house
Steve Summers live @ Boiler Room 02.04.2013
Tornado Wallace – Juno Plus Podcast 57
June – Don’t Be Seen With Me EP [JUNE002]
June returns with a second release on his homonyms label with Don’t Be Seen With Me EP. This collection of pieces is characterized by an ’80s aesthetic approach with protohouse elements, wavy synth lines and a general spacey atmosphere. If I were you I’d be out of the town, why oh why are you hanging around?
Benjamin Damage – Heliosphere [50WEAPONSCD12]
Sonic sci-fi techno album reminiscent not just of early Plaid, Black Dog Productions, Boards of Canada or Luke Slater´s 7th Plain project, but also classic dancefloor classics by the likes of Surgeon, Regis, Dave Clarke or Jeff Mills that knew how to keep a crowd entertained. Bringing to mind the flavor of 1994 without losing the sense that we’re into 2013 as of now. This is dance music with conviction and an album straight and beautiful.
Reavis Mitchell – Soul Beats Volume 1 [DS12001]
Scientist/Producer/Artist Reavis Mitchell breaks the sound barrier again. Though he recently became prominent as a co-founder of BKE Technology and an architect of the Beat Thang Mobile Music Production System, Rev has been manufacturing beats for years. On Soul Beats Volume 1, the Soulbeat Scientist concocted a collection of signature soul-infused hip hop and funk for your sonic toolbox.
Apoena – Dourada (Remixes) [UQ049]
DJ/producer Henrique Casanova strays back & forth the line separating house & techno. This EP features a track from his CD album, with two remixes from Jus-Ed and one from Esteban Adame.
VA – Boe XX [BOEXX]
2013 is the year of milestones for the ever understated and under the radar Boe Recordings. This year the imprint turns a grand 5 years old and celebrates a 20th release in the form of BOE XX. Fans of the previous celebratory release BOE X will be familiar with the format of 4 artists and 4 track each having its own style and groove but easily slotting into the boe ethos of preserving the integrity of the past and pushing forwards into the open realms of future house music. Tracks by Outboxx, Perseus Traxx, Machinesleet and Kammerton.
Ike Release – Dream Sequencer EP [MOSDEEP015]
Following on from his increasingly essential work as Innerspace Halflife, Ike Release steps out on his own for a new three tracker on MOS Deep that finds the Chicago producer in a bullish mood. Opener ‘Cosmic Supreme’ is a moody march across the surface of a planet far from here – typically raw, bobbling drums set the tone as a frazzled and drawn out synth line winds right through its core from start to finish. ‘Spells’ is backlit with an ethereal synthy glow as another thick analogue line takes the main focus of the track, all the while as nebulous percussion floats about like a cloud of dust in the background. Finally, ‘Westview’ is a little more propulsive, driven as it is by a lashing, rubberised bassline that sprays about freely, contained only by the itchy and more regimented hi-hats that slice up and down around it. Despite there being a sonic denseness to all three tracks here, a certain emotional gravitas always lurks with in: be it one of introspection or reflection, they are difficult to ignore.
VA – Introduction [AC001]
Anunnaki Cartel is the newly launched sub label of Amir Alexander’s Vanguard Sound operation and this first release sets the bar high; Alexander himself features alongside cuts from Joey Anderson and Chris Mitchell. The latter producer leads the way with “Illuminescent Invasion” a relentlessly rewarding concoction of fierce snares, deviant saw tooth synths and almost criminal abuse of the 303. Amir Alexander is growing into a personal favourite of the Juno review team and “Ostinato” demonstrates why in abundance. It’s a direct and druggy assault on your sensibilities based around discordant square synths and a undeniably funk heavy groove. Things get even weirder on the flip as Joey Anderson drops the kind of off-kilter, off the grid house production where all the elements appear to be pulling in separate directions but somehow combine for a unique cohesive groove. Mitchell and Alexander join forces to close this excellent 12″ with the cosmic techno of “Dark Memories” which has got the best snare sound since “Set It Off”.
Legowelt – Elementz of Houz music (Actress Mixes) [CJFD016R]
Clone Jack For Daze presents two remixes from Actress for “Elementz Of Houz Music”a track taken from Legowelt’s Paranormal Soul album.
