Italian duo Len Vitz and Charlie Iapicone debut on Hot Creations with ‘Playhouse’, backed by a remix from Cologne favourite Kolter.
Featuring as two young talents rising from the Italian house scene, Len Vitz and Charlie Iapicone are gearing up for their biggest release to date following a series of EPs across recent years. Joining forces for the first time to rework Ann Peebles’ 1972 soul hit ‘I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down’, they debut on Hot Creations with their collaboration ‘Playhouse’ – backed by a stellar remix from Cologne-based DJ/producer and label boss, Kolter.
“The EP was born by chance, an experiment which turned out successful. It’s a mixture of sounds and recordings accompanied by a taste of vintage soul music.” – Len Vitz.
Harnessing the original production’s resonant vocals and funk-fuelled riffs, ‘Playhouse’ brings a 70’s classic to modern dancefloors as slick drums and slinking bass grooves reveal a track made for memorable moments. On the flip, Kolter’s remix brings an additional slice of vigour and energy as he utilises signature chords and skippy percussion to shape up proceedings.
Artist: DEAS Title: Scope EP Label: CLR Cat. #: CLR107 Format: Digital Release Date: 17th March 2023 Tracklist: 01 Scope 02 Dopamine 03 Coral 04 Redemption
DEAS returns to Chris Liebing’s CLR with ‘Scope EP’ this March.
Previously appearing on CLR with two heavy techno EPs in 2022, the Greece-born, Poland-based DJ/producer and BAU MUZIK label boss DEAS returns to Chris Liebing’s imprint with ‘Scope EP’, bringing another collection of his fierce techno productions for his first release in 2023.
Leading the release, the title track ‘Scope’ brings powerful kicks alongside airy, filtered synths for an emotive yet stomping opening cut. ‘Dopamine’ follows with grinding, attitude-filled bass and tweaked-out bleeps for an energetic, heads-down affair. ‘Coral’ sees DEAS draw for trippy textures, dense percussion, and rattling drums before closing track ‘Redemption’ rounds out the release with another high-grade techno offering.
Artist: Joannes Title: Kiss, Date, Love & Hate Label: RFR Records Cat. #: RFR 014 Release Date: Tuesday, April 11 2023 Tracklist: 1. Kiss 2. Date 3. Love 4. Hate
Since the release of RFR 014 Joannes has remained a quality source of solid techno. With this four track EP he proves his sonic versatility.
„Kiss“ sounds like a lucid dream, when you have spent the nights sleeping upon Robert Hood’s „Internal Empire“ for some time. A respectful homage to Detroit’s grandmaster, combining everything what made and makes techno so unique for decades.
The second track remains true to the minimal approach of this EP. Pictures of a humid rainforest, only sparsely lit by daylight, through whose overgrown paths you’re cutting your way with a machete. Certainly not a place for a „Date”, rather a spot for minimal techno in 90s garments.
A touch of tribal, Chicago infused percussions and gentle melodies are all that it takes to elect „Love“ as one of the highlights of this EP. A wonderful start for those often-underrated record flipsides.
Despite its title, „Hate“ might be the most accessible track of this EP. If you are into melodic Detroit techno with dash of…., you may fall in love with this one and hardly get away from it.
Artist: USUK Title: Fear The Sound Label: USUK Records Cat. #: USUK19 Format: Digital Release Date: 03.03.2023 Tracklist: 01. Ready to Move (Intro Version) 02. Murder State (An Ode to John Carpenter) 03. Deep in the Nightmare (Original Album Version) 04. Unseen 05. Time and Tension 06. Lost in the Dark 07. Impulse Control (HZ Edit) 08. Mind Machine (Modulator) 09. Gather Yourself 10. Fear the Sound (Outro Version)
USUK is a duo consisting of UK techno producer Mark EG and American keyboard/synth composer Chad Stegall. Together, they also head up USUK Records, which is the outlet for their new ten track album ‘Fear the Sound’.
Their synth driven style is an eclectic blend that ranges from old-school electro to driving techno with melodic elements, and their immersive album fuses dance floor energy with captivating chord progressions that capture the imagination.
Mark EG is a veteran DJ and producer who has been releasing music since the ’90s on labels ranging from D.A.V.E. The Drummer’s Hydraulix to the highly respected Planet Rhythm. He has played DJ sets at some of the biggest nightclubs/festivals the world has to offer, and is known for having a peak time style with driving energy.
