Joe Silva - Memory Fade (Purespace Recordings)

Purespace Recordings jumps into action with Memory Fade, a superb full album from veteran Canadian producer Joe Silva, also known as one half of tech-house duo Tonepushers. Nine years since his first LP, Joe has spent the time between on collaborations, film soundtracks, remixes, and live shows. With much of his attention given to the latter, all the tracks on his new Memory Fade album were distilled from music originally written for performing. The release splits the difference on lush vocal house and deep, stripped back techno, with distinctive outliers providing additional range.

Hailing from Winnipeg, Joe Silva began writing music as a teenager. Combined with his obsession for electronics, he eventually discovered the strange world of synthesizers and it was love at first sight. Releasing under the name They Never Sleep in 1987, his first EP was in the vein of 'new wave.' It wasn't until a stint of early '90s clubbing in Europe that he cemented his love for house music and he hasn't looked back since. His productions have found their way onto labels like Stickman, Viva!, Guesthouse, and Nordic Trax. He's also stepped into composing roles, scoring seven feature films and dozens of shorts, documentaries, and commercials.

Opening up with a sultry yet chunky piano gem in "Far Away", Joe wastes no time in reestablishing himself, and highlighting the lovely voice of Sherry St. Germain. "Sanctuary" follows, shaded in total cool with jazzy scat-style singing from Helen White, accompanied by the keys to match. Gears shift as "Gonna Leave U" displays an uncanny mastery of deep house's best qualities: deep chords, body shattering lows, and Mariana's emotionally charged vocals driving the majority of the track. But it's the space-creating, hypnotic dub effects, rhythmic guitars, and stabs that really send things spiraling over the top. Tapping into a heavier and more complex techno sound, "Memory Fade" winds its way to a halt at times, maximizing on its tension building momentum. With over half the album left to discover, there's no shortage of nuances to be uncovered or things to like about Silva's return to the long player format on Memory Fade.

Rich Medina - "Lovely."
Quentin Harris - "'Far Away' is perfect! An excellent production. The whole album is also beautifully mastered. Big."
Opolopo (Tokyo Dawn Records / Local Talk) - "Some nice bumpy cuts in here."
Giom - "'Far Way' … a nicely made track."
Tyree Cooper - "I'm really feeling this album. Nice stuff."
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - "A great compilation of sounds and spaces. I'm really digging 'Far Away'."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Classy diverse collection. Definitely not the 'same old' here. Well done."
Deli G (Future Sound Of House) - "All tracks have that 'something' … top release."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "A flawless work from Joe Silva. A rare gem … I'm stunned by the sophistication of the offered music material here."
Alan Powell (The Midnight Mix) - "A very nice cross section of tracks from the soulful 'Far Away' to the deeper house cuts of 'California' and 'Gonna leave You'."
Myxzlplix (Subdivisions Global) - "A fluid, comprehensive album that maintains its integrity throughout. I love the hints of '90s NY house, but in a modern vein."
Andrew Duke (Cognition Audioworks) - "I can't get enough of Joe Silva. This is great."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "Top vibes! Deep jazzed down quality … a stunner."
Rob Warner (Ibiza Voice) - "Lovely tech-infused deep sounds here."
Lipstick Disco - "Lovely soulful vibes."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "A wicked release loaded with nothing but dance floor bombs."

Available now from Beatport.

Sixfingerz - Street Bangerz Volume 9 (Cold Busted)

The Cold Busted label is pleased to present another installment of their funky and soulful downtempo beat series Street Bangerz, designating Volume 9 to fourteen tracks by Sixfingerz, a Belgian producer from Antwerp. While he prides himself on a library of ethnic, worldly instruments and a collection of old records from which to draw from, the influences of his early years of music listening are also strong, coming in phases of IDM or hip hop. All of these weigh in to give his tracks an old school feel when it comes to sounds, but a foundational freedom for dealing in atypical beat patterns and arrangements. Indeed, much of the sounds used in Sixfingerz' edition of Street Bangerz have an almost instant, timeless familiarity, even if strictly on a subconscious level for some. The guitars stylistically pull from different eras, the musings of instruments from far away lands excite, the rhythm section's samples and pitch manipulated vocal chops are complex, and the lo-fi effects bond together his other unique, knick-knack filled sound pallets. This is not trip hop or downtempo as some may know it, but a hyperactive and boundary-less take on the formats.

