Review: Four Tet is back with a new album of shimmering wonderment on his own Text label. As ever, it's the way that Kieran Hebden tugs at the heart strings so artfully that makes him so well-loved, and he's not holding back one iota as "Sixteen Oceans" opens up with the ineffably pretty "School". There's some advanced garage ruminations on "Baby", classic ambience on "Harpsichord", and so the eclectic and extremely soul-cleansing vibes continue across three sides of wax. In addition to this wonderful new album, Hebden has also held back the fourth side for a bunch of locked grooves so satisfying you could get lost in them all day.
Review: With his release schedule operating at a gentle pace to allow for each of his twelves to sit and be considered on their own merit, Daniel 'Red Rack'Em' Berman makes just his second outing of 2013 with this pair of cuts for the ever strengthening Wolf Music. It's a record that shows off Berman's idiosyncratic approach to deep house on two very different levels. The first track, "In Love Again", is as blissed-out and heartfelt a take as you could wish for, from the sumptuous pad lines to the plastic strings that positively ooze contentment and passion. "Latin Techno" meanwhile is perhaps less predictable based on its title, opting for a jagged cut up of drum machine patterns and contorted brass sounds but rubbing them up in a non-direct way that makes for a delirious and utterly singular end result.
Review: Since shifting his focus more towards atmospheric, Balearic-minded sounds a few years back, Tornado Wallace has delivered some of the most deliciously humid and glassy-eyed music around. Hopes are naturally high, then, for this long-anticipated debut album. It picks up from where his sublime ESP Institute, Beats In Space and Second Circle releases left off, delivering a warm, evocative, sun kissed blend of shuffling Balearic grooves, horizontal soundscapes, gentle tropical workouts, and rich, synth-laden explorations. There's a pleasing haziness throughout, with live percussion and instrumentation rubbing shoulders with glistening synthesizers, ear-pleasing electronics and pulsing drum machine hits. In other words, it's a fine debut album.
Review: By their standards, Danish duo 2 Bit Crew enjoyed a very productive 2014, releasing well-received singles on Deso, Luvdancin' and their own self-titled imprint. Here they return to the latter with three more sumptuous chunks of tactile, arms-spread deepness. The untitled A-side arguably hits home hardest, with sweet, delay-laden loops and delicious riding a house tempo Motor City techno groove. The second track, nestled at the beginning of side B, seemingly shimmers with positive intent. The duo opts for Chez Damier style bass and a touch of vintage US house bump, while smothering the groove in darting synths and huggable electronics. Finally, the third track goes even deeper, delivering the dreamy tech-house equivalent of a long, sloppy kiss.
Review: Kai Alce on FXHE is a real coming together of two US powerhouses, and so it proved when this EP first landed back in 2010. It finds the Atlanta house mainstay in fine form on 'Dirty South Dirt'. It's a humid, stripped-back, dusty house cut with supple synth daubs adding warmth and soul. All these years on the track has lost none of its magic, and on the flipside is an 'Anticipation dub' which layers in some sensors vital whispers to the dubby, cuddly and deep house drums. These are two classy cuts.
Review: Marcellus Pittman's #2 EP on FXHE is one of the legendary labels very many early classics. It's originally from 2006 but if this one were to drop now you wouldn't suspect it was almost 20 years old. As always with Pittman, everything is muted and low-key as well as lo-fi. The pad drums on 'Obsession (Datsallivdatsalliv~'^**!!)' are suggestive rather than in your face, and the depths of his bass are bottomless as natty, barely-there synth patterns unfold up top. 'Skylark (Late Morning mix Foool!!)' is similar with swirling dub pads and a skeletal rhythm but this time it's a little more defined with rusty hi-hats. Two absolutely stone-cold classics.
