Search results: steps

Review: DJ Panthr is the "shadow self" (or, as we'd put it, alternative alias) of Hunter P Thompson, better known for his genre-bending ambient house and ambient techno releases as Akasha System. 100% Silk describes 'Jade District' as a 'technoid night ride inspired by the fern-shoruded neon streets' of South Tabor in his home city of Portland. It's an atmospheric and fairly accurate description all told, with Thompson combining his usual dreamy chords and colourful sonics with grooves and musical motifs more often associated with electro, acid, sci-fi techno, 'Artificial Intelligence' style IDM and hypnotic dub techno. What unites it all, aside from the colourful stylishness of the whole thing, is a pervasive sense of loved-up, wide-eyed tactility.

Review: Dusky is by now an internationally renowned name on the (nevertheless) distinctly UK deep house scene, and is a master of his craft. Even for those who might smugly turn their nose up at the sort of Subsoul jackin' house, that Dusky takes after, it's difficult to not at least shuffle your feet at the minutest of listens to his new album 'Pressure'. Armed with the tropes of bassline, 2-step, and funky house to name a few, it's almost as if Dusky had cast a fishing net in the deep wells of emotion potentiated in the collective British underground soul. Every track here is a streamy, stereophonic, and texturally rich vocal house dazzler. Far less precious than his bygone competitors Disclosure, the buzzing feel of each track is testament to Dusky's attention to feel over technicality.

Review: The band 2000 Black, who include 4Hero icon Dego among their number, are masters of the broken beat scene, leaders amongst men who whether working alone or with others are always in top form. This two track outing kicks off with 'Soursop & Mango', a bristling, bustling mix of raw drums and bursts of cosmic synth energy that radiates soul, all with neat guitar riffs stitched into the mix. 'Straight Forward Side Steps' is a dusty jam with lovely scruffy claps and much more well defined synth lines adding colour and soul.

Review: Although most associated with punk thanks to his now canonical history of the movement, England's Dreaming, Jon Savage has always had far broader taste than most - not to mention an acute sense that the late 1970s were aa genuinely exciting musical free-for-all that paved the way for much of what came next. This excellent double-disc compilation gives a taste of what he was listening to in that period, moving between reggae, dub (the Revolutionaries, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals), throbbing Euro-disco (Space, Giorgio Moroder), American garage-rock (Iggy Pop), spaced-out spoken word eccentricity (John Cooper Clarke), formative new wave synth-pop (The Normal, The Human League), industrial (Cabaret Voltaire), punk (and lots of it), and much more besides.

Review: Here, There and Everywhere: Black America Sings John Lennon, Paul McCartney & George Harrison is Ace Records' third compilation of soulful jazz and r&b covers of Beatles classics by Black American artists. This collectio has a deep Motown presence, acknowledging the Beatles' early admiration for Motown before the label's music even hit the UK charts. The album spans Beatles and post-Beatles compositions from 1964 to 2004, with standout performances by artists like Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. The song selection takes listeners on an inspired journey through well-known hits, reimagined with rich soul and jazz interpretations. The Supremes' take on 'You Can't Do That' and The Four Tops' 'Michelle' reveal fresh, emotive layers in songs that are simultaneously faithful and transformative. Randy Crawford's stirring 'Give Peace a Chance' and Stevie Wonder's vibrant 'We Can Work It Out' underscore Black America's lasting engagement with the Beatles' work, while tracks like Sam Fletcher's 'Can't Buy Me Love' and Keb' Mo's 'Imagine' breathe new life into familiar melodies with jazz-infused warmth and soul. Each cover on the compilation not only reflects the artists' creative voices but also traces the Beatles' own roots in soul and r&b, bridging cultural influences that shaped music in the 60s and beyond. Here, There and Everywhere is an enriching and unique compilation that has one of the most enduring cross-cultural exchanges in modern pop history.

Review: The return of New Street Adventure was met with great warmth by longtime fans earlier this year. Now, one of our favourite bands is celebrating the tenth anniversary of their debut album No Hard Feelings with a special limited-edition olive green vinyl which coincides with an extensive UK tour. Initially pressed in small numbers before the vinyl resurgence, the album became highly sought after, with prices skyrocketing on Discogs. This reissue, remixed by Mitch Ayling, captures Nick Corbin's soulful, socially aware songwriting at its best with rare photos and new sleeve notes making it a must-have reissue.

Review: Originally released in 1993, this special edition enhances The James Taylor Quartet's legacy with remastered tracks and bonus material. Known for its infectious grooves, soulful melodies and catchy Hammond organ riffs, it captures the energy of London's 90s jazz scene and then some. Featuring standout tracks like 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' the album seamlessly blends jazz, funk and soul and this reissue reaffirms its timeless appeal by introducing new generations to its dynamic sound while offering nostalgia for longtime fans. A cornerstone of modern jazz-funk brilliance.

