Marvis Dee returns to In My Dreams for the second part of his EP series with the sparking, 80’s boogie-house 5-tracker, Dreams Of A Future Metropolis. Huge shimmering synths, funk-heavy basslines and serious grooves all sailing out with the setting sun.
XOA is an exciting new project fusing sounds from the golden era of 70s Afrobeat with contemporary electronica and modern production. The debut release Aiye Le, features the vocals of former Fela Kuti musical director and afrobeat royalty Dele Sosimi. Label boss Dan Shake steps up for the remix on the B side, bringing his signature Detroit house aesthetic.
02AM is an 4 track EP by the young producer Hekkla from Eindhoven. The first track is ‘Sunset Strip’, a slowly build house track that moves like the last waves of heat at the end of a hot summers day, walking home feeling satisfied, all ready for the night. ‘Saturday Morning Sentimentality’ is a hard to pinpoint track that sounds like the bastard son of a trio between the melancholic side of Cyndi Lauper, Alphaville and the echoes of a cheesy saturday morning cartoon theme song from the late 80’s. On the other side ‘Memories of Tau Ceti’ feels like tumbling into space with only the memories left of a good time on an alien world, accelerating faster and faster but still enjoying it, even though you know that the vacuum of space will eventually kill you. Finishing with the hardest track ‘No Math’, because, boys and girls, it’s no math.
Mister Ho & Heap close their eyes and float downstream. This is their second offering for the ESP Institute. On side A, Feeling Hopeful is a straight-ahead burner comprised of minimal thuds, bumps, honks, blips, bleeps and bloops—a harmonious arrangement of percussive elements and soaring synth chords that feels both slow and fast paced, sunset and sunrise hour, island back roads and traffic in metropolis. On side B, Gis Gis explores a similar notion of contrast, setting a the scene with a driving mechanical hi-hat that never dips below the selection of luscious melodies—a cha-cha bassline, breezy chords and a slippery lead hook that collectively invite us all for poolside Pin?a Coladas at the Ho & Heap villa. These two songs were conceived in the year of the monkey.
Goncalo Salgado aka Lake Haze with a four track EP on Shall Not Fade label, features dark synthy productions on the A side, with more club friendly acid cuts on the flip.
Temple’s third release presents R Wong’s debut EP influenced by acid trance and new age. A record for self reflection.
Vade Mecum is the latin for a handbook that is intended to be carried at all times. The new Bucharest based label, a sublabel from Stomping Grounds curated by Jay Bliss, aims for the same thing, putting together for the first release three tracks that trancend time and genres. Tracks by French producer Yakine and the Romanians Teluric and Suciu.
Vibraphone Records is releasing a record by the Italian DJ/producer, Nick Anthony Simoncino. For the production of this record, Isole Del Tramonto (Sunset Islands) Simoncino uses a selection of strictly old school analog synthesizers, and drum machines, which takes you on a charming magical journey through the Mediterranean Sea with pulsating minimal deep bass lines, oneiric harmonic textures, exotic tom tom patterns, hypnotic sexy and catchy grove beats. Isole Del Tramonto is a record that connects and combines the essential elements and spirit of deep house music along with providing its visionary future…
Phonica is a budding young talent by the name of Will Lister. ‘The Phantom EP’ is his production debut. The title track opens up the EP with heavily reverbed pads, echoed claps, crunchy percussion and repetitive synth stabs that all work together to create spaced-out atmosphere that’s full of twist and turns. Flipping over to the B-side, ‘After The Light’ picks up the pace with a driving high-hat rhythm and full-bodied kicks that underpin warm piano keys and smooth synth lines. ‘Agency’ closes proceedings by turning up the intensity to full with a masterclass in building tension.
Carlos Nilmmns with a collection of atmospheric tracks between classical compositions, Detroit techno and oldschool deep House, on the Ornaments label.
Music And Power is home to Ron Trent’s contemporary material, and by that we mean the best deep house around; music that is ultimately for dancing but that champions a deeply musical style akin to jazz and soul. “Liquid Love”, for instance, is a gorgeous meandering of synths and smooth vocals riding high over a chunky house beat, complete with a reprise mix full of Balearic edge as a follow-up. “Sound System Prevail” is a bumpier, more hard-edged and spewing delicate pianos left, right and centre beneath another wave of masterful synth solos. 10 out of 10 from the master of Chicago sexiness.
The fifth release on the Heart to Heart label brings four ethereal house cuts from Vancouver’s master analogue chef ESB aka Elan Benaroch.
Christopher Rau is one of Smallville’s steady mainstays, with “Yamato” he is delivering four tracks, that perfectly describe the seductive cosmos of Smallville’s sound. There is nods to the past as well as a paved way to a timeless future. Carefully evolving melody, voices and something caressing from somewhere far away- but within your heart in just a moment. It’s bubbling and telling stories from the inside but it’s still targeted straight to a dancefloor- dedicated to the sweetest ones of the world.
Detroit Electronic Quarterly (DEQ) Magazine Issue # 7 LP: It’s a slick, compilation from Detroit Artists Mike Clark, Todd Modes, Gary Martin, Gustav Brovold, Marshall Applewhite, The Valley and the Mountain and Quinton McRae.
Brokntoys welcomes Dan White for his debut for BT11. A key figure within the Melbourne underground scene, Rory McPike also releases under the alias of Rings Around Saturn and 2200. He has released on labels Forbidden Planet, Cult Trip and Butter Sessions taking in ambient, acid and electro along the way. Here he presents 4 tracks of dusty, emotive, tripped out house and techno that carry an underlying uneasiness for those early morning moments.
Introducing Rydim to the Platte Family with two intelligently crafted and versatile cuts. Including Remixes by Cristopher Rau and Kareem.
Ron Obvious takes the helm once more for the fifth release from London’s L.B Produce imprint. Coming through once more with their speciality blend of deep, jacking house cuts ‘Reseda Drive-in’ sees bouncing drum tracks collide with low slung synth lines and curated vocal sample chops.
Refraction Volume 2 marks the return of the lauded imprint Residual Recordings. Label owner Titonton Duvante starts it off with a funk laden deep groove. Next up is ace producer Christopher Rau. He flips the filters alongside nectarous chords. On the B side, veteran Jeff Samuel brings on the quirky sounds and hooks he is known for making. Rounding out the EP is a contemplative number by Chicago’s Garrett David.
Housewax welcomes italian duo Ainëe Geffen to the family. The two talented artists from Bari deliver here a very solid debut.
Bass Cadet Records introduce a new series : Orbits. Curated from the recordstore, the series is dedicated to the artists who support it and make its life. Leaning on strong ties of respect and friendship, Orbits will consist of a slew of releases featuring some of the most inspiring and influential artists of the electronic music scene. Orbits will start with a re-issue of two Ron Trent timeless jams out of his “Dance Classic” album, released on Prescription on CD only in 2009.
The Hipodrome Of Music 