France's I Hate Models has had a phenomenal rise since his first releases in 2016, now he arrives on Perc Trax to serve up the label's last release of year.
Already fitting in with the label's no nonsense aesthetic after appearances at a number of label showcases this year, this EP shows a hardening of his sound, without losing any of the melodic touches that have made his releases so memorable.
The original mix of "Spreading Plague" fills the A-side of the record with a near 10 minute journey though classic Perc Trax metallic percussion, quivering acid and soaring analogue lead lines. Epic is a word not often used in relation to Perc Trax, but here it is perfectly applicable.
On the flip side, Perc remixes the lead track, honing in on the acid and adding swarms of claps and hihats for his first new production on Perc Trax in 2018. "Martial Order" closes the EP moving the percussion to the front of the mix once again, as metallic hits rain down on the listener, delivering a fresh take on one of Perc Trax's signature sounds.
Manni Dee returns to Perc Trax for the release of 'A Low Level Love', his second full album following on from 'The Residue' released in 2018 by Berlin techno institution Tresor. Manni opened his Perc Trax account back in 2017 with his 'Throbs Of Discontent' 12" which featured his breakout hit 'London Isn't England' and since then he's become Perc Trax regular releasing his recent 'Everyone's Replaceable Now' 12" plus his 'Gulabi Gang' contribution to first of the 'Forever' various artists series. During this time Manni has gone from a cult UK favourite to being internationally recognised, performing all around the world.
*Audio To Follow*
A1) Persist & Change A2) Take Time A3) Yesterday's Hope B1) You Puked In The Alley Where We Kissed B2) Stride By Stride B3) No More Heroes C1) Betamax Interlude C2) Pivotal Summer D1) London In My System D2) You Don't Always Get What You Want D3) Closer
Temperature's Rising, the very first collaboration between Perc and Passarella Death Squad, came out quietly in 2010 and has since grown steadily into a cult favourite. Now it returns on Perc Trax, remastered for 2016, with the original vocal mix having a full side of vinyl to itself for the first time.
On the B-side is the 'Temperate Dub', originally created back in 2009 but which until now has remained unreleased. Dubbing out the original mix by reducing the vocal to a few echoing syllables it is a fresh take on an well loved favourite.
Originally released back in 2010 as part of an Agoria mix compilation sampler Temperature's Rising has become a cult hit with vinyl copies now impossible to find for any price as the chance of a repress was held back by record company politics. Now, finally, it returns, remastered for 2016 and enjoying the clear cut and full side of vinyl it undoubtedly deserves.
On the B-side is the Temperate Dub, recorded at the same time as the lead mix, but which has remained unreleased until now. It takes a deep classic even deeper dubbing out syllables of the vocal over a reverberated version of the now familiar half-time rhythm of the original mix.
12" blood red vinyl in a full colour sleeve designed by Danny Passarella.
a1. Perc & Passarella Death Squad -Temperature's Rising
Originally released as part of Perc's 'Bitter Music' album in 2017 'Look What Your Love Has Done To Me' has gone from a vocal experiment to a certified festival classic and the biggest selling track in the history of the Perc Trax label. Featuring vocals from UK electronic artist Gazelle Twin the track has grown in support organically, allowing it time to take on a life of its own, receiving plays from an across the board selection of the world's biggest DJs whilst dominating festival sets in both 2017 and 2018.
Now two years after its initial release it returns remixed and ready to take on the summer of 2019. Taking on remix duties are Amelie Lens, one of the key original supporters of the track, I Hate Models, returning to Perc Trax immediately after his debut album dropped in June and Perc himself. Across the remixes I Hate Models warps and distorts the vocal over a drawn out industrial soundscape, Amelie Lens adds a melodic touch to the original's driving rhythm and Perc ramps up the energy and aggression, floating cuts of the original vocal over a hammering kick drum assault.
a1. Perc - Look What Your Love Has Done To Me (I Hate Models Primitive Remix) (I Hate Models remix)
b1. Perc - Look What Your Love Has Done To Me (Amelie Lens remix)
b2. Perc - Look What Your Love Has Done To Me (Perc VIP Mix)
Label boss Perc returns to Perc Trax for his first full release since his career defining "Bitter Music" LP in May 2017, an album which featured the infamous "Look What Your Love Has Done To Me", one of the most played techno tracks of the year and Perc Trax's best selling track to date.
Conceived as a response to the endless stream of rip-off's, rehashes and re-edits that track spawned "Three Tracks To Send To Your Ghost Producer" strips back the vocals and melodic elements that characterised Bitter Music to present a raw, rolling, heavily percussive sound. Kick, toms and hi-hat rhythms play off each other whilst interlocking with the solid kicks that propel each track forwards.
From the spitting acid stabs of "Toxic NRG" to the brutal drop in "Driller" the three tracks are overflowing with the kind of in-yerface attitude that marks out the best of Perc's productions. Together they form an EP which once again highlights him as one of the UK's most forward thinking techno practitioners.
Tymon served up one of the biggest shocks on Perc Trax in years with his recent seismic remix of Perc's own "Hyperlink" and now he returns to Perc Trax with his first full EP for the label.
Balancing space and intensity the three tracks that make up 'Eternal Return' hit hard but avoid the relentless 'dog humping a lamp post' banging of so many of the current crop of 'hard, harder, hardest' releases.
Each track is packed with deft arrangement surprises and subtle unexpected moments of melodic interest that carry the EP far away from the chasing pack. Just like his "Hyperlink" remix, expect this EP to destroy dance floors around the world as soon as it is released.