MIX OF THE MOMENT: Soul Control - Dec 2016 [Balamii Radio]

It’s the week of Christmas. Wham!, Shakin’ Stevens, The Pogues all died a meagre death in your head back in your mothers womb… what you’re really yearning for is some Stephan Bodzin, a sprinkling of Mind Against, maybe even a side portion of Rex The Dog, hell, perhaps even a real-live dog to really get those Christmas juices flowing! Well no matter how much you try and tell yourself your Dad, and certainly your Gran aren’t… so look no further than the vinyl only party boys, Soul Control with their latest show over on Peckham’s finest Balamii Radio.

Almost two hours of the good-stuff taking you on Dub/Soul/Funk/Jazz/House journey that is certifiably fit for all the family. The two on the controls keep their best radio voices to a minimum, focussing on seamlessly stitching together their fine selections and ensuring this musical hotchpotch will lift anyone’s’ spirits.

What really makes it special is the absence of any one stand out track. However credit must go to the inclusion of two classics in ‘See Line Woman’ and Kiki Gyan’s ‘Disco Dancer.’ Some of 2016’s best material is represented featuring a cracker from each of Tenderlonius and Yussef Kamaal’s sumptuous albums. At one point you even find yourself marooned on a desert island with the Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band’s cover of ‘Love Like This’ (Definitely check out their long awaited LP 55).

All in all, a real delight and greatly looking forward to their next show hitting the airwaves. So wrestle the aux off your little sister and get locked with the whole family while you baste that turkey!!

Words by Marcus

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Hammer - At Once EP [Optimo Music]

Optimo Music’s latest offering is from Glaswegian resident, Hammer, with his debut release on the label. The first two tracks on the EP are heavy hitting, house stompers, but the final number, the Special Disco Remix of ‘Stripes’, is the one with the vocals more prominent and suitably sugar-coated to match the Disco mood - a real sweet-sounding Disco belter! 

Childhood friends with the Bicep boys having grown up together in Belfast, Hammer, aka Rory Hamilton, has been messing about with them on Ableton since he was fifteen but said earlier on this year that ‘we’ve definitely stepped it up a notch over the last three years, making as much music as we can together’. Last year his well received collaboration with Bicep, EP entitled ‘Dahlia’, was a breakthrough moment and this year has been much more of the same having joined forces once again with the duo but for AUS Music as part of their milestone tenth year compilation AUS100; their first collaborative release not on the Feel My Bicep label. Since then Rory has had a track go out on Huntley + Palmers and now he gives us these three, as it says in the bio, ‘dancefloor activators’. 

3.7/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Ben C

MIX OF THE MOMENT: Static Discos Dimension Series with Bake

Over the last three years Mexican label, Static Discos has been delivering an enchanting series of mixes from renowned selectors such as Ital, STL, Intergalatic Gary and Shawn O’Sullivan – all of them fitting with the label’s less-conventional sonic explorations. Curator of the Dimension Mix series, Oscar González aims to expand the perception of what electronic music can be with insights from all corners of the globe – and this is exactly what’s achieved in Bake’s December mix.  

Composed of tantalising experimental obscurity and luscious ambient bliss, this mix is nothing short of effective meditative immersion. Nicely balanced between the weird, the emotive and the serene, Bake has curated an exonerating mix that remains curiously captivating and expressively sentimental. 

Bake has risen as a cult hero over the last few years, having successfully gained his Glasgow based label, All Caps esteem as one of the UK’s most exciting labels-to-watch. He frequently exhibits his DJ skills on Rinse FM where he started out as a guest on the Hessle audio show. 

Get to know more of Bake in his interview with The Ransom Note here; and discover more of the Dimension Series here.

Words by Fred

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Orlando Riva Sound - Body To Body Boogie (Midland Edit) [Stamp The Wax]

If you haven’t already tuned into Midland’s edit of German Disco group, Orlando Riva Sound’s 1979 disco hit ‘Body To Body Boogie’ then it’s about time you do! Kicking off the third Stamp The Wax Advent Calendar compilation in style, Midland has upped the tempo and refined the original diligently. 

