Javi Redondo
Lectures To Young Men
Meant Records
The standout track for me right now is this excellent release from Javi Redondo. It’s not hard to hear why with the tense Punk attitude of the title track sounding every bit a gritty as that suggests with spiky guitars and hard strummed bass feeling dangerous and tempting. Not only that but the powerful, smoldering vocals sound equally hot too. The excellent remix comes care off Bohemian Groove whose electronically fused take adds tough, pulsating kick drums together with shimmering synthesizers to highlight still further the charged expectation of the vocal. Next, Motorway’ delivers more edgy New Wave in similar irresistible fashion albeit this time instrumental, with Get A Room! lending it all an abrasive slant with fuzzy sythns and traffic directions!
release: Vinyl out April 21st, Beatport May 4th
https://www.facebook.com/javiredondo
http://www.meantrecords.com
Paul Bauer and Nakosta Yoris
No Joker
Deep
Another tack of note for me at the moment is It’s Not Enough which combines slinky basslines alongside deadpan vocals to great effect. Almost the darker side of the 80’s but then thankfully feeling a lot more contemporary than that, this also has some great lines about fame and calling an ambulance! Second track, Mr Joke explores moodier, syncopated rhythms with yet more impassioned vocals, though not quite as impactful, it is certainly good.
release: May 6
https://www.facebook.com/NakostaYoris
Rico Puestel
You Can’t Do That On A Record Anymore 1
Ponsactrilau Digital 001
Apart from the instant appeal of the title Rico Puestel’s beautifully produced music balances delicate textures together with some serious dancefloor kick. Belfryscape is as much about the ambience created as about anything else with dreamy echoed vocals drifting seamlessly across the beats and picturesque keys. Conversely, The Fuse Allocation feels techier though still retains its soulfull credentials via the emotive blend of reversed effects and ethereal moods. A stunning release of sounds.
release: May 7
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rico-Puestel/14478163149
http://www.ricopuestel.com
Ernesto Ferreyra
Insight
Cadenza Records
With his next album due for the label in October, Ernesto Ferreyra provides a taste of what could be in store come the Autumn. Two tracks make up the release with the opening Voltage Poem sounding suitably charged amidst an array of sizzling electronic rhythm and dub poetry, care of one of the England’s very finest. There Is No Answer then completes with tougher beats hitting hard against undulating funkiness while mood enhancing voices echo the question posed by the title.
release: May 12
https://www.facebook.com/Ernesto.Ferreyra.Official
http://www.cadenzamusic.net
https://soundcloud.com/cadenzamusic/sets/ernesto-ferreyra-insight/
MiniRoyal Mbamba
Colours of Soul EP
Habitual Grooves
Meant to review this back at the start of the month but time flies and here we are. This is great and pitch perfect for forthcoming sunshine as the happily titled Spirit Of Joy sees smoky Trumpet play alongside cool Electric piano and sassy percussion for punctuation. Place Where I Can Belong proceeds to get jazzy over House beats, while How Can I Love gets spiritual with soulful vocals and irresistible drums. The deeper Soul Divine ends the EP feeling more intense with occasional jazzy overtones and commanding vocal snippets.
https://www.facebook.com/miniroyalhouse
https://soundcloud.com/darrenharrison1/miniroyal-spirit-of-joy
Solaris Heights
Midnight
Firepwny
Originally released in 2002 Midnight now gets a timely update car of Neil Quigley and Rievaulx. The former’s Zero Dark version provides a captivating alternative to the original version’s bouncy, 80’s inflected grooves with, as the title suggests, an infusion of atmospheric sounds that accompany the vocal impressively well. The latter then injects a sense of funkiness into the bassline while also featuring more of the vocal, or of course you could aim for the full hit of the original mix which is included too.
release: Beatport Exclusive April 23 – General release May 7
http://www.solarisheights.com