Mono Junk vs Mesak – Deep In My Mind [DUM034]
Mono Junk’s DUM Records has been dictating trends in the world of minimalistic techno since the 1990s, and its 34th release is as special as any. This one comes from label boss Kimmo Rapatti aka Mono Junk vs Mesak, who is better known as fellow Finn, Tatu Metsätähti, aka one half of Mr Velcto Fastener. Together the pair serve up three mixes of their jam and an additional track
VA – Few Tricks For Nervous Dealbreakers EP [CY004]
Contort Yourself with 4 strong outings for its fourth EP ! To begin with we have the grimacing visage of Volition Immanent, an intense live act made up of Parrish Smith and Mark Van de Maat (Knekelhuis). Nastiness is taken up a notch as noise ne’er-do-wells Zombies Under Stress take over. Static is bent and doubled across thick chords and collapsed clap in the 1986 ”Maan Zal Zijn” before the raw and raging battery of ”In Onze Tijd.” L.I.E.S. regular Svengalisghost grapples with ”Maan Zal Zijn, channelling the original’s rage into a mechanical monster. The 12” is bookended with bite as Mark Forshaw (Tabernacle/Berceuse Heroique) closes with the tortured and torrential thump of ”Submission.”
Space Knight – Space Alert / Starline [DP015]
Cosmin TRG – Invite’s Choice Podcast 348
VA – Strange Science EP [ICR003]
Invite’s Choice Records starts 2016 with a bang and releases another 4-track EP with 4 different tracks by 4 great artists. Jeroen Search has the honour of opening the EP with a four to the floor track which gets you with it’s sporadic melodramatic sting. Perfect for switching between the more deeper and more straightforward parts of your set. Adam Craft continues with a loop-track which is built around it’s powerful and deep bass. Thessaloniki based Endlec is responsible for the first track of the B-side and comes up with a track dominated by it’s percussive yet simple drive and a synthy vibe which, together with it’s short length, draws you in and sends you off in another direction quite soon. TNTUS closes the EP with a track that fits Invite’s style quite well; a drumcomputer-driven track complimented with a chaotic, repetitive synth: madness guaranteed!
Peter van Hoesen – Stealth 3/3 [T2XS303]
The last instalment of the ‘Stealth’ vinyls focuses on the productions of the Time To Express founder. Reflecting the themes of the series, Van Hoesen offers his own vision of hypnotic techno on ‘Shadows & Concern’, a powerful and expansive piece. The series is completed in appropriate fashion with ‘Unicorn’, an emotive track that displays Van Hoesen’s more melodic side.
Surgeon – Search Deep Inside Yourself [BP044]
Surgeon appears with the superb new release on Blueprint ‘Search Deep Inside Yourself’. This 4-tracker features a brand new full colour label sleeve to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this classic techno label.
VA – Construct Re-Form Free Tracks [FREE DOWNLOAD]
Free tracks from Birth Of Frequency, Zadig and Voiski on the Construct Re-Form label.
Josh Brent – Vintage Vinyl 5 [SCHATVV05]
Marcellus Pittman – Sneak Attack / Random Acts of Insanity [UNI1003]
Amid whispers of a new album from Unirhythm boss and Three Chairs stalwart Marcellus Pittman, two tracks from his excellent debut LP Pieces finally get committed to wax. It’s a shame Pieces never got a vinyl release, but the chance to grip “Sneak Attack” and “Random Acts Of Insanity” on 12″ should not be passed up. This 12″ was actually released in ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ white label format in 2014, but finally gets a proper issue! For those that don’t have the LP, “Sneak Attack” is a curious concoction, with Syclops style electronics occasionally flowering over deep, dusty, intricately programmed rhythms. “Random Acts Of Insanity” feels a little bolder in approach, though its’ rich chords and odd, off-kilter rhythm track are contrasted with some notably bonkers electronic touches.
Lanoche – Inmensamente [SOUN001]
‘Inmensamente’ (Immensely) is the first vinyl release by Lanoche and the first reference on So Unreal, a new vinyl-only label based in Madrid. This three-track EP opens with two deep house tracks (‘Te quiero’ and ‘Extasis’) on the A Side and closes with the fourteen-minute-long ‘Inmensamente’ on its B Side, an atmospheric lo-fi house composition which the EP takes its name from.
