Whatever you may feel about festivals and their place in club culture there is little doubt that the landscape would be entirely different without them. Which, as a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic is plain enough for all to see. What happens next may evolve into something new, or just different, or maybe even not at all care of a vaccine. Time will tell. In-between then and now you can be reassured by this selection of wonderful sounds which, as Gottwood does, explores the terrain of diverse musical selection. On board with the newly revitalised label is none other than Geoff Kirkwood aka Man Power so as you might expect the unexpected is delightfully apparent. There are plenty of standout moments to savour as this compilation of some thirty tracks features many familiar names from DJ Tennis to Ron Basejam and Roman Flügel. Also listen out for BOBBY – The Blind Beggar and Maxxi Soundsystem’s excellent Lost In Trigon, just two of many notables to whet your appetite for 2021 and further adventures on the beautiful island…
Maxxi Soundsystem
Medicine EP featuring Name One
Culprit
The ever excellent Culprit are once again on target with the labels 50th release from the equally first-rate Maxxi Soundsystem, and as per usual it’s his uniquely blended electronic funkiness that ignites all five senses on Medicine. The title tracks’ typically expanded bassline sucks you into another warmly produced; creatively enthralling production that sets them apart along with Name One’s commanding vocal lines. The empathetic Lone Raver follows with bubbling tension driven by the vocals, leaving Fading Thought to end it all with yet more lush, deep-ended bass plus smoky voices and rich pulsating electronics….
The second excellent release guaranteed to hit you hard this week is from the impressive Soloman’s Forest Records. Heizer supplies two excellent productions in the shape of The Fog plus Joshua with the former’s tempting rhythms feeling perfect night-time, played LOUD and the latter’s equally irresistible hypnotic arrangements sounding just as compelling. The EP’s title track is remixed by Lee Burton’s version which simmers with hot FX tension over taught grooves, while the second track gets made over via On.ket’s Secular Remix which adds twisted vocals to Techno rhythms and as you will hear leaves an indelible impression.
Who wouldn’t like to be 19 and producing music of this calibre, which is just what – in the spirit of adventure/ defiance – Nicolas Jaar´s Other People achieves in releasing this startling assault on the senses from John Bence. Something reminds of something within this unsettling combination of orchestral instrumentation and dark layers of harmonious choir-like voices. It feels like the cinema with the picture missing, and perhaps the most telling indication of the music evoked is the image which adores the front cover.
Feeling as abrupt at the title this rewardingly, moody production fuses dark undertones together with an emotive resonance which soon becomes addictive. Malo is based on Mallorca with a sound that touches upon a number a different bases and the moodier nature of the music is neatly revealed via the Dub of standout track Moments. The brisker Port then adds crunchy drums to more upbeat grooves raising the emotional content higher still. Listen below:
Great new release from the Hungarian-based Itom Records which sees Moe Turk deliver heavy-duty percussion alongside deep organ and juicy bass for your pleasure. Christian Cardwell’s Piano Remix pushes the theme further with added vocal snippets filling out the rhythm plus cool piano chords warming up the emotions, leaving the Boo From Ill Cows Deep Down version to sequence punchier beats for the dancefloor along with perky hits of organ and piano doing likewise.
What better to start the eightieth edition of Magazine Sixty than with the lush production values of Elize. The French artist has created three gems in this release while also highlighting the labels versatility into the bargain. Just Wanna Dance, almost despite what the title claims, fills in the spaces between deep and gorgeous with hypnotic tones alongside dreamy voices combining with tough underlying rhythms perfectly. About This Girl feels that bit friskier with funkier bass and shuffling drums adding an enticing groove before Elize strikes the piano in full effect. All Theses Ices ends sitting somewhere in-between the previous two with moody organ and chunky syncopation giving the process a real kick.
An excellent release from Large that sees the label returning to their 90’s roots with Detroit Swindle’s Lars Vegas delivering an essential production for just about anyone whose into that House sound. Of course, it’s also very telling that the style, and The Game in particular, feels so vibrant today -Â coming full circle. The title track’s energy is inescapably persuasive with the exuberant vocals, insistent drums and pumping chords all feeling majorly peak time. Break Me Down follows with more strident rhythms and big time keys accompanied by deeper pads for added variation. Homework, supply the remix with their take on the sound being a notably potent one as heavy-duty bass and beats give you that bit more. Extra Large.
