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The name says it all, doesn’t it? In all honesty, there’s very little need for me to elaborate further with this release, but i’m going to anyway. If you know the faintest thing about me, you’ll know that i’m a bit of a sap when it comes to a decent feel-good summertime groove. Give me Chicago vibes over glitch Techno any day of the week... and this one from Hamburg resident Sebastian Doering is no exception. Samba-infused beats pave the way for the luscious pitch-bended synths, whilst the female vox is a clear tipping of the hat to the classic Full Intention output of yesteryear. I have believed for some time that a resurgence in the laid back House sound can only benefit the genre, and that a subtle glance back to those all-conquering days of funk-driven US House should not only give us ample inspiration for the future, but also remind us that there was life |
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I saw Alex and his partner-in-crime Anthea literally tearing apart Room 3 at Fabric the other weekend, which is impressive, considering they had the likes of Agoria & Sascha Dive in the main room as well as Sandwell District & Deetron to contend with over in Room 2. Their unique brand of high-energy unapologetic House ensured that open floor space was rarer than a tax rebate, and I ended up dancing in front of a balcony railing, on a small stretch of brick wall that was never intended as a podium. Somewhere in between trying to avoid the glares of the bouncers, and trying not to accidentally drop tackle the oblivious party goers below, I heard them spin this gem. It’s classic Celler; crisp reverbed percussion, aggressive rolling basslines, and HipHop-influenced looped vocals that clear a path for the inevitable crowd-pleasing drop. Worth falling off a podium any day of the week if you ask me.click here for sample |
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I want to finish up by shining the proverbial spotlight on the new release on Alchemy. As you’re all no doubt aware, this is Picotto’s Italian imprint, and one that’s been basking in the warm reception of its output since 2003. Of course, it wouldn’t have achieved this if the content hadn’t made the grade, but that’s never been a problem for Mauro. His productions have always set the bar for the Techno elite, and part of Alchemy’s charm lies in how their sound always appears to be reliably current with every new EP, which is possibly the most key attribute of a prevailing niche music label. ‘Monogram’ is testament to this, as Picotto serves up a welcome helping of tribal-infused summer Techno, constructed around a sample that only the most valiant (read suicidal) of producers would ever dare tamper with. Listen closely to the breakdown, and peel away the layers of percussion… your ears aren’t deceiving you, it genuinely is Fleetwood Mac. I had my reservations about name-dropping a 40-year old Pop Rock band, for fear of an almighty backlash from the credibility Nazi’s, but in the expert hands of Italy’s finest, it’s an assured triumph. It lands next month, so (just for now) cast aside your prejudices, and indulge in a spot of 80’s that’s got 2011 written all over it. |
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