Month: May 2012

Lone – Galaxy Garden [RS1206LP]

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LONE - Galaxy Garden

Matt Cutler is back with his fifth album, which is an impressive feat in just five years of releasing music. Galaxy Garden starts off on a more esoteric tip with the tropical electronica of “New Colour”, in its sunshine chimes. By the time we get to “Lying In The Reeds” we’re up to a house tempo that harks back to the softer side of early Detroit. It’s when “Crystal Caverns 1991” starts up that we reach the most blatant distillation of old-skool; kicking off a breakstep beat with sweet but punchy 90s synths, the track cuts into a deadly rave motif without so much as a pause in the beat and it’s like being back in, er, 1991. Every track reeks of originality, whether it be the surprising track structures, the superbly detailed production, even the evocative imagery that the music conjures up.

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Lone – Galaxy Garden [RS1206LP]

Shackleton – Music For The Quiet Hour / Music For The Quiet Heart [SEPTICCD001]

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Cover art - Shackleton: Music For The Quiet Hour / Music For The Quiet Heart

It’s entirely typical of a revered producer such as former Skull Disco boss Shackleton that some new material from the Berlin based producer should arrive without the necessity for PR fanfare that far too many musicians require. It’s even more typical of Shackleton that Music For The Quiet Hour is just so damn epic in scale and execution. Whilst this digital version doesn’t convey the full brilliance of Zeke Clough’s artistic contribution in the manner the vinyl or CD versions do, it does allow you to focus fully on the music. Largely formed of mesmerizing material produced on an Italian drawbar organ module the producer has been experimenting with for the best part of two years, theses 16 tracks are bristling with the sort of all consuming basslines and unique percussive melodies that Shackleton has made his own and true fans need little more reason to indulge.

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Shackleton – Music For The Quiet Hour / Music For The Quiet Heart [SEPTICCD001]

Sepalcure – Eternally Yrs [SEP002D]

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Cover art - Sepalcure: Eternally Yrs

Sepalcure follow up last year’s critically acclaimed LP on Hotflush Recordings with a new EP featuring remixes from Kevin McPhee and Trevino (a.k.a. Marcus Intalex), alongside one previously released album cut and one original track. ‘Eternally Yrs’, originally featured on the LP, makes another appearance on side A, followed up by Trevino’s (Intalex’s moniker for his techno and house projects) upbeat and melodic remix of ‘Hold On’. On the flip, Toronto rising star McPhee turns the classic house sounds of ‘The One’ into a crackly, technodriven subbass tune. Finally, the emotive ‘Don’t Cry’ hits hard with the trademark staccato bass and processed vocals that Sepalcure have come to be known for.

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Sepalcure – Eternally Yrs [SEP002D]

CVBox – Analog Amputations EP [UV011]

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CVBOX - Analog Amputations EP

Number Eleven on Uncanny Valley focuses on the soundscapes of CVBox. Releasing his first solo record, he’s finally able to express his very specific idea of sound somewhere in between meditative Ambient and compelling Techno on the ‘Analog Amputations EP’. ‘Past the Eclipse’ is shaped by echoing choirs at first and mutates then into a serious Detroit Funk killer for self forgotten Techno dancefloors. ‘Counterflow’ starts to roll with menacing drones but quickly surprises with its optimistic atmosphere and an irresistibly catchy synth flute. The flipside starts off forcefully with the oldschool Techno stomper ‘Droid Swift 836’. After that ‘Orience’ floats in a sea of pads without losing the Funk of the CVBoxes.

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CVBox – Analog Amputations EP [UV011]

Special Request – Deflowered / Lolita [SPECIALREQEP002]

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SPECIAL REQUEST - Deflowered (Kassem Mosse/Mix Mup remix) (Front Cover)

Second in a series of releases based on capturing the energy and culture of UK pirate radio but going way beyond that as the project unwinds. From the first highly coverted 12″, “Lolita” makes a return here, but in a ‘Warehouse Dub’ form, while new track, “Deflowered” is tweaked here by the in-demand Kassem Mosse and joined by Mix.

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Special Request – Deflowered / Lolita [SPECIALREQEP002]

Floorplan – Altered Ego EP [MPM015]

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Now Robert Hood delves back into Floorplan for his next M-Plant release called ‘Altered Ego EP’. The title track jacks out from the onset, just the way we like it! Hood’s distinctive rhythmic grooves are intoxicating as ever. With the staccato vocal cut and Detroit-meets-Chicago feeling, we’re back in ‘Baby Baby’ territory. ‘Confess’ shows the other side to Hood’s Floorplan with an opening gospel style piano riff that’s gradually overlaid with Latin percussion and that special Hood kick, to take the church to the party.

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Floorplan – Altered Ego EP [MPM015]

Searle – She Moves EP [MOW011]

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Franco Cangelli works out three deeper, dubbier Techno trax backed with a Russ Gabriel remix for Mowar. ‘She Moves’ conducts a svelte motion with thick subbass and crisply contoured rhythms beside the minimal and moody Neo-Detroit atmospheres of ‘Melancholy’ on the A-side. Flipside Russ Gabriel drags ‘She Moves’ down a gear with a submerged overhaul of ‘She Moves’, and ‘Tunnelling’ digs rolling, offset bass gyrations and trippy chord modulations for the late night crew.

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Searle – She Moves EP [MOW011]

SP-X – Stalker EP [KOMISCH011]

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SP X - Stalker EP (Front Cover)

SP-X drops his third EP for Komisch. The Brussels-based producer serves up three more slices of uncompromising warehouse techno. Lead track ‘The Escape’ has all the SP-X hallmarks – rock hard beats, thundering claps and a swinging groove that underpins eerie riffs and clanking metallic drums‘Stalker’ reveals a more musical slant to SP-X’s sound. It starts off with unsettling riffs, but soon the rolling drum-led arrangement changes tact and provides the backdrop for a growling chord climax. There is a similar concession on ‘Attack Pattern’; bruising doubled-up drums and that unmistakably snappy SP-X percussion combine with subtle snare rolls to create a peak time arrangement. But once again an insistent chord sequence gives it the edge over functional techno.

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SP-X – Stalker EP [KOMISCH011]

Gerry Read – Rhino: Records Store Day Edition [ATHXGRXRSD]

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READ, Gerry - Rhino: Records Store Day Edition (Front Cover)

Rhino is the latest insight into the prolific mind of the young but all too talented Gerry Read. The producer has grown his own particular style across a choice number of labels such as Fourth Wave, 2nd Drop and most recently Delsin, and this latest release on the aforementioned RAMP offshoot is perhaps Read’s most nightmarish advance through the outskirts of house and techno. “Rhino” is as heavy weight as the animal from which the name originates, thumping into existence with indecipherable vocals twisted rhythmically around a hollow industrialised groove of malformed percussion and drums. In full flow, the track almost seems to creak under the pressure of everything that’s going on but somehow rumbles on. In contrast “All The Time” seems more focused to begin with, drums wound tightly before Read lets loose with his desire to craft all manner of demented layers of sound and vocals.

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Gerry Read – Rhino: Records Store Day Edition [ATHXGRXRSD]

Kryptic Universe – JC Michigan EP [LOCKERTMATIK001]

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Cover art - Kryptic Universe: JC Michigan EP

This is the second Lockertmatik release. Another small DIY release in a small run with advanced acid techno tracks with a sharp edge.  Challenging and fresh release for true school Acid House jackers.

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Kryptic Universe – JC Michigan EP [LOCKERTMATIK001]