Review: There's lots to get your teeth stuck into on this new and blistering collection of electro from Adepta Editions. And don't let the title fool you - it's not all accessible summer festival fare, in fact none of it is. It is all head down and serious tackle. 7053M4R14's '4 N3W HUM4N' is a driving, dark, visceral sound with raw breakbeats powering through the cosmos. Rec_Overflow offers a moment to catch your breath with some slower, dubby rhythms on 'Pocket Dial' and Pauk explores twitchy future synths capes and post-human transmissions on 'Shiawasena Fukushu'. Promising/Youngster shuts down with a sense of optimism and hope with the airy melodies and slithering electro drum patterns of 'Arbey.'
Harry Romero - "Revolution" (House Masters edit) (5:13)
Prunk & Rona Ray - "Keep It Simple" (6:41)
Review: The mighty Defeated has got a fun package on its hands here with some fat disco and house anthems primed and ready for big room summer fun. A'Studio's 'SOS' (feat Polina - Skylark remix - Nic Fanciulli edit) is chunky house with a hooky vocal and rolling groove designed to sweep you up and away. Chloe Caillet then remixes Tensnake's classic 'Coma Cat' into a hands-in-the-air house stomper with epic strings. Harry Romero's sweaty 'Revolution' gets its drums buffed up and well swung by a House Master's Edit and Prunk & Rona Ray steal the EP at the last with their lush vocal house cut 'Keep It Simple.'
Review: Despite the dystopian and post-apocalyptic aesthetics, some electro music stuanchly refuses to let up on the fun. Acidulant, Dima Gastroler, Pozek and Johnfaustus' new collab V/A for Zodiak Kommune is one such firelighter: 'The Electro Guilde III' seems to say, "you'll have fun on the floor, or else us mecha-cops will come for you!" Acidulant's 'Collateral Funk' leads the charge with a persistent drive to "identify" some lost subject of misdemeanour and/or truancy, as rapidfire snare snaps and licking bass stabs scour the lower terrain for a heat-sought outline of the perp. Dima Gastroler's 'We Will Survive' depicts an unstoppable robotic invincibility, the track's searing robo-voices seeming to portray the last stragglers of a cyborg race battling their way through fire thanks to a bioengineered, adaptively fireproof armour. B-siders 'Ept' and 'Oberon' from producers Pozek and Johnfaustus let up on the voicework for two melodic, yet corruptingly authoritarian air-raiders.
Review: Acid Sessions Vol. 3 is another white-knuckle journey into the world of acid with five top talents in the field all pushing their own limits. Acidulant opens with "Serpentacid' featuring hypnotic 303 grooves and relentless energy, then Sarufaromeo & Papaverhof deliver 'Acid Nihonshu' which blends atmospheric depth with chaotic acid vibes. G303 takes you beyond with 'Live Long and Prosper,' an interstellar anthem filled with cosmic acid and resonant grooves. Paul Renard closes with 'SO36' which is all about the fat rhythms and powerful dancefloor drive. Long live acid is what we say.
Albert "Alchemist" Thompson - "Promise Land Version" (3:34)
Review: Albert "Alchemist" Thompson's Promise Land comes courtesy of Freestyle Records and has great appearances on the mic from reggae and dancehall greats Frankie Paul, Joseph Cotton, Prince Malachi and Anthony John. It has never before been released and has had a long maturation period over the last 30 years. Albert Thompson was chief engineer at I&I Sound Recording Studio once it left LA and head to Jamaica and he saw work with greats like Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer and Gregory Isaacs. He laid down these rhythms in 1991 during some downtime and then added the vocals 16 years later in London when working with talented local and touring Jamaican artists.
Review: The Danza Nativa label is fresh off the back of a fine fifth birthday celebratory 2 part compilation but wastes no time getting back to business. Alderaan is the man in charge with his second for the label and 'Transition' kicks off with some mad LFO business melting your mind. Psyk remixes it into a more paired back and spooky subterranean techno prowler. With 'Vortex' there is yet more nocturnal menace with ticking hi-hats seeing rhythm as squelchy, unsettling sounds peel off the beats. 'Futurismo' closes down with a gurgling lead line and distant sci-fi sounds that complete this most futuristic EP.
