There haven’t been a ton of new records on my radar so far in 2022, but at least the ones that are have been excellent. Also going to have to start adding in some digi-only releases as there have been some really strong ones recently that don’t appear to have imminent vinyl releases. Here we go…
Parallax – Vol. 1 – Delicate Cashmere 12”
Pittsburgh is definitely in the house on this Parallax record, with local heavyweights Nice Rec, C Scott, and Geeman handling production duties and Delicate Cashmere doing the release. Add in an out of town appearance by Erik Rico on vocals and Dom Grande on sax and you have a recipe for some really lovely soulful dance music. Electric piano and bumping organic percussion lend a Soulquarians vibe, and the vocals keep that sophisticated neo soul feel intact. This one is highly recommended for anybody who digs soulful music!
Nardo Says – I wish my brother Reese was here… – Delicate Cashmere digital album
Another excellent Pittsburgh selection, this time from Nardo Says. While I’ve known him for his vocal stylings, this is an album of instrumental beats dedicated to his collaborator Reese (aka DJ Vex), a former Pgh resident who unfortunately passed away last year. Reese was a beast on beats, and I am very sure he would be proud to have this made in tribute to his memory. For me, this is one of the freshest releases out of the city in a long time. A nice mixture of different rhythms as well as grimy production is very modern and reflects the feeling of living in a place that mixes urban spaces and green spaces like Pittsburgh does.
Roberta – The Brooklyn Ave. Sessions – Worldship Music 12”
For full disclosure, I wrote the promotional one sheet that accompanied this release. But I only do such things for music I believe in, because I really can’t fake enthusiasm. This record was very easy to be enthusiastic about. Worldship has been knocking it out of the park with every release since its recent re-launch, and Roberta has been one of the most consistent producers over the past few years. Her style makes a lot of sense with Worldship, and the results are unsurprisingly dope. If you love classic garage or beatdown style house, this will be right up your alley. Teflon Dons and Greg Ski provide remixes that add a bit of darkness to Roberta’s warm, funky originals and that works to give a very well balanced EP where every track is useful for the dancefloor.
Dovie Cote’ – Dovie Cote’ EP – Alleviated Records 12”
Dovie Cote has made a small handful of house records over the years, but on this one he is supported by Larry Heard’s excellent percussion and the result is an excellent EP. The two originals are strong songs, with Horace Andy style vocal vibrato and a nice combo of organic and electronic elements across both “My Desire” and “Change Lanes”. Donnie Tempo also adds a remix of “My Desire” which brings in breezy synths, sure to be big once the weather is right for outdoor parties again.
Black Suede – Rogue EP – FWM Entertainment digital EP
FWM head honcho Stefan Ringer revives his Black Suede alias for a new digital release. The previous release under that name on the CGI label back in 2015 featured a more stark and techno flavored sound, but this one leans towards house, though a little different from his usual. The title track sounds like it could have been a Theo Parrish outtake circa American Intelligence with its electric piano and rugged drum programming. “Maze” picks up the tempo and swerves more electronic but still funky, while “Deep Dirt” is all about the big chord swooshes and tweaked out synth line. Definitely a nice, slightly more aggressive set of tunes for those who like a mix of funk and experimentation in their house music.
Strand – Resilience – Remember Why You Started 12”
Strand is one of those pure Detroit artists whose vision of techno and electro always feels futuristic but they manage to keep a warmth and soul that most cannot. There are two original tracks here, and they each add something distinctive to the EP’s sonic palette. The chords on “Paradox” are very deep, but they are positioned over driving drums and a twisted acid line and don’t come in until well into the track. The expert juxtaposition of these elements is such a solid veteran move, something sorely lacking in so much techno these days. “Trupa” meanwhile is all about the funky synth work, reminiscent of Robert Hood’s excellent album Wire to Wire.
I’m not typically a big fan of lots of remixes, but the selection of artists here was on point and they all knew exactly what to do with the material. Reel X Reel take on “Dust Off” (the original doesn’t appear here) and it is a mostly ambient take with occasional big kick drum hits. Really beautiful music, for fans of Detroit Escalator Co. Meanwhile, Shamus Coghlan gets a go at “Paradox” and his take is not wildly different but just enough so to increase its dancefloor potential. Finally, Stingray makes “Trupa” into something far more minimal and explicitly electro, would love to hear this one at the interstellar titty bar. Oh yeah, the artwork on the label is also done by the Detroit legend Abdul Haqq, and the records come in a variety of colors so each is a unique piece. All in all an excellent package.
