Giganta - Force EP (Werkdiscs)

Giganta is a DJ, producer, and sound designer from Athens, Greece. She was a Red Bull Music Academy participant in 2011. Giganta does a weekly show on Paranoise Radio in Athens and is part of the Rotation DJ Collective that throws parties throughout the year in Athens.

This is the sound of Athens 2014 through the eyes, ears and body of Eleni Adamopoulou AKA Giganta. It’s representative of her fight against the negativity and violence that has surrounded her in her city since 2008. While Giganta’s powerful emotional response is portrayed in her music, her technical ability to create complex layered tracks is always present and striking: the synth melodies, bass and vocals pulling together in unison to create The Force. Think chopped and screwed, but with the opposite effect in pace. The rhythms are more than shuffling, they’re skewed and complexed with plenty of bass heavy bounce. Rich synth shapes abound in very intricate chord formations, also accented by or used as energetic effects.

In Giganta’s words: “Force causes a change, either concerning movement, direction, or geometrical construction. It is the power that starts something. Music is the force that creates hopes and dreams. And so it all begins.”

Will Saul (Simple Records / Aus Music) - “I really love this EP.”

Tensnake - “Interesting stuff … ‘Force’ seems to have some influence from Pepe Bradock.”

Lance DeSardi (Bang The Box) - “Killer tunes here. Everything is raw as f#@k, but ‘Can’t Stop Playing’ will get most of my love. Excellent.”

Fine Cut Bodies (Biscuit Real / Chi Recordings) - “Nice garage vibez here!”

Tyler Stadius - “I like the tracky, quirkiness here.”

Ourra (Pop Out And Play / Alola) - “The whole EP is pleasingly f#@ked up … love it! ‘This Goes On’ is my fave, but it’s difficult to choose. Quirky and very cool.”

Harry Avers (NOICE!) - “A nice blend of ‘old school’ sampling and ‘new school’ production techniques. Some nice soul here.”

Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Wicked EP! Really interesting beats here … definitely stuff that could be used to add something fresh to a house / tech mix set.”

Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Deep and moody. I like the tension on this.”

SimonG (Deep South Audio, NZ) - “Smooth, techy sounds from Greece … very nice. ‘Spot Scene’ has that hip house undertone. Fresh!”

Kadabra (The House Hookup Radio Show) - “Really cool EP. Different but still functional. I will have fun testing these out.”

Milton Welch (Soul Reflector) - “I love the complexity here. ‘Spot Scene’ is what i’d imagine avant garde house to sound like. Definitely not run of the mill or by the numbers. Refreshing.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Ezel feat. Tamara Wellons - Girl From Ipanema (Makin Moves)

In the ’60s Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes created the Brazilian gem “Girl From Ipanema.” Sweet and breezy, the bossa-nova tune was catapulted into immortality by Stan Getz and a very young Astrud Gilberto, turning the track into a modern standard inspiring many to make the pilgrimage to the canonized Brazilian beach.

Fast-forward to 2013 and renowned Dominican dance scientist Ezel has taken to re-imagining the standard. Ezel took a break from working as a DJ, producer, and songwriter to re-connect with his formal musical studies. After a year in Spain studying, he found himself with newly developed senses and inspired to challenge himself. Ezel gravitated towards one particular standard he encountered in training, “Girl From Ipanema.”

Ezel’s version updates the classic, straying from the traditional notion of what dance and jazz can be. Through a deceitfully simple arrangement, Ezel infuses his rhythm with a jazz sensibility, adding a bit of a twist to the timelessness of the original. Tamara Wellons adds strong, sweet vocals to complete the circle. The single is bolstered by two remixes: Justin Imperiale takes it to the club for his DUBstrumental rendition, putting the song in a stronger dance context while still keeping the key melodic and harmonic elements. Ron Trent’s right hand man Trinidadian Deep also contributes his Future Vision Mix, completely stripping the song down and rebuilding it with a bugged-out, astral perspective.

“Girl From Ipanema” showcases Ezel’s experimentation and growth. One can practically feel the breeze blowing from the opening notes. This is just the beginning, be on the lookout for more innovation and surprise from Ezel and Makin’ Moves.

Abicah Soul - “Perfect song … I’m feeling this!”
Kai Alcé - “Great cover on the original mix and Justin Imperiale’s rework is definitely a keeper!”
Hippie Torrales - “Great rendition and remixes.”
Jask - “I’m loving the original version here.”
Jaymz Nylon - “If a piece of music could be beautiful this would be it.”
Doc Link - “Wow … sweet touches to a classic. Excellent!”
Souldynamic (King Street / Underground Collective) - “Nice cover of this superb classic. The Justin Imperiale mix is hot!”
Christos Kedras (Kapa Music) - “It’s impossible to go wrong with this one. I’m loving both Justin Imperiale’s more-straightforward remix and the ingenious Trinidadian Deep mix.”
Andrew Duke (In The Mix Radio Show) - “Superb versions, especially the Trinidadian Deep remix.”
Norbert Borchers (House Sound of Hamburg) - “Beautiful … deep … sweet summer feeling.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “Deep, exotic and seductive. It’s hard to choose the best here … every version in this package has its own magic and I’m already lost in it.”
Dean Serafini (JJazproJect) - “Stunning vocals and a beautiful summer vibe that needs only a chilled cocktail to complete the experience.”
Michael Terzian (Salvation From Sin Radio Show) - “Superb package! As a top-tier house music recording artist, Tamara Wellons does true justice to Astrud Gilberto’s original rendition of this song. Meanwhile, on the production front, Trini delivers as only he can, with his deep esoteric musical maps and Justin comes through with a life-affirming, thirst-quenching version that fully respects and stays true to the essence of what Jobim had in mind when he first wrote the song in the early ’60s. Essential.”

