wp_1644810 – Pagina 76 – Different Grooves

‘Return to Consciousnes’

Artist: Ida Engberg
Title: Return to Consciousnes
Label: Truesoul
Cat. #: TRUE12134
Release Date: 11-12-2020

Truesoul presents the first original Ida Engberg EP since 2014.

A vital member of the Truesoul and Drumcode family, we’ve been anticipating a production return from Ida Engberg for some time now. Not that she’s been idle. Busy settling into a new home in Ibiza and raising three children with Adam Beyer, she’s also been heavily involved in climate activism, social justice issues and animal protection.

Everything happens in perfect timing. And no one knows this better than Engberg; innately aware of the creative space and the time a project needs to bloom. A work almost 12 months in the making, ‘Return to Consciousness’ is her transcendental five-track return to music creation.

‘Reverse Time (Intro)’ is ritualistic in intent, a two-and-a-half-minute ambient opener that sets the tone for what’s to come. The title track is sublime cosmic house, brought to life by lush pads, swirling arpeggios in the break and a delicate vocal that amplifies its message. ‘House of Colours’ is a delicious tribal roller, driven by a chanting vocal line that yanks us towards the dancefloor. ‘The 8th Fire’ embodies an undeniable old school early morning spirit, with its distinctive melodic hook. ‘Reverse Time’ is a searing late night techno composition that builds the energy to fever pitch, before bringing us back down to a sated state. All in all, a career-best work and well worth the wait.

Basement Jaxx ‘Yo Yo / Crazy Girl’

Artist: Basement Jaxx
Title : Yo Yo / Crazy Girl
Remixer: Roman Lindau
Label: Atlantic Jaxx Recordings
Cat. #: JAXX106D
Format: Digital
Release Date: 18th December
Tracklist:
01 Yo Yo (Roman Lindau remix)
02 Crazy Girl (Roman Lindau remix)

Basement Jaxx invite techno luminary Roman Lindau to remix two seminal tracks from their early catalogue on their own Atlantic Jaxx Recordings imprint this December.

Following a series of remixes emerging over the past few years, the Grammy-winning duo have turned to Fachwerk-boss Lindau to work his magic on the tracks, originally featured on 1998’s ‘Remedy’ (‘Yo Yo’) and 2001’s ‘Rooty’ (‘Crazy Girl’). The results are two powerful reinterpretations that take the carnival spirit of the originals into darker, late-night territories.

Off-kilter basslines and chords take front and centre on the remix of ‘Yo Yo’ as wacky vocals swirl around Lindau’s bubbling synthesis and razor-sharp drum programming, while ‘Crazy Girl’ sees visceral basslines warp in tandem with elements from the original, as shuffling percussion and drawn out pads build up to a series of synth hits custom-built for dancefloor pandemonium.

By injecting fresh ideas into these tracks, Roman Lindau not only adds to his own exceptional discography but continues the enduring legacy of Basement Jaxx, bringing these warmly welcomed re-interpretations to 2020 and beyond.

Dennis Cruz, Eddy M ‘Goldigger’

Artist: Dennis Cruz, Eddy M
Title: Goldigger
Label: MÜSE
Cat. #: MUSE018
Format: Digital
Release Date: 18th December 2020

Label founders Dennis Cruz and Eddy M combine for the first time on MÜSE as they close 2020 with their latest single, ‘Goldigger’.

As 2020 draws to a close, Dennis Cruz and Eddy M’s surging MÜSE imprint continues to go from strength-to- strength as one of the most exciting growing labels in the scene. With the past twelve months welcoming releases from the likes of Matthias Tanzmann, Proudly People, Piem and Alan Nieves to name just a few, plus notable productions from both label founders including Eddy M’s ‘Catch It’ and ‘Show Me’, plus Dennis Cruz’s recent Beatport #1 chart-topper ‘Five’, the pairing now combine for the very first time on MÜSE to offer up their latest effort, ‘Goldigger’.

A funk-fuelled production featuring slick guitar riffs, bubbling bass patterns and crisp drum licks, ‘Goldigger’ welcomes the best of both producers as Cruz’s trademark, infectious percussion grooves meet Eddy M’s penchant for classic hip-hop vocal samples to shape up a huge peak-time offering and close 2020 in style.

