Retraso Del Pardon EP – HD Substance (Consigned Recordings-Canada)
Excellent release from Montreal based Consigned Recordings and Spanish tech master, HD Substance. “Orto” is a smooth, silky slab of tech house magic, complete with lush keys, deep bassline and a ton of atmosphere. Next up, is the stand out track on this EP, “Definition.” Absolutely gorgeous from first note to last, this track moves you with subtle, building Latin flavored percussion, deep, sexy bass and warm old school keys that work you over and over again. Side B continues making moves, with “Wine” a shuffling, almost broken beat flavored tech house mover and “Chop”, a straight forward, rocking tribal techno drum track.
*****(5 of 5)
Breaks Of Death EP – Teknobrat ft. Mateo Murphy & Preach (Ascend-Canada)
With the original, from Ottawa techno veteran DJ Teknobrat, two remixes (from Preach and Mateo Murphy) and a couple of atmospheric drum loops, Breaks Of Death is an appealing project from the outset. Preach kicks things off with a dark, atmospheric remix, enlisting all the evil menacing sounds he could find and melting them together with a cohesive synth line and moving drums; this track is anxiety and tension personified. Mateo Murphy is up next, taking things into repetitive, filtered techno territory. A hot bassline, loopy stabs and ton of frequency drops make this a jackin’ DJs best friend and a true dancefloor destroyer, while Tecknobrat’s original would be more at home at a German warehouse party than most clubs, with it’s evil bassline and almost electro flavored synth line. Another quality release from Montreal based Ascend Recordings.
****(4 of 5)
No Risk, No Fun EP – Alex Bau (Default Recordings-Canada)
Intense three track EP from the ever-consistent Mr. Bau. “Waveform” sets the tone, with dark, eerie rhythms, moving percussion and a ton of big room atmosphere. This has late night set at a massive festival written all over it, with its enormous electro synth line and overall brooding flavor. “Here It Comes” takes no prisoners, as it goes straight for the jugular and never lets up for one minute. Dark, evil bassline, driving percussion and a menacing loop that will slowly, but surely twist your mind into knots. “Risky Business” is a lovely electro based track that ends things perfectly and shows the more emotional side of the artist.
***(3 of 5)
The Fox EP – Kabuto (Primate Endangered Species-UK)
Andreas Kauffelt & Toby Izui drop science on this two-track destroyer. Side A features “The Fox” an evil, driving percussion number with moving rhythms and a bassline from hell that grows and grows as it destroys everything in its path. The flip takes thing in a more slow building, hypnotic direction with “Ripped Off.” Starting with a funky drum track and slowly growing, trippy keys, this track absolutely kills, destroying bit by bit, brick by brick. This record should go directly from the record shop wall, into heavy rotation. Top stuff.
*****(5 of 5)
Pimp Plates EP – Holgi Star (Primevil-UK)
Kiddazfm top dog and all around techno luminary, Holgi Star brings his immense talent to the Primevil stable on this smoking three-track release. “Puerto Rica” gets the ball rolling with a massive dancefloor destroyer. Driving percussion, soulful bass, vocal samples and an old school rave style synth line, combine to work over any crowd and any set. Side B features “Kreuzberg”, a bangin’ big room monster, with driving drum track and uplifting retro synth line. The final track, “Crazy Dancer” takes things to a deeper, dark more evil space with scary bassline, chilling lyrics and an overall brooding feel that would work in only the most bloodcurdling of sets. Another fantastically diverse offering.
****(4 of 5)
The Riff – Mr. Sliff (Jericho-UK)
Adam Beyer is back under his Mr. Sliff moniker with another monster release for the crew at Jericho. This EP kicks off with the title cut, slowly increasing the tension from needle drop to last note. Dark, Alexander Kowalski-esque bassline, subtle rhythms and tripped out keys work to capture the attention of your dancefloor and firmly focus them on the DJ booth. “Familiar Funk” is up next, dropping groovy beats and rhythms over the a funky filled bassline that will work over any crowd, while “Late” completes the package with a more club focused drum track. Extraordinary.
****(4 of 5)
