Rough and ready, previously unreleased takes on Phuture’s blueprint-setting ‘Acid Trax’. Frontside is a 4:45min version by Phuture with slightly altered drum pattern harnessed to that virulent 303 sequence. Flipside Jackmaster Hater comes like a oil-spattered Chi-town mechanic, retuning the engine of battered but classic motor.
Up next on Balans is a Brazilian old school house & techno talent extraordinaire, Betek. Hailing from beautiful Rio De Janeiro, you might not expect an artist who is dedicated to old school Roland drumcomputers and bassline machines. Betek clearly has a big love for the the EDM past, but takes it well into the new millennium with a fresh angle.
Weird yet very funky & playable Chicago inspired house/acid tracks by Detroit’s Jared Wilson. Jacking rhythms, nasty 303 basslines and whispering voices creating this nice old-fashioned sexual energy. Conforce on remix duties delivers a deep & moody techy house rework.
As dRUMMAN, Jori Hulkkonen, is taking his live music back to the roots, illustrating his multifaceted musical skills he is redefining his gigs using drum machines, analog sequencers and synths. After a number of gigs under his new moniker he’s delivering an amazing E.P. in the same spirit.
Roy of the Ravers releases his debut album, a somewhat deeper and darker affair than the “2010 Annual” EP and showing another side to the enigmatic acid-purveying, comic strip plagiarising hardware aficionado. Anyone else wondering what happened to track 16? Us too.
Aboriginal, new-age inspired rhythmic jams from Jamal Moss. Quite abstract in parts, but right on the ball with fresh rhythms and influences.
”Latch, Fasten, Secure” is a new 3-track 12” by Solvent, for MinimalRome. Solvent debuts here a new approach, delivering 3 tracks of pure Bunker/Rephlex-style acid, monotonous and pounding. ”Fasten” is the most straight-up acid track present, nothing but 707/606 percussion + x0xb0x squelch. ”Latch” and ”Secure” are more dark, abstract, dirty. ”Secure” is epic madness, clocking in at over 16 minutes; at times slow and prodding, elsewhere growling furiously in sheets of distortion.
Arttu aka Lump comes with two tracks of raw minimal music with an edge and unpredictable arrangements.
Rotterdam’s Benny Rodrigues’ interpretation of acid house takes the form of ”I Like Acid”, and surely it sounds classic! Acid synth madness like in the old days but with an updated touch. ”Choice” hypnotic appeal will not get unnoticed on the floor, once again a track that finds its strength in the basic structure of its arrangement, effective drums patterns with a ”freakish” top line that carry the track into peak time. Steve Rachmad as ”Sterac” and Mike Dehnert are providing the remixes for ”I Like Acid”, to close the EP.
Cottam heads up the second release on Use of Weapons. Deep Space Orchestra and Hunee are on Remix duty.
Remix package of Suspect… not sure who the artists is, but the title suggest it’s another Tevo Howard project?! Retro Chicago tracks with analogue drums and synths.
Mysterious released, no information about the label or the producer. Melodic retro acid house/techno, classic early 90s sounding Detroit stuff. “It Ain’t What It Ain’t” powers along on a snapping 808 drum track with a bubbling 303 bassline, big washy strings and jazzy synth solo. Flipside cut “Megapolitan Soul” is a sublime piece of beatdown house that oozes soul. a gospel / soul vocal, hand claps and Detroit house pads and efx make this an absolute blinder for me.
Mini album from original raw Chicago house to atmospheric chilled electronics – with kind of Sahko style minimalistic approach.
The 2nd album to be unveiled from Nation is called “Creep Acid” from JTC. He was driven by thoughts about the lifespan of many things. Creep Acid carries the resonance of future past.
The fourth installment of the limited Phonica Whites series, pairing the production talents of Luv Jam aka Andy Cole with the first ever official remix by the phenomenon that is Cottam.
Portable strikes back on Karat 8 years after his first appearance on the label. “Inside your mind” is a build up track with a proper vocal describing different levels of consciousness, and about the way of living your inner thoughts. “The Ghetto Escapes” is a floor burner, acid stomper track that never stops to push up the pressure.
The Hipodrome Of Music 