Artist: Marco C. & Elle-T Title: Baila Label: Hottrax Cat. #: HXT106 Format: Digital Release Date: 19th May 2023 Tracklist: 01 Baila 02 Whatcha Doin
Italian artists Marco C. & Elle-T join forces for an explosive EP on Jamies Jones’ Hottrax.
Marco C. and Elle-T have come up through the Italian scene, making their international mark on labels like SOLA, RAWTHENTIC MUSIC, and INMOTION MUSIC. Together the pair brings plenty of flair to their high-impact sounds, finding favour with Music On boss Marco Carola who gave their last EP plenty of plays, marking them as increasingly essential artists in modern House music.
First up here is ‘Baila’ which is a steamy, hard-hitting house track with freaky vocal stabs and crisp hits. The bass sounds like it’s fired from a laser and the smart studio skills of this pair ensure every sound makes its mark. They flip the script with ‘Whatcha Doin’, a more playful and summery sound with vocal yelps, skipping drum programming and raw percussion that all make for a groove that will shake the dance floor loose.
“Releasing on Jamie Jones’ label has always been a dream for us! This gives us the energy to keep growing.” – Marco C.
Lady Tazz’s Mind Medizin label has enlisted Fixon and Toru Ikemoto to serve up new remixes of Angioma’s ‘Unusual Suspect.’
Angioma’s original came back in December and ended the year in style for the label. Now it gets fresh energy from two more red-hot techno talents. Fixon is a Mexican mainstay and part of Illegal Alien who has been shaping the underground for 15 years. He has an arresting live show and has had support for his tunes from the likes of Paula Temple, Drumcell and Ben Klock. He flips the track into a pulsing peak time banger. The supple drums never let up as synths peel off the groove and rumbling bass rattles the walls. It’s urgent and timeless techno that melts the mind.
Toru Ikemoto is a Japanese artist who broke through in 2010 with a tune that became a Richie Hawtin favourite. Since then he has released on a range of international labels and showcases his signature techno sound here. It’s built on bulky kick drums that have bounce and dark funk, while edgy synth stabs bring a paranoid vibe and glitchy claps add essential warehouse grit.
These sublime techno workouts are sure to release plenty of freaks on the dance floor.
Artist: RSquared Title: Kind Of Lady Label: MÜSE Cat. #: MUSE046 Format: Digital Release Date: 19th May 2023 Tracklist: 1. Kind Of Lady 2. Dance Dance 3. Fox
UK duo RSquared make their first appearance on MÜSE with their three-track ‘Kind Of Lady’ EP.
Ever since debuting on Hector Couto’s Roush back in 2020, UK duo RSquared have been putting together an impressive string of EPs and material via the likes of Sola, Knee Deep In Sound and Revival New York while gaining key plays from industry heavyweights including Jamie Jones, Michael Bibi and Paco Osuna. Making their label debut on Dennis Cruz and Eddy M’s MÜSE, the pair serve up three fresh productions with the release of their slick ‘Kind Of Lady’ EP.
Title track ‘Kind Of Lady’ opens the package as rolling drums meet funky bass stabs and sharp vocal shouts for a crisp terrace roller. Next, ‘Dance Dance’ combines further vocal samples with crisp percussion grooves and an understated drive which keeps things ticking nicely, before ‘Fox’ closes the show on a more melodic tip as colourful synths and hazy textures meet effortlessly.
Born from the rising star James Hype his Stereohype project and collective is going strong, delivering more frequently than before fresh and interesting productions. The last single put out is ‘Transition’ made by the Stereohype’s label manager R3wire who meet NuKey, a duo from the UK who already appeared on the label and on other interesting such as Glasgow Underground, Spinnin Next and LW Recordings. ‘Transition’ is a catchy and dancefloor inspired track, it has been played many times and spotted on various live sets / podcasts, which means the response is positive by both audience and music industry operators. Aside the hot drums it’s featured a rough horn loop and a serious vocal that also shares an interesting message.
Lyrics: There will come a time in your life When you’ll ask yourself a series of questions Am I happy with who I am? Am I happy with the people around me? Am I happy with what I’m doing? Am I happy with the way my life is going? Find your street in the sound And make your transition
Artist: Decka, Arthur Robert Title: AMTK+002 Label: Amotik Cat. #: AMTKPLUS002 Format: Vinyl, Digital Release Date: 12th May 2023 Tracklist: A1 Decka – Bridging the Gap A2 Decka – Sulphur B1 Arthur Robert – Husk B2 Arthur Robert – Charisma
Amotik recruits Arthur Robert and Decka for the second split 12” AMTK+ label.
Releasing solo for years on his self-titled imprint, Berlin-based DJ/producer Amotiklaunched AMTK+ earlier this year to feature other artists via split EPs. Following the first instalment with the label boss and Deluka, Berlin-based Arthur Robert and Decka team up for the next EP, bringing another dose of deep and grooving techno to the table across four new tracks.
Unterwegs co-founder Decka kicks off the A-side with ‘Bridging the Gap’, bringing punchy kicks under oscillating tones and razor-sharp hats. ‘Sulphur’ follows with reverberating synths, rattling percussions and moody bass textures, delivering another menacing techno workout.
On the flip, Figure affiliate Arthur Robert provides deep, dark and hypnotic productions with ‘Husk’ blending warping stabs over a rumbling bass, while ‘Charisma’ takes us on a futuristic trip, embracing metallic bleeps and staggered hits, luring us into the early hours.
Jairo Delli’s fledging Rawtracks label impresses again with a new EP from Kevin Corral entitled ‘Say Yes’, featuring a remix from Mendo.
