Summer Waxing

Now that we’ve resumed some sort of regularity again on here, it’s time for another record round up covering some of my summer purchases. While I have stopped, for the most part, buying records on line this year, it’s nice that I can still rely on a local store, namely the combined forces of Earwiggle and All City here in Dublin to keep me ticking over with vinyl, though I’ve had to cut back somewhat…but this post still goes on for a while 😉

The Martian – Techno Symphonic in G

I’m gonna start with a record from 2010, but it only saw the light of day outside of Submerge this summer; the latest from the Red Planet series is probably something I didn’t expect to ever see as it seemed the series was finished with. It has been sporadic since the end of the 90s and the last 12 was a good 6 years ago! Unfortunately Techno Symphonic in G doesn’t really add anything to the once must buy series. It’s not that it’s a bad record, but it carries the weight of possibly the most perfect series of Detroit Techno ever released on it’s shoulders. The title track is Galaxy 2 Galaxy  more so than The Martian – and is credited as such –  and while it’s a pleasent enough cut, it’s fairly by the numbers G2G and lacks a small bit of oomph. Reclamation and Resurgence on the flip are more typical Red Planet fare with the former track being the highlight of the 12, a deep tribal rhythm that eventually gives way to some classic Red Planet strings. Resurgence goes down the funk route of other Martian cuts such as Prayer Stick. As enjoyable as they are neither feel hugely necessary either, and I would have preferred if they’d kept up the pace of the earlier 12s, which were bursting with energy. In case you missed, I did a Red Planet mix a few months back that show’s just how great the imprint was at it’s peak.

Marcellus Pittman – On A Beautiful

What can one say,  Pittman just keeps on bringing it. The lead cut starts off on a smooth deep house tip before Pittman slowly brings in his jagged funk, with a boogie-esque bassline leading things into wonkier territory as keys and drums fight for space. Pretty fantastic, all told. By Your Side on the flip is more streamlined and show’s that Pittmann can play it smooth and deep as good as anyone out there. His touch with percussion shines through here with the cut driven by the hi-hats.

Scott Ferguson – The Wood Six Ep / Midwest Party People

Scott has cut us off with a couple of upcoming eps that’ll be seeing the light of day on Ferrispark sometime soon. The Wood Six Ep is first up, with Sweet To You (Baker Lounge Mix) kicking things off in a laidback disco style featuring a great sampled vocal. The B1 serves up an alternative Wood Six Striptease mix which is made for some nice layering and gives a more uptempo twist to the track. While the Eminem sampling on I Am the Worst Thing didn’t sit well with me, Ferguson closes off the ep with it’s best cut, the atmospheric Forever In Your Debt which conjures up smokey images of a drive in the late, late night through a sleeping city. Up next is Midwest Party People which is all about “Alright” on the a-side. While this summer saw the release of that  god-awful Moodymann sampling thing that I don’t even know the name of, nor am I arsed finding out (it’s got all those samples of him on the mic backed by a plodding house loop), Alright goes with one sample of Kdj for the majority of the song, this time instead backed by a charging disco beat, that works due to it’s simple but killer hook.

Shake – Piper Ep

Back on his Frictional imprint once again, Shake serves up a typically broad 3 tracker though he puts his weakest foot forward with the title track, a decent if not mindblowing staggered techno cut that while fun to mix, is not a classic Shake moment. So Delivered and Millenium Blues on the flip up the ante somewhat. The B1 has a brilliant trademark thumping Shake beat and some Galaxy 2 Galaxy style key stabs that make it sound like a mutant cousin to the Millenium 2 Millenium classic. He slows things down with Millenium Blues and delivers the highlight of the 12. Shake’s fucked up re-wiring of hip hop is always fun and this is no different. Stuttering melodies, a deeeep bassline and those messed up drums form a really awesome musical collage.

Spekter – Pipe Bomb

I passed on this initially cause I was having one of those days where I didn’t feel like spending e12 on a one track record – I dunno why Theo bothered cutting it on both sides for the 2nd release of it, waste of money – but it really is a killer. Bleepy techno and chicago house mixed together in a blender with tonnes of dirt clamming up the machines.

Aux 88 – Mad Scientist Vol. 2

Gonna finish things off, Detroit-wise, on an electro tip with the recent remix 12 of Aux 88. Gosub and Mr Velcro Fastener go to work on Exsterterestrial TIme Travellers,  while Dynamic Bass Systems and Nter Crobot Crew  take Electronic Robots and Time Portal respectively. All are pretty enjoyable if not ground breaking in a er, “real” electro style. Mr Velcro Fastener come out on top for me,  full to the brim with vocoder, overly dramatic synths and buzzsaw Drexciya bass. But  I’m a sucker for 808 beats and said vocoders so the whole 12 gets a thumbs up  from me.

Appointment – To Raw 4 U

Floating in a sea of over-rated white label stamped imprints, Appointment’s lo-fi analogue assault continues to rise to the top with the archly titled To Raw 4 You that came out at the beginning of the summer. A1 starts things off in typically grubby territory, but with a slight leaning towards the early house of Omar S while still retaining their own style . A2 then brings the rave brilliantly in a slow but aggressive fashion, it’s all one note stabs, militant 909 claps and claustrophobic, pounding drums with a sinewy synth breaking through. Music to riot to. The b-side brings us back into deeper territory but with that claustrophobic tension still intact, with b1 driving along with it’s initial clanging percussion eventually making way for unexpected, lilting keys. The shouting sample in the background returns sporadically to remind us that the song still only hangs on to it’s melody by tenderhooks and come the end it has disintegrated again. The 12 closes with on a slightlier jauntier note with it’s skipping beats generating a somewhat positive atmosphere from it’s stark, dank surroundings.

