ADONIS Schallplatten & CDs

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record has very light surface marks/smudges, but otherwise in perfect working order***


In a recent online poll hosted by acid evangelist Posthuman, Adonis's "No Way Back" was voted the greatest acid house track of all time. It's hard to argue - though we'd have opted for Phuture's pioneering "Acid Trax" - as the Chicago classic sounds every bit as fresh, futuristic and otherworldly now as it did when it was first released in 1986. This tasty red vinyl reissue from TRAX pairs the much-loved vocal version - in which the late, great Gary B talks about losing control over fiendishly sweaty, ultra-jacking drums and one of the sleaziest, most addictive acid basslines of all time - with the lesser-celebrated, but equally heavy, instrumental mix. If you don't already own a copy, don't sleep.

Review: In a recent online poll hosted by acid evangelist Posthuman, Adonis's "No Way Back" was voted the greatest acid house track of all time. It's hard to argue - though we'd have opted for Phuture's pioneering "Acid Trax" - as the Chicago classic sounds every bit as fresh, futuristic and otherworldly now as it did when it was first released in 1986. This tasty red vinyl reissue from TRAX pairs the much-loved vocal version - in which the late, great Gary B talks about losing control over fiendishly sweaty, ultra-jacking drums and one of the sleaziest, most addictive acid basslines of all time - with the lesser-celebrated, but equally heavy, instrumental mix. If you don't already own a copy, don't sleep.

Review: While both Adonis' music and the entirety of the TRAX imprint are usually found slamming hard on 12", Get On Down have decided to reissue 1986's "No Way Back" onto 7". Is this a conceptual move? Perhaps, but what we do know is that this material was among the very first house productions to break off from disco and boogie, so the format is somewhat justified. The tune itself is an unmissable anthem to this day, with its seductive bass engulfing anything in its path, not to mention those drum-machine swings! There's an instrumental, too, in case you wanna fool around a bit.

Review: Adonis' debut drop "No Way Back" must surely rank high in the stakes for the most repressed, bootlegged, re-edited and remixed entrants into the Trax arsenal. Kevin Starke's fledgling KStarke are the latest to revisit the track, uncovering a previously unheard 24 Track version that retains all the raw power of this seminal slice of Chicago house. This is matched on the flip by an equally exclusive remix from the elusive Trxmnn which tightens up the groove - though retains the roughness that permeates the original as well as twisting that distinct melody inside. Opting to snake between several rhythmic directions it's one of the more unhinged takes on "No Way Back" out there and definitely worthy of further investigation.

Review: All mixes on one vinyl, original Trax mixes and Trax UK remixes from The Advent.

Review: Mathematics continues their fine run in 2011 with a slice of acid house history from the legendary Adonis. All the way back in 1988, Adonis teamed up with Charles B and dropped "Lack Of Love". It's presented here by Jamal Moss's label in a new "Summer Of Love 88 - Extended Replay" version that retains all the delightful and unpredictably raw rhythms that duck between heavy 303 usage and tub thumping gospel leads. You have to marvel at the chaotic epicness of a track which is over twenty years old and probably produced on the most primitive of hardware. On the flip Mathematics mainstay Steve Poindexter drops an equally demented remix of Adonis' 1989 jacker "Reck The Joint" that double dares you to dance.

Review: Repressed and back in. Old skool Chicago tech-house. For fans of the Relief label, Mike Dearborn, and the recent Steve Poindexter record (which featured a Hieroglyphic Being cut). Just as funky as it is techy.

Review: Having made a tantalising appearance on the excellent Music From Mathematics, Late Invitation make their debut release with three live tracks of retro-vintage house and boogie. Lost Brother, Crouch Dash and Millipede are a three piece outfit from Liechtenstein whose crazy names match their on stage attire. With an appetite for dressing up for live dates, the seemingly idiosyncratic nature of the trio appears to rub off on their music, if this release is anything to go by. They have built their own, inimitable style that wafts in and around deep house but in a nu-disco, dubby, stepping kind of way.



"The Invite" is a warm piece of jacking, disco house led by fat, fuzzy kicks and smudged synth keys. Although the track’s low end does lack a degree of potency, it more than makes up for this omission with an abundance of funk. Adding more charm, you cannot help but love the wonderfully simple piano that drops in halfway through. It is "The Late Invitation Theme" however, the track that appeared on the aforementioned Mathematics CD, where the low end beefs up in spectacular fashion. As the deep sub bass calmly squeezes along, warm synth stabs ease into the mix alongside a blissful guitar motif. It is slowed right down to perfect effect, allowing the track to stew in its own druggy, Chicago disco vibes. "Thus" stretches itself out into an eight minute plus, vintage boogie edit. Full of warmth and emotion, this is a track perfectly suited to the last few tracks of Sunday morning’s carry on.

Review: House legend presents Chicago head Noleian Reusse with a fascinating excursion in to deep house territory. A sublime, atmospheric track with a gentle melody backed with clicks, beeps & whirrs with techy feel.

Review: Whilst all the vinyl samplers for this DJ History curated Trax Re-edit compilation are worth investigating, it's perhaps this third volume that screams essential the most by virtue of the presence of JD Twitch, Andy Blake, Richard Sen, Toby Tobias and Hardway Bros as the resident re-editors. Nor do they disappoint either as Hardway Bros team up with Rekids type Tobias and introduce some driving energetic synth patterns into Adonis' "We're Rocking Down This House" as well as embellishing the bottom end for a modern day warehouse thumper. Equally good is Cave Painter Andy Blake teasing out the rubbery off kilter undertones to Willy Wonka's spoken word drum machine thriller "What Is House" whilst retaining the raw, stuttering core. On the flip, Richard Sen goes deep on the signature synth stabs to Ron Hardy's "Sensation" which will destroy the more discerning dancefloors out there. Finally JD Twitch strips Mr. Lee's "Pump Up Chicago" of its really quite silly overtones and twists the track into a brilliantly hypnotic and menacing acid tinged late night jacker

Review: The Chicago Vinyl series continues to act as a vessel for ever more essential club tackle from the one and only Tyree Cooper. On this occasion he's collaborating with celebrated vocalist Isis and the legendary Adonis for this absolutely storming tribute to the heritage of Chicago house music. The original "Passin Thru The House" is a consummate jack track, shouting out all the right names and letting the 707 fills rip through the groove. Tyree then offers up three alternate mixes of the track, from the bugging "Vocal Mix" to the uplifting melodious form of the "Vocal Soul Remix." There's an instrumental version tacked on if you need it, but it's all about Isis' killer vocal on this 12".

Review: The fourth round of vinyl samplers for DJ History's Trax edit redux kicks off in sterling fashion with Ray Mang's edit of "Take Me Higher" from Virgo 4 retaining the forward thinking aesthetic of the original but naturally adding some trademark squiggles, wiggles and effects that lend the track a truly soaring sensation. Greg Wilson is perhaps a smart choice to take on "No Way Back", no doubt having been astounded by the track fully showcasing the potential of the 808 drum machine upon hearing back in the late 80s. As with the majority of edits included, Wilson wisely restricts himself to tightening up the rubbery bass and surfeit of drum kicks to give the track a contemporary sheen. On the flip Mark Broom's stripped back take on Master C&J's "Dub Love" was actually prepped for white label release before the veteran producer got wind of the Harmless initiative and thus his smart rasping acid techno re -imagination is given a proper home!