Like the two previous years, all the proceeds go to charity and this year Stamp The Wax are supporting Giles Peterson’s charity, The Steve Reid Foundation, which Giles set up as a tribute to Steve who was a jazz drummer that sadly past away in 2010. Steve could not afford the medical treatment that could have saved his life and Giles was horrified by the conditions his good friend was living in during his last days. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Steve Reid’s life than to start a charity to help other musicians in his name. If you love music like I do, please support the people making it.” - Giles Peterson.

4.5/5

Buy: Digital

Words by Ben C

Old 'n' Gold: Theo Parrish - First Floor (Part 1) [Peacefrog Records]

After months of speculation and initial issues in the pressing plant, the much anticipated reissue of the seminal 'First Floor' is finally with us. Originally released on Peacefrog Records almost twenty years ago, it's Theo's first album and arguably his finest piece of work. The album makes a stark contrast to any of his recent releases on Sound Signature, instead relying heavily on samples and showing us the rawer end of his production. It's a definite must-have for any deep house lover and provides the next best thing to seeing him live.

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Tom G

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Etbonz - BAH032 [Bahnsteig23]

For owner Ziggy Sternenstaub it has been a year of hard work at Bahnsteig23 HQ. There is no particular genre; in a recent interview Ziggy describing the sound ‘Marching together’. But it’s a German affair of cold wave, cosmic, krautrock and leftfield groovers that have built Bahnsteig 23’s pedestal away from the crowd. Ziggy can finally put his feet up in time for the New Year with their latest single sided release ‘Cambodian Dream’ by Portland’s Elliot Thomas otherwise known as Etbonz. Etbonz has a really interesting blend between cosmic and organic sounds – post-trump neo-garage? Genre’s seem to be getting more ridiculous names and its because guys (and girls) like Etbonz keep creating these different sounds. In 'Cambodian Dream' he takes his xylophone for a serious ride maintaining a slow tempo and keeping it in space. A real treat in time for the festive season. 

4.0/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Jack

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Neville Watson - Hazing [Craigie Knowes]

Glaswegian label Craigie Knowes returns to the limelight with their second charity LP following last years success featuring heavy hitters Bicep, Move D and Neville Watson to name a few; so we’ve been interested to see the follow up and it hasn't disappointed. The Second Annual Fundraiser – War Child will, like the first, donate all profits to War Child UK, a charity that provides aid to children who are affected and displaced by international conflicts. Featuring tracks from Shanti Celeste, South London duo Chaos in the CBD and a return for old school raver and acid house enthusiast Neville Watson. It’s fair to say Neville has been around the block… and back again, from owning his own record store and label in Windsor to peak time sets in Panorama Bar, fabric and everywhere in-between. Neville’s contribution 'Hazing' does what it says on the tin, a hazy blend of drums and a pulsating baseline will have dancefloors rocking. A great album with an even better cause, big respect to this forward thinking project and the guys behind Craigie Knowes.

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Ed W-C

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Clams Casino - Time [#savefabric]

This week, club goers, music fans and cultural preservationist alike would have revelled in the brilliant news that fabric is indeed staying open. Throughout months of discussion between fabric and Islington Council there has been waves of support from fans, artists, DJ's and producers. We have seen the #savefabric movement shared around the internet resulting in over 150,000 signed petitions and over £300,000 raised. As well as this there has been numerous #saveourculture events running up and down the country. 

I have chosen Clams Casino’s ‘Time’ for this round of record of the week. A cut off the massive 111 track #savefabric release and ‘Time’ sounds huge. Ominous vocal and guitar samples make up the bulk of the track with a thick drum beat that kicks in at about 00.50 to seal the deal. As well as being partly responsible for the success of ASAP Rocky's breakthrough mixtape LiveLoveA$AP, Clams Casino has recently released his own album featuring artist such as Vince Stapels, Kelela and Joe Newman from Alt-J. Although Clams Casino has become synonymous with hip hop its brilliant to see him in a purely electronic context.

