Author: hipodrome
Traxx @ Dekmantel Festival 02.08.2014
Steve Summers – IW (Dimensions Mix)
Silent Servant / Broken English Club – Split EP [CITI014]
Cititrax presents a 4 song split EP by Silent Servant and Broken English Club. Although the two are geographically very far apart, Silent Servant based in Los Angeles, US and Broken English Club based in London, UK, the two share a similar outlook and musical approach. Both projects have been on the rise lately, and stem from a strongly rooted techno background. Combining their influences of dance music, techno, EBM, industrial and post-punk, Silent Servant and Broken English Club offer a new breed of EBM infused techno wave on the Violence And Divinity EP. They artfully create music that works both on and off the dance floor, infusing a dark atmospheric mood with addictive, pulsating rhythms. Themes of love, death, modernity and automobile crashes appear throughout this EP from the music itself right through to the cover art and one of a kind vinyl pressing.
CWS – Untitled [STRUMENTS004]
CWS (pronounced ”Classicworks”) is the new brainchild of Cardopusher and Nehuen, and their debut release for Barcelona imprint Struments Records presenting their first explosive statement as a formulated duo. ”Untitled EP” sees them experiment with new forms of production and creation. These four tracks of raw, analogue fetishized techno draw you out of this world and into an acid drenched bunker in outer space, with rhythms and synthesis drawn exclusively from analog gear. The A side showcases two very blunted electronic jams – beginning with the overdriven synth and drum layers of ”Untitled 01”, and rounding off with the tape saturated, funky yet introspective electro jam of ”I”. The B Side sees things set off into hypergear; ‘Untitled 02’ ignites the dancefloor with its relentless kick and hard, acid-inspired bassline. The EP is topped off beautifully with a remix by Rephlex Records electro superhero and Breakin Records boss DMX Krew, flipping the forward drive of ‘Untitled02’ into a staccato old skool electro breakdance, drenched in sinister pads and block-rattling orchestra stabs. An absolute essential for the DJ crates worldwide.
Todd Osborn – Step Off [AD011]
After previously delivering the Back 2 Here 12″ to Acoustic Division last year, Todd Osborn is back with another single that draws on a range of house styles delivered with his impeccable knack for classically rooted grooves that sound better than the rest. “Step Off” is a fine slice of piano house goodness with drums that sizzle and snap in all the right ways, while “House 117” turns to a sweeter kind of disco-inflected boogie completely unabashed in its romantic, sugary leanings. “November” turns to a heavenly selection of soulful licks to create a low-slung masterpiece as finely crafted as it is loose and easy.
Bok Bok & Tom Trago – Need This [NV004]
Bok & Trago are back with another 12” of deeply textured, hypnotic House music. This time taking a melodic approach on the A-side main mix of ”Need This”, the London-Amsterdam duo borrow and flips motifs from a classic. ‘Need This (Radio Mix)’ is a piece of slow-burning deep-tech, helicopter blade arps hovering over epic FM bassline and churning percussive guts. A well-deserved melodic reveal at 4 minutes gives way to plenty of weightless beats to keep DJs busy on the loop button – blending perfection ensured. On the flip, the 12” mix strips out the melodies and turns up the percussive heat. The results are a sweltering dub strictly for the dancers, a meandering trip through the jungle, flanged helicopters drawing closer.
VA – Jujiro EP [RHR006]
Rough House Rosie dedicates the sixth release to its Japanese listeners with a four track compilation from four different Japanese producers. Legendary Takayuki Shiraishi (aka Planetoid) releases a track ‘Nightfall’ which was first out in 2002 on a CD ‘Slow Shoutin”. He is teamed up with Mitsuaki Komamura renowned for his unique sound on record label Weedis. Miruga (Ethereal Sound / Badance) delivers a strong deep track on B1, while Mahal has his debut with a catchy bass driven tune as a final track of the EP.
Jacques Bon – Two Hearts [SMALLVILLE039]
In addition to the odd collaboration with Chrissy Rau and Nicolas Villebrun, the wonderfully named Jacques Bon is a long term affiliate of Smallville Records, holding things down in Paris for the Hamburg operation. Having contributed a rather tasty lopsided jacker to the label’s Thirtyfive Ways compilation last year, afull EP for Smallville is long overdue and the four tracks on this Two Hearts 12″ will leave fans of the Hamburg operation wanting much more. Bon can do dreamy and sumptuous, as on opening track “Jasmine’s Dream,” or deep and contemplative (“Sunday Evening”) whilst the B Side demonstrates the Parisian is fully geared to produce tracks calibrated for mid set detonation. “The Sails” is as perfect an example of musically rich gliding deep house as you will find right now.
