Bucharest’s Gemini Bros are all about classic funk sounds, and here they’ve enlisted a host of pals to help inject plenty of it into their own tune. “Twin Flavour” is a up-tempo belter, with an incessant rubber bassline and piano/organ riffs. The normally electro-heavy Ursula 1000 delivers an ace, but surprisingly discofied version, Stereo 77 go for trippy bongo acid and finally Pips & Midi Kobain beef up the original, adding plenty of brass and wah-wah guitar in the process.
Esteemed selector, producer and Panorama Bar resident Steffi presents the fifth mix CD in the series, showcasing the variety and depth of sound to be found during her sets at the club. In ‘Panorama Bar 05’ we find a mature and confident Steffi channeling her years of experience as a record collector, DJ and beat-maker into 80 seamless minutes. Reflecting all the angles of her classically inspired, raw and profoundly warm sound, we are guided through a rather grand lesson in House music. Steffi shows off her talents here with a captivating and classy mix of underground House and Techno. All the tracks she included, and the producers she invited to contribute, help to define part of her identity – much like the culture of DJing with records, that she brings to clubs with love, intensity and passion.
Skatebård , the Nordic wizard of suspense strikes back with two ultra extended heavy hitter anthems: a rollercoaster of sophisticated thrills for an ultimate Hitchcockian ecstacy.
Epic drum machine jams for the adventurous DJ Sotofett, with a nice Latina vocal by Fran Benitez on the A side to help usher in the spring. Pure original House magic.
Sumerian Fleet, Roger 23, Duplex & Louis Guilliaume bring the first volume of The Pleasure Box, on Bio Rhythm Recordings, covering the twilight zone in between EBM, wave/disco noir, house not house and technosoul, all in 21st century fashion.
New Jersey based producer Jorge Velez returns to Echovolt under his brand new guise Bridge & Tunnel Kids with three tripped out, psychedelic journeys of the Detroit kind plus a remix by fellow ‘outsider’ Willie Burns.
Murph Tone Jack Session I specifically made for those afterhour, loft/warehouse party moments where the new music is exposed. Banging raw cuts that are sure to rock the spot with tight drums and crazy synth work.
Acidicted jacks back with Fatjack ‘spure TB-303 tweakin acid anthem on a special black-labled-dj-edition with additional TR-707 bonus pattern.
Pure, dark and driving techno bombs by Pfirter on his own Imprint Mindtrip. Including remixes by Jonas Kopp, Dimi Angelis & Jeroen Search and Developer.
Knotweed Records with the release number 10. The Unison E.P. start with a pure techno banger, Facial Features: the heavy kick drum and synth pattern hit you where it hurts. Myk then goes in more minimal territory with Omage and See, both tracks making use of nice background repetitive voices, heavy basslines and dubby synths that remind you of late nights in Berlin. The E.P. ends up with with Synda, a peak time atmospheric dub experience that will not leave you indifferent.
MOODs second release sees Nicole stay true to her word and delivers a deep and hypnotic EP from relative-newcomers American Billy Johnston and Italian Gennaro Mastrantonio. On Rainy Billy and Gennaro combine with devastating effect to create a powerful and atmospheric techno cut. Beginning with pounding bass and crisp percussion the track progresses with a brooding vibe until a warm soaring synth appears, temporarily breaking through the darkness, resulting in an expertly-programmed track that is simultaneously dark yet uplifting and hypnotic. On the flip side Self Inflicted is a similarly striking and captivating track while also being the darker of the two tracks on offer. Its weighty foundation of tight drums and submarine-deep bass serve to create an air of anticipation and menace. From this foundation the duo allow the track to build and build, bringing the bass in and out skillfully creating tension while also balancing the mood against yet another glistening synth.
After last year’s dystopic debut, ”Super Strength EP”, rising Parisian Cédric Bros AKA Marcelus returns to Tresor with something a little more deep and shiny in ”Emerald”. Once again Marcelus conjures up the spirits of Detroit and Berlin techno, moulding them here into dreamy modern house incantations, an inspired blurring of the lines the well-versed Frenchman has been rehearsing over the last decade.
The Hipodrome Of Music 