Delivering us the nineteenth edition of Balans Records is Benny Rodrigues aka ROD, a well-versed and talented producer who has had a strong relationship with the Dutch label and its owner after releasing its fourth release back in 2011.
Opening the EP is '3yr', a mellow track that steadily climbs into a euphoric blend of dub-inspired chords and refined symbols to form an elegant composition. Taking an unexpected turn, 'Float' is reminiscent of a nostalgic voyage Eastbound into the unknown as a traditional flute whistles a techno lullaby.
On the flipside, 'Kloduba's composition cleverly corresponds with '3yr' as its gentle patterns gradually develop to harmonize together. To close out the EP 'Lego' engages the listener as the sounds of watery blips enthusiastically scatter throughout. This four-tracker finds itself a perfect home in the Balans collection, filled with masterly Dutch artists taking a stab at timeless techno tracks.
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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.
French heavy weight producer and long time friend of the label, Rocco, is now back on Colourful Recordings! Going back to his techno roots sporting a gritty Lyon sound, A-side Viana, is building around a funky hook and housy beats. B-side sees Rocco picking it up a notch with a techno groover Basic Channel-esque style. On remix duty, romanian Marcman steps up to deliver an almost toolish remix of Viana that's been hammering the dance floors during the summer. Mastering by Andreas at Schnittstelle.
Following on from his well received Foreign Parts LP this Summer, Seb Wildblood releases new four
track EP 'Submarine', on the SW catalogue. The DJ, producer and co-founder of south London's
'Church', delivers four dreamy house cuts with a remix from 1080's Project Pablo.
As the title of the release suggests, all four tracks submerge the listener in Wildblood's deep, melodic
grooves. Lush soundscapes are complimented with subtle 4/4 beat structures . The EP is out December
4th.'Seb Wildblood has a penchant for making bubbly, feel good house music' - mixmag 'Seb Wildblood shows a more chilled-out side to Church, employing an old school yet very fresh style to
great effect throughout.' - DJ Mag 'Seb Wildblood has been bubbling away on the underground, catching the attention of some of the most prolific names in the house and techno scene including the likes of Seth Troxler and Maya Jane
Coles to name but a few' - iD Mag
I'm in Love is back on the main label with a huge two track package. Joschka Tschirley und Sebastian Habben, together well known as Raucherecke, contribute one track each. On the A-Side you'll find an epic techno bomb - Tschirley-Style - that shows some similarities to the duo's early works... On the flip Sebastian Habben delivers a groovy techno jam matched by some really deep synths! You also got to check the yellow vinyl and it's fresh design!
As the first output of our new label we present you RTGD001: the Won't Cry' EP by Matteo Luis & Lo, both part of the fam & currently finishing the last touches of their upcoming debut album. The young cologne natives offer a warming and moony/dreamy/atmospheric work from their archives to start the labels catalogue as smooth as possible. Alongside Matteo's deeply driven signature sound, Lo's lyrics will lead you into a dreamy state with blue pills in backstreets and babies and pigs in the sky. The original was reworked trice by amongst others, friends of the emerging label as well as long time role models of the label heads Marlon Hofffstadt and Goldberg. The former delivers a drifty and impulsive close to the floor interpretation of Won't Cry, whilst buddy Johnjons remix gleams through percussive sequence sounds and a further deep touch. Besides these two auspicious interpretations, no other than Running Back boss Gerd Janson and fellow Philipp Lauer are highlighting their perspective on the title track in appearance of their renowned and outstanding supergroup Tuff City Kids. The duos' outcome is an ingeniously constructed rework of Matteo Luis and Lo's original that never fails to raise euphoria throughout the whole track. Each copy is fully printed with an artwork of Berlin based surrealist Hermann Reimer.
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.
Hidden Recordings delivers another unique sounding and memorable four-track vinyl. Yuuki Sakai's 'Ran Tan' EP is unlimited in distinctive sounds, energy and vibe. These tracks are rare, like no other combining experimental design with controlled and well-thought out drumming. Test your limits, teetering on the edge of madness as you try to decipher the dancefloor etiquette for each of these!
Complimenting the release is a rare and wonderfully percussive-full remix from the undeniable A Mochi. A well established and respected techno vet who's been deep in the Tokyo underground for over a decade.
Hot on the heels of Len Faki's rapturous remixes on Part 3 we welcome a host of international techno talent for Reverse Proceed Interpretations Part 4.
