Sabo’s record label, Sol Selectas embarks on its annual journey around the world with the 2023 edition of the imprint’s Summer Sol compilation.
The eight edition collects organic tracks by artists that are from different parts of the world in a celebration of diversity and different cultures. Featuring music from Sol Selectas regulars such as Safar (FR), Hot Oasis, Sabo, Raidho and Guy Maayan, it also features music from numerous artists making their record label debut.
Although organic house is the genre the release orientates around, like the earth orbiting the sun, the release is filled with diversity, and includes genres ranging from Afro house to downtempo.
Fans of Sol Selectas know exactly what to expect from this highly revered compilation which gathers existing members of the record label’s family and introduces them to the next generation of talent, as this release is often the gateway to future releases on Sabo’s influential imprint.
Collectively, the artists who feature on this release have dropped individual tracks and remixes on other respected labels such as MoBlack Records, Pipe & Pochet, Sounds of Khemit, Bar 25 Music, 3000 Grad, Cafe De Anatolia and Akbal Music.
There are a total of 31 tracks on the full release which features music from countries such as Tunisia, Israel, Morocco, Poland, America and Iran. The artwork by Helia Jamali portrays the moment that we catch the light and the energetic rays of the sun activate our spirit through a divine connection.
One of techno’s most exciting contemporary acts, Joyhauser, unveil their highly-anticipated debut album In Memoro. Chartered via their staple home Terminal M, the twelve-track LP was teased in recent months with the release of its lead singles Wasted, Liberty and Bassdrone. The full-length studio album is now available to stream across all digital platforms, with its subsequent vinyl release.
Encroaching on the pinnacle of success, the release of In Memoro marks a seminal point in the duo’s career. Having delivered a consistent stream of hit records for the underground community, the pair’s inaugural album showcases their production efforts on the global stage, expanding on their flourishing discography in conceptual style. Representing some of their most daring and progressive opuses to date, In Memoro’s collection of tracks give us a more realised impression of the duo’s unrelenting creativity and ability to not only create peak-time worthy records, but to produce with ‘the journey’ in mind. Clocking countless studio hours over the past three years, Joyhauser’s debut 12” is a record that has been eagerly awaited by the modern audience for some time, and it doesn’t fail to deliver.
The previously released Wasted, Liberty and Bassdrone welcomed huge support across the club and festival circuits, entering the touring playlists of almost every major DJ in the scape. Fuelled by unrelenting drum patterns, hearty kicks and rapturous melodies, the cuts proved to be the anthemic gems of 2022/2023 and resumed their top charting placements respectively.
To the excitement of long-standing fans, In Memoro features a whole host of domineering techno hits that champion the stylistic leanings we’ve come to know and love from the pair. LXR02 is one of these offerings. Upping the tempo, Joyhauser shine a spotlight on their signature sound, delivering high-impact cosmic synth work and a meaty kick drum; attributes that have labelled them masters of their craft. The feisty Hemera sets an authoritative tone from the off, presenting a powerful synth lead and rave stabs that celebrate the sweet spot between techno’s foundational records and its modern sensibilities. These same dynamic characteristics can be found within Roam Zwei, Pulsar, Lightbringers and A Beautiful End Of The World, making them the heroes of festival season and serving as essential additions to the duo’s impeccable back catalogue.
Woven between the album’s peak-time worthy hits are a series of ambient and crossbreed offerings that present an entirely new perspective to Joyhauser’s sound palate. The opening cut Leben welcomes the album in cinematic style, providing listeners with a deeply emotive introduction to this compelling body of work. Hints of vocal chops and an impressive synth riff enter the space, bending between old school rave and acid influences before erupting into a climactic breakbeat moment. Expanding on this alternative musical direction and showing their immense versatility in the studio, the duo treat us to another breakbeat number in Anamorphic. Cross-pollinating these percussive influences with techno-leaning synth work, world-music vocal injections and dreamy soundscapes, Joyhauser deliver a refined hybrid production that’s littered with grand apex moments. The stunning Astral Projection, gives us a moment of reflection between the bellowing techno cuts. As its name suggests, the pair provide us with serene soundscapes and high twinkling synths, introducing a warmly familiar breakbeat foundation that will leave audiences wanting more from this sound profile.
