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Thursday, 24 May
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!
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.
Thursday, 17 May
Lone and Motor City Drum Ensemble are tasked with remixing tracks from Midland's superb 'Placement' EP for Aus Music. Riding a wave of adulation for his recent 'Galaxy Gardens' LP, Lone bends the square bass of 'Placement' into gloopy, offset shapes under fizzing carnival percussion and fluttering synth licks like BoC gone Balearic on the A-side. B-side Danilo Plessow aka MCDE turns 'What We Know' into a roiling Detroit killer, burning up a hulking bassline with cracked and frazzled drum machines and the fattest, stabbing chords. Dancefloor pleasure guaranteed!
Firmly established as one to watch with his previous two 12"s, Juk Juk 'fesses up two emosh Neo Garage riders on his Nommos imprint. Starting out in a mired tangle of shoegazy loops intoning the title, 'Thinking Too Much' lightens up with sprightly 2-step patterns and really comes to life with the revelation of a digitally distorted Bassline giving the track a formidable forward momentum. 'Where The Helios' again shows the f*t*r* garage crowd what's up with with a lush intro drone tangling with finger-popping 2-step swerve like a diced collusion between MJ Cole and Four Tet. Smart.
FAR OUT MONSTER DISCO ORCHESTRA / THEO PARRISH
Vendetta (Theo Parrish / Kirk Degiorgio Mixes)
Far Out Recordings
12" // £8.99
Cat. Number: FOMD07
**Limited edition of 500** Far Out finalise phase 1 of their remix sessions with reinterpretations of rich Brazilian/UK source material from Kirk Degiorgio, Theo Parrish, and M&M's John Morales. A-side is given to Degiorgio's sleek and stylishly paced Techno overhaul of 'Vendetta', while B-side features a radio edited version of Theo Parrish's plush 'Keep Believing' remix and that fabulously fruity disco remix by John Morales.
POLLYN / MOODYMANN
Sometimes You Just Know (Moodymann Mix)
Music! Music Group
12" // £6.99
Cat. Number: MMG8T
DJ Harvey and Kenny Dixon Jr on one record?! Well aye! Pollyn's 'Sometimes You Just Know' is given pedigree remixes by two of modern House and Disco's leading lights. The missable original is given swagger and a genuine late night sensuality by DJ Harvey on the A-side, while KDJ aka Moodymann turns in a darker, dubbed-out Detroit overhaul on the flip next to a stripped down 'Just Drums' mix.
**Limited edition white wax pressing with hand-stamped recipe insert** Vol.2 of Don't Be Afraid's 2nd volume of 'Spargel Trax' offers a stylish crop of underground House goodness. A-side, DFA/Environ affiliate and NYC-based producer James Duncan turns up the raw and ready-to-swng flavour of 'Bed Stuy Beat' beat beside Untitled-W's slinky, driving Deep House burn 'Green & White'. B-side some fella named Untitled-W takes it slower, more sensuous with 'Points D'Amour' reminding of classic NWAQ or Thriller/Actress moves while Dirty Criminal, Melvin Elephant 303 stomps out the Chicago acid coda of 'Spargel Jacks'. Smart moves!
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.
MARCELLUS PITTMAN / RICK WILHITE / VARIOUS
In The Dark: The Soul Of Detroit
Still Music
2x12" // £14.99
Cat. Number: STILLMLP005
Killer doublepack with exclusive, unreleased tracks by Marcellus Pittman, Rick Wilhite, Delano Smith, Mike Huckaby, Keith Worthy, Malik Alston and others, a small example of how much music and cultural activity thrives in Detroit. All of the artists involved in this project are creators and perpetuators of the musical heritage of the motor city. Deep House wares for all Detroit heads.