Argentinian Pfirter steps up first with 2 versions of the sublime Irritant. He delivers 2 strong versions, one of which delves into a deeper side of things and another more club orientated weapon. New French boy on the block, Roman Poncet, fires things up with his version of Rotary. A pounding, relentless take on Slam's original awaits. Closing off this stellar group is Etapp Kyle. His 'Gamma Mix' of Convolute goes into almost ambient territory but remain one for those early mornings as he keeps things deep and trippy.
Who says that there is no techno in bavaria Not only the bavarian based label itself as a kind of lighthouse for the more energetic sounds deep in the bavarian heart is a proof, also the young and crazy Dirty Basscore is emerging from there with his very own, unique, freaked out, crazy, uncomprimising style. Compared to his outlets so far this one might not be the craziest and freaked out stuff he did, but for sure this is a massive debut and introduction of his trademark and unlimited talent here on Credo. Perfectly timed and playable tunes with only one goal: working on the dancefloor! And as this wouldn`t be enough we even top it with an excellent repaint by another bavarian techno-stallion. Klaudia Gawlas, who probably doesn`t need any introduction, delivered a superb interpretation of the titletrack.
It was a remorseless hatred that enslaved a people many millennia ago in the captivity of those who worshiped the sun and the moon and the gods in the stars and of the earth and beneath the earth. In toil and despair the people were flogged and cursed by the searing whip, scorched by the flaming desert sun above and burned by the abrasive sand below their feet. In agony, they cried out for rescue from the malice-bred bondage of the kingdom. "How long" While ridden with anguish, their captors became plagued with disease and death, and so the enslaved fled. Within a day, they reached the edge of a vast sea from which mountains grew blocking them in on both sides, and as they looked back in terror they witnessed their captor's army quickly approaching. A watery death spread out before them while a spear-pierced death raced in from behind.
Yet their cries for help were not unheard... billowing clouds rolled in and a tower of fiery blaze appeared as manifestations of the theophanic Glory-Spirit protecting and separating the people from the approaching wrath. With no where to go, the great sea split apart, and before them a narrow path was unveiled through the voided waters for the people to pass through to their deliverance. The army rushed in after them only to be swallowed by the raging sea that had just brought life for those who had been enslaved, but now brought death to the death that had held them captive.
Life for the people of God is a pilgrim journey through an alien wilderness under the shadow of death. So it was in days long ago. So it is in ours.
Toby Tobias has been responsible for some fine quality music over the past 10 years with labels such as Rekids, Nang, Let's Play House and Quintessentials all dropping his unique brand of raw, analogue house and techno. A DJ's DJ who always seems to pull out a lesser known gem and make it sound like a classic, Toby knows his music as well as his studio, inside out. We've been proud to deliver three EP's from him on Delusions but we all felt the time was right for a full length, especially considering that 7 years have passed since his debut LP Space Shuffle on Rekids. Toby fully embraced the scope and breadth that an LP affords a producer, holing up in his Hackney studio and losing himself in his machines. Rising Son is the result of those sessions and it's brilliant!
From the opening machine funk of The Wonder featuring vocals from Atwell we can hear that Toby is quite sure about the direction he's taken for the LP. 808 beats bring vintage electro vibes whilst Atwell's vocal hints at the golden era of Chicago house, adding a soulful touch to the rigid groove. Love Affair continues the theme of off-world utopia where the droids have a heart and soul and sing torch songs of love lost, the Moroder-esque influences bringing a retro sheen to the LP. As we continue through tracks such as Sloflava and Sending Signals we find blissful, downtempo jams which perfectly soundtrack this imagined night time world which Toby seems so happy to immerse himself and his listeners in.
I Robot follows, providing the one cover version on the LP from the Alan Parsons Project as well as being an LP defining focal point. A track which shows that when the machines are working for you, it could just be a perfect world. But Broken Computer soon shows us what can happen when things go wrong. Incidentally, this is from a genuine computer crash which Toby managed to capture using his phone. A beautiful glitch in the system which spewed out such a mournful noise and a very happy accident that would be completely impossible to create if you set out to try.
As we continue we're treated to the likes of Friday Analogue Jam, Whisper It and Weird Danger, all echoing bleeps, squelching bass notes, heavenly pads and precision beats. In some ways we get a feeling of a land that time forgot, in others something of sublime beauty and futurism. That Toby can paint pictures with his music in this way speaks volumes, knowing instinctively when to draw out a mood or feeling or flip things on their head to command your attention and beg another listen. And another.....