Chad Stegall has a deeper style and has produced progressive house tracks for labels such as Udopia Recordings and Dear Deer. He has a love of hardware synthesisers and is a master at creating emotive melodies and mood-setting pad sweeps.
The two producers have found common ground by producing a hybrid sound that sits between synthwave and peak time techno.
“Ready to Move” opens the release with an atmospheric intro that sets the scene with trippy vocals while the percussion slowly takes control. The release then picks up the pace as the following tracks switch through the gears with eerie tension and dystopian atmosphere.
“Unseen” is the fourth track on the release and it’s a moody cut with electro undertones that changes up the groove before things get driving and more techno focused with pulsating synths and hard-hitting percussion. Things start to get abstract as the release comes to a close with the cosmic synths of tracks such as “Impulse Control”. The title track “Fear the Sound” ends the release by winding things down to a percussive outro that finishes the release on a high by capturing the mood of a dance floor.
Artist: Pale Blue Title: No Words Remixer: DJ Tennis and Perel Label: Crosstown Rebels Cat. #: CRM287 Format: Digital / Vinyl Release Date: 3rd March 2023 Tracklist 1. No Words 2. No Words (DJ Tennis Remix) 3. No Words (Perel Remix) 4. No Words (Perel Remix Dub Version)
Electronic duo Pale Blue return to Crosstown Rebels with ‘No Words’, the second single from their forthcoming album ‘Maria’, with remixes from DJ Tennis and Perel.
Italians Do It Better founder Mike Simonetti and Silver Hands’ Elizabeth Wight’s rich and storied careers within the electronic realm and beyond only elevated further with the launch of their Pale Blue project in 2015, unveiling a series of critically acclaimed releases via Simonetti’s 2MR imprint with plaudits including Pitchfork, FACT and Resident Advisor, to name just a few. Having provided the first look into their forthcoming album on Crosstown Rebels entitled ‘Maria’, scheduled for release on the label later this year, the pair return to open March with the second single from the project, ‘No Words’ – accompanied by remixes from DJ Tennis and Perel.
“‘Maria’ is an album of love songs, and ‘No Words’ is the apex, so to speak. It is the Pale Blue version of a jacking house track. The lyrics are intentionally sing-songs/nursery rhyme style to give it an even more minimal and fleeting feeling. It may be the most optimistic song in our catalog.” – Mike Simonetti.
Detailing the backstory to the record, Simonetti notes both upcoming single ‘No Words’ and the majority of the tracks on the duo’s forthcoming album project were made on the exact synths used to create Jaydee’s iconic 1993 hit, ‘Plastic Dreams’. “A long time ago, maybe twelve years, I answered a Craigslist ad of a person selling some synthesizers, and when I got to the house to buy them, it was Jaydee of ‘Plastic Dreams’ fame. I ended up buying the two synths he recorded ‘Plastic Dreams’ on, and his custom presets were still set up”. He adds, “I use his synths all the time and used them on almost every song on ‘Maria’. On ‘No Words’ especially, I used the ‘Plastic Dreams’ sound from his actual synth”.
Guided by a captivating bassline accented by Wight’s charming vocals, which flutter amongst the mix, ‘No Words’ is a hooky and compelling production that ebbs and flows across its near five-minute duration with effortless ease, capturing the playful nature alluded to by Simonetti. Life and Death head honcho DJ Tennis’ remix arrives next, veering down a hazy yet absorbing path as crisp organic drums and engrossing melodies form around the vocals and journey through light and dark textures.
The B-side of the record belongs to DJ/producer, vocalist, and DFA Records favourite Perel, offering a cosmic dive through spacey synths, skittering bleeps and pops, and tough kicks across her take on the production – before distorting and warping the vocals and shifting the emphasis on the ever-evolving electronics across her ‘Dub Version’.
We Are The Brave hit their 100th release courtesy of label founder, DJ/producer Alan Fitzpatrick, with ‘Aura/Distance’, two heavy originals and a pair of remixes from Luke Slater’s legendary Planetary Assault Systems alias and Truncate label alumni Klint. Founded in 2016, Fitzpatrick’s We Are The Brave has released music from the likes of Sasha, Rebūke, and Skream, as well as remixes from Anfisa Letyago, Reinier Zonneveld, and Dense & Pika, regularly providing mind-bending techno cuts sculpted for dancefloors and warehouses worldwide.
