Dosis Multiple - Pfirter (MindTrip)

Title: Dosis Multiple

Artist: Pfirter

Label: Mind Trip

Cat Number: MT25

Genre: Techno

A1: Faith Healer

A2: Dosis Multiple

B1: Mshrmsvndlprk

B2: Universal Constant

Digital Only: Mayo del 68

Pfirter releases an uncompromising four tracker on his own Mind Trip label which embodies everything that a certain strain of techno should be; it’s layered, texture upon texture, tone over drone, to produce a quartet of endless, unsympathetic sonic symphonies the likes of which you have to be in a certain frame of mind to benefit from. For example, the contender for Only Connect’s Missing Vowels Round, ‘Mshrmsvndlprk’ would be so unsympathetic to psychedelic ingestion that it’s bad trips all round I’m afraid. So administer with caution, and under optimum conditions.

Morgenrot Remixes - Die Wilde Jagd (Minimood)

Title: Morgenrot Remixes 

Artist: Die Wilde Jagd

Label: Minimood

Cat Number: minimood021

Genre: Techno

A1: Morgenrot (Fangschuss Version)

A2: Morgenrot (Vactrol Park Remix)

B1: Morgenrot (Ancient Methods Remix)

B2: Morgenrot (The KVB Remix)

C1: Morgenrot (Rude 66 Remix)

C2: Morgenrot (Roman Flugel Remix)

D1: Morgenrot (Luigi Tozzi Remix)

D2: Morgenrot (Steve Bug Remix)

E1: Morgenrot (CV313 Remix)

F1: Morgenrot (Variant Remix)

Packages like this are made for the casual purchase of digital wares. Unless the quality control is so high that nothing can be ignored or the variety is so wide. Minimood call this type of release “multidisciplinary fusion”, which I suppose is one way of marketing it. The original is a ponderous thing, but with ample scope for improvement. So, deploy the remixes! It really is a case of small margins with most of these; a cursory listen covers so much similar territory. Anyway, those that stand out for me, in order of preference are Roman Flugel, Ancient Methods, CV313 and Variant. Apparently it’s a vinyl only release. Which is nice.

Zero Point Access - A-Future (EON Records)

Title: Zero Point Access 

Artist: A-Future

Label: EON Records

Cat Number: EON002

Genre: Brealks/Electro

A1: No Era

B1: No Era (Alex Jann’s Planet Transmit Mix)

B2: No Era (Secret Universe’s Biosphere Mix)

Tracks that successfully blend electro and drum and bass are few and far between. Thankfully, ‘New Era’ comes correct to partially address the balance. The original is just that, an effortlessly funky piece of work with a dark side to its DNA. The same is true of Alex Jann’s ‘Planet Transmit Mix’, which emphasizes the electro and subdues the breaks. Conversely, Secret Universe’s ‘Biosphere Mix’ lets the other half dominate over a dreamscape of what sound like malfunctioning, wasted synths. All in all, a veritable hat trick of tunes, each of them showing off something slightly removed from the other.

Promises - Markus Suckut (Odd Even)

Title: Promises

Artist: Markus Suckut

Label: Odd Even

Cat Number: ODDEVEN026

Genre: Techno

A1: Promises

A2: Prism Pt. 1

B1: Backyard

B2: Prism Pt. 2

‘Promises’ bursts out of the blocks like a Mood ll Swing tune on steroids. Think of the backing beat to ‘Move Me’ with more muscle and the addition of an echo yelp. The two ‘Prism tracks offer similar levels of intensity but pitch themselves differently. ‘Pt.1’ being an acidic romp through a cold weather landscape, the synth flourishes contrasting nicely with the acid squelches. ‘Pt. 2’ is its percussive alter ego and a rougher cut overall. ‘Backyard’ feels like it borrows slightly from both ‘Pt. 2’ and ‘Promises’, being a bouncy, percussive number which relies on a muffled vocal snippet as a metronome. ‘Promises’ is probably the sharpest knife in the draw, while the other three tunes each bathe in a not unpleasing blurriness.

