The second volume of Life Signs continues where its parent left us: on the path to euphoria. A brew of rumbling bass lines, ecstatic dreams, rattling rave signals and moving melodies that is as sapid as it is substantial. Consisting of four tracks (and one dub), Dusky further cement their reputation of being champions of their (production) craft and the dance floor alike. While „Fridge“, „Seed Tray“ and „Mushroom Samba“ lower the plough with DJs and steppers in mind, „Metropolis“ ennobles itself to a higher stand: with or without voice, it is a sophisticated and divinely inspired master class in a perfect hook (bleeps) and eye (bass). And a gentle reminder: function and beauty don’t have to exclude each other.
The band that brought you the fabulous remix for KiNk’s "Perth" lavishly donate a whole EP to Running Back. And it has all the classic trademark sounds we cherish them for: British bass science applied on classic house tropes, breakbeats underpin transcendent melodies, IDM meets UKG. The sounds of Guerilla records, Northern Exposure and the mash-up aesthetics of early Rage parties all echo through the ranks. All of it expertly executed and as much fun to listen to as to play it out. But handing the microphone over to the band themselves: „Boris Borrison’s Trip To Morrisons: An Italo inspired bassline meets Belgian rave vibes via a British supermarket chain. Who is Boris Borrison? Perhaps we’ll never know. Some say he’s still wandering around in the freezer aisle to this very day. Lea Valley is a homage to the area in London along the river Lea, home to a mix of nature reserves and industrial warehouses and wasteland, historically famous for illegal parties. The area was a regular haunt in our teenage raving days. Static: A warm wash of melancholic euphoria in which to submerge. Inspired by classic electronica and the melodic techno of early Autechre and Aphex.
Deetron’s debut EP for Running Back is an amalgam of some of the key virtues of both parties involved: the evocative and glorious power of the early days of rave (see cover art for further reference), emotional house, melodious techno, a beatless beauty and a firmly polished dance floor. Over the years, the Swiss producer has proven that his skill set and philosophy (underpinned by his mastery of the DJ trade) is perfect for such a mixture. The EPs title track is the result of an extensive research in quiet storm soul records and their influence on traditional house music. „T-Symmetry“ and „TXT“ make extensive use of Roland’s classic JX-8P synthesizer with very different outcomes and the certainty that the idea trumps the tools. Euphoric UK breakbeat pianos and Detroit techno soul can be made with the same mind and machine as well as in any time or place. A record full of fun, finesse and fantasy. Deetron, we salute you!
The return of…KiNK. His first original record after the latest album and a few bits here and there, is an ode to the miraculous grip that a piano still holds over almost any dance floor. Unmistakably titled „Piano Power Ep“, the Bulgarian hit factory does what it does best: infectious melodies, moving bass and gnarly acid lines as well as the ill beats around. Born out of studio rehearsals for live sets, „2 love U“ is a freestyle jam with regular collaborator Rachel Row (see Hand Made EP or „Follow The Step“): KiNK on keys and Rachel in the vocal booth results in pure positivism, energetic hooks and a certain pop magic. Think Rozalla, Bizarre Inc. or any other sign long and you are almost there. Instrumental included for the faint at heart. „I Remember“ on the other hand, which is also available as one of KiNK’s beloved video workouts, is presented here as a „303 Mix“ that loses the classic house sample of the first version, in favor of - well, another classic dance music ingredient - the squelchy sound that DJ Pierre invented. Last, but not least. „Raw“ is the kind of happy-go-lucky piano-bazooka that revokes the spirit of Baltimore’s production outfit Basement Boys in todays’ pagan parties. Using the minimum amount of music tools (lack of effects, volume changes creating dynamics and no more than four instruments), it als feels like KiNK’s reply to Herbert’s infamous dogma. If the ingredients are good enough, you don’t need any spices.
a1. KiNK & Rachel Row - To Love You
a2. KiNK & Rachel Row - To Love You (Instrumental)
We live in a dance music world that constantly cannibalizes itself. Since something that once was only a sound and a feeling, got named, re-named and categorized, it became easy to reference a time, a place or a movement in a record. But: if you wanna bake a great cake, you got to stick to the recipe. Alan Dixon’s La Danza EP follows that line very well. You get Italo-House waves that would make Irma and Calypso records proud, washing over you, arpeggiated disco bass lines, boogie swag and a beautiful ambient composition that makes you dance without beats. The London based debut for Running Back is at the same time joyous, carefree, smart, bold and bittersweet. Four tracks for almost every taste and definitely the icing on any dance cake. Extra special thanks to Toni Rossano.
