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Transitions 370
Hour 1: John Digweed
01. Connan Mockasin – Faking Jazz Together (Michael Mayer Remix) [Phantasy Sound | 825646 648993]
02. James What - It Feels Wrong (Lee Curtiss Remix) [Poker Flat Recordings | PFR 121]
03. SQL & Child - My Minds (Robert Babicz Rmx) [Trapez Ltd. | Trapez Ltd 105]
04. Max Cooper - Darkroom (Empirisch EP) [Traum Schallplatten | Traum V141]
05. Stelios Vassiloudis & Sasse - The Z (Simon Garcia Remix) [Bedrock Records | Bedsvs1]
06. Slam - Stepback (Mark Henning Remix) [Soma Quality Recordings | SOMADA952]
07. Nick Curly - Libero [Cocoon Recordings | COR12"089]
08. Jimpster - Infinity Dub [Freerange Records | FR153]
09. Shonky - Kwality (Oasis EP) [Culprit | CP016]
MP3 Files:
Uploads c/o Homegrove :
John Digweed:
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Release Notes:
01. Connan Mockasin – Faking Jazz Together (Michael Mayer Remix) [Phantasy Sound | 825646 648993]
The deliciously off-kilter and wholly unique musical oeuvre of Connan Mockasin stands defiantly alone in the current musical landscape. Exploring the furthest flung horizons of pop music on his critically acclaimed album “Forever Dolphin Love”, the New Zealand born, current London resident synthesises the playful aural experimentation of pop mavericks past and present like Joe Meek, Brian Wilson and Ariel Pink but pushes the boat our even further, dissecting, inverting, and dissembling the very structures of the pop song itself, creating something endlessly inventive and completely beguiling, all at the same time.
This willingness to toy with the edges of musical convention is showcased to startling effect in “Faking Jazz Together”, its typically opaque title belying a gorgeous, leisurely amble through an enchanted forest of lush psychedelia, complete with dreamy guitar licks, liquefied salsa rhythms and Mockasin’s trademark alien vocals, sounding like a transmission from another cosmos, ghostly yet strangely affecting all at once. Tom Furse from The Horrors, meanwhile, extrapolates the beats from the original and relocates them in a wide-eyed, sprawling dub epic akin to Screamadelica-era Primal Scream, and renowned German producer (and Kompakt lynchpin) Michael Mayer builds a propulsive, tropical-flavoured anthem around Mockasin’s unusual vocals, with delightfully unpredictable results.
Even better, you can see Connan Mockasin in glorious live action this autumn, when he and his band embark on their own headline tour of the UK, playing dates across the country at the end of September.
TRACKLISTING
Original version
Extended version
Michael Mayer remix
Tom Furse remix
Released by: Phantasy / Because Music
Release date: Sep 12, 2011
Release/catalogue number: 825646 648993
ISRC: GB-TZZ-11-00020
Press:
Connan Mockasin’s new single for Phantasy Sound, ‘Faking Jazz Together’, comes accompanied by a rare-ish remix by Kompakt boss Michael Mayer.
Mayer, in typically laid-back fashion (let’s face it, you’d be laid back if you were Michael Mayer too) offsets the track’s child-like vocals and beach-time steel drums with a deceptively bouncy bassline and techno-painted hi-hats. The full single will be released on October 17.
Connan Mockasin’s album Forever Dolphin Love, released on Erol Alkan’s Phantasy label, is one of this year’s left-field pop pleasures. Its lush, slightly psychedelic, lo-fi vibes put us in the same swoony state as The Bees, Tame Impala, Metronomy and their ilk; it’s perfect bleary-eyed Sunday-morning listening.
Now Kompakt’s Michael Mayer gives Connan Mockasin’s “Faking Jazz Together” a brilliant, Friday-night rework, with a lush synth bass, delicate vibraphones and a generally childlike air. It’s proof, once again, of Mayer’s mastery of the form.
