The first single from "Suckfish," the new Audio (aka Matthew Dear) full length opens with the original mix, a chunky tech-house jam with rumbling bass and quirky stabs abound. But the real gem here is the "Roman Flu gel Remix" on the flip. Beginning as a simple, minimal affair, this track morphs into a dark, eerie dancefloor destroyer. Electro-flavored bass, trippy synths and a groovy, tense energy overtakes the track and rocks it like nobody's business. Not for everyone, but for the risktakers in the crowd, this is a straight body rocker you will keep coming back to. ****(4 of 5)
Lowis EP – Anton X – Recycled Loops (SL)
Lyon, France-based DJ and artist Anton X drops his first EP for the ever-consistent Slovenian techno imprint Recycled Loops. The Original is simple, dark, tribal-influenced techno with rugged beats and an ominous bassline. The Da Fresh remix takes things in a deeper, trippier direction with simple, soothing pads and a ton of hypnotic flavor. The real standout here is the Marco Nastic remix, with a driving drum track and an electro-flavored bassline that will rip you apart.
***(3 of 5)
Lost In Sound (Remixes) – Alex Smoke – Soma Recordings (UK)
2005 has been a breakthrough year for Scottish techno maestro Alex Smoke. His debut album was released and he has been playing blinding sets all over Europe in support of it every since. The EP features two new remixes from one of the best cuts from the album, Lost In Sound. Side A brings us the "Casita Verde Mix," a deep, minimal techno mover with lush keys and a ton of subtle energy that will rock in the right set. The flip brings us the "Vector Lovers Remix," a simple, sexy deep tech house rocker complete with tripped out keys and off center percussion. Quality from front to back.
***(3 of 5)
Let's Do It/ Deale – Hystereo – Soma Recordings (UK)
Jack Byne and Conor Murphy are Hystereo, and they turn in an eclectic performance on this two tracker from Glasgow-based Soma Recordings. "Let's Do It" kicks things off with soulful pads, rock-flavored guitar stabs and a booty-shaking, body-rocking drum track. The flip is where it's at however, with "Deale" really doing the business. With booty-shaking beats, funky disco-flavored bassline and a ton of gradually engulfing rhythms, this is a party you simply should not miss.
****(4 of 5)
Orion – Sunsetpeople – Get Physical Music (DE)
Absolutely amazing 2 track EP from Sunsetpeople (aka Patrik Dechent) and the ever-consistent Get Physical Music crew. The title track is a deep, minimal, sexy tech-house mover with lovely keys, foundation-shaking bass and a myriad of quirky stabs. Developing slowly but surely, this track steadily engulfs you in its warm, sexy rhythm.
****(4 of 5)
Deeper Love – Linda Freeland – Kaufhouse (DE)
Smooth, funky, soulful remake of the C+C Music Factory/Aretha Franklin classic, this track was a welcome surprise in my box of promos this week. The "Club Version" is a more tribal-influenced take, complete with dark stabs and uplifting vocals. The "Wild Man Love Mix" takes the flip in forward-moving, almost acid-flavored direction.
***(3 of 5)
On The Run – Athos – Alchemy (UK)
Butt-shaking, body-rocking, 3-track techno smoker from Italian DJ and producer Athos. All 3 cuts are effective, but it's the title track the really does the business. Simple, stripped-down percussion, rolling bass and a ton of stabs, backspins, edits and other tension-building tricks come together to move you and your dancefloor. Simple destroyer.
***(3 of 5)
The 11th Strike – Various – Giant and Dwarf (DE)
More quality techno from Crazy X Ray and the Giant and Dwarf boys. This 4 tracker touches on many diverse and disparate subgenres of techno, including the lush "Summer Hangover," the relentless "Schlaflos," and my favorite "Inave Kakker" by Zzino, Ortin Cam and Guss Carver. Simple, relentless rhythms, fierce drums and an evil, tension-filled synth line that engulfs anything and everything in its path. Fierce in every sense of the word.
****(4 of 5)
Elvis Was Indian – Slynus presents Monk – Monk (UK)
Slynus is back after nearly a year off, to drop this genre-skirting 2 tracker. The stand out here is "Elvis Was Indian," a manic broken-beat mover with Indian vocal samples, funked-up bass and a ton of body-rocking flavor. Some crowds will be scared away by this eclectic jam, but for those with open-minded followers, this track hits like few others I have heard recently.
****(4 of 5)