Alexander Church & juSt b ‘Configurations 12’

Artist: Alexander Church & juSt b
Title: Configurations 12
Label: Configurations of Self
Cat. #: Configs012
Release Date: 14th December 2020
Tracklist:
1. In The field
2. In The Field (Instrumental)
3. Curious Paradox
4. Curious Paradox(Instrumental)

juSt b makes her debut on the always high concept Configurations of Self label with a stunning new EP alongside label boss Alexander Church.

Toronto-based artist juSt b has developed into a highly accomplished DJ, producer, industry ambassador, and multi-faceted curator of sound over the last seven years. She has an upcoming EP in the new year featuring a remix by fellow Configurations cohort, James Welsh, but first up we’re treated to her fusion of smooth, thought provoking vocals with Church’s always avant-garde productions on this stunning new offering. The release features mindful vocals inspired by humanistic view points that both artists share, delivered as life-affirming musings that add a fantastic layer of emotional depth and positivity to this futurist music.

Opener ‘In The Field’ swirls with spoken word vocals that place you in a dream-like state as harmonica pads ripple all around and deep, smooth beats move you onwards. An instrumental is included which makes for just as celestial and cathartic listening as you are suspended in the lush production.

Second superb offering ‘Curious Paradox’ is another post-rave mix of IDM, techno and ambient, with the alluring vocal element encouraging you to accept who you are today. It’s a deeply uplifting trip to the outer edges of our galaxy on gorgeously mellifluous pads, arps and melodies. The instrumental strips back the track to the mind-expanding synth work and makes for an even more detached affair.

These are tracks that connect on a mental as well as physical level, with moving psychological overtones that make them full body experiences.

Nu Azeite ‘Vem com Noix’

Artist: Nu Azeite
Title: Vem com Noix
Label: Cocada Music
Cat. #: CM008
Release Date: 11th December 2020

Following hot on the heels of their first dazzling single, and before their debut full length arrives in January 2021, cultured Brazilian pair Nu Azeite are back with fantastically high-spirited and boogie-wave follow up, ‘Vem com Noix’.

Nu Azeite’s musical journey continues as initial single ‘Me Deixa Louca’ picks up plaudits from the likes of Alinka, Horse Meat Disco and Fred Everything. This second offering is set to further build they fanbase as they offer more of their soulful and energetic sounds.

The lush and exotic ‘Vem com Noix’ channels Brazilian greats like Tim Maia and Lincoln Olivetti as well as modern disco dons like DJ Koze and Todd Terje. The vocals are libidinous and falsetto, the withering synths and popping sound effects bring a future retro disco vibe. The whole lively track is built around a complex and live-sounding rhythm section and funky, twanging guitar riffs that are simply irresistible.

This second package again oozes real Brazilian authenticity and cross-genre musical bliss, setting the stage for the album ahead.

SPRYK ‘APEX’

Artist: SPRYK
Title: APEX
Label: Skip-A-Beat
Cat. #: SKP006
Format: Digital
Release Date: 11th December 2020
Tracklist:
1. New World
2. In Arrival
3. Species
4. Man & Machine
5. Reaching The Apex
6. Quest For Everything
7. Full Circle

Mumbai based producer SPRYK is back on his Skip-A-Beat label with a seven-track album entitled ‘APEX’.

SPRYK is the electronic music & art exploration project of Mumbai based artist Tejas Nair. Whether its immersive art installations, awe-inspiring Audio Visual Live performances, ambisonic sound for VR & video games, or club-ready releases, SPRYK’s work is a classic case of electronic exploration that makes use of available technology while referencing that which came before it and does so in a sincerely human way.

‘APEX’, was originally an AV performance commissioned by Magnetic Fields Festival in 2019 and was rated as one of the top 5 key performances at the festival by Resident Advisor & Rolling Stone.   The project takes an in-depth look at the relationship between music and technology, has taken on a life of its own and resulted in the creation of a custom-built interactive video-game-like world that audiences can explore by registering for the launch event. The role-playing environment is made available to audiences through a browser-based immersive entertainment platform called ‘Vitamin-E’ (Co-Founded by SPRYK). The project has become a servant to the very questions it sought to answer, resulting in a visceral and cathartic release of the artist’s creativity.