Leading the release ‘Aura’ brings strong drums paired with futuristic bleeps, creating a tense and gripping journey. ‘Distance’ brings a dose of high energy with hypnotic and electronic synths, set to get your feet stomping. Giving Fitzpatrick’s tune an even more futuristic feel, the iconic British DJ/producer Planetary Assault Systems adds eerie chimes and shimmering synth flutters on his remix of ‘Aura’. Joining him is Klint, who brings high-speed drum arrangements for his interpretation of ‘Distance’, topping off a huge release for We Are The Brave.
Artist: LAFT Title: New Objectivity LP Label: badabing diskos Cat. #: badabing01lp Release Date: 03.03.2023 Tracklist 1. Spruce 2. Elm 3. Ash 4. Birch 5. Maple 6. Oak 7. Willow 8. Hazel 9. Pine feat. Arcoe
Norway-based duo LAFT serve up ‘New Objectivity’, a thrilling album of live house music with a signature Scandi-twist on the excellent badabing diskos label.
World-renowned percussionist and formally trained jazz master Tomas Järmyr (from groups like Motorpsycho, Årabrot and Pantha Du Prince’s The Bell Laboratory) and acoustic rave engineer Håkon Vinnogg (aka label founder Vinny Villbass) are LAFT. Together they seek to explore functional dance floor communication built around unique improvisations. Their structural and compelling sound is carefully composed and expertly performed with real musicianship and thrilling rhythms at its core. Järmyr brings a decade+ of live music experience having played all over the world and featured on more than 50 records while Vinnogg is known for his exceptional groove and timing as a result of 25 years behind the decks and releases on Trunkfunk, Beatservice and Eskimo Recordings.
The mystic sounds of ‘Spruce’ open up as a playful and suggestive house rhythm is overlaid with gorgeous percussive sounds and impish synth spirits that dart amongst the beats. ‘Elm’ then lays down a rolling, dubby groove full of reverb and bubbling synths that sink you in deep. The album plays out with the narrative of a DJ set as ‘Ash’ ups the ante with hints of the party to come. The shuffling drums are warmed through with diffuse chords and cosmic patterns that erupt into jazzy and dancing keys. There is a hint of old school but through a modern disco-house lens on the brilliant ‘Birch’ with its lively drums and persuasive leads, then ‘Maple’ is as syrupy as the title suggests thanks to slower tempos and rich, sticky bass synths.
The luxurious, melody-rich sounds continue with ‘Oak’ – a roomy cut with a frazzled bassline that allows you to stare in wonder at the eco-system of colourful sounds all around you. ‘Willow’ offers a trippy vibe with its creepy chords and drippy leads while ‘Hazel’ layers up house drums with conversational synths, pixelated keys and delightful cosmic energy. The whole wonderful journey comes to a close with ‘Pine’, a future classic house cut with meticulous melodies by multi instrumentalist Arcoe on keys.
‘New Objectivity’ is packed with richly arranged house music that brims with vibrant and life-affirming melodies.
Jamie Jones launches new label Paradise, with the first release from LA-based talent Dateless Building on Jones’ globally recognised event series, the label will showcase and represent the Paradise boss’ early musical inspiration and the roots of the series’ concept while also looking to the future, with Dateless’ ‘Geekin’ out on 3rd March 2023
Jamie Jones, the world-renowned DJ/producer, label boss of seminal imprint Hot Creations, and member of the cross-genre band Hot Natured, launches a new label project this March as he adds a musical side to his longstanding Paradise event series by welcoming Los Angeles’ Dateless for the imprint’s first release.
Building on the lauded success of the brand’s iconic Ibiza events at DC10 and Amnesia, plus shows across the globe and throughout Miami Music Week, ADE, and Sonar OFF Week, the label looks set to showcase Jones’ early musical influences and the music behind the party’s roots, while unveiling a glimpse into its future with records made for iconic moments.
Speaking on the concept, Jones notes, “People sometimes ask me why I called the Paradise parties, Paradise… Well, it was named after the Paradise Garage. I’ve always dreamt of what it would be like to attend one of Larry Levan’s famous parties. And when the opportunity to do a party in Ibiza came along, I envisioned an eclectic, colourful party as the morning sun came up filled with different types of people. No one caring about anything except for the unity, the vibe, and the journey of the music”.
