Bnjmn & Best Available Technology – De/Re-Constructions [ADLP004]

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Astro:Dynamics start off 2015 with a collaborative LP from Berlin-based Ben Thomas aka BNJMN and Portland, Oregon-dwelling Kevin Palmer aka Best Available Technology. This collaborative album is a document of a musical dialogue between the two artists that has been ongoing for a number of years. The passing back and forth of ideas and snippets in the pursuit of feedback gradually grew into a body of work that eloquently moulds each artist’s sonic palettes and approaches – harking back to Thomas’ previous cross-atlantic collaborative work with Brainfeeder’s Teebs under his earlier Jackhigh handle.

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Bnjmn & Best Available Technology – De/Re-Constructions [ADLP004]

VA – Nature’s Terrified [STHLMLTD034]

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Proper selection again including The Persuader, A&S, Stefan Vincent and Par Grindvik. A side gives three ambient pieces while the flip side comes with some straight up techno tracks.

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VA – Nature’s Terrified [STHLMLTD034]

VA – Supafunkanova Vol.2 [ZEDDLP034]

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Z Records returns with another humdinger of a compilation to start 2015. Supafunkanova Volume 2 has been selected by Joey Negro and Sean P. The dynamic duo continue to dig deep, compiling high quality albums filled with lesser known disco and boogie releases. Supafunkanova focuses on the funkier end of the 70s & 80s, showcasing some of the bumpier grooves recorded in the disco era when even James Brown had to take notice of the Saturday Night Fever inspired disco explosion. The duo have been working on Volume Two for some time now as the first instalment was released way back in 2007. It takes a while to put these albums together, tracking down the owners of these musical gems, finding the right image for the sleeve and so forth but it’s finally come together.

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VA – Supafunkanova Vol.2 [ZEDDLP034]

Johnny Hammond – Gears [M9062]

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Top quality remastered reissue of one of the holy grails of the Jazz Funk scene, the incredible Gears LP by organ player Johnny Hammond. Originally released in 1975, this masterpiece is considered to be possibly the finest moment from legendary production and arrangement team the Mizell Brothers and its easy to see why as this wonderful LP just oozes timeless perfection with every track. Boundary breakers at the time, they all manage to still sound as fresh as ever. Standouts include the awesome Loft classic Los Conquistadores Chocolates, a psychedelic sweaty floor-filling dancer which hit big at Ron Hardys Chicago Music Box as well as in NYC; Shifting Gears a seriously funky breaks and block party anthem with all the right ingredients which was heavily sampled in hip hop during the 80s and 90s; plus Fantasy a big DJ Rahaan favourite and the sublime jazz funk groove of Tell Me What To Do.

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Johnny Hammond – Gears [M9062]

Little Starsky – Gangster Rock [GF11000]

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Limited reissue of an amazing old school early 80s hip-hop 12” from the prolific Peter Brown stable. On this super-rare Golden Flamingo 12”, Little Starsky delivers a great jump-up party classic with heavy bumping bass and superb old-school rapping bringing the good-time party vibe every time. On side B, you get the instrumental version from Browns in-house Land Of Hits Orchestra which provided the backing for many of his releases

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Little Starsky – Gangster Rock [GF11000]

VC-118A – Propulse [TABR030]

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The merciless Tabernacle imprint returns with another new artist and another collection of fine, thrilling house-techno hybrids in the label’s trademark style. In all honesty, VC-118A is actually Holland’s Samuel Van Dijk, an artist whose been quietly releasing music under a number of different aliases including Mohlao and Multicast Dynamics. This latest project is a little grittier and more lo-fi than compared to his other ones, where tracks like “Propulse” and “Central Zone” possess a glitchy, minimal tone in a slow-tempo electro coating. On the flipside, “Virile Frame” is a hypnotic and a whole load housier, while Lost Trax remixes “Propulse” into a raging, pseudo-acid monster.

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VC-118A – Propulse [TABR030]

Plant43 – Return To The Sentient City [SEMANTICA069]

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PLANT43 - Return To The Sentient City

Third and final chapter for the Sentient City serie by Plant43 aka Bleep43 crew member Emile Facey on Semantica Records. Continuing the theme of his previous two releases, the four strong suite of intense electro revolves around Facey’s sonic travels through the imaginary Sentient City. If you have indulged in previous Plant43 output you will know the London artist possesses a masterful range and it’s displayed wonderfully here. Opener “Chain Of Memories” combines ripples of richness with the instantly gratifying snap of 808 programming, whilst “Ascendant Machines” is a wonderful example of his ear for melody. B side opener “Ubicomp Malfunction” veers into alien territory whilst “Amphibious Architechture” offers a contemplative finale.

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Plant43 – Return To The Sentient City [SEMANTICA069]

MNLTH – Time EP [WEME029]

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MNLTH, aka Dave Monolith, returns to WeMe Records with his second EP. ‘Time’ offers 5 tracks and it was written between 2009 to 2011. It’s tracks range from the electrocuting feel-good acid anthem that is ‘Time’, the square bass plucking electro bouncer ‘ headlight, rushing melodies and pads from ‘My Rush chords’ and ‘Harrier 2’, ending with the cheeky happy-go-lucky 808 track, ‘Spwint’.

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MNLTH – Time EP [WEME029]

Boo Williams – Freaky Teck EP [HOUSEWAXLTD008]

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Chicagoan Boo Williams begins 2015 with a bang, delivering an EP of Freaky Teck jams – his tag for cuts that join the dots between jacking Chicago techno, yearning deep house and relentless Detroit techno. It’s a formula that guarantees thrills, from the wide-eyed, chiming positivity of opener “Charming Echoes”, to the enveloping, acid-laden pump of closer “The Banger”. Best of all, though, is “Freaky”, a throbbing techno jam blessed with a rough Italo-style bassline and enough deep house elements (chords, electronics, melodies).

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Boo Williams – Freaky Teck EP [HOUSEWAXLTD008]

Xosar – BOP004 [BOP004]

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Synthesizer and drum machine obsessive Xosar (AKA producer Sheela Rahman) has enjoyed a productive few years, building a formidable reputation via releases on Rush Hour, L.I.E.S and Creme Organization. Here she delivers her first full-length for Opal Tapes’ occasional vinyl offshoot, Black Opal. It’s perhaps a little less colourful and synthesizer-heavy than previous excursions, instead focusing on dark, fuzzy, heavily percussive takes on acid house and techno. Of course, there are curious interludes – see the wonky industrial IDM of “Prophylaxis” and the beatless synth madness of “Gnome Circle” – but it’s the more floor-friendly excursions (and most profoundly the bleak and intense “Hades Gates”) that really stand out.

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Xosar – BOP004 [BOP004]

Taken – Terrorfish [SKUDGEX002]

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TAKEN - Terrorfish

A collaboration between Elias Landberg and Nihad Tule. They started this conceptual project in November 2014 with the goal of record and master a complete EP in one day. The resulting analog jams are pretty different from each other. The A-side ”Terrorfish” is reminiscent of simplistic acid rave tunes from the 90’s while the B-side ”Halcyon” is a dreamy ambient trip.

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Taken – Terrorfish [SKUDGEX002]