Review: During the late 1990s, Japanese producer Yuji Takanouchi produced a trio of sublime EPs, most of which went largely overlooked at the time. He surprisingly returned to action a few years ago with a handful of similarly dreamy, loved-up productions, prompting R&S offshoot Apollo Records - who famously released his peerless ambient house 12", Southern Paradise, in 1997 - to put together this superb compilation. The genius of his productions, whether dancefloor leaning or more horizontal in ethos, always lay in the hazy colourfulness of his synthesizer melodies and life-affirming chord progressions. It's those traits, coupled with his firm grasp of deep house and intelligent techno aesthetics, which shine through on Brand New Day. "Pacific Jazz", "Nite" and "Ocean In Heaven", in particular, are stunning.
Review: Rubicon marks the first physical edition of Galcher Lustwerk's driving-themed alias, Road Hog. Collecting tracks from seven releases spanning from 2014 to 2021, Rubicon serves as the project's Greatest Hits (for now). Including tracks from the Cleveland-dedicated album 'Tour De Hog' as well as the sharp toothed 'Spares' and 'More Spares' the pithy 'Haul Ass' plus some cinematic favorites from 'DWB' and 'On The Lam'. Originally meant to be digital only and listened to while driving, demand for certain tunes to be pressed to vinyl has risen with each release. From the Road to the Club, Lustwerk's got you covered.
Alex Kassian x Spooky - "Orange Coloured Liquid" (part I) (6:25)
Alex Kassian x Spooky - "Orange Coloured Liquid" (part II) (5:54)
Alex Kassian x Spooky - "Orange Coloured Liquid" (Placid Angles remix) (7:08)
Spooky - "Orange Coloured Liquid" (5:02)
Review: After last year's standout 'E2-E4' rework, in-form producer Alex Kassian returns to Test Pressing Records with the next instalment in the series i this time turning his attention to Spooky's 'Orange Coloured Liquid', taken from their 1993 debut album Gargantuam. Alongside acts like Underworld and Leftfield, UK duo Charlie May and Duncan Forbes helped shape the early 90s progressive house sound under their Spooky moniker. Now, decades later, Kassian delivers two versions designed to serve dancefloor and sunset respectively, with the rolling breaks of Part I beautifully complemented by the ambient swells of Part II. John Beltran dons his Placid Angles alias for a sumptuous remix pitched somewhere between the two, while the still-fresh original rounds out an essential EP i no surprise, given the calibre of those involved.
Review: John Wilcox has been slowly disseminating crusty hardware jams for some six years now, in which time he's appeared as Cyclonix on Horn Wax, and now he nips over to Tusk Wax for more robo-charged antics in the curious corner of grubby, electro tinged house music the label orbits. "Telemachus" is a dreamy opening number that keeps the spook level up to maximum and the reverb voluminous throughout. "Synth Run" has a bit more bite, but not at the expense of atmosphere. Whatever/Whatever get hold of "Telemachus" and strip it down to a sparse skeleton of a track, and then Wilcox rounds the record off with the steppy ambient excursion "Ronin Love (dub)".
Review: This second Yellow Jackets double A sider feautures Chicago's royalty Ron Trent and the extra talented multi instrumentalist Other Lands. Again one track per side and full powerful cutting to maximize the sound impact in pure YJ philosophy. Ron Trent 'The Medi' was actully constructed while riding trains and in hotel rooms through Italy, used as a secret weapon in special occasions...and we can hear why: a mind expanding suite that keeps evolving and going in places and spaces while constantly beating you hard! On the Flipside Other Lands brings things down to more abstract realms with the floating almost Kraut inspired jam 'Matter'.A very special release and a hint of what Yellow Jackets has in store for us in the near future...
Descanse/ADMSDP/Juntos/Mmmm (feat LA Warman) (22:10)
Review: DJ Python's hypnotic take on dembow is second to none. The New York DJ and producer can send you wild with the slowest of tempos and does that again here on his second superb album on Incienso. His tactile drum programming weaves and wanders beneath the most bendy and gooey of synth lines. The tension between those percolating drums and the star gazing keys and pads up top is what makes his music so enthralling - life is slowed to a crawl and everything seems to take on more beauty and resonance as a result. Tracks here are variously coloured with eerie vocal samples, field recordings or deconstructed jungle percussion, and every single one snakes its way into your mind, body and soul. "Mas Amable" may just be one of the albums of the year.
