FEATURED RELEASE
While Hardfloor's Oliver Bondzio has long been on record as an avid fan of Detroit-style electro, this release still comes as a bit of a surprise.
In preparation of their forthcoming 20th anniversary album the Düsseldorf-based duo of Bondzio and Ramon Zenker has teamed up with no other than Gerald Hanson, better known as Convextion and - when it comes to deep and moody electro - E.R.P.
It's a moniker Hanson hasn't been using all too frequently lately, and we're happy to see it return.
The single starts out with two slightly distinct E.R.P. mixes that strictly adhere to the Detroit electro formula of 808 beats, funked-up basslines and melancholy strings, but it's a recipe that Gerald Hanson has refined to perfection and which sees a flawless execution here.
The track's original album version employs a slightly straighter beat and adds a few melodic textures, some unsurprisingly originating from Hardfloor's insane collection of Roland TB-303s. Prominent acid lines however do not surface until Dynamik Bass System's remix, which features additional vocals by the Motor City's notorious electro crew Detroit-In-Effect.
All four mixes are equally recommendable for their distinct quality takes on classic electro, and if '4th Dimension Of The 5th Ward' is anything to go by, Hardfloor's forthcoming album could be well worth looking forward to.
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MORE ELECTRO ESSENTIALS
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Italian techno legend Lory D makes his debut on Numbers after his previous outings on Wireblock. The full-on 'Acidronix' and the slightly more restrained 'Acid Prastix' are excellent takes on classic early 90s techno, complete with grinding synths, dramatic strings and arpeggios. Where were you in '92?
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The word 'prolific' doesn't seem sufficient to describe this UK-based producer's output since first releasing almost 10 years ago. Scape One lands this time on London-based Cultivated Electronics for an aggressive set of cuts with remixes by label boss, Sync 24, and champion Electro producer, Dynarec.
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A mysterious UK producer unleashes this EP on Crème Organization beating strong for old-school Chicago house. 'Beyond This Life' an alien, electro atmospheric opening, 'A Hazy Memory' sparse yet dreamy fragments of a soft Chicago feel, the rest deep and quirky indulging a sultry retro finesse. Brilliant.
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The Chicago Shags sound is based on the raw, manic energy of classic-era House and Acid from the likes of Armando, Ron Hardy, Lil' Louis, et al. Consisting of a partnership between Legowelt and Orgue Electronique, the duo's latest EP has found an appropriate home on Hague-based label, Creme Organization.
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Black Strobe member Arnaud Rebotini releases his second album, putting his vintage machines to excellent use in an album of vivacious gothic electro, rotating in moods of ambient, kosmische, trance and disco. Souped up with synths and in a finely balanced nostalgic-futuristic style, a very enjoyable listen.
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With an ironic wink in the direction of Kraftwerk, Extrawelt's new EP starts with a subtle and lushly analogue techno groover, held together by a pulsing bassline and atmospheric chords, while 'Yummy_Unbroken' is a more melodic, electronica-tinged affair for fans of James Holden and Border Community. Nice release!
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Originally released on limited 12" by Transient Force in 2007, Gosub's 'Night Mal`ach EP' reappears digitally on his own Isophlux Records. Boasting an impressive set of releases on labels like Citinite and Frustrated Funk, Gosub's raw, moody, even sexy brand of electro exhibits playfulness and the focus of a veteran producer.
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Long-standing Irish electronica project Anodyne has been recently remixed by Autechre and Black Dog, and now surfaces on London's Combat Recordings for a new EP. 'Empires' consists of four timeless tracks of densely orchestrated electro that combine symphonic strings with glitched-up drum rolls. Nice.
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The collaboration between Mark Pritchard and Steve Spacek finally drops its long-awaited LP on Warp. After delivering sneak peaks on three devastating singles, Africa Hitech's debut showcases an expertise across a wide range of broken beat styles as expected from these two extraordinary talents. Fantastic.
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Since the 80s, DJ Debonaire has specialized in a very specific type of Electro sound known as Miami Bass. His label Debonaire Records was a cornerstone for this genre then and is well alive and kicking today. 'Bassed On A Tru Story' flies the flag high for a style just as known for its attitude as for its banging 808 kicks!
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Man Recordings impresario Daniel Haaksman drops his debut album on the label, merging Brazilian baile funk with an international blend of club music styles, from Afro-Baltimore ('Sum Sum') to Balkan ghetto house ('Dubcheck'). 'Rambazamba' is energetic, transcultural, and certainly a lot of fun.
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X0X Records is leading the charge for electro with no shortage of devotees flying the flag high from their Turku, Finland homebase. Blastromen are among the talented acolytes distributing waves of analog-fueled mayhem in the form of this 4-track EP heavily laced with maniacal arpeggiated rhythms, 'Robot Aggression'.
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Responsible for some of fiercest rhythms in Detroit bass music, Erik Travis is a somewhat unsung hero of Motor City electro, receiving some well deserved recognition here with this four-tracker on Clone. From the classic 'Make You Rock' to the raunchy 'Phone Sex' this is perfect, gritty ghetto funk.
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Two years in the making, Citinite finally releases its prominently helmed tribute to Cleveland's electro-funk pioneers Sexual Harrassment. Dam Funk, Sweat.X, Jimmy Edgar & G.Rizo, and Robert O'Dell all deliver distinct versions of all-time party classics such as 'I Need A Freak'.
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Album released 29-04-2011 on Gomma
French house music legend Dimitri From Paris releases this irresistible EP on Gomma: 'I Love New York' is saxed-up 90s NY house with a Bones & Musto style breakbeat, 'Downtown' delivers classic boogie funk, and 'A Reason For Living' is a great Bobby O tribute featuring italo king Fred Ventura. Pure class.
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Miami's electro stalwart Shad T. Scott (a.k.a. Gosub) returns with a new album under his Dcast Dynamics guise. 'Vile Vortices' showcases the deeper and more electronica-infused side to his productions of subaquatic electro. Ten accomplished tracks from slow-grooving spacious synth epics to deep acid techno.
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Maxi-Single released 09-05-2011 on ZONE
The Hacker and Gesaffelstein team up for two tracks of raw electro-techno: 'Errance' is a slow-swinging, echoing track with a certain Bauhaus flavour, 'Crainte' is more uptempo and industrial, remixed by current hotshot, Clement Meyer.
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Apparently there's not that much you need to know about Sero, except that he is a 'producer devoted to Electro', according to his Discogs profile. The Orwellian overtones projected by his 'Interception System' get re-interpreted on three remixes crafted by Electro/Hip-Hop don, DJ Overdose, and fellow devotees, Morphology.
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After reissuing his 'Cyanide Sisters' EP on Ghostly, Com Truise releases 'Fairlight'. The title-track is thick and soupy synth-wave bliss, with a slow-funking bassline, 'Beta Eyes' with L.A.-leaning squashed bass and trippy drum programming and 'Polyhurt' rounding things off in a dreamy synthtopia. Lush.
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