Available now from Traxsource.

Peven Everett - King of Hearts (Makin Moves)

King of Hearts is the highly anticipated new album from Peven Everett, multi-instrumentalist, prolific lyricist, and heartbreaker extraordinaire. Peven returns with a bang on an album fully armed with a sparkling set of super smooth and sizzling cuts once again showing his unique ability to seamlessly float across all genres - from soulful house music to R n’ B to funk to his own patented ‘power soul.’ As the voice of Roy Davis Jr.’s phenomenal hit “Gabriel” Peven Everett is always an artist who delivers quality tunes filled with moving vocals, clever lyrics, and genuinely captivating instrumentation. These funky, jazzy, soulful cuts are certain to make the dance floor swoon and send bodies into motion.

DJ Disciple - “I’m feeling and loving this whole release.”
Kai Alcé - “A true groove genius.”
Charles Spencer - “The man bleeds melody … I love it!”
Daz-I-Kue - “Yes … Peven never makes a wrong step. Big support from me.”
DJ EMan (Liberate Recordings) - “Dope … this is the business.”
DJ Floy (Paradise Garage Radio Show) - “Music for soul and feet! Peven Everett is awesome.”
Willie Graff (Pacha) - “Another killer from Peven … wow! I’ll love his sound forever.”
Eddy Spirit (Spirit Crew / Janga Radio) - “Peven Everett, a true legend of soul music, returns with a slammin’ album. This exceptionally gifted singer does bless us with his unmistakable voice that is full of emotion and energy. A truly phenomenal album by no means to be missed.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “This is full of style and soul … I love it.”
Phil Rose (Edit / Reel House Radio) - “Wow, the voice is back with more soul than ever. Love this album!”
Dean Serafini (JJazproJect) - “It goes without saying that Peven’s vocals are wonderful but it’s the variety of styles that’s most impressive. Clearly a talented and versatile performer although that probably isn’t a revelation to his many fans.”

Available now from Traxsource and Juno Download.

Toddla T Sound - Worst Enemy (Ninja Tune)

This is the first single from Toddla T Sound, the collective of Serocee, DRS, Shola AMA and Toddla T, brought together by Toddla himself. Featuring both elements of live performance and DJing with live vocalists, their aim is to bring all the madness from the clubs to the studio. Already road tested at Love Box, Roskilde, and Bestival, the response has been resounding. “Worst Enemy” is a collaborative release that has come about because of the great vibes of a year spent on the road touring filled with the combo’s ‘old-meets-new school’ sound and ethos. “Worst Enemy” also gets the remix treatment from rising Numbers artist Deadboy whose productions have been described as ‘hypersoul’ and ‘heartache for the dance floor.’ Tapping into London’s rich musical heritage from Scott Walker to early ’90s hardcore all the way through to UK garage and house, Deadboy’s tracks somehow still share the same sense of futuristic melancholia as the first wave of Detroit techno by the likes of Derrick May and Juan Atkins. Energetic breakbeat floor power pours out of Deadboy’s mixes here, with both a full vocal version and a more DJ-centric dub. Dig in.

Soul of Man (Finger Lickin’) - “Yes, yes, and YES again! The original all the way, swerve the remixes though. TOP TUNAGE, got the vibes, got the the bleeps, got the hairs standing to attention, too.”
Dave Taylor (Switch / Major Lazer) - “The original is proper!”
Sebastian Doering (Lovebirds) - “The original is wicked … so deep!”
Tom Flynn (Hypercolour / Dirtybird) - “Awesome! I absolutely love the Deadboy remix. Full support.”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “The Deadboy Remix changed my day! Amazing.”
Kruse & Nuernberg - “The original mix is ACE.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “The Deadboy remix is super fun. I love the old rave feel.”
Jota Wagner (Colors Sound System) - “Modern and ‘old school’ at the same time. The Deadboy remix is pretty cool.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Heavy weight massive impact track!”
Da Wiseguy (Mixed Up on RTE Pulse, Ireland) - “Don’t get me wrong … the Deadboy remix is a deadly buzz altogether. But the original is just something supremely special.”
Joshua Ferguson (Dialogue Inc.) - “Definitely a great follow up to Toddla T’s recent successes. Deadboy really kills it with that rolling break.”
Charlie Wild (WNYU / Mixtape Riot) - “The Deadboy remix is FRESSSSSSSSH! I’m liking the original a lot, too.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime) - “Deadboy smashes it. That is all.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

James Zabiela - The Healing (Remixes) (Born Electric)

Via Flux webzine:

It is always with great excitement that we receive a new label to the electronic music panorama. Born Electric is the new and highly anticipated imprint of the established DJ/producer James Zabiela. Not exactly a new-born to the scene, Zabiela has been guiding people to the dance-floor for over a decade now; with his signature ‘genre-less’ style that has won him great acclaim and one of the most loyal fan bases in electronic music.

“The Healing” is the label’s debut release and title track is a perfect introduction into Zabiela’s ethereal world. This ambient piece is driven by a soft synth line which sets the mood of the song. Pianos, guitars, and, most importantly, Zabiela’s own vocals add a melancholic and personal component to this track, expanding it into further dimensions and creating a very enjoyable listen.

