Codebase - Acid Nouveau (Roam Recordings)

Roam Recordings is known for representing the West Coast sound, spreading it out for all the world to hear. In that spirit, the label's latest offering comes from Seattle-based producer Tom Butcher, better known as Codebase, with a remix by longtime heavy hitter Pezzner (Systematic Recordings, Freerange Records). The EP captures a range of styles but keeps with the theme by which it's named: Acid Nouveau. The EP slows in pace as it progresses, but never eases up on the intensity. "The Last Time" starts things off with some acid of the moody, electro funk variety -- Egyptian Lover would approve -- completed by smooth, disillusioned vocal inflections from Codebase himself. The title track, "Acid Nouveau," continues this theme but takes it in a dubbier direction with additional heavy play on the pitch wheel of a bendy synth. "Electric Tea Garden" is a heavy, '80s disco chugger that is perfect for transporting listeners to another time, but through the hindsight of a modern sheen. Finishing off the release, Pezzner gives "The Last Time" a banging rework with extra bounce in the drums and a slurry of vocal effects, adding a complimentary head trip to the prerequisite ass shaking. This is one of those records primed to cross-pollinate many sets, offering standalone or transition pieces.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Um … amazing!”
Alland Byallo (Bad Animal / Third Ear Recordings) - “Pezzner remix all day.”
Nick Holder - “Fire!”
Chris Todd (Crazy P / Hot Toddy / 20:20 Vision) - “Both mixes of ‘The Last Time’ are really good.”
Daniel Bortz (Suol) - “The Pezzner remix is cool.”
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson) - “‘Electric Tea Garden’ is the one for me here … really nice!”
Jacques Renault (Runaway / DFA) - “Pezzner’s Native Language Reprise for me.”
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson) - “‘Electric Tea Garden’ is the one for me here … really nice!”
Chrissy Murderbot (Planet Mu) - “This is dope!”
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - “Pezzner jam is very tasty and ‘Acid Nouveau’ is also hot.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings / Fabric) - “More high-quality vibes from Roam … the slo-mo acid awesomeness of ‘Electric Tea Garden’ is simply brilliant.”
Tom Lown (Savoir Faire / Lost My Dog) - “Quality four tracker. Pezzner's remix is the one for me … proper building deep stuff.”
Bruce Tantum (Lowlife) - “Digging the jacking remix by Pezzner, the deep-meets-acid feel of ‘The Last Time’ original and ‘Acid Nouveau’ too, and the slo-mo synth disco of ‘Electric Tea Garden.’ Great release!"
Andrew Duke (Cognition Audioworks, Canada) - “Codebase never disappoints.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “‘Acid Nouveau’ is crisp, clean funk with a nice touch of acid.” DJ Nova (Rodon FM 95, Greece) - “I like Codebase’s diversity. I think this is the EP of the month for me.”
DJ Red Eye (Beauty Bar / It'll Do Disco) - “Pezzner’s remix of ‘The Last Time’ had me desk voguing at the office … wonderful EP!"

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Codebase - Falling Bricks (Roam Recordings)

As Codebase, techno producer Tom Butcher made the leap from the overcrowded underground to international renown when he signed to Force Inc in 2003. Initially releasing with his own label Orbitrecords, the Seattle-based Butcher issued two singles on Swayzak’s 240 Volts label in 2000 (as Betamax as well as Codebase) before following that with Codebase’s full length Style Encoding album for Force Inc. In the present tense, Codebase returns with a crafty EP of mid-tempo electronics for San Francisco’s Roam Recordings label, led by the track “Falling Bricks,” giving the release its name. With punchy yet slinky rhythms, sizzling synths inspired by ’80s electronic heroes as well as Italo warriors, and a dance floor ready at-the-edge-of-the-speaker production style Codebase’s three tracks offer techno, deep house, and cosmic disco existing in perfect harmony. On the remix tip appears veteran Italian producer LTJ X-Perience who fashions “Falling Bricks” into a pulsating, funky, late night disco treat. Fantastic mid-tempo four-on-the-floor fusions for the heart and soul … enjoy the ride. 

Luke Solomon - “Loving this mucho … ace groove in the LTJ X-Perience remix, and ‘Mineral Scan’ is cool, too.”
Brett Johnson - “Nice to see Chad and JP doing Roam Recordings again. Both mixes of ‘Falling Bricks’ are sick.”
Tensnake - “This EP full of funk … nice slo-mo cuts.”
Alexander Robotnick - “The LTJ X-Perience remix … nice disco!”
Sleazy McQueen - “I’m totally digging this vibe!”
Mark Farina - “Nice!”
Danny Ashenden (C90s / Earl Grey) - “I rarely listen to the whole track without skipping on a release but these all jam!”
Erik Rug - “I’m loving the groove of ‘Falling Bricks’ … great track. The remix is working fine for me as well.”
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate / YSE) - “A perfect deep house release - all tracks are tops!”
Phat Phil Cooper - “A great package.”
DJ Spun - “I’m digging the tempo and vibe of ‘Mineral Scan.’”
Chrissy Murderbot - “Love it!”
OOFT! - “Nice EP. LTJ’s insatiable groove wins for me, although ‘Mineral Scan’ also sounds rather good.”
Bruce Tantum (Time Out NY) - “Love, love, love ALL of these … very groovy stuff. And nice to see that LTJ X-Perience is still in action!”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.