Tenerife-based Jairo Delli is a new school Spanish talent doing a fine job turning heads with early releases on his label Rawtracks. For this one, he turns to Kevin Corral, who co-founded his imprint Yeso Music having made his name on big labels like Solid Grooves Raw, Repopulate Mars and Sola. His fresh approach quickly made him an exciting name to follow and someone whose music has had high-profile support from take masteries such as Marco Carola, Jamie Jones and Solardo.
He brings the heat again here with title cut ‘Say Yes’, a steamy and sweaty mix of rock-solid kick drums, raw claps and sizzling synths. Add in some dark, atmospheric vocals, and you have the sort of powerful and fiery cut that will take command of any dance floor. ‘No Stress’ is another big track with fizzing synth lines panning about the mix over vast, driving kicks. There’s a tense atmosphere with gritty snares and eerie vocals sure to keep heads down and feet marching.
Remixing is Clarisse Records label head Mendo, one of the most in-demand names with over 200 credits in his discography, having reworked everyone from Nina Kraviz to Hot Since 82 and Yousef. Here he flips ‘Say Yes’ into a wild and bustling cut with jacked-up drums, sleazy rap vocals and fat synth lines.
Artist: Kolter Title: Bust A Dream EP Label: Koltrax Cat. #: KOX001 Release Date: 12.05.2023 Tracklist: 1) Please Don’t Call Me 2) Back In Town 3) Bust A Beat 4) Catch The Dream
Kolter drops first EP under new alias ‘Bust A Dream’ as he launches new imprint Koltrax Featuring the heavily requested ‘Please Don’t Call Me’, the debut EP on the label sees the Cologne-based favourite showcase what’s to come on the label under his new primary alias with four slick cuts set for release on 12th May 2023.
After closing the chapter on the DJOKO project after eight years, German DJ/producer Johannes Kolter keeps things moving under his artist project Kolter, with the alias bringing closer, more personal connections with it as he takes up his family name. A guise already in use, Kolter has released music under the alias via Constant Sound sublabel Pilot and Robert James’ Body Movement – serving as a home for more breakbeat-leaning material and split-EPs across both aliases on HOOVE and Talman Records. Not only becoming his primary creative outlet when it comes to his music, the moniker also forms the base for his new label, Koltrax, with the first EP ‘Bust A Dream’ set for release on 12th May 2023.
Opening with undeniably one of the most requested tracks of the past twelve months, the skippy and playful ‘Please Don’t Call Me’, Kolter quickly sets his stall as he showcases a range of sounds and sonics he’s quickly becoming renowned for, delivering a slick combination of bright synths, driving drums and cheeky samples across the lead effort. Next, ‘Back In Town’ is another crisp production harnessed by rich chord stabs and slinking grooves, while ‘Bust A Beat’ draws from funky bass slaps and spiralling electronics for a retro-infused yet future-facing production. To close, the deep and cosmic ‘Catch The Dream’ shapes up the package – wrapping up a typically impressive alias and label debut from one of modern house music’s most loved rising names.
With releases on Shall Not Fade, Rutilance, PIV and Up The Stuss amongst others, Kolter’s DJOKO project saw solo and collaborative material alongside the likes of Chris Stussy (Stussko) and DJ Steaw (Steawko), while fostering a strong following on Bandcamp via his self-released edits series. The chapter of the project was closed with the release of his debut and final album under the alias ‘Endless Explorations Part III’ on Berg Audio, with the final instalment released on the label earlier this year.
Artist: Truth x Lies Title: Dos Gardenias Label: North Of Neptune Cat. #: NON010 Format: Digital Release Date: 12th May 2023
Truth x Lies arrive on North Of Neptune with ‘Dos Gardenias’
Based in New York, with previous releases on Night Service Only,hau5trap, and Sink Or Swim, Truth x Lies are a duo at the cutting edge of modern House music. With their next single ‘Dos Gardenias’, the duo deliver the tenth release on Lee Foss’ newest label North Of Neptune, a driving track with pumping drums and Latin flavoured vocals and instrumentation.
Responsible for the wildly successful Repopulate Mars, South of Saturn, and Hot Creations, founded with Jamie Jones, Lee Foss’ new imprint North Of Neptune sees the Chicago-born, LA-based artist further cementing himself as one of modern house music’s most influential actors.
Artist: Lehar Title: Let People Know EP Label: Watergate Cat. #: WGDIG021 Format: Digital Release Date: 19.05.2023 Tracklist: 01. Let People Know 02. Whispers 03. Let People Know (Luke Alessi Remix) 04. Let People Know (Mia Mendi Remix)
Watergate moves to summer season with an embracing and welcoming release made by Lehar: ‘Let People Know EP’ features a set of four outstanding productions (2 originals and 2 remixes) that will heaten the dancefloors all over the world. The title track is a genuine mixture of tech house and melodic house: an electro bassline surrounds the whole instrumental adding deepness, while the vocal and the arpeggio line add a mesmerizing sensation. Follows ‘Whispers’ which maintains that kind of melodic style, although the sound is decise and strengthened than before. On the remix job we see the names of Luke Alessi and Mia Mendi, who opt to rearrange the title track: mr. Alessi adapts the theme into a tech house instrumental introducing an acid bassline and tribal percussions, while the Mia Mendi duo choose a mystical and introspective way to shape the sounds; their approach to the music is recognizable and help to close the EP adding style variety.
Just after the recent publication of Ango Tamarin’s ‘No Escape’ the label Truesoul puts out an incredible two tracker: it has been made by Carlio Lio and Boris and its deserves some attention. ‘Dime Lo’ – which is the title track – and ‘Hand Clap’ are two amazing and dancefloor inspired songs, with a large low-end sound spectrum and straight drum loops. On each instrumental the artists create hypnotic combinations, a factor that contribute to add a unique catchiness to the whole release.
