Sound Black Recordings presenta a 12″ from Hakim Murphy called Darkness EP. This three track experience dives deep into the Chicago ethos, specifically made for underground jocks who like to bang jack tracks. Shouts to all the jacks who like to jack in the dark.
The Smugglers Inn is an independent radio show/podcast which is produced and presented by Daniel Berman aka Red Rack’em very second Wednesday. The Smugglers Inn has become a unique testing ground for new artists and productions and many of todays highly rated new school producers benefited from early support on the show. With a network of talent to draw from, it seemed a logical step to start a record label so this is the first release from what promises to be an interesting series of eclectic, dancefloor focussed musical endeavours from an all-star international cast. The EP includes tracks by Carlos Nilmmns, Franklin de Costa, Tommy Rawson and Ajukaja.
Debut release on the french Knotweed imprint from this pioneer in Detroit Techno, Terrence Dixon. “Beat” powers itself from a prominent set of hats and cymbals while intricate layers of jazzy melodies interlope in an atonal fashion lowed down in the mix in true pile-driving fashion. “Escape” is a creepier affair, holding back on the percussion and letting intriguing keys clash in a measured way that breeds new scales for that quintessential Dixon otherworldliness. “Another Space” is yet more stripped back and haunting, focusing on lavish pads and the space they have to roam free.
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.
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.
“Square” is the follow up to Redshape’s album debut “The Dance Paradox” (Delsin, 2009) – that is if you don’t want to count the double impact 12-inch “Red Pack” as a long player. And indeed, it is a long player in the truest sense of the term. Pamphlets, theories and opinions about the dubious role of “the album” in techno are dime a dozen, i.e. squaring the circle, but the man with the mask makes an effort to prove all of them wrong. “Square” doesn’t care for styles, genres or expectations, it can hold its own. Spread across twelve tracks you are as likely to meet vintage Redshape on tracks like “It’s In The Rain” or “The Playground (Square Version)” as you will encounter new facets of him with the Hyperdub affiliated Space Ape featuring “Until We Burn” and “Moods And Mice” or with a cluster of ambience pieces (“Orange Clouds”, “Landing”, Departing”). Working its way through all these states and moments on and off the dance floor, through melancholy and industrial romanticism alike, “Square” leaves you with the feeling of having experienced an electronic music album with identity that trusts in itself and wants you to trust in it. No matter if your perspective comes from a classic album like Kenny Larkin’s “Metaphor” (R&S, 1995) or is informed by the recent retro futuristic developments in the United Kingdom, if techno means more than a desperately compressed kick drum to you, Redshape with all his idiosyncrasy finds his way into your heart.
New release on Ferrispark Records, featuring four mystery tracks, reminiscent of the early Detroit house & techno.
One third of the Phantom Planet Outlaws, Mark Forshaw returns with a rich and diverse solo EP on Tabernacle Records.
Fantastic new release by Sascha Rydell on Fachwerk, bringing melodic & dreamy but at the same time strong forward techno tracks, accompagnied with some ambient/drone interludes.
Indigo Aera’s 6th release by Louis Haiman called ‘Soul Purpose’ is a real journey trough time. Having released two of this tracks on early Transmat compilation CD’s, the other six unreleased tracks are carefully mined from Louis’ archive of 15 to 20 years old. Louis Haiman’s music is a balance of gentle synth arrangements swimming atop a sea of low-end frequencies. Ambient soundscapes drift among layer after layer of meandering melodies while deep, syncopated rhythms and bass keep listeners grounded. A study in contrasts, his compositions are both tranquil and urgent brought on by some of his earliest influences.
Keeping with tradition, the second ItaloJohnson release of 2012 once again presents itself in the likeliness of a 12inch Wax with three tracks. The one-track mind repeats the same funk-nationalistic character of ItaloJohnson and once more shows its simplicity. The first track is also known as “Bootytrack”. This track always pushes the low end to the limit and under the right circumstances guarantees some hip swing. Number two may sound familiar, but even if you don’t know its rootz, you’ll still be down with each other.
A special collection of all the limited records released over the years on Sushitech inside a solid carton box designed by Kerry Roper. The box include 5 x 10INCH clear marbled records with some new and exclusive mixes! Tracks by Franco Cangelli, Leonel Castillo, Anonym, Delano Smith, Norm Talley, Mike Huckaby.
Mike Huckaby returns on SYNTH with a reissue of two of his most sought after productions. “Flashbacks” from M3 Records (1997), and his very own remix of Precession “Sandcastle,” taken from the Adventures Of Techno Soul LP on Ferox Records (1996).
Noble Square brings this amazing 12″ featuring two killer house tracks by Glenn Underground. The title cut is a unique composition that’s masterfully crafted around a guitar and brings tons of live energy to dancefloors. On the flip, “Ambient Jaz One” throws down another blueprint of technologic soulful house music.
The Hipodrome Of Music 