DJ Mag Australia 001 - February 2014 | Page 82

HOUSE REVIEWS HUSKY [email protected] Jazzanova Feat Ben Westbeech ‘I Can See’ (Konstantine Sibold Remix) Objektivity 8.5 Highly respected German outfit, Jazzanova link up with Ben Westbeech aka Breach to lend his incredibly sublime vocal touch to ’I Can See’. Originally released in 2008 on Verve Record, this track has been re licensed to Dennis Ferrer’s label, Objektivity and sublimely remixed by Konstantin Sibold. This remix hits all the right notes for the deep house, 909 and organ bass revolution of late. A great anthem that has just had the perfect revival. All class. James Dexter Coming Home EP Large Records 9.5 A hint of excitement creeps into my body when I find a lar ge promo in my inbox, especially one that has James’s name on it. This EP does not disappoint, with 4 banging tracks sampling his signature deeper house style in ‘Air’ right through to the ‘Chicago’ styled track ‘Don’t Wait’. Rising synths, hypnotic vocals and cleverly executed arrangements help this EP rise above many. A must have!. John Devecchis ‘Drop One EP’ with a garage style bass and a pitched ridden top line, this mix leads the charge. Sonny’s Mix sticks to the moodier side of things, with pitched down vocals aiming more for the darker side room. All round a great pack here. Gorge Instinkt Records 8.0 The 4th release for John’s own Instinkt Records already has him carving out his intentions. Calling Sydney home, all the tracks on this EP are reaching for John’s deeper house roots. QUICKIES Adri Block ‘All I Do’ Guesthouse 7.5 Disco house at it’s best. Clever sampling mixed with snappy drums and a funky bass groove equals this party starter. Guesthouse solidifying the labels reputation as providing the rare party jams. Shur-I-Kan ‘Jazz Club’ EleFlight records 7.5 Groove Cartell Feat Samantha Mogwe Best known for his amazing deeper touches, this one threw me, but in a great way. An amazing jazz influenced record from Shur-I-Kan, proving his talents lie far beyond his favored genre. The remixes on the flipside help to make this a really nice EP for the ipod/bar/club. Guess Records Jacques ‘Got To ‘So Far Gone’ 7.5 Smooth release here from UK Spiritchaser’s label. The original slides into the soul category with more focus on the smooth vocal from Samantha, while the Spiritchaser lads rock their trademark moody yet dance floor focused sound. Believe’ Let’s Play House 7.5 NYC is alive and kicking here! 90’s sounding and a bassline that sounds right at home for the mood 2 swing lovers amongst us; this is a great throwback sound. Jacques knows his way around a big tune. QUICKIES Cratebug Cratebug Edits Blamma! Blamma! feat Kristina Train Zsa Zsa (Remixes) Echoes Bug Records Fight The Feeling (Remixes) The Cratebug edits team tackle new and updated treatments of perennial disco classics such as Martin Circus' 'Disco Circus' and Macho's 'I'm A Man'. Wall of Sound 8BIT ‘Split Personalities EP’ DFTD 8.5 LA based producer, Wally Callerio teams up with his alto ego, Poncho Warwick for an epic battle, normally reserved for an episode of the ‘United States of Tara’. Swing jazz elements, combined with a stripped down house groove has this EP rocking and rolling and reminding us of Wally’s earlier success with his own Dufflebag Records. A classic remix by Defected’s recent favorite, Guti helps push this release into a broader DJ’s repertoire, and some well deserved charts. Expect to hear this EP everywhere, even a Saloon, cause it’s dope like that. Basspin Feat Dyanna Fearon ‘One To watch’ Beatdown/Issamin 8.5 All-thriller, no filler from Sonny Fodera’s label, Beatdown with this release, which features a remix from UK house don Grant Nelson and Sonny Himself. Grant excellently cuts up Dyanna’s summery vocal while combined 082 djmag.com.au 8.0 Released in December, I’ve only just stumbled on this, but a record that’s a few months old should never be overlooked, right? George had a huge year in 2013, with his original works and of course his label, 8bit with Nick Curly. This EP’s star is the lead track ‘Won’t Hurt’, with its warehouse beats and throbbing chord that drives this track into that part of your mind that want’s to dance into a pool of your own filth. This EP should shout to any techy house follower. Alley Oop ‘Bells EP’ Exotic Refreshment 8.0 Australian-born and raised, Alley Oop has landed this slo-mo, disco infused houser into the laps of respected label Exotic Refreshment. Alley’s release ‘Bells’ bears a tight package that comes complete with remixes from other Sydney house purveyors Nicc