Friday, April 26, 2024
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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.
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
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.
Monday, April 22, 2024
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.
Friday, April 19, 2024
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.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
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
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
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.
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Track Of The Day: Moor - Vago (Parallel 9 remix) (Irenic)
This release, on Roger Gerressen’s excellent Irenic, came out a few months ago and the track here is a Steve Rachmad remix of ‘Vago’, the original of which is also present and also brilliant. On another day I could have featured the original so, even though the slightly bouncier remix takes that honour, I feel the original should get an honourable mention. This track is everything I have always liked about techno; deep; doesn’t get carried away with itself; full of soul; all the right noises in all the right places. You know what’s just around the corner and feel comforted by it. This may sound like it’s predictable, but I think not. There’s plenty to get excited about within these grooves, and it’s definitely one of Rachmad’s more memorable outings of recent years.
Rodion & Mammarella Musica E Computer (Slow Motion)
Title: Musica E Computer
Artist: Rodion & Mammarella
Label: Slow Motion
Cat Number: SLOMO052
Genre: Cosmic
01: Iris
02: A Corrente Alternata
03: Un Segnale Di Speranza
04: Accelerazione
05: La Domenica Del Villaggio
06: Errore Di Calcolo
07: La Memoria Del Sistemi
08: Una Nuova Era
Well this is something. A release “recorded in the legendary Marche Synth Museum (Museo Del Synth Marchigiano). A fully functional recording space that houses a fusion of several private collections of Italian electronic musical instruments gathered over the many years since their creation.” There’s more to say about this, but I think that’s enough about the sheer electronic geekiness at work here. Without such attention to detail where would we be? At sea in a storm of blandness is my guess. And while it’s difficult to single out any particular track for specific praise (they’re all on the money), context is everything. I do like ‘ Accelerazione’, which sounds like it has been spawned from the best Italian futurist tradition, and ‘Errore Di Calcolo’ whose vocodered vocal sounds like it’s repeating “easy gel” at the top of the track. And, there’s a futurist train noise coming through intermittently, putting me in mind of Ivo Panaggi’s ‘Speeding Train (Treno in corsa)’. ‘Iris’ opens the package up in an abstract fashion, merging a harp with jungle sounds and evoking more painting in the process. However, this time its the naive stylings of Henri Rousseau than the forward looking futurism. ‘La Memoria Del Sistemi’ is a soaring synth masterpiece, with a throbbing low end solid enough to take anything on top of it which, in this case, are all manner of space sounds. This is equalled by ‘Un Segnale Di Speranza’, an arpeggiated, italo chimera composed of a disparate dance dichotomy that coalesces in the most harmonious way. All in all, if this release proves anything it’s that the synth nerds will inherit the Earth, and it’s never too late to be a part of that.
Monday, April 15, 2024
Track Of The Day: Ohm & Kvadrant - Precious Little Diamond (Levon Vincent Remix) (Kontakt)
A very recent release for a change. This remix by Levon Vincent gets me all nostalgic because it’s a real return to form. Having said that, I haven’t been keeping much of an eye on his recent output, so maybe he never really stopped making tracks like this. And what is “this”? Well, it’s a minimal, tracky stomper which is heavy in all the right places. Hearkening back to the likes of that immortal double header ‘Invisible Bitchslap’ and ‘Woman Is The Devil’, hos take on ‘Precious Little Diamond’ is a little bit quicker, but still manages to showcase his signature approach; ie: one that blends dub techno and a scything groove. Also, whether by accident or design, his tracks have always reminded me of Octave One, which can only be a good thing.
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Track Of The Day: Herbie Hancock - Speak Like a Child (Blue Note)
A composition that can cause the soul to sublimate in submission and, along with ‘Maiden Voyage’, a perfect title track. This album finds Herbie Hancock on serious form, each inflection of his piano crystallizing a moment like a sound supernova. It’s difficult to think of a more relaxing, evocative piece of music; a transcendental force of aural bliss.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Track Of The Day: Dopplereffekt - Voice Activated (Dataphysix Engineering)
Originally appearing on the ‘Infophysix’ release on Dataphysix Engineering back in 1996, ‘Voice Activated’ is a typically retro in flavour, but also of a parallel future that, back then, was possibly not as portentous as what we find ourselves living in now. Gerald Donald’s world feels like one where the serious is subverted by the absurd, the two colliding in order to feed off each other in an abstract symbiosis. The three Dataophysix releases came together on the ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ compilation on Int. DJ Gigolos, which is being rereleased imminently, (not for the first time), on Clone Classic Cuts. Essential stuff!
