Last month, myself, Tom and Vincent + a crew of others did a live twitch stream, it was my first time doing one, and a good time was had by all involved. Sure, people (in most countries, but not here in Ireland) of younger age groups are starting to get their vaxxes but we are looking at another summer (at least) with no dancing parties taking place IRL, so I’ve decided to set up an ISM twitch account, from which the crew will be doing sporadic streams – basically when we feel like it. Tonight (Friday 16th) myself and my Feathers cohort Shane O’Meara will be taking the reigns for an evening / night of music, kicking starting at 9pm (Dublin time) and going until…we’re done. For updates of when these streams will be going ahead probably best to follow me on twitter here. Our Twitch account is InfiniteStateStream so follow us on there too, if you’ve got an account. As I’ve found with doing my weekly radio show, people jumping in the chat box is part of what makes these lockdown broadcasts fun, a rare interacting with friends that brings a certain comfort during these strange times.
I was planning on covering a few more records in this post, but Fedex have decided to play hide and go seek with my latest delivery…but anyways, here are 3 records made (in full disclosure y’know) by some pals that I’ve been digging recently.
Jordan GCZ – Introspective Acid (Rush Hour)
As a solo artist the majority of recent releases by Jordan GCZ (he of Juju & Jordash, Mullholland Free Clinic +++) have been mostly collaborations with others – Introspective Acid is his first 100% solo record since 2018’s Pinball Wizard. The title song is already one of my favourite cuts that Jordan has made. Initially it comes off as a slightly menacing, eerie slice of acid, but that is only the start of what is a beautiful, tripped out 8+ minutes of pretty unique deep techno. The mood shifts throughout, changes brought on by the various soothing melodic stretches that drop in and out of view before the acid is given centre stage again. It also includes the least dramatic key change I’ve come across in techno in quite a while. It’s both relaxing and insistent at the same time, a perfect early morning jam for dancefloors open that late. Also it sounds great walking around Dublin 7 of a late spring evening.
The rest of the EP goes for a more uptempo techno sound, one minute sounding not unlike Terrence Dixon (on elements of Jaguar Dreaming) but with the all-out weirdness replaced with brighter tinges of funk. The closing Wild Bounce closes things off brilliantly, with joyous keys layered over more funky, jittery drums, recalling the brilliant Crybaby J, GCZ’s solo debut 12″ from 2013.
Lerosa – Authority (Lunar Disko)
It has been a while since either Lerosa or Lunar Disko have featured on here but it’s not for a lack of output. Authority sees Lerosa team up with the Dublin imprint for the 2nd time, after he featured on their LDRX series back in 2107; this time he joins the main label proper alongside a scene-stealing Marco Passarani, who appears on remix duties. For the lead off a strong nod is made to the west coast Dutch crew, most notably late 90’s I-f productions, with a slightly less greasy take on the distorted drums and grinding basslines of early Viewlexx / Murder Capital releases, back-ended by italo / new wave inspired melodies. It is when the record moves away from this sound that I found it be the most satisfactory, especially on the inside cuts on either side. Background Check is a moody, slightly intimidating deep electro cut (the song title is pretty fitting), that is one of my favourite Lerosa cuts in a while. The original of Ummon makes a slight nod to Lerosa’s older deep house grooves, combined with a whiff of disco while the machines gently purr away over it.
The highlight of the record arrives at the end with fellow Roman Marco Passarani’s remix of the previous Ummon. Living in a world not very far removed from that of Introspective Acid, the hook Passarani adds is a haunting earworm, an earnestness added to the lighter tone of the original, it also feels like it just keeps going on forever, slowly moving around within it’s own parameters, dragging you in the longer it goes on, even dropping in some sneaky acid at the end. Bellissimo! as Leo and Marco would no doubt say as they were sat down to eat a plate of cold cuts, like them Sopranos lads do.
Ten Years Lost – Mom’s Spaghetti Vol.1
I released the debut 12″ by Scottish producer Ten Years Lost in 2019 (what’s that about a conflict of interests?) and his first release on record since then is this 4 tracker of remixes / edits. TYL, instead of just editing, also adds drums and efx along the way giving all 4 cuts an extra oomph for modern dancefloors. This can be a risky proposition but in this instance they don’t feel like they are just plastered over the top, instead they merge well with the originals. Vanity 6’s already wonky sounding Makeup gets the best re-rub on Instagram Djs, turning it into a slightly deranged, punky EBM-esque banger. Lime’s “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” and 52nd Street’s “Can’t Afford” get similarly cut up and re-energised, with slamming percussion driving them along. I had these last 2 on my usbs for the last few years and can testify to how much chaos they cause on the ‘floor. Superior edits to many you see around.
Feathers Glued To Your Face, Bringing Firepower –
March: Mathematics & Jamal Moss
April: Electro
The last 2 episodes of myself and Shane O’Meara’s radio show on Dublin Digital Radio we’re both specials, the March recording being 100% music from Hieroglyphic Being and / or his label Mathematics. I don’t have a tracklist for this but alongside a bunch of Moss recordings also features Mark Forshaw, DMX Krew, John Heckle, Georgio Lucieri, Analogous Doom and many others…check it below.
For our April edition we kept it on an electro theme. Running right from the beginning all the way up to where the sound is at these days. We made the decision to exclude any music from Stinson / Donald as though we are prone to usually playing a lot of their music and their influence on the genre is so widespread that, understandably, it nearly becomes impossible to avoid we figured we could make it through 2 hours without playing any. And we did! We never do any prep for our shows which sometimes mean things can become a little unstuck here n there, which certainly happened this time around, but sure we’ll not lose any sleep over it. Full track-list is followed by the recording.
Cosmic Touch – Nothing Ever Changes
Mantronix – Simple Simon
Afrika Bambatta and the Soul Sonic Force – Renegades of Funk
Egyptian Lover – Alezby Inn
Tony Paris – Electric Automan
John Davis – Destination Earth
Captain Rapp – Bad Times
Wild Mary – No One Knows (Bonus Beats)
NWA – Panic Zone
Teslasonic – Quantum Paradox
Quad City Djs – Work Baby Work
Jonzun Crew – Pac Jam
Egyptian Lover – Freak-a-Holic
Entro Senestre – Slow Motion Disaster
Marco Bernardi – Preacher Teacher
DMX Krew – SH101 Triggers MS10
Dj Overdose – The Beat
Hardfloor feat. E.R.P. & D.I.E. – Fourth Dimension of the Fifth Ward
Klystron – Rock the Box
Sterac Electronics – La Mouvement
Ngoni – Evolution
Annie Hall – B1
Galaxian – Golden Armageddon
Neurotic Drum Band – The Last Parabola
DJ Overdose – Bare Bonus Bounce
Detroit’s Filthiest – Hands Behind Your Back
Aux 88 – Black Planet
Dexter – EchtVet
Dj Godfather – C U Later
Insync v Mysteron – Exit 9
Stefanie Bennett – Swing My Way
214 – Soapdish
Mr ‘De – Get it Right
Ultradyne – Society @Work
Esplender Geométrico – Moscú Está Helado (Max Durante feat. Key version)
Debonaire – Watch Me Know
D.I.E. – Nothing’s Like Detroit
Mr ‘De – Dance
Steffi & Stingray – Explanatory Power
Doubledutch – Surface on Fire