Jori Hulkkonnen as Third Culture
Negative Time Remixes 2
My Favorite Robot Records
Having already released the labels first artist album electronic magician Jori Hulkonnen now has this second selection of remixes to further tempt you in that direction. Gonna Track You Down is remixed impressively by Knox who treat you to a diverse set of sounds; some reversed, some played straight but all highly impactful beside the cinematic landscape created. Jori Hulkkonen’s own remix of Liquid Hologram feels somewhat less experimental in comparison, although still features an invigorating sequence of electronic notes alongside captivating, haunting vocals. The excellent Maxxi Soundsytem then rework Do It giving it a temptingly deeper edge, while featuring Olga Kouklaki’s heavily treated voice against a creative progression of sounds. The Model remix of Bass is a Many Splendored Things finishes on a clubbier note with uptempo, pulsating rhythms all receiving that certain MFR twist.
While not necessarily the most promising of titles the Knackered EP does however reignite the word Balearic with four notably good tracks via Argentine label Get Slow. Christian Malloni’s imaginative production prowess is evident throughout beginning with I Got You and its bluesy vocals played over a fashionably taught, moody bass. Where Nobody Knows Your Name, then sees a breezier vocal spinoff against low-slung beats and tastefully atmospheric instrumentation. Next, the title track itself feeds the senses with vocal cut-ups coupled with an infectious, swirling soundscape that really gets under your skin. However, By My Side is the jewel in the crown referencing a summer beach sometime in the last decade as rolling, filtered grooves wash over you alongside acoustic guitar and emotive voices – picture perfect.
Subb-an & Adam Shelton’s One Records are about to release their finest moment to date. Anthea’s sublime yet slightly distressing production bears all the hallmarks of a classic in the making, with its sizzling electronic rhythms feeling heavy-duty and inescapably funky. Although, perhaps what’s most enticing here are the deliciously sleazy sounding vocals intoning, ‘I can’t dance when you’re next to me’ – hence the records title. First remix comes from Dan Ghenacia who reliably adds some extra juice to arrangement with more insistent bass, swinging hi-hats and haunting keys. The second is by Subb-an whose apt 5am Remix again delves deeper with throbbing basslines, more revealing vocals, and a masterly Murk feel that always sounds killer.
The second release from London’s Disco Bloodbath is even better than the first. In fact, it’s an excellent piece of music. Combining the talents of the imprints own Ben Pistor and one half of Maxxi Soundsystem Sam Watts this swirling exploration of synthetic sounds feels like a trip through a myriad of influences, which define the finer point s of electronic music, from somewhere in the eighties until now. Love the sense of melancholy melody too as Gone Ghost isn’t shy of exploring a rollercoaster of emotions, then Jamie Blanco’s Acid Rework dives head first into 1988 with Acid enhancing the already expansive chords. The stunning, Arpy finishes in a blaze of intensity, complete with nasty sounds and grandiose Nu Beat references – this is nothing short of epic.
release: 8th August 2011 (Vinyl) / 21st August (Digital)
fabric continue their pioneering journey through sound with number 65 occupied by Matthias Tanzmann. The words deep, dark and soulful all crop up when listening to this extraordinary blend of engaging music that begins with the strange jazz of Minimono’s ‘Venus’, passes through Monkey Maffia’s supremely funky ‘Sources From The Past’, via twist and turns from Maya Jane Coles and Davide Squillace. Also featured is his own superlative reworking of Silicone Soul ‘Right On, Right On’ plus Alexis Cabrera’s bizarrely groovy ‘Everything’, which you’ll find in amongst any number of other not so hidden gems. You could also use the words stunning and stylish.
Love the Wipe Out Remix of this track from the recent Tides Of Mind album, as it combines sleazy hi-nrg syncopation along with dead-pan, somewhat camp vocals from Miss Kittin extolling the virtues of being a ‘housewife’. Joy. Powered by a huge Kick drum and a bunch of eighties references this sounds like a fun place to be at. An Extended version of the Original also appears (see below) with remixes from Society of Silence who treat it with a much more intense Techno edge, while Yannick Baudino takes it deeper with pulsating beats and atmospheric synths.
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