Reviews:138 (2015)

Single of the Week:

leeLee Van Dowski
050504
Mobilee

Not often I get to use the word outstanding but this latest from Lee Van Dowski is all of that and more. Two tracks go to make up this release for the ever excellent Mobilee and it’s the breathtaking numeric’s of 050504 that scores full points. Powered by rolling Toms and soaring vocals this is in a class all of its own sounding heavenly, and feeling distinctly anthemic. Lee’s mobile, then provides a more typically techy production that gets us just as involved with commanding synths blazing their way across pulsating rhythms. Outstanding!

Release: January 16

Listen: http://pulseradio.net/articles/2015/01/premiere-lee-van-dowski-lee-s-mobile

Petite Noir
The King Of Anxiety
Double Six

petiteKicking off the New Year with Petite Noir’s delightfully breathy vocal delivery is certainly a good way to start. ‘Chess’ plays tricks with the imagination via a swirling array of melodies and electronically infused rhythms accompanied by various off the wall sounds, which still manage still retain a live ‘authentic’ feel to them. Released through Domino Recordings sister label Double Six this not only pulls the heartstrings – check the lower register – but also feels slightly epic care off the cumulative Rock sensibilities employed along the way. One of five great tracks on offer with the remainder all exploring similar themes plus notably the more explosive Till We Ghosts featuring Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) adding yet another twist to the picture.

 

Release:  January 19

https://www.facebook.com/petitenoir1
https://twitter.com/PETITE_NOIR

Nolan ft Amber Jolene
Cutting Loose
Dear Deer Records

nolanReleased at the tail end of last year this is too good to let slip by into the ether. The Original version feels much funkier with loose grooves and a familiar guitar lick capping it all off, while Amber Jolene’s inevitably cool vocals add the icing to this emotive feast. An excellent remix comes care off Kyle Watson who combines a striking amalgamation of influences transforming it all into dancefloor nirvana complete with taught Garage bass sitting comfortably alongside tough House beats and soulful Organ.

https://www.facebook.com/DJ.NolanUK
https://www.facebook.com/AmberJoleneMusic

buy http://www.beatport.com/release/cutting-loose/1437590

Sandeman & John Monkman
French Girl In Berghain
Rebellion

rebelExcellent production from this duo which is best played LOUD with the lights low. Its twisted combination of sizzling, sleazy grooves and seductive French spoken vocal does wonders emanating from your speakers and exists in place way beyond mere dancefloor fodder with this carefully crated arrangement of sounds playing like excitement personified. The Original Mix is complimented by a Laughapella should you require it.

facebook.com/sandemanmusic
facebook.com/JohnMonkmanLIV

Listen http://www.tsugi.fr/news/2015/01/12/exclu-french-girl-berghain-titre-ultra-chaud-en-ecoute-8476

Aaron Bessemer
Curly Blonde
MKT

It’s hard to resist any of Aaron Bessemer’s irrepressible twisted Techno madness with the title track starting as things mean to go on. Curly Blonde provides you with addictive, pulverising beats and bass, splashing hi-hats and hints of vocal in amongst the background drone. Passetto then does more of the same, this time with added percussion, as the standout track Good Intentions hits next with tribal flavoured drums and hot, punchy piano adding the human touch to the otherwise relentless rhythms. Lastep, completes with funkier bass and more vocal on yet another fierce production that simply doesn’t sleep.

https://www.facebook.com/aaronbessemer
buy http://www.beatport.com/release/curly-blonde/1436119

 

https://soundcloud.com/mkt-rec/sets/mkt038-aaron-bessemer-curly-blond

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reviews:57

Ten Story
The Ten Story EP
Extended Play

Ten Story aka Stephen Guy and Dan Gleeson’s debut for the Belfast label continues their defining sound reassuringly so. That is deep, thought provoking House music that’s built to delight a dancefloor as much as it engages with your emotions. Keep On, digs deeper with fuzzy chords and perky hi-hats set against undulating vocal snippets from yesteryear. Simple, yet very clearly effective – just like the video below. Bubba supply the remix easing the tempo and indulging you with funkier rhythms, which immediately satisfy both your mind and soul. Found Out and Time Inside develop the settings with further exploration into the deep as the latter’s moody chord structure and atmospheric vibes prove to be the more tempting.

