The critically acclaimed Gottwood Festival is back this week! We asked Gottwood regulars Move D, Bradley Zero, Tristan da Cunha, Subb-an, Crazy P, Archie Hamilton, PBR Streetgang, DJ Felix Dickinson and Gottwood director, Tom Carpenter for their fondest memory of the festival and where their attention will be this year: READ
RECORD OF THE WEEK: Roger Van Lunteren - On And Dna No [XXX]
Dutch label XXX brings us the second half of their compilation this month. 'XXX004' compiles of nine tracks from nine different artists that will be released over two calendar releases. My favourite track on the record is Roger van Lunteren’s ‘On and Dna No’. Born in the Netherlands but bred in Cologne, Roger van Lunteren has got a good pedigree for any electronic producer. His productions cover a range of styles from downright scary techno to slow ambient sounds. However, with some really good acid edits in the past and this latest track ‘On and Dna No’ he definitely has a way with his synthesiser. ‘On and Dna No’ is a fiery track with its deep drum cuts and squelching acid. As they say nu rules, no genres, two vinyl’s, one love. This should be coming out on the 5th of June, so get it while its hot!
3.5/5
Buy: Vinyl
Words by Jack A
MIX OF THE MOMENT: Ace & Tate Sounds - Guest Mix by Marcus Worgull
This weather ain’t bad eh? Well have a listen to Marcus Worgull’s devious guest mix for Ace & Tate to make it that much sweeter. Away from his dancefloor antics, the Moodmusic, Sonar Kollectiv and Innervisions regular clearly has an ear for music beyond house and techno for which he’s so well known for.
There’s something very refreshing about discovering the more alternative tastes of top DJs, which is that it no longer portrays them as the one-dimensional, electronic music nerds that we become so used to seeing.
Soul, jazz, reggae, and rock; merged into one hour of total euphoria - a classy mix from a classy guy.
Words by Hugo P
WHERE TO GO: The Pickle Factory x Timedance with Skee Mask, Batu, Ploy and DEBONAIR @ The Pickle Factory
Bristol-based record label Timedance are at the forefront of a crop of exciting young UK techno imprints. Indeed, they release the kind of alien, machinic, bassline and dubstep influenced music that Hessle Audio are perhaps best known for. Timedance are emblematic of the manner in which the UK, at the moment, is such an exciting and thriving breeding ground for progressive electronic music. Bearing this in mind, an evening curated by label boss Batu, with himself and guests providing the music promises to be an otherworldly and unmissable affair.
Headlining the night is enigmatic Illian Tape regular Skee Mask. The Munich born DJ/producer specialises in techno often on the more breakbeat, bass orientated and ambient side of things. Undoubtedly one to watch, his compelling, progressive and simply different approach to techno makes him a harmonious fit alongside Batu and Ploy. The former has most recently cut his teeth with a Hessle Audio debut in the form of ‘Marius’- a percussive, eccentric and atmospheric four track endeavour. Finally, the aforementioned trio are joined by DEBONAIR, the most eclectically minded booking of the night, and part of the inceptive group of NTS radio. A London-based local loved DJ, playing anything from post-punk, to techno, italo-disco, coldwave, house and back again, DEBONAIR will play an extended b2b with Ploy, a combination that only furthers the intrigue of this carefully curated night.
Proceedings will take place in the Oval Space owned Pickle Factory, an intimate, stripped-back venue that rightly prioritises the sonic over the visual. On paper this Timedance showcase provides one of the most intriguing line ups in recent memory. Combined with an intimate venue and an unusual b2b, intrigue is reason in enough to give this the green light.
