Patrice Scott kicks off the 2012 release schedule in proper fashion with the Orbital Bliss EP – Keeping the Sistrum sound true and setting the tone for another year of quality output. We are treated to cool, smooth, futuristic cuts that pay tribute to the wonders of the cosmos. As always, the sounds are carefully crafted and slowly evolving, treating the listener to a refined palette of rhythm and melody.
Four mystery tracks, very reminiscent of the early Ferrispark Records releases. Super trackee, simple, gritty & emotional sample based Detroit house.
Sound Kemystry a new outlet for the housier side of Sound Black debuts with a bang. Ikenga Project’s Snow EP features chilling vocals from both Carolyn Harding and Lady Blacktronika under her alias AkuaRising. Ikenga Project seeks to put a thaw to winter ice with hot tracks from beginning to end that are deeper then the rabbit’s hole, including a remix from none other then Harley & Muscle. Ikenga Project is the brain child of Lady Blacktronika & Chris Mitchell who seem to have perfect synergy in the studio.
Italian producer Nicholas serves you his debut album for 4lux called Still Playing House, showcasing his love for the earlier USA house sounds in 14 original deep house tracks. The album includes also 2 remixes by Hunee and label head Gerd.
Expect to get lured into the Purple Maze with this third release by the Dutch imprint, once again by mysterious producer Yør with his “Modern Slaves Of Contemporary Contexts EP”. The EP starts with ‘ABCM’, a dystopian landscape of buzzing machines, ticking percussion and raw drums that builds and builds until eventually coalescing into a foreboding and roughshod house groove. ‘Dystopia’ continues in Yør’s tradition of contrary titles, because it’s in fact a soothing cut doused in ambiance that relaxes you after the agro ride that went before. ‘Fear And Desire’ comes over like a deep cut, with searching synths, a fine grain texture and plenty of disheveled Detroit vibes. Closer ‘Phaedra’s Love’ is a scuffed deep house kicker with delicate tambourines, somber buried melodies and a only the faintest sense of optimism muffled in its concealed core.
It’s still relatively early days for Lóránt Talpai aka San Laurentino, whose sensitive take on deep house is imbued with the mystique of early braindance material streets ahead of cookie-cutter pads and chords. The beats are most certainly Chicago-indebted on his EP for Robert Johnson, not least on the title track, but the atmosphere created by the intricate melodies of his synths are the real stars of the show. If you miss the soothing embrace of nineties back room ambience, then head straight for the massaging bass tones of “Rainforest Hunters” and get ready for the bliss-out.
Rio Padice is back with some assured groovers for Housewax. On the Moon Phases EP the ghost of deep Chicago house looms heavy, not least in the opening track. It’s deliberately naive, easy-going music perfectly pitched to worm its way into a warm-up scenario, but with enough grit in the production to avoid the trap of background fodder. The B-Side is a touch wilder, as the syncopation of “Track 3” does damage with a sumptuous square wave bass while “Track 4” bumps on a nasty garage shuffle.
‘Emerging Elements’ is aDepth’s new EP of diverse, quality electronic music produced by talented Dutch artists. It’s aDepth audio’s seventh release and showcases the work of four of these artists and producers.
HotMix Records presents a new EP by Marcello Napoletano, featuring five deep and warm house tracks.
Aroy Dee and San Proper craft a beautiful four track EP entitled “Perfume” for M>O>S. An EP of more mind-melting or heart warming house sounds you are unlikely to hear because Aroy Dee and his MOS are the true masters of future facing, retro-referencing house music.
Dekmantel presents the return of Vedomir to their imprint, with nothing less than a full length album this time. The Ukraine-based producer shows he’s getting more mature with every release, delivering a comprehensive artist album that crosses over genres easily. Ranging from downtempo, almost jazz-like slowburners to haunting Chicago house with a true analog feel, and from dark electro stuff, to the beautiful ambient soundscape: this record is a piece of stunning musical versatility.
Norm Talley again, with a 4-Tracks Ep that includes a repress of ”A Jazz Thing”. Pressed on a 180g quality vinyl a nice release on this new French label delivering some quality detroit house tracks.
Local Talk preset a Wil Maddams release, featuring some classic chord driven house tracks with warm grooves and keys and bits of vocal samples.
Shyam kickstarts the new 10 inch series from Rawax in fine style. Fantastic powerful deep house tracks for serious club abuse!
A breakthrough artist features on this, the new 7th Sign, which also sees Conforce deliver a slick remix. Leeon, a Glasgow-based DJ and producer, uses his debut to serve up three beautiful slices of the proper machine soul we’ve come to expect from 7th Sign.
Ferrispark Records presents a 3 track EP from new artist JBSF. Very deep and emotional sampled based Detroit influenced dance music.
Moomin is back with another adventure into charming house music. Like a fountain of sweetness the works of Smallville’s wunderkind are spreading all over the world.
Cinematic’s latest release comes from Reggie Dokes in the form of “Child of The Sun EP”. An inspired artist hailing from Detroit, Reggie spoils us with three funk fuelled cuts via the motor city.
Wonderfull languorous slice of laid back slo mo house that fuses together loose limbed percussion, an old school riff and haunting, pitch shifted vocals. The tracks builds in intensity as the arrangement progresses, bringing the piano to the fore and shifting up a gear with hypnotic vocals that give the record a truly balaeric feel, quality stuff.
