Arttu is back on Royal Oak after his critically acclaimed Nuclear Funk / Get Up Of It release late 2011. Another split single featuring two Detroit Jazz and Funk vocalists. The female poet Diamondancer on Tune In and the his buddy from Jerry The Cat on Move! Arttu smoothly blends his roots in the best house traditions with contemporary influences on these two tracks.
The Midnight Shift label debuts with a daring pairing of the emerging and established in this efflorescence EP. The first EP features Singaporean Eddie Niguel with Torontonian Basic Soul Unit aka Stuart Li. Together, they present a crisp and compelling release statement that pushes a new trajectory in the house and techno genres.
Sweden’s (almost) unknown techno veterans Börft Records we have played and seeded wizely through out the years – to be honest, we’ve hid their treasures for years too. Forget all you know about Swedish electronic music, this is Börft crew, the core underground of ”söta bror’s” techno history – here represented by Frak – a full out techno acid punch. The EP is including a beautiful Dj Sotofett remix.
Jack Off presents the second release from John Osborn entitled ‘Lords Of The Last Days’. The title and the track are influenced by Arthur C. Clarke’s Sci-fi novel ‘The Songs Of Distant Earth’. On the flip side Swiss house master Quarion makes sure that the head and the feet come together with a wonky dance floor remix, keeping true to the analogue sprit of the original and adding his house drive.
Shock is a passionate dance and pop group from the Bay Area, CA. “Heaven” is Shock’s debut single, which features a hypnotic house groove, a primal bass line, and shimmering guitar layers. Terri Loewenthal’s mysterious and seductive vocals are complemented by novel production from Dan Judd and the alluring guitar work of Michael Taras. Sleek and inviting, “Heaven” is laced with a romantic melancholy reminiscent of the classic disco and house eras. The “Heaven” 12″ features remixes by Shock’s friends: The Beat Broker, Hatchback, and Steve Moore. These versions perfectly compliment the original and expand the music into complete universal harmony.
Disco Bloodbath Recordings’ third release drops with synth-beat duo G&S (Nadia Ksaiba and Matt Waites) turning in ‘The Green Man’ EP featuring a remix from Capracara. The unmistakable punch of a Roland TR808 drives ‘The Green Man’ while jabbing tones add to the gritty foundation that slowly opens up into a stirring, electro-disco cut characterised by soaring strings and light chords. Capracara delivers a buoyant, skipping house take on ‘The Green Man’ which stays true to the originals vibe but toys with the energy playfully via some nifty arranging and subtle atmospherics. Finally, ‘Dirk Bogarde’ cuts an imposing yet bright figure. Cascading white noise, juddering toms and delayed crescendos all add to an already brilliantly melodic track that shows off countless influences.
Free Magic and JKriv team up again for the third release from the Brooklyn party and label, Discovery Recordings. These tracks capture the developing mood of a party – from the early night grooves to peak-hour proper house.
Kenny Dope used to say that Disco is the mother of modern dancemusic and without it the whole House-music-thing wouldn’t have happened…our two youngsters from the LGDZ-Camp reunite those two worlds in a very modern way without being just another edittainer.
Machining Dreams is back, this time with an EP from G. Marcell titled Sound Extravagance EP. Five musical compositions firmly rooted in Chicago, but offer much variety to the romanticized concept, as Marcell holds true to his home town production ethos with sampling, beating arrangement, and spoken word. This aforementioned variety in sound brings great depth to this 12″.
The Ghoulish EP marks the beginning of something new for two veterans of Throne of Blood. Maxime Pasquier has teamed up with Romain Rouffiac aka Remain and this is the first single to emerge from this trans-Atlantic collaboration. As a first statement of purpose, “Ghoulish” leaves little to the imagination with its propulsive rhythms and needling synths. For remixes Maxime & Remain looked to an old friend Sasse. “Unmanned” serves as a perfect counterpoint. Where “Ghoulish” trades in unmitigated dancefloor energy, “Unmanned” is anxious and uneasy, while Darabi turn the track on its head with their stripped back, syrupy slow remix awash in static and noise.
Idiot Savant Masterpieces is the 3rd release and the first full solo EP by Amir Alexander on the Vanguard Sound record label. On display is Amir’s somewhat off kilter take on U.S. dance music. An approach so different that one critic described the work of Amir and his crew as Idiot Savant Masterpieces. All bases are covered, acid, deep, big room, and banging techno with a little hip house thrown in for good measure.
Brand new release on Levon Vincent and Anthony Parasole’s Deconstruct label from New York’s Joey Anderson.
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.
The Hipodrome Of Music 