Dropping ahead of the release of Tim Deluxe’s new studio LP The Radicle, ‘Love Is’ is the next single taken from the album, presented here in its original form as well as an additional dub version. A jazz-fueled, bluesy masterpiece with a heart wrenching vocal , sublime live instrumentation and incredible production values.
There’s something decidedly mysterious and otherworldly about this fourth release on Giegling’s Forum sub-label. As usual, they’re not giving much away, and to make matters worse the artist at the controls – the previously unheard of Sa Pa – is a debutant. Happily, the music – a mix of crackly, fizzing, minimal-influenced experimental techno, ambient and weirder, dub-flecked explorations – speaks for itself. Fuubutsushi is an impressively atmospheric and off-kilter affair, with Sa Pa paying much attention to the tiniest of details (see the intricate sound collage that forms the rhythm track on the bleak “Tagularius”). If this is indeed Sa Pa’s first outing (and there’s a suspicon it’s an alter-ego, given the quality of the production), it’s rather impressive. A poet’s reminder of a specific season.
Parisian artist Nautil is a music student specialising in acoustics, signal processing, and informatics. His debut single, Canopée, utilises analog synths, sampling and personal recordings to emphasize the geometrics of nature and music. On the A-side the lead track, Canopée, is a cavernous, pulsing, low-frequency techno colossus destined to hypnotise dark warehouse spaces. On the reverse Galdae is a propulsive tecnoid tweaker while Mue is designed for head rolling after hours with mesmeric synth drones suspended over a brain melting sub-bass pulse.
The new Slow Life has landed and the Berlin collective is setting the bar high with this one. Four expertly produced, inventive & atmospheric cuts – two originals, two remixes – that will take you to the cosmos & back before you even realise you’ve been taken on a trip. S. Moreira and Refracted are on absolutely deadly form here.
Skewed soundscapes permeate fragments of gritty beats and swirling rhythms on this 12 minute epic from Swedish artist Dungeon Acid. Label boss Par Grindvik reaffirms his talent for both A&R and production, delivering 2 frenetically charged reinterpretations on the flip.
Steffi revisits her Power Of Anonymity album with three completely new versions of ”JBW25” by Further Reductions and Answer Code Request. Brooklyn-based duo Further Reductions left a big impression on Steffi with their 2014 Woodwork LP on Cititrax. Now Shawn O’Sullivan and Katie Rose turned ”JBW25” upside down and inside out. The original version’s hypnotic synth bleeps are still there, but rhythm-wise Further Reductions live up to their name: Their version is a stone-cold and arhythmic interpretation of ”JBW25” with additional vocals, pushed to the absolute fringes of dancefloor compatibility. Berghain resident Answer Code Request contributes two versions to this release: While his ”Vision” adds a tough drum beat, percussion and a stronger focus on the Ambient textures of the original, his ”Revision” is more break-heavy, melodic and dreamy while setting a darker tone and mood overall. With the original version and its Techno and Electro drive this 12” comes full circle a good fit for record bags travelling to various party settings and moods.
The DJ Trio and Live-Act (Jesse Scherwitz, Julius Richter and Magnus von Welck ) finished their third EP on Aroma Pitch Recordings. With this one the boys have reached a new level of production and maturity. Three tracks full of twists and turns making this a perfect kickstart for a timeless summer. Beautiful & moody deep techno the oldskool way.
After over a decade of music on pedigree labels like Spectral, Nation, M>O>S, and Creme Organization 2AM/FM offer their debut LP on Bopside. Based in Ann Arbor and raised in the Detroit area, D’Marc Cantu and Tadd Mullinix are charged by a lifetime of midwestern soundwaves and the reinforcement of contemporaneous area innovators like Carlos Souffront and Traxx. Again, they join forces but with this monumental excursion into the ether of their very own techno/house universe. Sounds herein are cast from debonair techno funk, rumbling house grooves, italo acid, galactic swing – offering a diverse array that’s perfect for the album experience.
‘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. Part 5 with a selection of old and new proto house inspired tracks. Including the killer Peaches and Prunes!
Mads Bjerregaard & Philip Jun Kamata are Supertonic and they deliver some killer deep house with razor sharp analogue synth sounds on “Banned From Jolene”. “Five By Five” is peak time business with its infectious melody and catchy groove. “Organ Rollin” gets deeper but still retains the screeching synths and thumping 808 rhythm. On the flip is “Ecila” and “Analog Satellite” a sexy, slow mo nu disco number that ticks all the right boxes.
Khotin (Normals Welcome resident) returns for his second release on our imprint. He joins up with Australia’s Dan White, whose release on Forbidden Planet found its way into our record bags this past year. Deep space acid vibe on this one.
NYC’s ever-reliable party institution Rong Music train their sights on the mainroom with this white label promo from Savage Hymn, the new collaboration between Chicago veteran Mystic Bill and NY stalwart Jake Reif. Pumelling out the speakers on an undulate 303 bassline and a stampede of hard hitting percussion, “Indecision” soon establishes itself as the finest acid house record since Paranoid London’s “Paris Dubs 1”. The combination of detached spoken vocals, eerie synth lines and touches of almost post punk attitude supply an extra layer of snarl which pushes this above the other acid tracks floating around today. On the flip, Blakkat and DJ Spun revive their Black Spun moniker to drive “Indecision” even deeper and darker into the post peak thunderstorm of blazing strobes.
Although a relative upstart on the scene, Junktion has been getting some serious heads nodding lately with releases on Sleazy Beats and Outplay, and the Hot & Bothered EP continues to define his dusty and organic sound. From the summery ease of the title track, to the fresh take on the oft-sampled ‘I’m Wishin’ to the discofied chugger ‘Fling Cleaning’ followed by the slow-burning ‘Visions of You,’ this EP is a beautiful listen from beginning to end. And the kids are gonna dig it too.
The Hipodrome Of Music 