Another label to complete the year with further highs sees the brilliant Re.You supply connected with innovative, forward pushing ideas which cumulate into the stunning Lifting Me. Driven by tough, vigorous percussion and moody intonations – both vocal and synthesised – this feels certainly typically special. Next, Calisi revisits Chicago as hot basslines along with caustic keys rework the concept in truly funky directions, while more percussion is heaped upon the closing Calisi with excitable electronic sequences hotly contesting the spaces in-between. Looking forward to 2019.
The word you’re looking for here is, excellent. The words plural to describe this latest from connected are building, tension, beautiful, harmonious, and challenging. Re.You surpasses himself with Without You feeling uniquely important as a standalone piece of music that utilises the power of repetition as a force, combining voice and drums to devastating effect. Next, Too Much sees Marius Maier alongside Soheil deliver addictive, smoking, tribal infused rhythms which feel Dub-like yet powerfully pointed.
As if somebody has walked into the room and turned the lights on the effervescent funk ignited by Body Language is little short of blinding. Engaging you from the moment the drums start the rhythms keep rolling while occasional vocals colour the arrangement alongside a sparkling dash of keys that only fuel the anticipation. Brilliant. The remix comes from Re.You strip it down to bare essentials fusing darker, intense electronics and beautifully extravagant reverberating voices plus a flurry of handclaps for punctuation.
Mobilee once again delivers hot and heavy music this time round care of the excellent Re. You who equally pulls few punches with this electronically, sonically charged stereo assault. The blistering Acid informed lines of Dreams set movement in motion with tense, intense rhythms that both inform and invigorate the airwaves. Contrasting perfectly are the deeper, more soothing tones of The Feeling as bubbling bass notes drift over uncomplicated drums to help ease the previous tension.
Stunning release from the label sees Vince Watson’s opening track, A Moment With Lonnie surpass itself via an outstanding intro of gorgeous instrumental ambience that you just don’t want to stop. Eminesence, happens next with juicy House bass joined by funky percussion which soon expands itself into yet more blissful musicality, and then onto Calypso with its punchy vibes providing an alternative uplifting experience. Under The Skin completes the sequence with a tastefully jazzy inflected score that is round-about note perfect for the coming spring evenings.
Vinyl Release Date: 02-03-2015
Digital Release: 09-03-2015
Once you get past the deeply unsettling cover then this bass driven cut is a joy to behold. First up are the addictive, sizzling drums which are soon complimented by those compelling Chicago-style deep tones, plus the odd touch of vocal and slightly twisted keys for added extra measure. Show Me, Show Me, follows with even more unfeasibly big basslines which are this time accompanied by standout piano and pumping beats, along with a twisted breakdown that certainly reaches a peak. Either way, a completely first-rate experience.
Compiling and celebrating their tenth year in existence the Berlin based label certainly has plenty to share in terms of both depth and excellence. Reshaped and remodeled by Re.You this two disc experience gives everything and more care off the sonically charged music contained with the first disc highlighting 2014. For me, if it was even Anja Schneider’s outstanding ‘Jimmy’ and Lee Van Dowski excellent ‘050504′ on a loop I’d be more than happy, but of course the label is about so much more with tracks from the likes of Rodriguez Jr. and Ross Evans all feeling vital and contemporary. Re.You then comes into his own on the second disc by deconstructing and then re-imaging a handful of Mobilee’s back catalogue which are then reconstructed into two 30 minute mixes. Add to that excitement some brand new remixes along with hot Ninetoes collaboration, ‘Union’ and Volume 9 clearly makes for essential listening.
Been around since Christmas (remember that) and having just been brought to my attention it would be amiss not to reignite your attention on this. Combining irresistible, dark smoky bass alongside Jamie Porteous’ teasing, breathy vocals which lend this great production a tantalising sheen on title track, Spyderman. Next comes the deeper, equally compelling Inside which plays meandering synth lines against sassy rhythms, and again feels lush and inviting. Next please.
