Crosstown Rebels Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The Crosstown label is now one of the elder statesmen in the scene but it still manages to serve up surprises. This new EP from Davi falls into that category as it explores dark, heads-down house and tech for the dead of night. 'Nosferatu' is heavy with the same sense of doom that you might be filled with should you meet the vampire from which the track takes its name. 'Mirage' is awash with pixelated cosmic melodies that light up the skies above a rolling house beat. With this EP Davi makes another good impression.

Review: Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated releases of 2020, legendary UK producer DJ Krust makes a comeback with his first release in 14 years, and rather surprisingly on Crosstown Rebels - of all labels. While we all know Damian Lazarus' established imprint is anything but drum and bass, it is well known that he was an early champion of the sound, long before his tenure at City Rockers in the early '00s when he embraced 'electroclash' - but that's another story. It's clear that Krust created some of the most seminal records in the genre throughout the nineties and noughties, and he is back in fine form on The Edge Of Everything, having explored radical new philosophies and creative processes. Minimalist arrangements as heard on tracks like 'Constructive Ambiguity' hark back to his signature sound of the aforementioned period, while he also explores more experimental minded beats as heard on 'Antigravity Love' and proper darkside rolling drama exemplified on 'Deep Fields Of Liars'.

Review: Irish man Matador has become a new school minimal techno champion with his own label Rukus part of the vanguard. Here he makes a move across the street to Damian Lazarus's Crosstown Rebels. He kicks off with 'My Yellow Coat' which is a brilliantly atmospheric cut with rolling drums and indie vocals that come over like a confessional. It's intimate and tender and perfect for late nights in a back room. On the flip is a remix from New York's techno terminator Levon Vincent who flips it into something bulky and raw, with scratch claps and grainy kicks all powering through a late-night urban landscape.

Review: By his previously prolific standards, Disco Halal founder Chen Moscovici AKA Moscoman has been rather quiet of late, choosing to release low-key digital singles on his own label. Here he breaks cover and returns to wax after two years away. Title track 'Adventura' is as atmospheric, off-kilter and druggy as you'd expect, with minor-key melodies, trippy electronics, buzzing effects and psychedelic guitar flourishes riding a chugging, arpeggio-driven groove. Over on the flip he joins forces with Zoot Woman on the pleasingly wayward, new wave-goes-indie dance creepiness of 'Reinvention', which rising star Alan Dixon then turns into a sparkling slab of dark nu-disco with added loose-limbed drums.

Review: Crosstown Rebels is by now one of the wise old head of the electronic underground. Damian Lazarus has steered it through many hype sounds but always managed to keep it on point. Making sure that is the case again here are Oceanvs Orientalis and Tooker who combine for 'Il Lupo.' It's a slow motion and subversive dub house sound warped synths and ghoulish vocals panning about the mix. On the flip, Acid Pauli remixes with his signature sense of deft sound design and trippy melodic overtones.

Review: Electronic duo Pale Blue releases their highly anticipated second album 'Maria' on Crosstown Rebels. With eight captivating tracks, the long-player takes listeners on an immersive electronic journey. Mike Simonetti (Italians Do It Better) and Elizabeth Wight (Silver Hands) formed the outfit in 2015, gaining acclaim with their debut album. It showcases Wight's personal experiences and thoughts through her lyrics, accompanied by techno-infused melodies that lean towards rock influences. From dreamlike melodies to haunting productions, the album seamlessly blends electronica with pop touches.

Review: Damian Lazarus's Crosstown Rebels continues to serve up top tech tools for jobbing DJs with a new one from Ben Sterling. It's very nearly the label's 300th release and one that does damage from the off: 'Don't Truss' (feat Caitlyn Scarlett) may or may not be referring to one of the shortest-ever prime ministerial chapters in this country's rich history, but what it does do is lock you into the steamy and sweaty drum funk and melt your heart with its superbly angelic vocal. On the flip is 'Bring Me To The Surface' which is a more wonky workout with whirring machines, beeps and squeaks over a punchy tech beat.

Review: Designed with a dual purpose - setting the label's agenda for the year ahead and introducing new signings - Crosstown Rebels' SPIRITS series has long been a must-check source of dependable tech-house tracks. Naturally, there's plenty of highlights to be found across this sixth annual edition. Our current favourites including the throbbing, percussion-rich, big room tech-house excellence of 'The Vision' by Cameron Jack; the acid-fired heaviness of Lauren Lane's 'Fair Game', with its wobbly sub-bass and echoing Latin drum hits; the crackling, mind-mangling tech-house psychedelia of 'So Deep' by Cristina Lazic and Leia Contois; and the fiendishly bass-heavy tribal-tech wonder that is Inigo Vontier's accurately titled 'That Trippy Sound'.