Find them at basement nights and warehouse one-offs reaching from New York to Montreal and overseas Berlin, a collect of conneisseuring clubbers. Void of tasteless vagabonds and cheap standards, looking to give credit where credit is due. The recent flood of clichéd counterfeits has made most music today better left unsaid, but it's the rumours stuck in our head that tug at our ego and give us the need to shine light. A compulsive urge to spread from one ear to the next, to draw a line between bottle service cogs and what is honestly the cutting edge of electronic dance music. There's no room for Vegas roller coasters or casual chit chat, just Night Rumours worth spreading.
ON THE STREET
Leftwing & Kody
You Were
Off Recordings; 2013-03-06
OFF048
"This week held the release of London-based duo Leftwing & Kody three track EP You Were. A clean build up backed by an energetic bass hookline sets the starting point for the EP. The young garage and bass-house inspired duo follow 'You Were' with the original version of 'Burning Up'-using a similar formula made for the prior, including a much more vocally infused track with space for plenty of favoring groove. Rounding it all up with a touch of gold by the big bass lovers; Coat of Arms is their remix for 'Burning Up' -giving the closing track the proper bump and thump for the dance floor. The 90‘s inspired EP dropped on hit-making Off Recordings label just yesterday and has already claimed support from key players like Sneak, Maceo Plex, Darius Syrossian, Amine Edge, Robosonic and many more." – Vanessa Gil
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81225309" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81895500" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81895368" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
Smallpeople
In the Jungle
Running Back; 2013-02-21
RB039
"Relative newcomers to the scene, Smallpeople, the combination of Julius Steinhoff and Dionne, have been making a lot of noise out of the Hamburg music scene. They make unique, chord-driven deep house and have released great EPs on Dial, Underground Quality, and their own label and record shop, Smallville. Their 2012 debut album Salty Days, received loads of positive feedback for being impressively diverse, like a trip through deep, moody tones to sophisticated mayhem down to seductive grooves – mature deep house at its best. The duo continues their trademark sound with a fantastic release on Gerd Janson’s awesome Running Back label.
In The Jungle is an EP with three strong statements. The electro arpeggios of 'Nofretete' give the track a nice energy and combined with the atmosphere makes for a vibrant, almost spiritual bounce. 'Ninja Restaurant' is a straight up freaky, stripped back tune with a heavy groove. And 'In The Jungle' shifts gears back to arpeggios and this time in gritty, more jacking material. This release is just another fine example of Smallpeople’s strong sense of intelligent deep house and Running Back’s keen eye on distinctive talent and music." – Kevin Rodriguez
Recondite
EC10
Dystopian Records; 2013-02-28
DYSTOPIAN003
"One of the freshest and most exciting labels right now released its third EP last week. I'm talking about EC10 by Recondite on the Berlin imprint Dystopian Records. In case you haven't heard of the Dystopian crew, it consists of Rødhåd, Alex.Do, Don Williams, Felix K and Recondite himself, mostly known for throwing amazing parties throughout Berlin. It's been several months since they decided to release their own records with Rødhåd founding the label. He was also the one featured in the first two fantastic EPs.
Track 1 off EC10 is called 'Libria' and a wonderful prelude for the dark and mysterious spheres one enters in while listening to this 12". Inconstant percussion, ancient bells and moaning vocals. The second track 'Cleric' is most likely my favorite piece of music this year so far. It is the perfect combination of a stomping club sound and the mesmerizing elements of a celestial realm. The title track 'EC10' covers a very similar acoustic pattern with a bigger focus on the club-stomp-part. Last but not least is a track called “Equilibrium” and the name is a perfect fit as it aims to calm you down again after the breathtaking A2 and B1 sides while leaving you with a lasting impression" – Christian Spielvogel
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/78278861" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
Decka Sound
Movements
Psychotherapy Sessions; 2013-03-04
"Sheer power from Bristol based producer Jack Wallis, better known as Decka Sound. Movements is packed full of that dark, strident tech-house sound that is tearing apart nights all over the place this moment in time. Obvious comparisons can be drawn with the likes of Boddika and Paleman, but Movements along with his previous releases in We Just Wanted It To Be and If You Believe Me Just Do It stand out and mark their own ground amongst a sound that has garnered so much spotlight over the last year. You can download Movements as a part of a free 11-track compilation via Bath based outfit Psychotherapy Sessions." – Ethan Wroth
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81685646" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Dauwd
Heat Division
Ghostly/Picture Music; 2013-03-11
GI174/PICT015
