Mathew Jonson – Automaton [CRM110]

Honorary Rebel Mathew Jonson will soon be unleashing his long awaited third artist album on Crosstown Rebels but first a slice of the Canadian minimal house pioneer’s inimitable style with two tracks of distinct tonal contrast both with the unique stamp of a Jonson production. A-side ‘Automaton’ is a powerful trip with a solid yet nuanced drive, intricate tribal beats with an almost syncopated African influence combined with gnarled bass sequences in a never-ending groove. B-side ‘In The Stars’ enters a more abstract realm, with celestial synth melodies melting into a sound bed of futuristic bleeps and a soporific groove of percussion and a heavy bass beat. In the breaks, vague jazzy chords fuse with an echoing voice descending from space.

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Mathew Jonson – Automaton [CRM110]

Mathew Jonson – Dayz [CRM085]

Mathew Jonson makes his debut on Crosstown Rebels, with the Dayz EP. ‘Dayz’ is a very melodic house-meets-techno affair. Driven by punchy kicks, the track fuses silky synthesizers to vivid keys, with the overall result being a strong Detroit-ish track. ‘Cold Blooded’ is a more static, electro-based house track with twisted melodies, nasty bass stabs and super heavy vintage synth waves in the middle part.

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Mathew Jonson – Dayz [CRM085]

Damian Lazarus – Different Now Pt.2 [CRM076PT2]

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Second part of Damian’s limited double 12” release gets off to a glittering start with Portable AKA Bodycode’s metallic framework of effervescing glitchy FX, futuristic beats for the body and wisps of melody for the soul. This is ultra deep rolling tech funk at its finest. Next up Lazarus introduces hot new San Fran based talent Deal Seal. His rework of ‘Different Now’ is a rumbling journey of built up tension and release with a delicately tribal drive that pulses with percussive energy and sci-fi synths over the menacing bassline.

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Damian Lazarus – Different Now Pt.2 [CRM076PT2]