Lobster Is Coincidence - Mehmet Aslan (Planisphere Music)

Title: Lobster Is Coincidence

Artist: Mehmet Aslan

Label: Planisphere Music

Cat Number: PLANIS002

Genre: House

A1: Comme Il Faut

A2: Lobster Is Coincidence

B1: Kakusui

A diverse three tracker this: starting with the depth and breadth of ‘Comme Il Faut’ which is a deceptively uncomplicated, chugging effects-laden dubbed out disco damager. The type of track to get lost in order to gradually find yourself. ‘Lobster Is Coincidence’ is an abstract, fuzzy loop that is interrupted by a sample, the message of which could relate to the gradual loss of persona pervasive on the previous composition. ‘Kakusui’ is an Levantine-inflected romp through the cerebellum’s souk, whose secrets remain safe, but are open to interpretation.

Moving Away From The Pulsebeat: 1

Moving Away From The Pulsebeat: 1

 Paraworld – Ex Terrestrial (Temple)

 Trespassers – Newworldaquarium (Delsin)

 A1 – Brommage Dub (Svek)

 Affinity (RV800 Bmax Hyperbole Remix) – Sirko Mueller (Verdant Recordings)

 Mistic – Vern (Joule Imprint)

 Junkle ll - Callisto (Guidance)

 Horizon – Edward (Giegling)

 Midan – Mandar (Hakki)

 Event Horizon – Camelia (Rora)

 Lux (SAM Reshape) – Dust Yard (Berg Audio)

 Paper Moon – 51 Days (Touche)

 Circuit Rift – Junes (Galdoors)

 A2 Lapis Lazuli (Primitive)

 Jeer – Dewemer (Nous Klaer Audio)

 Want Some Candy – Dawl (Tribe)

 Cipher – The Hidden Figure (Exalt Records)

November 2019 Chart

Long Low Edmund – Dewemer (Nous Klaer Audio)

A label that I have long admired, but own nothing on. This double package has changed that though. There’s a trance-like sensibility active within this collection, but it’s inflected rather than full on. Mostly present in ‘Long Rice’ and ‘Jeer’, some of this could have found a home on Prologue a few years back. 

Hexafunk/Nightmoves #1 – Diode/Grumptronix (Wormhole Wisdom)

The first of three releases on Craigie knows offshoot Wormhole Wisdom, to feature the music of Grumptronix and Diode, (Omar Torres, one half of Grumptronix). The originals are rare as hen’s teeth Florida electro releases from the nineties: funky, deep and cosmic.

Streicher Des Todes – Strings Of Death (Vigram)

Teutonically - inflected electro from, amongst others, Dave Tarrida (Scotland is really on it at the moment. See Craigie Knowes). Dark, dense and with vocoders. Perfect.

Workshop 27 – Even Tuell (Workshop) 

Deep and off-kilter as only Workshop can be; this is label head Tuell’s first release on the label for six years, and it’s predictably great, while being quintessentially in context. Essential for bridging the gap between chin stroking and abstract shuffling. 

Heavy Hitter EP – Illektrolab (Advanced Robotics)

More electro, from the criminally unprolific Jason McCracken, aka Illektrolab. These are agitated, funky, edge of your seat beats for breakdancing cyborgs. I’m very much looking forward to combining this with the Vigram and Wormhole releases. Alien frequencies abound.

Tone Dropout Vol. 8 – V/A (Tone Dropout) 

Tone Dropout and Dawl are two buy on sight nouns. Everything that comes out bearing either of these two names is money well spent. Warehouse raves but with a claustrophobic twist and very much of the present, this is an essential package which squeezes in a huge variety of cross-pollination across its expansive grooves.

Hooked On Magic – Edward (Giegling)

One of two Edward releases to come out simultaneously on Giegling, this one features the mighty ‘Jap Collage’, one of many standout moments on Eli Verveine’s recent Trommel podcast. The rest isn’t too shabby either, being a mix of recognisable styles with an idiosyncratic approach to melody and beat forging. The other EP, ‘Lost In Paradise’ is also well worth grabbing.

Silhouettes – The Hidden Figure (Exalt Records)

A small (7”), but perfectly formed release of fragile electro about which not much is known except that it’s a side product of a “a very much established and well respected Acid / Electro producer.” Lovely stuff again. Keep ‘em comin’.

 Receptor Theory – Sirko Mueller/Jonno & Tommo (Verdant Recordings)

Jonno and Tommo sound like a right pair, don’t they? The types who sell loosies behind the bike sheds and lace them with oregano. I was attracted to this release by the remixers, Haventepe and, in particular RV800, a mysterious artist who released two essential double headers on Formula out of Japan. An understated release with gravitas. 

