The Manhattan Project band was founded by Rikk Maggese and Andrea Majocchi in the ’80s. They recorded two “pop-dance” tracks, “That’s Impossible” and “Guinnesmen”, which are a clear reference to the daily life in the 80’s. The record remained anonymous for a long time, yet it has been rediscovered by all lovers of the “Italo-disco” across Europe. Today, Vielspass records re-release a limited edition of the Manhattan Project with two new remixes by Flemming Dalum and Ali Renault.
For the fourth release the Salamanca label offers a more possessive synthesized disco sound. Three unknown classics made suitable for dance floors from Mothball don Hysteric, Mike Burns and Afrobot.
‘This Is How It Started’ focuses heavily on the early days of the Chicago sound, especially in the formative years at Ron Hardy’s Music Box. Vinyl Sampler 4 of a comprehensive journey in the essence of Chicago House Music is set too feature Mach, Robert Owens, Clandestino & Eli Escobar.
The fine folks at Moton, that’ll be Diesel and Jarvis, with a 7’s of edit delights… Krypto is deeper than deep with an uptempo space disco number alive with expansive synth lines, funky clavs and intergalactic fx. Flipping it over Exotiq drops down a few gears for an Eastern influenced synth trip in the true wonky cosmic style – all dub fx, off kilter melodies and chanted vocals.
Active on late 70s / early 80s Teknospray were formed by Andrea Costa, Mauro Tavella (who later formed Monuments), Andrea Lesmo, Alberto Ramella (who later formed Carmody) and Lucio Lesmo. They recorded few demos and an album which they never released until today”God In Land”is now reissued on Disordine’s sub label Der Klang for the 1st time. The ten tracks mix influences of Devo with dark synth electro and they sound still fresh and amazing.
Coming from a cultural landscape that is still yet to fully form can instil in a person an unusually strong force of will. Autarkic is the latest representation of Tel Aviv’s cold wave scene. The leftfield movement through an Eastern lens. Holding up a mirror to the current state of his world, Autarkic (assisted by Red Axes) has provided 4 tracks which manage to be thought provoking, compelling, and even anthemic, in equal measure.
Disco and funk injected house release that will see new light through the nice Fasaan imprint. Released with the spiritual and physical approval of Dusseldorf – Malmo Love Association (DMLA).
Leipzig’s Perm delivers a fine quality Techno EP on shtum with a nice versatile selection ranging from harder and jacking to deep and atmospheric. Deep Acid driven Techno tracks that will stand out in big dark basements.
Fashions and trends may come and go, but Roger Semstroth aka Sleeparchive’s adherence to hypnotic underground techno remains a constant. The intense flurry of bleeps, blips and grimy pulses of “Senza Titolo 1” flow through the speakers. It’s followed by the second “Titolo”, where Semsroth brings up the tempo and adds in some hammering drums. The third instalment marks a divergence of sorts with its blasts of noise and visceral rhythm bearing echoes of Rob Hood, but it’s only a temporary divergence and the fourth track is locked-on techno purism at its finest.
Killer Gene Hunt double pack from 1995, with 9 killer tracks spread across 2 discs. Heavy duty jackers. Released in conjunction with Trax and MAAD records.
The mysterious Art Crime is back with a new EP on Creme Organisation. It is a four track affair that continues to showcase the producer’s knack for ravey, texturally rich house and techno sounds with a rather haunting edge. ‘Anxiety is Always Here’ is a high tempo stomper with spooky pads and jangling, energetic melodies that reverberate in a dark night sky. ‘The Owner’ is rooted on firm kicks and has dark, lo fi atmospheres percolating all around as paranoid stabs and gothic keys rain down from above. ‘Renessense’ is then a rather more stripped back and groovy, deeper cut with slithering and icy hi hat patterns and sombre bass notes. Still, it retains a trance inducing sense of freakiness before closer ‘Intention’ close out the EP in lithe, soulful and hi tek techno fashion.
For the latest outing on his prolific Underground Quality label, deep house veteran Jus Ed is joined by veteran UK techno maestro Mr G. Each producer delivers two tracks in their trademark styles. Unsurprisingly Mr G’s tracks are tough, stripped-back, atmospheric and heavy, with the hypnotic spookiness of “Freakshow” just edging out the bumpin’ beats, weighty bass and minor key chords of “Billares Londres The Rum”. In contrast, there’s an inherent tunefulness about Jus Ed’s two analogue deep house jams. Choose between the subtle steel drum melodies, sinewy synth-strings and Balearic house grooves of “GoTee Stroke”, and the ultra-deep dub house flex of “Heaven Sent”.
Chicago institution Smart Bar launched a new record label with curators The Black Madonna and Argot/Tasteful Nudes boss Steve Mizek, naming it Northside ’82 after the neighborhood and year the club was founded in. The inaugural release comes from Resident Smart Bar DJ Ike Release who sources inspiration from early Midwestern house music for his Dance Equations EP.
Super not-secret summer business from the Lobster family. Four luscious, beach-coasting, jet-skiing tracks inspired by the soul of Detroit via Manchester producer Hidden Spheres. Vocal tracks that undulate with ‘mmm’s and ‘uuuh’s for the real deal summer feel. Sweeping Rhode lines, organic percussion to make the thumbs raw and those deep, woofing basses that just keep on giving. Hidden Spheres going for the jugular.
L.B. Produce return for their third release. Ron Obvious takes the helm this time round and delivers four sweltering, club ready house tracks. Deep, pounding bass pulled straight from the D, transient machine percussion, emotive pad work and some choice vocal snippets.
Danny Moore aka Pvre Matrix is from a generation of young techno producers out of Brooklyn who come at the music without preconcieved notions or boundaries in their approach to production and playing live. Impeccabily produced without losing its sense of urgency or brutality and clocking in at breakneck speed, Pvre Matrix is out for blood, and his three track debuts prove as such.
Scenery Records presents the first release on a new sub label “Scenery White”, featuring 2 tracks a piece from ASOK & Neville Watson.
Emotional Rescue returns to the post war music of West Germany and the work of Dominik Von Senger and his cohorts based around the Dunkelziffer project. This special “Sampler” EP of recordings was produced as their part in Cologne’s Stollwerck art complex, that acted as a home and inspiration to their musical experiments. Based within the disused industrial warehouses spaces of Stollwerck, a mix of post-hippies, punks and anarchists created a community within that fed off each other’s artistic endeavours.
The Hipodrome Of Music 