Baltra’s Rearview EP is back by popular demand! NYC resident and upstart producer Baltra has humbly created worldwide buzz for his saturated, NY/NJ House-inspired, RnB-inflected jams via a series of YouTube-only music videos, alongside self-released cassettes. This blissed out set of tracks had a limited press on Baltra’s own 96 and Forever label, and now inaugurates the birth of IDNK.
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
The mind is the subject in which ideas inhere. Inhere is a collective of like-minded artists based in Bucharest, Romania with sound inspired by analog, nature and geometry of spaces.
Baaz from Berlin gives us further insight into his diverse musical interests with his ‘Two (For You)’ EP on Office. As the title suggests the talented producer splits his musical activity into two genres on this record: One is deep and moody Techno with a knack for strong sub bass and soft pads. And the other one is striking Ambient with a wonderful appreciation of moving melodies and mellow chords combined with touching vocal parts. What is remarkable how well these four carefully building tracks go together and how effortless they further underline Baaz’ artistic vision of reduced and understated electronic music which unfolds slowly but emphatically. A respectable new record which is well worth opening yourself to.
Although best known for producing alien electro, Jeremiah R also makes evocative deep house under the lesser-known Marvis Dee alias. Here he pops up on Voodoo Gold with a mini album’s worth of woozy goodness. The Rotterdam based producer brings us again a record full of warm, tape driven tracks. Highly recommended for lovers of a mixture of lo-fi 80’s cassette machine funk and groovy synth boogie.
Florian Kupfer returns with a three track EP on Private Persons. This 12inch tells us the story of the beginning of Florian’s career – his travels, dreams and of course love. Title track ‘Post Present’, recorded for the first time five years ago get’s its first cut into wax. Eerie, other-worldly voices reach over a kicking, distinctively Kupfer-esque rhythm track. ‘ I Can’t Love Life Without U’ is a dub drive through retro-futuristic heartbreak and ” an ambient tip into the subconscious.
Detroit legend Rick Wade steps up for the fourteenth release on vinyl only imprint Shall Not Fade with his melodic, dancefloor fuelled ‘Guardian Of Forever’ EP.Rick Wade or Big Daddy Rick is an artist who needs little introduction, a true House music legend, Rick serves up three of his signature style tracks, accompanied by a remix from LK. The four track EP features jazz fuelled cuts, perfectly suited for the dancefloor.
Irishman Derek Carr makes his mark on the Romanian imprint Why So Series with the “Liquid industries EP”. Starting off with the loopy and hypnotic deep house of “Theta” he then gets stuck into some vintage hi-tech soul on the energetic Solar Storm”. On the flip, “Sub System 7” follows in suit channelling the vibe of greats like Aril Brikha while “Exodus II” gives you your fix of sunny swing fuelled tech house.
Even though they’ve only played together on three occasions since 2013, The Mulholland Free Clinic has already been praised as one of the ultimate collaborations when it comes to underground and improvised electronic live music. Move D, Jonah Sharp, and Juju & Jordash build this so-called super-supergroup by combining their individual and mutual projects rEAGENZ and Magic Mountain High. Using an armada of analog hardware, The Mulholland Free Clinic’s self-titled debut album is the product of a live set recorded at Berlin’s emerging party series AWAY at ://about blank in August 2016. Their three-hour long, totally improvised jam session was edited down to a little over 80 minutes with seven tracks internalizing the motto that you won’t benefit from diverse perspectives if you aren’t open to utilizing differences. Like a well-coordinated ensemble, The Mulholland Free Clinic develops a common language by acknowledging their multi-variant range of influences and dynamics while constantly shifting, rearranging, and finally communicating ideas without being beholden to any genre. Whether it’s the rich and beat-less ambiance or the synth-dominated excursions, the cosmic futurism or the overall melodic playfulness: the quartet knows its crafts, mastering the off-the-cuff approach to illuminate all corners on and off the dance floor.
Of Paradise welcome Baltra into the inner circle for number three; a 2XLP reissue of his “No Regrets” album. Originally released in February 2016 as a limited edition cassette on the artists own 96 And Forever label, this is the first time any of these tracks have been made available on vinyl. “No Regrets” captures the deep, raw emotion of the big city, taking the preconceived ideas of underground electronic music and lovingly twisting them into something new.
Patrice Scott returns to home base with a fresh trio of sonic delicacies for the Sistrum faithful. Bringing his signature depth of sound yet infusing a sense of funk, Patrice lays it out proper, as always.
Two of the Canadian Riveria’s most prolific artists come together for this special edition split record on Heart to Heart. Elka (ESB) and D Tiffany (Dj Zozi) team up to elevate your minds with Detroit schooled house and sprawling dubby experiments, a colourful melange on offer for the heads. Ready to take you to the ‘zone’ whatever the place or ‘vibe’.
A beautiful melancolic four tracker house record from the Japanese producer. Includes a DJ Dog and Jayda G remix.
Echovolt’s lost and found 10th release is finally out. A beautiful mosaic of six tracks produced by new and old friends hailing from six different parts of the world. From the no-reason unreleased Terekke’s “Sun Salutation” remix, the new Greek producer but old friend of us under the (for the time being) name “Old Man Talkin'”, the first hip hop jam ever released on the label by West Coast’s “Tlim Shug” to the mysterious one-off alias of Sydney’s “Indreamz”. However, this compilation could never be more complete without our new loves that are Australia’s Hugo Gerani (aka John Tanner) and Shea from overseas both of them to be seen in future solo releases!
Glueped is the collaborative alias of Mihai Mihalcea and Cristi Tudorache, better known as Teluric and Melodie. Already having released with their solo projects on some of the scenes most distinguished imprints, they have joined creative forces once again to put together an EP for Vade Mecum, an already familiar output for Teluric. The result will set you sailing in shifty winds – going from nostalgic to ecstatic, from mystery to comfort and warmth, without losing touch with the dancefloor.
The Hipodrome Of Music 