FEATURED RELEASE
Album released 16-11-2009 on Infiné
It's not uncommon for techno producers to try and spice up an album with a bit of pop. The full-length format demands a bit more versatility then a 12" after all, and so a few plucked guitar chords are added here and there and some vocals strewn on top. More often then not, the results fail to convince.
Not so with 'Yes Is More', the debut album by French producer Dantom Eeprom. Pop is neither an afterthought nor an ideology here - the album's 12 tracks are rock songs, techno tracks or electronica experiments, without ever feeling contrived or inconsistent.
The album's first track, 'Thanks For Nothing' confidently sets the tone - new-wavish, almost rockabilly-like in mood and instrumentation. 'Give Me Pain', the albums single, follows this up with an even broader scope: an accordion prelude meets Jamie Lidell-like vocals, bleepy synth lines and a Motown-style breakdown. Further highlights are the minimalist, gender-bending collaboration with Chloé, 'The Feminine Man', as well as the Sister Sledge hit 'Lost In Music', performed together with Au Revoir Simone singer Erika Forster.
There are a few moments when the album's 'anything goes' approach threatens to miss its mark, as with the synth-driven power ballad 'Vivid Love', but at most times Eeprom masters his stylistic universality with aplomb - no small feat for an album this ambitious.
|
MORE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH
|
|
Maxi-Single released 22-02-2010 on Profan
Wolfgang Voigt's Profan label resurfaces with a striking new release by Voigt himself, operating under his avant-garde alias, Sog. Centred around a single kick drum sound, 'Abweichung' weaves in layered strings and unusual time signatures into an artistic piece that is simultaneously beautiful and tense.
|
|
|
Berlin's Watergate club asked BPitch Control mastermind Ellen Allien to mix the fifth edition of its popular mix compilation. Her delightful pop-inspired mix shows off her unique and eclectic taste of music with tracks by John Tejada, Röyksopp, Luciano and Mattias Aguayo. First class.
|
|
|
For the single release of 'U Can Dance' Hell has commissioned remixes by artists worthy of the task: Carl Craig, Simian Mobile Disco, DFA's Tim Goldsworthy and Kikumoto Allstars. All three remix volumes are included in this specially priced package, as is the track's gorgeous video. Hit!
|
|
|
Album released 08-02-2010 on Dial
Paul Kominek releases his first album as Pawel on Hamburg's revered Dial imprint: Deep, melodic tech-house with a classical feel to it. Kominek's indietronica roots (as Turner) can still be discerned in tracks like the housey 'Dawn', or the reflective 'Mate'. A lovely album and a must for Dial fans.
|
|
|
dBridge and Instra:mental's Autonomic podcasts have gained an impressive amount of attention for their refreshing take on drum and bass tempo. This stunning 31-track mix for the 50th edition of Fabriclive showcases their powerful and innovative 'Autonomic' sound. Essential.
|
|
|
Compilation released 15-02-2010 on Kompakt
Ewan Pearson's long awaited Mix-CD on Cologne's famed Kompakt label holds up to the title's promise. 18 carefully selected tracks by the likes of Little Dragon, B.D.I, Lusine or Dexter are skilfully moulded into a flawless mix by the multi-talented producer. A prime slice of electronic pop.
|
|
|
Album released 22-02-2010 on Green
The debut full-length of Swiss producer Ripperton for Joris Voorn's Green label, 'Niwa' is a subtle and elaborate effort of superbly crafted house tunes. Sprinkled with touches of jazz, soul and dub, this is an incredibly varied album which begs to be played over and over. Addictive.
|
|
|
Album released 23-02-2010 on + + +
Consisting of nine tracks created between 1996 and 2009, 'A Synthetic Love Life' is a perfect compendium of Jamal Moss' idiosyncratic take on Chicago house music. Relentlessly experimental, yet warm and soulful at the same time, Hieroglyphic Being's style is unmistakably his own.
|
|
|
A brilliant choice of remixers take on tracks from Osborne's last album: Abstract hip-hop rising stars Bullion (One-handed) and Lukid (Werk Discs) are joined by Rephlex veteran Bogdan Raczynski, Planet Mu's Luke Vibert and the house boys of Arto Mwambé. Outstanding.