Words by Hugo B
RECORD OF THE WEEK: Duke Hugh - Approaching lights EP [Music Of Color]
The Dutch newcomer, Duke Hugh, clearly hasn't had time to look back since Bradley Zero crawled into his USB. His debut release, Canvas, on the Peckham-based label Rhythm Section provided a earful of versatility. In this latest EP, Duke opens up with ‘A New Beginning’, a dreamt state of ambience provided by a core of blissful strings. The title track follows this quiet beginner with a grooving 4/4 kick and viscous synth chords fermenting through those all to familiar strings into a bass driven stonker calling for the after hours. Flipping over to the B side ‘Burning up’ gives you a taste of those summer days, brimmed with excited percussion and fragrant chords, powered through its driving kick and jaunty bass-lines. Finishing off this outstanding EP, Duke leaves you with an array of latin percussive drums, that will leave your left foot searching. Accompanied by syrupy synths and a peppering of that signature guitar ‘Broken samba’ will have you smiling ear to ear. Its a must add to the collection my dudes and at £12 you’ll still be high and dry.
3.9/5
Words by Freddie T
8 tracks that blew the roof off...
Last Saturday saw London party starters 12inch take to Dalston Roof Park for a sun-soaked day party with none other than Ray Mang and Pete Herbert heading the bill, along with a strong support in the shape of Jive Talk and the 12inch residents. After now a handful of events the London based outfit, 12inch, are getting known for their on-point programming (if you fancy house & disco) at some of the capitals best spots. With Ray Mang and Pete Herbert at the helm, on rotation for five hours at the newly refurbished Dalston Roof Park we knew this one wouldn’t disappoint. As expected these two blew the roof off, quite literally (DRP’s electric roof is very smart), and so here is a flavour of some of our favourite tracks that were laid down…
Words by Ben C
PREMIERE: Demuja - Turn Me On [Freerange Records]
Fresh off the excellent Freerange Records, comes a beautiful EP from Demuja - ‘Move’. The London-based label has developed organically from a project started by Tom Roberts and Jamie Odell, and was originally a platform for Jamie’s music to be released to the world (on his projects Audiomontage and Jimpster). In the twenty-one years since its inception, however, Freerange has accumulated an incredible number of talented producers and become a staple in the house scene churning out surprising, varied, and consistently high quality dance records.
Demuja joins the ranks of artists who have released on Freerange, with the likes of Catz n Dogz, Oxia and Andhim. Following in the wake of the Austrian artist’s previous uplifting disco and house tracks, this EP does not disappoint and also dips into some darker sounds in the title track ‘Move’ and in ‘B.o.o.m’.
The ‘Move’ EP is a lovely, varied record, with each track boasting its own distinct personality. Throughout the record, common traits are classic house melodies, made more special by driving, rough drums, acid lines or lo-fi kicks.
‘Turn Me On’ is undeniably a summer track, with a bongo-led beat, a sunny melody, and a beautifully warbled vocal sample. Acid lines bubble into the tune once in a while, and muted, under-produced drum kicks cheekily cut across the melody. The overall effect is a soulful and satisfying hybrid - a house classic with a hint of garage gruffness. This will undeniably be a staple in festival sets this summer.
Words by Dora T
WHERE TO GO: Submit x Berliner w Max Graef, Glenn Astro, Andrew Ashong & More @ Brixton Jamm
Since its makeover, the Brixton venue has become quite the exquisite soundspace. Kitted out with Funktion-One’s across two rooms, the new look Jamm provides a spacious dance-floor for clubbers to lose themselves in. With some impressive previous billings, this bank holiday Saturday night it is the only place to be south of the river, with a Money $ex Records takeover - Berlin hits our capital in style.
Room 1 showcases Money $ex Records with label chiefs Max Graef, Glenn Astro and Delfonic playing an extended b2b set for the first time in London, with the capital’s SUBMIT DJs warming things up and closing down in style.
Room 2 is hosted by the likeminded London collective Lucid and features sets from Andrew Ashlong (Sound Signature), Anu (Rhythm Section) and Theodor (YAM).
House, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Afro, Disco & Intergalactic Funk alllll night long.
SUBMIT YOURSELF!