3.8/5

Buy: Digital

Words by Tobias

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Hey Mister / Watcha Gonna Do With My Lovin' (DS Rework) [Schnitzel Cuts]

Released last Monday these Disco reworks come from the mysterious DS... One can only assume DS stands for Detroit Swindle having spun various DS reworks in their past mixes online and most recently in their Boiler Room earlier this month. Aswell as that they have supported  all the releases via their SoundCloud page. The imprint behind the beats is Schnitzel Cuts, which has only released all previous DS reworks with this being the third. The vinyl only disco reworks are "inspired by the mouth-watering dish that is the Schnitzel, brought to you by the artists that are now said to have appropriated the most important traits of this breaded beast: Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside and best served with a slice of lemon." - Team SNZL. The humorous tone to Schnitzel Cuts is only further evidence that this is a sort of under the radar alias for the Dutch duo who are known for their humorous nature. 

Both delightful tracks but 'Hey Mister' is the one for me with its playful baseline and scintillating vocals - definitely one to set dance floors alight.

3.9/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Ben C

MIX OF THE MOMENT: Ishmael - Church Boiler Room

In October London based record label Church showcased their talent on Boiler Room at Corsica Studios in the capital. On the night Laurence Guy, Chaos In The CBD, Beesmunt Soundsystem, Apes, Seb Wildblood and the man in question, Ishmael (all signed to Church) made sure it was a memorable one.

Pete Cunningham a.k.a Ishmael who’s based in Bristol has been a hot topic of discussion within the underground scene. His 2012 debut release ‘Want You’ kick started his career and has since paved the way for many successful releases on Wolf Music and Church. Ishmael’s take on electronic music is a refreshing one, his love of instruments, in particular the Saxophone, is a common theme in his live performances. Ishmael’s not just focused on music production, he also draws attention to the imagery of his art. 

Pete works with a close friend of his Amie Nowlan (a talented animator and visual artist), to devise soporific concepts to accompany his unique style and sound. Examples of their work can be seen in the music videos for his tracks, ‘Montparnasse’ and ‘The Mounk’. This just shows he is truly an all-round artiste. 

Recently Ishmael gave one of the most impressive live performances Boiler Room has ever seen. The multi-instrumentalist treated us to a demonstration of his incredible talent, using his A/V system. He played some immaculate echoing ambient sounds, as well as his skills on the saxophone that provided a dreamy, jazzy cloak, which galvanises the soul for the first half of the 45-minute set. After the alluring daydream Ishmael perfectly instigates, he then resorts to dragging you out of it to unleash his synthesiser to add an element of grit to the finale of his set. 

Words by Max

Old'n'Gold: Derek Carr - Destiny [For Those That Knoe]

Last week, the door bell rang and a circular parcel turned up at my doorstep - hand delivered by Brian, our local postman here in Bristol. I impatiently tore open the brown protective packaging and low & behold there she was - a beautiful, charcoal black piece of wax, pressed with one of the most subtle and delectable techno grooves I’ve heard in recent times.

It’s a rarity for me to enjoy the physical elements of electronica in this way. Practically and economically digital music is the most convenient way for me to listen and perform. Six years ago, when I started DJing, I learnt the basics on a pair of Technics, a trusty DJM 600 (still and always will be my favourite mixer ever) and a couple of dusty RAM DnB records. Despite embracing the technological advances of the scene since then, vinyl has always held a place in my heart. So, very occasionally, I buy myself a record to celebrate this. ‘Destiny’ by Derek Carr is one of those.

‘Destiny’ is a truly special piece of Detroit techno. Simplicity is at the heart of this. A 135 bmp roller that builds patiently - striking the perfect balance of groove and melody with it’s perfectly weighted kicks, snares and synth work. It is one of those records you could put on repeat and realise later three hours have suddenly gone by. Released originally in 2003 on Greek Records and repressed by For Those That Knoe earlier this year, Derek Carr has proved, as with all great pieces of music, that time is of no consequence. Hailing from Ireland, he’s been making music since the late 80’s. Keep an eye out for him, there's plenty more to come!

