Two affiliates of the mighty PPU in a trouble up for Superior Elevation.
house
Rekid – Tuesday Bluesday [POM005]
Matt Edwards’ Pyramids of Mars label is ready to unleash a fifth release, this time featuring three subtle but high impact slo-disco tracks from the boss himself under his Rekid moniker. The title cut opens things up in playful, mid tempo fashion. It has heavyweight, fat bottomed drums trudging below, booty shaking hits in the middle and a subtly funky guitar riff rolling over and over up top: all the necessary parts to tease dance floors into raptures, then. The brilliant ‘Mars’ is even slower, and has a mischievous feel to the low slung bass, the filtered vocal cries and jazzy hats. It’s a cut that is full of Detroit beatdown vibes and will surely percolate through any crowd and leave them desperate for more. Sublime last cut ‘Wave’ is a mechanical, grinding groove that slowly sweeps you up with its raw hits, slapping drums and cacophony of distant vocals.
VA – Time To Set The Night On Fire [01AM]
01AM is the perfect time to start a party and it is the first release of a new label by Afrobot related to his Afrobotic Musicology blog. The record contains 4 edits of music from different corners of the globe: to begin with an epic electro pop nugget from Greece and a heavily cut up Bollywood track on the A side, to finish the journey in Africa on the flip side with a percussive acid jam and a Zulu cult song that screamed for a rework. Limited edition / hand stamped artwork by Frank Koedood on the sleeve.
Nick J Smith – EP1 [RL019]
Nick J Smith has been immersed in the Leeds underground music scene for ages and is one third of the DJ crew and top mixtape blog Clandestino. This EP is representative of the eclectic vibe Nick brings to the trio. The main track ‘Flashback’ bubbles with Chicago style dreamy chug and 90’s rave gaze. Planet Raider is cyborg Manc-talo Electro night driving music at its best and mega Geordie Man Power twists the ‘Flashback’ remix into an impressive and progressive 9 minute bulimic tek belch.
Numonika – Knoe 4/1 [KNOE4/1]
For Those That Knoe present some of the freshest and timeless sounds the UK has to offer from Numonika, sounding as good now as they would have done when recorded ten years ago. Three tracks from the original demo CD have been selected, compiled, re-mastered and pressed by For Those That Knoe onto a special 12″ for collectors and club DJs alike.
DMX Krew – You Exist [HYPELP005]
Hypercolour announce the latest long player from UK stalwart, Ed DMX AKA DMX Krew, the visionary British electronic producer who has been responsible for a slew of excellent releases since the mid 1990s. ‘You Exist’ is DMX Krew’s debut appearance on Hypercolour, and as expected the record features nine tracks of beautifully crafted, melodic electronic sounds. From the opener ‘Spiritual Encounter’, DMX sets the tone perfectly with oodles of pitch perfect synth riffs and driving drums, working his way through snappy and bright pop moments like ‘Hard Copy’ to more melancholic, darker cuts like ‘Computational Paradigm Shift’. DMX breezes in and out of electro techno territory to more contemplative IDM vibes with ease, testimony to the guy’s talent (that’s also seen him wear the hat of over 10 aliases throughout his career to date). ‘You Exist’ captures a very true and genuine musical form, produced and delivered with love from one of the scene’s unsung heroes, and makes it a great companion piece to another Hypercolour released album from similar stock. A consistent and engaging album then from DMX Krew that will pleasure the ear buds of discerning listeners everywhere.
99Letters – Drawing Days [THNS005]
99LETTERS steps up on THRHNDRDSVNTNN with a collection of chugging, otherworldly house and techno excursions. Tape saturated machines groan under ghostly synth pads and layers of static, whilst over driven percussion pounds overhead.
Frak – Sudden Haircut EP [DE109]
Frak are Björn Isgren, Johan Sturesson and Jan Svensson, a trio of synthesizer lovers from Sweden. The band was formed when Svensson and Isgren’s older sisters were best friends and they introduced their little brothers to each other. Inspired by Severed Heads, DAF, Human League, Devo, Skinny Puppy, the boys began collecting analog equipment and started Studio Styrka. While the band were still in their early teens they released the first FRAK cassette album in 1987 on their own record label Börft. Almost 30 years later, FRAK continue to release their bizarre brand of Scandinavian techno with their debut release on Dark Entries.