Review: Recorded live at Silvermine College of Art in New Canaan, Connecticut, in 1969, this album captures the raw energy and experimental spirit of the late 1960s jazz scene. The ensemble, led by Bobby Naughton on piano and electric piano, features Mark Whitecage on saxophones, James DuBois on trumpet, Mario Pavone on bass, and Laurence Cook on drums. The compositions, including 'Around Again' and 'Nital Rock,' showcase a blend of free jazz improvisation and structured melodies, reflecting the innovative approaches of the era. The album's reissue offers a fresh perspective on this obscure yet outstanding free jazz recording

Notes: The 'Quaid Megaslope' is a five stage function generator or modulator which operates in one of 3 modes; a multistage 'CZ' or 'Juno' style complex envelope, a super flexible LFO and a step sequencer with per step programmable slew or slides.

Each mode produces a varying output voltage moving from point to point across a set number of chained together stages. Each stage features a destination level, an overall rate or time to reach its destination level and a variable slope for the output path to take. As well as direct control, every stage feature voltage control of both level and rate. There are both unipolar and bipolar voltage outputs together with triggers emitted for the end of each stage and the end of a full cycle.

The Quaid Megaslope is designed to be fun, flexible and intuitive to use.

Review: Analogue Productions' UHQR release of the Bill Evans Trio's Sunday at the Village Vanguard is a pinnacle in high-quality vinyl. Limited to 5,000 copies, this 200-gram 45 RPM 2LP set, mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original analogue tapes, offers an unparalleled listening experience. The set includes an eight-page booklet with liner notes by jazz critic Bob Blumenthal, enhancing its collectible value. Regarded as one of the greatest live jazz recordings, the album captures the remarkable June 25, 1961, performance of Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, and Paul Motian at the Village Vanguard. The trio's exceptional musicianship and improvisational prowess are evident throughout, with seamless interplay and innovative approaches to jazz standards and original compositions. The UHQR Clarity Vinyl pressing at Quality Record Pressings ensures the purest sound quality, with improved dynamics, detail, and tonal accuracy. Standout tracks like 'Gloria's Step' and 'Alice in Wonderland' showcase Evans' delicate touch, LaFaro's inventive bass lines, and the trio's extraordinary chemistry. This release not only celebrates exceptional music but also offers an intimate, high-fidelity listening experience.

Notes: Reboot of the classic Megacity sequencer, the AS500 follows the same unique approach with up to 64 steps presented in two banks, each split into groups of eight cascading steps.

Supplier's Notes:
New Analogue Sequencer!

Almost identical re-boot of Analogue Solutions' legendary Megacity sequencer.

Smaller form factor

Desktop design

Some general over enhancements, internal improvements.

Note: This version is pure analogue and does not feature a quantizer or MIDI.

Standalone 64 step analogue step sequencer with a host of unique features that sets it apart from others

What's so special about this sequencer?

AS500 is formatted differently and operates differently than other step sequencer.

Traditionally step sequencers run horizontally from left to right then loop back to step one. You can make the pattern shorter, but generally that's it.

AS500 patterns run vertically downwards in columns. As the end of each column is played, the next to the right is played.

AS500 has a unique Jump system. When a Jump switch is on, the rest of the column's steps are bypassed and the sequencer jumps straight to the start of the next column

These two features in particular as familiar enough ways of working to be intuitive, but different enough to force you to work and think in a slightly different way. The end result is you will get sequences and patterns that you might not have created otherwise.

More Variation

Many step sequencers can start to sound repetitive since it's usually the same single pattern looping endlessly.

AS500 allows you to split the sequencer in half and use the right half as a Fill-In pattern to add variation, much like vintage drum machines.

These Fills are activated via a Push Button, or via a trigger pulse from an external modular.

AS500's format and Jump switches, combined with excellent features like Fill-In, Split sequencers and other features makes AS500 a great sequencer package.

Use

If you are familiar with analogue sequencers in general, then most features of AS500 should be fairly self-explanatory, but it would still be worth having a read through the manual.

The sequencer is laid out in vertical columns, eight in total.

The sequencer runs from top to bottom, and left to right.

The Difference Between Reset and Jump

If a Reset is initiated the sequencer returns to step one, the first step of the sequencer.

Use Reset to shorten the sequence.

If a Jump is initiated the sequencer will advance (jump) to step one of the next column to the right.

Review: Hearty congratulations to Kisk's Milan-based Apparel Music label, which has now been serving up sublime selections for 15 years. They've pushed the boat out for this celebratory compilation, pressing it to white vinyl, bundling it with a poster and limiting it to just 150 copies worldwide. There's naturally loads to set the pulse racing throughout, from the ultra-deep hypnotism of Kisk's 'I Wanna Dance With You' and Osunlade's snappy, bass-heavy 'Cucumber Sweat', to the nu-disco-influenced deep house hustle of Marcel Vogel & LYMA's 'Put The Lid On' Balearic house colour of Eduardo's 'Wdac', and the breezy deep house soul of Erin Buku and Inkswel's 'Find Your Way' (with Leonard Charles). Impeccable in every possible way.

