Delta Funktionen – Sun Storm / Onkalo [99DSR]

April 9, 2013April 8, 2013 hipodromechicago, delsin records, delta funktionen, karenn, technoLeave a comment

Still fresh from his debut full length Traces last year, Delta Dunktionen is back with his first EP of the year. As well a new track, it features a special Karenn remix of ‘Onkalo’, a track previously released on Traces, as well as ‘Challenger’ from the same album. The first original is ‘Sun Storm’ with its tumbling Chicago drums, chattering claps and sci-fi swirls all adding up to something that’s as heady as it is futuristic. ‘Challenger’ – previously cd/digi only – on the other hand sounds like a much more calm and serene trip through the cosmos, with slowed electro stylings and plenty of occult details coming over like the soundtrack to a film as much as a darkened dancefloor.

John Beltran – Amazing Things [98DSR]

March 23, 2013January 25, 2018 hipodromealbum, ambient, delsin records, electronics, experimental, john beltranLeave a comment

Amazing Things

John Beltran returns on Delsin with a brand new album entitled Amazing Things. As a life long pioneer of ambient soundscapes, blissful downbeat and stirring techno, Michigan born John Beltran already has his place in history assured with a bulging back catalogue that takes in influential releases on vital labels like Peacefrog and R&S. This new 17-track album sees the man draw on his lifetime in music to craft an immediately timeless body of work that’s stuffed with genuine musicality, pregnant with emotion and laden with organic blissfulness.

Bleak – Origins Of Chaos [97DSR]

March 20, 2013January 25, 2018 hipodromebleak, delsin records, santiago naura, technoLeave a comment

Origins Of Chaos

Sweden’s Bleak is fast becoming an essential part of his country’s techno new school. Through releases on Deeply Rooted House, Sudden Drop and Traut he has emerged as a producer of funky, loopy techno a la countrymen Skudge. Here he debuts on Delsin with a fierce two tracker, Origins of Chaos. The first track ‘Sixteen Crude’ is a cantering techno cut with searing, warbling synths racing along above lazier, underlapping kicks. It’s a nice contrast that gives the acidic track plenty of depth, before the flipside, ‘Subject Target’ deals in more convoluted, whip-snap lines that thrash about like cables in a storm. Industrial yet human, it’s timeless techno that wraps you up in its midst and never lets you go.

Conforce – Time Dilation EP [96DSR]

February 12, 2013November 8, 2022 hipodromeboris bunnik, conforce, delsin records, technoLeave a comment

It’s increasingly hard to keep tabs on everything Boris Bunnik does these days, but one of his most loved aliases is Conforce. It is that identity he assumes here for a return to one of his most regular homes, Delsin, following the still excellent ‘Escapism’ album he served up at the end of 2011. This Time Dilation EP is designed for deeper dancefloors: ‘Nomad’ roams in dark and derelict spaces with the clatter of machines off in the distance and a sense of tension never far away. ‘Receiver’ is a more purposeful cut that rolls on vast techno kicks as glassy tinkles and ominous synths colour the backdrop before ‘Last Anthem’ bangs the hardest of the lot. It’s techno, but techno stuff with cinematism, techno that really traps you in the imagined alien world of Conforce from start to finish. Closing out the EP with ‘Embrace’, Bunnik brings you back to earth with a softening dub cushion that glides forwards through more huge open spaces that sound like underwater caves. Few design sounds as evocative as this man, despite the fact he does so on such a regular basis.

Hipodrome’s 2012 Review (Part III)

January 7, 2013February 17, 2025 hipodromealan hurst, asso, automatic tasty, axis records, baz reznik, bunker records, cititrax, claro intelecto, clone records, creme organization, cyril, d'marc cantu, dark entries records, degada saf, delano smith, delsin records, delta funktionen, dino sabatini, do it yourself fuck the rest records, downwards records, echospace, elitechnique, emotional response, fachwerk, frustrated funk, fxhe records, hard corps, hospital productions, indigo aera, innergaze, iron curtis, jacob korn, jahiliyya fields, jeff mills, karriem riggins, l.i.e.s., legowelt, linea aspera, lives of angels, louis haiman, luke hess, m>o>s recordings, makam, mantra, mike dehnert, minimal wave records, mirau musik, mote evolver, music man records, nick anthony simoncino, orgue electronique, oscar mulero, peoples potential unlimited, peter van hoesen, photodementia, private records, prologue, prplx, red cavity records, regis, robert hood, shifted, silent servant, soviet soviet, stones throw, stress, sushitech records, tanz ohne muzik, tempo, thug records, time to express, type, uncanny valley, vatican shadow, versalife, warm up recordings, wil-ru records2 Comments

Finally we are at the last part of the 2012 review. In the first part of our review, the preferences of our followers are shown, according to the number of click and stars. Top 3 albums of the years, top 3 EPs, compilations and mixes loved by our followers can be seen here.

