Reviews

Review: Scott Featherstone – The Groovement EP

DJ Elroy Leave a Comment

scott-featherstone-the-groovement-ep

4 out of 5 stars

Scott Featherstone is known for using vintage machines including the Roland 808, 909, SH-101 and other bits of analogue kit in his music. His signature sound shines through on The Groovement EP as Good Voodoo Music continues its own march of great releases. It’s a revolt against bubble-gum club fluff and EDM; a banner-waving charge to take house music back to the roots. It’s also raw and underground. It’s smooth with a minimal funk, a 4/4 punch and strong sample work.

“Want You to Groove” is a back-to-basics houser with a Quaalude attitude. “The Experiment” pumps out with some disco flutters and squelchy bass worked around some great B-movie samples. “Call That Music” rolls out with some punchy beats while explaining what exactly makes good music so good. Finally, Featherstone’s remix of “Abfunk” brings the boppin’ beats wrapped in a funkin’ bassline, samples, and shimmering swirls.

The Groovement is all about simplicity and the classic house influence is immediately obvious. It’s deep. It’s tech. It’s retro. This is one movement to unite the fractured house genre, one all us ‘heads can support whether behind the decks or on the dance floor.

Review: T99 – Anasthasia (Kevin Saunderson & Dantiez Remix)

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

t99-anasthasia-kevin-saunderson-dantiez-remix

3.5 out of 5 stars

Belgian duo T99’s post New Beat anthem “Anasthasia” was among a selection of transformative tracks produced in the early ’90s that helped draw mainstream attention to the blossoming underground rave scene. A frenetic cut released in 1991 founded on samples of Love Unlimited Orchestra’s “Bring It On Up” and Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It),” T99’s 25-year-old anthem has been reimagined by father-son Detroit techno twosome Kevin and Dantiez Saunderson.

The Saundersons do a solid job of recontextualizing “Anasthasia” into a tech-house affair. They craft a simmering buildup filled with rollicking drums, and they take their time incorporating the original version’s goose bump-inducing intro wielding one of electronic music’s most iconic orchestral synth lines. Of the two mixes, the eight-minute Extended Mix is the go-to selection for its sheer expanse and mixability.

With many records from the era now hitting the quarter-century mark, it’ll be interesting to see if any other classics get a reboot.

Review: Kike Henriquez – My Own Time EP

DJ Elroy Leave a Comment

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4 out of 5 stars

Spanish DJ/producer/Analog Music jefe Kike Henriquez has just dropped a new triple-bopper, the fifth release on his label. The My Own Time EP shows off the deeper side of dance with lush splashes of sound and color while keeping things accessible for ears across the spectrum. “People” is a solid affair with a catchy bassline, unconventional vocals, and a structure that brings in a naturally fresh flow. There’s not a lot of flash and fluff here but plenty of energy to work the crowd. “Sypnosis” is a heavy 4/4 cut with spoken samples that straddles the line between tech and house. This one has a bit more intricacy in terms of layers and runs and it pulls a nice dynamic sound without getting too busy. “Preciso” starts with slow-building stutter-steps before catching itself up and rolling out the groove. It weaves in some warped-cassette sounding vocals between the tweaks and beats and offers a strong third leg to balance out the release. Each is unique and all have a forward-moving fun quality about them. My Own Time is worth more than a moment of yours.

Review: Aeronautic Vol. 1

Gavin Brown Leave a Comment

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4 out of 5 stars

With this collection of bass artists from around the globe showcasing a variety of styles, Aeronautic Records’ debut compilation shows off a wide range of talent. Bass music as a genre is so varied, and Aeronautic Vol. 1 does a good job at showing off the many styles that come under its umbrella as trap, juke, footwork, Ghettotech and ambient styles are all featured heavily here.

The compilation collects such a wide range of sounds and styles over its 20 tracks. From Dev79 & Swimwear’s cinematic blend of classic Ghettotech and trap on “Shoot Dice” to the laid-back vibe of Atman’s woozy “Whenever You Want Me” to the mix of a hip-hop indebted, high-octane Baltimore club music of DJ FLP’s “Good Old Days” with its heavy use of its 808s and the eclectic nature of “The Stokes” by Radius, there is a huge selection for your ears and mind to get stuck into.

Some of the standout tracks include the heavyweight and brooding electronic feel of “Late Night Situation” by Satta Don Dada & Ace Myth, the destructive digital funk of “Chicken Strip” by Pleasure, the vibrant “Back To The Cave” by Squash, the cinematic crawl of “Borjas Carry On” and Zebo’s “Indigo”, an uplifting track reminiscent of Rustie and Hudson Mohawke.

With the interest in bass music in all its variations at an all-time high, and the rise of clubs and labels like Brainfeeder, Low End Theory and Numbers, Aeronautic Records have released this showcase at a perfect time. Hopefully we will hear a lot more from then in the future as they are definitely a label who have a knack in selecting talent.