With the original mix we get the sweet and contemplative side of Zabiela, his 85 Remix cuts straight to the chase. A choppy beat dominated by a rather chunky bass line and slappy hi-hats that unite to produce an ‘in your face’ reaction. At around minute three, the reinsertion of the original synth line sets up a vibe in such way that incites me to commit the crime of cataloguing this as ‘space-funk.’ Joking aside, the winks to disco, electro, and Planet Rock are much appreciated.

Previously this year Zabiela successfully remixed Hot Chip’s single “How Do You Do.” Here we see the band returning ‘the favour’ with a remix that remains very loyal to the original. It’s a rough, more percussive and less melodic version.

Midland’s remix was recorded on tape in order to accentuate the textures and deliver a great piece of hypnotizing house. His fantastic form in 2012 is well showcased in this slow burning piece. This track shows yet again the potential of Zabiela’s synth line, deconstructing it and stringing it out across 7 minutes.

The digital release also includes 2 extra remixes by Clubroot and Gang Colours. Clubroot’s ‘future garage’ yields an impressive remix. It sends out a feel of night bus melancholia and loneliness, very apt for rainy winter days. Finally, fellow Southampton producer Gang Colours offers a version with a stompy hovering beat, spacey harps and a delicate piano keys.

This is an all-together good first EP, reflecting the eclecticism of Zabiela’s world. One can only expect the unexpected, which might not be reassuring but it certainly makes for an exciting journey.

Nick Warren - “Great work, James. Well done!”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “Some ambitious treatments in this package. Midland gains most of my attention with their swell remix, but also liking the beguiling Clubroot version. Dig.”
Tom Flynn (Hypercolour, Dirtybird) - “Zabiela’s 85 Remix is my pick. The Clubroot mix will be useful, too. Nice package!”
Will SumSuch (DeepWit, Etoka) - “A really impressive debut package here, with a mix for every possible occasion. Really liking the original track … stunning Balearic, deeply emotional vibes. Midland’s remix is shading it for me, but the Clubroot version is also excellent.”
Kruse & Nuernberg - “The Midland remix is ace!”
Raxon (audio tonic) - “I’m really feeling Zabiela’s 85 Remix! Excellent production.”
Lönya (Asymmetric Soul) - “Hot Chip are out of this world! The Clubroot mix is great, too.”
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) - “The Hot Chip and Midland mixes for me.”
Bruno Lepretre (Ibiza Global Radio) - “Awesome … great remix package.”
Tris Kayo (Radio Monaco) - “Oh yeah! It’s been a while and this is a great release. Full support!”
Bobi (Global Movement Radio Show) - “This is release is crazy, though very tasty, indeed. Dance floor dynamite!”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

FaltyDL feat. Ed Macfarlane - She Sleeps Remixes (Ninja Tune)

“She Sleeps” is the second single from FaltyDL‘s coming-of-age masterpiece, Hardcourage, and perhaps the centerpiece of the album. The only vocal song on the full length, “She Sleeps” features a brilliant, haunting turn from the Friendly Fires’ Ed Macfarlane. Mysterious, tender and reflective, his lyrics weave around the driving, purposeful percussion and a melody that’s singularly exploratory and gentle.

The single comes with a remix package that more than does justice to the quality of the original. Holland’s electronic pioneer Martyn has reworked the track into a writhing, muscular dance floor stomp. Gang Gang Dance need no introduction, and their take on the song proves why once more. Lifting the inter beauty of the song to the fore, they’ve turned it into an opus of rich texture and uplifting, melancholic melody. Ital is the solo moniker of Planet Mu’s Daniel Martin-McCormick, and his remix takes things a touch darker and industrial edged, warping the melody into something altogether more ominous. Finally, exuberant London boogie-ists 2000Black have worked “She Sleeps” into a deep, hypnotic soulful groove. 

Chris Woodward (Buzzin Fly) - “The Martyn remix is sick!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “A great remix collection … quality stuff!”
Brett Johnson - “Great package … I’m leaning towards Martyn’s mix.”
Tensnake - “Nice remixes for one of the best albums of the year.”
Chris Todd (Crazy P, Hot Toddy) - “The original is gorgeous. The 2000Black remix very nice, also.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “The original is absolutely the leader of this strong package, though 2000Black really shines on the remix as well. Superb all around.”
Chris Duckenfield (Swag) - “Great remixes to be had here. I’m liking 2000Black and Martyn. Ital is also strong … really good package.”
Shir Khan (Exploited, Radio Fritz) - “I’m a big fan of Falty DL. And these remixes … wow. What a selection. Gang Gang Dance and Martyn in one package! Only Ninja Tune can deliver this great eclecticism.”
Deep Space Orchestra - “Lovely selection here … I’m digging the 2000 Black version the most, Martyn and Ital versions are also killer. Every version here is decent.”
OOFT! (Foto Records) - “A lovely package of music. I’m especially feeling the original and the 2000Black mixes.”
Ben Mono - “A 2000Black remix? Wow, oh yes … full support here.”
Will SumSuch (DeepWit, Etoka) - “Original and 2000Black mixes are doing the business for me. Really cleverly put together, organic sounds with a gorgeous vocal.”
Michael Reinboth (Compost Records) - “Feel the bass and touch the beat … good good!”
Bob Duskis (Six Degrees Records) - “Loving the ‘electro- dreamy’ vibe of this track and all of the remixes as well. The Gang Gang Dance mix is particularly tasty to my ears.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Letherette - Featurette EP (Ninja Tune)

For their third EP Featurette, shadowy Wolverhampton duo Letherette come to the Ninja Tune label ahead of a debut album in 2013.