Sofie Letitre releases her new EP 'Uncanny Valley' on DIVISION. On 'Uncanny Valley' Sofie Letitre delivers a dark mysterious sound that reminds of acts like FKA Twigs and Bjork. Like the evil sister of Massive Attack with the intensity of James Blake.
Uncanny Valley is a concept-album based on the Uncanny Valley principal, the point where there is aversion for a humanoid robot as he becomes more human. You will be drawn in themes like vulnerability versus invulnerability and perfection versus imperfection.
The EP is produced by Ferdy van der Singel and Thijs de Vlieger (NOISIA), and the vinyl contains the mp3 codes to download as well.
'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!'
Following up his debut album 'Emergence', Prague based producer, beatmaker and all round good guy Hybris is back on Noisia's Invisible imprint.
A perfect foil of Hybris' trademark quirkiness vs dancefloor this delivers on every level.
Prolific electronica polymath Emika found acclaim once again this year with new studio album 'DREI', an opus that picked up Ibiza Spotlight's 'Album Of The Week' accolade and was called a fascinating album' by Rolling Stone. With six new remixes on this EP, further life has been breathed into her latest LP - with stunning results.
UK techno legends The Black Dog provide a foreboding rework of Battles, all brooding pads, electro glitchery and stomping breakbeats.
Kamikaze Space Programme's version is more dramatic still, returning the favour after Emika appeared on his own 'Choke' recently.
CNCPT (Brenda, Natch Records) kicks off the remixes of What's The Cure with an industrious slab of dubbed-out, reverb-heavy techno, doing away with Emika's vocals entirely and instead making use of her sound design expertise with subtle finesse.
Mysterious German Clone and Bunker affiliates The Exaltics tap into their electro roots on their rework with a thick, rubbery bassline working its way under a simple, atmospheric arrangement that allows Emika's honeyed delivery to take centre stage.
Borai (Tasteful Nudes) teams up with Emika herself to provide a stripped-back, heavily-swung, stomping take on the track, boiling it down to its melodic and textural essence.
Eomac rounds off the package with his stunning string-laden instrumental interpretation.
Until December last year music was simply a hobby for Alex Crossan, aka Mura Masa. He may have had 7 million plays and 30,000 followers on Soundcloud but the 18 year old Channel Islander had never played his music live, DJ'd or even been to a gig himself. He had just started an English degree at Sussex University and was happy playing guitar and bass in function bands.
It was an email from Jakarta Records that changed everything. The Cologne-based label (previously home to Kaytranada, Iamnobodi and Sango) felt Mura Masa's mixtape 'Soundtrack To A Death' was too good to sit on Soundcloud and persuaded him to release it with them.
The following 3 months were a whirlwind, with 30 spins on Radio 1, a sold out debut show & a top 5 position on the itunes electronic chart in the UK and US. At one point Mura Masa had 4 tracks in the HypeMachine top 50 and remix requests from Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, RL Grime and iLoveMakonnen in his inbox, whilst still juggling his degree.
So as Mura Masa prepares for his first official EP release the stakes are very different and he has upped his game accordingly. As well as the sampling for which he known, Mura Masa plays live piano, guitar, drums and even sings on Someday Somewhere. He is keen to show that he is a musician and songwriter as well as a beat-maker and has called on new friends Nao, Denai Moore and Jay Prince to feature on tracks.
Paul Epworth (Producer for Bloc Party, Adele, Santogold): 'That 18 year old is taking over the world right now and he's just delivering the most deeply textured music around, we have got such a talent on our hands in the form of Mura Masa and i think the UK has finally got our very own Kaytranada and it's not beyond him to overtake that, so good, ridiculous....
Three mixes from the brand new Berlin based label/project 'In Love We Trust'.Classic New York house inspired for the A side opening tune, driven by an off partiture alto-sax unfolding over a throbbing bass, four to the floor beats and great message delivered by a strong male voice, followed by a slower tempo roller-skate, atmospheric, Garage inspired disco cut with a solid 80's style linn drum grove, catchy riffs and a powerful bass line.
Rougher beats and a more acidic vibe for the flip side, direct and effective floor stomper guaranteed to raise heartbeats.
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.




