At the core, Spryk as a project and Tejas as a musician, DJ, curator, and interdisciplinary artist focuses on provoking a greater understanding of thought, action & interaction. This idea is pushed to new depths on his forthcoming second studio album. The last year has seen his work endorsed and supported by the likes of Red Bull Music as a key artist in the region and Sennheiser Audio as a partner for their immersive audio line of products titled AMBEO. He has also worked with and been featured by the likes of Adidas Originals and PUMA on various campaigns.

‘APEX’ is due for release in the latter half of 2020 via his own imprint Skip-A-Beat, which was launched in late 2018 to release his debut album ‘Strange Movements’. The label found its roots in his online radio show that unearths the lesser-known plethora of electronic music talent across the Indian Sub-Continent.

The album kicks off with ‘New World’ which lays focus on dreamy soundscapes and enlightening ambience which gracefully continues through to ‘In Arrival’. Moving with capturing elegance ‘Species’ pulsates angelic melodies and resonating synths while ‘Man & Machine’ offers up punchy bass licks, an enticing vocal sample and percussion that rolls with vibrancy. Next up, ‘Reaching The Apex’ is a intricate, electronica cut with trappy rhythms and shimmering modulations until ‘Quest For Everything and ‘Full Circle’ round off proceedings with inviting sonics, uplifting oscillations and effervescent atmospheres destined for the festival stages and dancefloors.

Blackchild (ITA) ‘My Jam’

Artist: Blackchild (ITA)
Title: My Jam
Label: Solid Grooves
Cat. #: SGR056
Format: Digital
Release Date: 4th December 2020

Blackhild (ITA) steps out on Solid Grooves to reveal his first single on the imprint, ‘My Jam’.

The newest member of the Solid Grooves family, yet a name quickly growing within the scene, Italian DJ and producer Blackchild (ITA)’s rapid rise looks set to continue well into 2021 and beyond. A regular on sister imprint Solid Grooves Raw where he’s already delivered huge singles including ‘Jazz Ensemble’ and ‘Sexy Thing’, and fresh from his main label debut as part of the Summer Sampler 2020, the bubbling talent now closes out the year with his first single on Solid Grooves, ‘My Jam’.

Fusing infectious vocals and funk-fuelled guitar licks atop of driving basslines and crisp metallic percussion, ‘My Jam’ showcases the Italian native at his best as he re-shapes samples and utilises slick programming to deliver a dynamic and vibrant production.

Various ‘Consortium Vol. 2’

Artist: Various
Title: Consortium Vol. 2
Label: Motech Records
Cat. #: MT140
Format: Digital Download / Streaming
Release Date: 18 December 2020
Tracklist:
01. Elyas – ‘Operator’
02. Rob StrobE – ‘Shifty’
03. Nicolson – ‘House Life’
04. Miles Ellis – ‘Jack The Beat’
05. Mikael Klasson – ‘Lonely Underground’
06. Petit Beurre – ‘Rooftop’
07. Jeran Portis – ‘Por La Noche’
08. George Cross – ‘On One’
09. Atomyard – ‘Antimatter’
10. Veronique Page – ‘The Moon & The Stars’

“Where were you in 2020?”, you sense will be a question that will remain a talking point for many generations to come. One lesson we have all learned is life goes on, exemplified by resilient Motech Records boss Franki Juncaj aka DJ 3000, who once again plays A&R supremo in handpicking the track list for Motech’s end of year compilation, ‘Consortium Vol. 2’ which doubles up as a critics choice of the best unheard Detroit techno of tomorrow.

As we’ve come to expect from the veteran Motech boss, artist and tastemaker, the compilation embraces all facets of Detroit techno expressed through artists both familiar and new to the scene. “The concept was to find new artists, not only because they’re fresh but because they’re making hot, timeless tracks”.

