Hot Flush

Title: The Let Down
Artist: George Fitzgerald
Label: Hot Flush
Cat Number: HFT012
Genre: Dubstep

A: The Let Down
AA: Weakness

Nice double-header from newcomer George Fitzgerald. 'The Let Down' is defined by a jerky kick over epic-sounding techno synth stabs. There's a warmth to the track which is down to the ambient washes that occasionally propel it into the realm of hands-in-the-air, here comes the sun euphoria. Vocals are chopped up over and over again in varying tones and pitches. 'Weakness' works on a slightly different harmonic range but occupies similar ground. Clever stuff, which is as much about what you hear as what you don't.



Title: Love Pressure EP
Artist: Sepalcure
Label: Hot Flush
Cat Number: HF025
Genre: Dubstep

A1: Love Pressure
A2: Down
B1: Every Day Of My Life
B2: The Warning

An exemplary synthesis of disparate vocals, organic techno and dub. 'Love Pressure' has a feeling of infinity, the atmosphere builds, spirals, disengages and returns. 'Down' is drenched in a superficial white noise over which retro-sounding synths blare producing a feeling of saturation. 'Every Day Of My Life' sounds like narcoleptic reggae twinned with somnambulistic deep house over which a range of basic tonal vocabulary spreads. 'The Warning' has a nice low-end and again, the living, breathing wooden blocks of 'Love Pressure' return, entwined with radio feedback.

All tracks are characterised by, amongst other things, an intelligent use of vocals and an ambience derived from electronic decay. Great release.

Strich & Faden - Paul Schulleri (Subtrak)

Title: Paul Schulleri
Artist: Strich & Faden
Label: Subtrak
Cat Number: Subtrak 026
Genre: IDM, Tech House, Nu Disco

01. Cruel
02. Sleepless In The Sun
03. Stickmata
04. Mondschein Baby
05. Ohrenschmaus
06. Spade
07. Sakral
08. Sirene
09. Things Going On
10. Tiefdruck
11. Catpeople
12. Disorder
13. Sirene (Zen Baboon Remix)
14. Rain

An interesting piece of work by Paul Schulleri that is emphasised as being an album, inasmuch as it's not a collection of tracks, rather more than the sum of its parts. It's a selection that shows versatility and maturity and is also difficult to pidgeonhole. To me it's a blend of glitchy minimalism and ambience, (btw the genre description above is what is given in an official description that I found somewhere on the interweb), and the merging of these two specifics is handled very well.

Certain tracks stand out, so here are some quick impressions:

'Cruel' has a vocal transformed into brass and gives off mournful, Mexican-style spaghetti western vibes.

'Mondschein Baby' has a driving, techy groove with synth washes over a relentless, clicky, percussive foundation.

'Ohrenschmaus' is very similar to 'Mondschein Baby' but a little bit deeper and dubbier. Bleeps are underpinned by a spiralling melody.

'Rain' has a possibly Eurythmics - inspired cold-war melody and a diva vocal submerged in the mix.

'Tiefdruck' uses a well-trodden riff but still manages to make it sound fresh.

'Sakral' is a trancey offering that can feel cliched but is handled with panache.

Generally a very synthetic collection of stripped-down ambience with instances of spiky funk. Certain tunes may give the feeling of having been "shoed-in" but that's more down to a lack of variety in the repetoires of other artists than anything else.

Miles Sagnia Mix

As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I went to see Miles Sagnia in Cambridge one Saturday night. Appallingly low turnout was in some way compensated for by meeting Miles and him agreeing to do an interview for this blog. I'm in the process of putting some questions together. Meanwhile, I've just come across this mix from Miles while doing the daily trawl through Facebook. Here are the words which accompany it, along with a track list.

