Four recent tape warmed recordings that cover a spectrum of vibes from sample-choped groove, deep house and emotive italo-house. A soundtrack to the changing cityscape and its Utopian promises.
house
Stephen Lopkin – Imitator EP [DWT005]
Glasgow’s Stephen Lopkin presents the “Imitator EP”, a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the golden era of techno. Four tracks covering a broad range of styles from Detroit to the classic UK sound of the 90s. Serene electronics abound though every track packs a considerable punch making this EP as at home for home listening as it is for packing out the dancefloor.
Zombies In Miami / Pin Up Club – BAR Records 02 [BAR02]
Darker days are coming. BAR02 is a haunting and slightly dramatic winterproof ep. Zombies in Miami from Mexico created 2 tracks that would fit in a scary eighties movie. Haunted Strasse being the one that builds up, Mirrors representing the Climax. On the other side local act Pin Up Club created an ‘out of your comfort zone’ epic clubtrack which very accurately defines the word drama.
Lola – Wax The Van [GR1242]
Think about the early house mid 80’s scene, and the talent of two stellar producers like Arthur Russell and Bob Blank who don’t need any introduction. Timeless underground tune.
Master Plan – Pushin’ Too Hard [OMAGGIO-007]
An insanely difficult record to find featuring Master Plan, with synthesizers by Tom O’Callaghan and vocals by Pepper Gomez, ‘Pushin’ Too Hard’ was born in the early Chicago House Days and went on to achieve cult status and become part of the history of House forever.
Uabos – Shadow EP [BAPXX7]
For his latest release on Bordello, Uabos builds on his past sound while folding new elements into his layered style. “Shadow” is the eponymous introduction, a track that sways between dawn and dusk, light and dark, as it dances between bright addictive keys and twilight tones. That search for contrast is carried into the thick beats of “Egoland”, beats countered by cascading notes that slip and slide from sweetened funk to devil-may-care debauchery. Industrial undercurrents and greying skies arrive with the Chicago inspired fuel that is “Elevator.” The curtain fall comes in the aptly named “Emotion.” A supremely powerful piece of snapping snares, full-bodied bass and cutting keys for a terrific finale for a terrific 12”.
RA.653 ARP
Ron Trent – Aquarythmatica / City Beat [GR1241]
Two excellent production from Ron Trent. Aquarhythmatica comes from the Prescription era and it was produced together with Anthony Nicholson. City Beat was included in Ron’s 2009 album ‘Dance Classic’. Two absolute gems of deep house music at its best.
dannilov @ Gazette x Hipodrome 24.11.2018
this set was recorded during the warm-up for Mick Wills[Rush Hour / Gigolo], afterparty with Yaghee[Colectiva Gazette]
Simoncino – Perugia EP [LVNO16]
Over the course of their last two release, Love Notes has brought back the two artists that made their first release such an instant classic; first, Casey Tucker, and now; Simoncino, whose remix of Tucker’s Affirmative Action helped to launch Love Notes onto our collective radar. Simoncino herein does what he does oh-so-well, his unwavering nod (and maybe even slight obsession) to that which came before him permeating all three tracks here. Love Note impressively shows no signs of slowing down; three years after their inception, Nathaniel Jat’s imprint is closing in quickly on the 20 release milestone without even a momentary dip in quality.
New Digital Fidelity – Moments Of Cosmic Adventures [STX018]
Hailing from Puglia, Italy, Paolo Aniello a.k.a. New Digital Fidelity is another great talent from this versatile region for fantastic House Music. On Snuff Trax 018, he amazes us with four tracks that sound deep and dirty as well as mesmerizing and classy.
VA – Casa Sports Vol.2 [CSV04]
The second volume of Casa Voyager’s compilation gathers the label’s regulars OCB and Kosh, as well as two new artists: Polyswitch, coming straight from the shady streets of Casablanca and also known as the moroccan funkmaster, and Jamal, who comes from the moroccan diaspora in Europe and purveyor of post-futuristic electro beats, keeping the dutch-moroccan connection alive.
Massimiliano Pagliara – Feel Live [PLAYRJC053]
Besides his busy DJ schedule and far from the usual club circuit routines, Massimilano dedicated himself to intense travelling and exploring the world anew. “I felt like I have lived more than ever,” he states. “Getting to discover all these beautiful places around the world and meeting so many lovely interesting people, has inspired me in many different ways. I feel enriched.” The result of these experiences is Feel Live, Massimiliano’s third full-length endeavour. It was recorded in several intimate, sometimes improvised studio settings between Los Angeles, Portland, and Massimiliano’s homebase in Berlin as well as at airports and on intercontinental flights high up in the sky. Featuring vocals by Private Agenda, Peaking Lights, Kim Anh and instrumental contributions by Fort Romeau, Tim K, and Jules Etienne, Feel Live is Massimilano’s most playful and imaginative work to date. It’s as emotional as sensual, as vibrant as the first ray of light after a thunderstorm has cleared the air.