Words by Oli L
RECORD OF THE WEEK: Bottin – Roulez Jeunesse (Y-A-M-L EP) [2mrecords / Retrogroove Records]
Hailing from Venice, Italy Guglielmo Bottin a.k.a Bottin when in the studio and gracing the decks, is a producer, DJ and sound designer described as “one of the finest purveyors of electronic disco around at the moment.” He has a range of influences, working with some of Italy’s finest pop producers such as; Lucio Dalla, Donatella Rettore, Sergio Caputo and Spanish group Chambao.
In 2004, he released an album of eclectic downtempo material under the name Willaim Bottin but resurfaced a few years later and operated on a last-name-only basis. The Italian is probably best known for his release of ‘No Static’ on Italians Do Better in 2009. Subsequently he has released music on Eskimo Recordings, Nang and Bearfunk.
Friday saw the release of his 12” EP featuring Lavinia Claws named 'Y-A-M-L' (You Are My Love). Retrogroove Records and 2mrecords did the honours for this one, known for their specialisation in old school Italo-Disco and Funk. Personally, my favourite tune on the record is 'Roulez Jeunesse', mainly because of it’s friendly, rolling baseline that seems like it’s determined to keep the groove going no matter what. This is one for the record bag, so take a trip to Discogs and grab it before it sells out.
3.9/5
Listen to the full release
Buy: Digital
Words by Alex M
OLD 'n' GOLD: Techno Bert - Neue Dimensionen [Mannequin Records]
On 5th June Berlin-based coldwave and post-punk label, Mannequin Records is reissuing a piping-hot European New-Beat hit, Techno Bert’s ‘Neue Dimensionen’. Starting out in 2008 with Italian Alessandro Adriani at the helm, Mannequin has been consistently delivering a lively output of obscure synth music covering all sorts of moods. As well as offering future classics, the label keeps an integral ethos of uncovering fantastic forgotten gems; check out their Danza Mechanic Italian Synth Wave compilations and the recent double vinyl Orphx Archive 1993/94 release.
‘Neue Dimensionen’ was originally released on the Italian label, Doremix Records in 1990, a sub-label of the early Italian techno label, M.C.E. Records, which was co-run by one half of Techno Bert, Stefano Cundari, who also co-owned Memory Records. Accompanied then by Robert Passera, the two sadly only worked together for this sole project, but created a dance-floor wonder in the process. The track is made up of a whole array of samples, primarily based on the guitar riff from Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Happy House’, but then assembled with drums from The Human League’s ‘Being Boiled’ and a mind-melting distortion of Nina Hagen’s vocal from, ‘Herrmann Hieß Er’ - all crafted with the use of the classic Akai S1000 sampler, a Jupiter synth, a Roland TB-303 and the TR-909. Mannequin describes the track’s creation mentioning that, “While Cundari cared for the sounds from the 48-channel analogue bench and assigned modular effects to the tracks, in studio there was also the musician Stefano Carrara who piloted the keyboards and the Notator installed on the Atari computer.” Stefano Cundari unfortunately died of cancer the same year the EP was released.
The track has an incredibly energetic aura made up of heavy-synth stabs; something like spacey Italo vibes meet a coldwave edge. The funky guitar riff, the electric vocal and slithery hi-hats make it an efficacious beat-driven dance-floor weapon, and the prolonged crescendo keeps this a very positive party track.
Buy: Vinyl
Words by Fred D
WHERE TO GO: Krankbrother present Under The Bridge
London’s longstanding promoter brothers Danny & Kieran (Krankbrother) have pulled out something fresh for their first open air affair of the year. Famed for combining exceptional musical programming with London’s most unique and unusual spaces, their outdoor summer parties have become legendary across the capital.
This Saturday’s day party is taking place on the banks of the River Lea in Hackney, however as the name suggests the dancefloor is situated underneath a striking industrial bridge giving the event a unique setting of urban architecture meets natural beauty. The site has been specifically chosen not just for its aesthetics but also to counter the all too familiar issues that London open air parties face in stringent noise restrictions and a lack of space. Under the Bridge’s location provides an opportunity to push to the upper limits of proper sound & far out production, whilst also having enough space to accommodate boutique food vans, craft beer & cocktail bars.