|
|
|
'Time Examined' collects music which Mika Vainio has created for his installations in the past 13 years, as well as soundtracks for works by other artists. Encompassing the entire range of Vainio's composition skills, from brooding drones to spares, barely audible tones, 'Time Examined' is hauntingly brilliant.
|
|
|
Illum Sphere has been on a hot streak as of late: Selected to the Red Bull Music Academy, remixing Martyn, and promoting Manchester's hottest club night, Hoya:Hoya. His biggest moment to date approaches with the two-part album, 'Long Live The Plan': Six amazing tracks of futuristic dub-breaks.
|
|
|
Berlin bass master Robot Koch follows up his great 'Death Star Droid' with an EP of two new tracks and remixes by fellow dubstep/hip-hop/booty bass artists. London shooting star Blue Daisy's treats 'While', CLP's Phon.o remodels 'Gorom Sen', and Koch's new track 'Blind' is just pure bass goodness.
|
|
|
The Hague's techno-meets-dubstep pioneer Dave Huismans a.k.a. 2562 returns to his own imprint as A Made Up Sound: 'Sun Touch' and 'Drain' are excellent futuristic dubstep efforts - sparse, deep, and drone-drenched - while the third track, 'Untitled', shuffles it up Detroit-style. Perfect.
|
|
|
Maxi-Single released 15-02-2010 on Echocord
After his recent collaboration with Fenin, Deadbeat makes his solo debut on Echocord. 'Vampire' aims straight for the jugular with a warehouse banger, while 'Vampire Dub' displays the man's talent for laying down skanked-out, dubby cuts. His 'Radio Rothko' mix is scheduled for March. Check.
|
|
|
Lusine follows up on his album, 'A Certain Distance', released late last year on Ghostly, with one of the album's highlights 'Twilight'. This exceptional 4-track EP includes the sleek and sultry album version, along with two dancefloor-ready edits from Poker Flat's Jeff Samuel and Lusine himself.
|
|
|
Reissue of the ultra-rare 80s fusion/funk album by the elusive producer Mandré, whose releases on Motown were hyped as being 'funkier than Parliament'. Most of the original copies were accidentally destroyed in a warehouse and have been a sought after collector's nugget since. Special!
|
|
|
Chicago's Still Music opens its doors to welcome Detroit techno legend Gerald Mitchell, of UR, Metroplex, and Los Hermanos fame.Classic jazzed-up Detroit techno meets pure UR-style house for a brilliant example of Mitchell's keyboard skills, which we know and love ever since 'Knights Of The Jaguar'.
|
|
|
Fred P.'s Black Jazz Consortium delivers its second album with 'Structure', a perfect full-length of contemporary New York deep house in the vein of Levon Vincent, Jus-Ed or DJ Qu. Melancholic chords, lush textures and stumbling grooves run through the album's 11 tracks. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
Jagged follow up their great 'Lagenthal EP' on Quintessentials with a house belter of floating and morphing synths, funky basslines, and old school vocals. Dutch beat-smith Aardvarck steps in for remix duties, applying his magic touch to the original. Guaranteed damage to your audio system.
|
|
|
Telefon Tel Aviv's 'Immolate Yourself' has been one of the stand-out albums on BPitch Control last year. Its title track gets remixed by four renowned producers: Ben Klock, Miss Fitz, Sascha Funke and Thomas Muller, who deliver great minimalistic interpretations of the anthemic original.
|
|
|
Unique Uncut label-head Greymatter drops his debut album and it's a big one: Featuring Deize Tigrona and Domu, 'Mind Over Matter' is a brilliant journey through contemporary breakbeat styles, from abstract downbeat to dubstep. Also check the remixes by Illum Sphere, TRG, Karizma and more.
|
|
|
Clocking in at close to 10 minutes each, the Innervisions all-stars Henrik Schwarz, Âme and Dixon release two great live cuts: 'Chicago' and 'Berlin-Karlsruhe-Express', both perfectly capturing the energy of their highly regarded live PAs.
|
|
