Alessandro Otiz - Deep Transform EP (Blue Bass Records)

Blue Bass Records welcomes Alessandro Otiz, a music producer, DJ, and vocalist originally from Thessaloniki, Greece. Alessandro's music is focused on the deeper and more underground sounds of electronic dance music, covering a wide sonic spectrum from nu-disco to deep and tech house. He has had a string of successful releases on record labels around the world and his work has been receiving support from many international tastemaker DJs, including the likes of John Digweed and Inland Knights. For Blue Bass he delivers the Deep Transform EP, a collection of four underground tracks that will pressurize any dance floor.

Possibly the most techno-facing of the four, "Parasomnia" unleashes a dark groove with skittering percussion that includes a mechanical castanet which leaves its sharpened, cerebral imprint on the brain. Much of the track's effects and sounds encase the listener inside a maniacal boiler room. "To The Edge" is the release's club-forward cut, as close to perfection as utilitarian track constructions go, covered in a completely moody kind of cool. Nothing like its predecessors, "Crying Angel" takes things in an atmospheric direction full of dramatically melodic story telling, drowned in emotional wails that draw the listener further into the narrative. Finally, "Shico Runner" rounds off the release operating as a hybrid of the EP's first two cuts, proving that sort of club-honed, machine-like edge exposed in the earlier half of the project was no fluke. As dark as it is at points, there's an overall funk feeling that permeates these tracks as they teeter between a house and techno balance, making for an overall exciting release.

Daniel Bortz (Suol / Pastamusik) - "Cool."
Al Mackenzie ( (Untitled) / Brassneck) - "I really like this."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "I love this EP. Vibey tracks. I'll play the first two soon."
Cooccer (Pesto Music / Deepclass) - "Nice EP."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "A subtle and chunky mix of rolling bass and drums … cool dance floor ammo."
Diz (Iz & Diz / Vizual Recordings) - "Deep, sexy joints."
Carlo Gambino (Midnight Social Recordings) - "It's all about 'Shico Runner' on this release … great little groover."
Greg Eversoul (Elektek / Evasive) - "I love this. Class act, deep vibes."
Craig Whitfield (The HHA / Restless Soul) - "I really like the 'Crying Angel' track … deep moody house music. Very nice."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Wicked EP. All four cuts are ace, but the chuggy low-slung beats on 'Shico Runner' is the pick for me."
Rob Warner (Ibiza Voice) - "'Parasomnia' is dope … cool EP all round."
Ken Liu (Headset Recordings) - "I'm feeling the more sinister vibes of 'To The Edge' and 'Shico Runner'."
DJ Deelay (Underground Sessions) - "Moody tech business … I'm loving the steady flow throughout the track. Nice sub-bass once the drop hits."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Outstanding EP. Alessandro delivers something special on each of these tracks. I can't wait to try them on a room."
Corbin Dooley (Electric Feel Radio Show) - "Intriguing EP with great soundscapes and perfectly subtle builds."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

liquid light - Human Condition (Blue Bass Records)

The Human Condition is the latest from the Greece-based producer Sotiris Riniou, the man behind liquid light. Sotiris has a vinyl discography stretching back over a decade, and launched his own Blue Bass Records label in 2005 with liquid light’s “Loverise” and the follow-up single “Groove Addiction.” These early releases grabbed the attention of the likes of Laurent Garnier, Hernan Cattaneo, James Zabiela, and Anthony Pappa. Sotiris’ new EP starts in constricted minimal techno territory, opening up into melodic house hybrids as the four tracks unravel. “Rephlex" is the sparsest, but still manages to hinge itself on a neurotic funkiness. Pulsing with low-end right off the bat, "Come Together" ebbs into epic string climaxes. With its tribal bounce and glitchy accents, "Shake That Thing" will energize a room while "Until We Meet Again" ends the release on a drawn out, euphoric high.

Anthony Pappa (Red Light District / Bedrock) - “Cool EP. The best track here for me is ‘Come Together.’”
Stacey Pullen - “This is cool.”
Orde Meikle (Slam / Soma) - “Cool tunes.”
Chris Fortier (Field Trip / Fade) - “Nice deepness.”
Daniel Bortz (Suol / Pastamusik) - “Sounds cool!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Deep and full of tension … a funky and edgy sound.”
Snooba (Radio Panik / Contrebande Radio) - “‘Shake That Thing’ is infectious!”
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - “Top production and bang on quality for the house heads.”
QuestionmarQ (Vision Collective / Red FM, Ireland) - “Brilliant stuff … just chugs along perfectly.”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “Greece is delivering a very fresh producers and liquid light is one of them. All of these tracks are good.”

Available now from iTunes, Juno Download, and Beatport.