Review: Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and his Playboys were an iconic funk group of the late 70s who had big hits with the likes of Gil Scott Heron on his seminal 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' single. A year later on the same label, Flying Dutchman, they served up the 'Heavy Soul Slinger' single which gets reissued here. It's driven by big drum breaks and funky hits, with plenty of lush chords and rolling basslines all taking you on a high class and sophisticated trip. On the a-side is Harold Alexander 's 'Mama Soul' from the same era, but with a much more experimental sound rooted in wordless ad libs and frantic flutes.
Toby Tobias - "Streets of Gold" (Alphonse remix) (5:12)
Pyramids Of Space - "Quantis" (5:20)
Dance - "Amber" (4:25)
Review: Voice Notes is a new imprint run by London underground veteran Toby Tobias with Alphonse. A five track various artist EP, Voice Notes 002 is a time-honoured memorial for its sister label London Housing Trust, that they shut down a few years ago after 10 releases. Featuring tracks by label boss Tobias who delivers some emotive electro on 'Streets Of Gold', his evil twin Alphonse on the UK flava of 'Rujac', plus introducing Dance with the dub techno deconstruction of 'Amber', Rodney Bennett with the classic Stateside deep house of 'Palm Sunday' and Pyramids of Space with the downbeat IDM journey 'Quantis'.
Review: Danza Nativa is rightly celebrating its fifth anniversary recently and now follows up the first part of its anniversary compilation with part two, featuring tunes from across a broad spectrum. The first side delves into tribal rhythms and strident synths with Amandra keeping it stripped back and minimal and Dino Sabatini going deep and dubby on 'Danza Tribale'. Polygonia and Plants Army Revolver then set your mind free to wander among lush sound designs and captivating rhythms that head deep into a humid and futurist jungle.
Review: Emerald's 25th outing takes the form of another superb compilation with four artists who have already released on the label and plenty of new names making an equally good impression. ANNE kicks off with the deep, thudding kicks of 'Coral Reefs' complete with lush hits to smooth the groove. There is more weight and intensity to the oversized hi-hats ringlets on Mike Konstantinidis's 'Apocalypse', DJ Plant Texture layers in plenty of gritty and grime to his gritty 'Swingers' and Jarrod Yeates goes for a twisted after-party vibe on his intense and unrelenting 'Sesh Gremlin', with many more highlights besides.
Review: Off Topic builds on its early momentum with a third outing if deep tech class from Antonio and Pir. Antonio get first with a cute vibe on 'We Sang We Laugh' which repeats the title's refrain over elastic and nimble drums. 'Danca Danca' its more heady with reverb-rich kicks and echoing vocals that bring a curious edge and then it is Per who takes care of the flipside. 'Mighty Blue' layers a smoky jazz line over weighty house kicks and 'Glass' shuts down with more sample madness.
Review: This third volume of instrumentals continues the faultless Isle of Jura label's deep dive into dub versions and beyond. Side one takes in references from UK street soul and reggae and features two late-'80s tracks by Howard Hill with machine-led rhythms, rudeboy reggae skank and soulful pads. Protek's 'I Love to Dance With You' is a proto-house gem featured in a Jura Soundsystem mix and here it gets a loving re-edit by The Nightlark. Side B includes an instrumental-driven track with spacey FX from The Cool Notes' and Ilija Rudman's 'Dub 4 Love' which is a knowing nod to acid house's golden era.
Review: Deep Inspiration Show Records is back with a second part of its Global Essence Sampler and it is another 12" that offers great nourishment for mind, body and soul. Barce from Spain featuring Roger Versey opens up with some slow but heavy house grovers awash with rugged synth loops. Dan Piu's 'Ocean' is an aquatic and dubby roller for bliss doit vibes, and Zarenzeit taps into dreamy old school Italo house on 'Heard Echoes.' The same three artists appear in the same order on the flip with three other originals which tap into deeper Detroit schools of house, Balearic and electro stylings.
