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Artist: Compass
Title: Road To Sarlant
Label: Concrete Kin
Introducing Compass to the Concrete Kïn family with their powerful melodic house EP ‘Road To Sarlant’ consisting of 3 thumping tracks which have had support from 3 of the top 10 Melodic House artists so far! Download, feedback and enjoy.
Artist: Giorgia Angiuli
Title: Quantum Love
Label: United
Release Date: 26-11
Giorgia Angiuli’s 13 track album ‘Quantum Love’ on her UNITED label combines and contrasts fast, insistent dance beats with her signature melodic synths and dreamy lyrics; ‘an eclectic work including piano downtempo tracks and techno melodic tracks with ethereal vocals’ (Angiuli). The multi-talented live artist/DJ/producer/vocalist/
‘Quantum Love’ has many moods and speeds; physics and philosophy, contemplative and full-on fast, sweet vocals, meaningful lyrics or purely instrumental, it’s all there. First single ‘Hanuman’ adds 80s Moroderesque juddering Moog-style bass and Simple Minds-alike string chords to a melody composed in a Goa hotel on a digital sitar and inspired by the playful Hindu monkey god of the winds, Hanuman… it all comes together as a stonking fast dance track with a spiritual dimension to bliss out the mind while the body is going bananas on the dancefloor.
For lyrical heft and more, one could single out the hypnotic ‘Nevermind’ with its AutoTuned layered vocals and chorus of strings (‘look at the wind blow, let it go, let it flow’). Or ‘Renew’, a dreamy reverie reclining on a pulsing synth riff (‘you can renew every day’), or ‘Tears of Bliss’, a lively driving beat, strong and assertive with lyrics to the fore (‘teach me how to cry and love my tears’).
While ‘Hidden Miracles’, the opening track, brings pure and plangent piano melody like playful footsteps seeking a path, ‘Dirac Equation’ celebrates Dirac’s harmonising of quantum theory with Einstein’s special relativity with a wild dance-fest of pounding beat and percussion reminiscent of Darude, plus piano arpeggios and a sci-fi synth melody.
Elsewhere, ‘Break Down the Walls’ calls us to ‘let yourself get involved’ to deep throbbing drums, while ‘My Heart Takes Me’ and ‘Rainbow Island’ up the dance pace with sustained vocal notes in the former, muffled horn melody in the latter, while ‘I Want I Will’s gentle lyrics float above synths quivering like mothwings.
‘’Quantum Love’ is my inner soundtrack to my recent transformation, summarized in the following sentences: we are made of energy, everything is vibration. We are each our own placebo, happiness can be a choice, we have all the elements inside us for the right path. Nature can teach us everything.’ (GiorgiaAngiuli)
The artwork has also been beautifully created by renowned artist/animator/illustrator Ni
Track List:
Artist: I Hear Disorder
Title: 1 Out of 4
Label: Aviron
Cat. #: AVI001
Format: Digital, vinyl
Release Date: 10th December 2021
Tracklist:
1. Rococo
2. Le Zink
3. I Know You Know
4. You Clap The Beat
Julien Delfaud aka I Hear Disorder debuts on his brand new label Aviron with ‘1 Out of 4’, an explosive new Chicago house EP that arrives in December after lead single ‘Rococo’ on November 17th.
Julien Delfaud comes out of the shadows with this alias, which is inspired by the legendary Windy City label, Dance Mania. He has a fascinating backstory that saw him train at the PlusXXX school as an assistant to Philippe Zdar, one half of the mythical Cassius duo, before collaborating with French icons Phoenix and then Etienne de Crécy on the Super Discount project. In 90’s Paris, he was behind the decks at the infamous Respect parties and organized, alongside Jess, Crabbe and DJ Kenobi, the Hometown parties at the mythical Rex Club. He is now a renowned producer and engineer who since 2001 has worked with contemporary French talents such as Clara Luciani, Juliette Armanet and Hervé, but breaks out on his own here with I Hear Disorder.
This visceral EP opens with lead single ‘Rococo’, a brilliantly raw and mechanical house track with big slapping hits. Dazzling synths and big chords light it up with some filtered French finesse and ensure maximum impact in the club. Just as powerful is ‘Le Zink’, a freewheeling cut with taught synths twisting and turning over a rugged beat that brims with energy and texture. There is no let up on ‘I Know You Know’, it’s an explosion of cosmic energy, with turbocharged drums and sawtooth synths spraying about beneath smart vocals and withering leads. ‘You Clap The Beat’ closes down with more arresting house sounds. The synths are supersized and brain frying, the drums steel plated and the whole track designed to explode in the club.
