Hugo Massien is a synthesizer engineer at Novation with high profile singles on XL Recordings and a stellar 2021 album, "Metamorphosis”, which caught the ear of Claude VonStroke. He is a fixture in the sets of Roman Flugel, TEED, and Ben UFO to name a few. We are more than thrilled to welcome him to the Dirtybird white label series with “Fast Forward”.
Hugo delivers four vinyl gems— from the melodic break of "Fast Foward”, to the dream state mood of “Dynamic Symmetry”, the lo-fi bass of “Quantum Mechanics”, and sublime “Astral State”.
Dublin duo Long Island Sound present their first ever full-length “Lost Connection LP”, a dreamy and dynamic expedition of breaks, electro, techno and house.
Since breaking through in 2019, Dublin DJ/Producer duo Long Island Sound have cemented their roots in the Dublin scene. With an impressive back catalogue spanning the likes of Remmah, Body Fusion and Fabric Presents compilations, they now step up for their first full-length on their Signs Of Space imprint with the genre-bending “Lost Connection LP”. The album is brimming with emotion, seamlessly fluctuating through moments of intense euphoria, solitude and melancholy.
‘Ataria’ opens the record with airy synths and rippling, phased percussion. A deep UK twinged sub bass is introduced with a subtle burst, soon followed by gated vocals and crisp highs that transcend listeners into the album’s euphoric space. Truly embodying the theme of SOS productions is the celestial ‘Dusk’. Using stretched out reverbs, a hypnotic riff and washed out percussion, the cut is eerie yet beautifully ethereal. ‘Fragments’ takes the title as the most energetic track on the record - a wild SH101 jam with a brooding bassline and breakbeat elements. Gliding leads glitter above the chaos, creating a deep and textural stomper. Next up is ‘Every Time I See Your Face’. While romantic and dreamy, this is undoubtedly an old-school hip-hop & electro-influenced cut. The kick and bass inject a grooving element, with a vocoder effect on the vocals and atmospheric percussion again inducing that element of space.
On the flip is ‘Power’ - a bassline-driven production that ignites a swift change of pace. Dubby stabs combine with scattered percussion to create this 8-minute roller. The record crescendos with the trancey, techno-inspired ‘Turbulence’. Rhythmic chords bounce around driving percussion and distorted samples to create the record’s apex. Rounding off is title track ‘Lost Connection’ - an ambient, modular piece that uses sequences and layers to create the sensation of drifting before culminating in one final moment of relief as the album draws to a close.
Demi Riquísimo’s consistently superb Semi Delicious imprint turns 3 this month; with a celebratory bang Demi invites some of the finest names on the UK underground circuit for a four-track VA. Spanning through mind-melting psychedelia, impeccable Italo, bombastic breakbeats and Balearic beat with the hotly-tipped NTS resident and Bicep support DJ - Manami, Demi himself, one of the most in-demand DJ duo’s Inner Zone and Semi D mainstays Manuel Darquart.
Manami kicks off the EP with a heads-down 4x4 acid trip that brings more bleeps and bloops than you can shake a wand at! The Bristolian trailblazer shows of a sound that is taking the underground scene by storm at the moment; a late night, jet-fuelled ride with no emergency eject button!
Demi brings his archetypal low-slug Italo-house inspired boogie magic. ‘Tutukaka’ is filled to the brim with classic Roland drum machine grooves and percussion, immersive pads and a poignant FM bassline that is steadily becoming the hallmark of a his instantly classic sounding records.
Inner Zone take a moment away from their busy DJ schedule to write ‘Lunar Trick’. An intergalactic breakbeat voyage that embodies their warm, analogue studio productions. Acid leads, chunky bass and a hefty kick that’ll bring a breeze through your hair.
Manuel Darquart close the release with ‘Track A’, echoing ideas that are at the root of the Semi Delicious sound. Lush percussion and phasing chords wander through a hefty drum groove to make this the perfect soundtrack for your next Piña colada on a sunny beach break!
The long awaited follow up to the sought-after first Be Told Lies VA, featuring the heavy atmospherics, luscious pads, haunting melodies that makes the label's sound unique.
