quick audio picks: 1234
Serious acid house grooves from Detroit's James T. Cotton (aka Dabrye) and D'marc Cantu as 2AM/FM. These dudes don't play around when it comes to jackin' beats and nasty 303 basslines. The title track "Electric Justice(1)" features a deep-ass bass line and...
expand review pitched up vocals that sounds like Mr. Fingers meeting up with the Detroit Grand Pubahs in a big cavernous warehouse. Next check the hypnotic vibes of "Static Vision(2)" - a pulsing 303 backed with persistently pounding percussion will make you lose your mind in the clouds. But if you wanna really get things pumping, check the uber-jacking "iMG(3)" and "Werkin House(4)" both of which take it to level 10. Killer warehouse shit for sure.
-snackmaster
quick audio picks: 1234
4T4, aka Ultrasonic 7, is one of Belgium's top underground DJ's. Here he throws some hot stuff at us, starting off with the banging "It's Just Begun(1)," a cover of the Jimmy Castor Bunch's funk classic, full of sweet saxophones, as well...
expand review as a catchy vocal. Next up, "Stakker Humanoid(2)," a cover of Humanoid's 1992 dance classic, is chock full of 303's, and some other crazy synth work- super rockin and deep breakbeat / acid / techno craziness for the dancefloor. Last up are two mixes of "Last Night(3)," a 90's Euro flavored dance track featuring Nia Saw of Zap Mama. -Alison Tara
quick audio picks: 1234
Nordic Trax does it again, proving they can withstand the death of house, by adding a little breath of life to the scene with this 12", featuring remixes by our favorite, the Lawnchair Generals. The original version of "Believe En Me(1)" is...
expand review in the vein of most of East's productions- smooth and deep vocals that never get annoying, over crisp beats and deep sounds. The "Push of the Jams Mix(2)" is a slower, super smooth and beautiful number, great for morning play. But folks, it's all about the return of the Lawnchair Generals here. Their "Believe En East Mix(3)" is pure LCGs greatness. A rubbery bouncy bassline, perfect use of the vocals, and perfect beats, making this one yet another perfect LCGs remix. These guys take a long time on each release, and it's pretty obvious why, upon one listen. Last up is the LCG's "Believe En West Mix(4)," a more stripped down version of their other mix, with some serious subbass and mean synth work. -Alison Tara
quick audio picks: 123
Restocked with the official pressing! Tis been a looooooooooong time comin', this here 12". The Lab's very own Alison Tara flexes dem house muscles on this two-fold debut corker. Firstly,"Two Girls" is Ms. Tara's very first artist release, the culmination of...
expand review 12 years spent rockin' the decks - and playing other people's records, mind you. It also marks the launch of her own label, the friggin' awesomely named Dirty Trick Records. How's that for a double entendre, peoples? Alison's "Original Make Out Session(1)" provides a direct corollary to the lady's signature mixing style, with plenty of classic deepness - think way back to the Prescription label's prime - and new school quirkiness - that je ne sais quoi that links many of the producers Derrick Carter champions. The vox are the key to seducing the listener here, illustrating a woman's initial foray into a lesbian love affair. Enticing, eh? Cle Acklin "Girls Bass Vacuum Mix(2)" simplifies the proceedings into an all-out storming floor-filler with a ginormous bassline, replete with just the right amount of synth hooks and vocal snippets. If this doesn't make people dance, then I honestly don't know what will. On the other end of the musical spectrum comes Brennan Green's Version(3), a distinctly darker take on the original courtesy of the Brooklyn-based disco maverick. Live, militant drums and a liquefied, electric bassline form the groove of this bugged out mix, while the middle passage sees the man elevate the artform in new delay-drenched ways. There's certainly something for everyone here. Hats off, Alison! -Roy Dank
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Ame is literally responsible for changing the sound of dance music today. And their scope of success reaches beyond the dancefloor, as demonstrated here with this 12", originally composed for a German ballet performance at Berghain, Berlin's world famous club. "Fiori" was...