Matt O’Brien – Bloom/Without Warning.

I’m gonna cut straight to the chase with this one, Without Warning is BIG. In a world populated by folk trying desperately hard to make techno specifically for the Berghain, O’Brien manages to make something that will fit right in that space but he also brings the funk with him, that so many forget about in this day and age. It’s grinding synths are made for cavernous, blacked out warehouses but the percussion that comes in makes this fucker swing. This feels like it wasn’t made with the intention of being a Berghain Techno Record but will probably be coveted by the likes of Ben Klock, who actively speak out against records they get given that try way too hard  to fit into that “sound” everyone goes on about.

Dijkhuis – Djikhuis 2

NIght Gallery return with the 2nd part of this 2 part series from Dijkhuis that they’ve kick started the label with. Like the first, the focus is on classic Detroit Techno sounds and some eerie synth bizness. What I like about the techno/house cuts is that they slooow down the UR template and the A-side Underground Persistance takes on it’s own identity due to this more laid back groove. But for those who may feel like having a go over the similarities between UR and this, well, Dijkhais, you didn’t help with the awful titling of the song! But fuck them, I’d love to get to drop this at the end of a long nights partying. Salt Caramel on the flip has a bit more of a pop bent to it and, again, weaves some fantastic melodies over the pitch perfect drum programming. The Curtains in Your Bomb Shelter gives us the releases ambient, this time with a bit more of a Tangerine Dream buzz at their most spaced out.

Tevo Howard – Pandora’s Box

When Tevo burst on to the scene a couple of years ago, he was the man. But along the way  things sort of faded off. Some records re-tread too many similar sounds while his release schedule was a bit too hectic, and I sort of lost interest at times. But credit where it is due, I’m really really happy to say that Pandora’s Box is a breath of fresh air from him. Sure, there are a couple standard acid/house cuts on here but he delves more into his pop/electro/italo influences and he imbues his usual stylings with these and his knack for a great melody to, at times, wonderful effect.

Model Man – Forever Strangers

Tom bigged up the last Model Man release from Holland’s Dj Overdose and I’m gonna follow suit with this wonderfully varied 6 track 12inch. Thumping hip hop beats, Carpenter-esque synths, italo/pop melodies, old & new school electro, new wave funk annnd vocoders all cram their way into this beast of a release. I’d be here all day going through each track, just go out and buy it.

Regis – On A Syrian Tongue

You may have noticed a distinct lack of talk about Sandwell District on this here site and that’s because generally I really don’t see what The Big Deal is about them. Live they can be a powerful force but in the studio a lot of their output leaves me very cold. This record from one half of them, the long revered Regis, is ice cold, but in a really great way and it shows why he is so revered. Blind Witness is unsettling techno as Horror movie score and while it shares a similar grimey space to some Sandwell material it’s got that something special to it.  The b-side offers up an alternative version that features Mick Harris aka Scorn, so, as you can imagine, it gets more sparse and heavier, while removing itself a bit from the dancefloor. Blood Horses then brings us even deeper into the dark cave this release lurks about in. Warning: Will scare children.

Slowburn – Constant Progression

Regulars may be aware of Slowburn via the guest mix by one half of them, Phil Long, that appeared on the site sometime over the last year. After featuring on this compilation from Uzuri, Constant Progression is their full debut 4-tracker on Elektrosouls. They do a pretty fine job of melding some atmospheric synths that hark back to the 90s with skipping drum workouts and properly warm bass. Deep house doesn’t get much deeper and while it may not be instant dancefloor material, it’s got more than enough going on for home listening too. The closing Medicusa is especially noteworthy. Check it.

FaltyDL – Make It Difficult

This New Yorker has certainly been one of the big hype artists of the last couple of years, melding old US House/Garage sounds with UK bass that have seen him become a bit of a darling in some circles. And with this stunning release, it’s easy to see why. Coming on Dublin’s All City imprint – a brilliantly varied label that hasn’t gotten enough love from us – the A1 cut is one of my jams of the year. While cutting up soulful vocal snippets can get a bit fecking tiring there are no such issues with it here and coupled with a catchy keys riff and fantastic, energetic drum patterns this record has been blowing up, and with good cause. The B-side is pretty darn hot too. Expect to hear both cuts played by a variety of djs, if you haven’t already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYANkVO9dFM

OK, this post has gone on far too long as it is, so I’m just gonna quickly mention a few more 12’s I’ve been digging….

Cosmin TRG is another bass artist that’s getting kudos all over the place and his latest on 50 Weapons sees him take a bite out of Plastikman’s ouvre while adding a small sprinkling of melody. De Dans may not sound too impressive on first listen, but trust me, this kills the dancefloor. Perseus Traxx’s latest on Ben Boe Recorings, Misspent Emotions, shows that there is still some life in the current wave of 80s Chicago House inspired music that has flooded the market in the last couple of years. Up the game a bit and you won’t get ignored, is what this record says to me. And it’s got a banging 707 drum track on it, and I’m total sucker for them.

Levon Vincent’s latest, Man or Mistress has been getting a lot of coverage elsewhere so I’m not gonna dwell on it too much. The A-side takes far too long to get going, but when it does it gets proper rowdy. As with a couple of other Vincent 12s he’s also slipped in a real nice b-side in the shape of “No Regrets”. And to round things off; after a bit of a hiatus, part 3 of the Unit Moebius re-issues on Clone has seen the light of day and it’s the best yet. Classic deep techno sounds all the way on this 4-tracker.

I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten a few other things along the way. Another reason why I’m gonna try and make these posts more frequent for the remainder of the year. Hopefully 😉