Knotweed Records with the release number 10. The Unison E.P. start with a pure techno banger, Facial Features: the heavy kick drum and synth pattern hit you where it hurts. Myk then goes in more minimal territory with Omage and See, both tracks making use of nice background repetitive voices, heavy basslines and dubby synths that remind you of late nights in Berlin. The E.P. ends up with with Synda, a peak time atmospheric dub experience that will not leave you indifferent.
MOODs second release sees Nicole stay true to her word and delivers a deep and hypnotic EP from relative-newcomers American Billy Johnston and Italian Gennaro Mastrantonio. On Rainy Billy and Gennaro combine with devastating effect to create a powerful and atmospheric techno cut. Beginning with pounding bass and crisp percussion the track progresses with a brooding vibe until a warm soaring synth appears, temporarily breaking through the darkness, resulting in an expertly-programmed track that is simultaneously dark yet uplifting and hypnotic. On the flip side Self Inflicted is a similarly striking and captivating track while also being the darker of the two tracks on offer. Its weighty foundation of tight drums and submarine-deep bass serve to create an air of anticipation and menace. From this foundation the duo allow the track to build and build, bringing the bass in and out skillfully creating tension while also balancing the mood against yet another glistening synth.
After last year’s dystopic debut, ”Super Strength EP”, rising Parisian Cédric Bros AKA Marcelus returns to Tresor with something a little more deep and shiny in ”Emerald”. Once again Marcelus conjures up the spirits of Detroit and Berlin techno, moulding them here into dreamy modern house incantations, an inspired blurring of the lines the well-versed Frenchman has been rehearsing over the last decade.
The record that keeps on keeping on! To begin with it was only the FCL guys themselves and a few trusted friends who had a copy of this ferociously uplifting vocal record, but We Play House Recordings eventually released vinyl copies of the record late last year. Now signed to Defected and played, heard, sung and screamed everywhere from Berlin to Miami, this remix package from 2 of the most established names in House Music and one of the hottest guarantees that it’s surely set to conquer the Mediterranean over the Summer months.
A Fistful Of Wax is an extension for some very special projects of our beloved deep house Skylax Records sub – label Wax Classic. For this 2nd release, we give you the opportunity to grab 4 fantastic trax done by some of the best Deep House producers at the moment
Jonno & Tommo consummate their production partnership with a return to Ornate to delve further into the hypnotic, soulful end of the house spectrum. “Close The Door” stretches across the A-side of their new release, the tough demeanour of the drum-heavy intro giving way to a serene pad arrangement, setting the tone for a starlit workout bolstered by an infectious hook of dusty vocal and subtle sonic decoration that accentuates the groove. “Small Stone” represents a more reflective mood on the flip, steadily feeding in reams of rhythm and melody before fully blossoming into an equally seductive, bumping jam laced with a perfectly pitched acid line that nestles into the cosy confines of the track.Secret weapon of the capital’s underground house fraternity, Miles Sagnia steps up with a simmering remix of “Small Stone” that keeps the tension high and the textures roaming through a decidedly futuristic soundscape, while still retaining the ethereal tone of the original.
Jee Day is the production alias of NYC scene fixture Dennis ‘DJ’ McNanyl. It makes perfect sense for McNany to further extend his Jee Day discography with this rather sunny outing on Tim Sweeney’s flourishing Beats In Space label which comes packing a remix from Sweeney favourite Lauer. McNany is at his best when marrying thumping, drum heavy arrangements with almost poppy vocal turns and “Sum Of Love” is a masterclass in this approach. Lauer’s remix adds just a touch more bottom end to McNany’s production and treats the vocal to gloriously thick swathes of delay.