Archie Bell & The Drells - "Where Will You Go When The Party's Over" (A Tom Moulton mix) (9:06)
People's Choice - "Jam Jam Jam (All Night Long)" (A Tom Moulton mix) (7:42)
Teddy Pendergrass - "I Don't Love You Anymore" (A Tom Moulton mix) (8:46)
Lou Rawls - "See You When I Git There" (A Tom Moulton mix) (9:39)
Review: During the latter stages of the "Philly Soul" era, New York remixer Tom Moulton delivered a string of inspired, DJ friendly reworks for the Philadelphia International label. For proof, check this fine selection of classic Moulton mixes for the storied imprint. Check first his version of Archie Bell and the Drells' "Where Will You Go When The Party's Over", which he brilliantly teases out and increases in intensity over nine spellbinding minutes. The funkier flex of People's Choice's "Jam, Jam, Jam (All Night Long)" is a sweaty, low-down treat, while the Teddy Pendergrass rework is a soaring disco classic in the Philly Soul style. Best of all, though, is the string-drenched disco celebration that is his mix of Lou Rawls' "See You When I Git There".
Review: B2 Recordings is a label run by Greek talent Bengoa as a platform to offer up his own diverse sounds. Here he serves up a new single featuring Pan that is sublime, seductive and deep. The vocals you will recognise from a classic pop hit but here they get all resung in an even more libidinous fashion. The drums roll, and the percussion is loose, and bright but soft chord stabs heighten the mood. Flip it over for an instrumental version of 'Thelxis' that is all about the late-night grooves. Two stylish sounds for romantic moments.
Adam Beyer & Enrico Sangiuliano - "Preset Heaven" (8:17)
Timmo - "Muzik" (6:11)
Pig&Dan - "La Bruja" (6:37)
Julian Jeweil - "Nasa" (6:11)
Review: Some serious peak time weapons for the main room on offer here, from the ever reliable Swedish label Drumcode. Usual heroes of the label such as Luigi Madonna, Sam Paganini and Joseph Capriati step aside for some other equally reliable staples. On the A, side label boss Adam Beyer teams up with Enrico Sangiuliano on the evocative and life affirming "Preset Heaven" which takes its cues from early trance with its amazing chord progression. It is something more typical of the label next, on the pummelling warehouse stomp of "Muzik" by Bulgaria's Timmo. On the flip, there's more trance nostalgia on offer again - this time from legends Pig & Dan on the hypnotic/melodic bliss of "La Bruja" which we could imagine melting the minds of festival crowds well into the new year. Finally they save the best for last with French peak time specialist Julian Jeweil, serving up the furious, tunneling and strobe-lit ultraviolence of "Nasa" which will have your adrenaline going from the first beat. It has been a stellar year for the powerhouse label, with great releases by Moby, Dubfire and newcomer Layton Giordani.
Badia Onirica (feat Rhys Ifans - Welsh version) (6:21)
Badia Onirica (feat Rhys Ifans - English version) (6:21)
Un Adeu (feat Pep Tosar - instrumental version) (2:37)
Un Adeu (feat Pep Tosar - Catalan version) (2:42)
Un Adeu (feat Pep Tosar - Spanish version) (2:41)
Badia Onirica (feat Rhys Ifans- instrumental version) (6:19)
Review: With over 50 years of experience dating way back to the early 70s with the progressive outfit Zebra, Joan has left quite a discography that is still being discovered and enjoyed. This EP - Joan Bibloni's second appearance on the label in total - features three versions of 'Badia Onirica', two of them being language versions and then the instrumental. Overall, the song is a track fitting for the Cafe Del Mar sound - a mix of folk, electronica, house with a Latin and folk influence and versions in Spanish and Catalan. An EP for watching the sunsets, dreaming on the beach and remembering life's great time with friends and family. NuNorthernSoul continues to honor the chill out legacy.
Black Devil/Prins Thomas - "On Just Foot (Slide Inside)"
Black Devil/Unit 4 - "An Other Skin (Days Of Blackula)"
Black Devil/Black Mustang - "Constantly No Respect (The Phenomena Of)"
Review: Black Devil Disco Club returns to action on LoEB with "Ride Again", a collection of mixes from his "In Dub" album. First up is the Prins Thomas mix of "On Just Foot", a chugging Italo disco groover led by a rolling arpeggiated b-line, quirky analogue stabs, vocoder vocal hits and wicked conga-laden beats. Proper floor-pleasing Italo workout. Next we have the Unit 4 mix of "An Other Skin", more b-line driving space disco with dark sounds and huge synth lines. Last but not least is the Black Mustang mix of "Constantly No Respect", a hard-hitting percussive jam exploring the darker side of the Italo universe.