Konrad Black & Art Department Graveyard Tan No.19 Music
Things do indeed only get better as this ridiculously good release from one of the world’s hottest labels No.19 testifies. Following quickly on from Tone Of Arc’s excellent single comes this from Konrad Black (Wagonrepair) and No.19’s very own Jonny White who along with Kenny Glasgow form Art Department. Graveyard Tan, as you might suspect from the title plays with hauntingly deep tones and simmering moody tensions that are at once deliciously intense and beautifully epic. Played over crisp hi-hats the expansive bass broods its way into your consciousness with the simple intonation of the word Baby all that needs saying. Version Two replays those very elements but either way it doesn’t get a lot better than this.
Behling & Simpson ft. James Fox EP2 Futureboogie Recordings
It can’t just be about the sunshine but every time I hear something new from Futureboogie smiles appear. You’ve got to admire the sheer audacity of the low tempo which always feels thrilling and of course deeply funky. This is no exception as the apt Work That Body stretches out uplifting chords over crunchy percussion and a vocal sample that weaves its way into your brain. The second track to feature James Fox is Tangled and if anything feels more expansive with its huge bassline and nagging synths complimented by oriental-esque chimes. AAW picks up the pace with more loose percussion and cool piano, while Good Thang feels that bit moodier, though equally effective, with more infectious rhythms and hot production values.
Huxley & Sam Russo Jamma’s Basement EP Leftroom Limited
Love the combination of daring styles on this latest from Huxley & Sam Russo whose stars are clearly in ascendance. Opening with off-kilter keys the continuing sense of being warped is offset by crisp percussion, familiar delayed vocals, and a dancehall styled bass which you can’t help but move too. This inventive production simply shines. As does the curiously titled William’s Trainers which follows with more sizzling hi-hats and classic House sensibilities adding reason to the twisted vocal edit.
Sound advice from Mobilee whose 93rd release once again reminds you just how vital the label always proves to be. The title track featuring Daniel Wilde begins with deliciously funky toms and then works its way into frenzied arpeggios by way of space aged vocal fx and a taut rhythm section. Next, Junction plays with heavier tribal toms and further haunting voices, this time over tech stabs which the louder they get the better they feel.
Release 35 sees the label on perfect form with one of their strongest to date. Kicked off by a classic House Music (all night long) bassline sparse percussion then invites you to dance alongside pounding beats and Take Me Higher vocals which, in this case, have survived the nineties unscathed. There’s something inescapably cool about how all of this sounds. The Argy Remix then sensibly retains the bass and adds early nineties Detroit styled organ to his suitably sparkling production. And speaking of the motor city, the legendary Rolando rounds it all off by displaying typical flair via excellent, yet unsettling, drum programming which makes the whole experience shine even more brightly.
More in the way of old music sounding new as Diynamic see Italian duo Hunter/ Game join up the dots between the eighties and now, while sounding vital and energised in the process. Cool synth lines combine with acid tweaks and Deep House bass to produce something instantly pleasing on opening track, Under. Boogie Music co-produced with FreakMe follows on to explore avenues of Electro-Funk bass and smoothly soulful vocals, as the title track goes down the classic Chicago route employing an infectious Reckless Lady vocal loop and melodic keys. Crazy Enough, finishes by building the tension superbly with staccato guitar and also takes its cue from the same influence pool, but as with all the music on the EP feels completely contemporary.
Another label to complete the year with further highs sees the brilliant Re.You supply connected with innovative, forward pushing ideas which cumulate into the stunning Lifting Me. Driven by tough, vigorous percussion and moody intonations – both vocal and synthesised – this feels certainly typically special. Next, Calisi revisits Chicago as hot basslines along with caustic keys rework the concept in truly funky directions, while more percussion is heaped upon the closing Calisi with excitable electronic sequences hotly contesting the spaces in-between. Looking forward to 2019.
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