Review: When The Morning Comes has done a quick job of turning heads by setting out a nice atmospheric deep house sound with its first EP, and now a second effort does the same. This one comes from Grant who lays out an elegant vision across four cuts. 'Opportunity' kicks off with analogue grooves laid down beneath warming pads and loose piano chords. 'Tangible Steps' picks up the pace with a more bristling mix of drums, perc and raw Chicago claps and onto the flip, things get deep once more with the horizontal vibes of 'Golden Wisdom' and more wispy cosmic pads of 'Foward Motion Dub.' Co-produced with the help of Dan Piu.
Review: After a run of reissues and a boundary-blurring fusion of classical music and electronica (January 2021's Angel's Flight), Norwegian ambient veteran Geir Jennsen AKA Biosphere has gone back to basics on Shortwave Memories. Ditching software and computers for analogue synths, drum machines and effects units, Jennsen has delivered album that he claims was inspired by the post-punk era electronics of Daniel Miller and Matin Hannett, but instead sounds like a new, less dancefloor-conscious take on the hybrid ambient/techno sound he was famous for in the early 1990s. The results are uniformly brilliant, making this one of the Norwegian trailblazer's most alluring and sonically comforting albums for decades.
Piano For The People (Calm Mellow Acid dub remix) (6:05)
Piano For The People (Double Geography remix) (5:21)
Review: Always fun house craftsman Ali Renault secured another big tune with his 'Piano For The People' which is a chuggy groover that locks you in with its rich atmospheres. Now it gets offered up with remixes from, firstly, Aikhi, who flip it with laidback downtempo drums and some classic and well known chords. Calm then brings his Mellow Acid Dub to sink you in even further and last of all Double Geography bring some more crunchy drum textures and psyched-out synth sounds with echoing vocals and dark, late night sense of mischief.
Jay Sound - "Reflections Of Love" (feat Josefine) (6:33)
Review: Fusion Sequence is a new offshoot from the Mellophonia label that kicks off with a heavyweight release both literally - its 180g vinyl - and metaphorically. It features seven different artists offering up one track each on what is a widescreen exploration of fresh deep house. They are A Vision of Panorama, Eternal Love, Pool Boy, Wolfey, Laseech, Larry Quest and Jay Sound and between them everything from cuddly depths to more moody late-night deepness is covered on an EP that brings plenty of new perspectives. A fine inaugural 12", then.
Review: Celebrated composer, producer, techno talent and ambient craftsman John Beltran is a real Detroit don and now he is back on one of the city's own labels, Motor City Wine, with Volume 4 of Back To Bahia on 7". This one finds him going even deeper than before, starting with 'Laguna', which will soon uplift you with its Afro-Brazilian drums and live bass from James Simonson next to lush keys. 'Just Beyond The Sun' then gets fully Balearic with its mix of sultry trumpet, shuffling and Latin-tinged rhythms and wispy cosmic chords. A real delight.
Review: Leon Vynehall long again made the transition from decent tune maker to revered and unpredictable electronic artist. Now he proves why he holds that status one again with a follow up to his critically acclaimed debut long player Nothing Is Still. This time out he distils everything he has done so far in to a record with few comparisons. It is ready for dance floor deployment but never just functional. There are cavernous ambient pieces next to grainy, heavy, dubby rhythms with grand but lo-fi synth architecture as well as moments of intriguing experimentalism.
