Super Rhythm Trax welcomes producer John Heckle to the label. On this release you’ll find heavy nods to Detroit as the music is bursting with soaring chords and emotion but all the time underpinned by the heaviest of 909 beats.
chicago house
Andreas Gehm – WOD001 [WOD001]
Two tracks from the late Andreas Gehm (more to come in later releases). Pressed on a one-sided, hand stamped and numbered standard weight black vinyl release. Accompanied by a printed info sheet insert.
Jai/Mahl aka Jamal Moss – The Message Of Zipf [TVS001]
TV Showw is a new record label from Paris. Launching the label with an EP from one of Chicago’s most prolific and inventive electronic musicians : Jamal Moss a.k.a. Hieroglyphic Being or I.B.M., among others. JAI/MAHL is his fresh new alias especially created for this EP. The three tracks are made for the dancefloor (four-to-the-floor) while not diluting his signature oddity made of sonic textures and damaged rhythms. Moss calls his style ‘synth expressionism’ or ‘rhythmic cubism.’
John Heckle – Translate [030EP013]
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″.
Marlon Hoffstadt – Observing The Known [RSN010]
Marlon Hoffstadt is a rising star as both a DJ and producer, effortlessly joining the dots between classic rave and the future of techno. Taking a break from running his Retrograde label, Marlon has cooked up Observing The Known for Ransom Note Records. Over three tracks of warm synths, bubbly acid and emotional chord progressions, the EP sees Marlon reimagining house music for today’s dancefloor, taking the passion and energy of ‘80s Chicago and giving it the production heft of 2017 Berlin.
Studio 89 – Studio 89 002 [S89002]
Studio 89’s second release is ready to spread into a clubhouse near you. A sizzling charge of hot and heady lust. Sexy beats for you fancy freaks. We are your ship master, cruise with us into the depths of your dreams.
Perseus Traxx – Drowning In Your Eyes [GNOSIS003]
Following well received EPs from Myriadd and Q-Chip, Gnosis are ecstatic to have prolific UK producer Nigel Rogers (aka Ellis De Havilland, Operator Tracey, Orpheus, Pagan Ritual, Sir Leon Greg etc.) on board for their third release. ‘Drowning In Your Eyes’ is a four track EP recorded under his Perseus Traxx handle.
Gavin Guthrie – Into The Box EP [COTB001]
Welcome to the all new Children Of The Box, a label heavily inspired by the edgier side of Chicago’s legendary club, the “Music Box”. We’re getting things rolling with a whirlwind of raw Analog recordings by Gavin Guthrie, aka TX Connect. First up is “Dripping”, which carries a vintage (yet modern) Gherkin Jerks sound. The song continuously builds throughout the track, ending in a frenzy of synthesizer’s & 707 drum patterns. The title track “Into the Box” takes you on a hypnotic journey through the mind of Hellraiser’s very own Pinhead. A melodic interlude gives the listener a slight break, but only to return with a vengeance. “Not Forever” brings a “back to the future” vibe, equally stacked with both vintage & modern elements. The song comes complete with an overpowering low synth line & 707 drums.
Closing things out is “Destinies”, a track inspired by the deeper side of the Windy City. A more than perfect ending to a stellar release.
Intergalactic Gary @ Clone 25, Shelter Amsterdam 15.076.2017
Rahaan – Grapes [LIH025]
Perseus Traxx – More Songs About Girls [LVNO011]
A great pairing here as the rugged basslines, emotional melodies, and vintage percussion of Perseus Traxx seem right at home on the Love Notes stabel, who seem to be taking a quick break from showcasing artists from their homebase of Brooklyn, as they have on their last 4 records. More Songs About Girls is a cohesive EP of 4 original tracks and neither fans of this artist nor fans of this label will be disappointed.
Rick Poppa Howard – Keep Holdin’ On [MATE012]
The tightest duo since Batman and Robin is back. Rick Poppa Howard and son Tevo Howard team up once more for an emotional house trip.
