Quince is back after a short hiatus on Something Happening Somewhere with a four track killer no filler EP that oozes character out of every sweaty pore. Making the kind of records you still remember after an intense club night slowly comes to an end, Quince presents a diverse pallet of sounds to choose from. ‘Rif’ provides perfect sturdy dance floor material with Quince’s compelling groove trusting alongside splintered melodies and Detroit influenced synth sounds producing a sense of undeniable optimism. B1’s ‘Coïtus’ shares a similar punch, combining raspy synth stabs with a detuned bell pad giving the feeling that you’re sucked into a wormhole propelling you towards an unknown location. ‘Propheet’ hits you in the gut like nothing you’ve experienced before, like a smack in the face in the most positive way imaginable. It’s a raw driving electro cut, sounding like it could be coming from a long forgotten industrial era, with so much vibe that sweat starts dripping instantly. Think of it as travelling trough the wormhole and realizing you ended up in a dark nightmare of the soul. ‘Stop’ sounds like the musical equivalent of an artificial intelligent life form’s onboard computer slowly malfunctioning, experiencing true emotions in the downfall. It could be the sound of that intense night coming to an end and fits the closing of this class ep by Quince flawlessly.
deep techno
Owen Jay / Melchior Sultana – August EP [BBR014]
The duo from Malta, Owen Jay & Melchior Sultana, are back to their homegrown label; Batti Batti. The 3 tracks on this EP are somewhat different to their usual style, putting aside their laid-back deepness and focusing more on the dance floor by delivering an EP of raw drums, acid lines, warm chords and filtered pads.
Leonid – Paris 5 [ITDR002]
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.
Yagya – Stars And Dust [118DSR]
Atmospheric and ambient dub master Yagya serves up Stars and Dust, his seventh full length album and second on Delsin. It finds the Icelandic artist perfectly pair melody and minimalism to create ten more tender tracks that will sooth both body and mind with a range of very real emotions. Electronic but organic, it is another complete work that encourages you to lay back and get lost in sumptuous sound.
Alex Danilov – Religion 2000 EP [FOXTRAX010]
Fluxion – Vibrant Forms III [SUBWAXFXCD002]
Konstantinos Soublis, aka Fluxion, and Subwax Bcn have decided to pick up the banner and release Vibrant Forms III. It contains everything anyone could hope for and more: The massive, booming basses, the clicks and hisses, the atmospheric thunderstorms, the opium smoke-scented streaks of reverb, dub echoes and the warmth. Yes, above all else the warmth: Sometimes moist and dripping as in “Safe Harbour”, sometimes blisteringly dry as in “Variant”. It’s no easy task, giving cold, dead machines warm breaths. And no-one quite does it like Fluxion.
VA – 5 Years Of Finale Sessions Vol.1 [FSL003]
Finale Sessions celebrates it’s 5 year aniversery with Luke Hess, Patrice Scott. Basic Soul Unit and label boss Michael Zucker .
Hiver – Soundescence [CURLE058]
The dynamic duo Hiver return to the Belgium imprint, Curle Recordings, with their latest EP, entitled ‘Soundescence’. This excellent four-track offering is the Italian pairing’s third EP on Curle. Kicking off the release is the title-named track, ‘Soundescence’, displaying the melodic, psychedelic sound Hiver has been praised for previously. Delicate synth patterns perfectly bled with the understated drums and percussive elements. This ethereal approach to Techno continues on the following deep-groover, ‘One More Snooze’. The B-side opener, ‘Phonotis’, immediately breaks the silence with a steady 4/4 rhythm, seeing a squelchy synth bassline, warm pads and floating atmospheric textures scattered throughout the six-minute number. Closing the EP is ‘Floor Diving’, which once again showcase Hiver’s sleek and seductive style of dance music that is made for the dark, underground clubs of Europe and beyond.
Agonis – Visionquest [AMEN003]
Erosion Flow – Spectrums vol. 2 [3024027]
The second chapter of this young Danish talent’s Spectrums, with more post-bass techno hybrids, and inspired by the early 90s sounds of Belgian labels like R&S and Buzz.
Louis Haiman – The Cosmic Memory EP [AERA017]
Louis Haiman returns to Indigo Aera with The Cosmic Memory EP, which features two originals as well as a remix by Berghain heavyweight Marcel Dettmann. His first single here is ‘How Free Am I’, and is eight delicate minutes of floating ambience and subtle, stripped back rhythm. It’s all in the bassline at first, after pixel thin synths float in like fireflies before static crackle and soft percussions flesh out the heavenly sound world. Soothing and absorbing throughout, it becomes a forceful and high pressure bit of techno in the hands of Marcel Detmann who layers in solid kicks and clacking hits to drive things along. ‘Hidden Knowledge’ is then a slithering bit of atmospheric electro with rumbling synths and pads suspending you in deep space. It rounds out a captivating EP.
Trinity – Cascade Drive [NTD007]
Australian label Nightime Drama serves up its second standout release of 2016. This four track affair is a second release on the label by Aussie live act, DJ and producer Trinity, with Steven Tang and Italian based Andee on the remix.
Benjamin Brunn – Plastic Album [3EEPLP201604]
Benjamin Brunn’s follow up to his highly regarded A Sun Life album on Third Ear. The Plastic Album is, like it’s predecessor once again bursting with fat, glistening, gorgeous sounds. Brunn’s sound is instantly recognizable; the Nord Modular synth and Roland 808 which feature on all his performances. Yet, he’s sounding as fresh, as enigmatic and as soulful as ever.
John Daly – Mainline [IZU002]
Lapien – Something To Show You EP Part 1 [MISTRESS008]
Following a brief hiatus, DVS1’s Mistress Recordings label returns with its’ first release of 2016. Something To Show You is an expansive, two-part E.P fron Nick Lapien. There’s much to enjoy on this first part, which sees Lapien deliver trippy, late night workouts that sit somewhere between ultra-deep house and Detroit techno. It’s an atmospheric formula that works wonderfully, particularly on “Something To Tell You” – where bluesy vocal samples weave their way around a deep, locked-in groove – and the up-tempo bump of tech-house hustler “No Good”.
Orson Wells – Missin U EP [SM005]
Orson Wells returns to his own Sound Mirror imprint with another superb 3-tracker. A slightly electro tinged dreamy and melodic beauty called G.I.T.S.’ is followed by the distorted, heavy breakbeat enhanced pounding title track Missn’ U’ on side A, while the futuristic deep journey Red Planet’ on the flip makes this EP another versatile and quality packed release you shouldn’t miss.
Legowelt – Dekmantel Podcast 078
Carlos Nilmmns – Midnight Chronicles EP [ORN039]
Carlos Nilmmns with a collection of atmospheric tracks between classical compositions, Detroit techno and oldschool deep House, on the Ornaments label.
Andy Stott – Too Many Voices [LOVE101]
Andy Stott rarely gets it wrong. To date, he’s release a trio of fine full-lengths on Modern Love, each of which has arrived perfectly formed. It’s a similar story on fourth album Too Many Voices. Rich, spacious and melodious, it draws on both classic and contemporary sounds, channeling Yellow Magic Orchestra, James Blake, Boards Of Canada, Autechre and clap-happy drum machine funk, before twisting these varied inspirations into thrilling new shapes. For all the high-minded experimentalism, Stott’s greatest gift is an ability to create music that’s inspired and entertaining, achieving a balance between boundary-pushing and old-fashioned melodiousness. When he gets it right, as on Too Many Voices, few can really compete.