Johnson & Tikki Tembo and an equally groovy mix from Daniel Ferdinand. It’s the original cut for me though, with bells on ;) Using cut up moody vocals, muted synth pads and rolling bass grooves, this EP is one for the big sound systems and deeper house heads. The legendary, Brothers Vibe are recruited to remix the lead track and guide it nicely to a deeper and darker place. A nice addition to a well rounded EP, with my pic being the last track, ‘Now Or Never’. ‘Looping Machine’ Dirtybird 8.5 Pleasure Planet House of French disco and electro release a beginning-of-year primer featuring new music from Pyramid, Horixon feat Robert Owens and Techniques. The superb Kiwi remix of the Robert Owens vocal 'Lifeline' is the EP's highlight. Throne of Blood Christian S Chirpy disco/deep house three-tracker from new label signing, Pleasure Planet. Title track features a vocal delievery from the one-and-only Kim Ann Foxman. Comeme Various Kitsuné December Package 8.0 10 Brilliant label debut from London-based synth-pop duo, Echoes, gets remixed and remodelled by Capracara, James Trystan, Boderline Jack and WLD. Animals 8.5 Kicking off the year true to form the Dirtybird only gets dirtier. A great EP here from Nick who has had a steady stream of releases on labels like Kling Klong, Great Stuff and CR2. This one comes stuffed with the usual pops and bleeps we’ve come to love from the Dirtybird camp, combined effortlessly into a bass heavy crowd pleaser. Both tracks are very solid here, but ‘Looping Machine’ just has me imagining the lasers cutting through the thick smoke in a heaving club. Guaranteed sweat marks here! 01. STEPHEN ENCINAS  ‘Disco Illusion’  Invisible City Editions FRED EVERYTHING 01.KAYTRONIK Belined AtJazz Karizma at his best. Timeless feel on this future classic. 02.SHUR I KAN Blue Giraffe (forthcoming) Lazy Days Wait until you hear this one. Very unique piece of music. Out in february. 03.CRAZY P Virtuality Future Boogie Been a fan of Crazy P since the Penis(es) days and I particularly enjoy their clubbier outings. This is modern disco at its best. 04.MARC DE PULSE FT. HOLLIS P MONROE & OVERNITE No Need To Worry (Fred Everything’s Lazy Dub) Noir One of my nice meetings at ADE this year. Was happy to get on this Remix for Noir “Despite being the first person in the country to own this record on an original 12”, in 2012, this is still my favourite track of the year.” 02. VARIOUS   ‘Philly Re-Grooved: the Tom Moulton Philly Groove Vinyl Boxset’  Harmless Records “Too many killer cuts on here to ignore... a different cut becomes my favourite after every listen.” 03. CANDIDO   ‘Thousand Finger Man/Dancin’ & Prancin’’  Sunshine Sound “Unreleased versions of these two classics, previously only available on acetate, Disco Patrick kindly shared these with the world, essential!” 04. JOVONN   ‘Body ‘N’ Deep EP’  Dogmatik Records “House music just like I like it... from the veteran... remember buying his first-ever record!” feat. Montreal’s Hollis P Monroe and Overnite. 05.MOUNT KIMBIE Made To Stray (DJ Koze) What can I say? DJ Koze is a (mad) genius. Everything he touches is pure gold. 6.CRISTOPH Big H (Nacho Marco Remix) Nordic Trax Nacho Marco has been in pure form lately. This is no exception 7 NACHO MARCO Midnight Man (Fred Everything Remixes) Classic . Music Company Speaking of the devil, Nacho covers Flash & The Pan’s 1985 Midnight Man and they kindly asked me to remix it. The result is quite…deep, for lack of better words 8.LEIGH D OLIVER Blood Will Never Heal That Wound (Max Graef Remix) Large Large has been on a roll lately and it’s good to see current hero Max Graef on a rare digital release. His music is a breath of fresh air. 9.NO REGULAR PLAY El Dorado (Jacques Renault Remix) Wolf + Lamb A bit of a secret weapon. Jacques Renault’s Remix is pure drug. Love this to bits. 10.HONESTY & DANIEL PAUL - Atrium (Konstantin Sibold Remix) - Cabinet Another one who doesn’t seem to do no wrong these days. Konstantin Sibold is a name to watch this year. Love his 2 different versions, one techno and the other Dub. 8.0 Kitsuné 7.5 ZAF BBE Nick Olivetti Eskimo Recordings Heralds of the modern disco scene come out of a quiet period with a remix package from duo, Blamma! Blamma! — inviting the likes of Andy Cato, Psychemagik, Kiani vs Red D and Eelke Kleijn to do their bidding. Groove Armada's Andy Cato serves up a Balearic ace alongside a slow electro manoeuvre from the Psychmagik boys. Two rousing deep house remixes from Kiani vs Red D and Eelke Kleijn round off this tidy return. ‘Wont Hurt You Tonight EP’ Poncho Warwick & Wally Callerio DISCO REVIEWS JONATHAN BURNIP [email protected] 05. VARIOUS   ‘Under the Influence Volume Three: A Collection of Rare Soul & Disco’  Z Records “Compiled by my mate James Glass, there are some tracks on this that I do not own!” 06. SOUL RENEGADES  ‘Now You’re Gonna Save Me’  Restless Soul “Finally on vinyl, been dancing to this for a very long time, bangin’ Phlash in full effect!” 