Drawing on Bangalter-inflected house but giving it a rumble and wing, Letherette make infectious, beat-driven music which is as fun and un-self-conscious as it is clever and technically cutting edge. From the exuberant cut-up boogie of “Warstones,” through moments of ethereal beauty on the four-to-the-floor stomper “Ettewards,” on into delicate, poised “Surface” (featuring vocals from Jed + Lucia), and finally the spaced hip hop of “Wecko,” the childhood friends use the Featurette EP to show their range and diversity as well as their technical nous.

After two releases on the excellent Ho Tep Records, an appearance on Brownswood Electric, a couple of stunning remixes (for Machinedrum and Bibio), and a fantastic DJ mix for BTS Radio, plus support from the likes of Benji B, Gilles Peterson, and Brackles, gigs and festival appearances across Europe this summer, and now a trio of fantastic EPs, Letherette are ready to make the musical leap to the big time. 

Fort Knox Five - “Dopeness!”
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) - “I love Letherette. I’m playing this every chance I get.”
Jay West - “Awesome!”
Alland Byallo - “Fatty cuts! Just the right amount of everything in it, and all pure quality.”
Pezzner - “This whole EP is lovely.”
Kruse & Nuernberg - “Great EP. ‘Warstone’ is wicked.”
M A N I K (Ovum, Culprit) - “DOPE. I can always count on Ninja Tune.”
Giom - “This is awesome!”
Djuma Soundsystem - “Love it!”
Stereo 77 - “I need more of this in my life … like ASAP! Fantastic all around.”
Sebastian Doering (Lovebirds) - “Wicked stuff … full support!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “I really love ‘Wecko,’ but for the floor I’m going straight for ‘Warstones.’”
OOFT! - “Really like the whole EP with its atmospheric 80s references. Great stuff.”
DJ Tomas (Friday Night Session, San Francisco) - “This is one of my favorite EPs of the year. A seriously talented producer.”
Ben Gomori (Data Transmission) - “‘Warstones’ is like cracked-out, tubro-charged French cut-up house with a filthy edge. Amazing. ‘Surface’ and ‘Wecko’ are gorgeous, too. Great EP.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Hercules And Love Affair - DJ-Kicks Sampler (!K7 Records)

It’s all too easy for nostalgia to tip into something negative. At its best it’s a celebration of the best the past has to offer while putting it into a contemporary context; at its worst it’s moaning that things aren’t as good as they used to be. Hercules & Love Affair have always been firmly in the first category. Main man Andy Butler takes classic house and disco sounds and uses them to craft dance music that has one foot in the past, the other cutting a rug on dance floors right now. It’s a well-judged and expertly executed balance.

A highlight of the new Hercules And Love Affair DJ-Kicks mix, “Release Me,” finds Hercules mastermind Andy Butler binging on a variety of retro sources in an otherwise ’90s-house focused context. Says Butler of his new track and its vougishly dispassionate singer: “It features this LA DJ called Whitney Fierce singing. Great name. She has a Bananarama thing going on with her voice. I decided to do something akin to that early ’90s mash-up thing. We pulled out old gear, early samplers, so we could get that low bit rate quality. It has that really rough sound. It’s very authentic of the period, kind of Stock Aitken Waterman production meets the Hacienda.”

In addition to the original “Release Me,” this sampler includes a beefed-up remix from Butler and Mark Pistel (formerly of Consolidated and sometime Meat Beat Manifesto collaborator). Also one will find the track “A Bit of Redemption” by Ha-ze Factory, comprised of Viennese producers Philipp Haffner and Constantin Zeileissen, who are currently working with Andy Butler on new Hercules material. This track is also exclusive to the compilation, and consists of a 90’s techno-house style that definitely falls into the Hercules retro-not-retro ethos and should give much pleasure to the DJ-types out there.

Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) - “As always, great stuff from Hercules & Love Affair!”
Dave Taylor (Switch / Major Lazer) - “Nice!”
Graeme Park - “Well smack my ass and call me Sally! Outrageously good.”
Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) - “Ha-ze Factory’s ‘A Bit Of Redemption’ is amazing.”
The Magician (Kitsuné) - “Cool. I like it.”
Stereo 77 - “Fantastic trio of tracks! I can’t help but remember the early days of freestyle here … I love them and can’t wait to test drive the Andrew Butler & Mark Pistel remix.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Pretty cool.”
Abicah Soul - “Rocking!”
Cosmo Vitelli - “The original of ‘Release Me’ is quite cool.”
Chrissy Murderbot - “Big big big!”
The Glimmers - “Love it.”
Brennan Green - “Sick. I’ll play this with some sprinkles.”
Mr. Spring (2 FM, Ireland) - “Back to the ’83 … I now have big hair.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

FaltyDL - Straight & Arrow (Ninja Tune)

Drew Lustman aka FaltyDL has been a name to watch for quite some time now. With his new album for Ninja Tune (in partnership with Falty’s new label Blueberry Records), Hardcourage, he’s ready to step up and join the electronic music elite. “Straight & Arrow” offers a clear idea why. FaltyDL makes pitch-perfect, beautiful, widescreen club music that works as well pumped from ear buds straight to your cerebral cortex as blasted from club sound systems. He’s a technically gifted, subtle producer who understands that soul should never be sacrificed to tastefulness.

It’s a mark of how highly he’s thought of in the world of electronic music that he can command remixes from both Four Tet and Gold Panda. Four Tet re-imagines the original, initially with the vocal hook and shuffling beat but evolving into a late-night crescendo of acid-tinged electronica, while Gold Panda chops things up to create an alternate groove. In between, Mike Q and Divoli S’vere concentrate on the beat, piling kicks and claps together for a sparse but compelling floor-filler.

