PACK SHOT Feiertag - Dive - Sonar Kollektiv

Feiertag ‘Dive’

Artist: Feiertag
Title: Dive
Label: Sonar Kollektiv
Cat. #: SK425D/LP
Format: Digital / Vinyl
Release Date: 13th May 2022
Tracklist
Living in Slow
Cala
Vivid & Hazy
INeedU
HowUDoIt
Nocturnality
Descend
Dive

Following his debut album in 2021, Feiertag now explores a different and deeper sound with new LP, ‘Dive.’

Joris Feiertag is a Dutch producer and drummer from the historic and culturally rich city of Utrecht. He signed to Sonar Kollektiv in 2018 and last year released his debut LP ‘Time To Recover.’ Now he returns to something like his musical roots, delving deeper into the use of synths and embracing more offbeat melodies. Countering the more uplifting and vocal-led nature of ‘Time To Recover’, Feiertag has recently found himself searching for more sonorous and sombre themes. It has resulted in ‘Dive,’ a more personal album without any topline songwriting and a more straightforward approach that allows Joris’ musicality to shine through.

The lead track, ‘Living In Slow’, is a quirky and intimate introduction with sped-up vocals, snapping snares and haunting synths that embraces Joris’ breakbeat roots. Things pick up with the steel drums, guitars and swooping synths of ‘Cala’, which brings to mind Jamie XX before ‘Vivid And Hazy’ continue the foot-friendly assault with warm keys and soothing vocals shining through. As a drummer himself, Feiertag always immerses himself in making the beats, which shows on ‘I Need U’. The track has an infectious UK garage feel that harks back to the artist’s first years of producing, as well as to greats like Zed Bias and Wookie.

The excellent ‘How U Do It’ takes some of its cues from classic UK sounds again, albeit with a heavy dose of Detroit house feelings. ‘Nocturnality’ dives into late night, hypnotic dance music with a hypnotic repetitive vocal line and some serious bottom end. Having passed peak time, ‘Descend’ draws us into slower territories and loungey vibes with dark foreboding synths. The title track completes the album with meditative and atmospheric charm, a sweet organ sound and sophisticated jazz drums. It is a blissful climax. ‘Dive’ is Feiertag’s most personal album to date, and it might well be his best.

Photo credit_ @miskovic @backtoback(7)

OFFSónar unveils all of their label parties for their 2022 series

OFFSÓNAR PUBLISHES IT’S AGENDA WITH MOST ACCLAIMED LABEL’S & EVENTS FOR JUNE 2022 SERIES AT POBLE ESPANYOL:  CIRCOLOCO, DRUMCODE, DETROIT LOVE, INNERVISIONS, EXHALE, WOOMOON & STORYTELLERS, GET LOST and OFFSÓNAR SPECIAL WITH PAUL KALKBRENNER AND BORIS BREJCHA

One of the most anticipated events this year in the city of Barcelona, OFFSónar, unveils all of their label parties for their 2022 series. Taking place across four days from 16 – 19 of June, OFFSónar is the companion event to  Sónar festival, together forming summer’s biggest party week in Europe. Curating a selection of cutting-edge labels and brands, OFFSónar sees them placed into one of the three archetypal venues within the Poble Espanyol; each possessing a unique mix of Spanish iconography and views across the city of Barcelona.

Commencing festivities on Thursday 16th of June, Ibiza institution Circoloco returns to the Plaza Mayor, while Carl Craig’s love-letter to the motor-city, Detroit Love, takes place in the Monasterio, and Amelie Lens is back in the Carpa & Picnic with her rapidly-rising event Exhale.

The OFFSónar Special heads to Friday 17th of June in the Plaza Mayor, presenting an indomitable double-header of Paul Kalkbrenner and Boris Brejcha.

Combining the same day with the European debut of Damian Lazarus’s label Crosstown Rebels event; GET LOST. Which will take place, with a diversity of renowned DJ’s and Live acts, across the Monasterio, Carpa & Picnic and the newly space La Terrazza.

