Released 7th June
Alexander Albrecht returns to Francis Harris’ Scissor & Thread imprint under his Melquíades guise for the Excerpts EP. As with his previous release on the label, Blue Caves, the Melbourne producer delivers a rich and affecting release, blending genres and moods with ease. “The idea behind this EP", says Alex Albrecht, “was to capture moments and “excerpts” of my improvised live set. I’ve used field recordings from a number of places from around the world as inspiration (including my recent visit to New York for the last S&T Tour) for the individual tracks - there’s a variety of genres within the release but essentially they were just improvised extended jam sessions. I then chose some interesting excerpts for the record.
a1. Portal
a2. Tower Of The Sun
b1. Schaefer Street
b2. Schaefer Street (Patrice Scott Remix)
Release Date 22nd March 2019
Scissor and Thread regular Black Light Smoke returns to the Brooklyn label run by Francis Harris for a mini LP of raw, atmospheric house. The alias of Jordan Lieb, Emmy Award winning composer/producer/musician, Black Light Smoke drops City Life - six tracks of affecting, deep vibes.
'In Gold' is rich in analog warmth, a bubbling deep house roller that echoes some of the New York, Detroit and Chicago greats.
Title track 'City Life' is a stripped down rhythm track, populated with stabs, melodic flourishes, and beautifully arranged pads - as well as a killer vocal. 'Make My Piece' is built around a vocal hook and roughneck drum track, before opening up with crunchy percussion and a sick bassline. Next one is 'Up In This', starting on a dreamy tip, but exploding into life with Lieb's signature feel for propulsive rhythms and deep, warm tones.
'Without You' is a tougher proposition, using heavy compression and distortion to texture the track, while the digital bonus track 'Every Beat (No Regrets)' is a fitting end to the release - a woozy, after-hours come down vibe, wrapping up this journey.
01. In Gold
02. City Life
03. Make My Peace
04. Up In This
05. Without You
Release Date: 5th April 2019
After Francis Harriis third album ‘Trivial Occupations’ gained magnificent resonances during press and listeners - his “meandering, spine-tingling loveliness” (DJ Mag, USA) became an album of the year in several publications - here is the Remix-EP with two very special reworks. While the left-field ambient waves of ‘Trivial Occupations’ still linger in the ears, Joaquin Joe Claussell and LNS tamper with the two bit more beat-driven ‘Minor Forms’ and ‘St. Catherine And The Calm’ for two new interpretations that totally break the chains. New York based DJ, musician and producer Joaquin Joe Claussell, label-owner of both Spiritual Life Music and Sacred Rhythms Music is looking back on a list of countless works on Labels like Vega Records, Brownswood Recordings and Wonderwheel Recordings. Famous for his percussion-driven Afro-House tracks which are influenced by his Puerto Rican background, he also has a deep connection into New York’s local Jazz Scene. Claussell’s Cosmic Arts Version of Minor Forms features the outstanding Jazz-pianist Bennett Paster with skillful and organic Piano lines. The track opens up with indistinct vocal chants and distant piano-tinkles alongside scattered drum hits. This moody, steady swelling beginning follows on the vibe of the original’s jazzy trumpets. As the bass, played by Claussell, hits at some point, the whole track turns into a fusion of virtousic synth and piano melodies, underlined with excentrical drum rolls. A turn back into the lighter ambient-spheres finally ends the wildness. “No different than how I approach producing remixes,” says Claussell, “my goal first and foremost is to initiate a connection with the original composition. What this allows me to do is become intimate with the piece in a way that it almost becomes one of my own.
a1. Minor Forms (Joaquin Joe Claussell's Cosmic Arts Version)
b1. St. Catherine And The Calm (LNS Remix feat. Nadia Sparrow)
Released 7th October 2016
On their third release of 2016, Frank & Tony streak back onto the scene with one of their most refined efforts yet, ‘Harmonia’. Toms and effervescent drum patterning gets things started nicely on EP opener, “Seranade". Swirling pads, alongside a driving two-note bass, lay the groundwork before siren-like synths call out as an incorporeal voice beckons, “bring me all of your dreams, you dreamers.” “Hardrian” takes the tempo down, but ramps up the filth, conjuring dark, basement rave vibes with its propelling bass line and cavernous pads. Shuffling hi-hats and billowing synths flitter in and out of focus making this one of the duo’s most hypnotic and psychedelic affairs to date. The title cut takes things out from the sweat box and into open-air, sun-drenched euphoria. Airy pads and a buoyant bass carry the track effortlessly, and the simple, yet incredibly effective, drum patterning further lightens the tone giving everything the feeling of dancing in a cloud. Slowly, siren-like synths call out, entrancing the listener into eyes-closed revery. The EP closes on an even higher note as the duo take on John Beltran’s classic “Gutaris Breeze (6000km to Amsterdam)” from his 1996 album, ‘Ten Days of Blue’. The boys left the original mostly untouched, only bringing forth the track’s softer elements to the forefront and adding a monstrously driving kick next to a serpentine bass line, transforming the track into a peak-time powerhouse.