Trinidadian Deep – EP IV [NERO030T]
Another journey to the deepest shades of house music with the fourth Neroli ep from Trinidadian Deep. If you followed his previous successful outputs on Neroli you know what to expect: organic, deep, spiritual beats and melodies.
Tape_Hiss – Love Is A Dog From Hell [LVNO05]
Love Notes from Brooklyn is proud to present a brand new and promising young American artist in the form of tape_hiss. These three moody and emotive tracks fit in perfectly with the label sound Love Notes has been developing over their last few release. The Panic in Needle Park, the clear standout track, begins the EP with gloomy synth washes at a chugging, pitched down speed. That track is then ably reworked by fellow Brooklynite, Willie Burns, of LIES and WT Records, who breaks the beat up for a stunted and unique reinterpretation. On the flip, Love is a Dog From Hell brings a little acid to the proceedings, and Traces to Nowhere closes it out on consitantly dark and moody note.
Eddie Hazel – Game, Dames And Guitar Thangs [BEWITH011LP]
Among guitar aficionados, they don’t come much heavier than acid-drenched enigma Eddie Hazel. A founding father of Funkadelic and responsible for the blazing ”Maggot Brain” solo, he released just one album. A concentrated dose of guitar-driven psychedelic soul and loping funk-rock, Game, Dames And Guitar Thangs(1977) was co-produced by George Clinton and features the full Mothership crew. Despite impeccable credentials, the album sank and dropped out of print for years, becoming a sought-after collector’s item for funkateers ever since. Mercifully addressing the dubious legitimacy and quality of previous reissues, Be With Records present a worthy and welcome 180 gram edition, limited to 500 copies. Eddie Hazel was a pioneering guitar genius, but his troubled lifestyle led to a dearth of recorded material that demonstrated his strengths. It’s a wonderful thing, then, that this lost classic is available on vinyl again. Possibly the finest slice of P-Funk you’ve never heard, it’s a record that will make your brain dance and one every funk fan needs.
Thesda – Spaced Out [LER1004]
The Left Ear label hit that sweet spot once more, diving into the archive and coming back for air brandishing a veritable slab of private press jazz funk history. Originally pressed in 1979 in a run of 100 copies, Thesda was the brainchild of Thomas Crawford and Eugene C. Hagburg, backed ably by a handful of like-minded musicians, and existed for brief moment of sublime expression, captured in its entirety on this gorgeous LP. “Spaced Out” takes us on a cosmic journey through jazz funk, soul and disco into that far out dimension of groovesome psychedelia inhabited by Mandre and Dexter Wansel. Fully licensed and reissued for the very first time, this Left Ear pressing is your best chance to own this forgotten piece of jazz-funk history without having to remortgage the house.
Moodymann – DJ Kicks [K7327]
Following a year that saw the 50th entry in the long-running series released to wide acclaim, DJ-Kicks returns in 2016 another landmark edition. Iconic Detroit DJ and producer Moodymann is at the helm for his first ever multi-artist DJ mix compilation. Born Kenny Dixon Jr., Moodymann is a one-of-a-kind electronic music icon, hailing from, and wholly synonymous with the Motor City. He is an outspoken, impossibly charismatic artist who has been putting a distinctive and soulful stamp on house and techno since the early 90s. Melting together jazz, funk, soul, blues and rock in captivating ways, he is responsible for some of electronic music’s most definitive tracks, EPs and LPs on labels like Planet E, Peacefrog and his own KDJ and Mahogani Music imprints. As able to serve up the sweetest and most sensual sounds as he is the darkest and most depraved grooves, his own unique voice and stream of conscious musings infuse expertly sought-out samples for music that is decisively alive and authentic.
Scott Cunningham Band – Morning Madness [BH99202]
This is the second 45RPM single release from Praise Poems 3, and what a monster it is. Although both songs are not necessarily new discoveries in the soul and jazz collectors world, it is the first official re-release of these two 1975 recordings. Hopefully the record buyers appreciate the work which was necessary to accomplish this mission of doing a legitimate re-issue. Mr. Cunningham and his music definitely deserves it.
VA – The Very Polish Cut-Outs Volume 5 [TVPC008]
All good things come to an end, and The Very Polish Cut-Outs is no different. The fifth sampler will be the last in the much loved & long running series. For the farewell record, label boss Zambon has selected five unique reworks from top producers from Poland and beyond.
