Balls Deep - Vegas /​ ​Ultramarine (Protect and Serve)

Following a recent remix released on Seamless Records, and the first release on his own digital label, Bristol-based house music producer Balls Deep delivers two very different tracks for the second outing on Protect and Serve.

Like the infamous city itself, "Vegas" offers revelers thrills and spills till the early hours of the morning. Its rich and lush nu-disco style drums are met with a deliciously cheeky bass line and lead melody, topped off with hooky vocal stabs and synth effects. It's a departure from Balls Deep's usual sound, but as the saying goes: what happens in "Vegas" is too good to stay there and not be shared with the world -- or something like that.

On the split side, "Ultramarine" dives back into familiar waters. Tough, house-driven drums give way to an infectious, old-school lead comprised of energetic stabs, ably accompanied by a warm sub bass and progressive mix of vocal hits and synth maneuvers. The inevitable breakdown and buildup submerges the track in sonar noises before surfacing again, accounting for just the right pressure levels to drive a big room audience crazy.

Vanilla Ace (OFF Recordings / Bunny Tiger) - "'Vegas' has a nice drive to it and 'Ultramarine' is funky."
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "Fun!"
Alkalino (Estimativa / Audaz Recordings) - "Simple but joyful melodies … I like both tracks."
Tad Wily (Retrofit / Mullet Records) - "Good stuff!"
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Ultra crisp sound and a tight mix … I like this moody funk."
DJ Style (Knob Records) - "Cool!"
Eric Davenport (Guesthouse) - "I dig the use of classic tech sounds and melodies. Updated perfectly for 2015."
Tom Conrad (Adaptation Music) - "I like the style of both tracks, especially the quirky main room vibe of 'Vegas'."
Clive Craske (RadioReverb, Brighton) - "The deep bass and tinkling melodic line alone make 'Vegas' a standout track. Add the second melody and other subtle layers and you have a future dance floor classic."
Mr. Spring (2 FM, Dublin) - "Sinister, but deep."
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - "Both of these are stellar peak time tracks."
David Cronin (RTE 2FM, Ireland) - "I love the old school stabs here … I will play this."
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - "This is superb … I love it."

Available now from Beatport, iTunes, and Juno Download.

Nytron - I Wanna See You (Discobox Records)

Discobox Records' opening release for 2015 adds a fresh face into its mix with Nytron. The humble Brazilian party-turned-label continues its vision of re-imagining ’70s disco and the classic house sounds that followed with modern nu-disco and tech-house sheen. Nytron certainly fits the bill … with releases on respected labels such KMS, Bunny Tiger, and Sleazy Deep, the well-versed producer / DJ has raised the international profile of Brazil for house and techno in over a decade and a half of output. Listeners can continue to expect nothing but high quality work this talent.

On "I Wanna See You", Nytron delivers an amazing floor burner that exits between nu-disco and tech house, using fresh synths, pumping bass lines, and a superb original vocal. He knows exactly how to entertain, combining elements like drum fills, filters, and breaks to build suspense. The final result surely raises the bar for the Discobox label.

Shake Machine, a project by long time friends and veteran Brazilian house artists Daniel D and Robinho, are back in the studio, delivering the first of two included remixes. Using only the original vocal they construct an entirely new track, bringing back the late '80s acid house vibe. Expect massive 303 riffs, 808 and 909 drum hits, and more of the usual funky stuff from the guys who rocked the floor with their most recent single, "Eu Quero É House".

Rounding off the release, another new artist joins the Discobox gang. Gustavo Peluzo is the talented resident DJ of Deputamadre Club and his remix emphasizes the vibe of the original track, but lends it a more beefed up presence -- the obvious choice for the tech lovers out there.

Lupe Fuentes (Inhouse Records) - "I love the Shake Machine remix … dope dope dope!"
Vanilla Ace - "The original mix is the one for me."
Soul Minority (Kolour) - "I like the original … it will get played for sure."
Norman Weber (Luna City Express / Moon Harbour) - "The Shake Machine remix sounds good to me!"
Elijah Collins (Mullet Records / Retrospective) - "The original's a very fat track. Full support."
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records / Karmaloft) - "The Shake Machine version makes me wanna shake it! Lovely remix."
Alexander East (Planet East) - "Very nice!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "The Shake Machine remix is the pick for me here … wicked teasing acid vibes."
Eric Davenport (Guesthouse) - "A perfect mix of tech, funk, and soul. I'm really digging the original."
Ken Liu (Headset Records) - "I'm feeling the Shake Machine mix the most … pretty filthy."
Indy Lopez (Music Zone) - "WTF … this is the bomb! I love it … full support!"
DJ Craig C (Peace Bisquit / Pound Boys) - "That Shake Machine remix is turnin' me out!"
Velanche (Club 91 Radio Show) - "Really good … excellent music for the floor."
Tariq Ziyad (Planet Rave / Dark Horse) - "Excellent release. I love the acid-warehouse stylings of the Shake Machine remix."
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - "The Gustavo Peluzo remix is stellar … I dig it."

Now available from Beatport and Juno Download.

Trulz & Robin present: Ksmisk - Balder EP (Cymawax)

Marking the first output of Cymasonic's offshoot vinyl-only label, the Balder EP is a two-hundred copy, hand stamped entry into the world of Cymawax. There's no better way to start than with four quality tracks of hot and crunchy Norwegian techno with soul by Trulz & Robin, under their new moniker for otherworldly machine sounds: Ksmisk. The duo from Oslo have been a force in Norway's electronic music scene for over two decades, but their current project is set to bend and exceed all expectations.