Review: Sasha's latest collaboration with Super Flu, 'Astra,' is another example to the magic of collaboration. The track is a rich blend of Sasha's signature sense of melody, drama, and energy, combined with Super Flu's boundary-pushing, rule-breaking sound. 'Astra' is electrifying, with smart effects and filters creating a smudged and stretched vocal over rising synth tension. The heavy drums add to the track's intensity, building towards a dramatic breakdown before setting off again with tightly woven drums and synths. The Sasha Daydream Mix offers a more blissed-out and late-night rework, with soothing shakers, floating drums, and deft synth lines creating a soothing and atmospheric effect. This collaboration is a true showcase of creativity and connection, promising to resonate deeply with listeners on the dancefloor.
Review: It's testament to the enduring quality and far-sighted nature of Future Sound of London's iconic 1991 single 'Papua New Guinea' that it keeps being 'rediscovered' by new generations of DJs. It has been a while, though, since any new reworks dropped - hence this 'Rebooted' edition. L Major kicks things off with a suitably cosmic, psychedelic and slow-building proto-jungle style offering, before Nishiesque flits between passages of hot-stepping, synth-laden d&b and slo-mo 4/4 chug. House heroes Soul Central reach for vintage hip-house breakbeats, ambient electronics and the original version's most life-affirming elements (the bassline, twinkling synth melodies and heady vocal samples), while Dee Montero re-casts the cut as a proggy, tribal-tinged tech-house roller.
Review: Berlin-based Aussie Tornado Wallace has a long track record of tiptoeing the fine line between perfectly judged dancefloor pleasure and the more musically immersive sounds of Balearica and sun-soaked, sofa-ready deep house. He touches all those bases on 'Bitter Suite', his debut for Apiento's excellent Test Pressing Recordings imprint. In its' full length, near ten minute original mix form (side A), the track joins the dots between psychedelic, lightly acid-clad 1993 progressive house and - via waves of instrumentation and positive melodic motfs - the colourful musical rush of the System 7's most gorgeous early-to-mid-90s productions The latter element comes to the fore on the kaleidoscopic, string-laden and slow building 'Symphony Mix', while the 'Bitter Beats' version is a pounding, sweat-soaked drum track.
Review: Underworld's latest album, Strawberry Hotel maps a distinct sonic landscape where minimalistic techno pulses meet textured and scratchy guitar tones, creating an uncanny blend of precision and spontaneity. Each track occupies its own atmosphere-from tracks built around tight, rhythmic kicks and monotone voices, to others steeped in lush melodic swells. Highlight tracks 'and the colour red' and 'denver luna' showcase their talent for boundary-pushing compositions, while 'black poppies' stands as a tribute to dancefloor euphoria and pure vitality, all without a single beat.
Review: Linkwood clearly enjoyed the process of recording his 2021 album Mono, which was created in a week in the Athens of the North Studio in Edinburgh, as he's repeated the exercise on Stereo. It's an impressive sequel all told, with the long-serving producer delivering an even deeper, warmer and more evocative excursion informed by his love of analogue deep house, classic sci-fi techno, the 80s compositions of Jan Hammer, intergalactic electro, drum machine-driven synth-funk and star-gazing ambient music. It sounds like it was primarily made with vintage synthesisers and drum machines, which when combined with his impeccable sound design and judicious use of outboard effects results in an enveloping, immersive and highly atmospheric sound that rewards repeat listens. In other words, it's another fine album to get lost in.
Review: Here's something guaranteed to ensure a rush of excitement in deep house heads everywhere: a brand new album from much-loved U.S producer Fred P. It's the first under the previously unused F.P-Oner alias, and his first studio outing since 2013's Black Jazz Chronicles set, Codes & Metaphors. Unsurprisingly, the simply titled 5 is as inspired, sumptuous and melodious as you'd expect, with gentle dub house, jazz and - in the case of the wonderful "Infinite Love" - Detroit techno influences. While much of the album is slinky, sensual and ultra-deep (see the fabulous "Visions of You" and "Sleepless in Shibuku"), there are a couple of thrillingly percussive moments to get the pulse racing, including the African-influenced tribal workout "The Realm of Possibility".