Flawlessy executed from start to finish, Joyhauser’s debut album is the result of years of hard work and dedication to the scene, as well as an innate artistry that has the scope to ensure longevity within their career. Presenting as one of the fastest rising acts on the international electronic music circuit, the Belgian outfit are leading the resurgence of timeless European techno, cementing the cardinal foundations of the genre’s storied history within their forwarded-thinking productions. A rich tapestry of opuses set within a stunning full-length record, In Memoro’s impact will be felt for years to come and will no doubt open the door to the upper echelons of dance music for one of techno’s favourite duos.
Artist: Benny Benassi Title: Time (Cody Chase Remix) Remixer: Cody Chase Format: Digital Release Date: 23.06.2023 Tracklist: 1. Time (Cody Chase Remix)
Skillful DJ/Producer Cody Chase strikes back with another powerful release, this time, he unveils his special take on Benny Benassi’s hit ‘Time’; his Tech House remix showcases his signature sound and production skills, giving the well-known track a revamp highlighting his unique style and powerful sound.
Following the releases of his EP ’Stay Tuned’ and the track ‘You Said’, Cody Chase has been keeping busy in the studio producing new unmissable tracks to be released later this year, on top of this, his increasingly popular radio show ‘The Chase’ which features the best in Techno and Tech House, with fresh episodes mixed and curated by the artist, keeps reaching new audiences every week, with new radio stations across the world, adding the show to their weekly schedule. Cody Chase shows no signs of slowing down, presenting this fresh remix that’s ready to set dancefloors on fire.
For this remix, Cody Chase does not hold back, delivering a powerful listening experience for his followers and fans of the Tech House genre; a wobbly bassline and an energetic beat kick off this remix; the intensity rises increasingly throughout the track to find a release through hard-hitting drops, that feature the iconic robotic vocals from the original, distorted acid synthlines and a steady yet powerful vibe. A sonic journey of its own, this remix highlights Cody Chase’s skills as a Producer and remixer, displaying his signature hard-hitting sound while paying homage to the maestro Benny Benassi.
This unmissable remix proves once more, why Cody Chase’s name is one to follow closely, as his projects, live performances and releases keep his name high on the list of exciting acts not to be missed. Don’t forget to follow Cody Chase, as his release schedule promises more powerful productions to come; ‘Time (Cody Chase Remix)’ is out now and available in all major online stores and streaming platforms.
Artist: Oliver Ho Title: V-Series: Colours for the Blind Label: V-Series / EPMmusic Cat. #: EPMVS02 Format: Digital Released Date: 7 July 2023 Tracklist: 1. Silver (Original Mix) 2. Silver (Damon Wild’s Subtractive Mix) 3. Green 4. Gold 5. Red (Digital Exclusive) 6. Silver (Alt. Version)
Death & Leisure boss and long-time Blueprint artist, Oliver Ho has been at the forefront of the UK’s avant garde techno and electronic scene since the mid 90s. He now joins EPM’s V-Series for its second release, the ‘Colours for the Blind EP’.
Originally released in 2000 on the Sequential label the EP has never been officially available on digital until now. Remastered for today’s dancefloors the EP comes backed by the original Damon Wild Subtractive Mix as well as two unreleased digital exclusives in the shape of ‘Red’ and ‘Silver (Alt. Version)’, both made at the same time but previously unreleased.
V-Series is EPM’s subsidiary label, where the V stands for Vintage: a golden era of Techno in the 90s and early 2000s before the digital era took over. As we dig in the vaults for over-looked gems and hidden classics, we remaster releases from this time that have previously only been available on vinyl, bringing them into the digital age.
