Josh Wink & Truncate – Be Aware – Ovum Recordings

Do all visionary roads lead back to Bam Bam Where’s Your Child. Somewhere along that journey a wrong turn was taken ending up in a very dark alley. But thank god for those murky spaces as some of our most impressionable music is found there in-between imagination and reality. What’s not in doubt is the sheer pulverising beauty employed here as smouldering bass loops across taught drums alongside a low-slung voice that will send shivers all over. Watch out too for the twisted devastation caused by a lone synth note on the outro as all hell subsequently breaks loose. The likewise excellent Truncate Mix feels that bit more energised picking up the tempo, refocusing the bass intensity while adding handclaps to jazz it up a touch. The awe inspiring Acapella is also included completing the picture though probably best heard in a darkened room! LOUD.

Spotify stream https://open.spotify.com/album/64Vm4gjumYYjY8ixlGUHvl
http://www.ovum-rec.com
http://www.joshwink.com
https://truncate.bandcamp.com

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Reviews: 149

Adrian Sherwood
Sherwood At The Controls/ Volume 1/ 1979 – 1984
On-U Sound

Perhaps not always a name that trips off the tongue so much these days but none-the-less one the of the UK’s key producers as this first in line re-issue of his work proudly testifies. You only need look at the track list to qualify that statement and to see the calibre of the people he worked with too – all of which, perhaps, makes you feel just that little bit nostalgic. His trademark ‘Dub’ sound is of course very much in evidence but what also astounds you here is the breadth of styles employed across the selection i.e. that not everything sounds identikit. Artists include Mark Stewart, The Fall, The Slits, Prince Far I, and Annie Anxiety’s gloriously difficult Third Gear Kills, and by far sounds like anything as radical as you are likely to hear this side of Ibiza!?!

http://www.on-usound.com
http://www.adriansherwood.com
https://www.facebook.com/adriansherwoodofficial
https://twitter.com/onusherwood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxJLCI3qDJg

Single of the Week

Josh Wink
Denial
Ovum Recordings

With its ‘Live in the future’ refrain strolling around the arrangement this excellent production from Josh Wink is light years beyond Higher State Of Consciousness (released some 20 years ago!) but which feels just as explosive, albeit in a different way. If its Acid you require then the appropriately named Prise D’acid is inevitably the version you’re after, and won’t disappoint. However, the atmospheric qualities of the original are just as rewarding with emotive pads joining the pulsating rhythm section later on. Meanwhile the Tweak Dub strips it all down to basics via a pulsating drum machine and bubbling synth lines to complete this first rate release.

Release: April 20

www.facebook.com/joshwinkofficial
www.joshwink.com
www.twitter.com/joshwink1

https://soundcloud.com/joshwinkofficial/preview-denial-eyes-closed

Textures 7AM
Concrete Music Paris

Released as three parts of an intriguing whole this individual edition of the sequence finds itself with the 7AM time-stamp. An ambitious project via the Paris club sees Concrete further establish its diverse identity with four equally striking productions. Chris Mitchell’s intense yet blissful ‘Parallel Symbiotic’ opens with a blur of electricity feeling distinctly emotive and is followed by Lowris ‘C_Crete’ which delivers syncopated edginess accompanied by inviting hints of deepness. Matthew Herbert’s African flavoured ‘Earthenware’ is next composing another captivating listen, while Lazare Hoche’s suitably energetic ‘Spank’ finishes with a creative combination of swirling atmospheric sounds and banging beats.

http://concreteparis.fr/index.php?page=Home

https://soundcloud.com/concretemusicparis/sets/textures-7am/s-xWxYq

HNNY
Solsidan/Alby EP
Let’s Play House

The idea of revelling in the summer ambience to the intro of Solsidan on loop is very appealing indeed, especially with the sun shining outside. HNNY’s cool combination of jazzy inspired Disco vocals and chords captures the mood perfectly easing you down into recline mode. The Avalon Emerson version pumps up the rhythm with punctuating beats but quite naturally loses the warmer emotion in the process. Second original, Alby replays more classic tones with meandering breezy organ lines playing over crunchy breaks and again feels super sunny, with the Ana Helder Remix re-tweaking the sample for an edgier rendition, though likewise you may still yearn for the more soulful aspects of both originals.