**Limited edition of 300** 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 ref… Read more
Sub-heavy Minimal Techno tools from a new Frozen Border contributor. A-side exhibits powerful, speaker-folding bass and precise machine rhythms suffused with cold drones. B-side rolls with a crispy early '00s Minimal Techno funk and a faceless, killer 4/4 reduction reminding of a meaner Dan Bell production.
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.
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.
Thursday, 10 May
**Includes photocopied art insert** Wolfgang Voigt cranks out three avant-techno missives for his Profan art music imprint. Originally the B-side to 'Rückverzauberung 2', the concatenated abstractions of 'Du Musst Nichts...' features Herr Voigt at his most freeform. The Fanfaren mix rifles corrugated kicks into a martial stomp beneath slow, arcing horns on a march to some crenellated schloss on the horizon while the Informel mix - created for an experimental video soundtrack - sounds like one of Giuseppe Ielasi's field recording manipulations for Senufo Editions. Spanning… Read more
Omar-S, L'Renee and Aaron "Fit" Siegel get reel kinky on the latest FXHE. Frontside L'Renee gives it up sultry and soulful on spanking drums and a rumpy bassline from Fit, beside Fit's ecstatic beatless synth version. Flip it and AOS (Omar-S) incorporates Fit's synthline into a killer remix, beside a more hushed and stripped down Mack and Bewick remix. One for the players, no doubt!
Sharp new EP from Emika, further dissolving the boundaries between pop and the bleeding edge of dub-savvy Berlin electronics. 'Chemical Fever' (Re-Edit) is a case in point: vocals chorussed into abstraction over a dense bed of arctic ambience a la Porter Ricks and precision-tooled, colour-drained dubstep percussion. It has to be one of Emika's finest recordings to date, doesn't really sound like anything else out there. Substance - aka Peter 'DJ Pete' Kuschnereit of Scion and Chain Reaction fame takes the original to its logical conclusion, dubbing the vocal layers down to pure texture, steeping… Read more
Debonaire debut album of '80s disco-infused House from pivotal Running Back, Arto Mwambe and Tuff City Kids' dude, Phillip Lauer. Slipping comfortably alongside the label's long-player from Tiger & Woods, and comparable with Massimilano Pagliara's 'Focus For Infinity' on the closely-affiliated Live At Robert Johnson label, Lauer's 'Phillips' cycles through twelve crisply functional dancefloor workouts paced with a mature flow and borne from a sincere taste for the romance of mid-'80s wave music, Italo/Electro and early Chicago styles. If we're pushed to pick a few favourites we'd have to say the funke… Read more
UNDERGROUND RESISTANCE
Ambush Redux (The Skurge Edits)
Underground Resistance
12" // £9.99
Cat. Number: UR040REDUX
UR's DJ Skurge re-edits four vintage Hi-Tech Funk shakedowns for a potent dose of urban reality. Both the percolating twang of 'Ambush' and the swirling, exotic burn of 'Silicon Saigon' from Mad Mike's 1997 EP as The Hostile appear next to edit of his murky 2005 cut 'Scalper', and the dramatic polyrhythm synth scapes of 'Burning Spear' created with Gerald Mitchell and Santiago Salazar (Los Hermanos, Galaxy 2 Galaxy).
Choice Rush Hour issue of two prime remixes from Actress and Convextion! Frontside is Actress' uptempo (138bpm) remix of Tom Trago's Lost In The Streets Of NYC'. B-side is a previously unreleased and typically superb Convextion remix of Terrence Dixon's 'Rush Hour'. Both are very much worth your time.
Mark E presents his first new material since last year's successful 'Stone Breaker' LP. Back on his Merc imprint's home turf, the hypnoitc DiscoHouse viebs are perfectly judged on 'Snow Walker', keeping everything submerged under heavy filter treatments and only revealing certain elements at the most crucial, achingly bob-on moment. Trust us, they'll be screaming for it if you play this at the right point of the night. Flipside's 'Environment' is much darker; a dosed-up and swaying mid-tempo groove designed to consume wasted minds.