Minimal aficionado and esteemed Fabric resident Craig Richard heads the bill, alongside Giegling's Konstantin, Ostgut heavyweight Marcel Fengler and infamous punk acid live act Paranoid London. It’s an original space, played by some of techno’s finest connoisseurs, with unique production and even an official Fabric after party to top it all off, this is one Saturday session you certainly shouldn’t sleep on.
Words by Henry C
RECORD OF THE WEEK: Unit 2 - Sunshine (Kink / Tiger & Woods Remixes) [Running Back]
A release many have been waiting for since it tore up the festival circuit last summer. This week we see Gerd Janson's Running Back label release a double sided remix of Unit 2's classic, 'Sunshine', which first appeared back in the 90’s for the seminal Detroit house label Happy Records (a subdivision to Underground Resistance). Two fantastic interpretations complement the original. Side A brings in the Bulgarian master Kink's euphoric piano stabs with jaunty, shuddering bass and uplifting progressive melodies whereas Rome's Tiger & Woods offer up an acid tinged, blissed out alternative. The former popped up late last year as a limited, stamped white label of which the 400 copies got poached quicker than the twenty pound note peeping out the cushion on the bus - now it has been properly issued by popular demand along with a brand spanker from Mr T & Mr W. Grab it while it’s hot!
4.0/5
Listen to the previews
Words by Oli L
MIX OF THE MOMENT: Derek Carr - Revoke Series 01
Revoke, a new label set up by well-renowned diggers Anil Lal and Ben Leigh, looks at uncovering unreleased music from the past and releasing it as limited, white labels with no distribution companies, akin to the 90’s approach. After records from Derek Carr and JS Zeiter, their next offering sees the former initiate their mix series. In keeping with the style of his own output, Derek gives us an hour of uplifting, impeccably-mixed house and techno that works just as well in the bedroom as it would on the dancefloor. The mix is full of energy and packed with music from likes Fred P, Conforce and Convextion, as well as a couple of his own bits. Derek’s resurgence over the last few years has been great to see, and with forthcoming records on Why So Series and the new B12 offshoot FireScope Records, he’s certainly one to keep an eye out for.
Words by Tom G
WHERE TO GO: Trouble Vision with Marcellus Pittman b2b Maurice Fulton @ Corsica Studios
Corsica Studios’ Trouble Vision night has been consistently hosting excellent, unpretentious parties for a few years, and its focus on bringing the best quality selectors and producers to the stellar venue has never wavered. Trouble Vision is back for May, and true to form is bringing an exceptional line-up with Marcellus Pittman and Maurice Fulton playing back to back in room one. These US legends have individually carved out outstanding reputations as godfathers of house, and have both been bringing heartfelt and funky music to the dancefloor with undeniable style and consistency for almost twenty years. It is a complete treat to have the chance to see these two side by side, and the playful and surprising tendencies of the sets both of them play bodes well for a cracking 4-hour headline slot. They are supported by a strong room two lineup of Gideon, Mr Solid Gold, Park Ranger and OK Jones. Corsica Studios’ combination of uncompromising sound (it boasts a Funktion-One soundsystem) and a low-key, intimate atmosphere, has allowed it to become a cult gem of London’s electronic music scene, and it remains one of the most enjoyable places to experience music from DJs that you love. There is no doubt that this will be one of the best parties of the year so far - not one to miss!
Words by Dora T
RECORD OF THE WEEK: Steve Monite - Only You [PMG Austria]
Nothing unites a dance floor like African boogie and this reissue of Steve Monite’s sought-after album, Only You does just that. A prime slab of Nigerian gold that blends disco, funk, loose grooves and sexy vocal hooks. It’s raw and has a sonic soulfulness about it that captivates the listener. Fellow Nigerian boogie legend William Onyeabour released his Atom Bomb LP six years previous to Only You and so one could assume there was an influence there. On sale for just over £13 - this is a bargain taking into account the price I paid three months or even the price an original copy was going for not long ago: £1000!