The Horrors‘ Tom Furse, meanwhile, concocts a swirling, viscous, Krautrock-dub freakout that sucks you in and holds you tight.
02. James What - It Feels Wrong (Lee Curtiss Remix) [Poker Flat Recordings | PFR 121]
It Feels Wrong by James What: release-date: 02.09.2011 | pfr121 | 12 inch
A1. - It Feels Wrong
B2. - It Feels Wrong (Lee Curtiss Remix)
B3. - In The Dark
D4. - Work What I Have (Digital exclusive)
London based James What is a well known musician treading the more left-field and creative end of the Tech House spectrum. His numerous EPs alongside Dan Berkson have become Poker Flat classics in recent years and so we‘re happy to welcome him in his first solo effort for the label.
Lead cut ‚It Feels Wrong‘ fuses classic analog bass with lively synth work and satisfyingly complex question-answer passages that whisk us away into a sweaty, late night vibe immediately.
Berlin based lord of the witching hour Lee Curtiss adds his touch on the remix side with a killer acidic treatment of ‚It Feels Wrong‘. Tense, soulful and teasing, this warm and super playable version will no doubt find its way to freaky dancefloors everywhere.
‚In The Dark‘ slowly builds edgy, spooky elements in a deep, dark and sexy trip. Combining smooth chords and keys, with trippy synths and sinister vocal snippets, What‘s bright and clear production works wonders in this slow-burner.
As a special digital bonus, James provided ‚Work What I Have‘. It’s a tooly, teched-out house jam that will surely satisfy fans of his groovy, stripped down sound.
DJ FEEDBACK:
Martin Landsky (Mobilee):'Top top top. I already play this record every single gig. Love the original and 'In the dark' ...best Poker Flat since some time for me!'
Oliver Huntemann (Super 8 Music Productions):'Nice one. Laid back and relaxed. i like! '
Martin Eyerer (Speedproductions):'Dope release. The LC rmx is my fav but also liking the originals... '
Alland Byallo (Liebe*Detail): 'Lee's mix is excellent! I really love "Work What I Have" though. Smooth but bumpin'.
Joris Voorn (Rejected): 'Great bassline and crispy grooves in 'It feels wrong'!'
03. SQL & Child - My Minds (Robert Babicz Rmx) [Trapez Ltd. | Trapez Ltd 105]
SQL is back in collaboration with the Australian producer and DJ Child!Their release marks two side, the originals being more on the deep side of things, whereas the remixes being produced much more in the tougher Trapez ltd style.
The release starts with a bit of a techno take from Robert Babicz. His remix of My minds kind of sounds a bit like Joe Beltrams Energy Flash in contrast to the very water like floating percussive powered original (SQL interpretation) on position 3 on this release. We see a remix of Australian producer Steve Ward who has been riding high, being played by popular DJs such as: John Digweed, Sasha, Hernan Cattaneo, Christian Smith, Dubfire, and Technasia in the past. His remix of Mood maintenance has a a superb drive and gives way to short but explosive breaks though chord sounds! This track definitely is made for the bigger techno floors!Slip it adds to SQL and Childs originals on this release, this one being cool and housy. The track is extremely well arranged and offers a lot of well played piano parts.
The original of Mood maintenance starts in the fashion of a night crawler but opens up to haunting chords, tiny melodies and moody sounding vocals and breathing.The original shows SQL and child are aiming at deeper grounds with this release.We welcome Sascha Sonido, who has recorded before for Flash recordings and Kaato. Sascha has given Mood maintenance a good touch of modern German house, jacking and always and the move to stir up attention with his skilfully quirky grooves as he is celebrating that genre each weeks with his DJs sets. Last but not least Child himself has reinterpreted My minds in a kind of afterhour mix, keeping a fine balance of psychedelica and drum powered techhouse.
Released by: Trapez
Release date: Sep 19, 2011
04. Max Cooper - Darkroom (Empirisch EP) [Traum Schallplatten | Traum V141]
"No nice melodies here, this track was an attempt to do something sleazy and slow for those wrong moments at ungodly times of the morning. There's an awesome remix of this track by one of my all time favourite artists too - John Tejada." [Max Cooper]
Max Coopers returns to Traum with his brand new “Empirisch“ EP.