Donald’s House – Dan’s Dancing EP [TFAD3]
Taking influence from Paradise Garage styled disco, early 90s House, Italo and anything with a DMX drum kit, their take on dance dance music is as refreshing as it is familiar. You’ll often hear M1 solos, chords and stabs, juxtaposed against Phil Collins styled stadium drums, and groovy Seinfeld basslines that just beg your body to move.
The Golden Filter – Talk Talk Talk EP [4GN3S-00]
The first release on The Golden Filter’s brand new label, 4GN3S (pronounced ‘Agnes’) is The Golden Filter “Talk Talk Talk”, along with three remixes.
Juju & Jordash LIVE @ Post Bar (Helsinki) 30.07.2018
No Smoke – International Smoke Signals [WAFLP3]
Tony ‘Addis’, the man behind the Warriors Dance label and No Smoke project (amongst many other things) is undeniably one of British dance music’s unsung heroes. That much is proved by this re-mastered reissue of 1990 LP “International Smoke Signal”, an album so ahead of the game at the time of its release that it still sounds like the future. Most will know acid house anthem “Koro Koro” (here in altered, slightly more downtempo form), but it’s the quality of the lesser-known cuts – the sub-heavy, UK steppas-influenced Afro-house of “East of Eden”, the bleep-meets-Dream II Science deep house bliss of “OAU In Music”, acid-fired “Anti Galactic Devotion” and “Pacific State” style E-rush of “Oh Yes (Freedom)” – that makes it such an impressive and essential set.
Hieroglyphic Being & The Truth Theory Trio – Journey Through The Outer Darkness from the Inner Light [HVNX-700]
When asked about the story behind the tracks of ‘Journey Through The Outer Darkness from the Inner Light’, Jamal Moss answered with a laconic “No story. No dogma. No Hype”. After all, his despise of extra-musical paraphernalia is proportional to his productiveness in the studio. But there’s always a story. On April 9, 2016, Hieroglyphic Being played a live show in La Casa Encendida of Madrid within the festival Electronica en Abril. Some days later, the recording of the full set was uploaded to YouTube. When we watched it, we were totally captivated. Those eighty minutes of music had the raw power of all of Jamal’s body of work, but with a heightened sense of transcendence. Cosmic, spiritual and intensely beautiful, it sounded like a lysergic reinterpretation of Detroit techno transmitted from a galaxy yet to be discovered. As most of the material was unreleased, we reached Jamal in order to try to press it into vinyl. The result is ‘Journey Through The Outer Darkness from the Inner Light’, a 12″ that reunites eight of the individual tracks that conformed that Madrid performance. When inquired about AUM, the sacred sound all the tracks are labeled after, Jamal referred us to a book by author and naturalist Joseph Bharat Cornell. A book that the author himself presents with these words: ‘The sound of the Cosmic Vibration is AUM, and listening to it brings the greatest bliss imaginable. AUM is the Omnipotent Force that propels each soul toward Spirit. It’s the sacred, inner fire. As you approach the cosmic blaze, you feel at first its radiant, soothing comfort; then, as you come closer – AUM’s liberating flames consume you – and bring you to God”. There might be “no story and no dogma”, but, suddenly, it all makes sense.
Night Force / The Tom Cats – Dance [AFS037]
South African disco release. The title track ‘Dance’, written by Belgian composer Frank Degrijse, was released by Night Force and became a hit throughout Europe in 1980. In South Africa the song was released with permission at a slower tempo (the original 45rpm was ‘officially’ slowed down to 33rpm). Added to this are four tracks by Music Team’s in-house production team the Tom Cats – including dub reworkings of recent Afrosynth releases ‘Burnin Beat’ and ‘Searchin’, here released as ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Search For Love’ respectively. Synth-heavy oddities ‘You Are My Fire’ and ‘Shake Shake’ make up the rest of the tracklist.
Cromby – Retribution [FMB012]
Next up on Bicep’s Feel My Bicep imprint is a fresh single from fellow Irishman Cromby, featuring two remixes from Electro stalwart DeFeKT and the ever-dependable Shanti Celeste. Cromby slots neatly into the FMB catalogue with Retribution – a single that draws from his experience spent on the floor and behind the booth at clubs in Berlin, with it’s stirring chords and frazzled drums. DeFeKT’s offers up a buoyant, 808-heavy take on the original while Shanti’s ‘Chill’ mix omits the kicks in favour of her signature sunny synth tones.
The Hipodrome Of Music 