GǼG is the production duo of Japan’s Keita Sano and Monkey Timers. Their unique, rabble rousing, sound is showcased here – assembled with the building blocks of disco but launched on a completely mind-warping course into territory anew. This 12 inch is heavy-duty weaponry with a sole purpose to rip at the very fabric that makes up the reality of dance floors – discotheque destruction guaranteed.
The kind of track that makes you want to know what kind of morning routine Apiento has on a weekday, “The Orange Place” is simply an underground dancefloor classic of the 2010’s that makes you realise something very special was going on with Paul Byrne’s Astrological charts at the time. Pure Sleazy Belgian Indiana Jones vibes, impossible to forget and very timeless. Now with full cover artwork and additional dubbed out afro cosmic remix by Castro.
Finally the mystery is solved. After seeing air time by jocks like Harvey and Orpheu the Wizard and causing an absolute frenzy amongst diggers world-wide going into a hopeless hunt for what was thought to be a rare unearthed Cantonese version of “Spacer Woman” from back in the day. Only to find out that it was actually a newly produced cover version by Romain FX. Here it is, finally, after tumultuous negotiations with the original rights owners, Hong Kong raised Romain FX’s skilful efforts to give the absolute classic Italo-disco bomb a new facelift “Spacer Woman”, but now in Cantonese. Subtle but effective, he presents a new rendition with Cantonese lyrics by Cheung Yuen Tung along with a very respectful “Acid Trip Version”.
It might sound like an overlooked European dance record from 1985, but “Surrender” is a catchy Pop oriented production with strong influences from Italodisco and HiNRG, written and produced entirely from scratch by Benny Howell (aka DJ Subaru) and his friend Bella Quirin. Innocent and charming lyrics over 120’s BPM drum machine and a simple melody that you’ll be humming in the back of your mind for days to come. The remix on the B-side by Castro takes a darker turn into what almost sounds like a Techno version with heavy dubbed out effects taking the “Surrender” theme through an unhinged Ketamine flanger vortex.
Two powerfully effective club tracks by one of Berlin’s most talented Juan Ramos. A clear cut exposé of his vastly amassed knowledge in dancefloor experience throughout over a decade of dedication to the craft of steering some of the most significant contemporary underground dancefloors. Can’t really go wrong here, mandatory for any club focused record bag, with an entourage of 125 BPM percussion sample based mayhem on the A side and a slower industrial 115BPM chugger that grows into a tripped out narrative of playfully galloping transient elements.
Anatolian Weapons is back with part two of his remix/studio work for Sound Metaphors, this time a 2 track EP featuring downtempo chuggers high in dubbed out acidity. The A side feels like a perfectly put together composition that grows with a playful industrial beat paving the way for trancey melodies to develop in unison with acid nuances. B-side goes into more percussive directions still with heavy acidity well presented in full Anatolian Weapons effect – a solid investment yielding high returns on any music focused dancefloor.
Youcef Debbihi continues to impress and surprise after already his 3rd volume as Sea of Disillusions, output on Sound Metaphors. This 4 tracker extends what was already started and established in the previous volumes, expanding his studio excellence into more break beat oriented directions, either at high speed in the form of almost Drum’n’Bass with “K2” or slowed down as a more trip-hop tempo with “Break Whale”. B-side slows down to upper 90BPM range of driving rhythm under atmospheric dubby hints of humidity “5deF”, and, finalizing with a beatless Ambient mix of “Loon River” which sounds like the slow motion intro to an epic trance anthem that never fully takes off, setting the stage for something heavy to be mixed in. Downtempo, triphop, tribal, dubbed out atmospheric nuances, grandly produced.
Weaponize your DJ record bag again with fresh ammo from the Greek studio machine, Aggelos Baltas does it again with another volume of remixes to the Sound Metaphors re-issue catalogues, an invigorating contemporary club touch to a wide range of dance floor material that was originally produced in the early 90s and late 80s. A new patina layer formed by the aging acid baths and chemical reactions of the experienced studio magician. Aggelos’ signature atmospheric grandiosity and big room sound once again delivered with precision and high efficiency for the caring modern dancefloor.
Mini-album releases featuring a collection of 5 tracks from the Sound Metaphors catalogue masterfully remixed by Anatolian Weapons. Sound Metaphors gives their keys of the label’s catalogue vaults to Aggelos Baltas aka Anatolian Weapons and this is the result. 5 tracks previously released on the labels now submitted to the studio prowess of the Greek machine. Dubbed out, tripped out, slowed down, sped up, mind blown. Aggelos brings his distinctive flavor to the table and re-constructs some of our dacefloor oriented favorites from the early 90’s.
Luca Trentini aka Trent is back on BLESSYOU with another EP. Three new tracks further deepening his explorations in masterful sample collages borrowing heavy percussive elements from his refined library of sounds juxtaposed with patterns of wild vocals, trippy sound effects and offset sax solos. Taking you to unforeseeable places with this rhythmic whirlwind of force much in tune with the artwork featuring a 17th century wind chart for aiding sailors in nautical explorations.
Masterful sample based collages of old disco tracks by Trent, resulting in highly effective dancefloor DJ tools adorned with heavy percussive elements.
Part II of the Sea of Disillusions project by Youcef Debbihi, another assortment of beautifully produced atmospheric, dubbed out downtempo techno. Yousef Debbihi does it again, another perfect collection of tracks, mandatory for any tasteful DJ bag roaming in the fields of contemporary produced dancefloor business. A crafty display of his mastery in the studio, this EP gives full perspective on Yousef’s oeuvre and capabilities. If you got part I, this is mandatory, another tasting in the downtempo cosmic domaine – no regrets guaranteed.
Assortment of 3 trippy chugger downtempo would-be-cosmic-hole anthems beautifully produced by Parisian scene Don Yousef Debbihi. Coming in through the clutch for this summers’ hopeful re-openings with Rec23 – what could have been the soundtrack to a new Akira sequel. Following with a never ending tribal K-hole trip. Ending with a beautiful atmospheric excursion on the B side, perfect for cleansing and setting up a dancefloor.
The Hipodrome Of Music 