Peter Sliwinski debuts on this Detroit-based label with a deep ethereal operation. Minor chords disappear deep into the trembling ride and tangible snares, as the bass receives a clever time-stretch that leaves an intuitive quantizing effect. Innovative to say the least.
Jazzanova Playlist: Compiled by Jazzanova
This first-ever compilation from Jazzanova’s vital JCR label, while sadly bereft of the legendary mixing skills of its Germanic owners, flaunts a diversity and consistency not often seen in the dance world. Teeming with jazz influence yet wildly varied, Playlist melts organically from Victor Davies’s mellow acoustic soul and unearthed Eastern European jazz from both Jerzy Millian and the sublime Novi Singers, to exquisite nu-jazz and broken beat flavors from scene stalwarts like Nuspirit Helsinki, Rima and Jazzanova themselves, connecting the dots between the past, present and future via the thread of jazz running through every track. Lush, innovative and essential.
Mathias Schaffhauser Selected Remixes VOL. 1
Relatively unknown outside the tight circles of Germany’s tech-house scene, Mathias Schaffhauser has been creating major waves for more adventurous dancefloors. While this collection of his best remix work might be considered “minimal,” the tracks are anything but: multilayered, heavily detailed sound evolutions that often take surprising twists, like the bongo breakdown in Digital South’s “No Good,” or the point in Luomo’s “Tessio” that could be grimy UK garage if not for the Basic Channel-esque filterisms bouncing around the soundfield. An often quirky but solidly funky release.
Quantic Soul Orchestra Stampede
Downtempo prodigy Will Holland (a.k.a. Quantic) broadens his previous output’s scope with this vibrant album of raw, blistering funk, jazz and soul featuring Holland and friends as an all-live groove machine. Bad-ass jams like “South Coastin'” (which combines a bass-heavy backbeat with bubbling flute licks) or opening salvo “Stampede” (which kicks off the album with a furiously-paced guitar, horn and breakbeat workout) transcend the funk template with expressive soloing that lends a psychedelic edge to its heavy, earthy grooves. The showstopper: a smoking cover of 4 Hero’s anthem “Hold It Down” that’ll have you shakin’ yo’ thang ’til last call.
Ivan Smaghe How to Kill the DJ Part One
Paris club Le Pulp hosts Kill the DJ nights on the first Thursday of each month, and if this CD (arranged/mixed by DJ Ivan Smagghe) is a true indication of their musical policy, it sounds like a lot of fun. When the opening fun house cut, Roger’s tributary “Helsinki Blondes” segues so naturally with Captain Comatose’s Afrobeat-channeling “Wonderkidd,” there’s an immediate sense that this isn’t your average club-branded compilation, but one with a wide-ranging musical ear. A Kill the DJ edit of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” and a wicked electro-funk remix of Ministry’s “I Wanted To Tell Her” help fuel the slightly dark and industrial edge that lurks beneath the grooves. This collection could quite easily be the next victim of your repeat button.
Break Reform Fractures
This trio from London has combined the heart-stopping realism of Nana Vorperian’s vocals, sparse hip-hop orientated beats, and a fondness for jazzed-out, keyed flavors to produce an honest portrait of modern urban life. The sincerity of Nana’s vocals can be related to as easily as a friend’s real-life woes. “Fractures” captures the anguish of a love lost perfectly, courtesy of sighing strings, a vibraphone that feigns happiness and captivating vocals. “Medusa Pts 1 & 2” sees frustrated beats, tear-shaped keys and a weaving flute combine alongside Nana’s distraught vocals. Timeless jazz-hop nu-soul for people with a heart.
Rise Ashen Earth Dragon EP PT.1
“Rock This Beat” sounds awesome on one of “those” sound systems-you know the type where your trousers are flapping to the bass. The super super sub-low-end and general feel of this beauty lends itself to either a warm-up before it all kicks off in a big club, or one of those sweaty get-down tracks in a smaller dingy atmosphere-either way it sounds real good. Should drop a treat at Co-op. Move your feet.
Benny B Presents The Biz Satisfaction
F*ck me, probably the strongest house/acid thing I’ve heard in years, with more filters than you can shake a stick at. The Mac vocal might put this in that pseudo Francophile/electro/jazz stream, but even the hardest hip-hop heads will be climbing the walls by the end.
Quantic Off the Beaten Track (Carmel Rmx)
Holy doody!! The main man that has remixed too many gets some of his own treatment. Forget about giving up cigarettes, this will make you start (again), period. Carmel from Budapest keeps you guessing with his hard beats and cut-up samples. Literally a floor-filler…watch them.
Andrea Parker & David Moreley Game Over
Terminator-sounding samples with pure 808 and 303 usage throughout, leading you to dark places you shouldn’t venture to that often. “Tour de France” meets Carl Craig’s La Funk Mob outing? One for the heavy set, and seriously recommended.