Neil Landstrumm is among those producers who really don’t need an introduction. Since his first record on Peacefrog in 1995, he pretty much covered every aspect of electronic music, embodied the spirit of the independent producer and build his very own brand of controlled chaos. Never one to be stuck in a loop or monotony, his music ranges from unorthodox techno to all kinds of genre-defying compositions. For his Running Back debut, he serves a frenzy dish that feels like the soundtrack to a space pirate opera. Five tracks of vhs-beta-electro-funk, love ballads for aliens, horror house, silhouette-techno and neuromancing dancing. Housed in an appropriate arcade game sleeve, it’s fit for fun and value for your money.
How do you go on after a feast like „The Division“ - especially if it included a main course like Neutron Dance? You don’t! And you don’t even have to try. But like with any great meal, one can do magic with the leftovers (see chop suey, stew or goulash for further reference). In any case, Krystal Klear doesn’t need to worry about that. Having cracked the DNA code of „dance music“ on his first EP for Running Back, this double-A-side-follow-up-single feels alive, floats upstream and fires on all cylinders. While Euphoric Dreams is the musical incarnation of an Alexander Shulgin formula (your spine gets tingled all the way including a wonderfully prolonged break down) or the scoring of the proverb that „at the bottom of patience one finds heaven“ and „happiness is just around the bend“. Speaking of which, Miyoki does exactly that to every pair of knees around. A relentless bass line and a deadly snare („yes, you thrill me, when you fill me“*) are enough to force almost any kind of dance floor into submission. *Freely adapted from Les Femmes - Yes, You Thrill Me - Kee Wee, 1984
Follow up Helium Robots EP for Running Back after 2012’s “Crepitation” which came with legendary Theo Parrish reworks. Bleep EP is featuring 4 original works from the bots.
Younger Rebinds is a new project and imaginary band by the inimitable and unstoppable Benny Rodrigues. Maybe best-known for his Rod moniker and releases on Klockworks, Rodrigues embodies and keeps the candour, spirit and curiosity that made techno music stand out in its start-up years - and that’s exactly what we have here. The “Retro 7 Ep” makes the most of the classic 707 drum machine, gnarly synths, ambient soundscapes, pianos and organs. Done in a way that is as much new wave, as it is electronic disco. Spread out over a double-pack with eight tracks (8!, get it?), the Younger Rebinds hit the sweet spot between vintage DJ Hell aesthetics, Sterac Electronics and Trevor Jackson’s Metal Dance dogma, if its choir would be muted. Loud pressing and hypnotic artwork included. Please don’t look at it for more than 5 minutes.-
Here we are again! Courtesy of Valerie Dore. Numero due in the Super Sound Singles series on Running Back continues on the re-issue/update tip of inexpensive records.
Big in the charts in 1985, the Italian queen of "romantic dance" made her second single "Get Closer" a clairvoyant poem about… errr… life and love: "when the world is running down - get closer"!
Think stonewashed jeans, endless summers on Italian beaches, boats coming back to the shore.
Remixed by fellow country men Tiger & Woods, "Get Closer" gets sandblasted into our modern times and the necessary treatment to be the peak- and night time hug fest, it's always supposed to be. Add a run out tool by DJ Oyster and a gentle DJ-friendly edit by Gerd Janson of the original to the billboard. And always remember: changing your spell can save you.
Toot Toot, Beep Beep, out of the way! KiNK's taster for his up-and coming album on Running Back is here.
"Perth" is a prime-example of the Bulgarian producer's unstoppable good times ware. Taken from "Playground", the three versions here are dripping with grease. Split between the original, a chord mix and a beat version, it's all you ever wanted from a single. Perfect house music for techno DJs and techno music for disco DJs. We strongly recommend the use of two copies back and forth...fun, fun, fun!
Life is like a mirror ball! The first one in a hopefully long-lived series of disco and pop influenced Super Sound Singles on Running Back, comes courtesy of the unmistakeable Gibson Brothers. Leaving their biggest wedding hits "Cuba" and "Que Sera Mi Vida" to the side, the philanthropic and smile-forcing "Ooh, What A Life" gets an extended edit service by Shan & Gerd Janson, who cut away some of the fat and make it fit for fun on contemporary dance-floors. The flip side sees them remixing and sandpapering "Heaven" into a disco-house interbred (filters and looping mandatory). To quote John Lyndon: "Disco sucks? You never heard that from me."