Artist: Tiny Elvis (Phil Channell and Wayne McCann) Title: Desire EP Label: Cosmocities Cat. #: CMSR009 Format: Digital, vinyl Release Date: 30.06.2023 Tracklist: 1. Desire 2. Desire (Bushwacka! Remix) 3. Howze The Music 4. Howze The Music (Max In The World’s Floating Heart Mix) 5. Howze The Music (Placid Angles Throwback Mix)
Cosmocities brings back to life two Tiny Elvis productions made in far 1999: both taken from ‘Desire EP’ the title track and ‘Howze The Music’ make a leap in time, getting a remastering process and adaptations to contemporary sounds. The original tunes reveal to be two delicious deep house songs which represent a glorious and prosperious era. Bushwacka! remixes ‘Desire’ making the main theme more underground than before, the musical deepness reached is unique and sometimes sensual. Max In The World and John Beltran a.k.a. Placid Angles put their hands on the ‘Howze The Music’ samples; the first remixer makes the mood sophisticated and affine to dub techno, while John Beltran revisits the song stirred up by an oldschool emphasis typical of the 90s.
Artist: Julien Earle Title: To The Music (Splinter Cell Hardmix) Label: Reflection Cat. #: R3FN012 Format: Digital Release Date: 23.06.2023 Tracklist: 1. To The Music
Julien Earle’s record label, Reflection drops an explosive techno release featuring a debut release by Splinter Cell.
Splinter Cell is a new artist whose devastating grooves fuse thundering percussion and formidable synth lines. An artist who likes to let his music do the talking, Splinter Cell makes a first official release with an in-your-face remix of Julien Earle’s recent hit track “To The Music”.
Based in America, Julien Earle is known for his hard-hitting techno tracks on scene leading techno record labels such as UMEK’s 1605, Spektre’s Respekt and Pleasurekraft’s Kraftek. This new remix of his track adds raw aggression to the fast-and-furious original.
The rework lifts the tempo and adds new ominous sounds that complement the original’s vocal and speaker tearing lead synth. The addition of pulsating bass and screeching stabs are overlaid by the high-velocity rhythms of thrashing hi-hats. Reaching a crescendo in the tension of the breakdown, the track lifts up a gear when the drums slam back in with added vigour.
Artist: Cinthie Title: Musique for Discotheques EP Remixer: St David Label: Heist Recordings Cat. #: HEIST072 Format: Vinyl/Digital Release Date: 16th June 2023 Tracklist: 01 Won’t u take me 02 Piano heaven 03 Masterplan 04 Piano heaven (St. David Remix)
Cinthie joins Dam Swindle’s Heist Recordings with a lush House EP, including a remix from St. David.
Cinthie has compiled a lush DJ Kicks compilation, released numerous EPs on labels such as Aus Music, runs one of Berlin’s finest record stores, Elevate Records, and tours the world fiercely, both as a DJ and with her all-new live show. Her EP for Heisthas been in the works for a long time, and ‘Music for Discotheques’ EP is a no-holds-barred, all-killer, no-filler record exploring various sides of House music.
Starting with the vocal cut, ‘Won’t u take me’, lush pads, shuffling snares and a dreamy female vocal work together to bring a warm and classy house track with a clear nod to 90’s US house with its feet firmly rooted in the present. ‘Piano heaven’ takes you on an Italo-meets-deep house excursion with a driving 909 groove, a deceptively simple bass, and keys and strings that bring this track to its full peak-time potential, already becoming one of the biggest tracks in Cinthie’s live show.
On the flip, Cinthie picks up the pace with the footwork-inspired jam ‘Masterplan’, bringing classic 808s, loopy synths and a cheeky spoken word piece together. The final track of the EP is the expertly crafted remix by Italian house maestro St. David. He’s made a dazzling rework of ‘Piano Heaven’, twisting the track into a deep and driving version that’s layered in sweeps, FX and bleeps for an altogether mesmerizing effect.
“We’re thrilled that we can share Cinthie’s music on the label and have her join the family after having played so many shows together and having spoken about doing something together for such a long time. As always, play it loud and dance, dance, dance!” – Dam Swindle
Artist: Hybrasil Title: Greystone EP Label: Rekids Special Projects Cat. #: RSPX54 Format: Digital Release Date: 16th June 2023 Tracklist: 01 Greystone 02 Cernunnos 03 Konkrete 04 Eriu
Hybrasil returns to Rekids Special Projects with ‘Greystone EP’ this June.
Following a host of heavy-hitting EPs across both Rekids and Rekids Special Projects since 2018, Irish-born, Berlin-based Hybrasil returns to Radio Slave’s techno-focused label with ‘Greystone EP’, a fresh four tracker of hard-hitting Techno cuts, all impressively recorded live.