Review: K Lone has been turning out super sweet club sounds for years now, mixing up deep house, garage, a love of r&b samples and generally a good time groove on a range of labels but mostly Wisdom Teeth which he co-runs with Facta. Now he follows up his 2020 debut with Swells, an expansive record that also takes in synthpop, leftfield R&B and beyond. It showcases a rich array of melodies, chords and undulating arps and is defined by the lo-fi aesthetic of his CR78 drum machine. British singer-songwriter Eliza Rose features throughout the record in various forms but the highlight is the dubbed-out and diffuse 'With U'.
Review: When it comes to producing undulating, club-friendly tech-house and micro-house shufflers, Silat Beksi has a pretty good track record. We can confirm that this 12" - his first for Pleasure Zone following appearances on a string of like-minded labels - is similarly rock solid. On the A-side you'll find the deep and rolling "Back to the Future", where fluttering, outer-space ambient synths drift around a crunchy tech-house rhythm track rich in fizzing electronics and solid snares. Flipside "Kin 182" is, if anything, even deeper. Featuring a bolder bassline, dreamier chords and a breakbeat-driven house beat, it's arguably the more satisfying of the two tunes (though we wouldn't be surprised if more DJs champion the similarly impressive A-side).
Review: NT is Nail aka Neil Holliday, one half of Bent and a master of UK tech house. But here he shows a different side across six majestically Balearic groovers. That draw on everything he has done before to send you out to sea on gentle waves of shining synth goodness, downtempo bliss and dreamy, chubby, soft focus drums. 'Beside Boa Linn' is a soothing summer sound to kick off then 'Going Out To Feel It' is a spiritual house cut for sundown, and 'Don't Hide Away' is slow motion disco brilliance. The trip continues with the star-gazing 'Evening Fixture', Eddie C style guitar licks of 'Walk In Romance' and romantic lullaby 'Dreams On Hold.'
Review: The Analogue Attic microverse is defined by a unified commitment to the deepest ideas of where house music can head, and no one embodies that spirit better than Alex Albrecht. On this latest 12" he's heading into the velvet folds of low tempo chugger 'The Blacksmith' and downtempo dream state 'Coles Ridge' with elegiac piano sparkling atop fathoms-deep pads and the softest of percussion. This is house music as a vessel for pure relaxation and sentimental meditation, and across six tracks Albrecht offers up balm after balm to soundtrack oceanic realms of calm - a much needed tonic for the frenetic pace of modern life.
Review: The Alpha Transmissions EP is a new project from Dubbyman that has been long in the making. The always classy producer brings his trademark deep house sound to Inner Shift Music with label owners Brad P and Rai Scott getting in on the action. 'Transmission #1' is smooth, serene and dubbed out deep house with cosmic energy, while 'In The Space (Song For Joey)' is a more loose-limbed groove peppered with gentle percussion.'Transmission #2' first comes as a Man-Drake edit that is widescreen and drenched in prog rock guitar licks and as a Rai Scott remix that is more rolling and heady. A typically versatile package from Dubbyman.
Review: While he is still thought of as a God of a DJ to many, Welsh wizard Sasha is a dab hand in the studio too. Airdrawndagger, his second studio long player, is proof of that and a real masterpiece with co-productions by Charlie May, Junkie XL and James Holden. It is a hugely complex world of sound with progressive melodies, wavy electronic drums and immersive synths capes that all add up to one smooth and serene trip. This luxury reissue comes on limited, numbered trifold 180 gram audiophile silver & black marbled vinyl. A vital collector's piece.
