Long Island Soul - "Eleventh Hour Exchange" (5:12)
Baby Rolen - "Metallic Humanoids" (5:59)
Abdul Raeva - "Celestial Body" (Venus mix) (6:38)
Review: Gestal is leading the way in the Estonian scene and now it rightly continues its anniversary celebrations with a third volume of vital VA cuts. Anderson opens proceedings with his 'Stalactites,' a nice leggy electro cut with a heavy drum and bass combo but plenty of astral details. Things get more kinetic and travel much further from the blue planet on the superbly slick and serene cut from Long Island Sound, while Baby Rolen gets down and dirty on twisted bass and slapping drum hits that make you jerk. There is a much more dreamy vibe to Abdul Raeva's 'Celestial Body' meaning things close on a perfect emotional note.
Art Fact - "Rain In The South" (Francesco Farfa & Hamsa remix) (7:17)
Hamsa & Luca Piermattei - "Mystic Perc" (6:05)
Roberto Manolio - "Blue Yes" (6:40)
Review: Musek return for another V/A release, flaunting their artists' variegated hitmaking capacities. Fronting the release is a wonderful rework of Stockholm trio Art Fact's 'Rain In The South' from 1989, to which Francesco Farfa and Hamsa bring extra electronic-bodyweight to an originally dripping synth tune. A mystical mood is continually proferred across 'Mystic Perc' through to 'Blue Yes' by Roberto Manolio, traversing chime tinglings, acid breaks and dreamy vocals: "pretty blue eyes... you're mesmerised... don't look to hard... you may never come back from that..."
Review: Rebirth kicks off its 2024 with a remix EP that serves as "a tribute to the Brescian music scene in its many facets and declinations." The full original project is a complete 12-track album that brings together many different sounds, scenes and generations, with the best bits now assembled on this new 12". The revered deep house master Fred P opens up with some texture spiritual synth depths, K-Lone brings some nice house swing to his version of 'Paline' and edit maestro Rahsaan also keeps it paired back and late night on his soulful take on 'Scent Of An Old Life'. A great reimagining of some moving musical adventures, then.
Review: The Belgian label Higher Hopes is run by DC Salas who now returns to it with a new EP with the collaborative Los NiNos Del Parque project alongside Anthony Barbarich aka Mirror Minds. They say it is a release that has been 15 years in the making and has roots in their shared love of 2000s electroclash, plus new wave and new beat. They set out to make something inspired by that and have done so over the last four years with a mix of rugged and mechanical rhythms and angular synth lines. A fine remix by the assured Badaboum and Rinse France resident Belaria rounds out the package.
Review: You might have caught onto German label Synq with their release of John Dimas' Rave Wave back in 2020, and now the label finally kicks back into action with a various artists release which widens the scope of the label. DJ Gus leads the way on the A-side with 'Toxic Dementor', a throbbing workout taking cues from Italo and Hi-NRG while retaining the cool demeanour of a modern day club track. Lis Sarroca throws down a dreamy electro beat on 'Solstice' and Voodoos & Taboos brings the heat to 'Press One' before Cosmic JD cleans up with the trancified wig-out 'Soft R@ve'.
Review: Deep In Dis Intl. returns after a hiatus, presenting a split EP featuring Swedish talents Eric OS and Lewis. Eric's releases on System Error, Eya Records and Space Trace caught the label's attention after hearing his tracks at Nostromo Festival. Lewis, head of Data Flow, brings his analogue soundscapes. 'Eden' (A1) fills the dancefloor with endless grooves and dreamy pads. 'Timebomb' (A2) takes the vibe higher with proggy melodies and solid drum patterns. 'Project Mayhem' (B1) hypnotises with its groove, while 'Acid44' seals the EP with infectious synths, snappy snares and a powerful bassline.
Review: Two years since it smashed onto the scene, Circoloco records, the love child of GTA creators Rockstar Games and dance event legends Circoloco seemed like a match made in heaven. It was. After the release of Map.ache's hypnotic single 'IZA', the Giegling collective take over in full force for the hotly anticipated 'ANYWAY' EP - CLR005. Launching exclusively on vinyl for a limited time, the five-track showcases the group's sophistication and forward-thinking approach to underground dance music, with entries from Giegling artists The Ghostbusters, Edward, Leafar Legov, Adi, and Map.ache.