Saturday 18th of June sees techno’s premiere label Drumcode make a triumphant return to the Plaza Mayor to present a day of pouding-rhythms and ecstatic moments.

As well, as the return of the dreamy event curated by Storytellers presenting: WooMooN & Storytellers across the Monasterio and Carpa & Picnic with the best performances and staging to make you enter a parallel world of surrealism and magic.

Bringing the week to a monumental close on Sunday 19th of June is seminal-label Innervisions, once again uniting the three spaces of Poble Espanyol to showcase the best and brightest artists of now, as always under the careful guise of Dixon & Âme.

Full line ups of artists are already revealed for OFFSónar’s 2022 series and tickets are already on sale starting at 20€ on Resident Advisor. More information about the festival and it’s events can be found at
https://offsonar.co

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Maroki ‘Return To The Emerald City’

Artist: Maroki
Title: Return To The Emerald City
Label: Running Out Of Steam
Cat. #: ROOS013
Format: Digital
Release Date: May13th 2022
Tracklist:
1. Emerald City
2. Alfred Stole My Brain
3. Talk To Me
4. Total Recall
5. All Be Over
6. Slower

As follow up of the Adam BFD’s release, Running Out Of Steam is ready to unleash another laidback and hypnotizing EP made by Maroki, who delivers ‘Return To The Emerald City’ , a release filled with six interesting productions. The sound quality is surprisingly high andreally covering in the low end; a bizzarre gem is ‘All Be Over’, the unique song to be build into a four to the floor rhythm that slightly detaches from the other tracks. However a rave and typical UK style influence rolls over the playback, adding a unique touch to the overall vibe.

More info:
https://soundcloud.com/letsgomaroki
https://soundcloud.com/runningoutofsteam

PACK SHOT - A Sagittariun - Strange Brew EP - Rekids

A Sagittariun ‘Strange Brew EP’

Artist: A Sagittariun
Title: Strange Brew EP
Label: Rekids
Cat. #: REKIDS202
Format: Vinyl / Digital
Release Date: 6th May 2022
Tracklist:
01 The Mind Blanks At The Glare
02 Cosmic Trigger
03 Don’t Look In The Freezer

A Sagittariun returns to Rekids this May with ‘Strange Brew EP’

Following his ‘Mazes & Monoliths’ EP on Rekids in 2021, as well as releases on Running Back, Hypercolour, Idle Hands, and Craigie Knowes, the Elastic Dreams boss returns to Radio Slave’s label for another standout three-track EP of colourful and psychedelic cuts.

Leading the release is ‘The Mind Blanks At The Glare’, which sees the Bristolian utilise low-slung breakbeats, bouncing basslines, and fluttering synths for a chugging start to the EP. ‘Don’t Look In The Freezer’ follows with dubbed-out FX and stomping low end, before ‘Cosmic Trigger’ brings hypnotic bass together with trippy, twinkling arps and dreamy pads for a gentle finalé.

“Each track on the EP wasn’t designed for dance floors necessarily, it’s more kinda ‘head music’, and for those that have delved into the A Sagittariun albums, the kind of productions that are synonymous with the more ‘listening experience’ side of A Sagittariun. ‘Strange Brew’ is probably an apt title for this triplet, as each cut goes on its own psychedelic journey, traversing BPMs, shades and moods.” – A Sagittariun

 

PACKSHOT Chuck Daniels & Tall Black Guy feat. Abby B - Slipping Away (incl. Andres & Chuck Daniel Remixes) - Beatstrong Music

Chuck Daniels & Tall Black Guy feat. Abby B ‘Slipping Away’

Artist: Chuck Daniels & Tall Black Guy feat. Abby B
Title: Slipping Away
Remixer: Andrés & Chuck Daniels
Label: Beatstrong Music
Cat. #: BSM001
Format: Digital
Release Date: 6th May 2022
Tracklist:
1)  Slipping Away (Original Mix)
2)  Slipping Away (Chuck Daniels Remix)
3)  Slipping Away (Andres Remix)

Chuck Daniels and fellow Detroit natives Tall Black Guy and Abby B combine to lay down the soulful ‘Slipping Away’, featuring remixes from Andres and Daniels himself.

