ELECTRO REVIEWS
DAVID MCCARTHY [email protected]
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between the pair and are definitely
worth checking out.
Paul Blandford
h2so4
Death Proof Recordings
self released
Darkforme EP
7.0
'Minimal' doesn't really have small
enough connotations to accurately
describe the insistently sparse attack
of 'Haunch'. The hypnotic bassline
merges with the drum track to form a
kind of soft wall of sound that grows
harder the more it continues to play.
Paul Blandford is the co-owner of
the label and this is his first release
under his own name, with his own
sound. The result is some delicious
dubby darkness.
Takeydo & Nick Wolanski
Renegade Master
NumberOneBeats
5.0
Azure Protocol
Arcade Pony Records
9.0
DPPLGNGRS change gear and
label with this, their fourth
‘Moneyshot’ and their first
release on Arcade Pony. Now
that every chancer from
hardstyle cheese merchants to
inspirationless ‘house legends’
have laid claim to EDM and
laid bare its heavy metal level
of subtlety, ‘ecelectro’ is the
buzzword for 2014. And what
better example of a new vision
could you have than the subtle
blend of garage, techno and
electro that is ‘Azure Protocol’
and ‘Billion Dollar Brain’?
Birdee
Just Call Me
Vicious Bitch
8.0
Birdee has had quite a bit of exposure
for his previous releases on Southern
Fried, with Radio 1 airplay and
support from the likes of Laidback
Luke and Crookers. 'Just Call Me'
is an accomplished bit of what is
probably called 'electro house' by
Beatport, but in fact, the subtle
blend of dirty basslines and funky
grooves goes beyond that limiting
term. It's the funk that is brought to
the fore in Fare Soldi's remix, which
really kicks things into overdrive.
Danton Eeprom
Biscotto & Chimpanzee
Infine
7.0
Featuring a duet with Kitsuné's
Birkii, this is a little genre-defying
gem that isn't dancefloor material
in its original form, but certainly
should be on radiowaves all over
the place. It's the kind of smart
084 djmag.com.au
and well-executed stuff that should
be the 'pop' face of dance music.
Fairmont (of Border Community and
My Favorite Robot production fame)
brings an almost Death In Vegas feel
to proceedings with his remix, which
is a very good thing indeed.
Giorgio Moroder vs
I-Robots
Utopia (The I-Robots
Reconstructions)
Deeplay Digital
7.0
Giorgio Moroder had quite a year,
with the Daft Punk link-up and
finally finding himself behind some
DJ decks in his seventies. Here's
something from THE '70s, worked
up by Opilec Music boss I-Robots.
The track was originally included in
a partially mixed album in 1977 and
here are newly extended versions.
'1977 Reconstruction' is simply
the original extended to almost
seven minutes; the '2014 Tape
Reconstruction' brings things upto-date with beefier production.
Lewis Bergen
The Jetyr EP
joyGAIN
7.0
A result of a collaboration between
Brit Lewis Bergen and North
American electronic producer
Taperecorder, the tracks came about
by the now-common international
file-sharing creative process. 'Hoi
Polloi' comes in two flavours, the
first Lewis' own version, a really nice
atmospheric outing that balances
ambient noises with a hefty 'oomph'
really well. The other tracks point
to a good working relationship
Wildchild's 'Renegade Master' was
a Top 20 hit in the late '90s and
at the time was something of a
genre-crossing ear-opener. Fatboy
Slim did a great remix in his own
inimitable style too, and even today
both versions still stand as great
dancefloor tracks. Nick Wolanski &
Takeydo really bring nothing new
to the party, and in fact leave quite
a few good bits behind. Points
awarded are for reminding me of the
previous versions.
She Weirds Me Out
6.0
Interesting noises on a
Kraftwerkian groove, with
the result sounding a little
like a dancified Spiritualized.
Comes with a dub that some
more inventive DJs could
put to good use.
M.U.I.R feat
K-Hunt
Reflections
Deaf By Records
6.0
Featuring K-Hunt on a
strong vocal performance,
'Reflections' is the debut
from M.U.I.R. on his own
label. It's a late-nighter
rather than a partystarter, but nice and
atmospheric.
Napalm &
D-Phrag
Eclipse (Spatial
Awareness Remix)
Stripped Recordings
7.0
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Ajukaja &
Andrevski
Rare Birds
Levels
7.0
Wiggle Ratio
The title track starts off
with a reduced rhythm
but gradually the duo
introduce gentle keys and
chords. 'Expensive Shit' is
dubbier and more teasedout, but overall 'Birds'
offers minimal house
imagined through a hazy,
dreamy filter.
MP3
Various
Who knows what the MC5
would have made of this
squelchpunk Prodigy-esque
cover that has its tongue
firmly in-cheek? Weirdly, a
little dancefloor humour can
often work wonders.
Sistrum
Spatial Awareness follows
his own recent debut
single with another classy
remix outing, this t