Omar S – FXHE 10 Year Compilation Mix Part 1 [AOS2004]

It’s been ten years since outspoken Detroit house legend Omar-S launched his FXHE label, which is no mean feat for a DIY label. To celebrate the fact, he’s decided to put together the first in a series of mix CDs highlight the much-loved imprints vast discography. Entitled simply 1, the 74 minute vinyl only set takes an entertaining saunter through the label’s bulging back catalogue, showcasing a range of well-known cuts (“Here’s Your Trance, Now Dance” etc) and what the producer calls “some shit [fans] might have slept on”. Predictably, it makes for a sumptuous and suitably groovy blend, moving between bespoke soulful house (Omar-S’s much-loved “Sex”), deep Detroit futurism (Omar-S and O B Ignitt’s “Wayne County Hill Cops Part 2”), dreamy jack tracks (Jason Fine’s “Jack Yo Bodda”) and tactile tech-house (Fit and Gunnar Wendel’s “Enter the Fog”).

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Omar S – FXHE 10 Year Compilation Mix Part 1 [AOS2004]

VA – Semesters III [SMR013]

Four years on from the previous instalment, DJ QU’s Strength Music returns with a third edition of their Semesters series, with contributions from Pixel Music, Nicuri and QU himself this time around. Leading the way is “M- Theory” from Pixel Music, a lesser spotted alias of Italian producer Massimiliano ‘Hazylujah’ Vianello which selfishly grips the entire A Side and quite rightly so as it’s a potent production filled with mind bending potential. Having recently flirted with Joey Anderson’s Inimeg operation, Nicuri returns to the Strength cause on the B Side offering the pensive deepness of “Thoughts Of You” whilst DJ QU signs off the 12″ with the bugged out beat down of “Undescribed (Believer)” which is what Parliament would be making if they were to surface in today’s sonic climate.

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VA – Semesters III [SMR013]

Alex Israel – A Man Of Qualities [CR1271]

Creme Organization are getting busy right from the start of 2014, and here serve up an EP from Detroit insider Alex Israel. Israel has released on the label before and this new four track offering continues in his usual good form, exploring cerebral and atmospheric techno soundscapes with plenty of elan. A Man Of Qualities goes first and has a certain sense of menace luring at its sparse core. Sharp, coarse claps bring texture to the thick basslines and shiny synths and the whole thing gurgles invitingly. Next comes Mustard Greens, a slow and lazy affair awash with lush chords, ticking percussion and rasping rubbery bass notes. It’s pleasurable and immersive and on b-side ‘Angulas’ the tempo begins to pick up. Here more spangled synth lines wrap around echoing claps and well-defined percussion to make for a fragmented and uneven groove that rumbles along like a fully laden donkey. Closer Colugo is a more standard, gliding deep house affair with jazzy drums, stabbed chords and plenty of old school values reimagined in a modern framework. Once again here Alex Israel proves himself to be a high dexterous producer with a unique sense of groove.

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Alex Israel – A Man Of Qualities [CR1271]

Amir Alexander – Stardust Kisses EP [VS005]

An audio love letter. Four eclectic dance floor flavors, each burrowing to the heart of the groove from different angles. Alternately crazy, playful, sputtering, tribal, chunky, & broken . Featuring Clara Stjarna on vox.

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Amir Alexander – Stardust Kisses EP [VS005]

Art Crime – Never Look Back [WT020]

Stunning new WT records by Art Crime, who make it debut with his amazing 4 track ep. Hailing from Moscos Art Crime delivers a versatile ep with up tempo tracks ranging from more melodic piano driven house on the opening track to heavy percussion driven techno with a nice metalic bass line topped with more piano and almost Drexciyan atmospheres in the melancholic Happiness Side Effects, and beautiful dramatic vibes on the final track.

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Art Crime – Never Look Back [WT020]

Scott Fraser – Body [ALR019]

With the Body EP Scott Fraser signs his third collaboration for Astro Lab Recordings. Scott is back with this inspired track of Old School Chicago house with a small touch of classic Detroit techno. With Scott we decided to ask Raudive for the b-side remix, he tuned Body into his own techno secret, strong bass treatment, crazy synth, something really strong for the dance floor.

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Scott Fraser – Body [ALR019]

Takeshi Kouzuki – Whirlwind [MMX404]

KOUZUKI, Takeshi - Whirlwind

Japenese guy, Takeshi Kouzuki is well known for his productions on Mathematics, Abstract Acid or Hotmix. Here he delivers this EP with 3 tracks of Nu-Chicago/Acid/Jakbeat, be certain that the voodoo is this wax. ‘Whirlwind’ will hypnotize you with its beautiful acidic melodies.’Aoiro’ is a massive jakbeat raw track on which you can feel the influence of traditional Japanese music, absolute dancefloor killer! ‘Moon’ is just beautiful in all those points, it will put you in the trance.

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Takeshi Kouzuki – Whirlwind [MMX404]

Rio Padice & Massimo Di Lena – Prisma EP [MAMSW006]

PADICE, Rio/MASSIMO DI LENA - Prisma EP

Italian producers Rio Padice & Massimo Di Lena, owners of the Early Sounds label, deliver a fine EP of raw analogue house and techno grooves on More About Music.

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Rio Padice & Massimo Di Lena – Prisma EP [MAMSW006]

Aurora Halal – Passageway [MD001]

Passageway is the debut solo EP by Aurora Halal, producer, video artist and creator of Brooklyn’s Mutual Dreaming party series. Four shadowy and intimate dance landscapes of shifting subterranean textures, backed with a hallucinatory remix by Detroit Techno legend Terrence Dixon. Minimal, metallic and pulsing with hazy sensuality, these tracks offer an exciting first glimpse into a unique emotional world.

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Aurora Halal – Passageway [MD001]

Juanpablo – Lost Series (Part 2) [FRV013]

JUANPABLO - Lost Series (Part 2)

Lost Series (Part 2) is the continuation of the series started by Juanpablo last year and as in part one, the music grows out of the darkest recesses of the natural world. These series are dedicated to creatures that are disappearing from this planet because of human colonization of their territory. Four tracks have been skillfully constructed by the Colombian artist, each one leading the listener deeper into the mindset of the Frigio boss.

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Juanpablo – Lost Series (Part 2) [FRV013]