Terrence Woodard – Jack The Box [WEME043]
1985, restored from a vintage vinyl copy (masters were lost long time ago in Chicago…) Copies sold for 0. On the Youtube thread for the track a cousin of T. Woodard says they pressed 2,500 copies of this – but that seems hard to believe unless they didn’t sell and got recycled at Trax and/or were simply thrown out, as this rarely show up anywhere. This is a very early and simple track which sums up the new and experimental sounds of early 1985 along with tracks such as Jesse Sanders On & On and Funkin Keith Funkin with the Drums. Basic early house music that havent lost any of its relevance.
Bill Converse – The Shape Of Things To Come [DE158]
Dark Entries present the sophomore album from Austin, Texas analogue hardware enthusiast Bill Converse. Immersed in the early days of the 90s midwest rave scene, Bill began DJing at a young age in Lansing, Michigan. Luminaries such as Claude Young, Traxx, and Derrick May were key early influences. Techno, noise, ambient and tape processing are all part of his uncanny sound palette. ‘The Shape Of Things To Come’ is a 70 minute journey spread across two pieces of vinyl. It’s comprised of seven tracks recorded directly to tape with no overdubs, made at Converse’s home studio. At the time of recording, Bill was sending this material to Josh Vance (Josua Dorje Ngodup) for feedback. Most of the time Josh would respond in the form of artwork, and then Bill would create another track inspired by this feedback chain. Converse has dedicated this series of tracks to him. The songs on this album reveal a sublime influence from Detroit techno, early Chicago house, and Acid. For this album Converse slightly bumped up the tempos geared for dancefloor energy. Built around vintage synthesizer lines and gritty drum machine percussion, the tracks evoke how things have changed and how they have come to be.
Blak Punk Soundsystem – Red Cloud [FVW005]
Don Ron Trent re-engages his deep dub systematics with Blak Punk Soundsystem. There are two definitive sides to this story: “Red Cloud” plunges into a swampy, pensive stomp loaded and laced with heavy atmospheres and washes of heady percussion while the “BPS Dub” plays the consummate foil with a roomy, mystic rebuild that maintains the pressure in a soft focus hazy form. As always with Trent, the quality is benchmarks beyond mere mortals’ grasps.
The Night Writers – Let The Music (Use You) [MC010]
Mr. Frankie Knuckles – this time operating under his Night Writers alias. We’re not sure too much needs to be said about this one, it’s all here really, that classic Knuckles deep touch, the musicality, the vibe… Ricky Dillard’s vocals encapsulating that feeling when the music takes over, pure abandon. The pairing of these two talents results in what would eventually become a bona-fide house classic.
Andrew Soul – The Wide Range Of Experiences [STX016]
Snuff Trax is thrilled to announce that Andrew Soul is back with his big love for house music on this new record. The – Wide Range Of Experiences EP’ features four tracks full of irresistible grooves, driving beats and sweet melodies. You can even catch up with Klaudia bringing fantastic and emotional vocals on the opening track – Strange Feelings’.
Marcus Mixx – Liquid Love [LPP010]
In recent years, original copies of Marcus Mixx’s superb 1992 single “Liquid Love” – a sublime chunk of deep house for the ages – have become sought-after amongst collectors. This can partly explained by the fact that the 12″ boasted a rare remix from the late, great Ron Hardy, which brilliantly peppered the original’s Mr Fingers style groove with whistling synthesizer melodies, lilting chords and sweet vocal loops. Hardy’s mix naturally takes pride of place on the flipside of this on-point reissue. On the A-side you’ll find the rich, soulful and full vocal “New York Mix” – think vintage Nu Groove with a dash of Dream II Science, and you’re close – and the “Can You Feel It” mix, which offers a loving tribute to the Chicago deep house style of Larry Heard.
D’Marc Cantu – The Lodge [AMR038L]
After a quiet 2016 which saw the label release only a single EP, Altered Moods Recordings launches the first in a steady stream of releases for 2017. With “The Lodge”, AMR has joined forces with techno and jakbeat wunderkind D’Marc Cantu. On this double-12, he shows us and the world his more melodic, deeper side, while still maintaining a sense of urgency and a fingerhold on the jakbeat throughout.
CCO – Road To The Stars [PF014]
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.
The Hipodrome Of Music 