Collection: New Releases

Not all types of techno suits the album format, though that's not an accusation you could level at Derek Carr's particular brand of melodic, sci-fi-fired retro-futurism. "Pursuit Part 1" (a second volume will drop shortly) proves this point, delivering a suite of mostly club-ready cuts that can easily be listened to from start to finish in the comfort of your own home. It's full to bursting with warm, melodious, bass-heavy tackle, much of which combines his usual starry synths and deep space electronics with grooves which are far more influenced by dub techno than much of Carr's output. Highlights include the two-part "Not Tonight", the TB-303 powered "Acid Bath", and the glistening ambient/IDM lusciousness of "Nightfall".

The latest drop on Constant Sound's electro branch, Infiltrate, comes from wild-card Bristolian chameleon Borai. When he's not dropping tuff, jungle-hewed rave wreckers for Hotline and Higher Level he's collaborating with October on refined house bumpers or dread-filled noise excursions in Spiritflesh. As if that wasn't enough, here he is turning his hand to genuinely fresh twists on the electro formula - a breath of fresh air in a crowded marketplace. "Flutta" keeps things snappy and decidedly pacey, but the overall mood is really quite light, while on "Rashaba" things get much darker, to an almost theatrical degree. Some of that breakbeat ruffness sneaks in on "Runnin" and then a little garage swing offsets the dubbed out showers of melody and cheeky rave stabs on EP closer "Narroways". Stunning stuff.

1The EYA Records crew continues their trip into a new musical direction with the Lonewolf series, this time offering up a split 12" between two distinctive techno producers. Bladymore Galaxy, otherwise known as Riccardo Buccirossi, brings some effervescent synthscapes to bear on his side of the record. There's an old-skool sensibility to the production - all uptempo drums and layer upon layer of sparkling sci-fi melodics - but there's equally a welcome fresh energy and emotional honesty embedded in Buccirossi's style that makes it so joyous to listen to. Belgian producer Innershades brings a punchier style informed by electro and trance - the perfect sound to lose yourself to as the dry ice creeps around and the sun starts rising over the dancefloor.

1 Life returns to its "Keep It Deep" series with another sizzling slab of feel good party wares designed to blow the clouds away. First up, Vincent Inc remixes Julian Sanza's "Starduster" with the slickest kind of '80s funk - like a Level 42 deep cut on steroids. Rune Lindbaek and Frisvold get deep in the mangroves with their swampy version of "Sunset On Punta Paloma" by Incarnations. Cosmic master Danielle Baldelli and Dionigi bring some slick Italo vibes and subtly psychedelic flourishes to their original production "Prepare To Energize", while Jorge Savoretti shakes up Mateo & Matos' "Vibe" and turns it into a snapping, clacking deep house workout par excellence.

The grooves are heavy and dubby but still resolutely house-oriented as William Caycedo steps up to Dungeon Meat with his first EP in a couple of years. "Rock It" perfects the lean and mean groove - just a nasty drum jack and a big subby bassline, and utterly infectious with it. "Lock N' Load" follows a similar trajectory, although functions more as a tool than a standalone track. "Cut I" is a little more bubbly in its demeanour while still following the formula of drums, bass and little else. "Cut II" has a sweet bassline that will hook the dancers in, while "Cut III" keeps the pressure up with its nagging hats and subtle rhythmic fills. This is one for the DJs, but don't be fooled - there's bags of attitude tucked within these stripped back jams.

The sweet and funky side of the Constant Sound empire is back for a third bout. Cardiology deals in the finest disco edits and deep house delights for soul-centric groovers, and so it continues with this sure-footed 12" from The Owl. "Soul on Fire" is an appropriate title for the lead track, which keeps the vibe sizzling throughout with a strictly managed dose of Philly disco magic. "Universal Funk" takes things more upfront, but still those drops hold just enough back to keep the track utterly cool. "Funk Town" gets wild on the filter with the core sample hook before dropping some sassy bass and bongo heat at the track's apex. "Concrete Soul" completes the picture with a wistful choice in samples and the nastiest b-line on the whole record.

B-tracks, the duo of Soren Jahan and John Barera, return with their first release together in many years. Unfolding across these six tunes is an extended EP of hard rocking, raw and rough house trax in the immutable b-tracks style - with no weak links.

Joe Corti's latest outing on China White follows the premise laid out by his previous turns - unbridled feel-good house music with more than a little disco sauce poured into the mix. So it goes on this new drop, a two-track bomb guaranteed to set the party ablaze. "You!" is the consummate A side burner - all fever-pitch diva vocals, searing strings and a powerful peak time rhythmic thrust. Providing the balance on the flip, "If I Could" takes things deeper with some smouldering loops kept sizzling under an array of processing without diluting the heavy funk of the groove. Seriously tasteful disco edit tackle right here.

Fresco Is Back!!!

Less than a minute into the first track of 'Ce Es Music', Jordan Zawideh slams a relentless loop of a chopped lo-fi vocal sample: a jacking "House Me!". That sample will linger, distorted and reassembled, throughout this double-pack, freshly released on the consistently unpredictable No 'Label'. Zawideh channels the raw and ardent machine rhythms of classic early Chicago house era. Interspersed literal and hypnotically repetitive short vocal loops recall the Muzique crew's edgier iterations of this classic sound. It's a relatively straightforward idea, but one that's meticulously executed with such an individual touch to shape classic tropes into refreshing and unorthodox sonic forms.

Monte Cristo takes the three best tracks from 'Chuks Ejelonu's LP ''Let's Make A Memory''.. The huge standout and sought after track here is ''Inner Vision''.. A rough slice of Nigerian boogie at its finest, groovy drums, great synth action and phat bassline!! Also holds ''Revelation (Ibo)''.. which is a top tune too!

The first release of this Maxi 12” series arrives on March 20th 2020, in the form of an experimental highlife / boogie called IMO SPECIAL RELEASE and includes some gems taken from two wonderful and unknown LP from the heart of the Igboland. On Side A featured Soki Ohale with his I.S.C.A.C. Band : the track is call Igbo Nwe Egwu and is a blended mix of Highlife, Boogie and Electronic sound from 1986, sung in the Igbo language that shows a traditional village style melted together with modern rythim. It was pressed on a limited and raw LP sponsored by Imo State Council for Art And Culture. Strongly recommended for a powerful and no-limit dance floor. On Side B featured La Bruno - Instant Reaction + Instant Rap an endearing disco boogie sound full of crazy synths. The original LP is literally impossible to be found, we have been lucky to locate a clean copy in our secon trip to Nigeria few years ago and even more lucky to meet Mr. La Bruno himself just walking around Owerri, the capital of Imo State, located in the east side of Nigeria!

Here's a serious dose of Brazilian boogie to get diggers rejoicing. Marcos Valle first released his self-titled album back in 1983, and now it's been given a generous remaster and reissue treatment from Vampi Soul. It's an album that glides from seriously funky party tracks to soft-focus ballads, with some of the sweet spots in between delivering the most memorable moments. Look no further than the slow but so damn groovy "Samba De Verao", or if you prefer something with a bit more swing then "Naturalmente" has you covered. A gold dust rarity from the annals of Latin music history given a much-deserved dusting down.