In the wake of Portable’s acclaimed album My Sentient Shadow comes a trio of remixes which expand on his unique slant on techno and synth-pop. Finding three artists who reflect his own experimental tendencies within dance music, Alan Abraham’s original productions head into unexpected new places while retaining the physical, club-ready energy he manages to instill in his own creations.
Portable with his first release on Rhythm Cult. ‘Reeva Numbers’ is a dusky production complete with ethereal organ chords, offbeat stabs and subtle melodies. Next, ‘Only Human’ draws from the sound of the producer’s Bodycode moniker, implementing more dancefloor-focused aesthetics with the help of shuffling rhythms, deep vocal moans and heady keys. Concluding the release, ‘Moving, Trains And You’ is the most minimal number of the package with rolling percussion, soaring pads and a heightening suspense.
Live At Robert Johnson presents a second Lifesaver compilation. The label is calling the eight-track collection, which arrives two years on from the first instalment, “another episode of togetherness.” It presents music from the LARJ roster, with Roman Flügel, Portable, Orson Wells, Massimiliano Pagliara, Lauer, TCB and Benedikt Frey all chipping in with a track each.
After a string of twenty plus 12-inches, various high-flying mix-compact-discs, other audio-visual eccentricities and even books, she is finally ready to make a collection public that embodies the very character of Live At Robert Johnson and its affiliated club in Offenbach am Main. During this collection of 11 tracks, you will meet old and new companions; hear withdrawn songs and extrovert composi- tions, experience Frankfurt skyline techno-soul, hobo house and divergent disco. Starting off with new kid on the block Chinaski and an extended mix of the fragile “Lunch”, Live At Robert Johnson old hands Massimiliano Pagliara and Lauer are on top of their respective games, Roman Flügel sends warped and gifted droid funk, The Citizen’s Band precedes him, while newcomers Benedikt Frey and Orson Wells set good examples of their own. Not too shabby either: San Laurentino in his state of overjoy, Portable and Lcio bring their flutes of mellow madness, while the Tuff City Kids close of with “People Is A Crackhead” and some blue-eyed steppers business. Modern, old-fashioned, post-nostalgic, history-addicted and future-ridden all at the same time, “The Lifesaver Compilation” is exactly that: a life saving apparatus.
Tevo Howard with an EP featuring some House versions of some of The Black Electro Orchestra’s favorite Pet Shop Boys tracks. The EP includes a remix of Domino Dancing, vocals performed by Portable.
Alan Abrahams is capable of evoking the spirits of traditional deep house songs without getting lost in nostalgia, manufacturing boring carbon copies or a longing for a past that never was. The first release for Live at Robert Johnson is all that: haunting, melancholic yet optimistic, as deep as it is driving and most of all mesmerising. “A Process” features all his great sound signature moves, comes with an acappella for brave DJs and a serious Flutramental on top of it all for the faint at heart.
Beautiful South Sudanese song by Mary Boyoi, with outstanding, epic Portable rework & direct, Chicago-esque Tama Sumo version.
Karat delivers vinyl extracts from his last CD compilation Katapult Festival. Abstract techno by Skudge, Portable and Phillippe Cam.
New album by Portable. On the fifth longplayer, Alan Abrahams teams up with Efdemin, Johannes Schön and “Süd Electronic” labelmate Lakuti, to lead us “Into Infinity”.
Second part of Damian’s limited double 12” release gets off to a glittering start with Portable AKA Bodycode’s metallic framework of effervescing glitchy FX, futuristic beats for the body and wisps of melody for the soul. This is ultra deep rolling tech funk at its finest. Next up Lazarus introduces hot new San Fran based talent Deal Seal. His rework of ‘Different Now’ is a rumbling journey of built up tension and release with a delicately tribal drive that pulses with percussive energy and sci-fi synths over the menacing bassline.
Portable strikes back on Karat 8 years after his first appearance on the label. “Inside your mind” is a build up track with a proper vocal describing different levels of consciousness, and about the way of living your inner thoughts. “The Ghetto Escapes” is a floor burner, acid stomper track that never stops to push up the pressure.
Two tracks of attention grabbing House from Portable aka Bodycode! ‘This Life Of Illusion’ is an exceptional piece of deepest House soul laden with warmest synth washes, pointed keys and a heavyweight yet tactile bass throb made for the best sound system you can lay your hands. ‘Life Magically Is’ is built with different intentions, laying positive self-help vocals over a prime jackers rhythm with a deep, sprawling, and deadly square bass line.
“Sun” is the first release in a Kenton Slash Demon trilogy on Tartelet called “Schwarzchild Trilogy” inspired by the elements that form our galaxy. The Sun 12″ features a remix from the much hyped Alan Abrahams aka Portable / Bodycode, from Portugal who made added vocals, deepness and classic Mr. Fingers Juno-6 bass line – deep and clever.
With his new single Kude Leon Segka emerge a cut of detroit dub and electro. An outgoing kick and bass driving his dark atackless pads while spooky whispers are crawling in beetween. At the b side Bodycode from Spectral clearly reinstall Kude to his future retro style.
The Hipodrome Of Music 