Moodymann – DJ Kicks [K7327]
Following a year that saw the 50th entry in the long-running series released to wide acclaim, DJ-Kicks returns in 2016 another landmark edition. Iconic Detroit DJ and producer Moodymann is at the helm for his first ever multi-artist DJ mix compilation. Born Kenny Dixon Jr., Moodymann is a one-of-a-kind electronic music icon, hailing from, and wholly synonymous with the Motor City. He is an outspoken, impossibly charismatic artist who has been putting a distinctive and soulful stamp on house and techno since the early 90s. Melting together jazz, funk, soul, blues and rock in captivating ways, he is responsible for some of electronic music’s most definitive tracks, EPs and LPs on labels like Planet E, Peacefrog and his own KDJ and Mahogani Music imprints. As able to serve up the sweetest and most sensual sounds as he is the darkest and most depraved grooves, his own unique voice and stream of conscious musings infuse expertly sought-out samples for music that is decisively alive and authentic.
Paul du Lac – Digital Tsunami 095
Obsolete Music Technology – Lone Passenger [DOLLY024]
Steven Tang returns with a second offering for Steffi’s label as Obsolete Music Technology. Across the three tracks, Tang’s mastery of his craft is more than evident, displaying a rawness that is often craved but not always achieved these days. The title track’s classic Chicago vibe complemented by the more intense racing “Voltage Player” and the cascading rhythmic hits of “High Strung”. Class always tells, and this Love Passenger 12″ has it by the bucketload.
Sir Joe – The New Era Is Coming [LOD007]
The “legend” of Sir Joe, from Chicago to The Hague, 303 bass lines, Juno’s pads and big mama’s speech samples. Powerful and danceable pack made up by six jackin’ cosmic techno house tracks.
D’Marc Cantu – Gear Shift EP [RUNOR1009]
D’Marc Cantu marks his return to Run Out Run with the Gear Shift EP, applying his unique style across four tracks. On the A side ‘It’s Sex’ kicks things off with his signature drum programming and some serious acid business while ‘Body Jak’ is a frantic electro workout. On the B side ‘Gear Shift’ is another peak time banger while ‘Odd Feel’ brings things back down to earth to complete another solid EP from the Ann Arbor based artist.
DJ Phlowgod – Mantha EP [EVR019]
Claudio Bruno – Sub EP [CHIWAX008LTD]
Reade Truth – Stares To Upstairs EP [NSYDE014]
New Yorks not so secret weapon Reade Truth is back for his solo EP on n s y d e. After the well received split EP together with release brother Mobach on nsyde008, which received quite some attention from the Technocircle not at least, due to the support of a man called Marcel Dettmann, the true New York Techno at its best is taking place on nsyde014!
Perseus Traxx – Secret Gang 001 [SG-001]
Perseus Trax returns to wax with this first outing on new imprint Secret Gang. Three scorching hot electro/acid excursions. Bustling percussion and squelching synths meet head on, resulting in pure dance floor destruction.
Ma Spaventi – Balla! [MOS024]
Ahead of him releasing a full length album on MOS in 2016, key label artist Marco Antonio Spaventi is teasing us with a three track Prelude EP. Spaventi hails from Italy, but is based in Amsterdam, and is someone who deals in misty, Chicago referencing house sounds that are loaded up with a real sense of analogue jack.
Manfriday – Groove / Winners [KSS1155]
Here’s an EP with two songs that are sure to take you back. Originally mixed by the legendary Larry Levan of the world famous Paradise Garage. These two Tracks were both considered anthems when played by Larry himself. Officially released in 1986, but this ‘’Demo Mix’’ of “Winners” was never released. Larry Levan played this unreleased cut for many years. “Groove” was never actually released and it was Larry’s Secret Weapon.
E-Versions – #5 [MERC021]
Merc return with the first in the next phase of E-Versions. As ever, MARK E’s best selling and precision club jams project delivers big things for discerning dancers We’ve witnessed first-hand the damage that A Side cut ‘Horn Jam’ visits on a sweaty dancefloor, with its insistent frug and layers of rising synths – a hypnotic bomb as only Mark can deliver On the flip Sanctified makes a meal out of a killer soul sample, working the arrangement into waves of subtle frenzy.
The Hipodrome Of Music 