Review: Bread & Souls is an ensemble of musicians, singers, DJs, producers and, most of all, long term friends: a globally-spread family re-gathered by Franco Fusari - entrepreneur, music lover and dreamer. 'Find The Beauty' is the project's 7" preview track (preceding the full project), featuring Detroit-based Paul Randolph on vocals, Tommaso Cappellato on drums, Marcus Machado on guitar and Taku Hirano on percussion, all directed by eclectic project leader and producer Mark de Clive-Lowe, the pianist and true electronic-jazz pioneer. A remarkably well-rounded disco-jazzdance sprawler full of glitzing swing and synthetic ornaments, there's something in 'Find The Beauty' for all the family.
Review: Peaky Beats is a great name for a label that serves up such irresistible house and garage jams as it has so far over its first eight EPs. This ninth outing is no less desirable, coming from the in house production team in collaboration with Breakfake. 'Life In Stereo' hits a perfect note between kinetic drums and soulful, jazzy chords deigned to melt the heart. 'Rat City' is more filthy - a warped bassline screws about beneath more sleazy broken beats. 'Chapel Town' brings low end dubstep wobble to the party and 'Dub The Acid' is another filthy dirty skanker with echoing hits and mutant bass.
Mark Brickman & Yam Who? - "Shined On Me" (feat Venessa Jackson) (7:30)
Wayfaring Strangers - "Get Your House In Order" (6:12)
Platinum City - "Holy Spirit" (7:35)
Yam Who? & Brian Lucas - "Yah Mo B There" (6:16)
Review: House music's roots are in the church and this new a celebratory various artist collection pays homage to that. The grooves are laced with soulful vocals, churchy chords and big strings that make for grand architecture and grander feelings of joy. Mark Brickman & Yam Who? open with a vocal gem that cannot help but bring a smile, while Wayfaring Strangers pump it up a little more with some funky disco house before Platinum City get you locked in a nice loose, long legged groove that is resplendent with lush keys and big vocal turns. 'Yah Mo B There' has an irresistible 80s vibe and big sing along choruses that will get hairs standing on end.
Leon Bridges - "Like A Ship" (with Keite Young) (5:51)
Pastor TL Barrett - "Like A Ship" (with The Youth For Christ Choir) (4:36)
Review: Leon Bridges and Keite Young's rendition of 'Like A Ship' is a soulful masterpiece that pays homage to Pastor T.L. Barrett's gospel classic while adding a fresh Southern soul twist. Bridges' velvety vocals, combined with Young's passionate delivery and the stirring gospel choir, create a deeply moving musical experience. The track's heartfelt lyrics and uplifting melodies transport listeners to the heart of a joyous Sunday service, evoking a sense of spiritual renewal and celebration. With its classy organ solo and soul-stirring harmonies, this collaboration showcases the timeless power of gospel music while reaffirming Bridges and Young's status as rising stars in the world of soul and t&b.
Review: The Deeptrax series has so far turned out many delightfully head techno sounds for those who like to have their brains as busy as their heels when in the club. This one Deep Series 1.3, kicks off with Caim's impossibly smooth and cool electro-tinged trip 'Straight No Chaser' with its mellifluous pads and deft drums. Mathijs Smit offers a more physical but still warm sound with 'Abducted' and then Joey Anderson shows his class with a grimy and dubby roller, 'All Around Us.' Rich P/Lee's 'Clown Inc' (vocal mix) brings a little playful funk and Pim's 'Somethings On My Mind' is another breezy and cathartic cut.
Review: Jackies Music Records celebrates a successful first year with a new special edition vinyl record, featuring five iconic numbers from the back catalogue. Retrospectively looking back, we're met with five still-fresh ones from their ambitious 2024, includeing handpicks from Todd Terry, Piem, CASSIMM, Angelo Ferreri, and DJ W!ld. Embodying the mood of mid-dance tension, at which point we're likely well into the mix and sweating our glands off (such paradoxes are not impossible), the best of this pick have got to be Terry's 'Heartbeat', a swarthily knocking groove complete with an angelic, cardiovascular vocal, and W!ld's lo-fi hip slip, 'Underdog', the lyrics on which we'll be spending at least a good week trying to decipher.
