Intergalactic Gary @ Rhythm Section, Corsica Studios (London) 02.12.2017
house
Aleks – Pool Daze [OA005]
Rising talent Aleks joins the Organic Analogue realm of spiritual sonic exploration. The Amsterdam-based producer has already made a name for himself in the past few years with his penchant for sci-fi imagery and impeccable hardware jams, hence he feels like a natural fit for OA. This double LP release provides the chance to hear some of the breadth in Aleks productions, from ambient submersions to Detroitian techno and sharp edged 303 resonance that skirts the divide between jacking club material and emotional content. HVL returns to OA with a frankly stunning remix of “Pool Daze” that steps up to the giants of early electronica. As an additional treat, the Georgian producer has also donned his Kiyadama guise for the eight-minute psych-out “Acid Expansion Remix” of “Void”. Capturing the foggy time-slip quality of the dancefloor with a sound that could just as easily come from the late morning, the Pool Daze LP is equally comfortable as another thread in the OA tapestry.
Serial Error – Drum Abuse [RAT13]
Rat Life Records presents Serial Error a Project by Credit 00, Jacob Korn & Sneaker. This outfit was brought to life in 2013 when Red D called for some New Beat style tracks for his “Our Beat Is Still New” Compilation. Flying a bit too low under the radar ever since Rat Life decided to reissue Drum Abuse on a Super Sound Maxi Single. The Track was made in Jacob Korn’s headquarter studio / synthesizer museum. The task distribution was hit quickly: Jacob squeezing the acid out of his huge Formant modular system, Credit 00 beating the drums on the Boss DR 660 and Sneaker throwing his unique vocals on top.
Scoro @ Gazette (Cluj-Napoca) 05.01.2018
Tracey – Testarossa [VD32]
Experienced Dutch producer Tom Ruijg rightly won praise for his first 12” as Tracey, Skyfall, which surfaced on Voyage Direct in early 2017. Combining elements seemingly inspired by vintage Detroit futurism, ‘90s ambient techno and his own love of colourful synthesizer melodies, the EP saw Tracey set out his stall in impressive fashion.
Fred Ventura – Future Unknown – The Lost House Trax 1988-1992 [MNQ101]
Conceived along the space of a few years and part of a big collection of unfinished experiments stored on cassette tapes, this eight tracks selection well represents Fred Ventura’s late 80s and early 90s infatuation with Chicago House, Detroit Techno, early Warp records and even a secret passion for EBM. Using a basic set up made of Roland Juno 106, Roland JX-8p, Oberheim DX, Roland TR909 and an Akai sampler, these tracks were never officially mixed and meant to be released until today. Minimal and hypnotic, dry and direct, both sides of the record show an instinctive approach to rhythms and basslines, typical of those days where computer didn’t have a predominant role in the creative process.
N.O.I.A. – Forbidden Planet (Remixes) [NEXIT004]
The superb ‘Forbidden Planet’ is a shiny early electro cut with a great funk bass line, a real instrumental groove and fantastic melodies that shimmer like a hot sun. It’s filled with joy and sounds as fresh today as ever, the way it ducks and dives and offers real warmth. The Francisco Remix keeps the funk vibe but changes the groove to be a more Chicago house style cut. As such it has a rasping bassline, big drums and coarse percussion that make you want to jack. The masterful Ali Renault—a go-to disco and synth specialist who runs Cyber Dance Records, Human Shield Record Company and most recently his own Vivod imprint—then turns out a hypnotic version that is more driven and direct for the dance floor, with robotic bass and epic reflective synth lines. It’s a cinematic track with great analogue textures that goes back to the future. The last original is the excellent ‘Stay With Me’, a cosmic love song with breezy trumpets and dreamy disco vibes as well as soulful vocals. Italo melodies and infectious percussion finish it off and make it an instant crowd pleaser.
Iakovos – Adidas People [BLIQ17]
Bliq continues its quest to mine the deepest shades of techno with this release from Iakovos, who had previously appeared on the label as LowJac and in the formidable duo Deemonlover. This is sharply focused mind music layered with subtle detail and rich textures perfectly honed for hazy hours at the far reaches of the party. “Singers” melds hypnotic pads with gossamer-light threads of breakbeat and warm synth pulses, while “Evil Flower” pushes a tougher rhythmic agenda without losing the ethereal atmosphere. “Adidas People” rides on a surging kick drum pattern, but leaves ample room for a distant drone, and then “Hackney Tower” heads into edgier territory with all manner of obtuse angles and unnerving sound effects pivoting around the insistent drum core of the track.