In the second part, I presented some of my favorite events and performances from last year. For more details go here.

Continue reading “Hipodrome’s 2012 Review (Part III)” →

Low Jack – Free Pyjamas EP [DSRH005]

December 5, 2012May 3, 2018 hipodromedelsin records, house, low jack, technoLeave a comment

Free Pyjamas EP

Delsin’s house series is back once again, this time with mysterious producer Low Jack. His Free Pyjamas EP is house, of course, but thick, dense, gauzy textures fill every inch of the airwaves throughout. The title track is a big barrelling loop of warehouse music that has rattling drum fills, muffled r&b vocals and plenty of noise in its heart. And flipping to the bside, ‘LJs Jam’ is even more fucked up, with harsh, raw drums hidden under layers of dust, static and hiss. Various synths add some ethereal light to the backdrop and a vocal struggles to be heard in the midst of all the chaos. Finally, ‘The White Towel’ is a crunchy groove, with melancholic melodies dampening down the sonic destruction all around. Light yet dark, heavy yet groovy, it closes out a wholly arresting EP from this little known talent.

Seawash – Pantomime EP [DSR-E1]

November 18, 2012July 19, 2019 hipodromealbum, ambient, delsin records, electronics, leftfield, seawashLeave a comment

Following on from the success of Delsin’s new house series, the Dutch label are branching out again with a new sideline in electronica. The first release comes from Venetian producer Seawash and comprises 6 tracks of dense and fuggy, otherworldly sounds. ‘Pantomime’ opens the EP awash with ethereal yet underwater sounding synths, light and dark contrast with rough and smooth and the effect is one of pure electronic escapism. ‘Revolution’ shows a lighter side to Seawash and comes over like a mature adult lullaby with harmonic bells dangle above scraping, skeletal percussion. ‘Free Alternatives’ closes out the first side with a stripped and downbeat air: lazy snares cut out a rhythm as more blissful harmonics drift by like feathery clouds. On the flip ‘Close (Vox)’ shimmers like reflections on a lake as an r&b vocal drifts between sun-kissed guitar licks. Slow and sexy without being overly saccharine, it’s more than lush. ‘Emeralds’ is initially more industrial and sounds like machines in torment before Seawash’s surely trademark watery smears dissipate the tension and transport you to a deep sea world once again. Closer ‘Little John’ stutters and skips along with only the slightest hint of a ticking hi hat immersed in oceans of aqueous echo and delay. Traces of garage lurk within, but like the EP overall, it’s a truly unique listening experience.

Mike Dehnert – Umgangston EP [95DSR]

November 2, 2012March 20, 2024 hipodromedelsin records, detroit, mike dehnert, technoLeave a comment

Fachwerk boss and dubby techno don Mike Dehnert steps away from his usual home for a new EP on Delsin entitled ‘Umgangston’. ‘Andruck’ swings back and forth on a squelchy synth hook as tin foil hi hats cut up long thin pads. Knocking bell sounds add plenty of silvery colours to the dubby bass below, and it’s one of the more serene and beautiful Dehnert cuts of recent times. ‘Tracer’ is much sterner, with huge Basic Channel dub waves breaking beneath scratchy synths and acid bleeps. Fizzing and fine grain like warm white noise, it’s for those more intense dancefloor moments. ‘Refillable’ finds Mike in full on rave mode with filters twisting and turning and skewing synths into weird patterns as hi hat ringlets race between sandy claps and a tortured vocal yelps out every so often. Rushy and racy, it’s underpinned with a walloping kick drum where closer ‘Umgangston’ is about knife-edge intensity, cantering kick drums and wild, freeform synth lines.

Dj Yoav B. – Energize / Gemini [DSR-SP004]

October 24, 2012October 24, 2012 hipodromedelsin records, detroit, dj yoav b., house, technoLeave a comment

Energize / Gemini

Small repress from these two tracks, his underground anthem ‘Energize’ from 2005, as included on Carl Craig’s Fabric mix cd. Other side brings ‘Gemini’ from his debut EP from 2004.