Various – Distinctive Collection Volume 1 – NDAtl Muzik 12”
Kai does it yet again, this time it’s a limited white label only release that contains a set of dancefloor hammers. Another version of Kai’s remix of Gregory Porter’s “Harlem” kicks things off, with a shorter intro and a more concise arrangement. Next up is a pressing of a previously CD only Marvin Gaye joint called “Nuclear Juice”. Not sure if it is edited here or what, but it’s a killer jam and it is nice to have it on wax. On the flip you get Kai’s Trumpet Instrumental of Angel-A’s “Let Go” which is probably the highlight of this release for me. Said trumpet is in essence the lead of this track, and it nails that jazzy house vibe flawlessly. After that is Applejac’s remix of Kai’s “Tangled” and it’s another smasher. Excellent vocals thanks to Valencia Robinson and fat beats are the standout elements but as a whole it is another jam like NDAtl does so so well.
Kenny Cox – “Lost My Love” – BBE 12”
The original track, included here on the B side, was recorded in the early 70s but never released until 2012 and it is absolutely gorgeous soul-jazz of the highest order. Given a full side 45 RPM pressing, it sounds extremely good. For DJ purposes tho, it is Amir and Re:Decay’s “Jazz Reimagined” mix that is the star here. They go for a slow burn house killer where the bassline is the focus, and it’s just… wow. This was kind of an expensive release new, but I had to pull the trigger on it because it is just that good. Highly recommended.
Chris Mitchell – Feral Colony 01 – Feral Colony 12”
Chris Mitchell has been doing his thing for a long while now, part of the Vanguard Sound and Anunnaki Cartel crews and collaborating with Patrice Scott and others, etc. But now he is stepping out on his own with his new DIY label Feral Colony which features music and artwork made entirely by him. The music is rough edged electro and hip-hop that really embraces its homemade feel. The synths feel like they’re being tortured, and the drums stay rugged and nasty. You can (and should!) DJ these tracks, but they also work as a listening experience, like if El-P decided to make some Miami bass music while he was high as fuck. The artwork on the insert is very cool as well, I’m very excited to see what Chris and the new label will have for us next.
M. Hook – New River – Star Creature LP
I was having a discussion recently about Metro Area’s influence on Modern Funk, and coincidentally this album by M. Hook is one of the few releases where you can easily hear their sound. It is, however, mixed in and flipped into something very different. The minimalism of old school house music is a big part of this album, despite it being only loosely “house”. There is plenty of live playing, including some very sweet basslines, but it is primarily in service of the groove which is the strength of the record overall. In fact, it’s very difficult to pigeonhole this at all aside from being funky and soulful. It has retro elements but also feels fresh, it bounces between tempos without ever feeling like it tries too hard, and it covers a number of different rhythms but still ends up sounding mostly like itself. Some standout cuts are “Violet” and “All Day”, but this deserves a full listen through as it is a very mature and complete vision.
minorINVENTION – Coda EP – 4evr4wrd digital EP
Jon Dixon is quite deservedly becoming well known for his hi tech soul and hi tech jazz jams, but on this side project under the minorINVENTION alias, he strips the music down further into more of a techno style. Whereas some of his biggest hits go over the top with dramatic instrumentation, here it is more groove based and loopy. Jon’s comfort with chord progressions is still obvious on “Exposition” and “Idee Fixe”, while the title track opts for lush pads and echoed out key stabs. A nice stylistic change-up for Jon, but you still couldn’t confuse the tracks for anybody else.
400+ – A New Infrastructure – Etc. Records digital album
400+ is an alias of the Chicago based producer Radius, whose music I have become a very big fan of over the last few years. He will do anything from hip-hop tracks to psychedelic techno jams, and does them all with a distinctive touch. This album has a couple different types of rhythms on it, but they are mostly heavily swung and come off feeling akin to the kind of stuff Afrikan Sciences does so well in combining electronics and “beat scene” type vibes. I’ve been beating “Love As Currency” in almost every set I play since it came out, but there are a number of heavy jams to play including the title track that are perfect for those who like to go abstract with it.