First up, i'm not in the habit of speaking up publicly, but I feel I have something to say...
Since I started out playing records 16 years ago, I have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of respect for our dance music heritage & artistry output In this increasingly naive era of disposable music, where tracks stay in people's record bags (or should i say laptops) for a nanosecond before being ruthlessly sidelined for 'newer, fresh' material. I've always tried to play music that speaks to me. A lot of new stuff does get in the bag, there is always great fresh music out there somewhere but I also find that I i'm continually drawn back to various cuts due to their continual aural radiance and integrity. These are the sort of records that connect with my mind... even if I have heard them many times before..
I hope people out there get where i'm coming from before passing judgement.... As it seems to me that what we are all presented with now is one big ego ball of media driven competitiveness. This saddens me. Where is the love?...
I believe really knowing every moment in a record allows one to fully harness the dancefloor and the mind of it's occupants by delivering music in a way that goes far beyond words... Favouring quality timeless music regardless of age or release date, rather than 'quick fix' records is the way things roll over here.
For all those DJ's out there with no musical integrity, I urge you to dig a little deeper in your quest and search out timeless music, never mind the 'genre'. Leave those ego's at the door and come soak up the flavours because at the end of the day, it really is all about the music.... So with that in mind I hope you enjoy the journey here, an honest, straight up mix from the soul....... Miles

1.A.E.R. SAMPLE

2.DAVE ANGEL - ARABIAN NIGHTS - ISLAND

3.GLENN UNDERGROUND - THERE IS A TIME - PEACEFROG

4.JS-03 - JS-03

5.THE 65D MAVERICKS - MOVE TOWARDS THE LIGHT - MAKATON

6.D5 - SIDES OF SPACE - DELSIN

7.TYREE COOPER - ANOTHER REASON - LONE

8.GLENN UNDERGROUND - INNER TECH-NO - MUZIC VISION

9.MILES SAGNIA - FACE THE MUSIC - ATMOSPHERIC EXISTENCE

10. CONFORCE - STOP HOLD - MEANWHILE

11. ANDERS ILAR - BLACK NUMBERS - NARITA

12. E.R.P. - SILVAE - DOWN LOW

13. KERRI CHANDLER - DIGITAL LOVE AFFAIR - LARGE

14. SWAYZAK - DOOBIE - SWAYZAK

15. MILES SAGNIA - RELATIVITY - AESTHETIC AUDIO

16. 2 RAUM WOHNUNG - ICH BIN DER REGEN (Moritz Von Oswald remix) - IT

17. DOMINA - (Maurizio mix)

18. JICHAEL MACKSON - TEE TRINKEN IN BRAUNEN SALON - PHICTIV

19. A.E.R. SAMPLE

20. CONVEXTION - GREY SKY WARM CAR - DOWN LOW

Recorded Live @ A.E.R. Studios, on 2 x Technics 1200's, Pioneer 600 Mixer / 2 x Adam P11 Monitors.
Vinyl only mix (except for A.E.R. Samples (1+19) on CD)

Download the mix here.

Some Podcasts That Need To Be Heard

Get The Curse have been puling out all the stops recently with their series of podcasts. They recently celebrated their century with an Ivan Smagghe/Andy Weatherall double-header. A fine way to bring up the ton. They've since built on that with an Ahmet Sisman podcast. Sisman is a producer whose work I admire a lot. I haven't listened to the podcast yet so I can't offer any opinion. Links below.


Get The Curse Podcasts (General Link)

Ivan Smagghe Vs Andrew Weatherall


Ahmet Sisman


Little White Earbuds added the redoubtable Matthew Styles to their series of Podcast contributors earlier this week. Matt is someone who I've featured myself on this blog, as well as on my now-defunct radio show. Way back in the mists of time he did a guest mix for me which was very well received. Here's how he sounds at the moment. Track list for this one too when you follow the link.


LWE Podcast 51: Matthew Styles

Patrice Scott is a producer riding the crest of a wave at the moment. His output is stellar and whether or not you appreciate his sound there is an obvious depth of sophistication present within his grooves. Here's a podcast he recently put together for Background Techno Experience. Great stuff.


