Aroy Dee – Sketches [MOSLP002]

DEE, Aroy - Sketches

After more than a decade of releasing raw and emotional house music, Dutch producer and architect Aroy Dee is about to drop his debut album on his own M>O>S label. The man has established himself as someone who creates misty analogue music that nods to a Chicago heyday at the same time as coming imbued with plenty of its own deep emotions, mystic melodies and jacking beats. His M>O>S label has become a go-to outlet for fans of no nonsense house and that tradition continues on this full-length album. Incidentally, M>O>S stands for Muziek Over Steden – Dutch for ‘music about cities’ – because Dee has a close tie to buildings: during the day he works as an architect so has an unrivalled grasp of space, structure and urban environments that surely translates into his well built house music, and more specifically into this debut album. Made with the same hardware that defines the rest of his discography, including his first synth, the Poly 800, which he bought from his friend NWAQ, Sketches is a truly idiosyncratic project.

“For me, my musical output and development feels like an on going history of my life. In this perspective I worked steadily over the last two years on my first full-length album, Sketches. It’s a very personal document, not intended to make anybody happy but myself, which is why it has taken so long. It’s like a diary or ghost-script written about a part of my life and my fascinations, honoring my biggest musical inspirations.”

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Aroy Dee – Sketches [MOSLP002]

2AM/FM – Fusion Daze [SIG.MMXIII.XII]

From the shores of the Great Lakes comes a 3 track floor filler from MI duo 2AM/FM aka JTC & D’Marc Cantu. Confronting the canons of Techno & House head on, this 12″ takes you beyond the dance. Best experienced loud though, preferably in a darkened smoke filled room.

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2AM/FM – Fusion Daze [SIG.MMXIII.XII]

Boo Williams – The Boo Williams Explosion [CS004]

The next release on Contemporary Scarecrow comes from Chicago house legend Boo Williams. This double pack features 8 tracks of quality Chicago house to complete another solid release on this rising Australian label.

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Boo Williams – The Boo Williams Explosion [CS004]

VA – Adventures In Techno Soul 3 [FERLP009]

The original Adventures in Techno Soul compilation was released back in 1996 with remixes of Ferox tracks from the likes of Derrick Carter, Carl Craig and Kenny Dixon Jr. A full 16 year’s after its follow up “Further Adventures in Techno Soul” comes this 8 track album of new and unreleased material on double vinyl from 8 different and exciting artists. Ferox is proud to welcome established and respected producers such as Fred P and Germany’s Move D to the roster, as well as a welcome return from Affie Yusuf, Nebraska and Bush Funk (Steve O’Sullivan and Winlord X) who were last seen on Soma Records back in 1996. The label is also proud to introduce two new artists, Darren Harris and Spain’s Hoax Believers who alongside label boss Russ Gabriel round off this package of soulful electronica.

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VA – Adventures In Techno Soul 3 [FERLP009]

Home Invasion – #3 [HI003]

Home Invasion is the new label from Real Tone man Franck Roger, a man whose career has scaled the full depths of house music over the past decade or so. Evidently seeking a new challenge, the Parisian’s new imprint promises to adhere to a vehemently underground way of working, with every EP released on vinyl-only terms and produced exclusively on analogue equipment.

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Home Invasion – #3 [HI003]

VA – Our Beat Is Still New – After Take [WPHNEWBEAT004]

We Play House’s Our Beat Is Still New series has been something of a soar-away success, introducing a new generation of DJs to the distinctive, heavily electronic midtempo pulse of Belgian new beat via a constant stream of tribute tracks from contemporary producers. Predictably, there’s more to admire on this fourth and final 12″, not least the bass-heavy throb and rubbery electronics of Locked Groove’s tribute to Belgian new beat/techno legend Frank De Wulf, “El Rio Negro”. Elsewhere, young rave revivalist Innershades drops the moody and intoxicating “Massive Overdose”, while Lauer impresses with the winding synths, juddering drums and saucer-eyed pads of “Planet Barty”. FCL’s stomping “It Began in Belgium” – all cheap electronics and proto-acid tweakery – is also pretty darn good.

