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Thursday, 24 May
CD // £12.99Album of the Week
"Clone Classic Cuts continues their re-issues series for one of the most influential techno acts ever with a second volume in the Deep Sea Dweller reissue series. The second selection of tracks includes favourites such as ‘Bang-Bang’, ‘Positron Island’, ‘Anti Vapour Waves’ and ‘Journey Home’, complimented by some lesser-known and even previously undiscovered tracks. Raw, uncompromising music made with soul and creativity..."
Recommended release
*Strictly limited copies only* Four Tet hits the 'floor with two solid grooves for his Text label. 'Jupiters' embarks on a wave of cascading, twirling synths clearing the air for a pressurised, pirouetting piece of kosmische Garage, whilst 'Ocoras' pushes into bleeping, swinging Dub techno terrain with a hypnotic, heads-down tilt. Strong twelve - limited copies!
Single of the Week
Essential remixes of Conrad Schnitzler by Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer. Sprawling, side-long workouts by Villalobos are no longer a novelty by any stretch of the imagination, but believe us when we say that the 'Sorgenkind-mix' of Schnitzler's 'Zug' genuinely counts among the finest productions of the Chilean's career thus far. He and his studio partner Loderbauer (Sun Electric, NSI, Moritz von Oswald Trio) bring the same exploratory yet forensically focussed approach to this project as they did to their reconstruction of the ECM catalogue last year. Once again, the tech… Read more
WEST NORWOOD CASSETTE LIBRARY / PANGAEA
Coming On Strong (Pangaea Mix)
WNCL Recordings
10" // £7.99
Cat. Number: WNCL010
Recommended release
WNCL rolls out a cool and bumpy New Jersey House sound with 'Coming On Strong', backed up by a smart Pangaea remix. Ruddy acid bass locks hips with bouncing toms and sticky sax bleats on Bob Bhamra's (WNCL) tidy original, but if you want some grit swing look no further than Pangaea's clipped, body-tight flex on the flip!
Recommended release
October & Borai give up some genuinely *Deep* House for Bristol's stalwart Applepips imprint. In contrast to the flood of by-numbers chugg-offs streaming from that city and unfortunately everywhere else, there's a keener sense of experience, craft and intention to these two aces which a lot of youngers could learn from. A-side 'I Didn't Mean To' arrives at a unique juncture of rumping Detroit beatdown, machine Boogie and swooping junglist torque, deftly re-entwining their shared pre-1990 DNA with precise, lushly floating and powerful effect. We'd imagine A Guy Called Gerald or 4 Hero to give nods of approval. Flipside 'Palma… Read more
Recommended release
*Three pieces from the Rotating Assembly's Craig Huckaby (brother of Mike), produced by Theo Parrish and Pirahnahead* From instrumental killer 'S.T.F.U.' to this ace, Theo Parrish's crucially contrary Sound Signature label presents three pieces from Rotating Assembly member Craig Huckaby (yep, brother of Mike). On 'Black Music' a close mic'd Huckaby lays esoteric narrative over Parrish's Weldon Irvine-sampling production, while the flip features a tripping, percussive Pirahnahead production set to the dubbed-out poem 'Squirrel', which is also included in a capella. Dope artwork, lyrics on rear of sleeve, limited copies!
Recommended release
Seminal Detroit House LP remastered and reissued for 2012! Under the aegis of Paperclip People, Carl Craig birthed this ultra-classic in 1996, giving life to the likes of 'The Climax' and 'Throw', which are, of course, included on this pressing. No need to bang on about this, it's just ESSENTIAL.
Recommended release
Guy Andrews makes good on the promise of his Hemlock 12" with two swingeing, Technofied UK House joints for Hot Flush. 'The Wait' pushes forth a darkly dramatic tribal vibe; triplet rhythms are tucked over sweeping subs and clambering dub chords ready to take the club apart like a ravenous Jerome Sydenham tune. It the right hands this could be deadly. Flipside, 'Hands In Mine' positions crisp polyrhythms and flash synth stabs like a meaner, moodier answer to Hessle Audio's Joe.
TRUS'ME
In The Red (DVS1 Mix) / Shakea Body (Terrence Dixon Mix)
PRIME NUMBERS
12" // £6.99
Cat. Number: PN14
Recommended release
Another set of remixes of Trus'me - 'Shakeabody' from his classic 2007 set Working Night$, and the title track from 2009's follow-up, In The Red. While we can't help but feel we're overdue some fresh and original material from David Wolstencroft - we've been waiting three years, basically - these new remixes, from Klockworks/Transmat affiliate DVS1 and Detroit maverick Terrence Dixon, are quality enough to tide us over a little longer. DVS1's version of 'Shakeabody' is proudly, pointedly functional but does retain something of the original's melancholic, funk-marinated feel amid cavernously reverb… Read more
Thumping, monotone Techno from the Semantica Records head, backed with a grungy Industrial remix from Orphx. 'Hagagatan' is probably the best we've heard from Svreca; a powerful 4/4 construction with the momentum of a freight train and the iced-out atmosphere of a deserted space station. The Orphx remix of 'Vilna' sounds like that space station caught fire.