He adds, “With Paradise records, I wanted to go back to the original vision and release records that can be played in those special moments when the vibe is thick, and the energy is right”.
The first release comes from rising US talent Dateless, following releases via Jones’ own Hot Creations and Hottrax imprints alongside Solid Grooves, VIVa, Saved, and his own label Thanks For Sending, as he unveils the vibrant sounds of ‘Geekin’.
“‘Geekin’ (my story in a nutshell, if you will) comes from the feeling of necessity. I found myself unmoved by the general house scene, so I started listening closer than ever to the house music that still moved me. One of the artists that helped elevate my craft at the time was Toman; maybe we’ll be friends after this. What do you think, Toman!? Haha. I’m sure those who know me can feel my personality come out in this record. Whatchu know ‘bout this? Huh!” – Dateless.
A funk-fuelled cut combining resonant bass licks, shuffling organic drums, and signature hooky vocals, ‘Geekin’ unveils a melting pot of house and disco influences, both new and old, providing visions of sun-soaked terraces and bustling dancefloors.
Artist: Nathan Alzon Title: Midtown Madness Remixer: Archie Hamilton Label: Nature Cat. #: NATURE004 Format: Digital Release Date: 3rd March 2023 Tracklist 1. Midtown Madness 2. Nairobi 3. Bikini Bottom 4. Bikini Bottom (Archie Hamilton Remix)
wAFF invites Nathan Alzon to Nature to become the first guest artist on the label with ‘Midtown Madness’, joined by Microhertz boss Archie Hamilton on remix duties.
Having emerged from Taipei’s underground music scene, Nathan Alzon arrived on the international scene in style in 2021, with his debut ‘Looking At You’ dropping via ANOTR’s lauded No Art imprint and becoming an early contender for track of the summer. With further material landing on What NxT, Tamango and Deeperfect, the French-Taiwanese DJ/producer now heads to wAFF’s Nature imprint as he becomes the first artist to appear on the label alongside the head honcho – with Microhertz chief Archie Hamilton on hand to remix the package.
Fusing rolling percussion, echoed vocal samples and hazy melodies, title track ‘Midtown Madness’ balances driving and more paired back elements for an energetic rush across seven minutes, with ‘Nairobi’ taking up a similar dynamic as resonant chords and sharp drums take hold. Next, ‘Bikini Bottom’ delivers more infectious vocal interludes on top of skittering hats and sweeping synth lines, before Archie Hamilton’s take veers into an acid-driven dynamic journey deep into the night.
Artist: Malin Genie Title: Phaethon Label: Up The Stuss Cat. #: UTS12 Release Date: 03.03.2023 Tracklist 1. Phaethon 2. Gamma Gazette 3. Wooble 4. Going To The Beach All Day 5. Pany [Digital Bonus]
Malin Genie returns to Up The Stuss as the Vigenere boss unveils his first EP on the label, ‘Phaethon’.
A true modern-day pioneer of house music, Amsterdam-based DJ, producer and label owner Malin Genie is only getting better as he continues to add to his rich catalogue of releases. Whether producing darker, more minimal-leaning productions on his Vigenere imprint through to his contributions alongside Lazare Hoche and S.A.M. as 1/3 of Mandar, his wide-reaching sound sees his productions primed in the record bags of the scene’s most renowned names, with his ‘Phaethon’ EP providing a perfect showcase of this talent. Welcoming a collection of house gems from across the spectrum – from glistening, resonant synth-driven productions to skittering low-end heavy cuts and warping, twisting efforts – this is arguably his most diverse release to date as he marks his return to Up The Stuss in exemplary fashion.
Title cut ‘Phaeton’ is a kaleidoscopic trip into the mind of one of house music’s finest, combining shuffling drums with emotive chords and sweeping leads, before ‘Gamma Gazette’ delivers a snaking, low-end driven groove set to move dancefloors. The instantly recognisable ‘Wooble’ is a warping, off-kilter gem featured heavily within label boss Chris Stussy’s sets across the past 12 months, while the expertly crafted and blissful ‘Going To The Beach All Day’ offers a sun-soaked production fusing soulful classic and modern touches effortlessly.
Shaping up the digital package, bonus track ‘Pany’ once again showcases Genie’s unmatched versatility – a no-nonsense yet delightfully playful production guided by deep chords and spirited vocals. Quality and class from start to finish.