The complication kicks off in frenetic style with the energetic track, ‘Operator’ from French techno artist Elyas. Motech regulars Mikael Klasson and Veronique Page make triumphant re-appearances on the label after extended absences. Veronique Page creates a slick intelligent minimal vibe on the dreamy track ‘The Moon and the Stars’, while Klasson’s track ‘Lonely Underground’ burns bright in the darkness of dystopia. Another familiar Motech artist is Austrian duo Petit Beurre who return to drop their track ‘Rooftop’, doing what they do best by creating wavy, utopian Detroit techno. Meanwhile, Motech veteran Jeran Portis also features with the driving groove of ‘Por La Noche’. Add Germany’s Robert Hauck aka Rob StrobE to deliver a textural techno stomper with the brilliant track ‘Shifty’. The UK is represented in the shape of artist Nicholson, after an impressive Motech debut last year. He returns with this ‘90s house influenced banger, ‘House Life’, alongside another UK artist who makes his debut on the label, George Cross, with the delightfully twisted chords of ‘On One’. Hailing from closer to home is Miami based artist Atomyard, with ‘Antimatter’. Atomyard delivers a lusty techno track with a powerful bassline and a strong energetic pulse. Finally US based artist Miles Ellis debuts with ‘Jack the Beat’, a track that echoes the classic underground rave sounds of the mid ‘90s. Ellis adds, “I want to harness the essence of the rave days without phones, the days with straight raw music with soul and heart, the days with getting down and not giving a f**k with your friends and enjoying the night like it was your last!”

Now isn’t that everything we ever wanted from the Detroit techno Industry? Motech Records provides it here in abundance. All we need now are the dance floors… 2021 we can’t wait.

‘Consortium Vol. 2’ is available on Motech via all digital and streaming platforms from 18 December.

East End Dubs ‘Bec’s Groove’

Artist: East End Dubs
Title: Bec’s Groove
Remixer: Chris Stussy
Label: Up The Stuss
Cat. #: UTS02
Format: Vinyl / Digital
Release Date: 11th December 2020
Tracklist
1. Holo
2. Bec’s Groove
3. Jazzed In Time
4. Jazzed In Time (Chris Stussy Remix)

East End Dubs delivers the second release on Chris Stussy’s newly minted Up The Stuss imprint, ‘Becs Groove’, accompanied by the label founder on remix duties.

A leading name within the UK’s house and minimal scene, London’s finest East End Dubs has grown to become one of house music’s most prolific and consistent producers. Heading up his own labels Eastenderz, Social and the self- titled East End Dubs, with all three serving as go-to outlets for essential peak-time cuts, hazy afterhours productions and crisp DJ tools, whilst also releasing material via global powerhouses such as Hot Creations and FUSE, December now sees the bubbling talent head to Chris Stussy’s newly launched Up The Stuss imprint to deliver the label’s sophomore release ‘Bec’s Groove’ – backed by a remix from the label founder himself.

Opening cut ‘Holo’ welcomes the Londoner’s distinct, signature sonics as he goes to work combining chunky, rubbery bass grooves with slinking percussion and wavering synth melodies, whilst title cut ‘Bec’s Groove’ switches up proceedings as rich chords and snappy drums combine effortlessly with infectious vocals to offer up a sun- soaked, shuffling house number. Next up, ‘Jazzed In Time’ utilises playful bass licks and off-kilter electronics warp around a hypnotic core groove and up the energy levels, before welcoming Chris Stussy’s own interpretation of the track as he combines shimmering synths, fuzzy atmospherics, and resonant chords to close proceedings in style.

AVNU (UK) ‘Ultraviolet’

Artist: AVNU (UK)
Title: Ultraviolet
Label: Ellum Audio
Cat. #: ELL064
Release Date: 4th December 2020
Tracklist:
1) Ultraviolet
2) Infrared

Maceo Plex’s Ellum Audio rounds out the year with a fantastic two tracker from Scotland based producer AVNU (UK).

AVNU (UK) is based on the East Coast of Scotland and was born Adrian Hossain. He has been immersed in music for 20 years, equally inspired by rock, soul and blues as he is disco, electro, techno, trance and rave. He had a busy 2020 releasing waves of new music and now lands on Ellum Audio with some brilliantly inventive new sounds and styles.

Opener ‘Ultraviolet’ is an excellently exuberant track with a party atmosphere thanks to the bristling drums and funky bass riffs. Layered over the top are epic melodic chords whilst some subtle vocal adds plenty of soul. Disco, techno and funk all collide in thrilling new ways on this most dynamic and original of tracks.

Then comes the brilliantly atmospheric ‘Infrared’, a darker, more pounding and heads down track. This is rolling techno funk run through with skewed synths that twist and contort endlessly while big hi hats and booming kicks power on into dark corners of the dancefloor. An epic breakdown builds further tension before the whole thing explodes to life once more.

This is a fine end to the year from Ellum Audio and a great statement from AVNU (UK).