Review: Ornate Music has been serving up quality deepness since 2008 but it's been a while since we heard from them. Edinburgh based producer, Rai Scott, returns to Ornate Music, previously releasing on the imprint back in 2014. This long overdue followup to her Innershift EP brings ethereal atmospherics and hypnotising percussion. The opener is a dreamy and celestial vibe with gently rolling beats, while Version 2 is more defined by the smeared chords which spiral to the heavens. 'As Honest As She Lived' is another electric lullaby with well-crafted ambient pads and 'Nina' ends with layers of bells, glistening keys and shimmering melody that soothes the soul.
Review: The Mechanical Man is something of a hero amongst deep house heads, so Toronto label Selections are rightly buzzed to have him on board. He opens up with a lively broken beat number lavished with a superb r&b vocal sample and sunny chords on 'Be Down.' He sinks into a more cuddly and smoky house groove on 'Let It Ride' and allows the pensive leads to take over as you head through the stars. 'The Night In The North Area' has a fresh bassline darting about underneath muted chords that bring a Detroit feel. Last of all is the soulful joy of 'You Know It's True', another one with a classic sample smartly worked into a scuffed-up deep house shuffle.
Review: American don Fred P goes deeper than anyone when he turns on his machines. It has been that way for a decade plus now, and always with that special sense of melody that lingers in your memory long after his records have stopped spinning. His Private Society series has been chugging along nicely this last year or so - not least with the superb Abstract Soul album back in May. Now he's back in 12" form with another useful EP. 'In The Flow' pairs train-track grooves with sun-facing and freeform synth work to open up your soul. 'Art Life Tribal Dub' is everything the title suggests, and 'Elevated States' carries on that trend of nominative determinism. A funky broken beat defines 'Live Your Way' and 'River' is a glorious bit of new age ambient to close out a versatile EP
Review: Some seven years after his last full-length excursion, Fort Romeau has finally got around to delivering a new album. Beings of Light is every bit as gorgeous and picturesque affair, with the Chester-born producer adding waves of attractive synthesizer sounds, colourful electronics, cascading guitars, dusty samples and loved-up riffs to sturdy deep house beats. The album's multitude of highlights include bluesy, post jazz-house number 'The Truth', the tech-tinged late-night wonkiness of 'Power of Grace', the sturdy and druggy after-hours chug of 'Ramona' and the dreamy lusciousness of title track 'Beings of Light'.
Review: Detroit native Jason Hogans will not be a familiar name to many, despite the fact he has been putting out music - albeit sporadically - for 20 odd years. A release on Theo Parrish's hero-worshipped Sound Signature will always put you in the spotlight, though, especially when it's as good as this. The artist explores deep Motor City house, percussive broken beats and that shamanistic, off-grid sound that label head Theo Parrish is such a master of. Standouts include the airy, spacious beat work of 'Favorite Coffee Mug' and steamy post-jungle concoction that is 'For My Solids.'
Review: Four Tet's Live at Alexandra Palace London 24th May 2023 captures the boundless energy of a live performance that effortlessly blends his signature electronic sound with the intimacy of a live setting. The opener 'School Green Romantics' builds slowly, layering intricate beats and subtle melodies, before escalating into a full-bodied rhythm that really commands attention. Tracks like 'Tides' take on a new life in this setting, with their intricate textures expanding and contracting, creating an immersive atmosphere that pulses with anticipation. Throughout, Four Tet's control over the crowd is palpable, using his deep knowledge of rhythm and melody to take listeners on a journey. A mesmerising live experience in every sense.
Review: Aaron Andrew's Chubby label doesn't rush things. Since launching in 2018 and now only just hitting its sixth release though the music sure is worth the wait and is proof that quality will always win over quantity. Leonid's twin brother, Al Smith opens up with the cuddly and cosmic depths of 'Drama Room' before getting more dark and unsettling with his twisted synth modulations on 'Full Of Music', which then becomes a gorgeous downtempo cut with star-gazing pads and splashy hits within the Specter remix. Dan Piu picks up the pace for some delightfully warm deep house dynamics on 'Days Gone' and 'Snows Of Solaris'. Last of all is the more scuffed up, heads down deep house murk of Rai Scott's remix of Dan's intro tune, 'Day's Gone'.