Ohmega Watts (Ubiquity Records / Lo-Fi) - "The multi-layered sampling, the chops, and overall compositions make some serious noise. As the title implies, they're 'street bangers' with a plethora of influences fused right."
Leo Zero - "It's right up my street for those funkier sets."
Renegades Of Jazz (Agogo Records / Mojo Club) - "Fresh rhythms … I like them all a lot! Funk and soul re-imagined for the 21st century with proper production techniques."
All Good Funk Alliance - "Dope. 'I Think You Do' is hot."
tOtALcULt (Cult Music) - "Wonderful, unusual, and original … melodic and soulful with a brilliant blend of old and new."
Flashbaxx - "Nice beat science here!"
Zamali (Timewarp) - "Solid release. I love all the beats. Strong funky vibes all over."
Doc Proof (Funkanomics) - "Dope and funky beats … I'm totally in love with the Street Bangerz series."
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - "Heavy beats! Love it."
Phat Phil Cooper (NuNorthern Soul) - "Good choice of samples and beats."
Mason Rothert (Below Zero Radio Show) - "Oh, yeah … this is what I am talking about. Proper, funky and fun."
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - "I love the transition to double time at the end of 'Soul Sisters Get Down' … it's a stunner."
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - "I'm digging the beats and breaks … it's wicked, people!"
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - "Another perfect and groovy release from Cold Busted!"

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.

Knoe1 - Deep Nation EP (Life Music)

Los Angeles warehouse DJ veteran Jason Blakemore relaunched his seminal Life Music label over a year ago. It's acknowledged as having helped document the California house music sound alongside his other label ventures, Bassex Records and Fiveleg. Blakemore knows his stuff; he started as a DJ in Los Angeles’ then-burgeoning scene as early as 1992 and has been a fixture of the North American house music family since.

Admittedly a product of those very same late night underground warehouse parties in L.A., Knoe1 makes tracks directly for use on their dance floors, delivering the latest offering for Life Music in the form of his debut EP. The Southern California resident and artist has over a decade of DJing under his belt as well as previous productions made up of remixes for labels like Smash Hit Music and Rong.

His Deep Nation EP starts from the top with the title track's driving bass line and propelling rhythm before introducing winding acid notes run through the filter, bright ambient pads, and cutting strings. "Housedrumbreaka" follows with initially misleading disco hand percussion which gives way to sick and twisted electro acid, making this the release's most devastating cut. A similar groove takes place on "Never Gunna Leave You", but this time the other elements remain within the disco umbrella, especially the pumping bass. The rhythmic guitars and vocal give off a Western attitude though, albeit fitting when considering the outlaw nature behind the best parties and music.

DJ Sneak - “Super jackin' mode.”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe / Treehouse Muzique) - “Yay for ‘Never Gunna Leave You’.”
Diz (Iz & Diz / Vizual Recordings) - “Deep!”
Jacques Renault (Runaway / On The Prowl) - “Sounding good … going to test them out for sure.”
Tensnake - "Cool stuff."
Chris Fortier (Fade / Mindwarp) - “I like ‘Deep Nation'.”
Danny Ward (Moodymanc / Dubble D) - “‘Never Gunna Leave You’ has the funk for me.”
Severino (HorseMeatDisco / Dalston Superstore) - “Oh yeah, love it.”
Hard Ton (Gigolo / Permanent Vacation) - “Loving ‘Housedrumbreaka’ and its acid touch.”
Jason Hodges (Sampled Recordings / APT) - “So dope!”
Distant People (SSRadio / Foliage) - “‘Never Gunna Leave You’ is a nice twist on a disco vibe.”
Thomas PM (Ubiquity Records) - “Very nice work on these! I’m a huge fan of Knoe1!”
Eric Davenport (Guesthouse / Various Club) - “Really solid west coast-inspired house music with an old school feel … funky and effective.”
Fine Cut Bodies (Chi Recordings / MR2 Hungarian National Radio) - “I love the rolling acid vibes on ‘Housedrumbreaka'.”
The Zars (Till2012 Records / Progrezo Records) - “Good pack of sweaty house tracks.”
Chris Harris (Tronicsole / Nordic Trax) - “I really like the spaced out disco of ‘Deep Nation'!”
Amit Shoham (Tarantic / Noice! Show) - “These sounds are clearly steeped in the history of house music and yet still fresh for today … I love it!.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Asvajit - Wait A Minute (Wind Horse Records)