Review: Needs' commendable charity drive continues to bring forth the goods, both in terms of good causes and world class club music. Rallying round in support of World Mental Health Day 2020, Shanti Celeste kicks the record off in style with the rapid fire, deep-diving workout 'Fantasma'. OCB keeps the pressure up with the psychotropic techno of 'RS3', while Michelle works up some delightfully freaky synths on playful jacker 'Aesthetic'. Bobby's 'Free Your Mind' is a 90s-tinged, full fat techno production indebted to Detroit, Peder Mannerfelt keeps things stripped and raw on 'Our Levels' and Yu Su weaves a beautiful tapestry of interweaving rhythms on 'Brittney'. Adam Pits' trippy techno sounds resplendent on 'Wind Tunnel' and DJ Sports completes the set with the inventive, dembow slanted funk of 'Needs Dub'.
Peter Seiler - "Timebend" (feat Sheryl Hackett) (4:32)
Eoism - "Ultraverse" (5:00)
Voertuig - "Cego" (5:19)
Voertuig - "808 Ambient Jazz" (3:45)
Eoism - "Even Flow" (5:45)
Review: Colkin from Raw Soul and Mauke Club sets the tone on this new FUTUR compilation, which has been curated by Benedikt Meger with a spherical acid house meditation. Peter Seiler's track, a standout from the reissue of his debut album Flying Frames, features Sheryl Hackett's soulful vocals and merges song structure with jazz improvisation. Eoism from Pulse Drift, Undersound, and Inch By Inch delivers low-swung electro flavours perfect for sunset vibes while the B-side opens with Voertuig of Tonal Oceans and Cobra Club who presents a seriously raw acid jam followed by an experimental, jazzy piece, reminiscent of the 90s downtempo era. 'Eoism' closes things with a floating, futuristic banger, going to make a well rounded (in more ways than one) and ultimately very useful piece of vinyl.
Review: The Satta Dub crew have assembled another superb platter and pressed it up to translucent green marbled vinyl and included an insert for good measure. It's a spit that opens up with Daweh Congo's 'Holy Place' which rides on tumbling drums with scattered hits. Yearning vocals up top and natty keys are paired with sultry trumpet notes. A dub dials it all back into the low ends, then Prince Alla's 'Rose' is a work of the same rhythm, by the sounds of it, with soulful vocals and playful horns. Another dub closes out this one in heady fashion.
Review: Bill Converse and Patricia land on Acid Test with more of their dynamic beat machine workouts in the form of this '380/750' EP which merges their distinct styles into an introspective, dancefloor-driven four-track workout. Recorded live at Ravitz's Brooklyn studio in just two days, the EP features raw, unedited performances that show off the duo's intuitive rhythm-making skills while drawing on Converse's 90s Michigan rave roots and Ravitz's Chicago upbringing. The immersive, bubbly, rubbery sounds are perfect blends of body music and heady synth work and cannot fail to take you deep.
Review: Prince Fatty's reggae rendition of Amy Winehouse's classic song, featuring vocals by Hollie Cook, offers a fresh perspective on the legendary track. Released alongside a dub version on the flip side, the collaboration showcases Prince Fatty's knack for infusing new life into familiar tunes. Hollie Cook's soulful vocals are brilliantly supported by the Supersized Band's skilled instrumentation. Prince Fatty's production expertise shines through in the recording, mixing, and production, capturing the essence of reggae while staying true to the original song's spirit.
Review: Burnski's high-quality Constant Black is back with more essential club-ready sounds. Donnie Cosmo and Pascal Benjamin step up for one side of action each. Cosmo's 'Holo Glitch' is first and pairs balmy synth work that is colourful and silky with some punchy tech drums and rolling bass that pulls you in deep. 'Echo Drift' is another lithe and lively one to get you on your toes while the groove flows and 'Airplane Mode' is another stylish mix of lush synth design and great rhythm. Benjamin's trio on the flip is a little more gritty with industrial-space-tech many the most fitting way to describe these curious cosmic cuts.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.