Good News @ We Are Radar (Kraków) 15.12.2017
Legowelt – Midwinter Soup DJ Mix
Stephen Lopkin – Southside Engineering [BK016]
Stephen Lopkin’s singular doses of electro-tinged house music have pretty much become Glasgow’s ‘finest”. While everyone else is out snoozing to some deep house and mild-mannered tech, this dude packs a punch each and every time he drops a new release onto our charts. Just in time for the year’s end, Lopkin drops Southside Engineering on the sublime Bokhari imprint, and these five metallic dance bombs are enough to make any serious Drexcyia fan think that, yes, there might be a way forwards after all! Full of adrenaline and electrifying swing, you can count on this gear to keep you up and running all night long – even the Ikpathua remix of “Light From Light” has its own particular way of expressing energy and a solid groove.
Marco Passarani @ Dekmantel Selectors 26.08.2017
Garrett David – Live From The Dog Cave [LT045]
One of Chicago’s finest production and DJ talents, and a close Stateside Lobster family member – Garrett David – returns for a studio-focused foray into Chicago’s sonic house music history.
V.V.A.A. – Struments 005 [STRUMENTS005]
The free will of Struments has led them to concentrate in one 12inch the encyclopedic knowledge of Marc Pinol, a duo of kids that present themselves as T.A.L., and the responsible for all that, Spastor, that appears in a remix signed by Florian Kupfer. Lliure Albir sounds as if Pinol was dazzled by the light of a lantern in a chill out while Paranoid London resound in the next room. In his remix, Palms Trax bet on tom toms and certain tribal groove, adding soft eighties keyboards, deep atmosphere, speeches and dub deliriums that perfectly fit in the freak universe of Pinol. Florian Kupfer remix made of Spastor’s Death In La Paz: a hit made in the German musician style whose groove is created by a fold in the sound and the apparent imbalance it has with the bass drum. If after this dawn breaks, it will not be small thing. T.A.L. are guided by a retro-spatial pulse to open a fan of sounds that expands and contracts threateningly, and delicately form what looks like an EBM hit stripped of the hammers.
Alphonse – Tribes Of Atlantis EP [WRECKS015]
The last Klasse Wrecks release of 2017 comes from Alphonse. The four tracks on the ‘Tribes of Atlantis’ EP display an acute and developed knowledge of all things House and Techno, fizzing with bonafide analog production the EP goes on a journey of warm deepness, clunky baselines and loose grooves.
Intergalactic Gary @ Dekmantel Selectors 26.08.2017
Man Power & Last Waltz – Tistish b/w Nee Shitteru [ESP069]
Man Power returned to his Northern home for one Last Waltz. This is their joint offering for the ESP Institute. On side A, Man Power welcomes us with Tistish, stepping slightly out of his comfort zone and employing a boxy breakbeat to create a dose movement. This contrasts his signature fatty bassline and together they establish a ground on which to stack layers of atonal square and sawtooth waves. About halfway through he introduces a massively seductive string lead and for the remainder of the ride this palette of sounds coalesce in dark orchestral beauty. On side B, Man Power’s cohorts Last Waltz deliver Nee Shitteru, a true stomper of a track complete with in-your-face toms and off-time percussion patterns, an intense driving acid line, and aggressive shamanic chanting. Throw in some crash cymbals, sci-fi sound effects and a smattering of gamelan and it amounts to an overwhelmingly chaotic and psychedelic trip. These two songs will have you speaking in tongues.
Kaidi Tatham – Hard Times [FW169]
First Word close out 2017 with the return of Kaidi Tatham, following up his ‘Changing Times’ EP for us, with another killer 4-tracker – this one entitled ‘Hard Times’.
C.P. Smith – DJ Tools Vol.1 – 808 Tracks [CPU00110110]
CPU’s homage to the Roland TR-808, the drum machine ubiquitous on binary imprint. CPU label boss Chris Smith has meticulously rebuilt the drum tracks of classic electro funk records known for their pioneering and influential use of the 808. Strictly for DJs and MCs, this is an essential tool for remixing, looping or laying vocals over. Cut loud and ready for battle.
Nackt – Private Property Created Crime [LHP003]
San Francisco label Left Hand Path’s latest record is a contemporary techno opus, featuring four tracks, each with a distinct sound and feel, designed to set off a dancefloor and invigorate your stereo. Cool dripping Electro cuts from Johnny Igaz aka Nackt.
The Hipodrome Of Music 