Wind Horse Records serves as a champion of India’s many talented resources for export to the outside world, all the while pioneering the deep house movement in its own country with releases, parties, and ground-breaking collaborations. Their newest release sees the label pairing up with an artist not far removed from India and of a similar mindset. Asvajit, a hardworking producer, label owner, and party thrower from Sri Lanka, has made a name for himself in and outside of his country through the always quality Bang Bang collective events and Jambutek Recordings platform which mirrors its independent underground artists. As a producer he has seen success molding the dub, house, and techno sounds to his own sensibilities, releasing on an assortment of international labels. Asvajit has received a global reception often proceeded by acclaim, like with his underground steamrolling collaboration with Soul Phiction, "Waran Dub".

Asvajit's take on the world-influenced deep house and tech sensibilities Wind Horse has defined itself by comes in chunky form. "Wait A Minute" places exotic leads, percussion, and ambience over a punchy groove, then shakes it up with nu-disco flair. It comes with all the bells and whistles, but heavy with tech upgrades. Its companion track, "Laptodyctalycus", also features a powerful backbone in the kick and bass departments and makes for a more emotionally charged and somber piece melodically. It contrasts the natural world of bird song with glitchy synthesized sounds to provide a lush landscape that can't be completely traversed with just one listen.

As is part of Wind Horse's charm, the cast of remixers is carefully crafted from all corners of the world. Steve Mill is a Greek-born Londoner with the backing of New Jersey's house master Kerri Chandler as part of the Madhouse Records family. To have that kind of pillar in support is a stamp of the highest 'house scene' approval and Mill's remix of "Wait A Minute" shows it. Made to dance, it features body-jacking snares, a full-bodied bass line, and plenty of mentally stimulating pops and clicks. In another flawless reworking of the source material, California's Sparkinzi turns "Laptodyctalycus" into a mesmerizing labyrinth of pianos and pads that winds itself into a deep acid trip. Finally, the trans-dimensional Indian artist Aaryan puts his vision to work creating an equally hypnotic and orchestrally rich rendition of "Laptodyctalycus”. All of this makes for another Wind Horse Records release for the ages.

Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Recordings) - “‘Wait A Minute’ has that bounce…”
Hollis P Monroe - "The original and Aaryan's remix do it for me."
Darin Epsilon (Perfecto / Baroque) - "Good remixes here by Steve Mill and Sparkinzi."
Jay West (Candy Music / Off Recordings) - “Steve Mill nailed it!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings / Fabric) - “I’m loving this … both originals sparkle with high-end deepness and wicked bass vibes, but Sparkinzi turns in the cut for me here. I love the flow and acid elements … superb stuff.”
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) - “Aaryan’s remix is a smooth, tropical dream.”
Matt Prehn (Oh So Coy / Large Music) - “He smashed the groove on ‘Wait A Minute’ with super chunky production. I like Steve Mill’s different remix vibe too … good stuff!”
Distant People (SSRadio / Foliage) - “Steve Mill remix of ‘Wait A Minute’ has a nice elastic bass line … funky and deep.”
Eric Davenport (Guesthouse / Various Club) - “Tracks that take you on a ride. Asvajit has a unique arrangement style all to his own … dig it.”
Kohra (Qilla Records / Sui Generiz) - “Nice work from Asvajit here … I’m also digging Aaryan's deep interpretation!”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “Sparkinzi's Deep Tech Soul Remix of ‘Laptodyctalycus’ stands out, but love original too.”
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - “Another excellent release from Wind Horse! Pure class.”
Adnan Sharif (D-Edge / PR2 Recordings) - "Deep feelings for that dance floor."
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “The original mix of ‘Wait a Minute’ is killer … I love the subtle use of Asian samples.”
xyddhartha (Digital Gathering Radio Show, India) - “Wind Horse Records is turning into one of my favorite Indian labels … such variety of vibes.”
Jamie Topham (CD Pool) - “Once again the quality shines through on a Wind Horse release. Asjavit and company provide a five-some of lush deep / tech sounds.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "What else? The evergreen sound of acid, of course, Sparkinzi's Deep Tech Soul Remix of 'Laptodyctalycus' is more juicy than an orange!"
Kadabra (House Hookup Radio Show) - “Wind Horse has finished 2014 incredibly strong. I love the deep acid groove of Sparkinzi’s mix.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.