/ / / Phile

Its been a good few months now, and I must say – I’m already sick to the back teeth of the hordes of Michael Jackson samples that are wriggling their way into the hard drives and studios of so many unsuspecting producers. It surely can’t be intentional. Not so many. All at the same time. Tut. Give up on the token Jacko tribute sample track, its has no place in your set – trust! Maybe we’re feeling the bite of a recession and too many weekends firmly OFF the rave, or maybe we’re … right? Thank God for a bunch of new vinyls to keep our spirits up…

1. 6th Borough Project – Part 1 (Instruments of Rapture)

We gave love to the mighty Instruments of Rapture label in our last weekly releases round-up – here’s another excellent release from them. Perhaps there’s something in the water up there in Scotland, but they’re churning back some seriously laid back disco influenced house of late. This EP compines classic disco sounds, and a deep and delicious dub from label head honchos The Revenge. Craig Smith aka 6th Borough Project has allegedly been a stalwart of the Edinburgh house scene for quite some time now, and apparently there are more releases coming up on Freerange, Future Classics and Delusions Of Grandeur. Keep ‘em coming, we say – thick and fast!

A1 – Hang On

2. Martin Eyerer, Benno Blome – Pianoroll Remixes (Great Stuff)

A well-placed piano, when it manages to be neither cheesy nor overbearing, is music to my ears. Martin Eyerer and Benno Blome managed it earlier this year with Pianoroll, these remixes are just spectacular. On the a-side Ramon Tapia borrows the bassline from Josh Wink’s “Stay Out All Night” bringing us into slightly more up-tempo territory, retains the rolling quality of the original track. On the flip side are Audiofly, of all people, adding to the original, giving it a bit more groove and a few extra riffs, just where they were needed. Difficult to pick a favourite but we’re going for the Wink homage (just).

A1 – Pianoroll (Ramon Tapia Remix)

3. Mark E – Freakin & Shreakin / Formed (Under the Shade / Jiscomusic)

Man of the moment Mark E is here for Jiscomusic with a disco re-edit of Grace Jones “La Vie En Rose” on the A-side – its quite light and teases us with those piano riffs, until Grace makes her entrance with dem killah vocals. The B-side is my favourite here though – a more dance floor orientated cut, you will definitely have heard this before as it’s been afforded a few spins in all the right places.

B1 – Formed

4. Freestyle Man – Vibin’ (Hairy Claw)

DJ tools done good, Sasse returns as Freestyle man to deliver some delicious early doors grooves. Layered loops and grooves, mutated samples and some deep, deep basslines. Whether the more upfront ‘Vibin’, or other, more laid back cuts are your bag – these are not to be dismissed as fillers. Listen… and appreciate.

A1 – Vibin\’

5. Catz ‘n’ Dogz – Me (Get Physical)

Despite possibly having the worst sounding name in dance music, I can’t help but love Catz ‘n’ Dogz – they rarely disappoint ant this EP is gorgeous.  Harking right back to the old school, there ‘me’ vocal is repeated throughout, with the A-side feeling pretty up-tempo and loopy with some melodic elements creeping in underneath. The B-side mashes it up a little, keeping the old-school vibe but taking things down a notch and adding a ghetto feel with some real bounce.

A1 – Me

6. Two Armadillos – Hawthorne’s Theme (Bang!Bang!)

100% pure sub-label Bang!Bang are back here with a sneaky little two tracker from King Roc and Giles Smith – the original is alright; slowly grooving and as deep as it comes. The remix, though, is killer – Babies From Gong aka 2000 And One and Sandy Huner (lets face it, neither can ever really put a foot wrong) bounce it about a bit. Larvley.

B1 – Hawthorne\’s Theme (Babies From Gong Remix)

7. Wax  – 20002 (Wax)

Its been over a year since the release of Wax 10001 and, well, its been worth the wait. Fresh from Berlin, I’m told this one is by Ostgut’s Shed. The A-side is quite stripped, filled mostly by a heavy bassline and some sparse keys. The B-side is lovely, with a more intense and yet easier feel punctuated in all the right places by that piano riff. Favourite.

Wax 20002 – Track 2

8. Equalized – 002 (Equalized)

Affiliated with the Wax releases, here’s a repress of Equalized 002. This is Shed again, so its repress is timed to fit wit the Wax release, which is puzzling. Releasing white labels like this is some kind of statement by its maker – doesn’t making the statement twice take away from the punk aesthetic? The two tracks are quite varied – the A side shares more in common with its Wax counterpart – more techno influenced, euphoric, with echoes of Detroit. The B-side is something of an oddity – I’m not quite sure where you’d hear this played. Purposefuly out-of-time, and yet again somewhat euphoric.

Equalized 002 – Track 2

9. We See Us – 001 (We See Us)

Its becoming all about elusive presses this week – the original is a lovely, simple house track – laid back and melodic but for some nice hi-hats. Both cuts are beautiful – the remix doesn’t differ too much, adding some more space and bringing out the vocal. Can’t wait for more We See Us.

We See Us – 001 (Original)

Loving Tanzmann & Seuil – Joints Vol 1 on Moon Harbour; Kasper Bjorke & His Friendly Ghost; and the new Silent Servant EP. There just ain’t enough hours in the day! Also giving out props to the Hibernation Sampler Part 1 on Bear Funk – particularly the guitar heavy Billy Bogus & Sal – ‘Terror Island’ track. Genius. Over and out for now.