expand review then featured on the "Shut Up & Dance" CD to wide acclaim. The original version of "Fiori(1)" is a 17 minute deep lush ambient track that samples Klaus Schulze's Kraut classic "Stardancer II." This is an epic track that builds and builds with time, full of complex rhythms and melodies. The club mix(2) adds a kick and those typically beautiful Ame arpeggios and repetitive, hypnotic melodies. Still has an ambient vibe, but a great track for end of the night or afterhours play. -Alison Tara
quick audio picks: 12
One of my personal favorites and a huge part of my life as a DJ and music connoisseur is dub techno. Low down, sleepy time, mental and intricate techno. DeepChord, Octal, Basic Channel, Maurizio... that stuff is my life. I own heaps...
expand review and heaps of it, but it never gets out of my house because there's no real market for it besides the 8AM shift at raves or restaurants. Needless to say, it fills my heart with joy to have some of it come across my desk here at Turntable Lab. Andy Stott is one brilliant, brilliant producer. This newest work of his, The Massacre, is no joke - for the heads, straight up. Modern Love Records, a part of Boomkat, isn't fucking around. The title track(1) is very, very reminiscent of early Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound records. Deep, dubby, with some bubbly and exquisite chord work - but it doesn't hold a candle to flipside "Unknown Exception(2)." This right here is what its all about, people! This thing can't top 118 beats-per-minute, and its a total bender from start to beginning. I gave this one an extra long sound sample to prove to you just how good this style of music is. Some have misjudged this and put it in the dubstep section, but seriously... throw it in the techno or downtempo bins and watch it fly off the shelves. Ahh... I feel like I'm back at home, laying on my bed, listening to 15 minute long dub jams - bliss! Major recommendation for the true heads. -minimal man
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Ane Brun is a songwriter, vocalist, and guitar player, and a rising star in Norway. Her third album is at #1 on the Norwegian charts, and she now graces Dennis Ferrer's Objekitivity label, with this 12", as a teaser to her upcoming...
expand review album. First up, we have Henrik Schwarz's mix(1), which was created live on his laptop. The track has the same feel of an Ame track, with lush, deep electronic sounds and Brun's stunning vocals. On the flip, Innervisions' Dixon, one of my favorites, delivers a stunning, hypnotizing edit of the original. Special record here- do not sleep! -Alison Tara
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Is "hype minimal" an oxymoron? You know, like "jumbo shrimp?" Many fans will disagree, especially when it comes to the beast which is Matthew Dear. Woop! I meant Audion, same difference. These are the "hype" new minimal tracks from Matt's moniker adding...
expand review to his flawless roster of releases. Click on the main track, "Billy Says Go(1)," for a cosmic ride through the stargate to ancient times. The sound it is strange, eerie and pumping, and he pulls it off with grace. Also check the minimal tech house sounds of (in Randy Savage's voice) "Snap Into It(2)" and "Against All Odds(3)." Gotta check the end of that last track. Seriously takes me back to some sweaty 4am dancin'. -C'mish
quick audio picks: 12
You know a track is huge when it starts getting drum n bass remixes in 2008. When it comes to Axwell's "I Found U" there's no question the track has reached stadium status, so it was only a matter of time till...
expand review it got the drum n bass remix. And for better or worse, that time has come. High Contrast has taken up the task of DnB-izing "I Found U" and this 12" offers two flavors of his remix. The first is the Berlin After Dark Mix(1) which sticks closely to his usual Hospital Records style - grinding bass with sprinkles of synths on top and sped up vocals from Axwell. Of course there are even built-in stadium crowd cheers on the breakdown! Surely this goes off well in Europe. The Oldskool Revenge Mix(2) offers... you guessed it, an oldskool rave style! The familiar rave piano chord progressions are very prevalent in this mix as well as some very recognizable classic synth and bass sounds. In the right context (Europe), this will kill. Get the glowsticks and UFO pants ready and start practicing your high- speed Tecktonik moves. -snackmaster
quick audio picks: 12
Anthem builders Axwell and Bob Sinclar join forces(1) for this cerebral slammer. It starts with an innocent spoken word segment... the groove is cool... but when the beat drops, get the hell out of my way (very similar to "Be"). People eat...
expand review up this spiritual elevation - freedom shit. Dub version on the flip(2). Love the old hip-hop cover bite too. -the mgmnt
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