Welcome to the Barbershop. This LP arrives with tunes from some of your favorite artists representing Chicago’s underground dance music sphere on the city’s bred label, Perpetual Rhythms. A wide variety of fresh cuts and genres are showcased, ranging from Deep House and Techno to Experimental and Ambient, providing an eclectic listening experience. The central theme of the LP is “things that relate to a barbershop”, topics such as hairstyles, hair products and humor. We invite you to stay a while and experience this sonic journey with an open mind.
chicago skyway
D’Marc Cantu – S.E.G. Remixes [AMR38X]
In 2017, D’Marc Cantu released the critically-acclaimed “The Lodge” LP on Altered Moods, which was the first chapter in a two-part story. The second part is now incoming, in the form of a remix EP of one of the most popular cuts on the album, “S. E. G.” The new record contains both the original track and three remixes created by Larry Heard, Malcolm Moore and Chicago Skyway.
VA – Fuck Acid Part Two [EGC40212]
Part 2 of the Eargasmic Acid House comp starts with the smooth “Clear Remedy” by Chicagodeep. It’s followed by “Tres Amigos” from Secret Studio & Chicago Skyway. On the flip, “Melt” is a relentless, dark acid track by newcomers Heuristics. B2 is closing with a drum/acid machine workout by Dcook.
VA – Future Chicago [FU003]
Finale Underground is back with Vol. 3 and this time the focus in on Chicago. Four tunes from Chicago luminaries that have made their marks in the scene, though all sounding different, still staying true to the Chicago ethos.
Chicago Skyway – Empty Patterns [EMP016]
‘Empty Patterns” is a collection of tracks named after empty, programmable user patterns founds in most modern sequencers, synthesizers, and drum machines. All tracks are DJ tools and is geared towards DJs and dance floors. Lots of Chicago jacking house style drum patterns and bass synth stabs, with added reverb and distortion for grit and color.
VA – Rotate Freely [AMR035R]
Californian label Altered Moods Recordings returns in triumphant fashion with one more split 12″. Inspired by the Freerotation festival, label boss Malcolm Moore has called on artists who have either played or attended the cultish Welsh gathering for this Rotate Freely 12″. Along with Moore, Natan H, Chicago Skyway and Mick Welch all contribute.
Simple Machines – An Introduction To Simple Machines EP [MND031]
Chicago based producers Chicago Skyway, Taelue, & Chicagodeep come together to form the group “Simple Machines”. Their debut release offers a peek into the group’s world of sound, offering elements of deep and experimental house & techno.
VA – Lab Our 05 [LBRM005]
LAB.OUR 05 showcases tracks by 4 different artists, displaying a diverse spectrum of deep sounds. Lab.our Music co-owner J-UL’s first ever release, Tempest, is a moody, beat driven track with layered synths. Maxwell Church returns to the label with Elastic Ban, a rolling rhythmic journey with tense strings. Newcomer, and Toronto native, Xavier Gonzalez drops Praise, a dancefloor burner with a barrage of beats and energetic vocal snippits. Last but not least, veteran Chicago Skyway brings us Vase Mix 3, an atmospheric and melodic jackin’ track.
Binny – Retrospective EP [SCN007]
Scenery Records turns to another Liverpudlian producer, Binny, for a brace of new tracks that come with interesting remixes from Windy City native Chicago Skyway and label cohort Circular Rhythms.
Chicago Skyway – EP Fall Down [MDREAMS014]
New release on Machining Dreams, this time from Chicago Skyway who is rocking with a 6 track release called EP Fall Down. Five beat tracks and 1 deep house tune that has come to be Skyway’s signature sound over the years. Classic in the sense that beat tracks have formed the glue between styles in many djs bags. Skyway use of arrangement and familiar drum kits will sure to bring the nostalgia back to the djs who were in it before the technology revolution and interest to the djs who came after it.
VA – Dystopian Dispatch EP [PERP002]
The second release on Perpetual Rhythms with 4 tracks by Chicago Skyway & DJ Mar, DCook, Taelue, and Chicagodeep. Nice advanced techno tracks that go deep.
Chicago Skyway & Isoke – #@&*! [EGC4018]
Eargasmic brings this split 12″ with four solid raw house cuts. On the A-side Chicago Skyway brings two heart pounding tracks with “I don’t give a f*ck” and “Run Coward”. The flipside introduces Isoke to the game with the Relief sounding, Chicago “Rough Sh*t” and the heady bass heavy joint “Haunted”.
Chicago Skyway – Thunder [AMR029R]
Upcoming deepness from the inimitable Chicago Skyway (Sean Hernandez) with Altered Moods Recordings executive director Malcolm Moore in on the remix for the title track.
VA – Praterei 006 [PRATEREI006]
Austrian label Praterei kick off 2013 with a various artists EP. Mysterious jack lovers Snuff Crew take the lead with an unsurprisingly old school flavored slice of house. Raw and unpolished, classic hi hats and sturdy kicks set the tone beneath colorful stabs and increasingly wild percussion. 7 Citizens ́s ‘Perse’ is darker and deeper, a nagging hook snakes about menacingly as a starry night sky of melodies reveals itself above. Esteemed Chi Town man Chicago Skyway’s track ‘Shy Girl’ is anything but, instead it’s a gauzy and derelict house track with scattered drum hits caked in dust and grime. Ethyl closes out a dark and delicious EP with a feels-like-you’re-floating, dubby house track.
Chicago Skyway – DJBroadcast podcast 186
Obsolete Music Technology – Mmmmmusic [EMP011]
Steven Tang presents “Mmmmmusic” under his Obsolete Music Technology moniker, a 4-track, 12″ vinyl single focuses in on melody, which has become the signature sound and of his label, Emphasis. The release includes also a Chicago Skyway remix.
The Poetic Painter M – Marie’s Transcendance [MOSDEEP009]
Traxx aka Melvin Oliphant III returs to MOS Deep with a stunning solo-project. Under his The Poetic Painter M pseudonym he serves up ‘Marie’s Transcendance’ backed-up by two reworks from compadre Sean Hernandez aka Chicago Skyway and label owner Aroy Dee. ‘Marie’s Transcendance’ is a frenetic yet hypnotizing house track that echoes memories of downpitched Newbeat material and the hooky coldness of new wave. Melvin, though, re-defines rather than regurgitates these influences and re-launches them into a dark and moody acid-flecked future. Chicago Skyway reworks it into a deep, emotional just as acid-version which seems to float into eternity as solid 808-beat programming plays out busily behind. Aroy Dee edits a second rework of “Marie’s”, creating a simple but highly effective and bouncing track that’s carried along by a psychedelic, out-of-this-world bass line.
Chicago Skyway – Londinium EP [UZURI017]
The Londinium EP is the latest release on Uzuri Recordings and welcomes Chicago Skyway back to the fold. Musically, he keeps it closer to his Windy City heart. Hakim Murphy remixes the track and his rework retains the drawn-out essence of the original but brings a whole new hips-and-shoulders groove to the track. On the flip, Traffic plays out a very simple analogue groove over a clapping 808 percussive pattern. A slow, static-filled monster of a track – not abrasive for the sake of it – instead switching between muffled warmth and the hiss of synths working overtime.
Chicago Skyway – LWE Podcast 100
Crystal Maze – Crystal Maze EP [aDEPTH006]
Amsterdam-based duo Crystal Maze have produced the ultimate mix of Detroit techno, Chicago house and electro. Chicago Skyway delivers aDepth audio’s hottest, jackin’ remix, seriously influenced by the original analogue sound of Chicago house.