Release: April 20
www.lphnyc.com

https://soundcloud.com/thump/hnny-solsidan

Gunman
Purity Ball
Rüttelplatten

Despite the suspect reference of the title this proves to be a cut above the usual House cliques as its undulating funkiness produced by Gunman is all about sparking your imagination. It doesn’t stop there either as engaging vocal cut-ups combine with warm contrasting keyboard surges and a playful arrangement. The Snuff Crew version follows with harder beats and snappy percussion fuelling a 90’s styled organ punctuated instrumental take on the above, and if anything feeling just that bit more urgent.

Release: April 15 Vinyl / 30 Digital
www.shakerplates.com

https://soundcloud.com/djgunman/rupl003-gunman-purity-ball-orginal

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Reviews:139

Single of the Week

Vince Watson
Déjà vu EP
Poker Flat Recordings

In the course of celebrating a 20 plus years history the label releases this excellent number from Vince Watson. The title track ticks all the right buttons with emotive chords underpinning a relatively restrained Acid bassline and comes complete with a lush breakdown that sets the pulse racing. And to highlight just how effective it all is Déjà vu also features a Beatless and Ambient Mix which both accentuate the track’s sensual nature, with the radiant ambience of the later feeling particularity rewarding care of the well placed piano motif. Illusion, meanwhile provides a tougher affair for the dancefloor with hissing hi-hats accompanied by a more intense array of punchy keys, while label founder Josh Wink’s funky percussion led remix aims high with pounding musicality reaching an eventual deeper climax on what is undoubtedly a first rate version.

www.vincewatson.co.uk
www.ovumrecordings.com

https://soundcloud.com/vincewatson/sets/vince-watson-deja-vu-ep-ovum

Little By Little
Bang The Box EP
Defected Records

Great title (of course) and reflects the banging nature of House Music with this irresistible workout from the Frenchman. Bang The Box, features taught, explosive bass lines plus the chopped-up vocals of the same name and then proceeds to twist them all together delivering highly flammable material. Second track, ‘Stress’ applies nastier bass to pumping drums along with wobbly synths and once again comes up smiling. Simple yet deadly.

Release: January 19

https://soundcloud.com/defectedrecords/sets/little-by-little-bang-the-box-ep-edits-1

Roland Appel
Zeus
Inside Out Records

An explosive sonically charged barrage from Roland Appel has the title track feel every bit as great as that sounds with dark bass and beats, weird synths and Acid attitude all combining most conveniently into a sizzling collage of sounds. The funkier, Da Cat follows with heavier bass accompanied by sometimes warmer, sometimes harsher keys that are all high on impact and lend the track its distinctive, notably edgy flavour.

Release: January 26

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roland-Appel/123904200961246?sk=timeline

https://soundcloud.com/insideoutrec/sets/zeus-ep

Monoblok&PSLKTR
Relapse EP
Meant Records

Love this from Monoblok&PSLKTR who defiantly throw the rule book out of the window while delivering an icily cool production complete with addictive deadpan vocals and unsettling synthesizers. Relapse, even features a rocky guitar, live action bass and is most effective via the excellent original mix. Remixes come from a pulsating Rework version, and the sizzling electronics of My Favorite Robot. Next, Walking Disaster supplies another great original with further cool vocals alongside sassy keyboards and decadent 80’s attitude. Arnaud Rebotini’s remix of the same completes with a more robust version beefing it all up nicely.

https://www.facebook.com/MonoblokPslktr

https://soundcloud.com/meant/sets/monoblokpslktr-relapse-ep-meant021

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