He opens his EP with “Echoes Reality” and we realise right away this might be another cornerstone of Max Cooper’s musical carrier. Inspiring and beautifully crafted as it moves from wonderful lush sounds to a sequences of screeching tones and back to heavenly sounds, “Echoes Reality” shows all signs of an metamorphosis deluxe realised on the highest possible level of production. From roaring basslines to Cadillac squeaking tires to ambrosial vocals... this is Max Cooper at his best and a true “tour de force”.
For the first time on vinyl an ambient rework of “The End Of Reason” is highlighted here. This version is an all-time favourite of Max Cooper and was high in demands by his fans. Enjoy the symphonic quality of the track.
“Darkroom” has a amazing post Detroit feeling to it as well as a Chicago jack one... which works nicely by the interaction of emotional sounding pit shifted chords and jack percussion.
Max skilfully controls this stream of sounds with an almost live played attitude... gently building up peaks of frenzy and then bringing down the energy level again. Darkroom sets a great contrast to “Echoes Reality” and we could well imagine this being played out together with a Paul Kalkbrenner track.
It comes as a surprise that we have John Tejada here with a remix, but have known him for quite a while, releases a remix of his before on Trapez and have a solo from him and Justin Maxwell coming out on Trapez in September. His remix uses that equation that has always made Tejada tracks so special and which show his “lifetime” experience. Tejada step by step keeps adding one piece of the puzzle in a dry and seemingly unemotional but emotional way to create the whole track. This is great art and nothing the new producers of today can really get going. This is a bit of a Trapez feeling here on Traum.
With “Qualia” we have the wonderful world of midgets, monsters and flourishing colours. Max Cooper has written here quite a "happy" track at times almost ambient in a classic way... still making use of the drowning and droning sounds that are a Max Cooper treat.
Release date: 5th September 2011
RA Review:
Max Cooper's cinematic grandeur has found a fine home on Traum Schallplatten for the past couple of years, and his newest EP for the imprint doesn't do all that much different. "Echoes Reality" coos and gurgles and glitches its way along its path, auditioning for Henry Saiz, James Holden and others who fly the 2011-but-still-doing-prog-right flag. Cooper's genius is in the last adjective above. The glitch gives you the sense that everything might come toppling down at any moment—a far cry from the obvious ups-downs-all-arounds of prog past.
Cooper's coming at from a different angle though. He loves Tim Hecker more than he loves Nick Warren. You can hear that in the trembling throb of "The End of Reason" (Ambient Rework). But he's not above a little obviousness either. "Darkroom" dons a pretty normal 4/4 beat, even as it throws animal growls and a wah-wah synth into the mix. "Qualia" is back to normal: It's New Mexico techno, with chords that reach out into the dark, empty sky until forever (and beyond). Melodic tech house champ John Tejada checks in for a remix of "Darkroom," meanwhile, driving a hook deep into your pleasure centers with a minimum of fuss.
05. Stelios Vassiloudis & Sasse - The Z (Simon Garcia Remix) [Bedrock Records | Bedsvs1]
Artist // Stelios Vassiloudis & Sasse
Title // The Z
Following the excellent singles from Maxime Dangles, Alan Fitzpatrick and Wiretappeur, Bedrock keep up the pressure with a superb collaboration between Stelios Vassiloudis & Sasse …
1. Original Mix 09:54
2. Steve Bug Remix 08:24
3. Simon Garcia Remix 07:34
‘The Z’ is the first single to be taken from Stelios Vassiloudis’ (aka Stel) forthcoming debut album for Bedrock and is yet another release from the label that should not be missed.
The original version of ‘The Z’ is a sophisticated, subtle, hip wiggling, percussion led beauty that builds in intensity, throbs and ebbs and flows with supreme ease.