release: August 6

http://soundcloud.com/extended-play

https://www.facebook.com/extndply

https://www.facebook.com/wearetenstory


 

Rico Puestel
Voeyage
Mothership

Second label debut this week sees German artist Rico Puestel’s beautiful melancholy production envelope you in warm layers of looped sound, which pitch themselves together like a dream. From the stirring piano to the edgy beats this intriguing combination of moods is one of the more imaginative this week, and should reflect something movingly ambient right back at you. Plumb The Depths then defies that logic with something more energetic with invigorating piano and a mind of its own, though not quite sure if this just pales in comparison to such a moving composition.

release: August 5

http://www.ricopuestel.com/releases.php

 

Carl Bias
Spike Rebel E.P
SoulDeep Inc

With a pedigree that stretches way back to Chicago and the eighties, it’s about that time for some of the real deal. Taking its cue from that era the music plays across four tracks with the opening, Hold Me by far the most effective with its swirling atmospheres and classic drums feeling vibrant alongside the instantaneous, and just as exciting, bassline. Big Papa follows with shuffling piano and typically pumping Chi-town beats, with Mystic’s sizzling hi-hats and soulful vocal providing a tasteful compliment. You!!! finishes with an exclamation of sweeping sound fx and funky, deep beats which again work effectively.

release: Traxsource July 30

http://soundcloud.com/dave-t/sets/carl-bias-spike-rebel-e-p/

https://www.facebook.com/carl.bias

SoulDeep Inc. http://soundcloud.com/dave-t/

 

Pablo Nouvelle
You Do Me Wrong

Pablo Nouvelle’s second self relased single sounds even more stunning with each proceeding listen, and that’s always a good sign. His voice captures the moment perfectly with a deeply soulful refrain that glides elegantly across warm Rhodes and arresting, acoustic guitar. Perhaps it’s just me but I’m thinking along the lines of beautiful beach and sunshine, or night-time and poolside (bar). True To Me, continues in the same vein, and although not quite as strong it still makes you inquire about an albums’ worth of this.

release: July 30

http://soundcloud.com/pablo-nouvelle/you-do-me-wrong

 

Climbers
2 Come Back
Culprit

Following urgently on from their superlative Law Of Attraction EP comes this equally great release. With trademark content intact you get more in the way of super-funky bass and crisp, shuffling percussion, plus this time with the added bonus of a ‘Work that body, move that body’ vocal loop to raise the temperature. Miguel Campbell’s remix imagines Imagination’s Ashley Ingram playing bass and of course feels effortlessly funky, while also stripping back the track to reveal yet another killer production. The impressive Fur Coat then get twisted with edgier synths and darker notes alongside some great vocal treatments to finish.

http://soundcloud.com/climbers/climbers-2-come-back-original

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miguel-Campbell/258461267501161

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fur-Coat/201228743228492

 

Slok/ Djuma SOundsystem
Lonely Child/ Come Together
My Favorite Robot Records

Two artists, two tracks. First is Italy’s Slok whose Lonely Child (from his 2005 release on SAW Recordings) now features here with this superb remix for My Favorite Robot. Feeling fresh with that smoky vocal remaining thankfully intact the music now gets that bit deeper with haunting and pulsating electronics filling in the spaces. Next Norwegian producer Djuma SOundsystem delivers another cool piece of music with clever, funky drum programming and spacey, vocoder vocals intoning: It’s all gonna come together. Music is such a pleasure.

release: August 6

http://soundcloud.com/my-favorite-robot-records/sets/mfr056-slok-djuma-soundsystem/

http://www.myfavoriterobotrecords.com/

 

Petite Noir
Till We Ghosts
Bad Life

The debut single from Capetown based producer Yannick Iluga aka Petite Noir is called Till We Ghosts. It’s good, at the very least. Very good, at best. Great video to accompany the booming beats and warped sounds too…shame it fades away so soon…

www.facebook.com/petitenoir1

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