FaltyDL has been turning heads since 2008, when Mike Paradinas signed his US-ified versions of UK garage to Planet Mu and released them on an unsuspecting world. Since then, Lustman has looked to expand and evolve his signature sound over two albums, an EP, and three singles for the label. In addition, he has released an afrobeat-inspired 12”, Mean Streets Pt 1, with Loefah’s Swamp81 label, a single on Ramp backed with a remix from Jamie XX, and begun releasing collaborations with Machinedrum online. An in-demand remixer, he has made versions for the likes of Seun Kuti (Fela’s son), Mount Kimbie, The XX, Scuba, Photek, Anthony Shake Shakir, Jose James, Alice Russell, and others. Recently he supported Radiohead in New York and topped Thom Yorke’s office playlist.

Prins Thomas - “The Four Tet mix grabbed me immediately. I’ll definitely play it. The original is good, too.”
Laurent Garnier - “Another superb remix from Four Tet.”
Nick Warren - “Brilliant work from Gold Panda.”
Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) - “Amazing. I love the Gold Panda and Four Tet mixes. Gold Panda is boootiful. Original also lush.”
Kraak & Smaak - “Excellent Four Tet remix … sick!”
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) - “Hella dope.”
Chrissy Murderbot - “Loving the whole thing.”
Gavin Herlihy - “Four Tet and Gold Panda remixes are working best for me. Four Tet is particularly good.”
Chris Coco - “Stellar line up of remixers for a really good artist. Four Tet remix works for me.”
Alan Brown (Cuki) - “Sublime electronica all around. That is some seriously deep musical mystery there. All mixes get major thumbs up but it’s the original that gets the big high fives for sounding something close to a Floating Points production. Brilliant!”
Nick Chacona - “What a great f**king record! The mixes are nice but the original really kills.”
Bill Brewster - “Four Tet is the one, though the Gold Panda mix is pretty cool, too. Nice mix of dance floor friendliness with some nice touches of waywardness.”
Joshua Ferguson (XLR8R) - “Loving the leftfield soul on display here.”
DJ Tomas - (Friday Night Session - KUSF) - “Hard to pick a favorite here. They all stand on their own, especially Falty’s origina which is straight deep vibez. Love the FourTet mix too – outersteller!”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Simian Mobile Disco - A Form Of Change EP (Witchita Recordings)

In May, Simian Mobile Disco released their fourth LP, Unpatterns, a collection of long-form techno that picked up where the stripped down, epochal synth sound of 2010’s Delicacies left off. This new A Form Of Change EP collects four tracks from the same recording session as SMD’s Unpatterns that, for one reason or another, didn’t quite fit with the flow of the album order. The EP is loaded with a wide array of subtle nuances from the duo, each song exceeding five minutes in length. Once again the band is heard plowing the furrow of manipulating subtle modifications to machine generated patterns, allowing parts to drift and shift, and new forms to be teased out. Perhaps it’s a foreshadowing into the new, sexier direction they have chosen for their sound. Total dance floor warmers here, and, undeniably, another sterling example of Simian Mobile Disco’s restless creativity, and their yen for refining and redefining the parameters of their own musical landscape with almost laser-like precision. Dig in.

Ewan Pearson - “Unpatterns was such a great album - very nice to have some more of it! ‘A Form of Change’ is the one for me here.”
Danny Howells - “Superb as always … love!”
Will Saul - “What a lush EP. I’ll play this to death.”
Lindstrøm - “Sounds great!”
Ashley Beedle - “A wicked EP with ‘Everyday’ being the fave. Big support.”
Justin Robertson - “Highest caliber technoid lushness from the masters. I’ve been caning ‘Breaking Time.’”
Giom - “Brilliant. I love these.”
Alland Byallo - “‘Everyday’ is quite nice. I’ve liked these guys since they were just Simian. They’re defintely onto something good.”
Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) - “‘Breaking Time’ is sick.”
Sleazy McQueen - “This is big.”
Nick Chacona - “Five stars … ‘Unfixed’ is especially a masterpiece.”
Chris Fortier - “‘Everyday’ has been huge for me.”
James Curd (Greenskeepers) - “I love Simian Mobile Disco!”
Jim Stanton (Horse Meat Disco) - “Just lovely, deep, delicious … playing!”
Erik Rug - “I really like ‘Breaking Time’ and ‘Everyday’ … a really great release.”
Cosmo Vitelli - “Great. ‘Unfixed’ is my fave.”
Chrissy Murderbot - “‘Breaking Time’ is huge!”
Tal M. Klein - “Great release. Very tight production, as expected. I’ll be having a lot of fun with this!”
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) - “Simian Mobile Disco tracks are always refreshing.”
Joshua Ferguson (Dialogue Inc.) - “In the typically ‘similar but different’ way that SMD manage to push their sound, this is still undeniably work from James x 2. A brilliant follow up to Unpatterns and a solid techno workout from start to finish.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Dam Mantle - Brothers Fowl (Notown Recordings)

Dam Mantle is the moniker of Tom Marshallsay; the reflective, Glasgow-incumbent artist and electronic producer whose kaleidoscopic debut album Brothers Fowl is the culmination of a long and varied musical path. While DM’s previously touched on fresh ground ranging from chamber orchestrations to abstracted juke, this LP, released via Gold Panda’s Notown imprint, is a diffuse yet cohesive collection of tempos and colors, united by a pretty ambient jazz feel nodding to classic Dilla-style hip hop, beatdown house, and future boogie with his watermark of psychedelic sweetness. It utilizes DM’s palette of sounds and rhythms found on previous releases and remixes for the likes of Warp, Ninja Tune, Planet Mu, and Ghostly, but also bringing a noir-ish ambience to proceedings.