Germany’s Steve Bug toughens and tightens up the bottom-end, adding some superb handclaps and turning up the pressure to create a hissing intro build, before adding some stunning detuned elements into his interpretation.
Finally, Spain’s Simon Garcia moves away from the percussion-led attitude of the previous versions, creating a more techno inspired remix, full of towering hypnotic synths and hissing hi-hats. ‘The Z’ is undoubtedly a masterful creation and yet another superb package from Bedrock.
You may have already heard Stel on Bedrock recently in his Wiretappeur guise (his collaboration with Florian Kruse and Nils Nurnberg) with the much loved ‘Everybody Loves Ice Cream EP’. Wiretappeur releases regularly hit the Top 5 of the Beatport charts and their deep house vibes and warm sounds have been firm favourites of many acclaimed DJ's.
Working so closely with Bedrock has resulted in Stel signing an album deal with the label (scheduled for release in late October/early November). Along with his solo productions, the album also includes collaborations with some key artists and guest vocalists. Presented over two discs, the album commences with a beautiful cinematic soundscape on CD1 whereas CD2 allows Stel to showcase his club sound, which develops from a deep house grooves right through to a techier vibe. Both discs are exquisitely mixed, with each track immersing itself into the next and are set to become a critically acclaimed debut album from this very talented artist.
Stel is a musician, producer and DJ who has released music under various monikers and aliases over the last 5 years, racking up an impressive discography with, for example, releases on Bedrock, Moodmusic, Fresh Meat and Dieb Audio. His in demand production skills have also garnered numerous remix opportunities for a wide range of artists such as: John Digweed, King Roc, Sasse, Sander Kleinenberg and Shlomi Aber, among others. Some of his most vocal DJ supporters over the years have been luminaries like: Sasha, Josh Wink, Laurent Garnier, Satoshi Tomiie and Stephan Bodzin. As a DJ, Stelios has travelled all over the planet playing his particular brand of deep house and techno to enthusiastic crowds in locations as diverse and intriguing as Brazil, China, Colombia, Russia and Japan among many, many others.
For this Bedrock single release, Stel has collaborated with Sasse (aka Klas Lindblad) from Finland, whose first releases came out on Sähkö/Puu as Freestyle Man and are considered a milestone in the Scandinavian house sound with the original 12-inches still very much sought after collectors items. In 1996 he started the highly respected Moodmusic label, which was followed by the birth of Sunday Music, a musical platform for Sasse and Henrik Schwarz to release their productions. Having built his beloved BlackHead Studios in Berlin (2005) with companions Ewan Pearson and Filippo "Naughty" Moscatello, he recorded his debut artist album (‘Made Within The Upper Stair Of Heaven’ on Moodmusic), which was followed by the landmark ‘Toinen’ (2008 album. Sasse is a DJ/producer of the highest order and his superb ‘The Z’ collaboration with Stel on Bedrock is set to raise his profile even further.
Released by: Bedrock Records
Release/catalogue number: Bedsvs1
Release date: Sep 26, 2011
06. Slam - Stepback Mark Henning Remix [Soma Quality Recordings | SOMADA952]
Taken from Soma 20 Years, CD 2 - Slam DJ Mix.
When Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle decided to name their fledgling imprint Soma Quality Recordings, they were being more uncannily prescient than anyone could have imagined during the heady, post-acid electronic eruption, whose volcanic ash continues to disrupt services and belch up astonishing new talent on a regular basis through to the present day.
Through sheer natural instinct and passion, the word ’Quality’ has remained Soma‘s essential mantra, resulting in many of these names gravitating to the label over the last 20 years.
Soma was born out of the insanely euphoric celebrations taking place at the DJ duo’s club held in Glasgow since a track by Phuture named them and their night Slam. Along with manager Dave Clarke and fellow founder Glenn Gibbons (both still at the helm), they had little idea that, out of the countless clubs and labels flourishing during that magical period, they would be the one still holding strong two decades later, Soma now acknowledged as the UK’s longest-running dance label and one of the most consistently-dazzling electronic imprints in the world.