Recommended release
Prolific recent purveyor of retro-vintage Chi-Troit House sets off 'The Warrior Dance Part 4', backed with very classy remixes by Gene Hunt and Merwyn of Virgo Four! Serving three tracks on the A-side, Simoncino plays smart, from the hypnotic, kinky flow of 'It's Hot' to the sublime synth float of 'Movida' and the classic-sounding 'Ore Nove Nove'. But, understandably, it's the prospect of Merwyn Sanders of Virgo Four's 1st official remixes which offer the biggest attraction. Taking 'Mystery Girl' from the 1st 'Warrior Dance' 12", the Chicago legend deploys signature, sensual synth tones and plushest bass pressure to s… Read more
Fine modern Electro/Bass rollers from 214 and J. Alvarez. Working in a similar vein to the likes of Jon Convex or Boddika, the 'Plastic Spokes' EP revolves around crisp machine percussion and precise bass punch, sounding at its best on the corrugated funk of 'Ridin Wit Yo Plastic Spokes', in the wide-open spaces and E.R.P.-like hyper-float of 'Antarctica', or 'First Chair''s cowbell-dappled, deeper 2-step swing.
Finely constructed and powerful Techno from this sought-after, Brussels-based producer. Between the elevated trajectory of 'The Escape', 'Stalker''s foreboding darkside swing and the galloping Industrial freak 'Attack Pattern', you're looking at one of the strongest Techno singles this year so far. Get us to a club, pronto! Recommended.
Sweeter, steppin' UK Bass trax from the SBTRKT-like duo known as Cessa. Their seventh 12" is headed by a reggae-tilted GarageTechno cut named 'Step In The Water' and starring vocals from Zero 7's Mozez, while the flipside features the floating, heads-down 4/4 momentum of 'Tek A Step' primed for summer raving business.
San Fran party boy serves his 2nd album of sorts for Dirytbird. Split as two "singles", the jungle taught Bass wobbles and shaking House of 'Ghettos & Gardens' features on the first disc backed with the uplifting but rude oscillations of 'Ruff Stuff'. On the 2nd disc 'Don't Go' makes a merry dance with chirpy vox countered with a melancholic bass melody and sparkling harp, backed with the turfin' eletcro-house of 'Hood Rich' and his moody Deep moment 'The Gurner' with Pillowtalk.
Monday, 21 May
Review to follow shortly…
Featured Download
Companion EP to Patrick Walker and Smear's imminent debut album as Forward Strategy Group, featuring two of its heaviest cuts, one exclusive track and a brace of remixes from Factory Floor. 'Labour Division' is a low-slung but shark-eyed warehouse number with shades of Luke Slater's LB Dub Corps project, while 'Mandate' explores darker, more minimal territory, with killer snare edits and scruffily dubbed-out chords, and 'A Greyed Out Life' is lush synth dreamscaping a la C2, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and even early Human League. Factory Floor's remix of 'Nihil Novi' is an interesting synthesis of post-DF… Read more
Featured Download
Mr. Fingers, Linkwood and KiNK weigh in classy remixes of Tom Trago's 'Iris' album tracks. With the Tyree Cooper-starring 'What You Do' Mr. Fingers aka Larry Heard remixes the elements to a sensuous, slow-burning glyde while Linkwood serves a buttered, hypnotic overhaul of 'Being With You' urged by lustrous square bass and cushioned with velvet atmospheres. The notorious Bulgarian, KiNK takes a grubbier route with 'What You Do', adding a layer of gritty noise to rolling Reese bass, driving organ keys and roiling percussion in a subtly gripping, building 'Peaktime' rearrangement.
JON CONVEX
Lied To Be Loved featuring dBridge
3024
MP3 Download // £1.95
FLAC Download // £2.95
Cat. Number: 3024018
Featured Download
After debuting on Martyn's 3024 label in late 2011, Jon Convex is joined by dBridge on vocals for three darkly romantic machine grooves. 'Lied To Be Loved' is the standout cut, rippling a "Moroder/Human Centipede" bass under glass-cut drums and dBridge's tender vocal highlighted with slivers of metallic synth melody in a fresh update of classic Electro schematics. Meanwhile, 'Zero' locks on a crafty sort of Electro-House motion hinting at ruder Detroit moves from an underground UK perspective, while 'Stay' sounds like a wetter Jimmy Edgar cut.
