Samantha Vacation appears with her first 12 inch release for L.I.E.S. This release is comprised of two full side tracks which explore a loose yet complex form of mutated beat driven music which again may or may not be directed at the dancefloor. Subtle hints of the bass music and the twisted remnants of Detroit techno are present in both tracks as they freely stutter and morph while the songs evolve.
One of John Daly’s finest works (Originally released in 2007) did get a little restyling and got a make over to a epic balearic neo disco house monster. Comes with Dub Version on the flip. Another stellar release on John’s own 1track label.
Ma Spaventi’s Revolver, Most Excellent Unlimited’s inaugural release, is something of a Swiss army knife for DJs planning to venture into the wilderness. There’s a melancholic, mid-tempo house number, “The Sick Tape Dealer,”that’s lit with a crystalline glow. There’s “Slowmo,” a loping openerthat suffuses an andante house groove in queasy Giallocore tones. “Revolver,” the record’s fastest cut, balances strapping snares andinsistent open hi-hats with dreamy chords; it sits on the fence between placid and acid, just the thing for tipping the night intofull gear. And the slow-motion tearjerker “La Valle Delle Lacrime”comes in two versions — one with a skeletal drum machine and a beatless edit that revels in the simplicity of his analog synths. Luxuriating in ringing fifths with just a hint of Theremin-likewarble, it’s an unusually sturdy example of ethereal ambient techno. On remix duties, the prolific Mark E delivers a deep, atmospheric, slow burner.
Berlin-based producer Palms Trax offers up the inaugural release for new imprint Lobster Theremin with three slices of Detroit and Chicago-inspired house. Palms Trax and label chief Jimmy Asquith first met at London club night Streets Of Beige, forming a partnership based on a shared affinity for vintage US sounds, analogue workouts, and rough-edged intersections of house and techno. What began as an experiment in pad-driven Detroit workouts soon became Palms Trax’ calling card, the young producer building valve-heated, dust-treated slabs of house in his home studio, shot through with melodic synths and smooth, undulating drum patterns. Cheeky, groove-heavy “Late Jam”, referencing the randier sides of Miami boogie and glitter funk, “Equation”, an original Detroit cut, and “Houses In Motion”, a percussive, balearic-tinged jam, comprise the EP’s three original tracks. Willie Burns turns in a spacey remix of the EP’s opener that hits like an early 80’s drum jam, flipping between off-kilter, warped synths and stripped-down, hammering Chicago house.
On Uncanny Valley’s catalogue number 18 we finally welcome back Credit 00 who is a man in charge of a decent collection of those dusty machines we all love. After the ice cold “The Living Room Life EP” from 2012, his brand new record “Ice Cream” is easy to fall in love with. Packed with tunes to suit various moods in life, it will be a faithful companion in dark basements or lonesome hours. “Ice Cream” starts deliciously with its sleazy sample choice. With the distinctive drum work it builds up to a true Chicago-inspired dance floor banger. “Round n Round” hits hard with a harsh kick and cowbell action before it shows off slightly melancholic lead synths and a subtle but effective bass line and puts the emphasis on the fact that things go round and round. Life’s a dizzy affair. “East Of Nowhere” with THAT bass line-sound is Credit 00 to the core. And with spooky synths he puts you to an east of nowhere-place where you will lose yourself in manic trance-like dancing. The record ends with “Red Wine”, a slightly different electronic love song sung by Credit 00.
This super rare promo was compiled and re-edited by Chicago legend Jordan Fields, featuring rough and (club) ready dancefloor tracks from Hakim Murphy, G Marcell, Blackadiscomental Bobby Starrr. The rough trax on offer run the full Chicagan gamut, taking in Salsoul sampling, filtered house and italo synths to make a dancefloor come alight. This colored vinyl promo has never been available for sale (the black vinyl promo was out in 2008).
Heinrich Mueller + DJ Stingray…CD version + bonus 3 tracks from the EP WeMe313.6
Julio Bashmore’s Broadwalk Records has quickly gained a reputation for releasing some of the highest quality electronic music around. Now Broadwalk is preparing for it’s sixth release: Funkineven’s ‘Species EP’.
Greek producer and co-owner of Giallo Disco Records presents his first solo EP for the label, 5 tracks of his unique VHS grained, voodoo possessed electronic disco alongside an exclusive remix from Not Not Funs Xander Harris.
Dark Entries release the debut vinyl EP from Bézier entitled “Ensconced.” Bézier is the moniker of all-live-analog electronic wizard Robert Yang from San Francisco. Enchanted by the Cybernetic Broadcasting System (CBS), Robert started DJing as Robot Hustle, joining the Honey Soundsystem collective in 2007. Robert writes hooks, patterns and melodies in an automatic, stream of consciousness fashion. Memory and nostalgia play a big part in constructing his music. “Ensconced” is the follow up to Bezier’s debut cassette, released in 2012 on Break-Up records. The tile relates to themes of comfort and safety as well as complacency and entrapment. Influences range from the futuristic landscape of Syd Mead to the melodic energy of Patrick Cowley and the subdued, hidden motifs of My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless.” Bézier blends elements of Hi-NRG and dark dance to drive the mysterious underwater instrumentals of “Ensconced.” Bezier’s studio set up includes a variety of vintage Roland and Korg synthesizers as well as the Italo Disco favorite LinnDrum. These six tracks were written, produced and mixed by Bézier at his home studio in San Francisco between 2009 and 2013.
Dark Entries re-issues the debut cassette by British duo Nagamatzu for the first time ever on vinyl. Expanded with five bonus tracks, “Shatter Days” is a collection of nine songs recorded between 1983 and 1988. Featuring Andrew Lagowski (SETI, Legion, Terror Against Terror) on synths, guitar, and programming and Stephen Jarvis (Pure Motorised Instinct, Terraform) on synths and bass with Andrew Fleck (synths, occasional vocals). Nagamatzu self-released their debut cassette “Shatter Days” in 1983 after messing around with old tape machines, drum boxes and effects. All the songs were recorded onto a TEAC reel to reel in the dining room at Andrew’s parents’ house. Some of the backing rhythms and sequencers were recorded first and then the band played along live during overdubs. These instrumentals combine stuttering bass, guitar bursts and funeral keyboards draped over a dragging drum machine beat, calling to mind Clock DVA, early New Order or Cocteau Twins. Their sound is full of complex rhythm patterns and dark electronics.
Shadowlust is the project from Marquis Cooper aka Svengalisghost and Lili Schulder from the forthcoming LP “Trust In Pain”. Vamped-up appreciated hypnotic synth and luring sexy vocals courtesy of Schulder.