Released by: Soma Records
Release/catalogue number: SomaCD095
Release date: Sep 19, 2011
Mark Henning Bio
London's Mark Henning has risen up as one of the underground's true players - recording for a volley of acclaimed international labels. Born to English and German parents, he has spent most of his life in England, though has never forgotten his German roots and is now firmly settled in Berlin. Since quitting his city day job in 2007 he's been nominated for a DJ Mag award, toured all over the world, released an album on legendary UK institution Soma Recordings and released countless well-received and heavily supported EPs and remixes.
Mark's productions have been making serious waves in the scene - anyone who's heard his music will know he doesn't abide by the book. Mark’s sound sits somewhere between house and techno, with a healthy dose of darkness, swing and funk - all the required ingredients to have the crowds busting crazy moves on the dancefloor. He has established his artist career not just through his productions – on well-regarded labels such as Soma, Cityfox, Watergate, Clink, Cynosure, Trapez and Freude am Tanzen - but also through his worldwide performances, having performed at clubs such as Fabric, Panorama Bar, Watergate, Rex Club, SPACE, Privilege, Bar 25, The Arches, Lux and Harry Klein to name just a few, as well as festivals such as T In The Park, Rockness, Portugal’s BOOM, Vienna’s PraterUnser and Chocolate Festival Lausanne. Mark also plays regularly for Zurich favourite Cityfox...
Mark’s tracks have been licensed to COCOON, BUGGED OUT, FABRIC, M-NUS and WATERGATE compilations amongst others - as well as achieving regular airplay on radio stations worldwide. His much-respected productions have been supported and played out regularly over the past few years by the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, Akufen, Steve Bug, Loco Dice and Richie Hawtin. As a remixer, he also keeps busy - having reworked tracks by artists such as Mike Monday, Gaetano Parisio, Mr. G, Lee Jones, Tigerskin and Chris Fortier.
With upcoming releases on Soma and Cityfox later this year, Mark continues to prove himself as a consistent producer of quality, quirky house and techno music. A true talent simmering at the surface, 2011 will expose Mr Henning to even greater frontiers.
07. Nick Curly - Libero [Cocoon Recordings | COR12"089]
Label: Cocoon Recordings
Artist: Nick Curly
Title: Sun City
A1: Sun City
A2: Green Baize
B1: Libero
Cat No.: COR12089
Format: 12” Vinyl & Digital
Release Date: 26th of September 2011
It has not gone by unnoticed that, over the last five years, the Rhein Main area has become a decisive nucleus for innovative, powerful and modern House music. One who is not entirely innocent of this is Mannheim-based DJ, producer and label head Nick Curly, whose imprints 8 Bit and Cécille Records are guarantees for standard-setting electronic dance music. Since his Cocoon debut "Pujante" (2009) and especially since the Party Animals Cocoon Ibiza Summer Mix 2010, he is a frequent and welcome guest at Cocoon's.
The three tracks of his "Sun City" EP are an impressive proof for Curly's maturation process: with a clear orientation towards the needs of the dancefloor, he exploits the sound potential of compressed House textures. The title track captivates the listener with a subsonically perfected bass line and a discoid Hi-NRG modulation, forming a deluxe prime time anthem, whereas the dense and dub-referring deepness of "Green Baize" is enchanting just everybody, and, for the final, "Libero"'s rich percussive rhythms are strongly stressing the pelvic thrust. So, virtually nothing can go wrong with Nick's World Tour between Ibiza, Moscow, Manchester and NYC!