07.  VARIOUS   ‘African Shakedown’  African Shakedown Records “Absurd Afro tracks from the ‘90s... rocked many a party this year with this.” 08. LEON LOWMAN  ‘Liquid Diamonds’  Rush Hour “Taken from two different original LPs, this superb record proves there is enough killer music still to be unearthed.” 09. WILLIAM ONYEABOR  ‘Who Is William Onyeabor?’  Luaka Bop “Outstanding compilation of all his best cuts... amazing triple vinyl!” 10. DEGO   ‘Find A Way’  2000 Black “Slaughtered this tune in many dances since its release... genius!” Pitch Rider 9.0 Christian S's curdled house classic 'Jagos', from 2010, made a recent appearance in Ben UFO's Essential Mix, giving this very underrated artist some deserved exposure. So prepare yourselves for some more of that brilliant pitch-bent, proto-house madness on this first solo release from the Colognebased DJ/producer. The lead title tune twists broken hi-hat passes through stammering drum programming and foggy DX stabs. Frenetic percussive touches punch through the likes of 'Drifting' and 'Die Durch Die Nase Lachen' and the thoroughly oddball 'Rhumba' takes you to a dizzying finale. Comeme entering a new year and showing that they have no end of new tricks up their sleeves. Factory Floor Turn It Up (Remixes) DFA 8.5 Laurel Halo trumped most last year with the brilliant, longplaying 'Chance Of Rain' on Hyperdub; now she applies some of her maverick talent to Factory Floor's latest single. Remodelling the primitive pulse of the band's arcane drum machines, Halo's version reaches a giddy climax with nebulous synths and smudged dub tones. In contrast, Detroit techno hero, Carl Craig, reduces the groove to a darkened, hypnotic club tool. Fini Tribe DeTestimony (Remixes) FFFt 8.5 25 years on, Fini Tribe's metal dance/Balearic anthem comes around again, with support from new remixes by Optimo, Justin Robertson, A Finiflex Production and Robot84. Glaswegian production duo Optimo twist a Dan Beaumont The Trip EP Classic steely, industrial version with clattering effects and fuzzing leads. Operating under his Deadstock 33s guise, Justin Robertson produces a Balearic house fix, while Finiflex and Robot84 temper the mood with their slo-mo mixes. La Mverte Through The Circles EP Her Majesty's Ship 8.0 Making a debut on Astro Lab previously, La Mverte embarks upon a solo journey on Her Majesty's Ship with four tracks inspired by Italo-disco, minimalsynth and coldwave. Immediate highlight is the mid-tempo, industrial-tinged title track that nods to Dopplereffekt's classic 'Infophysix', but there are other great moments to subvert your dancefloor with — the flickering acid-disco of 'Crash Course', both in original and Acid Washed remix versions. Munk & Rebolledo Surf Smurf Gomma 9.0 Pachanga Boy, Rebolledo, takes a break from writing with Superpitcher for a whimsical collaboration with Munk. As the title hints, expect a tongue-incheek combination of disorienting surf rock and weighty disco rhythm, steeped in a showering of sleaze. A touch of acid-dis co creeps in with the lively bonus track, 'Got It Baby', but it's the 10 British house music stalwart, Classic, is back with its doors wide open for business again with this strobing disco homage to NYC house music. 'Dan's Jam' and 'This Feeling' lament one of the Big Apple's greatest clubs, Sound Factory, with dark, wild-pitch touches, nodding to Farley & Heller's Roach Motel. Clearly titled, 'Trippy Pumper' lets loose a fierce bass arpeggio to get a Balearic overhaul from Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33s and a brilliant, techy dub version from Caravan label boss, October. controlled chaos of Rebolledo's wild, wigged-out giddy dub version of the title tune that steals the show. Various I-Robots pres The Balance EP Opilec Music 7.5 Picked up midway through 2013 for Chez Damier's Balance label, this four-track EP gets issued again on Opilec with extras. Alongside the spikey punk-funk of I-Robots' 'Streets Of Dongguan', Jordan Fields' 707-propelled proto-house tune and Federico Gandin's take on the old school Motor City sound, sits a new version of Klein & MBO's 'Last Call', remixed by the I-Robots. djmag.com.au 083 djmag.com