ORLANDO VOORN Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Some 30 years deep and still pushing forward, this Dutch producer shows no sign of losing steam. His latest batch leans into jazzy house with a fresh, unforced confidence. These tracks feel lived-in but never tired, like the work of someone who knows the rules well enough to bend them just right. 'Peace & Justice' starts with a bright tempo and a wide-open groove. There's a raw exuberance in the percussion and keys that feels completely unselfconscious, like it's meant to be played loud with people moving. 'Needs' pulls things in a bit tighter. The rhythm snaps into place around crisp drums, jazzy chord stabs and vocal snippets that feel tossed-off but perfectly placed. On the flip, 'Lust In Love' gets a little grimier. The groove is thicker and feels like it was made to echo through a late-night system. It's confident without being pushy, letting the bassline do most of the talking. Wrapping things up, 'Music Is Making Me High' brings in soulful touches and breezy jazz accents. It's easygoing but still aimed at the dancefloor. Overall, a smooth, smart ride all the way through.

Review: Orlando Voorn is an important figure for the techno and house scene since the early 90s. Along with a few other key names like Steve Rachmad, Orlando is a key link from the Detroit lineage to the Netherlands. Master 2 is a follow up to the 2021 full length album Master. There are not very many who can blend house and techno as well as Orlando can. Master 2 is on a jazzier tip then previous albums in his catalogue and we don't mind a bit. When you have tracks as amazing as 'Jazz Hoppin', you really lose sight of any particular guidelines and you just enjoy the music. We can't say enough great things about this record. Check out the amazingly cool sounds going on in 'Venus' and 'Aquarius' for example. This could rival any house album this year for best of 2024. It's that good!

Review: Orlando Voorn is always spoken of as one of the key links between European and Detroit techno. Here though, in collaboration with Han Litz, he sinks into his house sound on open 'What I Love' which is utterly gorgeous with its Roy Ayres flutes, jazzy keys and warm, soulful drums. The Soulfood Mix ups the jazziness and makes the drums more raw, then 'Composers' brings more warming house vibes that are heartfelt and musical. A Downbeat mix reduces the original perfectly for a more cosy, cuddly feel.