Voyage De Lux w/ Alex Downey - 27.03.24

 

1BTN · Voyage De Lux w/ Alex Downey - 27.03.24

Gratts ft. Mr. Beale - Submerge Me (Be Strong Be Free)

 

Title: Submerge Me

Artist: Gratts Ft. Mr Beale

Label: Be Strong Be Free

Cat Number: BSBF706

Genre: House

1: Submerge Me

2: Submerge Me (Gilb’r Remix)

An interesting release which reminds me of something that may have come out on the ‘Bossa Tres Jazz’ series around 20 years ago. And imagine my shock when Mr Beale isn’t an Albert Square stalwart, but a lady! All in all, ‘Submerge Me’ is a laid back, dreamy piece of work that combines layered synths and percussion upon which operate Mr Beale’s vocals. The elements combine precisely. However, well executed as it is, it’s taken to another level by Gilb’r’s remix. The dubby abstraction of which is a trip to get lost in.

Track Of The Day: It's A Fine Line - Edit Service 8 (I'm A Cliche)

A great edit that stretches the original out into infinity and beyond. Looping the originals symphonic backing and amplifying the detail in the process. ‘Edit Service 8’ is a magnificent rework of The Mighty Wah’s ‘The Story Of The Blues and because the source material is such a great piece of work, nothing much needs to be done. So, a reverential reimagining for the rave age innit. 

Pender Street Steppers & YU SU 020424

 

NTS Latest · Pender Street Steppers & YU SU 020424

Kerrie - Machine Alliance (Tresor)

 

Title: Machine Alliance 

Artist: Kerrie 

Label: Tresor

Cat Number: tresor370

Genre: Techno

1: Machine Alliance

2: Symbiosis

3: Technopoly Dream

4: Ode To The D

5: Replicants (Digital Bonus)

6: System & Structure (Digital Bonus)

7: Human In The Loop (Digital Bonus)

Kerrie’s ‘Machine Alliance’ kicks off with a title track that is invertebrate in origin and feels sinister in its reach. It also feels a little bit bogged down under its own weight. The kick a little laborious and at odds with the insectivorous riff over its top. The overall outcome one of frictional fusion. ‘Symbiosis’ is more lively and well-defined; an agile, mutating loop over a more spritely beat. ‘Technopoly Dream’ is a sub bass, stripped down drums and a repetitve spoken word sample, and ‘Ode To The D’, a slowed down, more abstract track, similar in tone to ‘Symbiosis’, but leaving more to the imagination. Of the digital bonus tracks, ‘Replicants’ makes use of break beats over a charred synth line and a threatening, growling low end. ‘System And Structure’ is a linear fluctuator and finally, ‘Human In The Loop’ a beat less, tonal, panoramic composition. This is a strong piece of work from Kerrie where she gets to properly flex her production skills, showing off a repertoire that spans the machine funk spectrum and putting her own stamp on her influences.

Track Of The Day: I Believe - Master Spirit (Utopia Records)

I recently came across this track, (which is almost as good a beginning as “Once upon a time”), rereleased on the Utopia Records label as part of an Interactive Test compilation, and remastered which has, to these ears at least, improved the composition. (The original sounds unnecessarily fast).  And it’s not a new release, coming out in 2022, the original in 1991. Labelled as ‘Italo house’, and much closer in spirit to Sueno Latino than ‘Ride On Time’, this timeless electronic piece dreamy Balaerica is a dense, hedonistic sunrise symphony that reeks of the tropics but is every bit as relevant in currently gloomy Suffolk. This is hypnotic, imaginative limitless stuff that has the power to transport and transcend, so perfect for listening to while doing the shopping.

Track Of The Day: Fred P - Dance Of Rhythms (Syncrophone)

From the excellent eponymously titled recent Syncrophone release, ‘Dance Of Rhythms’ is a ten minute Fred P tour de force. The premise is simple. A long, deep voyage into the shape throwing netherworld, where the lines between deep house, techno and trance blur to such an extent that you’re really not sure whether they’re nouns or adjectives anymore. Possibly more importantly though is the soul that runs through this music. This is the type of track that is on Fred P’s mind when he gets up in the morning, and goes to bed at some ungodly hour. And even though the premise may be simple, the execution certainly isn’t. After all, surely, if anyone could make a track like this, they would.

Recorded at Houghton - Bobby. (2023)

 

https://soundcloud.com/houghton-festival/recorded-at-houghton-bobby-2023?si=99ef38944a5f4f18991adb3fed661387&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Recorded at Houghton - Ivan Smagghe (2023)

Houghton Festival · Recorded at Houghton - Ivan Smagghe (2023)

Track Of The Day: Synaptic Voyager - Electric Ocean (Frame Of Mind)

From the excellent ‘Disconnect To Reconnect’ release that emerged recently, this elegant piece of emotive techno puts one in mind of the cream of UK late 80s to early 90s machine funk. A time when the Detroit influence, while tangible, was bent into something else altogether. Deeper than deep and funkier than funk, the growling bass, taking its cues from Reese, thrust into the foreground and driven forward by break beats so subtle that, due to the other sonic adornment you don’t really notice them. Operating in that meridian between the dawn of time and the first mudskippers, the whole EP is just as good, so it was difficult to find a fave; and you get extended versions if you go digital. Which is nice.

Barac Shamandrum Sessions 1 & 2

 

Barac · Barac - Shamandrum Session 001

Barac · Barac - Shamandrum Session 002