4.7/5
Buy: Vinyl
Words by Ed R
REVIEW: VA03 - Diverse Künstler Drei [Farbwechsel]
Label compilations come in a variety of packages: there’s the short 4-track record day exclusives, monstrous 5x vinyl anniversary editions, and then the one-off showcases which allows label affiliates to exhibit their quirkier, often unheard styles. Farbwechsel’s third various artists compilation falls into the latter category.
Based in Budapest, Farbwechsel (meaning ‘colour change’ in German) is run by Alpár (Balint Zalkai), SVR101 (Erik Bánhalmi), Norwell and S Olbricht (Martin Mikolai). Starting out in 2012 with cassettes and digital releases they released their first vinyl in 2015 with the first various artists compilation, (sadly however this release is yet to be sent to the pressing plants). In those past five years the label has managed to carve itself out a reputable foothold in a city that has become one of the most exciting scenes in Europe for the mass of talent emerging, the variety of clubs the city has to offer and of course, the music being produced. Perhaps a city better known for its minimal tech-house scene led by producers like Barac and Petre Inspirescu. Farbwechsel has paved way for the emergence of a unique experimental, murky low-fi techno sound – a sound that carries a distinct flavour of vibrancy and innovation that’s less caught up with over-dramatizing techno that has occurred in other scenes across Europe.
As the first release of 2017 and the first after Saint Leidal The 2nd’s leftfield album, Future Tiberian Baths Vol. 2, the comp welcomes back the majority of the label’s roster with notable home-talents, S Olbricht, Route 8, 12z (Bálint Szabó, Márton Kristóf), Wedding Acid Group (András Leidál, Lóránt Keresztes, Zoltán Balla), Mike Nylons and Lobster Theremin’s Imre Kiss. Overall the comp offers a diverse array of interesting electronic music covering low-fi techno, ambient and experimental synth pop, but it’s a diversity that’s seemingly well curated together within a collectively playful, yet also mystic atmosphere of audacious down-tempo experimentation. This is engaging home listening that covers a range of moods but has plenty of DJ friendly tracks too.
Opening with Ashok Leylund’s ‘Nightwalk’, the comp starts with dreamy ambience made up with evocative trills and folkloric pipes reminiscent of the Japanese masters, but dusty with dainty pads. The range of the comp couldn’t be better reflected in FOR.’s opposing, sinister ‘Alles Im Ordnung’ – a downtempo industrial cut made up of hammering, jaggered percussion and murky distortion comparable to the sounds of Vatican Shadow. Q3A delivers some futuristic, slow burning electro with ‘One Frag Left’; J. Mono trails the electro vibe, but with a more upbeat acidy number, that with its airy post-rave feel resonates with the spirited electro of the DMX Crew.
The comp’s maddest experimentation comes from 12z with ‘Katajjaq’: a truly trippy experimental noise that doesn’t shy away from its untiring use of a damaging raspy vocal sample. ‘Burial Ground’ is a notable standout consisting of dramatic, spooky synth progression and an electrifying body music pulse that carries you on a floating wave of suspense until it dissolves into a mystical upbeat outro. ‘101ex626_5’ by Svr101 is another hazy down-tempo cut worthy of mention that works with quirky sci-fi synth sounds peppered snappy broken beat.
Buy: Digital
Words by Fred D
RECORD OF THE WEEK: Glowing Palms - Kiki/Asteroidz [Blip Discs]
Enigmatic Manchester-born producer/DJ Martin Lester (aka Glowing Palms) takes the lead for 'Kiki / Asteroidz', Blips Discs latest endeavour, in his first solo EP since 2013. Founded in 2015 by Tom Blip, initial support from Four Tet in his London Boiler Room made their first release, O’Flynn’s explosively percussive ‘Tyrion’, an instant sell-out. Follow ups from the label head himself and the returning O’Flynn paired dark 4/4 beats with clattering world percussion marking a preliminary aesthetic and putting Blips Discs in buy-on-sight territory. Spooky J’s subsequent release (October 2016) broke this pattern darker, alien and outlandishly cross genre, the label widened its parameters.