Released by: cocoonrecordings
Release/catalogue number: COR12089
Release date: Sep 26, 2011
08. Jimpster - Infinity Dub [Freerange Records | FR153]
Artist: Jimpster
Title: Change In You / Infinity Dub
Release Date: 5th September (Vinyl) 12th October (Digital)
Format: Vinyl/Digital
Cat No: FR153/FRD153
There’s been a rare flurry of activity in Jimpster’s studio the last few months with the fruits of his labour all ready to drop just in time for the coming summer season. Remixes for Vincenzo on Dessous, YouANDEwan on Lo:Rise and Kollektive Turmstrasse on Connasseur are all getting heavy rotation right now from some of the best house DJ’s around. Luckily for us at Freerange he’s kept a little of his special magic dust in reserve to sprinkle on a couple of new original tracks which we have for your delight right here.
Up first we have Change In You, a slowly unfolding, throbbing house cut which layers up aquatic synths and reverberating stabs with static-heavy rhodes and vocal clips to form a mighty groove with depth and interest. The arrangement slides along nicely until the 5.30 mark where everything drops away to reveal the full vocal sample for a fleeting moment before it’s heads down again for the final section of the track.
Flip over for Infinity Dub, a seriously off-world excursion into sublime deep and dubby house for the serious heads. Warm analogue chords sit on top of pumping beats and rolling sub all the while warped noise FX and Rhodes glissandos spin wildly around adding a subtly hypnotic edge to the track. All in all two classic mood setting tracks that avoid any of the obviousness so rife in todays slew of deep house, displaying why Jimpster is still held in high regard as a key purveyor of the scene.
Released by: Freerange Records
Release date: Sep 5, 2000
09. Shonky - Kwality (Oasis EP) [Culprit | CP016]
Artist: Shonky
Title: Oasis EP
Label: Culprit
Tracklist:
Oasis - Original
Oasis - jozif Remix
La Bestia
Kwality
A relationship that began almost four years ago, between Culprit’s LA crew and Parisian native Shonky, has finally been realized, with the mercurial Frenchman stepping up for his first full Culprit release - ‘Oasis’ that features three originals inspired by the Culprit ethos
Another star on a rapid rise, jozif, contributes a stellar Balearic remix of the title track
out on vinyl July 25th
digital August 17th
Ibiza Voice Review:
Having already been working with Culprit in some way or another for almost four years now, it has been with abated breath that we have all waited for Parisian Shonky’s first full release for the imprint. It all started when the Droog crew, the guys behind the LA based label Culprit, invited Shonky to play on the terrace at the city’s now defunct Avalon back in 2007. Since then, everyone has stayed in close contact, teaming up for gigs the world over with Shonky even offering up a remix he did with Dyed Soundorom of Lee Curtiss’ ‘You Turn Girl’ for the label.
The title track lays down a warm and soulful atmosphere that remains throughout the entire EP but injects plenty of drive and momentum at the same time. The bass is deep and lush, rolling along the bottom end besides strong 4/4s. The blunted melodics break through hushed vocals to provide a hazy kind of swing, giving the track plenty of bounce. ‘Oasis’ has the same drug-induced funk sound that flows through previous Culprit releases but this time with a distinct chugging, deep, tech house sound.
‘La Bestia’ is a bassline-led monster, it’s infectiously funky but deep and grumbling bassline rolls away with punchy drums and tight top-end percussion. Stretched out pads and distorted synths join the party to give the track more of a euphoric feel. It’s this juxtaposition of deep, heavy sounds with the airy top level that makes ‘La Bestia’ so engrossing.
‘Kwality’, Shonky’s third original production on the EP sees him display his love for 90s US house with a track that shimmers with all the sun-drenched deliciousness of an LA rooftop party whilst still rocking the dancefloor. It’s as melodic as it is euphoric, providing the perfect end for many a daytime party for the rest of the summer.
To top it off, the EP is graced with another fine trans-Atlantic partnership that sees Londoner jozif drop a typically idiosyncratic rework of ‘Oasis.’ Laidback and funky as funky as hell, his remix is once again built a deep and rumbling, infectious bassline. Dramatic piano flourishes and guitar licks flash across the remix, adding a modern jazz feel to this Balearic, slowed down house number. Already a close cohort with Culprit, jozif will himself be dropping a full release with the imprint in the not so distant future.
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