Since the early 90s, Chuck Daniels has been releasing quality music and curating events as an influence and ambassador for the Detroit underground. With releases on Play It Say It, Planet E, Robsoul and his own Sampled Recordings imprint, Daniels has earned worldwide recognition for his signature take on house music. Now, the Midwestern DJ and producer launches his Beatstrong Music label as he joins groove aficionado Tall Black Guy and vocalist Abby B to serve up their deep single ‘Slipping Away’, featuring Mahogani Music’s Andres and Daniels himself on remix duties, with a percentage of the label’s revenue donated to a collection of charities battling cancer.

Chuggy low-ends and vibrant percussion lie beneath Abby B’s stirring vocals in the slick ‘Slipping Away’, before Daniels’ dancefloor rework ups the tempo throwing in a punchier bassline, echoing vocals and extended, glossy pads. To close, Andres harnesses dreamlike synths, hypnotic stabs and rich, warm tones in his classy reshape.

 

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Gratts ‘Music For The Moon Room Gecko’

Artist: Gratts
Title: Music For The Moon Room Gecko
Label: Flexi Cuts
Cat. #: FLEX013
Release Date: June 9th 2022
Tracklist:
A1 Euphoria feat. Brian Ruiz
A2 Meditation Nocturne
B1 Euphoria (Pj Principle Mobile Disco Mix)
B2 Meditation Nocturne (Jenifa Mayanja Remix)
Digital bonus:
Euphoria (Instrumental)
Euphoria (Pj Principle Instrumental Mix)

Gratts makes a big appearance on the Italian label Flexi Cuts with his second ever EP titled ‘Music For The Moon Room Gecko’. The release opener ‘Euphoria’ features the vocals of Brian Ruiz and a nice surrounding tribal/percussion loop, that creates a smooth and pleasing vibe; while listening to this track it seems that the time is suspended and neverending. ‘Meditation Nocturne’ follows increasing the tension with a high pitched string that plays for all the track duration. On the flip the two already mentioned themes are available in remixed versions by Pj principle, who adapts the A1 into a disco infected theme, and finally by Jenifa Mayanja, who makes ‘Meditation Nocturne’ intriguing and pleasant more than before.

More info:
https://soundcloud.com/gratts
https://soundcloud.com/flexicuts_wax

PACKSHOT Dennis Cruz - Ready For The Blues - MUSE

Dennis Cruz ‘Ready For The Blues’

Artist: Dennis Cruz
Title: Ready For The Blues
Label: MÜSE
Cat. #: MUSE031
Format: Digital
Release Date: 6th May 2022
Tracklist
1. Ready For The Blues
2. Looking For

Dennis Cruz hits back to back releases on MUSE with fresh heat across ‘Ready For The Blues’.

A DJ, producer and label boss who needs little introduction, Madrid favourite Dennis Cruz is keeping things close to home of late following the release of his debut album on Crosstown Rebels. Having dropped the no-nonsense ‘Business & Pleasure’ as part of the label’s 2022 MMW compilation, he makes a quick return to his and Eddy M’s co-owned MUSE imprint as he readies two fresh productions across his latest EP, ‘Ready For The Blues’.

The aptly-titled ‘Ready For The Blues’ brings those rolling, signature Dennis Cruz sounds he’s known for around the globe alongside vibrant guitar licks, powerful vocals for an impactful lead production, while ‘Looking For’ heads deep into the late night hours as snaking organic percussion and skippy hats guide bouncing basslines across a groove-fuelled trip.

