Meant Records

Reviews:139

Single of the Week

Vince Watson
Déjà vu EP
Poker Flat Recordings

In the course of celebrating a 20 plus years history the label releases this excellent number from Vince Watson. The title track ticks all the right buttons with emotive chords underpinning a relatively restrained Acid bassline and comes complete with a lush breakdown that sets the pulse racing. And to highlight just how effective it all is Déjà vu also features a Beatless and Ambient Mix which both accentuate the track’s sensual nature, with the radiant ambience of the later feeling particularity rewarding care of the well placed piano motif. Illusion, meanwhile provides a tougher affair for the dancefloor with hissing hi-hats accompanied by a more intense array of punchy keys, while label founder Josh Wink’s funky percussion led remix aims high with pounding musicality reaching an eventual deeper climax on what is undoubtedly a first rate version.

www.vincewatson.co.uk
www.ovumrecordings.com

https://soundcloud.com/vincewatson/sets/vince-watson-deja-vu-ep-ovum

Little By Little
Bang The Box EP
Defected Records

Great title (of course) and reflects the banging nature of House Music with this irresistible workout from the Frenchman. Bang The Box, features taught, explosive bass lines plus the chopped-up vocals of the same name and then proceeds to twist them all together delivering highly flammable material. Second track, ‘Stress’ applies nastier bass to pumping drums along with wobbly synths and once again comes up smiling. Simple yet deadly.

Release: January 19

https://soundcloud.com/defectedrecords/sets/little-by-little-bang-the-box-ep-edits-1

Roland Appel
Zeus
Inside Out Records

An explosive sonically charged barrage from Roland Appel has the title track feel every bit as great as that sounds with dark bass and beats, weird synths and Acid attitude all combining most conveniently into a sizzling collage of sounds. The funkier, Da Cat follows with heavier bass accompanied by sometimes warmer, sometimes harsher keys that are all high on impact and lend the track its distinctive, notably edgy flavour.

Release: January 26

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roland-Appel/123904200961246?sk=timeline

https://soundcloud.com/insideoutrec/sets/zeus-ep

Monoblok&PSLKTR
Relapse EP
Meant Records

Love this from Monoblok&PSLKTR who defiantly throw the rule book out of the window while delivering an icily cool production complete with addictive deadpan vocals and unsettling synthesizers. Relapse, even features a rocky guitar, live action bass and is most effective via the excellent original mix. Remixes come from a pulsating Rework version, and the sizzling electronics of My Favorite Robot. Next, Walking Disaster supplies another great original with further cool vocals alongside sassy keyboards and decadent 80’s attitude. Arnaud Rebotini’s remix of the same completes with a more robust version beefing it all up nicely.

https://www.facebook.com/MonoblokPslktr

https://soundcloud.com/meant/sets/monoblokpslktr-relapse-ep-meant021

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Reviews:119

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

https://soundcloud.com/meant/a1-javi-redondo-lectures-to?in=meant/sets/meant019-javi-redondo-lectures

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

https://soundcloud.com/ricopuestelmusic/rico-puestel-the-fuse-allocation-pstld001

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

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Reviews:97

Various Artists
NAU04
NAU

Nau004The latest from Tiefschwarz’s label kind of sneaks up on you from behind but rapidly turns out to be one of the most sublime pieces of music I’ve heard in August. Sitting somewhere in-between dreamlike melancholy and engaging drum machines Eric Volta and Jonny Cruz’s ‘Sunrise Blind’ gently plays with your imagination as trippy, undulating synths and beautifully, breathy vocals from Jacques Canziani float across the speakers. The second half of the release then sees With The Rain Comes Sorrow by Gab Rhome and Maher Daniel pursuing a similar theme with another captivating arrangement of sounds and atmosphere’s complimented by touches of twangy guitar, vibes and haunting voices.

release: September 16

https://www.facebook.com/MUSICNAUMUSIC

https://www.facebook.com/tiefschwarzofficial?fref=ts

https://soundcloud.com/ericvolta/eric-volta-jonny-cruz

 

Remote
Minos EP
Meant Records

MEANT016_1000px_72dpiI almost love this record but then when you hear the Minos bassline it is all so tempting. Not so sure it doesn’t go a bit Pete Tong after that with the addition of ‘Rave’ styled stabs, although when they drop out you’re returned to the punchy rhythmic hand-claps and that delicious bass. Fairmont provide the remix which almost sounds like all of the best bits from eighties electronic film soundtracks, complete with the appropriate drums, and again it’s all so tempting. Easy, then returns to House with punctuating beats and bass accompanied by fuzzy stabs on what proves to be most hypnotic in the process. Robi Insinna aka Headman then completes with an excellent dub excursion that feels never short of being totally vibrant.

release: September 9

http://www.meantrecords.com

https://soundcloud.com/meant/sets/meant016_remote_minos_ep_out_s

 

My Favorite Robot
Atomic Age
No.19 Music

MFR_album_frontLove them or simply like them a lot, My Favorite Robot never do things by halves. Which, in this case has them join forces with the excellent No.19 resulting in a display of some seriously devilish music. Beginning with the dark sequences of The Circus and ending up on the intensity of The War to End All Wars there is never an unflinching moment anywhere on the LP. Some tracks such as Here Tonight drag your senses down but then others such as irresistibly funky Home ft Clayton Steele point the mood in the opposite direction.  The title track itself sets Acid syncopated rhythms against brooding synthesizers and feels like the future waiting to happen. Nothing left to say…

release: September 16

http://www.myfavoriterobotrecords.com

http://no19music.com

https://soundcloud.com/no19music/sets/my-favorite-robot-atomic-age

 

Pal Joey
Presents Hot Music
BBE Records

clip_image002Pal Joey’s name spent many hours rotating on my turntables in the 90’s as he did likewise with lots of Dj’s so Hot Music will no doubt raise a smile on many faces reading this. The compilation of his work including the various guises pays testament to the strength of his output and if you haven’t  moved to the likes of Earth People ‘Dance’ then here is your chance. it was always a playful sound which combined the creative use of sampling with heavy-duty drums and is a recipe that stands the test of time for sure.The music ranges from the more recent soulful sounds of Loop-D-Loop ‘Show Me’ to the deeper Disco of Dreamhouse’s excellent ‘Jump And Prance’ so all bases covered. Do also try his Los Dos ‘Tomorrow’ which typified the sound of an era with its pulsating vibes, sassy percussion and irresistibly deep keys.  But not to put too fine a point on it this is a producer that you need get acquainted with, or re-acquainted as the case may be.

release: October 21

http://www.paljoeymusic.com

http://www.bbemusic.com

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