Rick Wade - Heads Only (Viva Recordings)

Rick Wade‘s name has transmitted far and wide from his Detroit home base, garnering heaps of global acclaim for his prolific, high quality output and mercilessly deep and underground DJ sets. In 1998 Rick graced the Viva Recordings catalog with The Harmonie Project EP, a still sought-after classic for the label. Now Rick makes a welcome return to the Viva family with his Heads Only two-tracker, featuring the warm, layered house music that this legendary producer is known for.

“Heads Only” starts things off with a bouncy four-on-the-floor and a strong vocal exclamation that is the track’s cornerstone. Moody strings and pads flow over the rhythm as an ascending bass line pleasingly rattles the speakers. There’s also a perfect ‘lose yourself in the music’-style breakdown to experience. The release’s b-side, “Anger Component”, lowers the tempo just a tad as it raises the funk level. Chiming chords ring over skippy beats, and ambiguous melody transforms into string sample stabs and a gentle horn riff. This cut is reminiscent of some of the finest moments on Rick’s own Harmonie Park label, and intersects nicely with Viva Recordings’ own trademark sound. This single delivers the goods.

Diz (Iz & Diz / Classic Music Company) – “Lovely Detroit dancefloor soul!”
Andrew Duke (Cognition Audioworks) – “Superb. Definitely will be playing these two out.”
Danny Ward (Moodymanc / Dubble D) – “Loving Anger Component here.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Another brace of stunners from the master – Rick Wade!”
Jorge Font (AUDIO nights radio show) – “A masterpiece, marvelous. Love Rick Wade!”
DJ Jazzy L (Jazzy Lounge Radio Show) – “5/5 on the strength of “Heads Only”, which is a killer track!”
Taigo Onez (Bang Le’ Dex radio show) – “Anger Component is so nice! That proper classic Detroit / Chicago vibe. It’s wonderful!”
Koma (Jacbri Radio Show) – “Anger Component is top notch!”
Bruce Tantum (XLR8R) – “One rarely can go wrong with Rick Wade, and this release is no exception. The usual Wade hotness - gorgeous vibes layered over pumping rhythms. Love it, of course!”
Jon Wesley (Insomniac) – “Heads Only rocks! I can't wait to play it. I love the bassline. I like the deep vibes of Anger Component too. It's nice to hear more stuff from Rick Wade!”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, And Spotify.

Ands Mega - Hypermanic EP (Roam Recordings)

Ands Mega (AKA Andrés Gómez) is a young music producer from Puebla City, Mexico, who specializes in chuggy techno and creative electronic music ‘without limitation’. After releases on Logical Records, as well as cuts for Nein, Play Pal, and others as part of the duo FLXXX, Ands Mega makes a bold statement on Roam Recordings with “Hypermanic”. The track is awash in dark synths and throbbing bass, building steadily over seven minutes with its delightfully foreboding groove. The cut is dynamic and special, evoking John Carpenter film themes and the European underground in sound and melodic flavor. Two remixes accompany “Hypermanic”, led by a version from Madrid-based producer Telesketch (Logical, Nein) who adds a more insistent rhythm and a gloriously huge mid-song breakdown. El Fulminador (Fulmen Records), hailing from Berlin-via-Argentina, follows with a version of “Hypermanic” that gets into a spacier and sexier zone. The original’s ‘chug’ is there, enveloped in obscure pads, gentle keys, and mysterious vocal snatches. It’s another captivating release from Roam Recordings, signaling an ambitious 2017 release schedule.

Nick Warren (The Soundgarden / Hope Recordings) – “3 cracking chuggers!”
Rusty / All Good Funk Alliance (Super Hi-Fi) – “Love the Renegade Soundwave vibes of the original, very cool stuff.”
Tronik Youth (Nein Records) – “Cool package. Live the Telesketch Remix.”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) – “The remixes are very good.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) – “Solid EP of downtempo groovers.”
DJ Red Eye (Beauty Bar Dallas) – “Wow! Giving me those EBM, Front 242 and Cabaret Voltaire feels! I dig it. It’s a toss up between the Original Version and the Telesketch Remix, depending on the situation. Gold!”
Ilya Santana (Eskimo Recordings) – “The El Fulminador Remix is a nice track. Heavy!”
Kosta (Vibe FM) – “Bombs Away! Super nice, will support.”
Javier Busto (Logical Records) – “Awesome release. It’s not possible to choose just one track.”
Dr. Best (Radio Z – Germany) – “Three nice versions of "Hypermanic" on this release. The El Fulminador Remix is my favorite.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT Radio Show) – “Loving all three of the mixes. This is very much what I am playing at the moment. Fine work Mr. Mega, many thanks!”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, And Spotify.

Tom Appl - Family (Karmaloft Music)

Karmaloft artist Tom Appl has been openly experimenting with sonic styles and textures. He works primarily in the realms of deep and tech-house, but incorporates elements from a more mainstream production world. Also releasing under the pseudonym Fruitroom, Tom has a series of well-regarded singles and remixes for the Karmaloft Music label and has been DJ’ing actively since the early ’90s. This penchant for sonic detail is evident in Tom’s latest single, the soaring and inspirational “Family”. Released on Karmaloft Music, “Family” explores multiple movements in its nine minute running time, beginning with a deep groove that steadily builds into layers of synthesized bliss. Bright arpeggiations and dramatic pads quote earlier electronic music precedents, masterfully placed into a swirling and euphoric modern production. The sparse rhythmic and percussion track rolls at a perfect pace, firmly backing the abundant melodies. Tom also supplies a Short Cut version that edits a few minutes from the original, offering a more direct but just as hypnotic ride.

Poenitsch & Jakopic (Disco Art Recordings) – “Beautifully crafted old school vibes from Maestro Appl. Poenitsch & Jakopic will play it!”
Chris Fortier - (Fade / Mindwarp) – “Sounds good.”
Enne (Electunes) – “Massive Track, full support!”
Hightower (Jelewa.de) – “Full Support.”
Rory Hoy (Howlin’ Records) – “Beautiful!”
D.J. MacIntyre - “Pretty Track! Good progression.”
Ryan Middleton (FreshNewTracks blog) – “Very spacey.”
Larry Tee (Carnage Music) – “Love it!”
DJ Aldrin (One With Music) – “Nice Vibe!”
xyddhartha (Digital Gathering radio show) – “Melodic & sweet.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Juno Download, DJ Tunes, And Spotify.

DJ Mix: Box Office Poison's Winter 2017 Selection

Box Office Poison (AKA Snax) has just uploaded a terrific new DJ mix. "As we wait for the sun to return, things get a little darker, a little deeper...a little poisonous. We keep the dance floor warm." The mix includes PRIX's new single "Don't Get All Upset" (Random Records) as well as recent bangers from Terry Farley and Brookside Chase. Have a listen:

Track List:

1. Twilight (Eddie Niguel Remix) - Kiko Navarro
2. Prove My Love To You - Brookside Chase
3. Die 4 U - Terry Farley
4. Big Gun (Original Mix - Sante Sansone
5. Bring Me Down feat. Jinadu (Kizzmo Remix) - Keenarf
6. Passion (Naked Mix) - Gat Decor
7. I Am Disco (BonomoLeMagass Solid Gold Dub) - Manhooker
8. As If (Fatherhood Remix) by The Carry Nation
9. Drift Apart - School Of Thought
10. Don't Get All Upset - PRIX
11. Cardiogram (feat. Olivia de Lanzac) (Max Pask Remix) - It's A Fine Line