Unbroken Dub – Checkpoint EP [94DSR]

October 24, 2012November 5, 2013 hipodromedeep techno, delsin records, denis safiullin, detroit, dub techno, unbroken dubLeave a comment

Checkpoint EP

Siberian producer Unbroken Dub makes his debut on Delsin Records. The three track Checkpoint EP kicks off with ‘I Want To Make This Louder’, a widescreen, gently undulating soundscape with scraping percussion and thick, smeared synths. Cutting through the dense dub fug are sharp edged percussive ticks, driving the track forwards gently as more and more analogue textures unfold and unfurl. ‘Det Special’ is less smooth and more choppy, rising up and down as abrasive white noise swirls add caustic surfaces to the hopping wood block hits and buried deep in the mix bassline. Again, it’s seriously analogue and as cerebral as it is physical. Closer ‘Insane’ is a much brighter cut, instead of sounding introverted and melancholic it offers some hope thanks to the buoyant hi hat ringlets, up right kick drums and glassy, tinkling echo of percussion. Contrasting heavy bass with light percussion as he does, this young producer continues to find new life in the ancient form of dub.

Population One – Midnight Hours / Two Sides To Every Story [X-DSR003]

October 18, 2012July 19, 2019 hipodromedelsin records, population one, reissue, terrence dixonLeave a comment

Terrence Dixon is the man behind sporadic production alias Population One, serving up dark and heavy, intense and ravey records. Delsin’s re-issue arm has sought to get some of the old tracks out there once again on this double a side 10″ outing with ‘Midnight Hours’ and ‘Two Sides To Every Story’. ‘Midnight Hours’ bangs hard and fast with an unhinged melody line squirming about like an untethered hose. Every surface is frayed and rusted, frosty and splintered making this some of the most primeval warehouse techno you will likely have heard for a while. ‘Two Sides To Every Story’ is just as tough and unruly, with myriad synthesized sounds rushing about in side a framework of incessant hi hats and solid kicks like a bee trapped in a bottle. A controlled frenzy, you might say, but certainly the sort of abrasive and arresting techno that works perfectly in the darkest of basements.

RA Roundtable: Clone, Delsin, Rush Hour

October 10, 2012October 9, 2012 hipodromechristiaan macdonald, clone records, delsin records, interview, marsel van der wielen, resident advisor, rush hour, sergeLeave a comment

Andy Vaz feat. Niko Marks – Don’t Lose Your Mind [DSR-H004]

July 2, 2012August 28, 2024 hipodromeandy vaz, deep house, delsin records, nico marksLeave a comment

Don't Lose Your Mind

Andy Vaz on Delsin house series. He serves up two versions of the same track ‘Don’t Lose Your Mind’. Both feature the sweet vocal stylings of Niko Marks and the first, the Soul Version, is all ditty, bouncy chords, floating, summery saxophone lines and warm, effusive synths. The second House Dub mix is a little sharper – the claps cut through the soupy sonics like a knife and as a result the groove has a more urgent bite. Still stuffed with plenty of human loveliness, though, both tracks are surely set for many spins this summer given their classy feel good vibes.

Trevor Deep Jr – Keep On! [DSR-H003]

June 22, 2012June 26, 2019 hipodromedeep house, delsin records, trevor deep jrLeave a comment

The third man to take the baton in Delsin’s new house aligned sub-series is Helsinki’s Trevor Deep Jr. The man himself states his sound is “somewhere between Detroit deepness, classic Chicago house and the moody soundscapes of Helsinki”, something backed up by the three new tracks offered here.

Soul 223 – Almost Like It Used To Be [DSR-H002]

May 10, 2012June 21, 2012 hipodromedeep house, delsin records, detroit, soul 223, steve picktonLeave a comment

Second release on the new house music aligned Delsin series is coming from Soul 223 aka Steve Pickton. He has been producing melodic, Detroit inspired sounds since the mid 90s, most often as Stasis on labels like Peacefrog and Mo Wax.
A keen sense of melodic colour also characterises the four cuts that make up this EP, with the first, ‘Almost Like It Used To Be’ pairing radiant pads with a lolloping house beat and plenty of melted synth sounds. Next up, ‘Arties Mood’ slows to a Moodymann styled pace, layering percussive samples, keys and jazzy motifs onto of a lazy house beat to conjure a perfect sunny afternoon vibe. ‘Heartstrings’ is alive with the sound of the cosmos as it rolls on through organic sounding bongos, sharper claps and plenty of neon lines. Closing track ‘Essex’ has a gummy, gritty bottom end sweetened by more glistening melodies and key work, all the while chugging along at a most inviting deep house pace.