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Robert Hood - Alpha Key EP (M-Plant)
Title: Alpha Key EP
Artist: Robert Hood
Label: M-Plant
Cat Number: MPM46
Genre: Techno
1: Alpha Key
2: Future Remedy
3: Pathetic
4: Outsider
It’s always with a sense of trepidation that I write about music from one of the grand masters. I would hope the reasons are obvious, so I’ll leave it at that. Suffice to say Robert Hood has been there and done that but, if you’re still out there making music I would hope that you’ve always got something to prove. Techno is, in my opinion, a genre that has to a large extent stagnated, also has something to prove. Does it still have any subtlety, or is it all just steam hammers and kicks. Of course that’s only one facet. It’s a pretty broad church and accommodates much. And on this release, by and large, Rob Hood seems to be going for the relentless, steam hammer approach. Only ‘Future Remedy’, with its arpeggiated, melodic barrel organ on crack approach reminds me of the golden days of M-Plant. However, that’s no bad thing. Because even though those were great times, they can’t be replicated ad nauseam. I believe it is the best track here though, with ‘Alpha Key’ being the best of the rest. It’s a relentless twat of a track, but comes correct with the funk, using a steel drum like beat that rattles over the top, aided and abetted by minor percussive elements, to drive itself skyward. Both ‘Pathetic’ and ‘Outsider’ share similar characteristics; the former being denser and like hacking through a rain forest with a blunt machete, and the latter the soundtrack to riding an epileptic antelope across the Serengeti.
Track Of The Day: Moodymann - Misled (KDJ)
Stuck for what to post, I pulled a record off the shelves and it happened to be this one. And I chose this side rather than the longer, untitled track on the A side because for me it summarises Moodymann as well as any other tune he’s produced. It’s a low end throbber with minimal participation from each disparate musical element. A shuffle set to music in which Moody’s throat undulations, (I imagine it’s him), become an instrument at one with the fluctuating vibrations. The sample of ‘Freddy’s Dead’ at the end has a spectral quality, and emphasises the ephemeral aspect, not just of the music, but of the notion of listening to it being a vital part of life’s wallpaper. This is house music extending its normal reach, distilled to its very essence.
Tuesday, April 09, 2024
Monday, April 08, 2024
Saturday, April 06, 2024
Friday, April 05, 2024
Track Of The Day: Gary Clail And Tackhead - Hard Left (On U-Sound)
The late, great Keith Leblanc and Gary Clail together on the same record. Having said that, I’d be lying if I said I knew what either of them were doing exactly. Keith Le Blanc is drumming, presumably, although he is listed as a “performer” on Discogs. Clail’s role is even more nebulous; this release preceding his more defined vocal tracks such as ‘Beef’ and ‘Human Nature’ with the On U-Sound Soundsystem. The heaviness of this stuff, and its funk have a direct connection to The Pop Group and Mark Stewart. And it’s that which is most striking about this tune, which almost crosses over into electro territory, but remains out on its own due to the dense, industrial and strangely harmonic din it produces.
Thursday, April 04, 2024
Track Of The Day: Autechre - Lowride (Warp)
One of Autechre’s more conventional tracks, ‘Lowride’ is a slo mo g-funk track that heavily samples Miles Davis’ ‘The Doo-Bop Song’, taking it to another dimension in the process. It also feels like “evidence of music that the duo could have made if they wanted to but went all weird instead.” Which is perfectly understandable. Why should/shouldn’t they? As well as this, it has the unnerving characteristic of sounding very much like Kool & The Gang’s ‘Summer Madness’. Which it’s not.
Wednesday, April 03, 2024
Om Unit - Fragments (Om Unit Self-Released)
Title: Fragments
Artist: Om Unit
Label: Om Unit Self-Released
Cat Number:
Genre: Dub Fluctuations
1: Snagged
2: Citrus
3: Moonglade
4: Entity
5: Citrus (Mr Ho Remix)
6: Amber (Pt. 1)
7: Hard Skin
8: Side Quest
This latest selection from Om Unit is a collection of odds and ends which are hardly scraps at all, but fully fledged vignettes unified in their depth and alternation. From start to finish, the break beats undulate in harmony with each other, the order of the tracks playing a part. ‘Snagged’ gets the experience off to a determined start, and is the tune that most closely resembles anything approaching anything vaguely 4/4 and uptempo. (I hesitate to call it fully-fledged techno, but you can if you want). It’s got a nice housey underlay which while toning things down, funks them up simultaneously. The two versions of ‘Citrus’ explore varying breaks tempos, with the remix embellishing the beats with the 303. Both ‘Moonglade’ and ‘Amber (Pt. 1)’, veer into drum and bass (or is it jungle?), while ‘Hard Skin’ and ‘Entity’ adopt a more atmospheric approach, slowing the tempo down to a tribal throb, a hum time stretched to a longer extent on ‘Side Quest’. A very unified mixed bag of codified, emotive mood setters that has the power to elevate any setting; from the metaphysical mindset to shopping in the supermarket. Tried and tested situations that always benefit from such window dressing.