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VA – Our Beat Is Still New – After Take [WPHNEWBEAT004]

The Cellar Boyz – Pay Me Back Remixes [THUG016]

The Cellar Boyz ‘Pay Me’ is taken from Ben Cenac’s timeless ‘Cozmic House E.P’ on Thug Records. Pay Me which was recorded in 1986 is the only track from the Cozmic House E.P that had available parts. The stems for Deeper & Deeper, Seems To Me & Who Loves You were never recorded. This was due to the fact that all of Ben’s projects through out the ‘90s were tracked MIDI only at mix down, with only the vocals being recorded to tape. Thug would never have had the opportunity to release Ben Cenac’s Cozmic House 12″ if it had not been for Simoncino. Simoncino did all the A&R for the record. A gift not only for Thug but any fans of Ben Cenac’s amazing productions. With that in mind, Simoncino has provided 2 remixed versions of Pay Me, alongside a remix from close friend Nicholas.

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The Cellar Boyz – Pay Me Back Remixes [THUG016]

Shangri & La – Plitz Klub Kids EP [TAIN015]

Neo Romantico dance music by Shangri & La. Inspired by a club and a scene that never was, we hear rroto acid, bongo boogie, future reggae and candid club cuts that equals the Fantastic Four. Great sounding music for good looking people.

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Shangri & La – Plitz Klub Kids EP [TAIN015]

Manuel Tur – Es Cub [FRLP033]

Spontaneity, simplicity and playfulness, combined with the warmth and solitude of an Ibizan hideaway, not to mention the cold, industrial minimalism of Manuels Ruhr Valley Essen roots all make for an interesting fusion on Es Cub. Take opener Ara Anam for example, we could just as easily be on the Space Terrace as we could at Panarama Bar. Tracks such as Werk and Flux combine hints of clipped minimalism with the driving, analogue synth sounds of say Ame or Baikal whilst About To Fall and El Soplo contain both depth and a certain majestic beauty gained from the simple, stripped back, rolling beats and flowing pads. Far from being the throwaway sketches that Manuel modestly implies, we hear strong melodic motifs and hooky samples appearing throughout the entire LP which brings a unique identity to each track as well as adding a cohesive gel to Es Cub.

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Manuel Tur – Es Cub [FRLP033]

Jackmate – Halios EP [TURDJR005]

JACKMATE - Halios EP

The Stuttgart papi Michel Baumann alias Soulphiction aka Jackmate presents three new power generators on – Treat Your Dj Right’ equipped with the right measure of steam and courage. On Halios EP he’s getting the juices flowing, however manifested as a compulsion to move. Beyblade’ is a glossily illuminated, sensory-enhanced modern club production which shows that Chicago and Detroit could be sister cities, in the heart of Trollinger-Town! Juan is soaked with pure chi-town pads, and applied, frenetic subterranean bass. Through a fully conscious, shifting rhythm and hi-hat that whispers as if a drum is being stroked with a brush, it manages a compelling groove. Length doesn’t play a role here, answering the question of why anything should be extended when the moment of euphoria has been reached. Sunbeams demonstrates how a ‘whitey’ can produce the same velvety, soulful sound of black music, and with the same understanding to boot.

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Jackmate – Halios EP [TURDJR005]

Antenna – Odessa EP [PNKMN006]

The mysterious Antenna (formed of Kiev native Sasha Renkas and Dutch vocalist Eline Makker) project drops a new limited 12” on the Pinkman imprint. Cold East European house tracks topped with melancholic vocals. Straight from the attic, all recorded on the fly. Comes with cover and label artwork designed by the artists themselves.

