Paul Rose make his return to the rarely used SCB alias. “Mace” is befitting of its title, all claustrophobic 4/4 filled with jittering percussive touches and menacing acid. The sweeping pads provide the requisite rhythmic undulations on this functional basement bumper. The more substantial rhythms of “Overlay” impress; hollow kicks and rusted stabs laying down the core thrust, whilst Rose moulds layers of growling white noise.
A solo return EP from Sandwell District mainstay Silent Servant. The EP includes two tracks, that sticks to Juan’s trademark sheering sound-scapes and clattering lo-fi drums.
Third part of Semantica’s fifth anniversary series. 4 moody techno cuts that are just as good out loud in the club, as at home over your headphones.
Pomelo presents Alex Cortex’ third album. ‘Kihon’ is a very personal effort, as suggested by the self-portrait on the cover. The carefully elaborated design of this gatefold double LP speaks as a whole and in true minimalist fashion about the passing of time, without ever declaring nostalgia to be a means for itself. In 11 nameless tracks, ‘Kihon’ takes us on a journey through organic worlds of sound that invites us to flow with the music and connect with the feelings contained in it. Concentrating on the bare essentials, the music begins to speak, turning the album into a harmonic whole. ‘Kihon’ therefore is also a return to listening, away from a utilitarian perception of music as a background sound.
Trelik presents OCH, with a compulsive passion for the dying art of crate-digging combined with a love for modern synthesis techniques he manages to put together a 12″ that could easily be described as psychedelic Chicago. ‘Whalesong’ is a pulsating floor work-out which references the US greats whilst building an emotive sub-aqua soundscape. ‘Blind is The Wind’ follows with a sneaky chord driven spoken interlude which creates an air of tension before climaxing into ‘Last Chance Saloon’. This is deep yet driving showcasing haunting vocals with lush chords alongside the original principles of house music and plenty of bass.
2nd Construct Re-Form Release with two tracks in the mechanical grooves and sounds for a techno honed sharp and refined. Finally, an energetic and powerful remix signed by the label owner, Zadig.
Knotweed Records is a new label launched by Belgian DJ and producer Philippe Petit. As Philippe is composing music mainly when the weather grounds him at home, the dark atmosphere of the steep-sided mountain environment can be felt in all tracks of this release. The sound is techno at its best, Detroit influenced, hypnotic, dubby, but always with a funk element incorporated in the tracks.
Lee Holman delivers the second Kawl release, featuring some stripped back techno. Firing percussion and insistent, rolling drums provide the basis for a searing acid line and eerie strings lead it to a dramatic climax. On remix duties we hind Elliott Dodge and Russ Gabriel.
ItaloJohnson releases its fourth release. On the long recorded side, you’ll find a house track that can be hardly surpassed in any type in its directness. An unfussy arrangement, a straight oppressive subject and a low flying breakdown compose the A-stamped side. The concrete in-your-face-drumming, piano lessons and stabbing strings combined with the ItaloJohnson charm becomes the (double A) AA-side. Finally, the AA-2 track emotionally rounds up the release with ItaloJohnson’s trademark-sound in which all the brothers and sisters are invited to explore.
New collaborative project from Belgian duo FCL, San Soda and Red D, joining the omnipresent Danilo of Motor City Drum Ensemble for some seriously raw, stripped back and undiluted house music.
Christopher Rau teamings up with Tilman Tausendfreund for the new release on Hypercolour. The pair turns in one effort each, plus two collaborative tracks on their Pea Gravel EP.
Four tracks from Jon McMillion’s wonderful eponymous LP get the remix treatment here on Seattle imprint Nuearth Kitchen. San Proper drops remixes of “Saw You Looking” and “Solette Simms”, with the fat chords and claps of the latter proving to be the highlight, although both efforts are worthy of many, many repeat listens. Elsewhere Ukrainian producer Vakula pops up to turn “Climbing Out” into a glacially paced jam replete with cosy pads and Motor City atmospherics. Amsterdam based duo Juju & Jordash turn in a moody analogue refix of “Love Of Parking” to round off an essential 12″.
The third release on Sound Black Recordings, featuring some deep sounds from Lady Blacktronika. The EP includes also a Fred P remix!
