Eugene Efimenko aka Muzikalist, is a DJ, musician and promoter based in Kaliningrad. Here he makes his debut on Flight Recorder label with four deep acidic Chicago tracks.
deep house
Nick Höppner – Feel My Bicep Mixtape 17
Romansoff – Infinite Dreams [MÖRK005]
Mörk continues a hazy run of releases with a hard-driving, dream-techno 12″ from Romansoff. Known for raw and battered techno excursions and curation through his Raw Tools labels, Romansoff continues his recent stellar run with a more wandering, daylight-dreaming four track EP. The light-splintered techno of ‘Beyond The Self’ melting into the looping shuttered-blind house of ‘Infinite Dreams’. While the flip explores a visceral washed-out 5am sound palette, with ‘Seven Sins’s drowning modems and the incessant clattering rhythms of ‘She Forgives’.
Takeshi Kouzuki – Remember EP [MMMC001]
After releasing his music on the labels like Mathematics, Macadam Mambo, Hotmix and Snuff Trax, Takeshi Kouzuki, Japanese producer currently based in Kobe, starts his own label Man Made Mechanical Culture. The first EP is delivered with his own 3 raw house tracks mainly made of analogue synth and rhythm machine sounds.
VA – Ethos Series Vol.3 [OS003]
The third release on the Nous Ethos Series….. this time it’s a bright and bubbling 6 tracker from another unannounced artist.
Quarion – Busted Moniker EP [RTR016]
Yanneck “Quarion” Salvo has been relatively quiet of late, with his last 12″ dropping midway through 2014. The four cuts gently pull in subtly different directions, with the blissfully spacey synth melodies and long builds of “Lost Coordinates” being followed by the bass-heavy, deep house basement funk of “A Thousand Questions”. Flip for the relentless organ stabs, shaker-heavy grooves, twisted synth lines and bumpin’ bassline of “Burnin”, and the fantastically broken P-funk workout that is “You Were The Only”.
Mr. Beatnick – Formed In The Stance EP [DBA021]
Mr. Beatnick returns to DBA after a two year hiatus following his Synthetes Trilogy series, with a new direction and a 4 track EP which represents his most floor-focussed work to date. Opening cut Stutter is an immaculately crafted deep techno bomb which features the trademark sound familiar to fans of the London producer’s work, whilst title track Formed In The Stance and flip-side Obsidian Morning explore an eyes-down, moody, broken sound which will no doubt ring a bell for devotees of the seminal Co-Op nights.
Perseus Traxx – ILA007 [ILA007]
Seventh release in the I Love Acid series. Perseus Traxx in action with some lush acid techno – melodies submerged in deep reverb amongst clattering drum machines and 303 snarls. All original analogue kit, all the real deal.
Kate Simko & Tevo Howard – Theme Track EP [LNOE044]
Kate Simko and Tevo Howard are known for creating out of the box and genre-bending productions. Now, the native Chicagoans announce their ‘Theme Track EP,’ giving music lovers a taste of things to come from the album. Closing the EP in the spirit of PolyRhythmic, renowned New York producer Fred P (aka Black Jazz Consortium) delivers a masterful remix of ‘PolyRhythmic Theme’.
Fingers Inc. – Another Side [ML9001LP]
Some 17 years after it’s original release, Fingers Inc’s expansive debut album, Another Side, remains one of the greatest deep house full-lengths of all time. Here, the album gets the re-master and re-issue treatment, with the original double vinyl set being expanded to a triple to guarantee loud cuts for club play. While there are plenty of well-known Heard and co classics present – “Mysteries of Love”, “Bring Down The Walls”, “Can You Feel It” etc. – it’s actually the long-forgotten album tracks that really hit the spot. It’s on these moments – often influenced as much by ’80s soul and synth-pop as acid and Chicago jack-tracks – that Larry Heard, Robert Owens and Ron Wilson really cut loose.
Rick Wade – Storng Arm [RYMD002]
Detroit legend Rick Wade is back with a nice new EP on Rymd. First up “Strong Arm” is the kind of real proper deep house that is often imitated but hardly matched. From the unmistakable knack of its groove to its swirling and mesmerising Rhodes in the foreground. “Funkopolis” gets deeper and as the name suggests has a totally killer bassline and just generally awesome soul goodness going on. Proper Detroit style representing here. Italians Deep 88 and Emotion (Ignacio) turn in some surprisingly good remixes on the flip that do their job well by not deviating too much from the originals and reworking the grooves into decent alternate versions.
