urb.com

"As the first release on his own Apparel label, Italian/DJ Producer Kisk wastes no time in making his intentions clear on the Jazzy Tourism EP. It is first and foremost a house album, but to label it as just that would be a mistake, because there is far more taking place. From the outset, there is – no surprise here – a large influence from the Italo house scene. Kisk uses electric pianos to dot the background, complementing the pounding... more...

urb.com

"As the first release on his own Apparel label, Italian/DJ Producer Kisk wastes no time in making his intentions clear on the Jazzy Tourism EP. It is first and foremost a house album, but to label it as just that would be a mistake, because there is far more taking place. From the outset, there is – no surprise here – a large influence from the Italo house scene. Kisk uses electric pianos to dot the background, complementing the pounding kick drum and adding a fine textural element.
The beats are raw and at times minimalist, but over the course of the seven or eight minute tracks, Kisk gives himself ample time to build deeper sonic layers. Furthermore, Kisk varies his drum loops to avoid monotony, and also to separate his tracks from traditional house. At times, he drops out the snare/clap, or the whole drum loop in its entirety. These sorts of elements allow the tracks to grow and evolve, rather than staying static.
In case you hadn’t noticed, the title of the album hints at another influence that plays a crucial role: jazz. Jazz in its nature is built around freeform structures, a trait that Kisk communicates well on the Jazzy Tourism EP. While the tracks are programmed and function within certain boundaries, there is a loose vibe to the entire project. Spooky sound effects weave in and out at will, with no natural rhythm. Obscure vocal samples, almost like whispers, float in the back of some tracks while stabbing, eerie pianos take the foreground. The whole jazzy feel of the EP is tied together nicely by the saxophone, which appears for both short blips and longer stretches.
While Kisk could benefit from richer, denser sounds (he does take the minimalist route more often than not), the Jazzy Tourism EP, is a very solid start. It is equally suitable for a strobe-light-heavy club or a chill evening. Kisk engages the listener with his freeform spirit, yet retains the necessary danceability and principle rhythms upon which house music was founded."
Zach Cole (URB) less

de-bug.de

Kisk - Jazzy Tourism EP (Apparel Music)
Sehr sweet und klingelnd beginnt das Label mit einem Remix des Titeltracks, den es hier in insgesamt 4 Mixen gibt, von Lopazz & Eddie Zarook. Flüsternde Stimmen im Hintergrund, sanftes Keyboard, tänzelnde Synths drumherum und ein warmer pushender Housegroove. Musik die auf einen herabplätschert wie ein warmer Sommerregen und sich immer wieder in ihrem eleganten Trudeln auffängt. Das Original... more...

de-bug.de

Kisk - Jazzy Tourism EP (Apparel Music)
Sehr sweet und klingelnd beginnt das Label mit einem Remix des Titeltracks, den es hier in insgesamt 4 Mixen gibt, von Lopazz & Eddie Zarook. Flüsternde Stimmen im Hintergrund, sanftes Keyboard, tänzelnde Synths drumherum und ein warmer pushender Housegroove. Musik die auf einen herabplätschert wie ein warmer Sommerregen und sich immer wieder in ihrem eleganten Trudeln auffängt. Das Original liefet alle Elemente in einem spartanischeren trockeneren Sound ist mir aber im Hauptmotiv mit klassischen Housepiano und Saxophon doch einen Hauch zu kitschig. SCSI setzt voll auf die Wärme der Bassdrum, bringt die Vocals am besten zur Geltung und gewinnt durch seinen smoothen Chicagofunk und das gedoppelt smooth fusionartigere Saxophon dann tatsächlich noch. Der Yapacc Remix kommt eher sanft dunkel minimal daher, nutzt die Samples für Andeutungen und entwickelt eine sehr smarte dichte Stimmung für die Morgenstunden mit ein paar Bonusstakkatovocals.
http://www.apparelmusic.com/
http://myspace.com/djkisk
http://de-bug.de/reviews/ less