Rocco Remixes - HVOB [PIAS] Recordings

Title: Rocco Remixes 

Artist:  HVOB 

Label: [PIAS] Recordings

Cat Number: PIASR447RMXB

Genre: House

1: Bloom (Fink Remix)

2: Butter (Steffi Remix)

3: Butter (Floyd Lavine Remix)

A diverse remix package that spreads two remixes of ‘Butter’ and drops one of ‘Bloom’ from HVOB’s latest album. For me it’s all about Steffi’s remix, which is a beefy piece of electro that has plenty of depth and mood. I’m not feeling either of the other two versions though. If Fink’s remix of ‘Bloom’ were wispier, it would atomise and never solidify again. It’s fragile, and far too ethereal, if that were possible. The Floyd Lavine remix is an undeniable party starter, but maybe I’m just a miserable old git. It feels overproduced and lacks nuance. Each track will find its audience however.

No Fear,We Go Back - Delano Smith (My Baby Records)

Title: No Fear/We Go Back 

Artist: Delano Smith

Label: My Baby Records

Cat Number: MB004

Genre: Deep House

1: No Fear

2: We Go Back

3: No Fear (Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts Remix)

4: We Go Back (Chuck Flash & Keith Kemp Remix)

Delano Smith is a groove merchant whose product is elegant in its simplicity. The original version of ‘No Fear’ is a kick, snare, synth and vocal sample. Nothing else is needed; it’s like good sushi. ‘We Go Back’ relies on similar elements pepped up by filter disco, remember that? Both good, versatile tunes which will enhance any mix as well as being focal points. The remix of ‘No Fear’ livens up the original by diversifying the percussion, but doesn’t take too many liberties and, ergo, comes correct. That of ‘No Way Back’ treads a similar bath, nut adds a more muscular battery of bins which eventually takes precedence. Good stuff all round.

African Power EP - Dasco (Local Talk)

Title: African Power EP

Artist: DASCO

Label: Local Talk 

Cat Number: LT102

Genre: Deep House

1: African Power

2: African Power (Trinidadiandeep Remix)

3: Keep Movin’ (Anthony Nicholson Mediterranean Disco Mix)

4: Keep Movin’

‘African Power’ does like its horns, and they sound so African that they remind me of Hugh Masekela, which is maybe the intention. Not normally my thing, but it works well here so all good. Once we move from the original, then things get deeper. Trinidadiandeep’s interpretation is a dead ringer for Ron Trent and any of the collabs he did with Anthony Nicholson vibe wise. I’m thinking ‘Soul Samba Express’ right about now, which obviously links not at all tenuously to the aforementioned producer’s ‘Mediterranean Disco Mix’ of ‘Keep Movin’’, a razor-sharp samba that doesn’t differ that much from the original mix, but is longer and places more emphasis on the keys. Lovely stuff!

East of Eden LP - East of Eden (Distant Hawaii)

Title: East of Eden LP

Artist: East of Eden

Label: Distant Hawaii

Cat Number: HAWAII018

Genre: House

A1: Revolutionary Worlds

A2: Adventures In The Dream Tribe

B1: Days To Go By Ft. Javontte

B2: Adventures In The Dream Tribe Pt. 2

C1: Yume Name Koro

C2: Lost Horizon

D1: Dreams

D2: Bermuda

D3: Dub House

From the moment the first track starts, the listener is transported on a magic carpet of variable percussive frequencies, along which are draped layer upon layer of sun-drenched, tropical, bliss. It’s more than apt that three tracks directly reference dreams, as well as Javontte, whose laid back delivery evokes a carefree fall into a soft void of insensibility. There are occasional departures from the linear trajectory of comparative sonic indolence, such as the slightly harder edged ‘Adventures In The Dream Pt. 2’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Lost Horizon’ and ‘Bermuda’, but this is relative. The whole collection resonates as one within the church of deep house as preached by Larry Heard and Marshall Jefferson. It’s a complete piece of work into which an otherworldly MDMA-influenced (consciously or not) sensibility has been decanted. It’s absolutely brilliant and you need to listen to it from start to finish under optimum conditions. The dance floor would be a good start; failing that, skin up, sip from a large glass of Armagnac and let your worries evaporate.