a1. Serenade
a2. Hardrian
b1. Harmonium
b2. John Beltran - Guitarus Breeze (Frank & Tony's Breakaway Edit)
Release Date: 16th June 2017
After a bit of a production hiatus, label bosses, Frank & Tony return to Scissor and Thread with ‚Odes' their strongest productions to date. Representative of their passion for vinyl collecting, the EP is the most dancefloor friendly to date. Leading the charge on A1, ‚Procession' takes no time demonstrating the duo's keen ability to craft undeniable dancefloor vibes, with a hypnotic percussive groove sure to turn heads. The title track ‚Odes', epitomizes the Frank & Tony sound with an early morning nostalgia and a nod to Detroit. B1, This Time, sees a collaboration with label mate and overall luminary, Darand Land, combining the dancefloor drive of the duos sound with the intricate melodies synonymous with Land's inimitable sound. Closing off the EP, ‚Surface Prelude', sees a raw, but deep warehouse atmosphere reminiscent of early 90s house, but with an indelible Frank & Tony touch.
a1. Procession
a2. Odes
b1. This Time (with DaRand Land)
b2. Surface Prelude
Released 15th July 2016
Fresh off the heels of the success of their 'Waiting Ground' EP, the boys in black, Frank & Tony, are skating back onto the scene with another four track summer stomper, 'Under the Jaguar Sun'.
The A-side starts things off with the titular track, a rollicking deep house number primed for sunset raves. A bouncing and lush bass line is the back bone of the track, as crisp hi-hats, distant, yearning pads, and shimmering bells propel dancers forward into eyes closed euphoria.
Things ramp up quickly into peak-time ecstasy on the Breakaway edit of Solo Andata's "A Ballet of Hands." A whirling dervish of delicate music boxes, bowed guitars, delicate music boxes, and distant horns swirl around and weave in and out between a skipping drum pattern, pushing and pulling alongside a gruff and stuttering bass, perfect for those late night rooftop ventures.
The B-side takes listeners into early morning after hours territory, starting with the groovy "Difficult Loves." An airy and luscious double bass keeps things bouyed as introspective pads shimmer alongside pillars of aquatic synths. Backed by a classic, shuffling NY House drum groove, this one is best served late into the evening.
The boys wrap things up on a high note with the latin vibes of "Sargasso." Crisp tambourines keep things light as dense kicks and a bass line deeper than the deepest canyon pull dancers deep into the floor with a warm embrace. The star of the show is the bouncing and earnest synth line, which is partnered up with a pair of playful toms in a game of cat and mouse, making this track a weapon anywhere you place it in a set.
a1. Frank & Tony - Under The Jaguar Sun **
a2. Solo Andata - A Ballet Of Hands (Frank & Tony's Breakaway Edit)
b1. Frank & Tony - Difficult Loves
b2. Frank & Tony - Sargasso **
** vinyl exclusive tracks
Release Date 15th February 2019
The latest transmission from Francis Harris' exquisite Scissor And Thread imprint showcases the many talents of Tokyo's Tomi Chair aka Tominori Hosoya. The DJ and producer goes by both names, and here presents five tracks of lush, emotional music veering between ambient excursions and dance floor heaters.
The original version of title track 'Tropical Imagination' opens the EP, and is a deep and thoughtful dance floor number. Elegant chords set the tone while the percussion adds a silky funkiness that's impossible to ignore. The 'Dream Version' strips the track down to its pads and atmospheres. Next up is Tomi Chair's 'Heat Exhaustion' - an exceptionally beautiful beatless piece that drifts through droney pads and occasional fragments of minor key melody. Using the Tominori Hosoya moniker, side B begins with 'We Are Here' - another powerfully restrained piece that merges woody percussion with low key pads and field recordings to create a magical whole. Francis Harris adds his touch to 'Heat Exhaustion' with his respectful Reform version, adding skittering percussion and underpinning the piece with a leftfield ambient house edge that builds and builds.
Another essential addition to the Scissor And Thread catalog
01. Tomi Chair - Tropical Imagination
02. Tomi Chair - Tropical Imagination (Dream Version)
03. Tomi Chair - Heat Exhaustion
04. Tominori Hosoya - We Are Here
05. Tomi Chair - Heat Exhaustion (Francis Harris Reform)
Released 2nd September 2016
On Scissor and Thread’s fourth release of 2016, newcomer Villete takes a turn in the spotlight on their deep house stunner, ‘Girl Next Door’. The A-side opens with the swelling pads and earnest hi-hat of “Dreams". A distant voice declares “everyone is devoted to their emotion, it’s me and my imagination” before a springy bass line drops in, ushering in the mantra “never be afraid to dream". A brassy synth further envelops the listener into the track’s warm embrace as layers of percussion skitter in and out of focus. “September” takes a turn for the cerebral with its’ skipping hi-hats and airy pads. A springy bass line is accompanied by celestial synths that envelop the senses, making this psychedelic cut primed for after hours devastation. Villete goes even more cerebral on their introspective title cut, dialling back on the BPM, but keeping the energy high. A hushed bass and thudding kick take the backseat, allowing the hypnotising, submerged pads and swirling, reverbed synths to take centre stage, transporting dancers into eye-closed euphoria. The EP closes with the murky drum tones of “Rillia". Droning pads, delicate claps, and a shy, skittering shaker keep things bubbling and light above the track’s thicker than molasses kicks. Deep house maestro Darand Land takes his turn on the aforementioned track, lifting it out of the murk and straight up to the heavens and drenching it in his sun-kissed, euphoric style.
a1. Dream
a2. September
b1. Girl Next Door
b2. Rillia
b3. Rillia (DaRand Land Remix)
