Destronauts - Observatory Love EP (Honeywax Records)

Frustrated at the rigid nature of computer-based production, Destronauts spent the past two years working on a more organic, hardware-focused approach to making music. After completely rebuilding his process and studio, the release hiatus is over and Destronauts now kicks off the new year with three tracks made during this development. These deep and evocative techno cuts exhibit the exciting progression of the Brooklyn-based project and its darkly enigmatic style. Included are "Observatory Love" with an intertwining, pendular bass line and percussive shuffles anchoring frenetic 303 riffs; the pensive "Transit" which builds in a hypnotic fashion; and the crawling slow burn "Incommunicado". Mysterious and moody, Destronauts deliver these electronic slices to fill dimly lit spaces.

Laurent Garnier - "I absolutely love this."
Jacques Renault - "'Transit' sounds good to me … I will definitely test it out."
Stacey Pullen - "This is cool."
Reka (Tresor / Deejay Gigolos) - "'Observatory Love' is my favorite. 'Incommunicado' is also cool."
Larry Tee - "I love this."
Phonogenic (Moodmusic / Turbo) - "'Transit' is deep yet slamming, just the way I like it."
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson) - "Nice tunes!"
Leigh Morgan (Fancy Human / Urban Torque) - "Cool acid house vibes here. 'Observatory Love' is the one for me."
Vanilla Ace - "Cool grooves."
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - "Lovely three tracker … 'Transit' has the right groove."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "This is excellent … 'Observatory Love' is my favorite. I love the 303 action."
Hober Mallow (Excursions / Mighty Reel Radio Show) - "The tempo of 'Incommunicado' is probably closer to where I'm at right now but the whole thing is great techno. Strong stuff."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Braulio Motus - Bodyrock (Handmade Recordings)

San Francisco house music imprint Handmade Recordings turns to label familiar Braulio Motus once again for a new EP in the form of Bodyrock. Braulio is a Filipino-born transplant to the New York and San Francisco rave scenes. Settling in NYC, his productions have found their way onto other labels like Agua Y Sed, White Island, and Honeywax. First on the EP, vocalist Devi Genuone of Oakland, California, lends her nuanced singing and sweet lyrical sentiments to "Till Next" which Braulio goes on to mold as a bass-driven house music piece with just the slightest electro tinge … he uses minor touches to accent an otherwise deep affair. Favoring a nastier, acid-rounded approach, fellow New York production project Destronauts transform "Till Next" with a snarling but smooth and melodic techno take. Aiming more clearly for the '80s electro sound this time around, "Bodyrock" is a funky slice of dance floor business which Spaniard Ato Rodriguez builds out extensively, even switching up the bass riff at the midway mark, slipping the vibe into something much more comfortable. "Eastern Blue Bird" follows in much the same vein as the previous offerings, but with a somewhat dreamy flavor as it staggers along. Finally, the release finishes with an instrumental of the electrified club banger "Prolly On The Molly", a gritty track for the turn up crowd. Be on the look-out for a vocal version of this last track, featuring Bronx rapper Hu$tle Hendrix delivering hard rhymes to match the tongue-in-cheek title.

Tensnake - "That 'Bodyrock' remix by Ato Rodriguez is nice."
SlanG (Spring Tube / Movement) - "The Braulio Motus mix of 'Till Next' is the one here … pretty good old school sound and a nice vocal."
Phonatics (Housesession Records) - "Vibing this."
Matt Prehn (Oh So Coy / Large Music) - "Braulio Motus's remix is the one for me - good bass line and a sleazy vibe."
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - "The Destronauts Warehouse Mix of 'Till Next' is magic. Love it."
Deron Delgado (Stompy) - "The Braulio Motus mix of 'Till Next' is dope!"
Cadatta (DeepWit / Etoka) - "I like the Destronauts remix … it reminds me of good times from the past."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "A quirky and jacking sound … I like the groove to this."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Great stuff here. From the originals it's 'Eastern Blue Bird' which is the winner, but overall I'm digging Ato Rodriguez's remix of 'Bodyrock' the most. Wicked."
Jero Nougues (Savoir Faire Musique / DeepClass Records) -"Brilliant release. Overall it sounds really good … powerful bass lines and deep synths."
Ben Gomori (Data Transmission) - "Lovely remix from Braulio Motus on 'Till Next' … very smooth."
Radha Kotliarsky (The EDM Network) - "Massive release."
Velanche (Club 91 Radio Show) - "Some pretty solid beats from remixes to originals."
Neil McCall (Spandex Sessions Radio Show) - "Awesome underground sounds."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Destronauts - Endangered Species EP (Honeywax Records)

Brooklyn-based imprint Honeywax Records presents the latest release from Destronauts, the Endangered Species EP. Destronauts draw on a long history of DJ’ing, specializing in ‘liquid’ drum n’ bass and headier house music sounds with DC’s renowned 2Tuff crew and residencies with Eighteenth Street Lounge in the beginning of the last decade. After a move to Italy, and then a final relocation to Brooklyn, Destronauts officially formed as a duo exploring spacier electronic and indie rock sounds before settling on a cosmic, disco-inspired house style as a solo project. Destronauts can be defined by lush pads, deep stabs, pulsing kicks, old sounds, 808’s, and a steady beat that pushes through the night.