I Hear Disorder is a project that marks Julien Delfaud out as a standalone producer who knows how to work the club.
Artist: Nnatn
Title: Grooves Pt. 2
Label: Night Vibez Records
Cat. #: NVBZ017
Format: Digital
Release Date: 10th December 2021
Tracklist:
1. Love Away
2. Love Me Down
3. Party Time
4. The One
5. Troubles
Italian artist Nnatn cooks up for more essential underground sounds on his Grooves Pt. 2 EP for Night Vibez Records.
This is Nnatn’s third fantastic EP of the year following an earlier outing on this label with countryman DJ Beens and the first part of this Grooves series. All his music combines his long-standing love of house, disco and afro sounds across the ages. He has had support from the likes of Jamie Jones, Mr.V and Robert Owens, and is now back with five more essential tracks.
The EP opens in heartwarming fashion with a gorgeous vocal house cut. It has booming kicks and crisp claps that bring a timeless feel while a female voice brings the soul. ‘Love Me Down’ throws it back to the nineties with a classic beat sample. In this version, the bass is slowed down to funky effect and the chords imbue the groove with a Balearic warmth.
The superb ‘Party Time’ has a cosy basement feel with its jazzy chords and rubbery drum work. A tender male vocal adds an all-important hook and ‘The One’ soars to fresh heights with a crispy Chicago house groove, lush marimba melodies and another epic diva vocal that melts the heart. ‘Troubles’ rounds things out with more stylish deep house sounds, grinding bass and emotive vocals, but this time with a more direct beat.
Grooves Pt. 2 is another EP of impeccable house music from Nnatn.
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Artist: ICLE
Title: From Lockdown To Relief
Label: Underdogs Music
Cat. #: UM004
Format: Digital
Release Date: 10th December 2021
Tracklist:
01 ICLE – From Lockdown To Relief
02 ICLE – From Lockdown To Relief (DSF Remix)
03 ICLE feat. Lawrran – Children
Core Underdogs artist ICLE steps out with his first solo EP following a number of standout collaborations already this year.
ICLE is a core member of the Underdogs DJ and party crew. He was part of the huge ‘Dos Cuerpos’ release early in the year, his debut production, which was then followed by ‘Connected’ back in summer. He is a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist with a rich and diverse sound and is well known around Brazil for his legendary sets and for this standout first solo outing he enlists vocalist Lawrran.
First up is the brilliant ‘From Lockdown To Relief’ which pairs a deep, slowly turning groove with Balearic guitars and loose percussion. As the drums roll on you are further hypnotised by the string sounds which cast an emotional spell. The mysterious DSF then adds his own spin and reworks the track perfectly for the club. Melancholic chords, distant vocal cries and a lovely jumbled beat all take you on a worldly trip.
Last of all is ‘Children,’ a lush groove with a samba shuffle and subtle wooden percussion. The beautifully tender falsetto vocal tugs at the heartstrings and is augmented by mellow acoustic guitars and marimba melodies.
‘From Lockdown To Relief’ is another impressive outing for fledgling producer ICLE.
Artist: Locklead
Title: Square One (LP)
Label: Up The Stuss
Cat. #: UTS07
Format: Vinyl / Digital
Release Date: 3rd December 2021
Tracklist:
1. Light Of Day
2. Bumpin’ Headz
3. Hunting
4. Plants and Astronauts
5. A Gloomy Morning In The Red Box
6. Liberté
7. Dillusion
8. Lac de Marcenay
Locklead unveils his debut album project ‘Square One’ via Up The Stuss, welcoming eight deep, intricate productions from across the house sphere.
One of the Netherlands most exciting rising names, Utrecht’s Locklead is ascending into the spotlight in style. Known for serving up heavy-hitting slabs of dancefloor driven material across Slapfunk, Pleasure Zone, and Dungeon Meat, he now takes things deeper and brings his surging momentum to countryman Chris Stussy’s Up The Stuss imprint for the label’s first album release. Stepping out into fresh territories, his eight-track debut LP ‘Square One’ showcases a previously unseen side to the Dutchman, revealing a collection of lush, deep journeys coupled with crisp house and vibrant, spacey cuts along the way.