The title track makes full use of spacial effects to create the kind of landscape deserving of the cavernous exchange of industrial rooms or the breathing walls of smaller sweatboxes. Its energetic arpeggiation carries the driving, raw bass line home. Less linear and more neurotic, "Jonson" squelches its way into existence. Next, "Water" is as fluid as the name suggests, using deep, delayed dub chords to sustain listeners during its eight minute life. Finally, the release ends on "Tehjerk" which is full of electricity, heavily charged with distortion and powerful drums before opening up into a euphoric waterfall of melodies. It's fitting that this chronicle should end up pressed onto wax, a monument to the physical launch of Cymawax and Trulz & Robin presenting Ksmisk.

Danny Tenaglia - "Sounds good!"
Tensnake - "Massive EP."
Stacey Pullen - "This is cool."
Nick Warren - "Excellent tracks from Trulz & Robin … full support."
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson / Balihu) - "Hot!"
Saulty (Downtown Party Network) - "'Balder' is a groover."
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Banging … nice!"
Philogresz (TEAMrecords / WARE) - "Good tools … feeling 'Water' and 'Tehjerk'."
Tim Paris (Marketing Music / My Favorite Robot) - "Lovely EP … I'm going to play this a lot."
Rodion (Alien Alien / Gomma) - "'Balder' for me … but overall the production is great throughout."
C-Rock (stir15 / Cocoon) - "I've been a big fan of Trulz & Robin for a long time … I dig this one, too. Great release."
Roberto Rodriguez (Manolo / Serenades) - "'Balder' is a cool banger … bring it."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Tasty atmospheric tracks here!"
Malbetrieb (Klopfgeist / Paradigm) - "Nice!"
Corrie (Eat More Beef Music) - "'Balder' and 'Jonson' for me. Lovely sound."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Superb club beats right here. All four offer up something which I can use in various sets, but the bounce and flow on 'Jonson' is brilliant!"
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - "I love these analog jams … more please."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "This is the finest and most futuristic electronic music I have heard in a long time. The arrangement and production are second to none and some of the sounds are scary good."
Tee Cardaci (Low Down Grooves / Sine Qua Non) - "Great atmospheric techno that bumps."

Now available on 12" vinyl from Juno Records, Decks Records, Redeye Records, and other vinyl shops worldwide.

Deepchild - Golden Moments in American Manufacturing (Harmonious Discord)

The Harmonious Discord camp have long been fans of the raw underground sound of Australian-born, Berlin-based warehouse wizard Rick Bull. Known to the world as Deepchild, his expert control of hardware systems and abstract musical methodology has created an impressive lineage of music on labels like Get Physical, Face II Face, Thoughtless, and Trapez. Rick is a pioneer in the uncharted waters of forward-thinking techno and this project is no exception. Playing on themes of machinery, chaos, and the American ethos, Deepchild brings us "Golden Moments in American Manufacturing" and "Vulcanised" -- a galvanized techno experience showcasing the raw and sometimes abrasive moments in democratic evolution.

"Vulcanised" starts things off with a vocal-driven juggernaut. Hauntingly pitched vocals and an arpeggiated bass roll the listener through several pockets of sound design with forefront drum programing sure to rattle the windows of crowd-favorite underground venues. Harmonious Discord’s label boss, PointBender, steps up on remix duties with a muddy, bass-laden revision focused on taming the rougher nature of the original. This mix quickly evolves into an interplay of mutating synth lines and sharp hardware leads.

The title track features a cornucopia of distorted rhythm elements that build into an anthem for blue-collar woes. The prevalent vocal - “work, work” - is like the drum beat to a tireless task initiated by the hive mind. Harmonious Discord veteran Ill76 offers up a smooth dance floor techno rendition with tugboat atmospheres, cycled rotations of energy, and building pad progressions. The final interpretation comes from Canadian producer Brandon Sprouse. For this one, Brandon’s Gaunt pseudonym borrows many dark and twisted sound design elements often present in his pieces under his Driip moniker, but delivers it with a pure techno punch.

Deepchild has yet again set the stage for dystopian artistry through his sonic mastery of haunted spaces. "Golden Moments in American Manufacturing" is a subversive reminder of the underlying beauty in the systems and constructs that we all experience daily.

Brendon Moeller - "Both originals are dope."
Phonogenic (Moodmusic / Turbo) - "'Vulcanised' is damn good groovin'."
Daniel Bortz (Suol / Pastamusik) - "PointBender's remix … cool one."
Louk (Compulzion / Druck) - "The Ill76 remix is for me."
Chris Fortier (Fade) - "Super!"
John Norman (KMS Records / Thoughtless) - "'Vulcanized' is just beautiful! Melodic, driving and spacious … just the way I like them. The PointBender remix offers some nice chord stabs to pump up the original. A great EP all around."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Serious heavy tracks."
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) - "This release is amazing. I'll play them all."
Alinep (Asia Music / UB Radio) - "All tracks are good, but 'Vulcanized' is the f*'ing bomb … I'll be playing it everywhere."
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - "All versions of 'Golden Moments …' are superb. I love it."
Corbin Dooley (Electric Feel Radio Show) - "Fantastic EP. It's hard to single out a favorite, but the synth in the PointBender remix really makes it a winner."

Available now from Beatport.