The tracks on the Endangered Species EP were directly inspired by experiences in illegal warehouse parties circa 1992. Destronauts strove to capture the sense of danger amidst the security of being surrounded by like minded people wanting to hear new sounds and dance. A modern, after hours techno sound permeates the EP along with an underlying theme of mankind and its effects on other men and animals. Destronauts see the EP as a unique opportunity to tell a story through the vessels of house and techno music. Bass lines, synths, and hi-hats became voices of determination, suspense, and tension.

Within the EP are three tracks: “Sentient Beings,” with its ominous rhythms and pads offset by a smooth vocal conveying the desperation to free one’s mind with a night of celebratory dance, the acid-inflected “Endangered Species” that effectively transmits the tension and risk of an illegal warehouse party, and the cinematic, Italo-flavored “Exit Strategy” meant as a soundtrack to a scene of animals in captivity planning escape. There’s also an instrumental and radio edit of “Sentient Beings” rounding out the package. It’s an ambitious offering from Destronauts and Honeywax Records, certainly worthy of attention.

Laurent Garnier - “This is definitely for me … yes yes yes!”
Eric Duncan (Dr. Dunks / Still Going) - “Excellent release!”
Alexander Robotnick - “I like this … it reminds me of things like Suicide or Yello.”
Sleazy McQueen - “They’ve certainly nailed the early ’90s warehouse vibe without cliche.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Yes … this is strong!”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “A real nice Chicago feel … every track is a keeper.”
Fine Cut Bodies - “Some nice dirty techno like it’s from the ’90s … nice time travel!”
Chrissy Murderbot (Planet Mu) - “This is large.”
Stereo 77 - “‘Sentient Beings’ is a dope track.”
HiFi Brown (Bell Biv Laevoe) - “‘Sentient Beings’ has a nice vibe … I like the fierce deep style. ‘Endangered Species’ is old school and on point. Great EP!“
Merlyn Martin (Subdivisions Radio Show) - ”‘Sentient Beings’ is sexy Detroit-style goodness.“
Dr. Best (Headz Radio Show, Germany) - ”Exit Strategy’ and the instrumental of ‘Sentient Beings’ are my favorites … both are fantastic!”
Corbin Dooley (Electric Feel Radio Show) - “Terrific all around … stellar release.”
Rob Warner (Ibiza Voice) - “Awesome … dubby, rough, techy grooves!”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Destronauts - High Tides / Lunar Temple (Honeywax Records)

Brooklyn-based imprint Honeywax Records presents the latest single from Destronauts containing the cinematically titled “HIgh Tides” and “Lunar Temple.” Destronauts draw on a long history of DJ’ing, specializing in ‘liquid’ drum n’ bass and headier house music sounds with DC’s renowned 2Tuff crew and residencies with Eighteenth Street Lounge in the beginning of the last decade. After a move to Italy, and then a final relocation to Brooklyn, Destronauts officially formed as a duo exploring spacier electronic and indie rock sounds before settling on a cosmic, disco-inspired house style as a solo project. Destronauts can be defined by, through the project’s own words, “lush pads, deep stabs, pulsing kicks, old sounds, 808’s, and a steady beat that pushes through the night.” The two tracks within this single satisfyingly fill the brief, led by “High Tides” with its dark rhythmic synth pushing the track at a gentle throb to melodic arpeggiations and an understated lead line. Late night tales, here. “Lunar Temple” follows, evoking the mystery of its name through a shimmering, sustained pad, strange whispers and echo effects, and a bold, commanding bass line. A warm 808 kick and shuffling hi-hats keep the rhythm moving forward throughout the cut’s deftly executed evolution. Prime stuff here from Destronauts, nominating the project for a place among the more cosmic house music acts.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Heady and beautiful.”
Dr. Dunks (Still Going) - “Awesome!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Very nice abstract, deep tech house … reminds me old Carl Craig stuff.”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice atmosphere.”
Chrissy Murderbot (Planet Mu / Loose Squares) - “Really loving ‘Lunar Temple!’”“
Makossa & Megablast - ”Great stuff.“
DJ Schwa (Shades Of Gray) - ”Excellent laid back and deep music!“
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - ”Super spacey.“
Cosmo Vitelli - ”I love ‘Lunar Temple.’“
Alexi Delano - ”Nice one.“
Will SumSuch (DeepWit / Etoka) - ”‘Lunar Temple’ has got me dancin’ in outer space. Proper!“
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate / YSE) - ”Proper DDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPP!“
Stereo 77 - ”Fantastic! I need to hear more from Destronauts.“
Paul Corey (Cacophonous Bling) - ”Hurtling off to the outer limits. A nice pair of solar odes.“
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - ”Amazing late night tunes guaranteed to cause a stir with those mesmerizing melodies.“
Ben Monk (Disco Deviant) - ”‘Lunar Temple’ all the way here. Spacey, hypnotic, and unrelenting. Deep sh*t!“
QuestionmarQ (Red FM, Ireland) - ”I love this. It reminds me of some old Angel Moraes tracks.“
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - ”Deep house meets cosmic disco, intergalactic soundscapes and vintage atmosphere on both tracks.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.