Track Of The Day: Wire - 12XU (Harvest)
Ducking the three minute moment by some distance, Wire’s ‘12XU’ is a concise rendering of everything good in modern, guitar-led composition. Whatever relevance the lyrics have is secondary to the noise being made, which is immense. There’s a sophistication and gravitas to the harmonic drone that spans genres, making this, the closing track from their debut album, ‘Pink Flag’, one of the most notable two minutes to come out of the seventies, no matter when its played.
Tuesday, April 02, 2024
Friday, March 29, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Track Of The Day: Freddie Hubbard & Joe Henderson - Maiden Voyage
Credited to Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. However, this is Herbie Hancock’s work and comes from one of my favourite albums evah! I suppose this was made when a lot of the second wave of seminal jazz artists were starting to level out and find even more interesting sonic routes. The suits have been ditched in films like these, and the dress is leaning towards ‘Miami Vice’, but that is just a slight distraction from the high degree of artistry on show here. You only have to read the comments to see how this music is working on a higher plane than most. Amazing, iconic, spiritual performances from everyone present.
Monday, March 25, 2024
Track Of The Day: Das Schloss Des Irrtums - Popol Vuh (SPV Recordings)
Some compositions come from nowhere to haunt you forever. Such is life, and also this particular piece. I can’t remember which part of the film it accompanies, nor if it is even in the film, or juyt present on the album. The fIlm itself, Herzog’s amazing reimagining of ‘Nosferatu’ I remember watching at Pete Hillis’s house on VHS shortly after it came out on the format, and being struck by its beauty and poetry. I was probably initially interested by Isabella Adjani’s presence, but soon got drawn in by the complete experience and Popol Vuh’s music is integral to this. There’s a, ahem, “dream-like” quality to it, and the fugue state sets in rather quickly once you realise you’re parcelled up in the experience. This particular track is a full-bodied gothic folk battery that has echoes of the middle ages within its walls. Something that feels essential to the story of what is essentially a time travelling being. An incredible piece from an incredible work. Another remake of which, I believe, is about to be released this year.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
ALFOS EBS46 - Sean Johnston (22-03-24)
EBS Clip
The Something Else Muzka
Pull The Trigger Ft Aprico Quimbie
Mucky Pup Muzka
Pili Pili \[Coyote Double Drop Edit\] Jasper Van't Hof presents Pili-Pili
Balearic Jukebox - We Love Spacemen \[Master\]
The Fall - Blindness
Malibu Storm (Andrei Rusu Remix) Nic Arizona
What's Been Turning You On (System Olympia Instrumental)
Mon Oncle \[Cotton Bud Master\]
YUKSEK - Pura Onda (C'est pas l'oiseau jam Mix) feat. Julia Jean Baptiste \[2444 MAST\]
BabylonBlack\_VerdeHustle\_Dub
AcidMan Hudsons Choice & Franc Spangler
Golden Hour (feat. Jade PraiZe) (Edit) Dj Pippi & Willie Graff
Infinity Dalholt
Astronomy Duncan Gray?
Mirage (Jonny Rock Remix) Lost Souls Of Saturn
PETER GABRIEL - LOVE CAN HEAL - QUIET VILLAGE REMIX
Work For 7 Days Sex Judas feat. Ricky
REES - Mystic Daze (Downtempo Mix)
Floating The Flood (DALO Remix) Nic Arizona
Balam - Caravana Planetaria (Club Mix)
What's Been Turning You On (ASHRR SOUNDSYSTEM Instrumental)
CYRK – Fade 2 Gay Various Artists
Uj Pa Gaz - The Cove \[Cotton Bud Master\]
Wayne's World \[DEMO\] JoeLy
La Guardia De La Luz Feat. La Zorra Zapata - Tigre de Bengala 4424
A Little Love (Vinyl & Streaming Only)
Inner City Blues (Ben Gomori's Chuggy Pug Edit) \[THE EDIT\] \[BALEARIC\] Marvin Gaye
Chris Coco George Solar SIRS - Rumba Solar (SIRS Mix)
YUKSEK & DIOGO STRAUSZ - O Gato (Live Version) \[2444 MAST\]
Bullet of Dignity (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Re-Animation)