"Blending textures to create a vivacious atmosphere, while maintaining weight and direction is what Brighton based electronic producer Dauwd excels at the most. He's gained recognition in 2011 hitting the scene with a UK garage sound and has since moved into a mesh of styles, prominently blending house and techno. The Brightonian’s shifting syle has led him to Heat Division, an EP that is being released on both Ghostly International and Pictures Music on March 11th. Across all four of the EP’s songs Dauwd exercises emphasis on textural depth, incorporating live instrumentation, complex percussive grids and diverse analog sythns. The first track off the release, 'Heat Division', draws you in with a strong 4/4 beat backed by clean synth work. 'Aqueous' brings mysterious elements to the table, with Dauwd exploring with triplet based drum patterns against the four to the floor backbeat. 'Silverse' falls under the experimental end of the house spectrum, climbing until it plateaus with elastic melodies. Ending on a high note, 'And' journeys through thick weighted down sequences around hollow bass lines and shifting synth work that at times resembles a horn section." – Aaron Thomas
Ghostly Store · Facebook · Twitter
Various Artists
This Is How We Roll
Keysound Recordings; 2013-03-25
LDN034
"Keysound Recordings presents one of the better compilations you will probably hear this year. This Is How We Roll is a 14 track compilation features some amazingly dark and weird tracks by Visionist, Beneath, Wen, Double Helix, Dusk + Blackdown, and more. Every artists contributes something good in their own unique way, with the only band tying the tracks together being a 130 BPM tempo. Keysound presents a collection of songs that manage to come off nostalgic, classic, and breakthrough all at the same times. Having said that, trying to categorize these tracks may prove difficult, with a seemingly distinct focus on texture in each song. Ranging from the rhythmic intoxication of 'Commotion VIP' to the unsettling void between the beat in 'Satellite', this collection raps the Keysound sonic aesthetic into an addictive package. Summing up the release, label co-owner Blackdown puts it best: 'I’m not sure where it’s all come from or where it’s all going but you can feel the sense of momentum building.' " – Matt Rauch
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Dave Clarke
Wisdom To The Wise (Red 2) Remixes
Boysnoize Records; 2013-03-04
BNR102
"After more than a decade of countless repressing, Dave Clarke's legendary 94 outing Red 2 is getting the remix treatment by a carefully selected gathering of techno who's whos on Boysnoize Records. The original record sported an A-side that many would find to be the most definitive piece of techno in the 90s. "Wisdom To The Wise" has seen itself become over rinsed, not to the point of perpetual boredom, but to the physical limitations of vinyl polymers marking the hundreds of scratches from a long lifespan in DJ sets. It only makes sense to preserve the essence of the esteemed number by crossing over into the digital world and having it reworked with the right hands.
Of course this isn't the first time the original has seen a new interpretation, who can forget the chilling rhythm odyssey by Detroit's Robert Hood. Label hoss Boys Noize kicks off track 1 by putting the transistor revolution to work, expect nothing but the whole 909 orchestra with a roll of claps, rims, and snares to jack the hammering kick and pitched samples. Onto Marcel Dettmann who explores some eerie territories with a wash of delays, sci-fi synths, and remix stems echoing throughout. Fans looking to find a polished original will be happy to grab A. Mochi's energetic re-edit. Hats off to Steve Rachmad for pitching two of his own cuts to close out the EP, one being a spine tingling dub that will surely raise floor chakras in the AM." – Lukas Switlicki
EARMILK INTERVIEWS
Sonarpilot
After a successful 2008 debut with his LP Mothership, Sonarpilot swept back onto the scene March 4 with a 2-CD, beautifully packaged tour-de-force titled Radar, blending influences from house, dub, and techno. Taking advantages of connections fostered through managing his label Sonarpilot Audio, the second CD of the release contains a huge variety of remixes from artists like Ramadanman, Danny J Lewis, Trevino, Jonny Miller, and more.
In addition to the interview below, where we discuss Sonarpilot's sound, production techniques, remixers, and inspirations, we also have an exclusive mix from the man himself. It's really good and we highly recommend you listen to it.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/80829440" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
EARMILK: How would you describe your sound, for people who might not already be familiar with it?
Sonarpilot: I am not a big fan of the fashionable trend towards melodic monotony. I like our releases to be colourful and move between genres. DE:BUG, the leading German magazine for electronic music, said in their recent review of Radar that the Sonarpilot sound moves between melodic house, dubtechno and downtempo. That’s a pretty good description. The remixes on the album extend that range, with techno tracks from artists such as Trevino or Kirk DeGiorgio, house tunes from people like Danny J Lewis or a dubby Ramadanman refix.
EM: How did you first get your start with music production?
SP: I first began to make music back in the 80s, starting with New Wave and then quickly drifting towards electronic music. I ran a recording studio, produced bands and made my own music which became increasingly experimental, technoid and ambient. In the 90s, I became busy with other things and moved away from music. In 2008 I dug out my ancient analogue synths, put some new software on my laptop and began making music again.
Read the full interview by Alyce Currier
