For it’s 15th release, Bokhari introduce 3 timeless classics from the analogue jam master Sweely. Spanning raw warehouse grooves on ‘The time has come’, smooth heavy rolling bass and melodic keys on ‘Hangover Day’ and shuffling US garage beats and choppy vocals on ‘Wopp’, this release has something for everybody. Paterson steps in for Bokhari remix duties darkening up ‘The time has come’ with a driving bassline, off-worldly atmospheres and dusty keys.
The year is 2051. The human race has split into two groups. One maintained their basic human state, while the other transformed by tapping into their psychospiritual lifeforce potential. The second group created a higher dimensional civilization. They called it Xymeria.
LET Recordings boss JP Enfant returns to his own label for a third solo EP. The Dutchman, who is a resident at De School in Amsterdam, mixes up techno, breakbeat, ambient, dub and house into his own long and all consuming tracks, and on his latest EP he does that once more. Spacious and elastic grooves aimed at the body and the floor. Once again, this versatile and robust offering from JP Enfant is another standout release on the young label.
The North East of England is known for its role in helping to shape the UK House and Techno club landscape during the late 80’s and throughout 90’s. It’s infectious and raw energy engaged Slip-D from a young age exposing him to a number of venues including The Riverside, Empire, Pleasure Rooms and the hedonistic Rockshots. Drawing inspiration from the scene along with potent labels like Svek, Guidance and Shaboom that came in to prominence in the late 90’s, a bedroom studio set up of amassed hardware funded on a basic income was then formed over time. Residence in Teesdale Avenue, regular local Car Thefts and the wail of the Rag and Bone man all assembled themselves as a formula of what was happening outside the 4 walls of the studio. The vaulted Hypnoelectronix No.1 finally got pressed after some years, and transports us to the true crux of that era.
Tracy Island, surrounded by natures greatest and ever rising force of the Ocean, is a place emanating peace and joy. The label is a concept representing the isolation and appeal of Island life, contrasted with thought provoking and mesmerising melodies to draw us away from main land mentality, offering feelings of tranquility and wonder. In these controversial times the necessity to escape or break away grows as we feel increasingly submerged by the world’s realities, now more than ever we should strive to protect both the environment and the purpose of this planet. Tracy Island will follow a 10 episode framework taking inspiration from Thunderbirds, all of which aptly named after the original series. The first episode welcomes Mori Ra of Osaka, with four old edits from way back when on “Trapped In The Sky”. “ Located in the South Pacific, the heavily camouflaged Island’s ulterior function is to serve as the secret base of the International Rescue Organisation. Music For Hope. With love from Tracy Island.
Warm, balearic tinged deep house tracks from the italian house master Kekko Montefiori who became immortal with his 1990 Calypso Of House release. Here we have some tracks recently found on some unreleased tracks found on old tapes recorded in that same era by Kekko.
Jason Letkiewicz isn’t some fashionista. His efforts predate whatever you want to call the current wave of interest in club music. For his first release on Valcrond Video he offers two tracks as Steve Summers. “Always” builds up as a web of metallic syncopation pulsing with threat. A dangerous motif swerves in like pissed-off porpoises, slick with black grime after an oil spill. Vocals show up: they sound like somebody kidnapped a larynx and forced it to MC at the center of a badass board game. A disembodied voice box in the middle of a cardboard landscape. On “Resist” that same captive voice rings through a metal hockey mask, as the instrumental elements seem to narrate an assault in progress. We’re taping you down to the table, don’t bother to resist. On the B side a Torn Hawk remix takes “Always” to never-never land; the malice of the original track gets dressed up with puffy orange clouds (Cheetos). Traditions go in the toilet, return to the fundamental river, only to wash up in the reeds, fresh again . A melodic explosion hides at the center of the progression under hospital-grade gauze; C-4 strapped to the chest of a stuffed bunny suicide bomber.
P-Balans is activating again all its current accomplices in order to reinforce the heretic electronic scene of Bucharest. A first collaboration of Khidja, masters of psychedelic depths, and Delusion Men (comprised of Holy Fix and Utopus), the reliable founding persons of Future Nuggets. All together delivering a smash techno-punk EP uplifted by an enchanting slowburner remix signed by Borusiade.
Stu Robinson aka ASOK returns with a quick fire reply via Lobster Theremin sub-label Mörk. Applying a similar template of contradictory elements, cobbled into a melded, half-melted mass of aquatic techno, proto-rave and depth-charged deep house, Inner Circle is the transformation complete. A step into the unknown without a shadow of doubt.
Ave Berlin collective AWAY ready the 4th release in their catalogue. They present a split 2-tracker from label mainstay Move D and his pairing with Jonah Sharp under their collaborative guise of Reagenz. Natural in their progression, both tracks spark ardour as they steadily develop adding another fine addition to a blooming catalogue.
The first release in 2017, from In The Dark Again, is the seventh Various Artists EP on my label for dark and trippy sounds. This time Ka§par, Lectromagnetique, Vault and Synkronized bring the noise.
Green Village turns to DJ Spider for a new 12 inch. The NYC artist is now a respected member of the Big Apple’s contemporary house and techno wave, and it’s an absolute must for him to be represented on the city’s bubbling scene, especially when he’s up for firing off tunes like “Space Jungle” and Satsang”, two mean, club-minded house bangers with a prominent lower-end. “Divide & Conquer” turns things darker and more ominous thanks to its icy, minimal approach – a cold blend of stripped-back beats and circling bass tones – while “Urantia Of Nebadon” displaces the traditional house framework in favour of a dark, molecular selection of electronic sounds guided by a simple pattern of 4/4 beats.
The next COS_MOS release comes from Salomon Dunkan, a mysterious and unknown producer who serves up two tantalising tracks.’Android (Adamantium Mix)’ is a slow and percolating house track with a rugged acid line and sharp percussive knives cutting up the rubbery kick drums below. Swirling pads add a cosmic atmosphere and there whole hits slowly but surely builds to a raging and intense peak of bristling hits and gurgling synths. It’s controlled chaos and then ‘Tacchi A Spillo’ treads a more direct path. Again the high hats are bright and sharp, the mood is very sci-fi and the bass lines rumbled down low. Like a deep space odyssey this one travels far and wide and grows ever more physical and jacking as it goes on.
The ninth release on Midligh brings to light Exhausted Modern, the new alias from Layup, the co-founder of Endless Illusion.
New year, new start and a long overdue introduction of some female sensibilities into the Slow Motion stable. System Olympia hails from Calabria and was formerly part of London based Royalty. You know the drill by now, tear jerking synths, chest crushing bass and that indefinable slow-motion disco swagger that we have made all our own.
Black Bones’ debut release is really something. From the Daphni-esque full throttle Afro A Side, to a duo of lost classics on the flip, this one’s a keeper…
BANK Records 7 series continues with a two tracker by Steve Summers and Bookworms. Side A features a track from long time collaborators Jason Letkiewicz and Nicholas Dawson who have showcased their signature free form sound on Letkiewicz Confused House imprint. Side B is a solo cut by Bookworms. The menacing sound of this recording is reminiscent of Dawson’s work you may have heard on his Nord release, Compact Visual Nature. Classic tracks from two of BK’s finest.
The Hipodrome Of Music 