 

 

HHR005

oliveyolive ‘Life Of Colour’

Artist: oliveyolive
Title: Life Of Colour
Label: Hidden Hill Records
Cat. #: HHR005
Format: Digital
Release Date: May 13th 2022
Tracklist:
1. newton’s theory (intro)
2. epiphany
3. friends in secre
4. before i die
5. faith
6. blueprint
7. static visions interlude
8. euphoria
9. growing pains
10. keep my spirit pure
11. futura
12. garcon dreams
13. life of colour (outro)

‘Life Of Colour’ is the debut album of oliveyolive, an artist based in Ireland who’s ready to share to the audience this organic 13 track selection. For who’s really into contemporary pop music, it will be easy to notice a relevant hip hop / trap influence introduced in all the vocals, even if the instrumentals are basically house, deep house or broken beat. The whole result is captivating and proposes another way to interpet the continuous mixture between electronic music styles. In the album release date will happen also a visual arts exhibition, featuring artists such as Frenchie Stardust, Atmos, Lena Thomas, Ayesha Ahmad, Grace Elizabeth Cullen, Darya Tiff and oliveyolive.

Exhibition event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/life-of-colour-visual-exhibition-tickets-334773134457

More info:
https://soundcloud.com/oliveyolive
https://oliveyolive.bandcamp.com/music
https://soundcloud.com/hhr00

PACK SHOT - Stephen Brown & Fossil Archive - 3D World EP - Fossil Archive

Stephen Brown & Fossil Archive ‘3D World EP’

Artist: Stephen Brown & Fossil Archive
Title: 3D World EP
Label: Fossil Archive
Cat. #: FAUK012
Format: Digital
Release Date: 29th April 2022
Tracklist:
01 Control C
02 3D World
03 More House
04 Travel

Stephen Brown and Fossil Archive, aka Roberto, team up for ‘3D World EP’ this April.

Following his acclaimed debut album ‘Tungsten’ on Kneaded Pains in 2021, as well as the recent ‘Motionless EP’ in February 2022, London based DJ/producer Fossil Archive, aka Roberto, joins forces with Edinburgh’s Stephen Brown, an artist whose work has appeared on Subject Detroit, Djax-Up-Beats, Echocord Colour, and more throughout his illustrious career.

Leading the release, ‘Control C’ sees the duo effortlessly weave syncopated stabs, knocking percussion, and rattling hats together for a suitably trippy start to the EP. Title cut ‘3D World’ follows with dense, emotive pads intertwined into sleek, building arrangement, one for the early hours. ‘More House’ bring pounding kick drums under swathes of FX and flowing chords before the final track, ‘Travel’ brings the tempo down for a hypnotic journey built for eyes-closed moments on the dancefloor.

Founded by Roberto in 2015, the Fossil Archive label has released music by artists such as Voiski, DJ Rolando, Sterac aka Steve Rachmad, Roman Lindau, Robert Owens, and many more, including Roberto himself. As a DJ, Roberto has played at the likes of fabric, Tresor, Berghain and more.

 

 

PACKSHOT Marcal - Only Forward EP - Hardgroove

Marcal ‘Only Forward EP’

Artist: Marcal
Title: Only Forward EP
Label: Hardgroove
Cat. #: HARDRGOOVEDIGI010
Format: Digital
Release Date: 29th April 2022
Tracklist:
1)  Marcal – Neuropeptide
2)  Marcal – The Only Way Is Forward
3)  Marcal – Staircase
4)  Marcal, Gabal & Invie – Same Address

Marcal debuts on Hardgroove with his ‘Only Forward’ EP.

In late April, the four-track EP from the hotly tipped Brazillian artist lands on Ben Sims’ storied imprint.

After racking up releases on Token, Rekids’ RSPX and Enemy, Marcal’s EP for Hardgroove sees the producer/DJ delivering pacey but funky warehouse cuts. The jacking, stan driven ‘Neuropeptide’ is a high impact opener, while the percussively frenetic ‘The Only Way is Forward’ keeps things warm with a looping wine wave riff. ‘Staircase’ follows with a choppy stomp defined by its tom-driven roll and detuned synth percussion before Marcal teams up with fellow Brazilians Invie and Gabal for ‘Same Address, a rousing closer with ‘4 am’ Banger written all over it.

Marcal is an increasingly important artist within Brazilian techno, confidently extending his global reach, and ‘Only Forward’ is another step forward.