Protean producer Jaymie Silk returns to Shall Not Fade with an intensely club-driven LP. On "The Rise & Fall Of Jaymie Silk & Rave Culture" a range of vocal samples tell a story over assertive rhythms that switch rapidly so that hard-hitting acid becomes breaks before melting into sleazy, low-end bass techno. Strap in!
It"s not easy to anticipate how any release from the Paris-based Jaymie Silk will sound. A self-proclaimed musical nomad and a real jack-of-all-trades, his artistic identity is defined by its undefinability. With this release - a follow-up from "The Legend of Jack Johnson" EP released on Shall Not Fade last year - Jaymie references the kaleidoscope of sounds which inspired him to make music in the first place.
Sampling an iconic Malcolm X speech, the force of which is bolstered by giant synth swells and clattering percussion, "Freedom For Everybody" places the album in the context of diaspora and resistance - themes that run ever-present through Jaymie's music. With "The Heat", he pays tribute to late '80s dance music, with a classic Lyn Collins drum break sample and diva-esque vocals. The hard-hitting acid-tinged techno of "Start Swinging" sees the album at its most assertive before "Bad B" takes things camper with deep bass pulses and pitched-shifted vocals which affirm "I'm a bad bitch, yeah you heard about me". "Cats Love Drums" offers another direction completely with polyrhythmic percussion and real meow's before the two closing tracks leave a taste of sentimentality, with a major-key vocal melody and a giddy 150BPM pulse ("Waiting For The Day") and an intimate slow burner ("Take Time To Breathe").
After getting glimpses of Denyl Brook's production prowess in recent collaborations with the likes of Shall Not Fade family members THEOS and Romeo Louisa, we welcome him to the groove-focused, dancefloor-oriented Killer Cuts series to which he delivers 6 feel-good house bangers in his signature funk-infused style.
If groove is the word, then Denyl Brook is your man. An incredibly prolific producer, in the space of his relatively short career the Marseille-born Silver Steps Records boss has been responsible for an impressive output, released via his own imprint as well as labels such as Basement Discos and House Cookin' Records.
Leaping Tenacity EP into action is the sunshine-dipped, serotonin-saturated "Baby It's You" which comes complete with a skippy house beat and syrup-smooth vocal licks before "Take Me Higher" takes things deeper, cool oozing from its funk-infused bassline. "His Name" takes us right back to the dance floor, where we will remain firmly-footed for the next two up. Arpeggiating synth tickles and luscious pads illuminate the aptly-titled "Bliss" before "Hear Me" awakens us from our reverie with a hard-hitting pulse and low-frequency acid melody. Finally, "My Friend Barry" sees the EP at its most stripped-back - deep house in its purest form: meditative yet steeped in sex appeal.
Rising Seoul artist Closet Yi's next record is the inaugural release on London based label Curving Track. The 4 track EP spans the distance between breaks, acid, perc, techno and house and features tracks Bmore Baby, Revolver, Monk's Army & 9 Dreams. The first single 'Bmore Baby' is out on the 23rd March 2022, followed by the second single 'Revolver' on the 13th April. The full EP drops digitally & physically on the 27th April 2022. Closet Yi is an artist on the rise, with future releases and remixes planned on labels like Ninja Tune, Hotflush & others. She has a European tour in the calendar, and her worldwide popularity is steadily growing. She's previously remixed artists like Cosmo's Midnight (AU), Chromeo (US) and has just come fresh off the release of Mary Ann Hobbs' supported 'Sweat Sonic' on LA based label SOS Music, a platform pushing women and non-binary producers to the forefront.
Having proactively set the pace of the Danish scene for the past few years under many guises and just as many records for an array of premium labels, Regelbau spearhead Natal Zaks alias Central, aka Picture this time around, joins the Kalahari Oyster Cult fold with a quartet of fresh-minded, bouncy joints taking the classic Aarhus vibes for a trip into further hypermodern melodic grounds.
Subb-an continues to adapt and develop his One Records label with another EP from long-time collaborators Yamen & EDA.