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Chris

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Fuga Ronto - Journey Unknown [Phantom Island]

After a string of fantastically crafted EPs over the last two years since its inception, Zurich-based label Phantom Island returns after a slight lull in their output with a brilliant five-tracker from Fuga Ronto. This is a completely new project comprising two of the label's owners and best of friends, Ron Shiller and Foster. The results are fantastic and each track could stand equally on its own. Like most of the label's previous releases, the attention to detail is clear and you can just imagine the meticulous nature of the production procedure. The pick for me has got to be 'Journey Unknown', a heavily balearic and feel-good affair that strongly reminds me of some of Mark Barrott's work on International Feel. There's a slight clue in the title but the track is as carefree as it's made out and provides the perfect soundtrack to dream of those hazy summer days.

4.0/5

Listen to the full EP.

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Tom G

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Rune Bagge - Ingen Tak Til Systemet EP [Ectotherm]

Ectotherm is a Danish techno label run by Apeiron Crew member Mama Snake (Sara Svanholm) and former member Courtesy (Najaaraq Vestbirk), which launched early this year. Apeiron Crew (whose other half is made up of Emma Blake & Simone Øster) has become known for its ‘all-killer, no-filler’ approach to their eclectic DJ sets, focusing in on the hard, dark, and high-energy. Having listened to stella mixes from Courtesy on outputs like FACT and Crack, and an Echtoterm NTS special, one can get a sense of what's being cooked up in the Danish capital.

Echtotherm launched back in June with Schacke’s Patterns Of Susceptibility – an EP made up of crisp, intense and emotive 4x4 dance-floor fillers. The label aims to promote local Danish talent, and the first two EPs certainly capture something present in Apeiron Crew’s ethos. This week welcomes Rune Bagge to their roster. Rune Bagge has been booked across Europe over the last few years, playing at one of Berlin’s most liberal and hedonistic parties ‘Herrensauna’ this past summer, and has been a regular at Copenhagen’s beloved sweat show, ‘Culture Box’. 

The EP is more of what one’s come to expect from the Danish scene: hard-hitting, no-nonsense, dance-floor orientated techno. ‘Secret Solutions’ is exactly that, with heavy dubbed-out bass, rattling snares and deranged synth loops. ‘Repulsion’ is a steady seedy roller, kept immersive through a nice array of sounds textures. The chaotic and dread comes through in ‘I Am The Solution’, whilst ‘Coup D’Etat’ is the most experimental track made up of drum ’n’ bass samples with shades of IDM influence. The final track is certainly quirky, but its sombre chords retain its sincerity. 

Get to know the sound of the Apeiron Crew from their NTS showcase here. Learn more about the woman behind the tracks and get an insight into Copenhagen’s growing techno scene by reading these two articles, 'Life after Dunkel' & 'Four to the Floor'. 

4.0/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Fred

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Anna - Systems Breaking Down [Be With Records]

Up this week in pure Halloween style is a mysterious re-issue from Be With Records. I say Halloween style because this record is a truly creepy record that gets inside of you and crawls around chilling you to the core. With the re-emergence of 80s snyth music in contemporary horror pop culture, from Netflix phenomenon ‘Stranger Things’ to David Robert Mitchell’s haunting film ‘It Follows’ it is no wonder you relate this sort of slow synth led music with the ghosts and ghouls of the long and narrow corridor.

Remarkably first released in 1982 by Sony sub label RCA, little known Anna produced a track of enormous future vision. Now nearly 35 years later we hear it again with fresh ears and it is delicious. The dance cut weaves brilliantly through with layers of cosmic sounding flip flop disco and effortless arpeggios that resonate with contemporary basement disco. I could imagine crate diggers, the likes of Harvey and Weatherall, owning the original cut released all those years ago. It is the original mix though that will strike a chord with this new frustrated generation of social media zombies. In true Halloween style the downbeat, counselling but fairly humorous lyrics along with the over dramatic, over extended ending will reach out to darker side of your soul, and without realising, with guilt in your eyes, you will find a small smile on your face.