Review: Laars taps into the rich nostalgia of the mid-90s with a release that will resonate with anyone who longs for the early days of trance and progressive house. Side-1 kicks off with 'Breath Control,' a track that could easily have been spun by Sasha in his heyday. It starts with progressive house rhythms and a subtle breakbeat before edging towards trance, creating a hypnotic atmosphere. 'What If You Fly?' follows, channeling the early 90s progressive house vibe, reminiscent of the sound championed by labels like Guerilla Records. It's a mid-tempo journey that captures the essence of that era. On Side-2, 'Concur' ups the tempo slightly, with a sound that harks back to 1994-1995 when trance began to blend Goa and analog psy elements. This track brings memories rushing back. Finally, 'Delight' closes things out with a more chilled, spacey vibe, perfect for winding down. A true homage to the golden age of progressive house and trance.
Applause (Steven Redant, Danny Verde & Guy Scheiman Bent Collective club mix)
Applause (DJ White Shadow Electrotech remix)
Applause (Fareoh remix)
Applause (DJ White Shadow Trap remix)
Applause (Goldhouse remix)
Review: Pop's most controversial character comes correct with this spectacular picture disc. The original fuses angular electro clash with pumping EDM spirit while each remix takes it into exciting new directions. Highlights include Empire Of The Sun's rainbow synth injection, Purity Ring's low-down 808 sizzled mix, White Shadow's lazer-gazing Electrotech fusion and Fareoh's glitch-ridden, bass-caked stomping remix. A round of "Applause" please!
Review: Lake People's Foreverer, released on Remote Scope, takes listeners on a dynamic journey through deeper realms of minimal and tech house. The album opens with 'S'Pace,' a track that impresses with its polished production and melody reminiscent of Black Dog, setting a sophisticated tone. 'New Seeds' continues this exploration, blending techno and house with a futuristic edge. The title track, 'Foreverer,' introduces a jungle breakbeat layered with an IDM atmosphere, providing an intricate and textured experience. On Side-2, 'Floating Pikes & Pines' delves into early 90s IDM, filled with unique bleeps and sounds that evoke the feel of a computer language. 'Short Path' stands out with its excellent acid work and futuristic IDM groove, offering a fresh take on familiar sounds. The album closes with 'The Solution Of The Problem Of Life,' an ambient outro that serves as a soothing and reflective ending to the record. Foreverer is a next level production that needs to be heard.
Review: Jamie Leather looks back to some early and dreamy 80s house sounds with his new EP on Gosu. Opener 'Transcript' has a bit of everything - prog chords, cosmic energy, sleek, bouncy techno drums and a playful optimism. The synths dart about the mix in more rigid fashion on 'Mid 2000s' which actually sounds more mid-80s and 'Don't Let Go (Funk mix' brings splashy cosmic pads, zippy and serrated synths over jerking house bates. 'Searching Through' closes with a little extra Chicago snap and some retro-future synth sounds that bring great colour and inventive patterns.
Review: Paddy Lee's PICNIC 009 on Picnic UK delivers a stellar showcase of progressive house infused with trance, synth wave, and disco elements. On Side-1, 'Drive By' stands out with its terrific laser gun bassline and melodic breaks, maintaining a high-class trance vibe reminiscent of Oliver Lieb's work as L.S.G. Side-2 begins with 'Zero Control,' a bassline-driven mainstage anthem that echoes the grandeur of Funk D'Void's Heavenly Mix of 'Diabla,' packing a powerful punch. 'The Goodbye' concludes the release with a futuristic take on progressive house, blending trance, techno, and EBM influences into a cohesive and sophisticated sound. Paddy Lee demonstrates a masterful command of genre-blending and production prowess on PICNIC 009, making it an essential addition to any progressive house enthusiast's collection. Picnic UK continues to deliver quality releases that push the boundaries of electronic music.
Review: Having previously taken on trips to imaginary 'Lost Moons' and the 'Island of Being', Yaroslav Lensyak is now our tour guide through Trippy Land - an aural, club-ready soundscape that combines his love of undulating acid lines and glitchy tech-house beats with sun-splashed melodic motifs, enveloping pads and off-kilter basslines. The sonic sightseeing begins with the gorgeous-but-weighty 'Yupi', before taking in panoramic views and shuffling breakbeats on the alternately picturesque, raw and sleazy 'Flicker'. Title track 'Trippy Land' boasts motorik bleeps, jagged analogue bass and sharp TB-303 tweaks, while the excursion-ending 'Sirius' is a deep, low-slung, early morning jog that's as rhythmically driving as it is sonically mind-altering.