Review to follow shortly…
Featured Download
Minilogue, Donato Dozzy and Dorisburg give sweetly faithful revisions of Jonsson/Alter's well-recieved 'Mod' album from late 2011. With album highlight 'Kyrka 2.0', Minilogue use finely selected elements of the original in a tenderly tranced-out framework designed for eyes-shut dancefloor shuffles while Donato Dozzy sprinkles 'Acapellan' with his signature minimal magic and Dorisburg, aka half of Genius Of Time remoulds 'Djup' with a more robust bassline but keeping the woolly atmospheres perfectly plush.
INFINITI
The Remixes: Part 2 (feat. Juan Atkins) (Function / Redshape Mixes)
Tresor Records
MP3 Download // £2.95FLAC Download // £3.95
Cat. Number: TRESOR250B
Featured Download
2nd of three EPs pairs two of Juan Atkins' original Infiniti tracks with ace Function and Redshape remixes. A-side über-classic 'Flash Flood' from the 'Infiniti Collection' should put a lump in the throat of any susceptibly sensitive Techno heads, and comes backed with the tribal wiggler 'Skyway'. On the flip Function gives a respectfully augmented remix of 'Flash Flood' reworked with cavernous dub chords and crisp 909's next to Redshape's sunken, sullen sci-fi mix of 'Skyway'.
5KINANDBONE5 & VIN SOL
Soo Wavey Records
MP3 Download // £1.70FLAC Download // £2.50
Cat. Number: SW001
Featured Download
Wicked, bare-boned jax from UTTU's West Coast US pals, 5kinsandbone5 & Vin Sol. Dudes know what's up on 'Rhythm Tracks Vol.1', riding raw, chunky and tracky machine patterns like an old skool Chicago boss. All DJ - you need this one!
TOBIAS / VILLALOBOS / EFDEMIN
UNTERTON
MP3 Download // £1.70FLAC Download // £2.50
Cat. Number: UNTERTON01
Featured Download
Ostgut Ton kick off their white label Unterton series with strongly functional remixes of Tobias from Efdemin and the illustrious Villalobos/Loderbauer duo. Reworking 'the title track from the 'Leaning Over Backwards' LP, Efdemin stealthily unfurls a smoky, slinky roller freckled with smallsound percussions and dreamy, hazily harmonised chords almost guaranteed to work wonders at the right time of the night. To 'Girts' Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer secrete their grid-dissolving matrix of chattering, barely-hinged FX, while the bass gyrates on a fluid axis with a fruity, hip-tucked and swinging sensuality for as long as it takes to get you there. Totally bob on, this.
Review to follow shortly…
Featured Download
After debuting on UQ in 2010 and delivering some cool 12"s for Tsuba in 2011, Tazz has refined his sound with a body-synced sensuality on the 'Cosmic Sex' EP for Adam Marshall's New Kanada imprint. Styles range from low-slung, floating Deep House electronics on 'Wanderer' to greasier, tripping sex-jax on the ace 'Cosmic Sex' produced with Bacanito, and proper dark room business on the sturdy pusher 'Mermen and Mermaids' made with Giovanni Randisi. Adam Marshall also chips in a more layered, dubby remix of 'Wanderer'.
Featured Download
The 'Say What' EP finds WNCL in dopest 'ardcore mode, tucking up springy, darting jungle breaks on a bass-jacked Techno axis. The arrangement unfolds with constantly surprising twists, revealing proper darkside stabs and cyber-strafing drones with signature, unconventional flair, while 'Flashlight' applies that uniquely strange touch to a tight Dubstep flex and Adam Marshall's remix skanks to a weirdly successful fusion of digi-dub and baroque electronic melodies kinda sounding like a baffled mixture of Deadbeat and Fatima Al Qadiri. Aces.
Featured Download
Marcus Intalex turns up on Craig Richards' The Nothing Special imprint with two robust yet elegant House and Techno productions as Trevino. He's already receiving a lot of praise from the likes of Rob Hall and Scuba for his productions in this guise and it's likely he'll be getting more for these two. A-side 'Backtracking' works a warehouse-ready groove of super-phat square bass and oxidized drum machine rhythms softened by heart-lifting keys almost guaranteed to trigger whatever you've been taking. B-side's 'Juan Two Five' looks to the classic double refractions of early '90s UK/Detroit Techno with an ornate, blue and atmospheric arrangement likely inspired by classic Mayday, The Black Dog and B12.
Featured Download
French dancefloor mastermind I:Cube presents his new album-cum-mixtape. The "M" Megamix is expertly pieced together as a continuous set cycling through 24 relatively short tracks freely morphing between fragments of House, slo-mo grooves and techno for the modern disco. You never know what's coming next, from Zomby-esque digi dance to Italo ballads and quirky 'lectronic funk, making for a highly entertaining listen.
