Italian producer Lamusa II is a master of atmospheric, synthesized concoctions that often sound like they’re being transmitted straight from a time machine out of the 1980s. The RBMA alumni’s latest release, ‘Club Mondo 2000’ on the Gravity Graffiti label runs the gamut from sleazy, break-infused house jams to hazy boogie and weightless flute meditations. “Agua Planet”, closes out the 5-track EP with a New Age feel.
Deepblak’s Chief Alchemist Aybee come with his fourth full-length studio album, ‘The Odyssey’. As befitting its grand title, this newest long-player finds him concerned with personal journeys: both the personal one that has brought him to this point – living in Berlin, 15 years since founding Deepblak in his native Oakland – and the one that beckons for him personally and creatively in future: Aybee sees himself as being halfway up a mountain, looking back on where he has come from, and to where he will be headed next – both concepts play a profound role in the emotional textures of the album, which in true Deepblak fashion draws from jazz, deep house, techno, hip hop, blues, experimentation, cinema, space, time and infinity. ‘The Odyssey’ represents a change-up for AYBEE in several ways, forged from a desire to keep expectations at bay and throw something of a curveball for those who felt they had him pegged: “a good pitcher always keeps you off balance”. This newest work saw him deliberately limit his sound palette in a creative exercise that challenged him to create a full body of work from a small pre-selected library of sonic elements. While this was restricting in some aspects, the approach to – as he puts it – “throw the ingredients in a basket and cook with it later” gave him more freedom to focus on atmosphere and groove instead of putting hours into trying out different options – “otherwise I’d still be in the studio now trying to work out which hi-hat to use on the third track!”
Psychic Advisor, is a worldwide affair: mysterious Makybee Diva from Down Under, Snad – hailing from Chicago, L’amour Fou on B1- the project of Move D and his friendsf rom Taipeh (Benoit and Marco), plus Arnaldo closing down the compilation on B2. You might consider this record as a clubnight from start to finish. There is everything from slow euphoria to crystaline deepness, from shake-moments to different states of a sweet dream, but it all fits as if it was bound together.
Chicago’s own Ricardo Miranda is back on Neroli with his Latin Soul Brothas project. This time exploring the deeper sides of his sound with jams like ‘Moog Sessions’, ‘Dizzy Vibes’ and ‘Friday Grooves’. While ‘Otra Voz’ recalls some of his previous latin influenced tracks on Neroli.
The 3rd release from TH Pressing run by Tokyo’s deep houser Tomonori Hosoya. This EP compiles tracks from 4 producers Life Recorder, Ernie, Brad P and Japanese Takuya Yamashita.
Area provides the soundtrack for another long Winter. From late night meditative dancefloor bliss, to midtempo 4 to the floor sonic experimentation. So without getting too wordy, we’ll leave these flowers right here, please don’t let them dry.
Space is most definitely the place as far as the latest vinyl adventure from us here at Future Reactions is concerned. With galactic references aplenty, futuristic soundscapes and more than a hint of interstellar travel on the Analog Core EP, the only thing missing is an astronaut suit. Tracks by José Rico, Cygnuss (aka Leonid & José Rico) and Diego Perrisson.
Fit Sound welcomes Moscow’s OL to the label with his debut 12”, Lada Passenger. Three late night dance floor stompers that pay special attention to textures of percussion, woven with expert touches of melody and bass.
Irish producer Leonid is welcomed on board of the Into The Deep Records spaceship for their second installment. Paul Smith comes up with a stellar 4 tracks EP cut for clubs dancefloors. Landing deep in planet X analogic territories, you will find Leonid distinctive acid grooves fused in heavy basslines with amazing percussion work for a mystic journey across Nibiru’s galaxy.
First physical release from Belgian label House Running, with 4 fine house cuts, made by Tell, Meemo and Baltra plus a remix of Deced by Kiani & His Legion.
The colors are stunning. In a single view, I see looking out at the edge of the earth, all the colors of the prism. Red at the horizon, blends to orange and yellow, followed by a thin white line, then light blue, gradually turning to dark blue, then black as the vastness of space engulfs the surroundings. As I looked upon our home rock, I saw many natural features. I witnessed a large river meandering slowly along for miles, passing from one country to another without stopping or hesitation. I also saw huge forests, extending along & across several borders as if these divides didn’t exist. I watched the extent of one ocean touch the shores of separate continents; then suddenly, a profound thought came over me as I looked down on all this….The Birds Don’t Fly This High
Over the last decade, Bantam Lions (AKA Liverpool producer Mike Carney) has devoted much of his spare time to “playful experimentation,” channeling 30 years of musical inspirations and adventures to create electronic music that sits somewhere between hazy nostalgia and far-sighted futurism. Now, he’s gathered together some of his favourite moments to create Short Stories, a debut album – and Scenery’s first long-form release – simply overflowing with page-turning musical narratives.
Theo Parrish has teamed up with Rotating Assembly member Duminie DePorres and Dirt Tech Reck head Waajeed. The EP, Gentrified Love Part 2, is the first new work Parrish has released since his 2014 album American Intelligence.
Originally released on Yore in 2008 after a hiatus in Brussels. Afro, jazz, funk and house all contribute to this 4-on-the-floor 4-piece. Heavy on the chords, basslines and percussion. Classic Alton Miller with a whole lot of deepness.
DaRand Land gets to spread out and show off his unique brand of euphoric and uplifting deep house on his debut EP for Scissor & Thread label, ‘Discover You’. The title track is classic DaRand Land, with bright piano chords, buzzing organs and a thick Chicago house bass line. Siren-like pads fade in and out from the periphery, as electrifying percussion elements come into play. Frank & Tony take a turn and apply their signature style onto the former track, adding a chunkier kick with bright as day claps and hi-hats to propel the track through the opalescent haze draped over the melodic elements. On the flip, “Marcela’s Sense” is a blissed out, head down late night affair. Cosmic pads swirl around glistening keys and repressed organ chords, as toms bounce among the steady hi-hat ride, lulling the listener into a state of euphoria. The EP closes out with the atmospheric, peak time Detroit house cut, “Souls Awash”. A serpentine bass line runs the show amidst swelling pads and in-your-face kicks and percussion. As with all of his productions, the track shines in the smaller details that float in and out of focus throughout, lending the track’s weightier elements an even greater sense of gravitas.
Ride the river out of the darkness. Original piano lines lead on SaintJohn. Two Spirits, together forever. Be yourself and let me be myself. Music is forever, house forever…
Born from live experimentation, this inaugural EP from The Other Planet reflects the spontaneity of creation. Oscillating between club sensibility and an ode to late summer jams, RBDP play subtly between different styles.
The Hipodrome Of Music 