The tenth volume from Jeff Mills’ series “Something In The Sky.” Cosmic rhythms from a master of his craft.
Month: October 2012
Skudge – Fingers / Vessel [NONPLUS021]
Nonplus imprint looks to Sweden for its next release, with one of Skudge’s rare appearances outside of their own imprint. Lead track “Fingers” is as simple as techno gets, as peak time chords filter through a strong 909 kick in a fashion reminiscent of Shed’s most effective Equalized moments. “Vessel” meanwhile is a more slow burning affair, building up its mechanistic arpeggio over swelling analogue pads and stray claps, combining classic Detroit sci-fi moods with a Berghain scale.
Marcel Fengler – Frantic EP [OSTGUTTO060]
Marcel Fengler returns with a solo EP for Ostgut Ton. Consistently providing quality over quantity this long awaited new 12“ surprises yet again as Fengler develops his funkier side further for the label. The A-side track „Frantic“ then immediately brings the essence of peaktime energy to the point. Bathing in melodic synth stabs, it mixes with wide open fields of euphoria. Instantly moving and memorable, it’s a track that crosses borders and unites different territories of techno and house. „6 In A Row“, the first track on the B-Side, tries to deceive with a simple & mellow arrangement but soon enough grabs the listener from behind with it’s cleverly built architechture that mounts with subtle waves to an addictive groove, a lesson in how to use a less-is-more approach to maximum effect. As if this wasn’t convincing enough the Berghain Resident now ventures further into spaced out dub structures & melodies and immerses the listener into sheer silk with the smooth „Mosaique“, a side of Marcel that he has only hinted at before but a pleasure to hear it fully realized on this track.
Abdulla Rashim – Endasilasie [ARR003]
Abstract deep pulsating and hypnotizing Nordic techno from Abdulla Rashim. Slowly building and well executed tracks that stand out. We can make some sonic links to groundbreaking labels such as Detroits Strobe label, dark and acid driven introvert techno tracks.
Reeko – Ella Episodio 3 [MD016]
Juan Rico aka Reeko presents the Episodio III of Ella. Featuring two tracks “Segmento 5” and “Segmento 6” and this EP is on the dub side of techno. In terms of his quality and skill, these tracks show that he must be brimming with ideas.
Mock & Toof – Temporary Happiness [TINC007]
After 2010’s ‘Tuning Echoes’ Mock & Toof return with their second album entitled ‘Temporary Happiness’, featuring the young Swiss artist Ghostape who features on half of the 10 tracks, the remainder being instrumentals. Their sound isn’t easily pigeon-holed & this album continues in the same tradition. Stylistically there are the occasional nods to today’s & yesterday’s myriad of electronic genres, but it is concocted in such a way that the resulting tracks can’t be easily slotted in with this gang or that scene. ‘Temporary Happiness’, as the title suggests, is darker, deeper & perhaps a little less accessible than its predecessor, but it does have its moments of light where the energy & drama of dance tracks ‘Snowball’ & ‘Walking the Streets’ shine through, contrasting with the murky & more melancholic ‘Confusion Time’ & ‘Don’t Work, Don’t Care’. There is also plenty of space and a dub-funk mottled vibe running through a good number of the tracks, which could be said to be a bit of a trademark. At its core ‘Temporary Happiness’ is made by a combination of old machines & new computers, where Ghostape’s vocals and the emphasis on hooks & melodies constitutes the more human side.
Marcello Giordani – Comin’ Down [EF049]
Endless Flight presents the first the first two tracks from the upcoming debut album by true Italian disco artist Marcello Giordani. Classy & smooth disco house tunes from Marcello.
Das Volt – Rose EP [LNA004]
Late Night Audio Records presents “Rose” EP, Das Volt’s new work on the label, which includes 4 dangerously hot tracks, as well as a remix by Mark E. Das Volt’s musical influences and background vary from house to boogie, helping his sounds change playfully from track to track. Combined with precise sound engineering skills and his great taste of rhythm. DJ/producer Mark E also adds his touch of class on this EP, with a dreamy and essential remix, aiming to satisfy all your senses.
Mock & Toof – My Head [TINC006]
Mock & Toof are back with a new album “Temporary Happiness”. The first material to emerge from the new album is called ‘My Head’& it features vocals from young Swiss artist Ghostape. In a nutshell it’s one little catchy chugger with a heavy analog sound. The beats of the Boss DR-55 & the inimitable bass of the TB-303 lay the foundation. Clavs, bell lines and synth sweeps combine with Ghostape’s repetitive dubbed out vocals for a unique sounding electro-dub-funk inspired cut. Juju & Jordash take snippets of the vocal & weave them into an amazing raw, deep, techno remix that only they seem to be able to do at the moment. Lauer takes on the album track ‘Confusion Time’ and transforms it into a killer deep house number.
Lauer – Mascat Ring Down [BIS004]
Lauer’s “Macsat Ring Down” follows an elliptic pattern fit for infinite play on any space floor. On “Mascat”, analog space junk flies in and out of an orbital framework built upon nearly nine minutes of bubbling bass and peripheral percussion. Space boogie at its finest. An anti-gravity exercise in repetition, Lee Douglas remixes “Macsat” for the flipside. Reaching a zen state through mantra-like looping, Douglas reworks Lauer’s sounds from a delicate and pensive place to a muscular and propulsive groove. Most if not all of the synthesized glitter from the original is eventually forgone in favor of blasted percussion and an unrelenting bassline.
The Hipodrome Of Music 