The four songs in our Soundcloud player include the dusty, almost Daedelus-like pastoral flutters of “Cantebury Pt. 1,” and follows suit with the Andrés-style loop bumps of “Lifting.” Then “Blueberry” is the sort of neo-Balearic chug you might expect to hear at a Boards Of Canada rave in the woods while the title track highlights a popwise dancefloor cuteness that’s won him so many fans and tours. Dam Mantle has woven an accomplished and fascinating flurry of beats and sound for Brothers Fowl, and this work unapologetically demands your attention.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Very strange. Wonderful. I love it.”
Moodymanc - “Nice, gritty, soulful music. I’m liking everything here.”
Ali Herron (OOFT!) - “I’m really liking this … best thing I’ve heard in a while.”
Tim “Love” Lee - “Wow, fantastic.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “Interesting and unpredictable. More please.”
Chris Coco - “Yes, some good jazzy, noodly stuff here. Worth investigating.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Beautiful stuff … wow.”
Roual Galloway (Faith) - “The leftfield ‘Brothers Fowl’ growls the best for me … haunting.”
Ant Plate (YSE / Rhythm Plate) - “All very now sounding … top work!”
Neil Diablo - “Great release. This is gonna be on repeat for a while.”
Marc Lacasse (Urbnet) - “A wonderful arrangement of abstract jazz movements in soulful electronic guises. Lovely.”
DJ Tomas (ForwardEver) - “Dam Mantle walk in the footsteps of Boards of Canada, Plaid or Black Dog, but have always forged their own path. These are deep sounds that don’t fail to surprise or captivate.”

Additional support from Erol Alkan, diskJokke, DJ Rocca (Ajello), 6th Borough Project, Chrissy Murderbot, and Stephan Hoellermann.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Lindstrøm - Smalhans (album sampler) (Smalltown Supersound)

Smalhans is the fourth solo album by Norwegian producer Hans-Peter Lindstrøm, closing out a very prolific 2012. Earlier this year he released Six Cups of Rebel, which was a very personal album for Lindstrøm and showed his more experimental side. Now, this forthcoming record, out November 5th on Smalltown Supersound / Feedelity, finds Lindstrøm back on the dance floor with six monumental tracks – classic Lindstrøm style. Smalhans was mixed by his friend Todd Terje, who has also made extended edits which will be released as 12”s. The album title is an old Norwegian word and means scarcity or simply poverty. Each track on the album is titled after a traditional Norwegian meal. This sampler features two of the album’s tracks, “Rà-àkõ-st” and “Ęg-gęd-ōsis” showcasing the cosmic, Italo-tinged dance floor sound on display throughout Lindstrøm’s album. Dive in.

Ewan Pearson - “‘Ęg-gęd-ōsis’ is so good. Ecstatic disco with more musical chops than most can even dream of. Great mix from Terje, too.”
Dirt Crew - “Amazing tracks! Good to have some new Lindstrøm for the bag.”
Recloose - “Exquisitely produced and pushing all the right buttons.”
Sleazy McQueen - “Amazing.”
Chris Coco “‘Ęg-gęd-ōsis’ is a really cool and bouncy tune … simple and super effective. I love it.”
6th Borough Project - “‘Rà-àkõ-st’ is a serious groove … dive in, indeed!”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “Of course … fantabulous. ‘Ęg-gęd-ōsis’ especially hitting the tingle buttons.”
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate / YSE) - “Like floating in an analogue sequenced space …”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Amazing stuff!”
Alain Ho (DJ Yellow) - “Top work as always with Lindstrøm.”
Djuma Soundsystem - “Great production, which leaves no doubt of who still wears the nu-disco crown, bringing big expectations for the album. Hurra for Norge!”
Chrissy Murderbot - “This is BIG!”
OOFT! - “Classic Lindstrøm … top stuff.”
Thugfucker - “This is beautiful. Lindstrøm is the man, as if we didn’t know already.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “Everything he touches turns to gold.”
DJ Sabo (Sol*Selectas) - “Quality stuff here … can’t wait to hear the whole album.”
Joshua Ferguson (Dialogue Inc.) - “While I dug moments of Six Cups of Rebel, the new Smalhans album is the return to form I was hoping for from Lindstrøm and his pairing with Todd Terje - even if just in a studio capacity - has only increased the potency here. Loving ‘Rà-àkõ-st,’ even if I can’t pronounce it.”
Iron Horse (Pawn Shop Records) - “This music gives me super powers.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Toddla T - Watch Me Dance: Agitated by Ross Orton & Pipes (Ninja Tune)

In 2007 Toddla T (aka Tom Bell) was working in a shoe shop in his hometown of Sheffield, then just 19 and living at home with his parents, he DJ’ed at weekends and was producing beats and tracks with his friend Scott as Small Arms Fiya. Just four years later and Toddla T is DJ’ing around the globe, has a slew of remixes under his belt (Hot Chip, Gyptian, Gorillaz, Major Lazer for starters), released two acclaimed albums, and has launched his Girls Music label. Toddla T’s productions can be described as a combination of dub-wise street-soul for the clubbers. As he explains, “A bit of the Soul from Soul II Soul Club Classics and a bit of the Left-field from Leftism. I’ve been listening to those now and again, they took in a whole load of club music and made an album that summed something up and were great to listen to at the same time.”