Third time is a charm. The Analogue Acid Project by Todd Osborn and Tadd Mullinix resulted in two records in 2005 and 2006 that excelled at the fabrication of gritty acid jak tracks Now, Todd N Tadd alias TNT aka the dynamite duo finally returns. Their third outing and first one on Running Back, is a detonative reunion of old and new friends. With two previously unreleased beat tracks on one side plus carefully tailored reissues of Hotness (from the blue record) and Beat This House (from the red record), you get a box of dynamite sticks in various sizes for different situations. More than ten years later and still as explosive. Fire in the hole!
Ring, ring! Hot on the heels of the transcendental and mystical “Vibe Telemetry” long-player of the man like Telephones, we proudly present: Vibe Remixes. Some of you might notice the irony between the lines. A producer who goes by the name of Call Super is remixing an artist known as Telephones. But, we rather rivet you on his 8:59 long skippy dub journey that recalls (pun intended) an atmosphere that could be found in the space between Smith & Mighty, the LTJ Bukem of his youth, Italian house records, British Balearics and bass affine music (of whatever providence). A magical mystery. But we don’t hang up here. DJ Fett Burger is treating the other side and only he himself knows how he made what he did. 14:51 min of almost every style ever invented in the scope of house music. Designed for people blessed with an everlastingly short attention span and DJs on the lookout for a toilet break and a coffee break or whichever break, it leaves its listener speechless. And: it’s so much fun that once it’s over, you want to redial Fett Burger’s number immediately.
Henrik Schwarz’first work for Running Back and concurrent solo piece since 2013 is a prime example of the man’s uncanny production abilities. Recent years saw Schwarz more and more gravitating towards the intersections between electronic music and jazz, classical compositions or african sounds than serving the weekly bread and butter at clubland’s busy buffet car. Now, Not Also You is a return to exactly that honourable craft and service. Built around an imagined and imaginary curtain lecture from a saint to a sinner and housed in one of Henrik’s “most techno” looking robes as of yet, it’s a no-brainer or shall we dare say a reaper of a track - without frills but with a Fata Morgana like rave signal. Oh, there is a dub for snobs (Not You Also), too. Peak time, high time, any time. Nice sleeve on top.
Shan’s third outing for Running Back is an ode to a time when “house” was characterized by old grooves and nu ones alike. Here you get a well-rounded treatment for the times before, during and after the rave. Break beats included. Featured In Gerd Janson’s Fabric 89 mix.
The inimitable LD Nero with his first outing for Running Back. Best-known for his merits on Trelik and a poetic sound which is distinctively his own, LD Nero immerses himself in a rare breed of deep house music that isn’t classicist, yet dateless, emotional but not kitschy, and most of all meditative without drowsiness. Devoid of any second thoughts, these are three tracks made for those wee hours in the morning that may never end.
“10 Years Redshape Live" is a special thank you to the labels I mainly worked with in the past ten years and also to all the people on world’s dance floors, which gave me so many stellar moments. Starting on Running Back, the “Best Of Live” series will contain tracks which were only part of my live set: previously unavailable and not even arranged as full tracks. As I always record my shows, I searched for the moment, in which each of those tracks had their biggest and also earliest impact. I took that recording and rebuild them part by part to make them proper DJ versions without loosing their live roots. Named after the cities where they were performed. Av Aviv and Rome.
Janette “Jnett” Pitruzzello is considered something of a legend in her home city of Melbourne, where she’s been DJing for well over two decades.
Here, she delivers her debut solo EP, featuring a quartet of tracks co-produced by Maurice Fulton. The latter also delivers a solo mix of opener “Reflection", which adds a little leftfield disco sparkle and percussive sweatiness to an otherwise organ-heavy deep house groove. There’s a similarly cheery, funky and disco-tinged feel to the rolling, cut-up house goodness of “Swangzipani". Elsewhere, the duo gets a little stranger in pursuit of dancefloor thrills; “Bubbles Away” is deliciously dark, wonky and intergalactic, while “Judge Not” wanders off into head-nodding, instrumental hip-hop territory.
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