 of the Viny 12Inch Edition features contributions by Stefan Tcherepnin, Dj Richard, Christian Naukoks, Pantha Du Prince and Queens.
Alphahouse imprint deliver the 'YY' EP from Italian duo MFS: Observatory, backed with a remix from label-head Butane & Alexi Delano.
MFS: Observatory is the collaborative guise of Italian duo Matthias Tuchetti, Francesco Cozzolino. The outfit are relative newcomers having only released material since late 2014 and here we see them take a huge leap in their career stepping into international water via the Alphahouse imprint, slotting them alongside heavy hitters like Skudge, Mark Broom, Alexi Delano, Butane, and Ricardo Villalobos on the stellar roster. With a Little Helpers release also confirmed in 2015, this is a duo on the rise.
Opening up the EP is 'Observatory Y1' which see the duo deliver a haunting slice of electronica fueled by smoky atmospherics, meandering arpeggio synth hooks and raw weighty rhythms to smoothly set the tone for what's to come. 'Observatory Y2' provides a more reduced, but still heavy, groove with bubbling synth drones, menacing stabs, a bumpy bass hook and mesmeric vocal murmurs.
On the flip side Alexi Delano collaborates with Alphahouse founder Butane to reshape 'Observatory Y2' into pure vibe. The duo provides a typically infectious groovy number, which evolves over six and half minutes with a subtle dubbed out hook taking over the last half of the track. 'Observatory Y3' rounds things off afterhours-style, laying the focus on a sparse rhythmic foundation while howling sweeps and spaced out vocals fuel the psychedelia.
Over the last sixteen years Moods & Grooves has amassed a staggeringly impressive label family that includes names like Theo Parrish, Mr G, Kyle Hall, Rick Wade, Andres & Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodymann. This May the legendary Detroit label returns with a seminal thirteen-track album from veteran DJ & producer Joe Le Bon entitled 'House Music Love Music'.
With this new LP Jarno Eerola aka Joe Le Bon demonstrates his inimitable production prowess, garnered from a musical career spanning more than twenty years and encompassing releases on labels such as International Deejay Gigolo Records, Pro-Tez, Plastik.FM and Blumenbeat. Alongside his own output the Berlin-based artist has written tracks and remixes for numerous producers, most notably composing DJ Hells chart- smashing remix of Tim Deluxe 'Transformations' which saw six continuous weeks at number one on Beatport.
Jarno's polished production ability and aptitude for exploring diverse sounds and rhythms whilst maintaining a resolute warmth and depth to every cut is the most prevalent footnote across the course of the album. For 'Ghosts On Cassette' the Berlin-based producer works whirring space-like atmospherics over hypnotic beats and shuffling snares to dish up a smooth and captivating opener. 'For Yasuni' and 'The Road Is Under Repair' get worked over subtle synth patterns and crisp percussion to offer up some of the more emotive provisions on the album. This in contrast to the deep driving beats of 'House Music Love Music' and the more club-ready tracks like '82 Degrees' or 'Like Cotton Deep Orchestra' truly exemplifies the wide-ranging nature of the album.
All in all Joe Le Bon has structured a sublime body of work that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home or the middle of a dance floor, each and every track oozes depth and sits as a true testament to his abilities in the studio.
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Back in 2013, Futureboogie released The Fade EP by Outboxx, a record that received critical acclaim from the who's who of music press, helping to propel Outboxx on the upward trajectory they've managed to maintain since those early releases. Unsurprisingly, Futureboogie are delighted to get the pair back for more.
Having developed their sound in the two years since, the pair has refined the raw ingredients of those records to show a combined maturity beyond their collective years. Previously the pair of producers (Matthew Lambert and Jake 'Hodge' Martin) have released music on respected independent imprints such as BRSTL, Idle Hands, Well Rounded Records and Local Talk; honing their analogue rich sound that touches on the hard edge of drum machine rhythms crafted by Hodge and the harmonic, jazz soaked embellishments from Lambert on Keys.
'Day One' opens with the sound of a string sample drifting behind warm drums to beautifully open up proceedings. As the track develops with an explosion of shuffling hi hats, the main hook enters with more than a nod to the classic Acid basslines of a 303, built to hypnotize dancers into the early hours with subtle simplicity.
The EP's title track 'Under The Lights' shows the pairs appreciation of Disco, with overdriven drums and a dotting bassline setting the feel. As the track develops, elements of Detroit enter the picture, with more string samples setting the key, and further allowing Lambert to contribute more of his signature Jazz licks as the track winds down to an unwanted close.