When Toddla T was asked if he fancied the label commissioning producers for a remix album of of his second album Watch Me Dance, he had a much better idea. He asked two legends of the Sheffield underground music scene – Ross Orton and DJ Pipes to agitate, smash and rebuild his album in the manner of the scene that shaped his sound. A renowned designer as well as DJ – and instrumental in the Sheffield underground music scene for well over a decade – Pipes has been described by Toddla T as his number one inspiration. Orton, meanwhile, in between working on the Toddla T records, was a member of Fat Truckers, the drummer for Jarvis Cocker, and, as the Cavemen (with Steve Mackey of Pulp), wrote and produced MIA’s “Galang.” He has also remixed and produced everyone from The Kills and Kelis to Tinchy Stryder and The Arctic Monkeys. Together the pair have taken Toddla’s record and agitated it with the essence of Sheffield bass culture – running from a dub reggae take on “Fly” through a bleep-tastic version of “Take It Back” and taking in everything in between – a true Steel City re-work of the original album that goes much further and has way more coherence than a series of unrelated remixes.

Fort Knox Five - “This is wicked!”
Tim “Love” Lee - “Nice. I really enjoyed this a lot. Hard to pick a favorite.”
DJ Sabo (Sol*Selectas) - “Nice dubwise agitations … big ups Toddla T!”
Ben Mono - “‘Take It Back’ is my thang!”
Azaxx (Tru Thoughts) - “‘Fly’ is amazing. I like the dub vision of this really good track.”
Kid Gusto - “I’m feeling it.”
Quincy Jointz - “Love it. Hard to chose the favorite tune.”
Pablo Contraband (Disco Deviant) - “BOOOM! I’m loving this sound so much. Hats off to Orton & Pipes for the stunning reworks. I’m going to cane this hard.”
Vinyl Ritchie - “Smashing.”
Andy Wilson (Ibiza Sonica FM) - “Some great bass ‘n’ bleeps business. ‘Streets Get Warmer’ and ‘Fly’ work best for me with their reggae flavor, and ‘Cherry Picking’ is the one for the dance floor.”
Florian Stumpf (Rhino Soundsystem) - “Mind-blowing stuff … love it!”

Available now from NinjaTune and iTunes.

Sébastien Tellier - Cochon Ville (Record Makers)

Purveyor of tongue-in-cheek synth sleaze Sébastien Tellier’s new album My God Is Blue has won some notable proselytes, each bringing their personalities to the ever-expanding L’Alliance Bleue (The Blue Alliance) with their remixes of the hypnotic-disco bliss that is the single “Cochon Ville.” In Sébastien’s mind, Cochon Ville is a bastion within L’Alliance Bleue compound where the animal inside man can “express itself freely”, and if his musical representation as well as those of his new inductees are any indication it’s the place to be. “Cochon Ville” is in many ways typical of his work of recent times, fusing elements of squidgy electrofunk, fuzzy rock, and heady synth-pop with his notorious half-sung, half-spoken vocals. There’s a strong remix package attached as Dimitri From Paris adds extra disco beef on his cowbell-laden effort, managing to push the funk factor even further. Our favorite Parisian pushes all things disco to their limit and holds it all together with smooth bass slaps wandering along the lows. Ex-Aeroplane type The Magician offers a Bobby O-goes-acid house interpretation that borders on a disco meets new-wave space jam, complete with Depeche-Mode era bass licks and pointed CZ-101-esque synth coos. Brodinski's remix offers a slinky tech-house groove that suddenly turns into an arms-raised electro stomper half way through. It aims to transport the dance floor straight to day three at an Ibiza festival, tropical drums ringing behind walls of saturated bass arranged with that clenched-teeth rave ready know-how his name guarantees. Chicago disco-rock outfit Hey Champ turn in a superbly breezy synth-funk treatment as well, exposing their love of all things Giorgio Moroder and Trevor Horn. A high quality package for dancehall denizens!

diskJokke - “Great remixes by Dimitri, Magician and Hey Champ!”
Dr. Dunks (Rub-n-Tug / Still Going) - “Nice!”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Lovely. Sebastian is so groovy!”
Leo Zero - “The Dimitri From Paris remix is a monster.”
Flash Atkins (Paper Recordings) - “Excellent, with Dimitri From Paris the pick of the bunch!”
Beg to Differ - “The Hey Champ remix is awesome.”
Stereo 77 - “This collection is so good, it is impossible to pick a favorite. These jams should massacre any dance floor.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “The original is what Cerrone should be making now. All the mixes are good, though The Magician and Dimitri From Paris mixes are my favorites.”
I-Robots (Opilec Music) - “Exactly the sound I remember in the Italian clubs in the 80s … good work!”
Bruce Tantum (Time Out NY) - “Fun! I’m digging all of them, but I’m REALLY enjoying the Hey Champ remix. It’s like I’m flashing back to my early-’80s electro-pop days!”
DJ Emskee (WBAI, NYC) - “Solid dance-a-fied bangers right here! The various of mixes are right on point.”
Tony D’Onghia (Radio Koper-Capodistria) - “Great stuff! The classy original is almost unbeatable but Dimitri From Paris and The Magician complement it well. Special mention for the electro-pop flavoured Hey Champ remix.”