Greetings audio~Philes! If you’re savvy, you may spot that some of these have been out for over a week now. Sorry to be so dreadfuly late, but we feel its fitting, since we’ve been away for sooooo long and genuinely love the tracks anyway, you’re getting a double installment of the highlight, all in one. So stop bitchin’, you’re blessed. In no particular order…

1 – A Mountain of One – ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ (self-pressed)

Nice mysterous one-sider here from A Mountain of One, I believe the second in a limited edition reworked series. Chugging disco with innofensive vocals, inspired guitar and cosmic vibes wooshing about all over the place. Funky / bluesy. Heeeello.

Bonnie & Clyde

2 – Ooft  / The Revenge – Part Three (Instruments of Rapture)

Aaaah, Beautiful. Love to stumble across releases like this. Another limited vinyl, this time courtesy of Glasweigan folk ‘The Revenge’ and their lovely Instruments of Rapture label. Three nice cuts of laid back disco. Whilst first track ‘Oooft’ is an accomplished builder, the two standout efforts come from The Revenge themselves. Both cool as heck – its hard to choose a favourite. Both have lots of depth and great vocal snippets.

B1 – The Revenge, ‘Hotz for You’

3. VA – ‘I’m Starting To Feel OK Vol 3′ (Endless Flight)

An EP of epic proportions from Mule Music / Mule Electronique’s sister label Endless Flight (named after a 1976 Leo Sayer record? We’d like to think so). This installation of the ‘I’m Starting to Feel OK’ series switches from the former to the latter, with four stylish cuts. We particularly like the Wild Rumpus offering and its guitar riffs; and Cos/Mes sliding ‘Natural Lifespan’.  RA reviewed the compilation – which is also really, really hot.

B1 – Wild Rumpus, ‘Kazan’

B2 – Cos / Mes, ‘Natural Lifespan’

4 – Shit Robot – ‘Simple Things (Todd Terje Remix)’ (DFA)

Loads of time for this EP.  Whilst Tim Sweeney’s vocals in the original re-work certainly harking back to the 80’s – we like, I’m hearing some kind of Ian Curtis crossed with Prince incarnation – the Todd Terje remix truly hasn’t been off our player this week. A storming disco track, with echoes of old school house and an acid edge that is pushing back through more and more of late. Hot.

B1 – Shit Robot ‘Simple Things (Work It Out) (Todd Terje Remix)’

5. Ethyl & Huxley – ‘Byzantine EP’ (Cecille Numbers)

Its hard to keep up with the Cecille / 8bit camp, as the Mannheim sound continues to dominate and influence the scene of late. These are typical cuts, but the quality can’t be denied. These guys are new blood, and actually come from London – more beautiful deepness with that old school vibe.

B1 – Ethyl & Huzley \’With You\’

6. Precious Sysyem – The Voice From Planet Love (Running Back)

The original mix on this EP, from Running Back (a label we’re growing to love post Robert Dietz / Mark E releases) is definitely a track you will have heard before with plays form here to Christendom – lovely deep disco-house with a peak time vocal and a rousing cowbell rattling around, very versatile and would work in many different situations. Not keen on Dixon’s rather transcendental re-edit, but if you like it a tad more euphoric perhaps this is for you… Similarly not sure Marcus Worgull remix is doing it for us… but the original makes up for that!

A1 – The Voice From Planet Love

7. Psycatron – ‘Deeper Shades of Black’ (Planet E)

Dark rolling techno here from Shine (Belfast) resident Psycatron, saved by some rather lighter chord stabs and synths – part of Planet E’s ‘Guilty Pleasures’ collection. If you don’t like it quite so tough the B side is less intense, more brooding and pretty deep. Pretty peaking all the same.

A1 – Deeper Shades of Black

8 – Leon ft Corrina Joseph – ‘I Will Follow You’ (Rebirth)

Awesome uplifting chords, great samples – on paper nothing out of the ordinary but in real-time equates to sheer pleasure from Italian DJ Ruggero aka Leon. Take your pick of remixes – Deetron’s Springtime Leaves is our fave; his detroit style Believer rework and Pitto’s vocal heavy jobby are accomplished, but don’t quite compare. Nice one, Rebirth.

A1 – I Will Follow You (Deetron Springtime Leaves Remix)

9. Pagal, Mihai Popoviciu, Jay Bliss – ‘Eucalipt EP’ (Fear of Flying)

Phile favourites and ‘ones to watch’, Pagal, Mihai Popoviciu and Jay Bliss (Hermannstadt Collective), appear here on prime UK label Fear of Flying, bringing a deep groove and percussive elements and a strong melody. A1 track Eucalipt is quite reduced, whilst techno infuenced B1 takes it up a notch in classic, groovy as hell Hermannstadt style. Already looking forward to the next!

B1 – Melange

10. Yam – Yam Yam 5 (Yam Yam)

Steady, solid house release from perhaps the most mysterious label we’ve come across yet. Who or what Yam is, we don’t know, but here you have some warm, reduced sounds and perfect warm-up fodder. A1 is a slice of melodic, seriously stripped down goodness, but B1 is our pick.

B1 – Untitled

And credit where credit is due for Crazy P’s Re-edits Vol 1 EP on Hotbath; Sven Tasnadi ‘Habanero’ on Poker Flat (preferred the last Liebe*Detail release with Juno 6, but B2 ‘Piri Piri’ is well worth a check); Motor City Drum Ensemble’s ‘Passion’ remix on Rush Hour is quite possibly ‘perfect’; and Huner et Chaptal – ‘If This World Were Mine’ on Area Remote. It’s great to be back!