After delivering the 8th Polybius Trax’s release under Myriadd’s alias, Craig Stainton strikes again. And this time he does it under the name of Mantra with 4 tracks of jackin’, acid house and acid techno. With this EP “The Seventh Seal” (PT009) and with its predecessor in the label “A New Day” (PT008), shows us of his mastery in the art of invoicing dance music under the different strands of acid.
Adalbert C. Kupietz (aka Adalberto, Fatjack, Crime Scene) is a rising name in the wonkier, more cerebral techno scene. The German is up on Acidicted, Adalbert’s own imprint which focusses on the all things 303, and this is only his third outing under the Hieroglyphica alias. “Biorhythm” is the perfect name for the sizzling banger residing on the A-side, a loose-cut techno killer with all sorts of electrifying acid sounds from the heart of the machines, while “Extinction” bounces more gently to and fro, offering mischievous basslines at the core of its rusty, analogue circuitry.
John Heckle’s first one for 030303 starts off deliciously with “Translate” being a moody and melodic and bouncer that caters to a twisted dance floor. “Terix”, the opener on the B-side is a beautiful reminder of Derrick May’s Detroit, Rhythm is Rhythm’s “Kao-Tic Harmony” in particular. The end of this record then, is like the end of most nights: with lots of melodies going on and a stomping rhythm “Hear Me” is by far the most mind bending track of this excellent 12″.
UK techno & house veteran Neville Watson makes his I Love Acid debut, after headlining at their tenth anniversary party in London earlier this year. Mark Forshaw with remix duties. These tracks have been getting caned across the UK, Europe and the USA this summer by a list of DJs far too long to mention. This is the real deal, proper acid for the dancefloor.
The third and final segment of the Knowes Universal Broadcast has been received. The series of transmissions is completed by Brainwaltzera, William The Squid, Deep Space Orchesta and Kovyazin D spanning Breaks, Acid and Techno.
The R-A-G trio aka Dutch producers Ma Spaventi, G-String & Aroy Dee deliver three raw acid-jams with Aroy on the couch working the mic. The lyrics of Dreadfully Nervous are based on a Edgar Allan Poe story. ‘Dreadfully Nervous (Aryd’s Acid Mix)’ is a gurgling brew of squelchy acid with dark vocals and pinging cowbells pulling you in all directions. Coarse claps and ever more wild synths encourage you to cut loose and make for another timeless cut. ‘Dreadfully Stoned’ is more stripped back, with a rubbery arpeggiated synth the main hook over subtle, supple drums. Those dark spoken word vocals are back again and the whole thing is freaky and unsettling as a result. Last of all is the bright and glistening ‘No Soul’ with metal hits and claps and prickly acid all bursting out of dusty Chicago drums. It’s raw and sure to fire the synapses just like R-A-G productions always do.
A poignant and thoughtful EP from Berlin duo Snuff Crew, dedicated to their friend, collaborator and labelmate Andreas Gehm who passed away in summer 2016, just after his own I Love Acid release. Four analogue acid hardware tracks. Remix duty falls to fellow hardware aficionado Perseus Traxx.
Another piece of the story of the Italian scene of the 90’s inevitably returns to shine on Flash Forward. Leo Anibaldi was one of the pioneers of the sounds that so influenced and characterized those years. Deep, Techno and House blend to create unique atmospheres that will never die.
Bursting from the bubbling underground club scene of Tel Aviv, Bauhaus Records is a record label headed up by veteran scene originators and world renowned The Block club first residents DJ’s Amichay Matyas and Yogo, in partner with well-experienced label and artist manager, Udi Niv. Buahuas Records aims to provide a creative ground for a collective of local underground electronic producers & DJs, emphasizing the art of organic & analog sound and down to earth house music. Their experience of nearly 20 years of playing for Tel-Aviv’s underground dance floors, regularly rubbing shoulders with pioneers and leaders of house, disco and techno as well as their vast milage in the DJ booth, enables them to cherry pick the hidden treasures and unknown local gems of their scene whose highly secretive to many others.
South California’s acid maestro SFV ACid is featured on the third release by Third Try Records, the Pettyclubber EP, which includes artwork hand drawn by the artist himself. Five original tracks and one remix that brings together long time friends and collaborators SFV Acid, Suzanne Kraft and Secret Circuit with their first studio collaboration ever committed to wax.
Tracks from Hyvinkää, Finland. Written by Juho Kahilainen and Tomi Kesäniemi. Both boring family men, middle-aged and middle-class. However, they’ve been here long enough to learn a trick or two. Nods to Detroit, nods to acid. A mid-tempo track Tape Loader sounds like a 909 trapped in swamp. Fast and jazzy R Train Funk pays a tribute to Detroit-legends with a decent 303-line to drink beer to. The Tower That Stands In The Woods is a dubby slow-down before Suomi 100 Acid celebrates Finland’s 100th anniversary with lyrics that deal with recession and the Finnish government’s fair deal to cut everyone’s wage.
Shara Music presents “Acid Last” from Owen Ezard, owner of Shara Music, an EP that comes with 4 very effective cuts of slow vibes. As appetizer presents “First reload” a cover letter to open the appetite giving some clues of the tracks that follow …. acid at soft speed to start the walk by enveloping sounds that take us to the second proposal,”Acid Last ” where Owen develops an acidic sequence that evolves until getting into his spiral. And with some more bpms comes the wonderful remix by our beloved favorite Italian, Fabrizio Mammarella. the main course shines with percussions influence of Alien Alien, mysterious synthesizers taken from outer space and cosmic sound that will make lose your head … Last but not least comes “Break & Slow” with your hypnotic voices will guide you towards the exit of this labyrinth of Eclectic sounds that surely will not leave you indifferent …
Zone Records welcomes Cardopusher for their next EP, a five track affair that is arresting from the off. Venezuelan born Cardopusher is now based in Barcelona and co-founded the Classicworks label. His diverse and experimental sound takes him from techno to electro to acid to rave to house, all with his own singular perspective. Kicking things off is the raw and raucous ‘Nothing Left to Believe In.’ It is a macho tune with fractured vocals, wild synths and slap funk drums all sounding industrial and tortured. Then comes ‘Blast Cut’, a more dynamic and stripped back electro groove with a corrugated bassline and metallic synth stabs all sounding informed by the past but looking to a distant future.
To celebrate 10 years of No Way Back (a regular party in Detroit…and beyond), the label is launching the Acid Series, a series of records on Interdimensional Transmissions inspired by the No Way Back parties. The second release in the series comes from Justin Cudmore. He is the latest in the line of midwesterners to emerge from the Brooklyn music scene, hailing originally from Illinois. And you can hear it in his music, that mesmerizing midwestern groove and deep heady thoughtfulness.
Photic Fields usher a new name into the fold, Switzerland’s Contra Communem Opinionem aka CCO. The Lux Rec and Mathematics alumni arrives with The Road to the Stars, five tracks of his trademark acid elegance. The ferocity of the 303 has been sheathed, percussion pared down with lush chords and deep warmth being the focus. House is the foundation from which CCO builds. Those time honoured sounds support cascading melodies and fragile keys for a 12″ that borders between armchair abstraction, floor funk and the night sky.
7777 presents its 13th release featuring DMX Krew and Yuri Suzuki. Side A brings you straight house attitude. B side strips it down and adds the acid. These songs are perfect for your record bag.
The Hipodrome Of Music 