Background Techno Experience: Patrice Scott

World Cup Feedback

I'll be shutting myself away, hermit-like, for the duration of the World Cup. I'll still be posting but little will be getting in the way of a good match. Meanwhile, here's a little bit of feedback I've got around to giving recently.



Title: Crewcuts & Curls Remixes
Artist: Tom Demac
Label: Murmur
Cat Number: mur017
Genre: House

In Your Eyes (Wolf & Lamb remix)
Crewcuts & Curls (Jamie Jones Water Cooler remix)
Crewcuts & Curls (Luke Solomon Razor version)

Wolf & Lamb give us a dubby slow burner, Jamie Jones a funky, quirky jack track with great bass and Luke Solomon falls a little between the two with a freaky rendition that recalls classic robot funk. Great release.



Title: Cry (Slam Remixes)
Artist: Dot Allison
Label: Soma
Cat Number: Soma 289d
Genre: Techno

Cry (Slam Instrumental)
Cry (Slam Vocal)

Good instrumental but unfortunately the vocal is so infrequent as to be virtually non-existent.



Title: Enough Talk
Artist: Gary Beck
Label: Soma
Cat Number: Soma 287d
Genre: Techno

Enough Talk
Ferenze

'Enough Talk' builds nicely but doesn't really go anywhere. 'Ferenze' is similar but tougher. OK but in need of something else to go that extra inch.



Title: Equilibrium
Artist: Hot Natured
Label: Culprit
Cat Number: CP007
Genre: House

Wintertime
Equilibrium
Keys To The Garage

Seriously good. It takes a lot of skill to put such an original twist on sounds like these but Foss and Jones manage it effortlessly. This stuff points the way at the moment.



Title: Foca Master Sarajevo
Artist: Soul Mekanik
Label: Wonk
Cat Number: WONK003
Genre: Cosmic Balaerica

Foca Master Sarajevo

I've heard every riff in this track before, but that doesn't mean I don't like it. It's a cliche but it's nice.

Title: Night & Day
Artist: Raymundo Rodriguez
Label: Black & White Orange Records
Cat Number:
Genre: House

Late Shift
Morning Start

Two tracks of driving, percussive, dubby tech-house. Nothing particularly ground-breaking but devilishly effective on the floor. Good.



Title: What's Mine Is Yours
Artist: Greg Paulus
Label: Double Standard
Cat Number: DS02
Genre: House

What's Mine Is Yours
Part of Me
U R
Suchashame
Hard Drankin Whiskey Line


Definitely a mood setter. Like its restraint which hints at confidence and depth. Full of funky entrails which blend well with the horns and more current motifs. You can go too far though, and I'd like to have seen a little more variety.

Chart June '10

Another month, another chart. I find lists absolutely impossible to compile. Some love them, I don't mind reading them but can never quite believe that what is written is a genuine representation of a DJ's tastes, ie; you can always expect to hear those releases in a set during the period they have been charted for. I chart full releases, unless specified.



Melodrama - Skudge (Skudge)



MBM/Move Edits - Ahmet Sisman (SlashX)



Sleep Moods - Robert James (Hot Creations)



Sexual Position - Kris Wadsworth (Morris Audio)




Ten Years Of Highgrade - VA (Highgrade)



Thwack - Marcel Fengler (Mote Evolver)




Love Someone - Wolf & Lamb (Wolf & Lamb)



Chamaeleonidae - Seuil (Welcome To Masomenos)



Musafir - Morphosis (M O S Recordings)



Aquaplano Ltd 01 - Nuel (Aquaplano)



The Freeze - Unknown (White)



Total Pure EP - Raudive (Wires)




Lost Files Vol 2 - VA (Hypercolour Digital)



Restart Trouble - Marcus Meinhardt (Upon You)



Red Pack - Redshape (Present)

Cacophonous Broadcast 4 . . .

. . .can be found here.