As per usual - the duo's productions rounds up One Records signature sound perfectly: neatly reduced, modern minimal that doesn't shout too loudly for attention but is highly effective on the dance floor.
The 'Joe Kerr' EP is brimming with active, bouncing bass lines, darting stabs and pacy drums. Also included is a remix from the label head himself who sticks a new engine in 'Infinite Diversity' giving it a more potent, gritty drive. Man on fire Youandewan also weighs in with his take on Joe Kerr which interweaves tight stabs and drums with effortless flair - a sound that he's become renowned for and one that does the job on the floor without fail.
On his follow-up to his inaugural Running out of Steam Release, No Advice, French DJ and producer Adam BFD lets imagination thrive with five mesmerizing breaksy house cuts, best heard under a star-lit sky. Duality flows seamlessly throughout the whole record, Adam harnessing the power to connect everyday experiences with a higher state of consciousness.
The EP kicks off with ‘Digital Tales’ which layers wistful secrets over mood-altering pads; it’s hypnotic undertone grounding and continuous. ‘Cirrus Dreamz' ascends even further into the clouds, it’s steady pace expertly infused with cosmic melody and shuffling rhythms. In a world driven by hyper-connectivity, Adam’s productions are a welcome reminder to stop and explore, none more so than in the immersive world of B side opener ‘1st Sight’. Dynamic percussion provides the movement, while meditative sonics produce the feeling of being swept up in a magic carpet and taken along for the ride. Adam’s depth of field widens in title track ‘Rose’, a quasi-epic composition combining all the best elements of house and breakbeat.
The record comes to a contemplative halt with ‘Siniestro’ - an ambient bubble-bath with field recordings poignantly placed across developing pads yearning for connection; showcasing another side to a producer who knows how to tug at the heartstrings.
As with most other releases from the underground-at-all-costs Chicago based Mindinfluence Musicworks family, "Theories...Vol. 3 was for the most part only available over the weekend of Movement in Detroit in the spring of 2018. This record was released as the interest in SGP/Dark Matrix had reached a fever over the years since their most prolific output on losonofono, Kanzleramt, Soul Furic, DNH and countless others between the 90's and late 00's, and was intended as a message to let the world know that MiM still existed, and that more was to come.
Always under the surface, this release served as a placeholder to express some of the works left unheard in the years between their peak and resurfacing. with losonofono being their original home it seemed the most fitting, and with the label and artists' connection to the city of Detroit it seemed best to unveil the offering on the sneak tip as part of a losonofono label showcase event, along with a small amount being offered and quickly snatched up at pop up stores in Submerge and the usual hallowed haunts of Hello Records, Detroit Threads, and People's records. None of the copies dropped around survived the weekend on store shelves, with each making their way into crates of locals or visitors for the annual pilgrimage to the mecca of House and Techno.
After that, the records were stored, future plans were made, but time was limited. After a while releases from SGP/Dark Matrix emerged on Childhood intelligence, Freerange, Moods and Grooves and others. Then the main proponent of the group suddenly passed on. With that even more of a renewed interest in him and his works has developed, most recently with compilation appearances courtesy of Shante Celeste, more releases on Freerange and a slew of others yet to come. Time will tell on that. Until then, this is the last volume of the "Theories" series on losonofono. Hand Stamped, Numbered and embossed.
a1. Solid Gold Playaz - Man Machine Love
a2. Solid Gold Playaz - Man Machine Love (Machine Language)
Three sumptuous offerings of quality grooves from the Aesthetic series, as Paris club scene fave Djebali and Argentinian DJ and producer Jorge Savorett join forces once again. This choice trio definitely veers on the side of the under rather than over stated, preferring to rely on warm rhythmic flourishes and enticing, inviting instrumentation rather than thumping firepower or gimmickry. The beats are tight and hypnotic, with perhaps just the slightest hint of a nod to the shuffling drum machine funk of early Derrick May productions like 'Nude Photo' here and the more head nodding repetition of Chicago jack house there. Aesthetically pleasing for sure.
London based Italo-house afficionado Demi Riquísimo’s Semi Delicious continues to roll out superb releases with consistent development in its sound. As the label matures towards its third year of operation, Demi invites a host of UK talent for the third Various Artists release to date.