Review: Liquid Earth is another alias for the cult underground house beat maker Urulu and here he lands on Kalahari Oyster Cult with another fine bit of futurist house. 'Scope Zone' is a great meeting point between cosmic synth work, spaced out breaks and retro house action. It's got a fat bassline that powers it onwards and some mice subtle prog melody. On the reverse is a Youandewan remix from the Berlin based Brit who is in superb form right now. He smooths things out, keeps the bounce and heads for the stars. A tidy two tracker for sure.
Jamie Dodger - "Yes Yes Release The Stress" (6:20)
Review: Here we are introducing new label Art of Dark and its AODVA Series, a platform showcasing a diverse array of artists, especially those who are newcomers to the music scene. For its inaugural release, the series spotlights four different artists with their own distinctive sound and who are all set to go on to big things, at least if you ask us of the evidence of this. Log_In kicks off with 'Antivirus' which spins you out on nice cosmic tech vibes and screwy alien synth lines, while Landed's 'Anaesthetic' is a retro-future tech house pumper with neon lines and a tight bassline. Matthew Hartshorn's 'Computers' gets as digital as you would expect from the name with the sound of malfunctioning motherboards over sleek beats. Jamie Dodger shuts down with the more edgy percussion and rapped vocal sleaze of 'Yes Yes Release The Stress'.
Review: Louie Vega and the legendary Nervous Records linked up for an epic new album project last year and teamed it with various singles. Expansion in the NYC is yet another landmark project in a career littered with them for Vega, and these two tunes, like all he ones before, prove why is still at the top of his game. Obviously, the production is high class. It exudes warmth and musicality, but the ideas too are fresh. 'Another Day In My Life' is a rolling, soulful house track with chunky drums and an aching vocal sample. On the flipside is 'Deep Burnt (feat Axel Tosca)', another US garage tinged groove with noodling jazz keys, heart-melting chords and a feeling of joy that Vega does so well.
Review: Anacalypto Records' second release revives a gem from the Dutch electronic scene. Originally released in 1998 by Luc Wacherlin, aka Luca, on Orlando Voorn's Slamdunk Records, this four-track EP represents one of the label's final releases. Described in its press release as "beautiful, elongated, shimmering, Detroit-style trancers for the morning after the night before," it delivers on that promise. The tracks blend Detroit's vibrant techno with Sheffield's deeper sounds. From the liquid synths of the title track to the hypnotic grooves of 'Indian Summer,' the EP's immersive warmth and intricate compositions capture the essence of '90s techno, restored for a modern audience.
Review: After a two-year hiatus in which he appeared on Running Back and, more recently, Super Rhythm Trax, Luca Lozano returns to the Klasse Wrecks label he co-founded with Mr Ho almost a decade ago. There's naturally much to admire across the four-tracker, with the Sheffield-based serving up an eclectic selection of nostalgic, retro-futurist treats first featured on his CD-only 'Man of Science' album. On opener 'Prognosis', he doffs his cap towards mid-90s psychedelic house and rushing early '90s piano house - think Italian dream house motifs, throbbing arpeggiated bass and bongo-laced beats, while 'Celestial Being' sounds like early 90s, breakbeat-driven Orbital productions with an extra-dose of loved-up warmth. Over on the reverse, 'Make Peace' is an urgent, non-stop slab of trance-inducing dancefloor intoxication, while 'Man of Science' is a deep 'bleep & breaks' treat.
Review: Two massive cuts on this cheeky white label release from the mysterious Victoria Lucas, though the keen listeners may be able to decipher the identities of those involved: on the A-Side "Victoria Lucas", is a slowly building tech house production filled clicky percussion which progresses through a number of shifting moods across its nine-minute running time, before ending with a euphoric piano driven climax, whilst the B-Side sees "Wait For Me", a huge club stomper with massive piano breakdowns slowing the tempo right down, before launching back into full on tom-driven euphoria.
Review: Fresh from blurring the boundaries between electronic disco and quirky disco-house via EPs on Nocturne and Public Possession (the latter alongside Wolfram), Josh Ludlow brings his trademark sound to Toy Tonics for the first time. Style wise, both A-side tracks doff a cap to Italo-disco and the hard-to-pigeonhole dancefloor psychedelia of Maurice Fulton's Syclops project, with throbbing opener 'New Transition (extended 12" mix)' being followed by the heady nu-disco squelch of 'Bumper Thumper (12" club dub)'. The latter track is given a makeover by Medlar on the flip, with the Wolf Music regular re-imagining it as a bumping, sweat-soaked house jam topped off with disco guitar licks and ghostly lead lines. Also worth checking is B1 'D.G.A.F', a funky, punky house jam smothered in intergalactic synth sounds.
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