'Gift of Life' features the always-beautiful vocal contributions from long-term collaborator, Naomi Jeremy. Having featured on some of their most memorable releases to date, Jeremy's vocals again add a complexity often found in Jazz, but with the drum machine funk of 90's House; creating a sound that blurs the lines between sampling and original composition, uniquely, as only Outboxx can.
The record ends on the appropriately named 'Closing Titles', a track seemingly built to allow Lambert the opportunity to show his prowess and mastery of melody and harmony. Creeping basslines and warm chords mix with looped drum machine rhythms to wind down the release elegantly, showing the pairs versatility and understanding of each other's strengths.
From the deep roots of giant trees with longing vines come the drums that flow through ear, heart, nerves and limbs. In soothing yet roaring bewilderment, like the Pororoca of Rio Negro and Rio São Francisco that carve their ways through the unchartered Brazilian land, "Ricardo Vincenzo" creates a soundscape of different beats, sounds and voices from the indigenous world. A rhythmic brew with varying monotony that scratches at the doors of perception and seduces our Little Luise to tiptoe through her sleep walking journey. Que noite maravilhosa. Limited release with hand-silkscreened sleeve.
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The second part in the Hudd Traxx 10th Anniversary 'Now & Then' compilation sees tracks from Luna City Express, Sek, Iz & Diz and Rick Wade. Berlin duo Luna City Express serve up a lush deep house groove that builds throughout the track, and will bring a smile to the faces of those who follow them on their beloved Moon Habour Recordings. Sek uses slick beats, trippy leads, a driving bassline and some 'Thug life' vocals to ensure this one has 'future classic' written all over it. Go back in time (to 2006 to be precise) on the 'Then' side to find Iz & Diz's 'Happy'. The words 'epic' & 'journey' are often misused in music but both can be mentioned about this track. It had devastating effect on first release and is set to do the same again nearly 10 years later. Rick Wade closes things out in fine style to fly the Detroit flag on an all Chicago / Detroit side.
Following a three year hiatus from Cadenza, the label is delighted to welcome back Felipe Valenzuela and Dani Casarano for a third release on the Luciano's imprint. Both producers are respected individually for their prowess in the studio and as DJs, but as a combined force collaborate with magical effect in the studio. Together the pair run Melisma records and considers each other as musical soulmates. The pair's familiarity with dance floors across the world is reflected in these two tracks for Cadenza, continuing the labels rich musical history of electronic dance music fit for all purposes. 'Instinct' opens the release with an instant bubbling groove, supported by a groovy bass melody, crunching claps and shimmering rides, dancing around the tracks core rhythm. Subtle drum edits, reverberating snares and warm pads grab the listener's attention, whilst the tracks central rhythm maintains the pulse and lively feel of this exceptional production. A versatile slice of intricate house music that will find it's way into many sets this Summer. 'Impulse' sees the pair venture into more avant-garde territory; exploring themes of dissonance, syncopation and tension and release. Lo-fi electronics and discordant pianos notes create a unique pallet of sounds responding to each other. Offbeat string arrangements and shimmering synths evolve over the 14+ minutes track duration. Perfect headphone electronics with stacks of detail and fresh touches.
Let's focus on Ricardo Tobar: Born in Chile and now residing in France, Tobar picked the "creative border crossing" as the common thread for his album "Collection". Musical experimentation and crossing musical borders - Tobar refers here directly to the style and sound of the great new-wave-bands of the 80s and 90s. With the help and influence of their new electronic instruments (that often met classic rock guitars) the post-punk-electronic-movement turned almost everything upside down. No matter if the result was moody and mysterious or romantic and hedonistic, all sounded new and different back then and paved the musical path for a whole generation - the reverberations of that episode are noticeable until today.
Tobar plays with the musical approach of the post-punk-era, he mixes, merges and experiments fearless with styles and moods. He creates a wide range of "own styles" and even dives into abstract sound fields - listening electronic in best form! Ricardo Tobar breathes the air of his own musical universe and is not refering to the typical styles of this genre - you won't find any Detroit, Berlin or Sheffield reference here. Although produced in France, Tobar's album doesn't have anything of the sweet and lovely french listening touch. It also won't beam you into the north of England and the grey and cold Sheffield winter like so many other electronic albums try to do.
"Collection" contains full compositions, sound collages, experimental sounds and even proper beat based tunes. Tobar rather creates than produces and is presenting a bigger picture with his collection. Many electronic music artists are trying to do this however Tobar delivers a collection with an impressive range and it seems he did all this in an almost nonchalant way. He plays and combines his instruments and sounds at the same time very sensitive and harmonic but also brave and dissonant without risking to be inaudible at any point. He creates atmospheres by using electronic sounds and layers. Listening to the sound of "collection" almost appears like reading an acoustic book. This album is full of interesting sounds and ideas and is far from being boring or even too demanding.