Delta Funktionen – Traces [93DSR]

May 3, 2012October 23, 2012 hipodromealbum, delsin records, delta funktionen, detroit, electro, techno2 Comments

After four years of techno EPs for Delsin and Ann Aimee, Niels Luinenburg aka Delta Funktionen has finished his debut full length, Traces. Though still very much couched in techno, the album sees the Dutchman explore plenty of new sonic territory, as he often does in his long ranging DJ sets. It’s adventurous, basically, and is an album that doesn’t loose itself in intricate sound design, but instead pairs a raw, machine made aesthetic with plenty of real human soul and palpable earthly emotion.
“Traces is about my long time research into electronic music. It covers tracks that make reference to my favourite subgenres within electronic music: techno, house, electro and (Italo)-disco. There was no specific idea behind it because the album contains tracks made over a long time. Some are 3 years old, others were made this year, but in the end I think it sounds like a coherent piece of work.”
Made using a mixture of drum machines, FM and digital synthesizers, various bits of hardware and digital FX units, the whole thing was sequenced in Ableton with plenty of sample use to finish it off. From the atmospheric openings of blissful electro joint “Frozen Land” through the sultry and searching acid of “Enter” and on to more forceful cuts like “Redemption”, this is an album for listening to as much as it is for dancing. Mood driven landscapes like “Onkalo” prove that, but you’ll have to check it out for yourself to get a real appreciation of the story Delta Funktionen is telling.

Gerry Read – Yeh Come Dance [DSRH001]

March 23, 2012July 30, 2013 hipodromedelsin records, gerry read, house, technoLeave a comment

Yeh Come Dance

Delsin launches of a new house-focussed series and the first release is from the mysterious and 19 year old Gerry Read.
“Yeh Come Dance” explores dusty and rusty loops of drums, vocals and wooden hits all of which are held together with a knackered jazzy glue. ‘Crawlspace’ on the other hand is a foggy gaggle of kicks, drums, hi-hats and cowbells coated in plenty of hiss and crackle. ‘Bozza’ again demonstrates Read’s ability to produce something that sounds two decades old yet wholly contemporary at the same time. Chord prods here, raw hits there, jazzy motifs buried within – it’s house music designed for cosy little basements in the dead of night where ‘Crooked’ is more in yer face. The loops in this one are more exposed and loud in the mix, but still feel unmistakably elliptical and raw.

Claro Intelecto – Reform Club [92DSR]

February 21, 2012January 25, 2018 hipodromealbum, claro intelecto, deep techno, delsin records, mark stewartLeave a comment

Manchester’s Claro Intelecto is back to release his third full-length album, Reform Club, on Delsin Records. Throughout his career, the man known as Mark Stewart has always created lush deep house and techno soundscapes awash with dubby undercurrents. This new album deals in all the usual moods and textures you’d expect from Claro Intelecto… it’s warm and cuddly, comforting and inviting right from the first track, despite the rough edges and well defined analogue details which pervade throughout.

Claro Intelecto – Second Blood EP [91DSR]

January 4, 2012January 25, 2018 hipodromeclaro intelecto, deep techno, delsin records, mark stewart3 Comments

Claro Intelecto aka Mark Stewart makes his Delsin debut with a 3 track EP entitled Second Blood, which precedes the release of his full length album on the same label in march 2012. First up, the title track ‘Second Blood’ is a lazy, scuffed and romantic sounding deep dub cut that lurches from one beat to the next with a lazy smile and soft eyes. Plenty of echo and reverb have it drifting off into the distance as warm pads and rising strings add subtle tension. Another lazy roller but this time with brighter melodic flashes, next effort ‘Heart’ is just as lateral, dubwise and soothing as the title track, melting your mind into a dreamy state of hypnosis before b2 ‘Voyeurism’ lifts you out of your trance with a firmer kick drum, more cutting claps and groove that bounces a little more than it rolls. Some taught acid notes appear eventually, rounding off a cerebral, dead of night EP made as much for home listening as it is gentle Sunday afternoon comedowns.

MK / The 7th Plain – The MKappella / Lost [XDSR002]

December 22, 2011May 9, 2013 hipodromedeep house, delsin records, detroit, luke slater, mark kinchen, mk, the 7th plain1 Comment

Second release in the Delsin X-DSR series containing re-issues of personal favourites.. MK’s The MKappella was originally a track on the b-side of the very original version of his huge Burning EP on the Area 10 label. The MKappella is some original innocent deep sunset house. Other side contains the adventurous ‘Lost’ by The 7th Plain aka Luke Slater, taken from his debut album ‘The 4 Cornered Room” way back from 1994, the high days of the UK Techno scene, with lot of hints towards the original Detroit sound.