New records

Just as the title suggests, there are a load of excellent new(ish) records about. First of all, does anyone think that Legowelt's latest album is this year's best long-player so far? The competition hasn't been that strong admittedly, but 'Vatos Locos', with its super three-eyed dog/wolf artwork and raw, nasty jacking Chicagoisms are like a breath of fresh air. Legowelt also has a new EP, 'Slompy Jitt', out soon on the fine M<O<S label, which covers much the same ground. For fans of this sound, also make sure to check the new Nation release -  more wild analogue riffs and lo-fi jacking rhythms - as well as Traxx's 'Ina Daze' as Mutant Beat Dance. Working together with vocalist Eric D Clark, its soulful vocals and grainy production is an unusual yet alluring combination. Jitterbug's 'Raw Winter' on Uzuri is a decent deep house release; I use the word decent because two of the tracks, 'No Pressure' and 'Speakers Corner', are standard fare grooves, and neither compare to the warm, resonating 'Dream Memory'; a solid remix from DJ QU also makes it worth checking. Speaking of remixers, Ben Klock does the business on his remix of Deepgroove & Jamie Anderson's 'The Clock', turning the jarring, noisy original into a typically dense and relentless track, while Klock himself is getting the remix treatment soon from... Function and Robert Hood, surely a release to save the cents for. Syrinx has two great deep techno EPs out on Rush Hour, 'A Million Light Years' and 'After The Sunset'. They may be full of soaring strings and sweet melodic sequences, but he also knows how to craft proper dance floor arrangements, with sleek, pulsing grooves and metallic percussion providing the necessary impetus. Marco Bernardi has been putting out some excellent Detroit-style techno of late, but he goes back to punishing basslines and bleak 808 drums for 'My New Juno', his debut for Dave Clarke's White Noise label. On a similar tip is Faceless Mind's new release for Dublin label Lunar Disko. 'Glasriket' is a four-tracker of tight, moody electro-breaks, powered by gloomy synths and ominous basslines. It's a world apart from the label's upbeat debut, but it's good to see labels taking chances, especially in these money-stretched times. As we're talking about going out on a limb, Kontext impresses again with his latest release for Immerse.  'Convex Curved Mirror' takes elements from a variety of sources, with dssected percussion underpinning rolling basslines and atmospheric chords, which later morph into DJ friendly tracks. Is it house, techno or dubstep? I’m not sure, and to be honest, I'm not too bothered to find out...

Comments

[tom/pipecock]

hmmm, if "Speakers Corner" is a standard fare groove, i'd like to find where that is standard because i'd be buying a lot more records! that's still the standout on that EP to me.

[Brophy]

Did you not think it was a fairly samey groove? Maybe we just have different tastes - I much prefered the other track on that EP, thought it had a much stronger bass etc. have you heard any of the new legowelt stuff Tom? not sure if you'd like it...

[Barry]

The new legowelt LP is great. agree with you that its prob the best LP so far this year.looking forward to the M

[Barry]

looking forward to the M

[Barry]

and at the third attempt :) looking forward to the MOS release..