The Medicine Man - Untitled 2 (Black Star Music)

Blue Bass presents the seventh release of sub-label Black Star Music. Untitled 2 is the new two track project from mysterious production outfit The Medicine Man. Following in the path of the previous Untitled release on the label, the sequel offers two deep techno tracks with minimal progressions that alter the flow in subtle, but effective ways. Differing somewhat in mood, both “Clouds” and “9 Light Years” lend their own perspectives on techno ambience, chord sequencing, and hypnotic grooves. The slower counterpart, “Clouds,” drifts along to the inhale and exhale of filtered synth stabs, at times disappearing into the pads. “9 Light Years” speeds up the same sonic qualities, introducing a narcotic melody that eventually bursts into bright arpeggiations, giving a sense of travel. The release shows The Medicine Man ready to heal any DJ ailments at their very core.

Daniel Bortz (Suol / Pastamusik) - “Sounds cool!”
Chris Fortier (Fade) - “A good, deep workout.”
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - “I’m feeling ‘Clouds’ … very deep and moody for the after hours. Great work.”
Stacey Pullen - “These are cool.”
Tyler Stadius - “I love them both … vibey, feel good grooves!”
Makossa & Megablast (Luv Lite Recordings) - “Solid deep tracks.”
Fine Cut Bodies (Chi Recordings) - “Nice deep vibe!”
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory) - “Both tracks are lovely and deep … I like it.”
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - “Both tracks are amazing … a dubby, futuristic deep house sound. This is dope!”
Tom Conrad (Adaptation Music) - “Truly hypnotic … both great tracks.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “Even with its Detroit influences, the dreamy ‘Clouds’ kind of sounds like a cosmic Balearic journey to me.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Deep, moody, and full of feeling.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Damn, this is so good! Both cuts exude real quality and the low-slung rolling vibe on ‘Clouds’ is absolutely outstanding.”
[sic] (Balls Deep / Fnoob Radio) - “Two really well-crafted tracks. I’m really liking the energy of ‘9 Light Years,’ particularly that lo-fi reversed synth stab.”
Manuel Sahagun (Candy Music) - “I’m liking the dark textures in ‘9 Light Years.’”
Jean Jérome (Radio FG, Paris) - “‘Clouds’ is a pure jewel!”
Milton Welch (Soul Reflector / No Vegans) - “‘Clouds’ is an awesome track with a really classic style … sleek and grand sounding. ‘9 Light Years’ pumps … built for the dance floor.”
Danuta Kurkowski (Acid Ted music blog) - “I love both tracks … techno at its finest.”

Available now from Beatport.

liquid light - Starchild (Black Star Music)

“Starchild,” the new track from liquid light (AKA the Greek-based producer Sotiris), is the sixth release on Black Star Music. Sotiris has a vinyl discography stretching back over a decade, and launched his own Blue Bass Records label in 2005 with liquid light’s “Loverise” and the follow-up single “Groove Addiction.” These early releases grabbed the attention of the likes of Laurent Garnier, Hernan Cattaneo, James Zabiela, and Anthony Pappa. Now, Blue Bass sub-label Black Star Music unveils “Starchild,” which is firmly based around a deeper after-hours feeling. The five versions on this release embody a dubby techno project with synth stabs that carry their weight, sharp percussive rhythms, and a devastating low end beneath it all. The three alternative mixes deliver as advertised: the Tribal Dub Mix introduces exotic new drums, the Dubbed Mix removes the melody in lieu of a menacing bass-mimicking synth, and the Minimal Club Mix strips things down to the bare essentials. Graciously included is another take on the original, this time from Oslo-based producer and fellow Blue Bass Records artist Ivaylo. He adds to the dub foundation and breathes life into a simple, but funky bass line rift. Each effort is perfect for the after-hours, but don’t be late to this one!

Stacey Pullen - “This is cool.”
Orde Meikle (Slam / Soma) - “Nice tunes. I’ll road test them this weekend.”
Hippie Torrales - “Deep groove!”
Spesh (Loöq Records) - “Good deep stuff here.”
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) - “Deepness, but can work in the club. Good for the after hours.”
Damaged Man (Jambalay Records / Triskel Tech) - “Great release! The Dubbed Remix is amazing!”
DJ Enne (Electunes / Nang) - “NIce stuff. The Ivaylo and Tribal Dub remixes are the ones for me.”
SimonG (Deep South Audio, New Zealand) - “Nice collection of sounds. The Tribal Dub Remix offers late night appeal. Ivaylo’s mix will be my pick with its deep dark bass line that doesn’t let go.”
AMDJS Radio Show (Russia) - “The Minimal Club Remix is splendid.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “There’s a nice and subtle sinister mood to this!”
DJ eMe (Tunnel FM) - “The original and Ivaylo remix stand out for me. I will absolutely support.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “A wicked late night tune.”

Available now from Beatport and Amazon.