Evan Marc - Miconia EP (Innerflight Music)

Seattle’s Innerflight Music serve up the Miconia EP, another top notch release featuring returning label confidant Evan Marc. Under his well known guise Bluetech, Marc has toured the world over, traveling throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and released material on such labels as Native State and Interchill Records. Intertwining elements from the psychedelic as well as the experimental / IDM communities, Marc’s work under his Bluetech pseudonym has been described as both as ‘psytelligent’ dance music and ‘spacehop.’ Evan Marc’s output under his given name is techier and more dance floor oriented, but still retaining the lush and melodic elements of his more recognized project. The Miconia EP features three original offerings from Marc as well as a superb remix from Canadian-born, Berlin-based tech-house DJ and producer Noah Pred (Thoughtless Music, Cynosure).

With this new release Marc takes a straightforward, club-centric approach laying further on the techno end of the spectrum than his previous works. “Miconia” is a technical, layered production that sets the tone for the rest of the EP with its ominous synths, tinkering percussion, and quick breaks. Much like its predecessor, “Spectabilis” moves forward at a quick clip. Cantankerous, streamlined clicks and clacks fill the subtle space between a buzzing synth line and eerie chord progressions that add to the minimal techno aesthetic, while “Dormant” takes on a slower, low-slung house persona with its rugged kicks and eclectic soundscapes. Also contained is an upbeat remix of the title track from Noah Pred, complete with wobbly tribal flurries and rich drum textures reminiscent of masterly fellow Germans M.A.N.D.Y. The Miconia EP features a subtle yet sophisticated range of sounds worth adding to any discerning music collection.

Jay Tripwire - “Noah Pred f**king killed it! This is insane.”
Stacey Pullen - “This is cool.”
Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance) - “I love this … great sounds and production. Very fresh sound which puts it heads and shoulders above the rest. Killer!”
Chris Fortier - “Nice Noah Pred remix of ‘Miconia.’”
Spettro - “The synth work in ‘Miconia’ is angelic. The bouncy yet silky beats are spot on. Full support!”
Denney (Hot Creations / 20:20 Vision) - “Both mixes of ‘Miconia’ are nice. I will try them out for sure.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “Fantastic, sophisticated sounds all around … it’s all quite good, but ‘Dormant’ is the one that’s really ringing my bell.”
Cooccer (Pesto Music / Deepclass) - “Great release!”
Pointbender (Harmonious Discord) - “Evan brings a refreshing ear to house music production and I can not get enough. Noah’s mix is great for the dance floor.”
Rootfellen (Spring Tube / Tulipa) - “‘Spectabilis’ is amazing!”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “Nice, smooth tech-house. I like the layered melodies of ‘Miconia’ best. The dubby vibe of ‘Dormant’ is cool, too.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / DeepWit) - “‘Dormant’ is a truly stunning track. I’m also really feeling the Noah Pred remix of ‘Miconia.’ Excellent.”
Tyler Stadius - “Lovely tracks.”
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) - “Wow. Noah Pred’s remix is so good. Overall this package is great. Amazing production and selections here.”
Merlyn Martin (Subdivisions Radio Show) - “‘Dormant’ is deep goodness.”
Summer (Tulipa Recordings / Mo’s Ferry) - “This release is the sickness.”
Makossa & Megablast - “Great deep tracks.”

Available now from Beatport.

Luke Mandala - Cheeky Much? EP (Innerflight Music)

Seattle’s Innerflight Music presents the latest release from prolific Oregon-based DJ/producer Luke Mandala, the quizzically titled Cheeky Much? EP. Luke has been making serious waves with releases on the likes of Booka Shade Music, Desert Trax, and his own Activated Recordings imprint. His Infinite EP on Addictech Records is particularly renowned, having reached #1 on many charts and remaining one of the more popular releases on the label. On the Cheeky Much? EP Luke presents four diverse original tracks led by “Teradactyl Smack-Down,” a collaboration with Australian producer Kriece (20/20 Vision, Kindred Sounds). This cut certainly sets the tone with its solid low-end slink and crisp electronic percussion anchoring the sounds of swelling synthesizers on the edge of chaos. Luke follows, on his own, with “Cheeky Waggish” which expertly blends smooth tech-house rhythms with acidic synth lines and squelches. “Too Much Fun” takes things a tad deeper within the tech-zone, but Luke’s psychedelic production touches remain in pocket. And “Universal Innocents” reaches into a different sphere entirely, presenting a downtempo chill-out track with sparkling melodies and appropriately trippy moments. The EP also contains a pair of remixes, with Vancouver’s Phil Western delivering an uptempo yet darker treatment of “Cheeky Waggish,” and Evan Marc (also known as Bluetech) providing a bouncy and evocative tech-house version of “Too Much Fun.” Innerflight Music continues to bypass boundaries with this exciting package from Luke Mandala … top tunes abound.

Alexander Robotnick - “‘Cheeky Waggish’ rolls!”
[a]pendics.shuffle - “I’m digging quite a bit of this release … the originals and the remix of ‘Too Much Fun’ do it for me.”
Audiojack - “This sounds tasty … will try in the clubs.”
Malbetrieb (Klopfgeist) - “Nice remix from Evan Marc.”
Tyler Stadius - “I like the twisted sounds here.”
DJ Harri (Sub Club) - “The Evan Marc mix is great.”
Eric Davenport - “Super funky sh*t … one of the year’s best so far.”
Rootfellen (Kult Music / Spring Tube) - “Amazing release!”
Dick Diamonds (Extended Play / 530Techno) - “I love the originals on this … very impressed.”
Deepinradio - “Distorted variations … futuristic!”
Paul Sparkes (Decibel Radio) - “Clever production … tripped out!”
SimonG (Deep South Audio, New Zealand) - “I’m gigging this west coast nu skool flavored EP … been getting my ear around this sound at the festivals in New Zealand this summer.”
Jochen Saelens (Moustache Music) - “‘Too Much Fun (Evan Marc Remix)’ is an exciting tune … I like the synth melody in combination with its clean percussion. ‘Universal Innocents’ is a track I would certainly play in an downtempo DJ set; good bassline, simple but dreamy melody. The baby voice sample gives the track a sweet touch.”

Available now from Beatport and Amazon.