Review: Skudge – Convolution / Contamination

Published February 9, 2010 Review Leave a Comment
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Label: Skudge Records
Catalog#: SKUDGE 001

Tracklist:

A: Convolution


B: Contamination

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Recommended!

After a initial release on alphahouse, Skudge has been working hard on their new material – a direction into a more atmospheric and more focused sound. The emphasis on this release lies not so much on “what works”, but on the small details and things that gets people going.

With a more persistant pursuit of a original sound and affection, Skudge seem to only care about the music actually sounding as their own – even though a wide spectrum of musical influences seem to make it’s way into the final “product”. For this release, a more careful listen will reveal a more detailed sound with the same basics.

‘Convolution’ brings the alphahouse release to mind, where a taunting beat and persistent percussion work strikes into the same feeling and structure. The pace is completely different though, with a heavier and more raw sense to it – the track itself without keeping the first release to mind, feels a little bit as a embodied figure of what Skudge seem to look for. This makes in fact the track interesting in that sense, as well as the excellent momentum it creates.

Where ‘Convolution’ lifts off, ‘Contamination’ on the other side sounds as a peak moment for Skudge – a track that does not compromise at all. It is what it is, and it’s really good.

Thanks to Skudge for this release.

Chart: February 2010

Published February 8, 2010 Chart Leave a Comment

http://residentadvisor.net/dj/noahgibson/top10?chart=27612

Review: SCB – SCB001

Published February 8, 2010 Review 2 Comments
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Label: SCB
Catalog#: SCB001

Tracklist:

A: 20_4


B: 3_5

The remix series from Scuba’s album ‘A Mutual Antipathy’ first saw the alias SCB, as well as the well recieved mix on mnml ssgs, Scuba delivers the first SCB release on the same titled label. Fusing his very atmospheric and delicate brewing sound with his previously half-established four over four tradition (that got high recognition with the excellent ‘Houndreds & Thousands’ on Hotflush a year back).

A constant floating feeling is always there, the same feeling as with Scuba’s previous work. Letting small details fill the gaps of the beats works very well in a more broken structure – it all gets even more interesting though, when a high tempo 4/4 beat takes up more space and pushes the tempo-feeling into a more steady state.

‘20_4′ transforms this sound even more. Swirling percussion fuses in together with the melody in a way that has never felt so natural. There’s this very tangible climbing sense of the beat, a way that suits Scuba’s more stepping tracks but goes into full capabilities with this one.

On the other side is the phenomenal ‘3_5′, which paces down a bit but goes into a lost feeling of techno. This track features a very special melodic sense to it, where the percussion and noise floats into a new state – a tradition that hasn’t been followed for quite some time now. SCB displays a wider sense to this four over four territory with this track, which hopefully will be appreciated once people realize the power of this track.

The ‘SCB001′ is out 14th February.

Thanks to Philipp and Scuba for this release.

Just A Mix for February

Published February 4, 2010 The Futurist 2 Comments
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A few nice trax put together since this NYE. They are from different years and spans through a lot of different energy. Please have a listen! Let me know what you think.

Download MP3

Review: Martyn – Remixes 1 & 2

Published February 4, 2010 Review Leave a Comment
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Label: 3024
Catalog#: 3024-006

Tracklist:

A: Hear Me – Zomby Mix


B: Seventy Four – Redshape Mix

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Label: 3024
Catalog#: 3024-007

Tracklist:

A: Is This Insanity? ft. The Spaceape – Ben Klock Remix


B: Brilliant Orange – Illum Sphere’s No. 14 Mix

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Martyn has pushed his sound and 3024 for quite some time now. After getting recognition for his own and unique sound, he also got in contact with a lot of artists in both of the dubstep and techno genres. Zomby, Redshape, Ben Klock and Illum Sphere brings the original tracks into a new level with their wide takes and original ideas.

On the first record of two, Zomby creates a track that feels a little bit as his LP from last year on Ramp, combined with Martyn’s original atmosphere. The track doesn’t really “go” anywhere, but it has a nice groove combined with Zomby’s trademark melodies and beat structures. Redshape on the other hand, who delivers a remix of ‘Seventy Four’ that resembles a lot to Planet E and it’s artists. A mysterious Noir-like atmosphere fills the track with emotion, with a slow rumbling beat and percussion that undertakes a lot of different patterns throughout. The emphasis of the track is how it all develops. A clear signature sound from Redshape accompanied with a new side of his tracks first heard on ‘The Dance Paradox’ album from late ‘09. A really suitable remix with remarkable appeal.

