Author: DJ Elroy

Review: Kevin Di Serna & Ditian – Crystal Forest / Dallah

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Review: Kevin Di Serna & Ditian Crystal Forest Dallah Lost & Found

4.5 out of 5 stars

Leading the charge in Argentina’s new guard, Ditian and Kevin Di Serna boast a string of individual successes and have recently put together their newest treasure for Guy J’s Lost & Found label. “Dallah” opens with soft beats laying the groundwork before it unfolds in a blissful chorus of pads, juxtaposing it with melancholy piano chords and smooth synth pulses. Add Kevin’s subdued but effective vocal work and tie everything together with engaging percussive patterns and you’ve got a masterpiece of breathtaking beauty. “Crystal Forest” is more grounded with a deeper bottom, but it also has an airy and inspiring aura. A hypnotic groover laced with melodic goodness, this taste of euphoria gets my pick of the pair. This is the perfect union of intelligence and emotion with rich textures, full sounds, and an almost tangible tugging at the soul. For these two rising stars, this double dose of deeply uplifting progressive power is set to launch into the stratosphere.

Review: Josh Wink – Shoelaces EP

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Josh-Wink-Shoelaces-EP

4 out of 5 stars

Mention Josh Wink’s name and immediately a handful of hit techno/house ear-drillers like “Don’t Laugh” and the classic “Higher State of Consciousness” come to mind. His newest work on the Shoelaces EP (Boysnoize Records) is another notch on his belt of big bangers. The diversity of techno ranges from casual to hardcore so there’s something here for everybody.

The original mix of “Shoelaces” features knotty acid runs twisting up and down the board with Wink’s trademark dirty tech-driven style shoveled atop a crisp electro-breakbeat structure and tied together with a throbbing bottom, oversized bass bubbles and deep, cosmic vocals. The Instrumental and Acid Instrumental mixes each present a slightly stripped alternative without losing any of the snap and punch of the prime cut.

The four-to-the-floor shock-and-awe of Truncate’s bangin’ remix is for those headstrong hard-tech warehouse ‘heads that would laugh big-room EDM out of the club. For a more conservative spin, check out the Mono Junk remix— it’s got that same solid techno flavor without the strict niche appeal of the others.

I like techno in bite-sized morsels, and the breaks make this EP even more accessible to those whose heads aren’t always buried in the underground. If you stumble across this one on a dark dance floor, consider yourself lucky to be trippin’ over Josh Wink’s Shoelaces.

Review: Nubreed 9 – Habischman

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Nubreed 9 - Habischman review

4.5 out of 5 stars

Global Underground has been a cornerstone of the electronic dance music community for two decades, but their Nubreed spin-off label dedicated to spotlighting budding artists around the globe has been noticeably silent. In the beginning we were introduced by Nubreed to future favorites like Anthony Pappa, Danny Howells, Lee Burridge, and more, with the most recent being 2009’s critically-acclaimed work featuring Sultan. Even so, it’s been seven years since anyone has seen a fresh Nubreed DJ mix, and I’d long given up on the possibility of adding another, newer, treasure to my collection. The gods of rhythm, however, must have decided that 2016 was the year to send a prophet to usher in a new era and save the music from itself. Although Iranian DJ/producer Habischman has been bangin’ away for years behind the decks and has had a string of underground hits on sundry labels, his name isn’t well known outside of DJ circles. Continue Reading →

Review: Kike Henriquez – Angora Race EP

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Kike Henriquez - Angora Race EP

4 out of 5 stars

Kike Henriquez breaks new ground with the Angora Race EP, the debut release from his Analog Music label. It’s a triple techno assault built from the drums up that will be shaking down dark dance floors this summer.

The title track paces itself early before punching into high gear with a brutal drop. It’s a rough housin’ tech track piled atop beefy kicks and percussive flits. The subtle layers, rolls, and change-ups keep this one driving forward.

“Bad Habits” lives up to its name—at first it seems innocent, but as with most debaucherous behavior, the more you get it, the more you need it. Another kick-centric cut, this one’s also got a dirty side with plenty of samples stirred in for flavor. The structure is fairly typical, but the driving groove and brief but energy-infused breakdowns add spice.

“This is the Rhythm” is a unique stormer with garage-y bass stabs, classic samples, and a retro vibe that old school ‘heads can appreciate.

There’s nothing pretty about the Angora EP, and that’s what makes it so appealing. It’s a hard-pounding beast that’s ready to escape the speakers. What it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in raw power. The tracks may be a bit longer than necessary but the hypnotic beats and dirty grooves keep things moving along. This is the perfect addition to add some tech-driven aggression in your underground arsenal this summer.