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Antenna – Odessa EP [PNKMN006]

Robert Crash – Under Party [DIN001]

Like a noisy hound in your neighborhood – keeping you awake.. awesome stuff on this fresh U.S. house label! Jackin beat tracks and psychedelic discofied mixers from Robert Crash. Beatin’, jackin’ and rockin’ the house.

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Robert Crash – Under Party [DIN001]

Protect-U – Free USA [FT022]

“Free USA” is the first full-length album by Protect-U, the Washington, DC-based duo of Aaron Leitko and Future Times Records co-founder Mike Petillo. On their two Future Times EPs – Double Rainbow and World Music – Leitko and Petillo poured layers of ambient drift onto nearly-steady house foundations, creating long and propulsive zone-outs. On Free USA, Protect-U doesn’t depart from this sound as much as they launch further and further out with it, specifically in the rhythm section, which pivots and lurches into unexpected places throughout the LP. Melodically, automation and humanity combine with dizzying, psychedelic grace, making the sound design sparkle with cool precision. From the bright, super-soaked opening track ”Needs” to the boxed-in drum clunk and iced-out coda of ”Down the Tubes,” Free USA showcases Protect-U’s constantly mutating strand of electronic music.

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Protect-U – Free USA [FT022]

Sir Leon Greg – Warehouse Classics #3 [WAR003]

Sir Leon Greg (another incarnation of Perseus Traxx) jams out then reinforces some edits of forgotten classics with a raw & personal analogue treatment for a devastating full effect on the dance floor, that is a far cry from the proliferation of over-produced squeaky-clean software edits. These are basic, raw ideas thrown down quickly and capturing the energy on 1/4” tape.

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Sir Leon Greg – Warehouse Classics #3 [WAR003]

DJ Aakmael – The Rise EP [UNX007]

7th project from Dj Aakmael. ‘Rise’ is a blissful, relaxed string based track with playful keys thats perfect for any chill lounge or dance floor. ‘Jazz Piece’ is a sampled piece of art, where Aak cuts and chops a vintage groove for the 2014 crowd with that old NJ deep house feel. ‘Untitled 105’ is a dope club thumper that takes you back to that headknod feeling. ‘Untitled 101’ with its thumping beat and dramatic horns & strings concludes a well-packaged project.

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DJ Aakmael – The Rise EP [UNX007]

D’LonelyAl / Jeremaier – We Can Have It All / Goldnugget [POMM002]

Tere comes pommes002 reviving the worst or the best 90ies club music had to offer. The A-Side belongs to Daniel Nentwig aka one half of The Working Elite, one third of the now defunct Extraproduktionen and Whitest Boy Alives Keyboard-Wizard. Hes wearing his brandnew D Lonely Al sweater and presents “We can have it all”, a well hung slice of sparkeling proto house. Next up is the debut release of Cologne based Skateboard Pro Jeremy Reinhard aka Jeremaier. “Goldnugget” is something like the alternative college radio version of Show Me Love by Robin S. The EP closes with a Lauer remix.

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D’LonelyAl / Jeremaier – We Can Have It All / Goldnugget [POMM002]

Larry Heard – Alien [ML9009]

One of Larry Heard’s most under-rated albums finally remastered and available as full vinyl release for the first time! Known for his classic early house releases Larry Heard’s productions always hinted at deepest outer space, but his 1996 Alien album was his first actual science-fiction record. It’s almost as polished as the most mainstream dance production, but just as sublime as any Detroit producer. Heard’s house roots often show themselves, while the chords and shimmering production make this an album almost on par with Heard’s mid-’80s peak. The project was a recording & sound-development experiment that was mostly constructed around a Korg O1/W workstation keyboard that was left at Larry’s studio to check out by Victor melodious myles Houston along with some of the staples of his studio, including the Roland d550 and Oberheim Matrix 1000. Mr Fingers magic touch can be heard all over the album, and this showcases the incredible musical talents of the man, who’s name by now cant be left out from any hall of fame when you’re talking music innovators from the last century.

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Larry Heard – Alien [ML9009]