Sean Johnston’s Hardway Bros aligns on the Throne Of Blood label with some rare original produce in the shape of A/B Musique, a killer 12″ brandishing some assistance from fellow Axis members Scott Fraser and Timothy J Fairplay. Eschewing the Balearic nature of previous Hardway Bros material, the title track is geared as homage to Belgian New Beat and hits the spot as soon as those hollow drums kick into gear. The aforementioned Mr Fairplay provides some punk funk swagger via intermittent guitar riffage and the vibe throughout is geared towards interplanetary love parties. On the flip, “Shorty” feels a bit darker, with tough multi layered drum breaks and fuzzy edged arpeggiated bass lines gradually teasing out a seemingly never ending fluctuating precession of delay laden acid lines and swirling hypnotic vocal smudges. Scott Fraser turns in a murky basement remix of “Shorty” which is tinged with a machine made melancholia that tastes decidedly Detroitian.
The 17th installment from Aesthetic Audio brings together Italian bred producer Joe Drive and Detroit’s own Keith Worthy for a two-man journey to fathom the depths of The Sound Oasis. On this journey, the soundtrack articulates Joe Drive’s lush and extremely deep textures, and Worthy compliments the project by paying tribute Joe Drive’s original with a stripped down, raw and bumpy remix of Amnios.
Future Times is back with a release by Huerco S. Three shlazed house beasts, including the crushing anthem “Apheleia’s Theme,” which has been a fixture in dope DJ sets for months.
Chicago producers Hakim Murphy & Ike Velez are bringing the heat with their contemporary take on raw classic Chicago house sounds. Here they give us “Body Flicker”, “Fan Nation”, & “Outer Path”.
Rising out of the unknown, Detroit producer Elizabeth Merrick-Jefferson makes a worthy debut on the Argot label. “Go Home” is a flurry jacking drums and gnarling synths that sound like Kraftwerk on overdrive, while “John Kronk” – cut from the same cloth as the aforementioned – is less hectic, with a melodious synth line and lighter percussive elements nipping softly in the background. “Astronomical Twilight” sees Merrick-Jefferson round out her debut EP with animated electro beats, subtle phasing effects and chiming Drexciya-like arpeggios that sound like they were played at high terrestrial altitude in a hypobaric chamber.
After emerging from years of seclusion below the Chicago underground last year, Marquis Cooper aka Svengalisghost, returns with all new material recorded this winter somewhere between the woods of North Carolina and the streets of NYC. An advocate in creating what he calls the “Anti-Beat”, Cooper takes what he’s learned from the traditional machine experimentation of the early pioneers, reconstructs and retransmits the sounds which lie somewhere in the realm of unhinged synth punk or industrial forward-thinking beat electronics. These tracks are truly the essence of house, and a vicious circle it is.
Split release with Steve Summers and Nick Anthony Simoncino. From NYC to Perugia, via Thug Records comes ‘Brothers From Other Mothers’. Jason Letkiewicz aka Steve Summers kicks things off and delivers 2 signature cuts of sleazy late night coercion with ‘Casual Encounters’ & ‘The Trace’. The flip crosses the Atlantic and lands in a rural stronghold for the underground, Perugia Italy. Simoncino relating 2 equally provocative dark room work outs with ‘Pleasure Zone’ and ‘Battle Of The Pacific’.
DJ Jus-Ed has again crossed the lines of being stereotyped or dubbed as a house music producer. He has once again taken his world travel experience and put it to music. He’s addressed all the needs for a big room dance floor in this EP. A perfect blend of House and Techno. This release is exclusively on underground quality website.
Next release from Frole Records is from the neapolitan talent Livio Improta. Livio presents us two tracks: “Alba” with its deep melodies and “Say What” that stands out for the analogic sounds that remind the first Chicago House tracks. Also remixed by berliners Snuff Crew with their unmistakable touch.
Upcoming deepness from the inimitable Chicago Skyway (Sean Hernandez) with Altered Moods Recordings executive director Malcolm Moore in on the remix for the title track.
An esteemed selector, producer and Panorama Bar resident DJ, Steffi presents the fifth mix CD in the series. Reflecting all the angles of her classically inspired, raw and profound sound, we are treated to a rather grand lesson in House music. To accompany the CD release this 12” features 3 new and exclusive tracks selected for the mix, from New York’s Fred P (a.k.a Black Jazz Consortium), Amsterdam’s Juju & Jordash, and Detroits’ Big Strick. Each track contributes its own special element to the equation, helping define the sound of Steffi’s Panorama Bar DJ sets.
