For the fifth installment in the Common Thread series we are launching our series of Various Artists EPs called *Knives Replace Air*. For the first effort in this series we have the likes of Chinaski, MangulicaFM, 33.10.3402 and Gitchell Moore cooking up stuff. Expect an odd mixture of genres all sharing a common thread in terms of feel. Maybe not the most dancefloor friendly record but definitely some kind of miniature soundtrack in its own right.
John Heckle is back on Mathematics with this 4 track EP. Bringing back some serious textures and sequence in sonic mentalism. “It’s a Chicago thang don’t be confused or afraid.”
Signal Code release number eight comes from the Romanian outfit Romansoff, including a remix by Privacy.
Next on Raw Tools is Irish producer and Signal Code label owner, Costelloe, delivering two tracks much in the manner of his previous works, both of them at the fine line between techno and house music. While the title track, “Infiniti” is definitely a dance floor track, with its rave pads and solid bassline, “Pheta X” shows a more darker side of Costelloe’s music. Both of these cuts get special treatment from two of the most prolific and respected producers out there, Lerosa and DJ Overdose, rounding off the EP with two amazing, yet diverse remixes.
The second Egyptian Eyeliner release on KäfTen is just as tearful and sentimental. Ecstasy on the housefloor.
“I Know U Have Wings” EP feats 4 tracks from one of Mathematics’ main artists, Giorgio Luceri. A serious deep textured beating EP for the serious dance floor movers & shakers.
Part 2 of the Future Jack Programs To Respond serie, bringing even more future jackers and deep & deeper techno tracks.
Eight tracks blend the boundaries between original productions, illicit remixes and straight re-edits. There’s a celebratory, life-affirming feel throughout, from the rubbery bass, D-Train synths and rolling house grooves of Giovanni Damico’s ”The Break Down”, to the bluesy deep house brilliance of Borrowed Identity’s ”Queens Bridge”. Highlights are plentiful elsewhere, too, from the hustlin’ electrofunk-meets-disco of Vogel’s own ”Come On”, to the killer synth solos and fuzzy bits of Tim Jules’ thrilling ”Slap Beat”.
One of the hidden artistic gems on Mathematics comes with another solo project of high class, jump up, movement on floor sounds.
Glasgow has a new label on the horizon in the shape of Work For Love who kick off proceedings with a fine 12″ from Mr Timothy J Fairplay. Given his previous form and the title of this 12″, it’s easy to suggest the influence of John Carpenter looms over No News From New York, but there are more strings to Fairplay’s bow than that as the four tracks prove. There is a range of tempos explored here, with “Carla Is Typing A Message” a deathly crawl through delay-laden synth drama, whilst “Court Street Shuffle” is a life-affirming box jam that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Legowelt record. Those melodies! “Mickey’s Theme” is more redolent of Fairplay’s celebrated work with Sir Weatherall, whilst the title track is the slowest production here and is quite captivating.
As label debuts go, SALT001 feels like a genuine statement of intent. Run by Melbourne producers Shedbug and Rudolf C (who both contribute tracks), Salt Mine’s first outing touches on a number of contemporary deep house trends whilst retaining the kind of hazy, Balearic feel most associated with the Australian city. Mall Grab & Rudolf C’s dreamy “Untitled (Track 2)” pays tribute to the new age house sounds of Vancouver, while Shedbug’s “End of the Drone” inhabits the ambient techno territory recently visited by Shine Grooves and the Acting Press crew. Elsewhere, Coastdream’s “Untitled 16” sits somewhere between Motor City futurism and the raw rhythms of L.I.E.S, and DJ Phlowgod’s “Summer” is a pitch-perfect analogue jam full of clattering machine drums, boogie synths and jackin’ intent.
Greg Beato returns to Funkineven’s Apron imprin, serving up three more chunks of woozy machine music. Beato sets the tone on “When Monkeys Attack”, which expertly fuses booming bass, fizzing drum machine hits and dreamy, hypnotic synthesizer motifs. There’s a hazier deep house feel to “El Dinero Falla”, which despite its’ inherent beauty is also notably tough and more than a little wonky. Another excellent outing closes with the clanking drum machine cowbells, Syclops-goes-rave riffs and furious percussion programming of the more techno-leaning “Sadati”.
The latest Sound Signature release comes from one-time conscious hip-hop producer GE-OLOGY and one-time go-to jazz keys-man Mark De Clive-Lowe. The latter’s brilliant synthesizer and piano work is arguably the highlight of both tracks here. On the spacey, P-funk influenced space-house swing of “Moon Circuitry” he does his best impression of Herbie Hancock, while “Escape On The Lodge Freeway” boasts intricate jazz solos atop a slightly tougher, chunkier deep house groove.
The forth release on the San Francisco label Secret Studio Records, featuring three Acid laced intensity tracks by Josh Elle.
The Hipodrome Of Music 