Completing a trilogy of reissues from the Indipop label, Emotional Rescue celebrates its 10th Anniversary by looking again at the ground-breaking music of Steve Coe and his label. Having worked with Steve right at the start of Emotional Rescue, it’s fantastic his special mix of Indian Classical and Dance Pop under the spotlight once more, highlighting his role in helping to kick start the 1980s huge interest in world music, while achieving considerable commercial success and cross-appeal.
Bordello A Parigi’s latest release brings together two heavyweights for something particularly special. Aroy Dee, founder of M>O>S Recordings, has been at the coalface of machine music for more than twenty years; Marco Antonio Spaventi, an exceptional composer with over a decade’s experience. The pair offered the tear-stained vocoder ballad of “Desire” two years back, now they return for “Sorrow.” Crisp rhythms and considered synth scales form the bedrock from which J.C.’s emotion wrung lyrics ensnare. A tale of lovelorn pain, a psychological journey of lamentations and mistakes, the track adopts the heartache of wave romance and contrasts it with clean musical lines. The “Space Dub” of the flip transforms those powerful lyrics to give space for brightness to enter. Cascading chords and sunlight break through as arpeggio quivers introduce vocoder vocals in this superb re-interpretation that balances warmth with frigid shades.
20 years after he released the superb (and subtly eclectic) “Super EP”‘”, Morgan Geist has prepped a follow-up of sorts – or at least a new three-tracker that takes the same ‘mixed up’ approach. “Duper” is a not-so-subtle callback to his 2001 EP, “Super.” On “Twilight Express,” the playful OSCar synth riffs and sweeping disco strings (courtesy of Kelley Polar) echo the palette of Geist’s cult classic “24K” and early Metro Area. “Black Test Car” is a unique collision of minimal, Krautrock-style drums, sound library textures and spacey percussion. Wrapping things up, “Feeling Is Mutual” is a rare acid outing that pushes beyond the usual comfort zone, the 303 acting more as feather than hammer above major-key modulations. Weird acid meets “quiet storm” R&B? Super-Duper!
Eight years after Cuthead’s “Give’n’Take”, it’s Sneaker’s turn to put together four of his favorite tracks for Uncanny Valley’s compilation series. Besides L.B. BaD’s wonderful “Late In The Evening (Music’s Seeping Thru)” you’ll get three absolute bangers on top. The Optimistic Misanthropes are Mystic Bill, VeXaTioN and Sneaker himself. One of the most influential Chicago House DJs, true to the underground for over three decades now, and once part of the Trax Records roster… Mystic Bill. VeXaTioN already got to know him back in the days but is currently hailing from Mexico City. His track was born in Los Angeles and remixed by Sneaker in Berlin. Also, Left Unknown’s “Maedchen” got the jacking Midas touch from Sneaker, a touch you’ve come to recognize. Behind the one-off project is Saxonian Gnista aka DJ Detox and somebody who wants to remain incognito. Jacob Korn however is well-known since the early days of Uncanny Valley and is above all Sneaker’s best buddy at TailOut Studio, Dresden.
The second release of Flight Mode has landed with four artists from four different countries. On the A-side, Dawl delivers ‘Microbe’, a sleek acid slow burning that truly stalks the listener, before Kiddmisha ups the speed and the eerie moodiness with ‘Anxiety’. Acid Charlie’s ‘Por La Paz’ has the most old school favour of the quartet – even before sirens hit – underpinned by a thunderous drum machine. Then the mysterious producer SPAC closes the single with more cunningly employed acid shenanigans.
Gravitational Effect debuts on Mechatronica, and blasts through the cosmos with an extraterrestrial blend of emotive electro funk, alien basslines and quirky rhythms, soaked in intergalactic ambience. One for the travellers.
The 2022 edition of the Ombra Festival will start tomorrow in Barcelona, with a location change. The festival program was suppose to take place for the last time at UTOPÍA 126, but the new owners of the location canceled in September Ombra’s reservation. Probably this beautiful industrial relic will make space for something more modern and cost efficient construction.
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Hailing from Mar Del Plata in Argentina, Juan is bringing the 3rd release from Subterranean Odyssey. The “Lorenzo EP” is dedicated to Juan’s newborn son and showcases his sound perfectly with a variety of different moods. This EP includes 4 tracks that are sure to be club (Ju)anthems in the coming months.
Jordan Gcz aka Jordache, member of fantastic Juju & Jordash and Magic Mountain High is joining the Rawax family, with ”Dizzy Dizzy Dizzy” on the RX – Series.
The light is at the end of the tunnel. The light is shining bright because of love. The love is the answer to the darkness + the remedy for the experience which might bring unclearness and letting drown in the metaphorical swamp which every single human has felt during the journey they are on. The EP by the Switzerland based mastermind Dan Piu is dedicated to the love and to the love only. The tracks that were produced from the artist’s creative inflow are from the year 1995 to our present days and are telling the story of hope and compassion.
Hypnophobia is the bleep fueled beginning to a six release series from Dan Piu on Terrestrial Funk. Recorded from 1993 to 2021, the 27 tracks pose a reflection on the relativity of time. Each release will be accompanied by a foldout poster featuring oil paintings of city skylines at different points in time, all painted by Dan Piu himself. It start in present day London.
Masterful sample based collages of old disco tracks by Trent, resulting in highly effective dancefloor DJ tools adorned with heavy percussive elements.
Rush Hour-affiliate and Amsterdam local Relmer is back with what may well be his best work so far. ‘H2O’ expertly displays the vibrant energy he’s known for around these parts with two Amazon-inspired deephouse groovers, a melancholic walk through the jungle, a Detroit-infused progressive anthem and a hypnotic midtempo floorwarmer.
Strut present the first ever compilation of Balka Sound, bringing together their influential 1980s recordings. Hailing from Congo-Brazzaville and led by revered vocalist and ngonfi player, Nkibi “Lusialala” Albert, Balka Sound created their own unique musical world, re imagining traditional Congolese Balka rhythms with electric guitars, electric bass and drums, alongside the traditional 5-string ngonfi.
The Hipodrome Of Music 