Andrew Grant teams up again with Lomez for the sixth release on EDEC Music Outlet. “3rd Wave” definitely nods to the Stateside influence with its classic touches, smooth synth chords and spoken vocal drops. New Jersey´s DJ Qu with his signature cut ups and splices delivers a rework to completes the package.
Stunning triple disc compilation and includes numerous unreleased tracks and beyond hard to find house tracks made in Chicago in the early to late Eighties from the catalogues of Mitchbal Records and Chicago Connection Records. 3CD boxset includes an exclusive mix by Jerome Derradji, and a 28 page booklet documenting the story of Mitchbal and Chicago Connection Records.
For anyone with an interest in the history of house music, this excellent compilation from Jerome Derradji’s Still Music imprint should be essential listening. It focuses on the output of two long forgotten Chicago labels, Mitchbal and Chicago Connection Records, during the early to mid 1980s, when electro, new wave and boogie were morphing into house. As such, 122 BPM offers a mix of rare, largely overlooked cuts that bristle with analogue dancefloor intent. There’s proto-jack in the shape of Jeanette Thomas’s “Shake Your Body” and Z Factor’s “I Am The DJ”, dubbed-out Chi-town proto house from Mitchbal and Larry Williams, and some terrific bodypoppin’ electro from McGhee.
Two mega dancefloor tracks made by Doug Lee (Stallions, TBD) and L.I.E.S. label boss Ron Morelli. Real Bad News reminds us of the Cajual/Relief records days with heavy drums and a massive breakdown that is sure to totally confuse or drive people insane. The B-side’s More Bad News is a massive morphing track that sounds like a dying animal trying to escape a garbage can. It’s like German shuffle track through the eyes of two drunk and delusional Americans.
Amazing futuristic and forward thinking three track ep by Japanese producers Takuya Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Onozawa and Kouji Nagahashi. Exotic house music from Asia made with a fresh approach thats stirring up influences from jacking Chicago and Japanese pioneers such as Yellow Magic Orchestra.
First new album from the Echospace duo since the critically acclaimed ‘Liumin’ double album on Manchester’s beloved Modern Love imprint. The sonic structure of this album was the basis for what later became ”Liumin” released on Modern Love but this exploration is something all together different, left untreated and unprocessed from its original 1/2” tape to preserve the natural organic state of the recording. The LP is a soundtrack to Silent World, an independent film produced by Rod Modell that will come out on DVD sometime after the album.
In a time where music classification and compartmentalising of genres loses all meaning, Jon Convex aka Damon Kirkham has been at the forefront advocating a new wave of electronic music. His new solo album ‘Idoru’ (A Japanese word derived from the English ‘idol’) is his multi-dimensional sound projected into a new species of electronic music production. The themes on Idoru are evident from the start. Influenced from a young age, growing up in a video rental store during the 80’s and vinyl hunting in the 90’s, these distinguished eras are stamped all over Idoru. The album is further fused with his previous production mastery pirouetting gracefully over his mutated Techno House repertoire. From the Autonomic inspired ‘Fade’ to the brooding tones of ‘About Her’ who’s late night vibes and pitched vocals pay homage to Drexciyan project ‘Other peoples place’.
Grenier aka DJG production style is richly melodic and emotive while full of groove and energy. Recognised early on for a more dubwise sound, Grenier’s recent productions have revealed an evolution in his music, getting deeper into bass-heavy, tech-drenched, soulful tracks. Say Something and Here Come The Dark Lights are two soulful syncopated grooves that retain the bass driven momentum of Grenier’s dubstep roots and display a 90’s tech influence.
ETG004 the ‘Klona Ep’ introduces new Argentinean talent Alexander D’niel to EarToGround Records with his first EP. The original tracks ‘Klona’ and ‘Tetroid’ both come with different vibes. One dark and atmospheric using classic
Techno elements the other more chord based with a brighter tone. Stepping up for remix duty we call upon Californian
based Techno producer ‘Truncate’ and rising UK talent ‘Tom Dicicco’. These outstanding remix and original tracks are
getting serious attention and questionably could be called some of their best work to date.
The prolific run of Ben Sims and his Theory imprint shows no sign of stopping, this time it’s a tough but DJ friendly 3 tracker featuring remixes from 2 of Holland’s finest. Orlando Voorn, a bonafide Techno legend, graces the E.P with a firing and typically quirky, funked up, analogue drenched reworking. While ‘Ritzi Lee’ returns with another no nonsense, raw as fuck, balls to the wall monster.
Wandering through the years, they all showed us the way. Seeking the pure essence of where we have nurtured. Cited in the margin, they passed unnoticed.
Back and cooking up more funk and flavor with his second album for Rekids, Mr G proves he’s still the king of rhythm with ‘State Of Flux’. Packing more history than most of the top current producers put together, Mr G has been fine-tuning his breed of music for two decades. Described by the man himself as “it’s all about a bassline”, his music takes the formula of a ballad and the movement of reggae.
Edit-Select013 features a new track from Mark Broom and a heavyweight Edit Select remix. Expect more suspended alien terror and sub-aural rumblings from distant planets. Totally convulsive and burning with radioactivity. The original takes cues from Jeff Mills’ space exploration; spitting synths sit low in the mix while looping 3/4 arpeggios disorientate and hypnotise. A completely mechanized bassline chugs without missing a single beat. The Edit Select mix adds static hats and whirling, sweeping atmospheres which suggest we’re preparing to take off to another planet rather than explore the one we’re already on.
The Box series returns on Theory with 3 peak time tough edged tracks. “Bite This” sees Ben Sims drop an anthemic analogue fuelled jacker. “Reverse Processed” from Holland’s Ritzi Lee is an uncompromising old school Techno banger and “Dry Run” by Paul Mac is a drum heavy DJ tool with a crowd pleasing vocal sample
More business from the man like Sanys, on his fledging Downfall Theory label. Like previous releases the mastering and cut on these records is truly electrifying, and sure to send currents of energy through most underground rave dungeons. “Forward Thinking” has rattling percussion against a sonic bed of luminescent strings, twangy acid bleeps and an intermittent piercing lead. “Front Row” is more heads down. The phasing percussion jars rigidly in between the grooves while some filters get to work on the pads. A head-mangling track which should get people pulling out the strangest of shapes, if they manage to keep vertical that is.
Warm Up Recordings presents Oscar Mulero’s new album: Black Propaganda. Nine new tracks that reflect a new twist in his sound, going deep into dark territories; a black and white approach to dance electronics, where shades and echoes and drones are mixed with obscure rhythm treatments that go from slow tempos to more uplifting beats. Sonically speaking, his sound has become simpler, with less elements but better sound design. Less is more. All tracks have a common feeling, like a soundtrack for a sad European landscape: mental, industrial, repetitive and definitely non-melodic.
The Hipodrome Of Music 