Also supported by Erol Alkan, Sleazy McQueen, Jay West, ALTZ, Robin Lee (Faze Action), DJ Rocca (Ajello), Nacho Marco, Tal M. Klein, Minus 8, Irregular Disco Workers, Nico De Ceglia, Bill Brewster, Fort Knox Five, Recloose, Bonar Bradberry, Ray Mang, Horse Meat Disco, and Ben Mono.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Simian Mobile Disco - Seraphim / Cerulean (Witchita Recordings)

Presenting “Seraphim,” the latest single from Simian Mobile Disco. The cut is taken from their upcoming album Unpatterns which is set to be released on Witchita Recordings on May 15th. On the new album, and on this single, the duo opt for abstracted voices in the place of big name guests, woven into the fabric of the synthetic sound. This record is entirely confident, and brings together all their influences in the pursuit of pure sonic pleasure. In a weird way it brings back the “prog-psychedelic” feel of those very first Simian songs, though with all the knowledge of the dance-floor they’ve gained in the SMD years. “Seraphim” is a beautiful and hypnotic mid-tempo crawl of a track, filled with soaring keys, an expressive vocal motif, and a healthy dose of loopy acid for the club crowd. Extended, album, and radio versions are all present.  “Seraphim” is backed here by “Cerulean,” another track from the impending album. The tempo is raised a tad as is the floor-appeal, with swirling pads and melodic staccato synth blips playing over a pulsating rhythm track. These two tunes make for an enticing preview of what Simian Mobile Disco have in store for the summer … grab hold.

Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) - “I think this is brilliant. It’s the best stuff I’ve ever heard from Simian Mobile Disco and that’s saying something. Love it.”
Nick Warren - “Wonderful release from Simian Mobile Disco, all are very solid.”
Aeroplane - “Love the extended version! Slow BPM always…”
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) - “Great release. Will definitely be playing on the radio show.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “Solid EP. I like the laid back vibe of the original mix of ‘Seraphim,’ but it’s the wandering melody of ‘Cerulean’ that ultimately won me over.”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Great, great stuff…all the tracks are for me!”
DJ Schwa (Shades Of Gray) - “‘Seraphim’ is awesome. Loving the acid line. Really outstanding track!”
Ben Mono - “Excellent release, very unique as expected and the production is superb.”
Jon Freer (Hearing Is Believing) - “Storming return!”
Jochen Ditschler (Groove Magazine) - “Sweet like chocolate! A perfect track for any season-closing-party 2012.”

Also supported by Lovebirds, Pezzner, Danny Howells, diskJokke, Chris Fortier, Tiago, Kraak & Smaak, Makossa & Megablast, Motorcitysoul, Gavin Herlihy, Atnarko, OOFT!, Sleazy McQueen, Joshua Iz, Horse Meat Disco, and Johnwaynes.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport

Trust - F.T.F (Arts & Crafts)

Trust is Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski (Austra). Formed in 2009, the Toronto-based duo released its first singles, “Candy Walls” and “Bulbform” in 2011 before signing with Arts & Crafts for their debut full length, TRST. In the last year they’ve performed with DFA1979, Crystal Castles, Balam Acab, Glass Candy, and Hercules and Love Affair. Tales of lust, wax, and erotomania carry along on a dense black vapor of speed, space, and tears. Trust is a pop hit factory buried deep in the mud.

The cut “F.T.F." shambles forward with an eerie confidence, buzzy synths and disco-bot bass lines simmering just below the action. The vocal duo trade off on lead duties, Maya’s vox first followed by Robert’s baritone, telling a sonic story and creating an almost climactic build. Dinamo Azari of Azari & III hops on for his Dinamo Azari For The Humanities Remix which bursts with an Italo-flavored throb, Syncopated drum machine beats and staccato synth pulsations fuel the remix increasing its formidable dance-floor appeal. A somewhat sparser, more rhythm-focused Dub is also included for deserving disco dissidents.

Tommie Sunshine - “This is fantastic!”
Ewan Pearson - “The original is my favorite. Great stuff.”
Nick Warren - “Wonderful original for me.”
Erol Alkan - “The Dinamo Azari For The Humanities Dub works for me.”
DJ Three - “Definitely getting some dance floor action.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “The main track will be swirling around in my head for days, like bats in the belfry. Modern classic.”
Psychemagik - “Strong release, the vocals are really engaging, enjoying the overall new wave vintage feel.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Pretty trippy.”
Gazeebo - “Delightfully creepy. I love it!”
Ivan Smagghe (Kill The DJ) - “Pretty good goth stuff!”
Iron Horse - “Dirty, vintage sounding industrial vibes that will make their way into some unexpected sets, to be sure.”
TJ Norris (Igloo Magazine) - “Trust has a curiously wiggly vibe, and ‘F.T.F.’ is a bit of post-electro brilliance. It’s perfectly dizzying, corroded and from the new Sharon Needles school of drag anthems.”
Chris Keys (Another Night On Earth blog) - “Amazing! They’ll be spinning this for years to come. Future Amanda Lear Ono Nomi shit. Fantastiche!”
Adrian Lugo (WEFT FM) - “Great dark disco-not-disco for the freaks!”

Available Now From Juno Download

Clubfeet - Last Words (Plant Music) →

Clubfeet return with their newest single, “Last Words," another piece of melancholic pop mastery from the Melbourne (via Cape Town via Biarritz) band. The single has been remixed by some of their friends.

First up is from legendary hedonist and French disco icon Dimitri From Paris who takes us for a trip along the Cote d’Azur on the back of his super yacht, with deep live bass and 60’s strings swirling around a dance floor gem that is bound to have beautiful eastern European girls momentarily forgetting their ennui and holding aloft their menthol Gauloises in the warm summer air. 

Indie producer Andrew Maury, aka RAC (who we love in wildly inappropriate ways), drops a chunky, catchy mix that works equally well in clubs, on the radio, at home or on your iPod. Finally, Londoners The C90s turn in a remix that is synth-heavy, twisting and turning into a slab of pop-funk that will shake any of the booties that Dimitri or RAC could not.

Available now from Juno Download