Equally unexpected and neatly marking the transition from winter to summer Blip Discs succeed their darkest release to date with their lightest. Opening with an insatiably intergalactic, wave-riding, karate kicking, siren-slinging peak time powerhouse, Glowing Palms’ irresistibly playful approach to electronic music is unignorable in both 'Kiki' and 'Asteroidz' (note the ‘z’). The former opens with claps, beeps and blips before erupting into a heady synth line and diving into crashing breakbeat. The opening formula ebbs, flows, is rinsed, repeated and saturated with smatterings of cosmic catcalls which set the scene nicely for 'Asteroidz'. Here, an infectious shuddering synth line, rumbling kick drum, galloping percussion and 8-bit bombardments crescendo to a frenzy before closing on a note of subduction that signals mission complete. Glowing Palms takes his Blip Discs opportunity puts it on an island in the tropics and sends it into space, resulting in one of the most ear catching releases of the year thus far.
4.5/5
Words by Hugo B
OLD 'n' GOLD: Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy [London Records]
Bronski Beat’s 'Smalltown Boy' was originally released in 1984 on the album The Age of Consent which in itself was eerily honest and ahead of its time. With the sad passing away of the group’s founder member and keyboard player Larry Steinbachek in December of last year, as well as rumours of Bronski Beat releasing new material in 2017, now is a good time to look back at the impact, both musically and politically, that the record has had in the 33 years since its first release.
The Age of Consent was the debut album from Bronski Beat, who were all openly gay, a brave thing to be, and particularly rare in 1984, at a time when stigma against the LGBT community was incredibly high. The only one to feature Jimmy Sommerville (he left the band shortly after the album’s release), The Age of Consent was seminal in many ways, and the emotion and socio-political points within the lyrics combined with the variety of the music itself, really marked it out. The overall effect is a diverse selection of tracks spanning soul, jazz, dance music and indie-pop, which is also incredibly moving. In fact, the genius of this album is the merging of political and musical significance and freshness in every track, but ‘Smalltown Boy’ is undoubtedly the highlight, and has stood the test of time remarkably well, being played by selectors worldwide to this day.
The track is semi-autobiographical, and depicts experiences of marginalisation and mental health issues within the LGBT community, many of which are still painfully relevant today. As well as becoming a gay anthem, the single came to be a mainstream club classic, reaching number 3 in the charts; has been reissued twice, in 1991 and 2013; and has been frequently re-recorded and sampled - most notably in Supermode’s 2006 ‘Tell Me Why’ (which also samples ‘Why?’ from The Age of Consent)
‘Smalltown Boy’ is somewhat defined by Sommerville’s otherworldly falsetto, which avoids being a reflection of other artists recording similar music at the same time, such as Duran Duran and Wham, because of the haunting, pain tinged quality of his voice, and the honesty of his lyrics such as: “Mother will never understand why you had to leave, but the answers you seek will never be found at home.” However, the magic really comes in the combination of these vocals with the instrumentals, which somehow manage to combine trance-like repetitive synths with thoughtful melodies underpinned by lo-fi, Chicago house-like baselines to create a simultaneously sad and uplifting dance track. ‘Smalltown Boy’ perfectly treads the line between beauty and excitement, without quite spilling into cheesy, and this comes both from the unforced sound of Sommerville’s voice, as well as the under-produced, loose feel of the whole track, which moves from simple one-line melodies into bass-driven electronic choruses in an easy, improvisational way that protects the sound from getting stale or feeling tacky. This is a mood that samples and re-recordings of the track, as well as tracks of a similar genre, haven’t managed to recreate.
Words by Dora T