Roundabout Sounds’ ‘Mellow Drama EP’ features a pair of up & coming duo acts. Suburb from Hamburg and a pair of Greek artists known as Moshi Moshi. The remixers on this project are Tristen and the one and only Rick (TheGodson) Wilhite of 3 Chairs, Detroit.
Three new tracks, and the third in a row of releases for the prolific Mr. Fingas. Backed up by fellow Firecracker, Linkwood, this originally came out as a limited 50 copy run release early this year and sold out within minutes. Fingas kicks off proceedings with “Untyltled” – a record that could only come out of the Firecracker camp. Taking inspiration from Detroit and Chicago but giving it that distinctly Firecracker sound – heavy on the keyboard motifs, high fidelity, musically accomplished and well produced. Meandering bleepy melodies contrast with gliding synthlines and a ravey, M1-type bassline. The movement between sections is seamless and will take people on an intoxicating musical journey. Linkwood steps up on side B, “Secret Value” has mysterious, seductive key changes and atmospheres; 16 bar acid sections building up and dropping into lush, blessed-out micro-solos of synthesized flute and exquisite pads. A sonic buffet served to perfection. Finally we get one of Firecrackers trademark interludes, “Minus 616” is a beautifully crafted, neo-classical piano piece. Reverberated into the distance, the piano playing is skillful and emotive and the strange outboard effect it’s processed through gives it that otherworldly, tripped-out vibe.
A brilliant portfolio of ocean deep productions from Soiree Records. Leading off, Detroit’s own Drivetrain rocks the floor from the first dropped beat. But the real surprise is the evolving melodies submerged in infectious groove. Rubba J, hailing from Brussels, debuts on Soiree with his track “Reflections” – a meticulous syncopation dancing through relentless rhythm. Absent for over a decade, Country Gents from London, UK, return to Soiree with “Need Me,” a Club-tested track with powerful vocals. Paris based Professor Inc brings another earth quaking, body-shaker entitled “Luvin” fusing clever chord progressions and tweaked-out vocals. Aqua Marine – redefining the fathomless depth of the underground.
Debut 12″ release from Tevo Howard’s new project- Ruby. Ruby is a collaboration of friendships sharing a musical bond and electronic soundscape interfaced through Lionel Melgar’s electronic wizardry and seamless production, Tevo Howard’s House expertise and analog hardware, and Gustavo Guerra’s instrumentals. Growing up in Chicago during the 80’s helped form Ruby’s palette, rich with electronic influences of disco,italo, house, post-punk, and industrial. Ruby’s debuts were limited to freshly cooked CD’s and car stereos until now.
Chez Damier presents a new compilation of deep house tracks called Purpose By Design, on Balance Music. This is the second part with tracks by Minister Mike, Soy Mustafa, Garrett David and Salah Arnse.
Chez Damier presents a new compilation of deep house tracks called Purpose By Design, on Balance Music. This is the first part with tracks by Miruga, Brawther, Introspective and a remix by Matthew Bandy for GMS.
The last release of the year reveals a significant capture for Boe in the form of Soul 223. “Eastern Promise” is a fine balanced EP covering deep sample based jams, spacey disco grooves and sunshine laden strings. “Age Of Peace” is a quirky cut with loose shakers and light percussion over a slap bass and soft warm chords. It’s topped off with some crazy synth FX lead work to round into something reminiscent of Herbert and Moodymann combined. “Wide Open Spaces” is well textured and deep. A gorgeously put together bassline, sweeping chords cushioned by cavernous reverb and crunchy disco beats make this a real late night groover. On the flip side, “Hand In Hand” is an instant Balearic classic with loose drums and a string pattern drenched in sunshine and golden sand. The strings sweep in and out as subtle voice samples add depth to the harmony. “In Motion” is a simple but incredible catchy rolling groover. It’s relentless bongo pattern and snappy snares and kick are infections to the core as the drums roll on and the sweeping chord stabs come in. The EP finishes off with the “Hand In Hand” (Reprise), using the same strings as its parent cut but with more FX to make it a great DJ tool.
Captain Filippo Naughty Moscatello cruising again. Close to his recent success with Verde, the Ambassador of Italian House delivers a high-grade next release on Save The Black Beauty in collaboration with Moodmusic Records. “BLU” is the second part of a life cycle trilogy. Steve Bug and Daniel Dexter give their signature on this with a combo Remix.