Roots Panorama – Mars [CHARACTER001]
The first record of Deetron’s new label finds him teaming up with Ripperton under their rarely seen Roots Panorama moniker.
Marcellus Pittman / John Cannon – 1044 Coplin (Give You Whatcha Lookin 4) / J.C.s Groove
A modern boogie 7” on Unirhythm!? Yep, you heard right! Marcellus Pittman graces the A-Side of the disc on ‘1044 Coplin’ – a nice slice of mid west funk sure to appeal to all the boogie heads worldwide. On the flip we have the Unirhythm debut from Detroit’s own John Cannon. John C is a veteran producer and MC, most recently featured on the J DIlla album ‘Rebirth Of Detroit.’ No suprise there – we definitely hear some Dilla on ‘J.C.’s Groove.’
Borrowed Identity – Feeling Blue EP [HOMETAPING019]
By all accounts Romanian producer Borrowed Identity is having a splendid 2014. Currently based in Berlin taking political refuge from his homeland, the producer has already racked up strong 12″ releases. This 12″ for the evergreen Hometaping is Killing Music label shows how diverse Borrowed Identity’s range can be, dipping into similar sample laden territory to MCDE with sublime results. It’s apparent from the off with “Feeling Blue” centred around a lovely chord refrain that hooks you as soon as it drops, whilst “Nation Under A Groove” nudges the tempo up a few notches before the mood eases back down with the pair of beatdown burners on the flip. Strong four track EP with some solid sample driven tracks. Effective and tasteful house music.
Funkineven feat Jay Daniel – Discipline / Abyss [APRON013]
The ever increasing understanding between Apron and Wild Oats and the many artists affiliated with both labels continues to bear fruit for those out there that like their house music raw and rugged. The idea alone of young Detroit talent Jay Daniel getting behind the buttons with suave Stevie Funkineven should set the pulses racing and both “Discipline” and “Abyss” will leave you craving more from this partnership. There’s an effortless glide to “Discipline” as Jay and Funk’ keep the drums to a minimal yet bugged out line of kicks, leaving it to those killer keys and thick set chords to hit you in the gut and the hips. On the flip, “Abyss” finds the duo opting for a more pared back, abstract production where rhythm is kept to a minimum as the space is filled with tweaked out motifs that sound like a paranoia filled John Carpenter.
Midnightopera – Five [RHYTHM009]
Not the usual Bio Rhythm release… as far as they have any usual releases at all. Recently the label accidentally came across this lost treasure by Midnightopera (Workshop) and signed in at the spot. Produced in 2007, ‘Five’ is an epic 12 minute journey straight into downtempo/deephouse walhalla, making your sunday morning seem to last forever. The 2010 rework is delivered by bad boy Roger 23, diving into even deeper territories and adding some psychedelic elements to make it safely through the other side and back. Sunrise over Riegelsberg.
Silent Servant – Jealous God x fabric Mix
Africans With Mainframes – Nubian Rainbows [RHYTHM012]
Some say history has come to an end… we say the future is about to start… Two brand new nu-jack sessions by Jamal Moss aka Hieroglyphic Being and Noleian Reusse.
Robert Crash – Salento Hurricane Of Fire [DIN006]
Kingpin of the Dog in the Night label, Robert Crash is back with his third ep for the label this year. More smoking hot beat tracks and club ammo for the workin’ disk jocks out there. Uniquely deranged yet rooted in the classics, you won’t wanna miss this.
R-Zone – R-Zone 13 [RZONE013]
For their next trick, the anonymous R-Zone crew turn out three darkly engaging cuts that once again look back to a ravey heyday for their inspiration, but at the same time conjure up some refreshing contemporary ideas that will no doubt have dancefloors in raptures. EP opener ‘Onefourone’ is an epic end of the night track with big drums, melancholic chords and a sombre sense of finality that makes you think the world could end anytime. ‘Gravity’ sounds like an invasion from space, with falling synth lines, buried deep drums and clattering percussion all making for a foreboding atmosphere. ‘Stolen Birds’ fills up the flip side with a groaning and darkwave synth line and cooing birdcalls. As big hi hats come in and glassy tinkles fill in the airwaves, it turns into a stormy affair that is both dancey and cerebral at the same time. As always with R-Zone, this is compelling, creative music that bristles and brims with all sorts of occult charm.
D – Untitled [RHPC002]
3 weirdo ones on the Cult of Properness… Proper’s Cult, the label launched by Amsterdam’s San Proper, present their second release, the debut of a jazz-fusion drummer who goes by the name of ”D.”, hailing from Katwijk (NL)… Three deep and mesmerizing house workouts veering into techno territories, with an acid glitch to them. Yes, they come with a lot of question marks and exclamation points…