Gilga – Gilga 1 [HHG001/6]
Hidden Hawaii presents Gilga a new project from Danny Wolfers. All the familiar Legowelt elements are in place, from the haunting warbles on “Deputy’s First Hood Patrol” to the nutty strings and samples of “Dimensions Of An Ancient Bird Race”, but there’s never a sense of repetition between the tracks. Each one stands comfortably on its own, from the summery lilt of “Brookhaven” to the lysergic science-fiction of “Atlantic Acid”.
Other Worlds – Live From The Memory Warehouse [BOOMCHIK002]
BoomChik is back with a 2nd release featuring Si Murray with his Other Worlds project. Solid basses and rattling percussion fuel an E.P. that gurgles with bright Detroitesque finesse and variety that shifts between large almost basic channel feelings, to glitteringly precise house music. A five track release, full of floating pads and spacious reverbs take you directly to other worlds as lush strings and tight percussion patterns do exactly what they intend and trip you back to memories of warehouse days. Murrayʼs extremely tight production and musicality give this an edge that though reminiscent of the tones and feel of days gone by, has itʼs feet firmly planted in the here and now.
Voiski – The Inner Citadel EP [SYNCRO014]
Hieroglyphic Being – 40 min Boiler Room Mix 26.03.2013
Neville Watson – Louche Podcast 101
Rick Wilhite – Connecting The Compass [RS007]
This bumper 3×12″ release sees Joe Babylon’s Roundabout Sounds imprint enlisting the help of respected Detroit house artist Rick Wilhite to curate a compilation of unreleased house tracks from like-minded contemporaries under the appropriately titled Connecting The Compass. Highlights out of the 11 track compilation, which includes the likes of Theo Parrish, Baaz and Sean Tate are numerous, but there are several standout moments; Karizma’s “I Think” lays tracky breakbeats over a sonorous synth melody, Marcellus Pittman’s “Wolf & Moonbeams” pairs otherworldly synths and an improvised analogue melody with a low-slung bass led groove, and Norm Talley’s “Track From The East” is a devastingly simple combination of driving claps and pitched organ chords.
XDB – Frocks [SIS020]
Sistrum proudly welcomes the return of Mr. Kosta Athanassiadis, aka XDB, back to the fold with the deep, hypnotic electronics of the Frocks EP. This three track EP features Patrice Scott on remix duties. This is another quality installment in the revered Sistrum catalog.
Jakkin’ Rabbit – Zion EP [NO19033]
No.19 Music teams up with UK duo Jakkin’ Rabbit for some delectable House music. The ‘Zion EP’ kicks off with the wonderful ‘Mothership’ a record that once again features the timeless vocals of House music legend Robert Owens. Building on tight drum programming, subtle melodic elements and warm, bubbling bass Kane & Spence create a rock solid House groove that provides the perfect soundbed for Owens sultry vocal performance. Next up we have ‘The Truth’, a brilliantly intense old school 303-fuelled slice of House music featuring vocals from Jakkin Rabbit’s own Danny Kane. Chicago inspired drums, squelching acid and Kane’s incantation of “You can’t tell me nothing” is all that’s needed for an instant Acid House anthem, quality stuff. To complete the package Jakkin’ Rabbit serve up the outstanding ‘How Deep’, a record that answers its own question with its deep House credentials on show courtesy of some sublime filtered stabs, shuffling drums and understated vocal parts.
Sandrow M – Prayervan EP [UV014]
Sandrow M with his solo debut for the Dresden based label Uncanny Valley and it ended up being a hell of a record full of diversity. Everything starts with the edgy beats of ”Prayervan” that are quickly flattered by one of those catchy melodies typical for Sandrow’s synths play. This is great Pop music, even more when Sandrow M starts to sing. ”Facerunner” however, is a club tune with its ever rising beats that are accompanied by a superb synth pad. The flipside starts with the catchy anthem ”Gonna Make”. You cannot defend yourself against this sample that will stick in your head for a long time. And once again it’s his synth work that makes the difference. Not to mention the funky solo. ”Schnaubi” rounds things up in a more unpolished way with its stuttering drum work. But here again this is refined by those irresistible harmonies out of Sandrow M’s keys.
