Reviews: 182

planetStellar Wind/ DSC
‘Lovers Fall’ EP
Planetary Notions

This is a killer release, hopefully by anyone’s standards. Two tracks plus two artists grace the pages with Search The Skies from Stellar Wind opening care of a succession of beautifully succinct beats alongside a series of percussive keyboard and drum flourishes on this excellent, no compromise composition. DSC’s Lovers Fall happens next with a more introspective collection of pulsating keys and haunting vocal lines dancing in-between all that rich, powerful atmosphere. This is only the label’s third release yet with music of this quality you get the sense that quality-control is much more than just a byword.

Release: October 6
https://www.facebook.com/PlanetaryNotions
https://twitter.com/p_notions

Pre order: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/stellar-wind-dsc-search-the-skies/624675-01/

https://soundcloud.com/platform/stellar-wind-search-the-skies-boiler-room-debuts

johnJohn Foxx
The Complete Cathedral Oceans
Edsel records

Celebrating:  Cathedral Oceans (1997), Cathedral Oceans II (2003) and Cathedral Oceans III (2005) this collection of all three albums now neatly converges into the one single definitive release. The inescapable word defining this shape-shifting landscape of sounds has to be ethereal. Or possibly heavenly – which on first glance seems all the more apt. I find music like this reaches into your soul altering your reactions as it probes and produces a never-ending shift of emotions. Ambient is the easy/ obvious word to describe the atmospheric rushes of sounds which come and go across the synthesized generations of both keyboards and holy voices here. Almost timeless, in the way that only electronic music of this nature along with, say, Classical is. However, in a sense it’s pointless my describing piece by piece the defining qualities of the track-list as each album breathes a fresh sense of occasion into the previous incarnation. It is an inescapably, wondrous journey through the sights and sounds of John Foxx’s imagination which ultimately transcends the timeline between then and now, and optimistically into the beyond. Play this at your exalted leisure.

Release: September 30
http://www.metamatic.com

buy: https://johnfoxx.tmstor.es/ 

Buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Cathedral-Oceans-VINYL/dp/B01HYJL8UA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468232801&sr=8-1&keywords=5014797894716

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvoiDRto5bI

ELY
The Neck
taMe Music

Lifted from their new album, ‘EP1’ this simmering, brooding, sometimes dangerous feeling production tears at the fabric of your soul, while creating all sorts of new possibilities in the process. I love its meandering evolution of percussive and synthesized rhythms that leave you guessing as to what might occur next. That, plus the contrasting gentle ambience created by the background of voices appearing occasionally. The arrangement is a high-octane concoction primed for the dancefloor and indeed this must sound epic across the right sound-system. All sorts of influences going on in here too while creating their own definite sound means you’ve got to applaud this. Two versions available, with the aforementioned Tunnel mix plus the slightly deceptive Ambient Mood version which alters the grooves yet still packs a heavy-weight emotional punch.

https://www.facebook.com/elycollective

http://www.tamemusic.com

https://soundcloud.com/tamemusic/sets/ely-the-neck

Dinky
Valor
Crosstown Rebels

Achieving a sixth artist album makes for quite an achievement in these days of impermanence. And producing an album’s worth of this quality is more than testament of any artists’ ability and consequentially worth. In abundance then Valor (which translates as courage in Spanish) begins with the emotionally drenched, Acid punctuated ‘Casa’ and ends up at the soulfully charged, Wakame. Love the fact that neither melody or musicality are ignored here while remaining resolutely fresh in terms of combining sounds with more traditional ideas and notions of arranging music to reach its fullest potential i.e. conveying a connection to you the listener. In-between the start and finish Dinky explores the technological edges in ‘Cut’ through to the more joyous revelations of, Milk. All in all Valor plays for an invigorating, life-affirming listen and long may that continue.

Release: September 30
Buy link hyperurl.co/j8ub2p

http://www.dinkyland.org

https://soundcloud.com/crosstownrebels/dinky-valor-album-mini-mix/s-90HbE

mb054packshotTheo Kottis
It Wasn’t Meant To Be / Running Home
Moda Black

The first thing that really strikes you about ‘It Wasn’t Meant To Be’ is just how much you miss Strings, as in those emotive, heart-wrenching lines which feel like nothing else. Theo Kottis then twists the emotional resonance up a notch with the additional of its commanding basslines, rousing vocals, and punctuating organ hits. And.Id deliver two equally first-rate versions with their Rave Nostalgia Remix again hitting those strings with reverence alongside commanding piano plus a rounder bass sound to exalt the tracks potential fully. An excellent stripped down Dub follows, with the second original composition ‘Running Nowhere’ combining fresh soundscapes in the shape of shimmering synthesizers and expansive pads accompanied by chiming keys for heightened tension.