3.9/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Ben S

PREMIERE :: Voyeur - Presence [Kaoz Theory]

Burgeoning duo Voyeur release their debut album via Kerri Chandler’s Kaoz Theory tomorrow!

Voyeur AKA Benson Herbert and Leo Picking broke through back in February 2012 with a remix of Bombay Bicycle Club. Soon after Kerri Chandler invited them to release on his Madhouse and Madtech imprints and before long the UK duo were sharing booths with the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Masters At Work, Dennis Ferrer and Cassy. Readying their debut album, entitled I,  Voyeur have assembled ten productions exemplary of their distinct musical aesthetic.

Today we're bringing you the second track from the LP, "Presence" - a housey number with deep piano melodies and soulful vocals.

We also had a chat with Benson and Leo about the album, production and Kerri Chandler:

Having been four years since your debut release, at what moment did you know you were ready to release an album and how long were you working on it?

This record is essentially an amalgamation of some of our favourite older tracks that we had written a few years ago, and some newer productions. It started off as an idea for an EP, intended for Kaoz Theory, but the size of the EP kept growing until it got to about five or six tracks and we thought let’s turn this into an album. It’s quite hard to say how long the album has taken as there are a few tracks in there that we’d written four or five years ago but have been refreshed a bit, but since the time we started on the EP idea until the album, has been about a year. It’s been a long journey and a lot of hard work but we feel the album works really well and it represents our varying styles and genres.  
 

Can you talk us through how you go about making your music - what is the creative process and what hardware/software do you use to make it on?

I wouldn’t say we have a set process when making music, as we often approach tracks differently. Sometimes we’ll be listening to a song and hear a sample, and that will start the process, whereas other times we’ll just start with the drum grooves and then sit behind a synth or keyboard and develop the track from there. We have quite a few bits of hardware and depending on the style of the tracks, other bits will get used more than others. But we use the Ultranova, Nord Stage II, Maschine and MPC the most I’d say. 
 

Do you have a particular piece of kit in the studio you couldn't do without?

To be genuinely honest, the Technics 1210. We sample a lot, even down to the individual drum sounds. Following that probably one of our samplers or the space echo.
 

What notable differences were there to your approach when constructing a fuller length release compared to previous three/four track EPs?

We feel it gives you a whole lot more freedom on the creative process, and also gives you a chance to showcase some other tracks, which you wouldn’t usually get the chance to release on an EP. With the track Seamless Seamstress for example, we really felt we could take our time on it, arrangement wise, whereas if that was for an EP it would have probably been quite a bit shorter. 
 

Naming tracks is something some artists find the hardest bit about making music and some don’t think twice about it - which one do you lean towards? Can you tell us what the story is behind the names on this release?

I would say we lean toward the latter, however some pieces of music go through various names as the ideas develop. Some track titles often stem from a defining part of the track. The track titles on the album are pretty varied. Silents, the name comes from all the multiple layers of ambient room noise taken from the piano recordings. Seamless Seamstress is something very random that had a poetic and sibilant feel to it, Leo’s mum is also a trained seamstress so there’s a nod there too. With the track Tough Love, we felt the track had this one side to it which is beautiful sounding and emotive, whereas it also had this raw harsh side to it.
 

I is being released on Kerri Chandler’s new imprint, Kaoz Theory, his third label to date. Kerri has been instrumental in your rise - how big an influence is he to you both and can you give us an insight into what it’s like to work with the House legend?

Kerri has been a great friend to us over the last few years and all of our music tastes are so entwined. If you told me a few years ago that our relationship would be what it is today, I would have laughed. He has been such a great help in our work, if we ever can’t figure something out or need a second pair of ears on something; we give king Kerri a call. However, he has always insisted that we find our own path and sound. He has been a massive inspiration to us both, even before meeting him, and not only just music wise but also his character.  
 

Following on from your debut album release what is next up on the horizon for Voyeur?

We have a track coming out with Apparel in December and are currently finishing our next two EP’s. Keep your ears peeled!
 

Voyeur ‘I’ (LP) drops on Kaoz Theory on 31st October 2016. 

Voyeur: RA | Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Words by Ben C