Paper Recordings continue their journey back to plastic with another vinyl release. Jamie L is a mysterious figure of undisclosed origin and history who fits in to the Moodyman / Theo Parrish mold of heavy future disco; which his new production ‘(What We Saw) In The Burg’ nails. It’s a heavy leftfield groove laid over broken house beats with a filtered bass, samples and leftfield vibe. The Detroit pad creeps up to the break and filters in and out as the track works it’s way through for locked down dance floor business. Next up, Havana Candy breaks out the analogue and takes things deeper and techier. With a rolling bass and tweaking acid line, it cuts to a Rhodes before filtering down and riding back to the heads down groove. Cottam steps up for Paper for the first time and demonstrates what all the fuss is about with a very special mix. Clocking in at 9.41 it’s deep, tough soulful house that crosses the 4/4 divide from techno to disco and deep house to soul.
Hamburg’s Smallville who now are about to release Christopher Rau’s second album “Two”. Well known for his minimalistic choice of ingredients Christoper Rau somehow frees himself of any straight format. Songs full of sweetness, a glimpse of soul here, a detroit electro influence there, broken beats, breaks that are no breaks, sexyness and funk and fun. The City of Christopher Rau’s music turns into a Universe. A world that believes in that particular moment when a minute turns into life. Where you will dive through the surface of beat, bass and sample – something underneath grows to the unreachable. As you reach that overwhelming feeling, the night could last forever. After the essentials of House Music have been invented some 25 years ago, Christopher Rau proves again how far we still can go searching for the perfectly wonderful track.
Dusty Baron aka Latecomer may be a recent arrival on the scene, but he plays like a true veteran. A mysterious export from the around same eastern latitudes as label boss Vakula, their music sounds just as rooted in the post Soviet Russian landscape as it is in the post industrial North America which gave rise to all the soul and machine funk that is the driving inspiration for so many of today’s roots conscious electronic artists. Vakula takes the controls on Side A with dubwise and exotic production skills whilst Side B showcases The Baron’s heavy heavy chops, with drum programming as deft as his keys work, and a sound which is equal parts earthly and heavenly. Sides C & D (on bonus 7”) see V step up to offer two takes on Follow Shot, continuing the theme of techno tinged jazz cosmism.
Florida record hub Finale Sessions have firmly established themselves in the affections of deep house lovers in their two years of existence to date. Simoncino steadfastly belongs in the latter camp, though his prolific nature means he has a discography comparable in size to the former category. The Other Side is the Italian’s ninth release of 2012 (including an excellent debut album) and brandishes three typical Chicago/Detroit pollinations rich in analogue texture and loose in percussive rhythm, with B Side track “Got U On My Mind” a particularly devilish execution.
Fine Choice Records is an imprint focused on releasing a series of limited 10” records for the discerning vinyl collector. The first release is by Fantastic Man and presents two modern deep house cuts.
Live percussionist turned DJ/producer, Rafael Moraes presents intelligently blends elements of jazz, broken beat, Latin rhythms and deep house. ‘Ahead’ demonstrates his expertise and creativity in fusing different rhythms with Caribbean and Brazilian genres; intricate beats that gain momentum over a poignantly incessant piano loop and the equally yearning vocals of Andre Torquato. The heat rises ever so slightly with the thumping b line and off beat rhythms of ‘What’, yet the trance like spectrum of sounds make it an ideal track for 5 in the morning. The B side’s ‘Birth’ is equally, if not more, meditative. This tranquil and organic blend of hushed whispers and Amazonian sounds, coupled with the gradual and refined crescendo of rhythms leaves you with a sense of completion; a sense that “Modern Traditions”, Moraes’ labor of love, is finally delivered.
Italian producer Joe Drive serves you his first EP for 4lux. Deep house tracks with a true analogue feel. ‘Rain Dance’ is an exquisite deep house bomb with smart TR707 drum programming, deep driving bassline and disco-ish vibes. Title song ‘Junopolis’ is dedicated to the legendary Juno synths and shows you capabilities of these machines in clever fashion. Alden Tyrell brings you the extremely deep remix for ‘Tefnut’: steady drum programming with spaced out synth filtering and dubby tape delays. This is one for the heads for sure. Joe Drives’ original is included too.
‘Word of Mouth’ is the debut album from the tireless Leftroom Records boss and producer/DJ, Matt Tolfrey. Featuring a rich selection of talent, from the relatively new such as James Teej, Jem Cooke and Kevin Knapp, to legends like Marshall Jefferson and Ya Kid K, ‘Word Of Mouth’ is a return to the feel of classic house albums of old where collaborations with vocalists, engineers and mix engineers were worn as a badge of honour. Matt Tolfrey is a fixture of modern house music that can feel a definite sense of pride over his achievements. Tolfrey’s touch in the studio is undoubted but with ‘Word of Mouth’ we’re treated to a unique insight into his influences, working methods and what makes him tick.
Memoria Recordings presents a new 12 inch by young Romanian talent Egal 3, with remixes from Hector and the Norway underground talent Terje Bakke.
The Hipodrome Of Music 