Release: October 7
http://theokottis.com

https://www.facebook.com/thisismodablack

https://soundcloud.com/theokottis/sets/theo-kottis-it-wasnt-meant-to

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reviews:44

Towards Green
Last Page EP
Buzzin Fly Records

I did think of Durutti Column when I first heard Rivero Brito’s sensitively plucked guitar streaming through stereo and that’s of course a most welcoming experience. But, it’s also equally refreshing not to plant thoughts in your mind as this EP conjures up all sorts of people you could reference, despite the music having a life very much of its own. After experiencing the rather beautiful title track, the even more so, Keep Your Eyes Closed defies logic with uber-cool Double Bass and fizzy electronics blending together impressively with thought-enhancing arrangements and subtleties. The Arkist Remix adds beats, though cleverly doesn’t lose the charm, on an excellent version that can only come highly recommended. The Live Take of Last Page then finishes off with what must have put a rather large smile on Ben Watts face… 9

release: April 16

http://www.buzzinfly.com

 

Boris Dlugosch
Keep Pushing
Peppermint Jam

Fresh remixes of Boris Dlugosch’s biggie from the mid nineties sees Inaya Day’s vocals revitalised once again, and this time round over equally contemporary versions. Firstly from the excellent Joel Alter who swings delicious bass off hissing hi-hats and funky organ, while utilising snippets of appropriate voice to deliver more typically irresistible grooves. The Coyu Kitty-Push remix gives the drums much more of a tribal flavour and uses more melody, all of which eventually reaches the joyous chorus line. 8

release: April 18

http://soundcloud.com/peppermint-jam-records/sets/boris-dlugosch-keep-pushin-1/

http://www.peppermint-jam.com

 

 

Hot Since 82
Hurt You EP
Moda Black

This new instalment from Moda Music begins life with another notable Leeds artist, Hot Since 82. Hurt You, fuels the senses with an infectious bassline, tripped-out voices and insistent hi-hats which punctuate the production throughout – you couldn’t really ask for a better start from the label. Second track, Sundown compliments the picture with darker notation and funkier percussion being offset by semi- melodic vocal snippets and dark, brooding synth chords which all feel suitably lush. 8

release: April 16

http://www.thisismoda.com

https://www.facebook.com/hotsince82

 

Guy Gerber
The Mirror Game
Visionquest

Sounding enviously similar to The Cure circa 1980 with its evocative, gothic overtones and that uniquely, haunting bass-guitar sound, this even manages to transcend that very possibility via heavenly treated voices and shimmering electronic percussion. A truly excellent piece of music to refresh the soul – or at least words to that effect. One Day In May, proceeds with a stunning chord progression that deifies simplicity and is again aided by a surreal collection of voices and sounds so tempting that you can almost taste them. The Snake Pit Dub of the title track ends by tweaking the elements into yet more ethereal beauty as a special bonus for the digital package. 9

release: April 16

http://www.vquest.tv/

 

Kate Simko & Matt Tolfrey
The Same Page EP
Leftroom

Leftroom’s Matt Tolfrey teams up with Chicago’s Kate Simko to produce this devastating collection of one, two, three tracks. Opening with, Take It Easy which blurs the lines between Jazz, House and Electro – which if you ask me sounds like the perfect idea – by playing cool guitar alongside big fuzzy chords and electro-funk bass, this also boasts a clever arrangement that is never less than electrifying. Synthetic sounds continue to flow with, Lazy B coming complete with refreshingly funky percussion, leaving No Shame to develop the Chicago theme further into the ethos. 9

release: April 16

http://soundcloud.com/leftroom/sets/kate-simko-matt-tolfrey-same/

http://www.leftroom.com

 

 

Voices Of Black
Atom Bomb
Double Standard

Dropping the tempo but never easing up on the mood comes this latest from the creative hands belonging to Voices Of Black. It’s hard not to admire the audacity of their spirit as these laid back vocals tease a sense of drama from the quietly addictive, head-nodding rhythms, and it’s even harder not to nod likewise. Remixes are from the even more down-tempo Taner Ross, who furthers the tension still to highlight the vocals’ charm, and No Regualr Play feat. John Camp Remix who pick up the pace again giving the song some House pizzazz via the detuned voices and funky arpeggios. 8

release: April 23

http://soundcloud.com/voicesofblack/01-atom-bomb

http://voicesofblack.net

http://www.doublestandardrecords.com

 

The White Lamp
It’s You
Futureboogie Recordings

Proving once again the strength of contemporary music, The White Lamp show the way the way forward with their combination of irresistibly cool grooves and knowing vocals. I guess the clue is in the labels’ name: Futureboogie. The drive of It’s You lies within the pulsating basslines and a vocal delivery which places tension against melody, and is nothing but completely enticing. Ron Basejam aka Jim Baron from Crazy P supplies the remix with typical panache and comes up funky as ever with a selection of deliciously soulful chords, leaving the Eats Everything and Christophe Acid Ouse remix to do that very thing in equal style. 8

release: April 16

http://www.futureboogie.com

http://www.myspace.com/ronbasejam

http://soundcloud.com/christophe1

 

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