The clandestine Black Narcissus project from Rephlex artist Jodey Kendrick has gone on to find a welcome home in WeMe Records. Some six months after the debut Black Narcissus LP on WeMe, Kendrick returns with a second album entitled Fatale, with ten tracks of thunderous electro that are notable for their indecipherable titles.
Key players of the Scandinavian electro scene have worked together to deliver a snapshot of their unique sound for BT04. Luke Eargoggle, Kan3da, Obergman and Rutherford deliver everything from icy electro to downtempo, mournful IDM leanings.
Uncanny Valley and Permanent Vacation are joining forces for an Uncanny Vacation! There has always been a lively exchange between Dresden and Munich and both labels are known for releasing a wide variety of music so it was only natural to team up for a joint release. The record starts off with Permanent Vacation-regular and UK-veteran DMX Krew and his “Astro Logical” which is as sharp and crisp as Electro can go. The bass line strikes hard but he also squeezes some great melancholic synth lines out of his machines. After that, Uncanny Valley’s Sandrow M finally gives access to the much in demand live version of “Prayervan”, a tune that everybody has been singing along during his live sets. On the flipside, Jacob Korn hands in “Eieiei” which rises on a percussion-heavy drum basement to a discoid House stomper thanks to an irresistible sample straight from an obscure flea market find. Drvg Cvltvre delivers a tropical House jam. “See You Again” is riding on a funky Disco bass line and creates a warm and cosy atmosphere with a whole bag of sound ideas.
Few projects in electronic music have remained at the very cutting edge for as long as Reagenz, a collaboration between San Francisco based Jonah Sharp aka Spacetime Continuum and Heidelberg based David Moufang aka Move D. Twenty years after their first project, comes The Periodic Table, a stunning live album captured at The Bunkers tenth anniversary party at Public Assembly, Brooklyn, January 2013. The Periodic Table incorporates elements of house, techno and ambient in an organic flow that few artists could replicate.
Long established Detroit talent Keith Worthy traverses a fine line between deep, bumpy house and raw techno on his debut double album, The Price of Non Conformance. A conceptual project that takes you on a virtual walk through the streets of Detroit. From a musical standpoint, the sound and feel of T.P.O.N.C. aligns with Worthy’s own DNA, a complex blend of house and techno, and all while incorporating a degree of fantasy into every composition.
3rd installement in the Tape Sampler Series. Only local artists again: Deniro, Tape dj’s, Interstellar Funk and Haron & Jeroen.
Given that this is the first album from the great Theo Parrish since 2007, it’s unsurprising interest in American Intelligence has rocketed over the course of the year as Sound Signature left a trail of hints. American Intelligence is a fine album; deep and woozy in parts, undeniably soulful, shot through with jazz influences and full to bursting with killer cuts. By now, everyone should know the brilliant “Footwork” single; soon, clubs will swing to the off-kilter dancefloor jazz of “Make No War”, the 21st century broken house of the epic “Fallen Funk” and the decidedly odd – but brilliant – “Helmut Lampshade”.
S.A.T. is the new production unit formed of Jerome Sydenham, Aybee and Ron Trent, three individuals whose respective discographies command instant respect. What apparently started as a simple dinner one night has grown into a full album between the three who evidently struck on a studio chemistry that warrants further material on the strength of this eight track album. Issued by Sydenham’s Ibadan label, SAT lives up to the sales notes billing as “loose and organic” and cuts like “The Gate” and “She Was” have that timeless quality one expects from a project Ron Trent is involved in. It all feels remarkably cohesive despite the fact the trio completed the album in under three weeks.
The German label Soul Estate presents its debut EP, a record that amalgamates the right elements of the early ’90s with contemporary freshness. The “future” side features Suaave’s “Luminary,” which begins with a deep and airy chord-pad, slowly building until the 909 kicks in and the chords ignite. “Glass” is the laid-back A2 – slow, relaxed, and funky grooves highlighted by a fluffy synth-solo. Roman Mühlschlegel delivers the “past” side, recalling the good old days of early ’90s Chicago house with “Belladonna” and “Cool Down World.”
As a follow up to Tyson Ballard’s Feel Like I Feel EP, Voyeurhythm present remixes from two modern day legends John Daly and Legowelt.
Two years after the artistic statement that was their expansive third LP, famed live act and hardware lovers Juju & Jordash are releasing another full-length on Dekmantel. The duo fully embrace the album format, creating a tight tapestry of emotive and danceable sound that reveals more detail and depth with each new listen. Textures range from organic and lush to synthetic and arresting. Deep-space serenity gets juxtaposed with more urgent and alien paranoia. The new release marks a clear evolution in the career of these singular artists.
The deep envisioned season is upon us with the new release from Giorgio Luceri, expressing some true emotion and crafting a body of work that stands on its own merit of creative intrigue and splendor of mid 90’s Chicago lofting Scene & Gallery scene.
Annanan follows up his strong debut on Forbidden Planet with another crunched up techno three tracker on Pinkman from Rotterdam.
Unreleased material by Chicago’s great Vincent Floyd. Early works, mastered from the original DAT tapes. Electronic soul classics, now available for the first time. All tracks are drowned with warm leads, dreamy drums and dragging melodies.
Brad Peterson delivers the 25th release from Glasgow’s 7th Sign Recordings. The imprint is back with a bang as Scotland-based American producer Brad Peterson, serves up deep and spiritual sounds with shades of Larry Heard interwoven with the unique, abstract, thoughtful, groovy sound that is all his own. A powerful remix by house music hero Neville Watson completes this fine addition to the remarkable 7th Sign catalogue.
Should you desire techno that sounds like it’s sampled an ongoing laser battle in some sci-fi B movie, head straight for the opening track on this eighth edition of the Head Front Panel series from Tabernacle. The track is overflowing with laser like samples, expertly EQed into some form of forward momentum over tumbling kicks and malfunctioning modular synthetics. Following this, “Track 2” will appeal to anyone that is an advocate of the recent Population One material whilst the full on thrust of the third track may sound familiar to those that lock into the Hessle Rinse show. To close matters there is a touch of the Sun God about the final track, though the execution is done with a dash more clarity than you get from Jamal Moss.
It’s magnificent number seven for the Head Front Panel series on a 12″ that feature four potent untitled techno tools of varying shades. As ever it’s pointless to waste air debating who is behind the music, but they certainly know how to bend minds on the basis of this record. Hurried Martian rhythms characterise the opening track, offering a distinct contrast to the unhinged almost Bunker levels of craziness that unfolds on the track that follows. The third production takes matters a bit deeper, though those drums still kick and the final track is the craziest of the lot.