“Like many others, I had a lot of spare time across the past year, and during this period I discovered a deeper side of myself and a place in which I seem to be very comfortable. The LP is a very personal project that mixes experiences in life and as an artist with these discoveries, all blended on top of a sturdy club foundation. I couldn’t have wished for a better home than Chris’ label Up The Stuss to present my album, Square One.” – Locklead
Opener ‘Light Of Day’ and closing effort ‘Lac de Marcenay’ showcase this diverse fusion of sounds effortlessly, combining snaking grooves with sweeping atmospherics, while ‘Bumpin’ Headz’, ‘Plants and Astronauts’ and ‘Dillusion’ bring that tough, dancefloor driven aesthetic the Dutchman has become known for while simultaneously offering up deeper, more intricate journeys. Add in the jazzy textures and the electro-tinged sonics found within ‘Hunting’ and ‘A Gloomy Morning In The Red Box’ alongside the rich yet airy dynamics of ‘Liberté’ and the LP showcases a collection of essential productions for late night hours and early morning moments.
Artist: Unknown
Title: ZEN
Label: MASK
Cat. #: MSK09
Format: Vinyl Only (Limited 250 copies)
Release Date: 26th November 2021
Tracklist:
01) A1
02) A2
03) A3
04) B1
05) B2
06) B3
Independent label MASK returns with another untitled release featuring six innovative interpretations.
Blossoming Berlin-based imprint MASK continues to invite anonymous artists to the label, delivering quality cuts produced using analogue gear across the imprint’s trademark style of raw house, techno and ambient territories. With support from the likes of ItaloJohnson, Truncate, DJ Bone and Ryan Elliott, November welcomes the arrival of six fresh, immersive cuts as they enlist yet another unknown artist to join the series.
The widely appealing package opens via the filtered loops, layered sonics and low humming frequencies of ‘A1’, whilst ‘A2’ reveals a deeper, darker cut with sharp boom bap drums, distorted tones and warped effects. Next, ‘A3’ has an ethereal edge and explores a plethora of robust sounds, dubby chords and heady, pulsating rhythms.
On the flip, the richly euphoric ‘B1’ leads with seductive drum programming, chopped-up vocal snippets and scintillating keys that take listeners to another level. Penultimate offering ‘B2’ reveals a driving, feel-good affair before rounding out proceedings with the off-kilter, jazz-leaning and undoubtedly enrapturing soundscapes of the low-slung ‘B3’.
Artist: Various
Title: Feather of PTAH
Label: Sounds of Khemit
Cat. #: SOK001
Format: Digital
Release Date: 26th November 2021
Tracklist:
1. Hraach – Al Vent
2. Nhii, Wild Dark – Hanga Roa
3. Fabian Krooss – Kallisto
Sounds of Khemit is a brand new label that aims to bring harmony and joy to people on their journey through life. It launches with an impressive three-tracker featuring Hraach, Nhii and Wild Dark and Fabian Krooss.
The label believes that sound, frequencies and vibrations have the ability to activate the hidden codes in our DNA. In turn, this transports us to higher states of consciousness and unlocks and strengthens our life mission on this planet. Says the label, “At Sounds of Khemit we are starting a movement towards the light, a revolution against the darkness that leads us astray by forming bonds and unity among people. No matter the age, race, background, nationality or sexual orientation, Sounds of Khemit blends tradition with innovation by attracting those souls who see with their hearts and use their mouths to speak truth to power.”
Armenian-born, Spain-based Hraach has made real moves over the last six years. He’s landed on Hoomidaas and Nazca amongst others and favours thoughtful groove designs. His ‘Al Vent’ is an exquisite eight-minute trip with loose toms scattered over a sublime, seductive groove. The smeared chords have you gazing off into the distance and deft keys and melodies encourage you to sink ever further into your thoughtful reverie.
Nhii & Wild Dark is a collaboration of like-minded artists with a transcendental house sound. They have worked together on the likes of Flying Circus Recordings and impress again here. ‘Hanga Roa’ is packed with organic details – distant bird calls, neon synth motifs, exotic strings. It’s a superbly steamy house groove for those who like it deep and subtle.
Fabian Krooss is the Berlin-based underground electronic talent who is tied to fine labels such as Stil vor Talent, Einmusika Recordings and Rebellion der Träumer. His slow-burning ‘Kallisto’ is a soft and sensuous house track. It’s peppered with hits, glassy tinkles, floaty pads and woodwind sounds that all add up to a richly detailed, heady and heartfelt track.
This high-grade first release starts off Sounds of Khemit’s journey in style. Hraach’s ‘Al Vent’ will be released on streaming services on 11th November with Nhil and Wild Dark’s ‘Hanga Roa’ following on 19th November. Third single ‘Kallisto’ by Fabian Krooss will drop alongside the full EP on 26th November.