Introducing Handmade Recordings, a San Francisco-based label embracing a DIY ethic and its city’s history of mixing and matching electronic music styles. The label had its beginnings within the Subculture parties dating back to the year 2000. These parties were known for booking DJs of differing styles, with house, electro-influenced sounds, and techno all sharing time in the booth. As the label developed, its founders strove to capture this diversity, mix it with an old school aesthetic, and apply it to a digital label. With almost monthly releases issued for over a year, Handmade Recordings is on its way to becoming an established staple of the west coast house music scene.

Handmade is pleased to present “Glow” from bay area producer Michael Ruris. Hooked on San Francisco’s distinctive house music sound in its 90’s heyday, Ruris began recording and performing on his own and as part of production teams dotRock and Ribbon. His sound is refreshingly organic and very much influenced by the classic tracks of west coast house music. “Glow” showcases this angle with a chunky, tech-house flow underneath an appealing vocal hook and some understated, funky guitar hits. It’s a fully written song that feels equally at home in peak time club sets, late night radio shows, or early morning ‘back to mine’ sessions. Also included is the Power Bass Line Mix which does what it says on the tin: the bass is amplified and the groove intensified for a little more electricity as needed.

Handmade also has included a bonus track in this package, the War No More Remix of “Come To Me” by Roman Stange. Stange originally hails from the Detroit area, having been in attendence for many early Richie Hawtin sets at The Shelter and on the dancefloor repeatedly at the famed Music Institute. He’s contributed tracks and remixes to the likes of Auralism, Mothership, Aftersoul, and Blipswitch Digital. Now in San Francisco, Stange is working on a techno project with [KONTROL]’s Craig Kuna and hosts multiple club nights. His contribution here is a throbbing after-hours techno track with various nods to a classic sound in arrangement, style, and a familiar vocal sample at the breakdown.

Johnwaynes - “Good house stuff! Handcrafted really well.”
Onionz - “‘Glow’ original mix is rockin’.”
Scott Harrington (Savoir Faire Musique) - “Nice raw sounds, great for my peak time sets.”
Danny Ward (Dubble D / 2020:Vision) “I like the quirky vibe of ‘Glow’!”
Al Bradley (3AM Recordings) - “Great stuff here. The Power Bassline Mix is a killer, will get loads of play from that. Wicked stuff. Also feeling the ‘War No More’ remix, too. Powerful grooves!”
Louis Hughes (Two Deep / 1999 Recordings) - “Now we are talking … This is proper Tech House! Full support.”
Jota Wagner (Lunatic Jazz) - “Really diggin’ the old school techno feel of ‘Come To Me’ … this will be played.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “‘Glow’ is a cool track … Reminds of the 80’s.”
Tom Hoch (Mile High House) - “Floppy weird house.”
Rob Pearson (Evasive Records) - “Full support on these … Good stuff indeed!”
Bobi (Global Movement on Club FM) - “I love the Power Bassline Mix. I’ll definitely play and chart this one! Great stuff.”
Eric Davenport (Guesthouse) - “I’m digging the groove and built up tension that ‘Come To Me’ delivers.”
DJ Ingo (BOP FM, New Zealand) - “Excellent quality production. I’m diggin’ the funky guitar riffs.”
Jasper Gape (Nerdy Frames blog) - “Damn, this is good!”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport

As the frost settles over sleepy landscapes and another successful year rounds to a close, Harmonious Discord present their annual dose of shades to come with a six track sampler featuring artists that will pepper the label’s approaching catalog. As with every Discordian Dreaming Sampler, Harmonious Discord strives to introduce artists and sounds felt to be those that will define the label in 2012. Harmonious Discord is pleased to present the range of emotive experiences chosen for this year’s sampler from avant-techno soundscapes to depth ridden house concoctions to the darkest waves of techno.

Wirik begins the compilation with “2050”, a space-techno deep dive into his trademark world of cinematic textures. Dubby elements give this selection a classic feel with a twist of new technology. Next up is John Walker, returning to Harmonious Discord with “After The Storm,” a chugging heater perfectly set for the dancefloors. This house burner is propelled by bumping bass and syncopated pads. Following in suit, Vital shows off his house music skills after his first appearance on the label, the killer drum and bass rework of PointBeander’s “So Fell the Orbit”. Vital’s contribution here shows he is no one trick pony with a floor destroyer called “Trap Door”. Retaining the deepness but adding a bit of classic techno propulsion with “Creme de’ Nuit,” Ivan Dbri showcases his rush hour remittent club tool with building tension and a beautiful resolve. Discordian Dreaming veteran Elevotion always brings his tom-driven powerhouse jams to the table with a heaping dose of face melting dance music. Rich with automation and character, “Pitchbender” is a contending crate staple for touring jet setters. A turn down darker corners transitions the listener into our next shade with works by DRK and Driip. These newcomers to the label deliver tracks that have an off-center vibe that wisps listeners out of their comfort zones and aim to express the richest abscesses of the human psyche. This is a perfect taste of some of the brightest and more ambitious flavors being showcased in the coming year.

Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “This is a superb release, right from the wicked deep opener ‘Trap Door’ and the brilliantly sultry ‘After The Storm’. Followed by the wondrous ‘Creme de’ Nuit’ through to the mental percussive workout that is ‘Pitchbender’ … Leaving ‘Lure’ to round off the EP in fine style.”
TJ Norris (Resident Advisor / Igloo Magazine) - “Really refined set!”
Greg Eversoul (Elektek / Evasive / Mono Stereo) - “Really tough to pick a favorite … I’m loving this sampler!”
Rob Pearson (Evasive Records) - “A great release full of different flavors and very useful tracks.”
Lee Jarvis (Do It Proper / MyCuppaT Blog) - “Another solid release from Harmonious Discord!”

Available now from Beatport