Review: Bona Fide returns on All Day I Dream with his first proper release named Entropy. The Amsterdam-based DJ and producer has certainly found a fitting home for his style of dreamy house on Lee Burridge's label, with highlights on the full-length not limited to: the mesmerising title track with its sublime steel drums playing centre stage, the deep dive into the exotic that is 'It Comes Around', through to the deep and sensual mood music of 'Alter Ego' featuring Zone+, the melodic fantasy of with 'Love Sparkles' with Wassu and the blissed-out closing cut 'Luminous' which is the perfect soundtrack to open-air rooftop style fun in the sun.
Review: Move D's latest release, Something 'Bout The D, on his own label Source Records, shows his enduring ability to produce excellent electronic music. Regardless of the genre, David Moufang is a name people trust and purchase without listening. On the A-side, 'Aspiration 2010' mesmerizes with its deep, dubby vibes, infused with low-slung acid elements and techy nuances that permeate the track. On the B-side, the title track 'Something 'Bout The D' channels Detroit-style 90s melodies with ambient undertones, creating a nostalgic yet forward-thinking atmosphere. 'Marshmellow Boots' on the same side offers a departure into deep house territory, with a light jazzy touch and ambient backgrounds that envelop the listener in a gentle, smooth embrace. Move D's ability to blend diverse influences seamlessly is on full display here, making Something 'Bout The D a must-listen for fans of ambient and deep house alike.
Review: For those who value digging deep into the folds of original UK tech house, Mark Ambrose has been a cult favourite for a long time. Now, as the sound continues to enjoy favourable conditions amongst those who like to play long and winding sets stretching out into infinity, Repeat are doing the right thing and combing through Ambrose's considerable back catalogue from the late 90s to piece together some of the most sought after gems. Sharks be damned, now we can get our hands on some of these prized items, like the wall-shaking, dubby as hell 'Zulu Groove' and sumptuously groovy sunriser 'Free Your Mind'. No matter how much tech house gets made these days, they don't make it like they used to.
Review: Ben Bohmer's upcoming album Bloom marks a significant milestone in his musical journey, offering a reset from the pressures of his previous successes. The album, shows his growth as an artist, emphasising spontaneity and a return to his improvisational roots. The lead single, 'Best Life,' featuring Jonah, explores themes of life's fleeting nature and the importance of cherishing each moment. 'Best Life also represents a sonic departure for Bohmer, signaling his intention to break free from predefined musical boundaries. The album promises a diverse range of styles and tempos, featuring collaborations with artists like Lykke Li, Oh Wonder and Enfant Sauvage. Overall, Bloom appears to be a deeply personal and musically adventurous project that reflects Bohmer's evolution as a musician.
Review: LILA mainstay Ayaavaaki and ambient veteran Purl speak different languages but used a translator to convey ideas to one another as they made this record. And they very much foment their own unique musical language on Ancient Skies, an album that blends ambient, drone and space music into richly layered soundscapes that are constantly on the move. Each piece is meticulously crafted and suspense you up amongst the clouds, hazing on at the smeared pads and swirling solar winds that prop you up. It's a record that would work as well in the depths of winter as a bright spring day such is the cathartic effect of the sounds. Beautiful, thought-provoking and innovative, this is as good an ambient record as we have heard all year.
Review: Via his Lord of the Isles alias and contributions to Firecracker's Mac-Talla Nan-Creag project, Neil McDonald has proved particularly good at unfurling atmospheric, melodious and immersive electronic music. While much of it has been ambient in nature, there have been fine dancefloor excursions, and on this third solo album, Subtle Thoughts, he showcases the full range of his talents. We get a mix of sparkling, spring-fresh IDM, evocative ambient soundscapes, locked-in ambient techno, his take on bleep-and-breaks ('Open Mode'), widescreen electronic epics ('Subtle Thoughts') and the kind of hard-to-pigeonhole blasts of life-affirming brilliance that mark out the work of only the most talented of producers (see 'Medhi'). His best album yet by some distance.