Jorkes - Sissification Various Artists
C'mon Jordan
Früg (Edit) REES
Everything In It's Right Place-LV Edit
People Are Still Having Sex LATOUR
Mother Africa A.B.HABIBI
Gipsy (Prins Thomas Remix) Daughters & Sons
Radio Slave - The Lunatics (The Lunatics Club Mix) V3 PM
Guidance (original) Bandulu
Outta Limits (vocal dub) Mission Control
Helfy Mission A.B.HABIBI
Belly Dancer (Hotaru Edit) Hotaru
Searching 33 1 & 3 Queen
Virgo Mechanically Replayed (Dub) DJ Duke
Altered States (Ron Trent's Mothership mix) TRENT, Ron
Help Myself (Reconstructed By Carl Craig) Chez Damier
Transformation (Der Dritte Raum Remix) Transform
CYPHN10 - 02 - Emotive Technology - It's On \[m\] Emotive Technology
Lose Control (Tea With Quincy Mix) Dino Lenny
Patrick Cowley
The Beat Hifi Sean
Incognito (Original Mix) Justice
Papertrip Wallace
Volcano (Hercules & Love Affair (Dub) Daphne Guinness
Your Fault Raxon
Y.A.A.M. (Soulwax Version) Marie Davidson
Samuel L Session Feat. Elbee Bad - In The Dark (Sascha Dive's Into Darkness Remix) - 2 4424
Beskar Pitch Down Raxon
Cope (François K Remix) Dombrance
Rave Generator (Dancefloor Hit) TOXIC TWO
New Gold Dream/81/82/83/84 (German 12'' remix with Drums) Simple Minds
Love Will Find A Way Closing Mural
About Our Amore KOKO
The Something Else Muzka
Pull The Trigger Ft Aprico Quimbie
Mucky Pup Muzka
Pili Pili \[Coyote Double Drop Edit\] Jasper Van't Hof presents Pili-Pili
Balearic Jukebox - We Love Spacemen \[Master\]
The Fall - Blindness
Malibu Storm (Andrei Rusu Remix) Nic Arizona
What's Been Turning You On (System Olympia Instrumental)
Mon Oncle \[Cotton Bud Master\]
YUKSEK - Pura Onda (C'est pas l'oiseau jam Mix) feat. Julia Jean Baptiste \[2444 MAST\]
BabylonBlack\_VerdeHustle\_Dub
AcidMan Hudsons Choice & Franc Spangler
Golden Hour (feat. Jade PraiZe) (Edit) Dj Pippi & Willie Graff
Infinity Dalholt
Astronomy Duncan Gray?
Mirage (Jonny Rock Remix) Lost Souls Of Saturn
PETER GABRIEL - LOVE CAN HEAL - QUIET VILLAGE REMIX
Work For 7 Days Sex Judas feat. Ricky
REES - Mystic Daze (Downtempo Mix)
Floating The Flood (DALO Remix) Nic Arizona
Balam - Caravana Planetaria (Club Mix)
What's Been Turning You On (ASHRR SOUNDSYSTEM Instrumental)
CYRK – Fade 2 Gay Various Artists
Uj Pa Gaz - The Cove \[Cotton Bud Master\]
Wayne's World \[DEMO\] JoeLy
La Guardia De La Luz Feat. La Zorra Zapata - Tigre de Bengala 4424
A Little Love (Vinyl & Streaming Only)
Inner City Blues (Ben Gomori's Chuggy Pug Edit) \[THE EDIT\] \[BALEARIC\] Marvin Gaye
Chris Coco George Solar SIRS - Rumba Solar (SIRS Mix)
YUKSEK & DIOGO STRAUSZ - O Gato (Live Version) \[2444 MAST\]
Bullet of Dignity (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Re-Animation)
Jorkes - Sissification Various Artists
C'mon Jordan
Früg (Edit) REES
Everything In It's Right Place-LV Edit
People Are Still Having Sex LATOUR
Mother Africa A.B.HABIBI
Gipsy (Prins Thomas Remix) Daughters & Sons
Radio Slave - The Lunatics (The Lunatics Club Mix) V3 PM
Guidance (original) Bandulu
Outta Limits (vocal dub) Mission Control
Helfy Mission A.B.HABIBI
Belly Dancer (Hotaru Edit) Hotaru
Searching 33 1 & 3 Queen
Virgo Mechanically Replayed (Dub) DJ Duke
Altered States (Ron Trent's Mothership mix) TRENT, Ron
Help Myself (Reconstructed By Carl Craig) Chez Damier
Transformation (Der Dritte Raum Remix) Transform
CYPHN10 - 02 - Emotive Technology - It's On \[m\] Emotive Technology
Lose Control (Tea With Quincy Mix) Dino Lenny
Patrick Cowley
The Beat Hifi Sean
Incognito (Original Mix) Justice
Papertrip Wallace
Volcano (Hercules & Love Affair (Dub) Daphne Guinness
Your Fault Raxon
Y.A.A.M. (Soulwax Version) Marie Davidson
Samuel L Session Feat. Elbee Bad - In The Dark (Sascha Dive's Into Darkness Remix) - 2 4424
Beskar Pitch Down Raxon
Cope (François K Remix) Dombrance
Rave Generator (Dancefloor Hit) TOXIC TWO
New Gold Dream/81/82/83/84 (German 12'' remix with Drums) Simple Minds
Love Will Find A Way Closing Mural
About Our Amore KOKO
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