Demi kicks things off with his archetypal soul-soothing disco-tinged house. Live percussion grooves interlock punchy kicks and mesmerising arpeggios sprawl out across the top. With his signature FM synth line riding across the top and accompanying chord grooves, Demi’s ‘Sanitise’ is an instantly distinguishable dance floor heater from the outset!
Originally hailing from the Motor City, Detroit, the now London-based Demi Riquísimo lands back down on his Semi Delicious white label imprint and provides a new intricate four-track EP, ‘Mirage Over’.
Demi Riquísimo unsurprisingly explores a range of sonic ideas on this EP, from the punchy, breaks-filled title track, ‘Mirage Over’, which blends juxtaposing soft synths and sequenced acid-like top-lines to the track ‘Rocking You Internally’ which delivers bubbling vocal chops and dream-like vocals riding over 80’s style reverbed drums.
Demi Riquísimo follows his superb ‘Better Days’ VA with a hefty six-track remix EP on his ever- evolving Semi Delicious record label. Not surprisingly, Demi garners reworks from some of the hottest names in the underground circuit at the minute, each reinventing his truly original dancefloor sounds with their own unique tinge.
Kassian come screaming in with a super-chuggin’ up-tempo revamp on ’54 Reasons’. Nip-tuck- tight 4x4 house groove with a wonky, explorative synth bassline that marries the soft, undulating synth pads and sensual vocal snippets harmoniously. T. Jacques offers up his atypical rolling acid- house. Blending trance-like tones with buckets of organic drum machines and M1 Organ stabs that just never get old.
The cheeky chaps Jive Talk present a remix unlike any other, fusing boogie-funk and Greg Wilson style electro with naked bassline squelches and gurn-worthy pads primed for the chill-out room. Black Loops takes his signature sound to ‘Certified’, while swapping out his usual deep-house sound for some raw UK 2-step beats.
‘Machine Tagine’ gets a racing-rework from Manuel Darquart, primed with 606 hi-hats and endlessly modulating FM basslines for this extremely hard-hitting remix. Finally, Holding Hands regular Baby Rollén whips up some 90’s breakbeat across ‘Spice Rack’, allowing Demi’s immaculate hook-writing to shine through in his mix.
London’s very own groove master Demi Riquisimo brings forth 005 for his relentlessly class ‘Semi Delicious’ label. A various artist compilation with, alongside an absolute weapon from Demi himself, superb disco-ready rhythms from Jive Talk, Kassian and Vhyce.
Alongside the rolling drum kit samples, Demi layers cosmic lasers, 70’s clavinet and bucket loads of rolling basslines with this Afro re-edit! Vhyce’s disco chops meet retro 80’s synth arpeggios and huge filtering drops that will bring a slice of retro euphoria to your record bag.
On the flip, ‘Midnight District Line’ from Kassian takes a ride through the city with a rolling filter house workout. No unnecessary bits in this stripped back club weapon. Funky Rhodes and bright NY style 909 loops make this one primed for any time of the night. Jive Talk bring ‘UK Gary’, a re- edit teeming with expression from its live jazz drum sampling and sassy female vocals. Developing through the seven minutes with classic house sounds including THAT 90’s Korg organ sound!
Demi Riquísimo returns to his Semi Delicious hand-stamped white label with another four impeccable disco fusion party tracks. Guitar lead ‘Shameless Progression’ follows skittering disco hats across a scape of lasers, a pulsing bassline and Italo synth business. ‘Encona’ is a summery re-edit of a foreign disco classic you'll no doubt recognise (shh..), Demi has added his naughty robotic FM bassline and some proper drum chunk to the mix, a tasteful re-hash right until the end.
‘Second Element’ is a progressive disco tech crossover. Leading with a fat kick drum, trance- inducing chord patterns, acid flutters and topped off with 70’s soul edged vocal slices. ‘Spice Rack’ delves deep into the world of synthesis, an acoustic drum kit keeps pace while soft ambient chord progressions float delicately over with a hooky synth lead to top it off. A diverse collection of contrasting tracks, all with Demi’s superb signature across them.