Moomin – Fuck Reality 02 [FR002]
The second release on the Fuck Reality label comes from Smallville regular Moomin, aka German producer Sebastian Genz. While flipsides “Room 207” and “Right On” are as deep, woozy, starry and twinkling as you’d expect from the long-established deep house producer, it’s A-side “You Are Sweet Sweet” that will undoubtedly attract most attention. It’s effectively an unofficial remix of Candi Staton’s dancefloor anthem “You Got The Love”, with the legendary vocalist’s iconic vocal riding a chunky, organic deep house cut big on rolling, disco-influenced percussion, chiming melodies and rich chords.
Brian Harden – The Essence Of Chicago [PERP005]
The Chicago based Perpetual Rhythms label welcomes long time Chicago artist Brian Harden for the its 5th release. This EP offers 3 solid tracks, including a remix by Dj Quad; all of which represent the many facettes of Chicago House & Techno…Deep, Soulful, & Banging.
DJ Jus Ed / Mr. G – Goatee EP [UQ061]
For the latest outing on his prolific Underground Quality label, deep house veteran Jus Ed is joined by veteran UK techno maestro Mr G. Each producer delivers two tracks in their trademark styles. Unsurprisingly Mr G’s tracks are tough, stripped-back, atmospheric and heavy, with the hypnotic spookiness of “Freakshow” just edging out the bumpin’ beats, weighty bass and minor key chords of “Billares Londres The Rum”. In contrast, there’s an inherent tunefulness about Jus Ed’s two analogue deep house jams. Choose between the subtle steel drum melodies, sinewy synth-strings and Balearic house grooves of “GoTee Stroke”, and the ultra-deep dub house flex of “Heaven Sent”.
Ike Release – Dance Equations EP [SMRT001]
Chicago institution Smart Bar launched a new record label with curators The Black Madonna and Argot/Tasteful Nudes boss Steve Mizek, naming it Northside ’82 after the neighborhood and year the club was founded in. The inaugural release comes from Resident Smart Bar DJ Ike Release who sources inspiration from early Midwestern house music for his Dance Equations EP.
Hidden Spheres – Waiting For A Minute [HAWAII001]
Super not-secret summer business from the Lobster family. Four luscious, beach-coasting, jet-skiing tracks inspired by the soul of Detroit via Manchester producer Hidden Spheres. Vocal tracks that undulate with ‘mmm’s and ‘uuuh’s for the real deal summer feel. Sweeping Rhode lines, organic percussion to make the thumbs raw and those deep, woofing basses that just keep on giving. Hidden Spheres going for the jugular.
Ron Obvious – Group Mind [LBP003]
L.B. Produce return for their third release. Ron Obvious takes the helm this time round and delivers four sweltering, club ready house tracks. Deep, pounding bass pulled straight from the D, transient machine percussion, emotive pad work and some choice vocal snippets.
STL – Simply Positive [SMALLVILLE043]
Stephan ‘STL’ Laubner’s new release on Smallville Records features two deep house tracks.Opener “Heaven’s Vape” (we chuckled, at least) peppering a rubbery, low-end groove with tuneful synthesizers and glistening electronics. There’s a similar love-of-life demonstrated on flipside “Joy Operator”, with winding synth motifs, lazy synth-strings and tumbling electronics draped over a notably bullish, forthright groove. Both tracks are typical of Smallville’s output, but rather less obtuse than Laubner’s usual fare.
Tambien – Ondule [KITJEN002]
The second Kitjen 12″ released come from Tambien. The trio’s particular take on house – left-of-centre, but deliciously warm and inviting – comes to the fore on “Ondule”. The track is hard to pin down, with dreamy Balearic electronics and rich organ chords rising and falling over a twisting, skittish drum machine rhythm. Kornel Kovacs delivers the flipside remix, utilizing the Munich outfit’s wonderful chords and melodies whilst attaching his own throbbing, Italo-influenced deep house groove.
Hunee – Hunch Music [RHM016]
Hunee aka Hun Choi presents his debut album “Hunch Music”. “Hunch Music” is the striking assembly of the artist’s versatile inspirations and productional talent. It is a rich musical journey that latches onto you and doesn’t let go easily. “Hunch Music” is rather special: it is a cinematic journey from the beginning to the end, with scenes we haven’t encountered before. It starts with “Woods” as the perfect introduction – a moody, mystic night haze that quickly changes into a warm and soothing whole. Following with “Crossroads”, the mystery transcends into something that moves us to the dance floor, and we’re not sure whether we want to keep moving or we just want to listen. “Hunch Music” has a nocturnal aura, an organic groove, and moments of glorious acid. It takes us up and throws us down, gently, while subjecting us to many cinematic and musical elements. For an artist who is also an avid vinyl collector, it might be difficult to ensure that his numerous inspirations do not distract from his artistic signature. Hunee’s production work is as colorful as his character, displaying a broad spectrum of his inspirations that manifest themselves in a surprising and seductive artistic entity.
The Hipodrome Of Music 