Ben Klock takes the voice of The Spaceape from the original – that is about the only thing left from it. Fusing his voice into drum elements combined with bleeping atmospheres and a killer beat, he pushes his own sound into a direction that does not only feel as (in a good way) obvious evolution, but also not losing to much ground with his introductionary ‘One’ album on Ostgut. A subtle progression is always there, kicking around the beat with a persistant contribution to everything else surrounding the track – haunting and mesmerizing, the vocal scatters across every other element, growing a feeling of a dusty old basement combined with the core of the energy in Klock’s sound.

For the other side, Illum Sphere’s ambient and droning space finishes up a remix series that feels very true to Martyn’s aesthetics. The ‘No. 14 Mix’ is very original, grasping a sense of a floating beat structure as well as being true to the beatless arrangement – very impressive and fresh.

Chart: January 2010

Published January 22, 2010 Chart 1 Comment
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http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj-chart.aspx?id=9316&chart=26244

Review: VA – Sub:stance

Published January 18, 2010 Review 1 Comment
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Label: Ostgut Ton
Catalog#: OSTGUTCD11

Tracklist:

01. Sigha – Light Swells – In A Distant Space
02. Airhead – Paper Street
03. Sigha – Early Morning Lights
04. Pangaea – Sunset Yellow
05. Joy Orbison – The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The
Blow
06. Shortstuff – See Ya
07. Untold – No-one Likes A Smart Arse
08. Scuba – You Got Me
09. Surgeon – Klonk Pt.4
10. DFRNT – Headspace – Scuba’s Secret Mix
11. AQF – Born And Raised – Version
12. Badawi – Anlan 7
13. Joy Orbison – Hyph Mngo
14. Mount Kimbie – Maybes – James Blake Remix
15. Sigha – Seeing God
16. Ramadanman – Tempest
17. Instra:mental – Voyeur
18. Sigha – Shapes
19. George Fitzgerald – Don’t You
20. Scuba – Minerals
21. Shackleton – It’s Time For Love
22. Digital Mystikz (Mala) – Stand Against War
23. Scuba – Last Stand
24. Joker – Psychedelic Runway

Buy here

Recommended!

When combining the energy of Berghain and Panorama Bar, together with a (in context) unusual side of dubstep, the Sub:stance club manages to take out the best of both “sides” – and fuse them into a concrete monster. Even though the sharp and ambitious sound may seem a bit uneasy as well as clever, the direction in which Sub:stance is going seems more natural than ever.

Keeping the essence of the sounds that define dubstep, as well as the tempos, structure and attitude while fusing them together with a very techno-fied city and all the inspiration, aspiration as well as unique sense of bass music – Scuba seems more than just fit to create a mix CD of it all.

There is a very scientific feeling that is the backbone of the track selection as well as the progression of the mix as a whole. Keeping a profiled and ambitious droning sound throughout, the subtle (and sometimes very direct) beat goes in and out. This keeps everything interesting, as well as leaving room for a more experimental and a bit untouched sound. Everything reminds a lot of Scuba’s own work, as well as the artists and musicians surrounding him and the Sub:stance club. Expect long droning pieces and soundscapes, combined with deadly levels of bass, as well as sound that is so clear and unique it can almost be physically touched.

Most of the time, the mix keeps an atmosphere of a state of both high awareness and everything in a daze. It requires not so much as to listening, but an open mind to the music. The parallell of it all comes in with f.e. Joy Orbison’s ‘Hyph Mngo’ which, in a good way, breaks everything off and leaves as soon as the mix gets a grip of what is going on. In perspective, this seems very natural for Scuba as well as trying to fuse both vertical and horizontal energy with the mix (and seeing him as a live dj too).

As a conclusion, imagine Berghain with a dubstep sound; this is exactly, with and without frills, the first thing that comes to mind.

Review: Genius of Time – Aniara 01

Published January 16, 2010 Review 2 Comments
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Label: Aniara Recordings
Catalog#: Aniara 01

Tracklist:
A: Same Old Place
B: Tight Genes

Recommended!

As specialist house records are no longer so strongly connected to where you are from, two guys from Sweden decided to do it by themselves.

Where are you at? The A side track ‘Same Old Place’ connects the origins of house with the current straight groove rhythms. A simple but steady progression brings in a funk that keeps on going, combined with a vocal sample that feels fresh and carefully prepared. There is so much empathy and emotion that underlies the clever and uncompromising sound of the track, that feels just as natural as the euphoria only a good house track can produce.

With ‘Tight Genes’, things are more subtle and slow paced. A tight groove is what keeps this track together, where the rhythm makes it progress very well on a dance floor.

The record is out in February.

2010

Published January 16, 2010 The Futurist Leave a Comment
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There will be a new mix coming up soon, sorry for the delay!

Merry Christmas!

Published December 23, 2009 The Futurist 2 Comments

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