Review: Ukrainian producer Vakula makes a swift return to the always reliable Phonogramme label from Paris with a superb follow-up to his recent Dinsync collaboration. Deep, nocturnally charged and gorgeously atmospheric, the EP opens with the brooding acid of 'Quantum Voyage', where foggy pads drift over bubbling 303 and jagged machine hits. 'Skys Whisper' blends emotive synth waves with growling bass and crisp drums, with its bittersweet topline gliding over sumptuous harmonics, while 'Sunny Konotop' maintains a similar trajectory, with misty-eyed synth work dancing over low-slung bass and swung beats. Magnificent work.
Review: Kicking off his new R&R imprint, LA-born and Berlin-based producer Huerta brings us TV Slang - an LP which exists somewhere between rhythmic and ambient house. For the title track, woozy voice samples drift in and out of focus, existing in a space just outside of reality. 'Stutter Dub' emerges as one of the more dance-geared tracks, yet it's still decorated with the hazy sound design of the release's ambient numbers; its buffed-out environment softening the edges of Huerta's percussion. On the B-side, 'Traces' features dreamily reverberating piano chords embellished with glittering breaks. This is a highly multi-faceted release which promises to take listeners and dancers alike into a beautifully realised soundworld.
Screen Off (feat Ras Stimulant - acappella) (2:52)
Light The Way (4:38)
Light The Way (Iron Curtis Illuminati mix) (5:25)
Light The Way (Iron Curtis reprise) (1:41)
Review: German duo Session Victim have always been about much more than just club tracks - their music draws on their playing skills and formal backgrounds so comes alive with meaningful melodies and rich instrumentation that elevates each track above the norm. This new EP on their home label Delusions of Grandeur kicks off with 'Screen Off' (feat Ras Stimulant) which is disco house with bubbly basslines and a retro feel. It also comes as an a cappella and on the flip 'Light The Way' is a seductively smooth cut with Balearic synths and floating pads that will levitate you off the floor. An Iron Curtis Illuminati mix brings starry-eyed electro vibes and his reprise closes out a lush EP.
Review: Tricky, textural minimal once again from All Day I Dream, delivering another EP from their mainstay Greg Nairo. 'Omala' sonically expresses the deft inner workings of a jellyfish; pulsating and pushing through the abyssal waters comes 'Phyla', with its white noise sweeps and plucky stabs conveying a near-oceanic sense of curiosity. An ambient version of the former track 'Bhurma' makes the B; this is mover music for deep-sea-dwelling Drexciyans on vacation.
Review: Four Tet's live performance at Alexandra Palace delivers an immersive experience that blends intricate electronic soundscapes with undeniable dancefloor energy. The set opens with a subtle, hypnotic groove, gradually building in complexity and intensity as live drums and layered synths take centre stage. As the performance evolves, tracks like 'Sing' and 'Love Cry' explode with energy, effortlessly weaving between deep, ambient textures and vibrant, pulsing rhythms. The live setting offers a fresh dimension to the material, with each track feeling more expansive and dynamic. This is an exhilarating performance, showcasing Four Tet's ability to transform his recorded work into an electrifying live experience.
Review: Bo Wosticz is a passionate music producer and DJ from the northern parts of Sweden. He has previously released own tracks as well as remixes under various names, but with this new project he returns to his roots, creating music with a wonderful blend of electronic and acoustic elements, influenced by sounds, melodies and rhythms from around the world, Suinga is a shuffling percussive kalimba led mellow house groove John Beltran delivers a subtly more energetic remix Return to Fender has an early evening rooftop feel electric pianos sit on a chugging baseline and light pads. Gnallbulver picks up the pace, just a little for the discoteque. Polished mid tempo Nordic Balearic goodness
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