Review: 50 years in and still going strong, Tower Of Power are back with a new set that shows off their immense skill in the field of jazz funk. The talent spilling out of this collective is palpable at all times, but no more so than on this album's title track "Step Up", a high pressure groover where every player gets their moment in the spotlight. This special double vinyl edition is packed full of big hitters, from sizzling party tracks to passionate balladry. We'd recommend the fired up flex-out of "Look In My Eyes", where the tempo stays up and the groove remains urgent throughout.

Notes: The lovable oddball of the Arturia range, this brilliant hybrid synth combines versatile wavetable and digital oscillators with analogue filters. Touch keyboard gives uniquely expressive control.

*** New firmware update (26th October 2021) *** Arturia are happy to announce another major new firmware update for MicroFreak, bringing massive new creative functionality for users free of charge.

Firmware V4.0 elevates this hybrid desktop synthesizer's status as a sound design powerhouse even further:
New WaveUser sound engine
Allows for user wavetables(!!)
64-new presets
Sequencer Unison & Chord Voices
Faster Oscillator Encoder Response
....and more!

This update, plus ALL the of previous updates (see Vocoder & Noise Engineering oscillators etc.) cement the MicroFreak as one of the most interesting, powerful and flexible synthesizers on the market, whilst maintaining excellent value for money.

Supplier's Notes:

A synthesizer like no other, MicroFreak is a peculiar, exceptional instrument that rewards the curious musician. It blends wavetable and digital oscillators with analogue filters. It features a unique poly-aftertouch flat keyboard. It adds controlled randomness to sequences. This isn't a revolution, it's a mutiny.

This out-there little music machine features a versatile digital oscillator so you can create rare and interesting sounds with ease. Modes like Texturer, KarplusStrong, Harmonic OSC, and Superwave give adventurous musicians the chance to explore totally new, unheard possibilities. Like having dozens of synths in just one instrument, both wild-eyed newcomers and seasoned professionals will fall in love with MicroFreak's flexible, powerful synth engine.

Physical modelling, wavetable synthesis, virtual analogue, there is nothing as complete and exciting as the MicroFreak oscillator on the market. It's hard to believe from such a small synth, but here it is, ready for you to explore. Excite your creativity and reward your curiosity with a large, diverse sound palette. MicroFreak features 11 awesome oscillators, 4 bespoke Arturia engines, and 7 modes from our friends at Mutable Instruments.

Inspired by the trailblazing 12-dB Oberheim SEM filter, you can make MicroFreak's filter scream or whisper to taste. The filter is state-variable, and can even auto-oscillate! You can use this is any way you like, from taking the edge of the razor-sharp wavetable sounds, or automating the cut-off by modulating it with keyboard pressure or the in-built sequencer.

Record up to four automations, edit notes per step or use the innovative Spice and Dice sequencer functions to find happy accidents. Add randomization to create evolving, original patterns, and virtually rewire and reconfigure its signal chain and controls with the 5x7 modulation matrix.

Notes: KeyStep is a new breed of portable musical tool combining the functionalities of a keyboard controller with a polyphonic step sequencer to control both analog and digital devices.

You need a portable USB MIDI controller but also want a keyboard that provides a musical playing experience? You have some MIDI modules you want to connect as well but don't want the footprint of a large keyboard? You have modular and analog gear you want to control via CV/GATEs? You want a step sequencer with polyphonic capability that can sync to your favourite modern and vintage gear? If only a single piece of gear could do all of this...

It's the touch...
The KeyStep controller does all this and more.
We started by designing our own "slim key" keyboard action, balancing the best features of compact mini-keys with the musicality of full-sized keys into this new keybed. The size, velocity and aftertouch of this new design provide the freedom of portability without sacrificing playability.

We also designed a new polyphonic step-sequencer with 8 programmable memories that you can recall at the turn of knob. You can choose gate times and swing settings instantly to change the feel of your sequenced performance on the fly. We also included the ability to record, overdub, and transpose your sequences in real time and still play the keyboard live.

Add a flexible and fun arpeggiator mode and chord play mode and you are set for hours of musical adventures.

...and the possibilities
These features alone would make KeyStep the best portable keyboard controller on the market. But we take it further by giving you a wealth of connectivity options: USB MIDI (of course), standard MIDI in and out (check), clock sync and DIN sync jacks (yes!), and CV/GATE outputs, plus a separate, assignable modulation CV output that can be used with the mod wheel, velocity or aftertouch. To say KeyStep is an amazing little controller does not say enough.

Keystep is the perfect performance controller in a compact package.

Adapts to your setup!
KeyStep was imagined and designed to become the modern musician's trump-card.
Whatever your setup, KeyStep will merge into it to overdrive your workflow and effectiveness. With KeyStep and its range of connections you can control any digital or analog synthesizer from the past, today and even tomorrow. Sequence them all!

Review: After his hugely well received lovers' rock compilations for this label, Sam Don digs deep into the rich world of UK sweet soul on this - typically - excellent new compilation from the wondrous ashes of the North. He comes up with plenty of mega hard to find and expensive musical treasures that have all been painstakingly researched and tracked down. It was a short lived but fertile scene in the underground back in the 90s and if you didn't; know that already you will after one listen through of this - the sounds are highly danceable with silky, low-lit melodies and steamy and seductive vocals for loved up late night dancing.