Leading the release is the title track ‘Greystone’, which combines grooving drums with hypnotic, flowing synth work for a sharp opening cut before ‘Cernunnos’ brings bouncy stabs and sizzling hats together to follow. ‘Konkrete’ sees trippy leads and stomping kicks blend together to form a heavy jam, leading into the closing cut ‘Eriu’, which combines spacey atmospheres and warehouse sensibilities to round out another killer set of tracks from Hybrasil.
“Greystone EP is a live concept release. All tracks were recorded live, produced and mixed at HBL Studios. Sonically it’s very much part of a feedback loop between my live shows and studio work.” – Hybrasil.
Artist: Mustafa Ismaeel Title: Groove You EP (feat. Dilby & Enamour) Label: Rebellion Cat. #: RBL095 Format: Digital Release Date: 16th June 2023 Tracklist 1. Mustafa Ismaeel – Groove You 2. Mustafa Ismaeel & Dilby – Twisted Mind feat. Shar 3. Mustafa Ismaeel & Enamour – Nothingness
Crosstown Rebels sub-label Rebellion welcomes back Toronto-based DJ/producer Mustafa Ismaeel for his ‘Groove You’ EP, featuring collaborations with Dilby and Enamour.
Iraqi-born Canadian artist Mustafa Ismaeel has been a vital part of the Toronto underground scene and is now sharing his music and energy across the globe. Releasing on contemporary labels such as The Soundgarden, Steyoyoke and Manual, as well as Damian Lazarus’ Rebellion, his musical output aims to constantly redefine his musical boundaries, with groove and emotion as the key to his material. Returning to the label following his recent appearance at Get Lost during MMW, he serves up a trio of considered and cultured house records across his ‘Groove You’ EP, featuring a pair of classy first-time collaborations.
“With this release I tried to focus on the groove while conveying emotions in a subtle manner. I followed a more intuitive and practical approach with tracks that simply work on the dancefloor. Collaborating with Enamour, Dilby and the vocalist Shar has been a real treat as we had an effortless understanding of each other’s vision.” – Mustafa Ismaeel.
The EP opens with solo production and title cut ‘Groove You’, a seven-minute roller with gritty claps and percussion over rich bass designs. Add warm, swirling pads and a hypnotic lead synth next to the steamy vocals, and you have an emotionally intense cut.
Next comes the first collaboration with Dilby, a tastemaker with releases on labels like 8Bit, Saved and Bondage Music. Together they cook up ‘Twisted Mind’ featuring Shar, a deep house sound with supple drums and bass underneath emotive vocals that bring the soul to this heads-down groove. Closing the EP is ‘Nothingness’ alongside LA-based talent Enamour, whose dynamic and powerful sound has taken him to labels such as Last Night On Earth, Get Physical Music and Factory 93. Their collaboration is a brilliantly chunky mid-tempo house groove with sensuous sax motifs, lush chords and muttered vocals, bringing a sense of late-night intimacy.
Artist: X-Press 2 Title: Muse Label: Acid Jazz Cat. #: AJXD758 Format: Digital Release Date: 16th June 2023
Following Acid Jazz’s acquisition of X-Press 2’s catalogue and their early works being added to streaming sites, the pivotal UK house duo return with a second new single from this latest chapter in their storied career.
House music would sound very different without the work of this legendary pair. For the last three decades, they have been serving up a broad spectrum of music that ranges from catchy and anthemic to more dark and moody via the charismatic sounds of their last single ‘You Know (Everybody)’. They won an Ivor Novello Award for ‘Lazy ft David Byrne’ and have even had their tunes synced by fashion house Givenchy, but never have they stopped evolving, as four fantastic studio albums have shown.
They are in fine form again here with ‘Muse’, which finds the pair sinking into deep, introverted house grooves. The dusty, scruffy drums drag like a heavy heart beneath wistful vocal sounds up top that convey real emotional pain. Subtle melodies rise up through the mix to bring a sense of hope to this most moving of tracks.
The unstoppable force that is X-Press 2 rolls on once more with this tender new single.
