Teklife

Release Date: 5th February 2021

Legendary Chicagoan General Juke aka Gant-Man returns with Distorted Sensory, his brand new acid house adventure. A longtime veteran who’s been behind the decks since before he was even a teen, he’s been an essential part of Chicago dance music history since the Dance Mania days in the mid 90s, and a major pioneer in jumpstarting the juke movement that followed. This new single, and his debut solo releaseon the Teklife imprint explores the time honored tradition of jacking, channeling the very essence of house music though a modern lens.

Employing an enigmatic 303 bassline that mutates and breathes as if it were alive, Gant plays malicious melodies that run up and down octaves in a freaky, hallucinatory manner. Squelchy synth movements are met by eerie FM tones, reminiscent of Cajmere’s classic Chicago staple the Percolator. A rugged 909 drum kit bangs the track along in true jacking fashion, making it the perfect tool for shaking the floors of dark, sweaty warehouses. In addition to the original, two of the UK’s finest contribute remixes as well.

Hyperdub boss Kode9 puts things into overdrive with his 160 BPM warped vision of Gant’s acid, sliced up to appeal more to the footworkers and fans of psycho tempos. Dubstep pioneer Loefah strips back the original percussion and lets the 303s float over a cloud of deep sub bass, adorned with lovely splashes of rolling snares and micro percussion.

With an array of stone cold classics under his belt, from ghetto house anthem Juke Dat Girl to his brilliant collabs with the late DJ Rashad Heaven Sent and Juke Dat Juke Dat, Gant-Man is a true renaissance man. For over 20 years, he’s consistently shown the world the complexity that makes up his city’s dance culture, never sticking to one area or tempo. Distorted Sensory is a beautiful celebration of Chicago house music, a return to its true raw design, and a reminder of just how timeless an art form it really is.

a1. Gant-Man - Distorted Sensory

a2. Gant-Man - Distorted Sensory (Kode9 Remix)

b1. Gant-Man - Distorted Sensory (Loefah's South Side Remix)

Gant-Man - Distorted Sensory (inc. Loefah Remix)

Teklife

£13.00 (£15.60 Inc VAT)

Release Date: 8th January 2021

Montreal-based producer & DJ Slick Shoota brings us Function, his debut LP and first solo release on the Teklife imprint. A native of Norway known for his renowned Oslo club night Ball Em Up, he’s been a member of the elite crew since 2015, contributing tracks to the label’s compilations such as On Life Vol. 2 and VIP Trax. Using a unique palate that combines both traditional footwork drums and eclectic otherworld sonics, this album expands on the signature sound he’s been brewing during the course of his career, celebrating his longtime love of the Chicago soundscape, with a healthy helping of UK rave, jungle, and vibesfrom other fast paced club realms.

Slick starts the record off with Hovercraft, a big burly mutant rap beat riding a glowing titanic wave of jungle subbass, with vicious hi-hats stabbing through the mix. Desire Path follows with hysterical horns cruising along a stampede of erratic Chicago percussion. A glitchy, malfunctioning computer meets drumline stomps on See Me Flex, resulting in a psychotic, yet psychedelic sci-fi soundscape. Ultra-distorted hardcore kicks open up Jellyneck, dropping straight into adungeon of ghostly vocals and headlong toms. Warehouse 2K opens up the B-side with R&B chops and lasers floating on a charming cloud of pulsating pads. Mad doppler sirens loop around your head on Delahaze, as distant clangs and crashes fight an impatient,throbbing bassline. Classic rave atmospheres are met with Slick’s elegant sound design on MTL Hardcore, his ode to his adoptive city.

The album closes off with Special Tek, channeling the signature quirky drum sounds of the late DJ Rashad over a pounding,fast paced house beat, a wonderful nod to the Windy City and its influential sonic culture. Carving out his own sound from the legacies of Chicago, the UK, and other underground club hotspots, Slick Shoota has found his own recognizable voice within theserealms of dance music, and this LP serves as documentation of that solidified voice. Years of studying the masters and immersing himself with their work has clearly paid off, and he’s respectfully taking these sounds he loves in exciting new directions. Bridging gaps both historical and geographical, Function marks a pivotal point in his career, and is clear evidence that Slick Shoota is vital member of the legendary Teklife family.

* No Audio Available*

a1. Hovercraft
a2. Desire Path
a3. See Me Flex
a4. Jellyneck
b1. Warehouse 2K
b2. Delahaze
b3. MTL Hardcore
b4. Special Tek

Slick Shoota - Function [12" Vinyl LP]

Teklife

£14.50 (£17.40 Inc VAT)

Released 5th July

Tekvision Volume 1 was a stone cold classic, with Rolling Stone charting it at #3 in their top 20 EDM records of 2017. Two years on, Cornelius ‘Traxman’ Ferguson returns with the second instalment, featuring 7 exceptional new Footwork productions. Traxman isa bonafide OG, with a discography dating back to the halcyon era of Ghetto House in the late 80’s and early 90’s. 30 years on, Traxman is a revered figure in Chicago’s urban music scene, having presided over the evolution from Ghetto House to Juke and from Juke to Footwork culture. Originally released in 1989, Work Dat Mutha Fucker by Steven Poindexter is considered to be one of the most influential tracks from the early days of Ghetto House. Traxman remixes it brilliantly on this release, reworking the stripped back, minimalist drum beat of the original into an upfront Footwork pattern. This sense of continuity is equally evident on Let Me See You Naked feat. DJ Juicy, and Traxman’s remix of To Da Hoooz by DJ Deeon. These productions successfully capture the sexual energy and exuberance of Ghetto House, turbo charged at 160 BPM. Elsewhere on the record, Traxman explores different moods whilst always keeping the dance floor firmly in mind. The opening track it’s Lasting Bass lays an infectious vocal harmony over complex drum patterns and a fearsome bassline. Osaka opens with mellow, sultry keys before introducing a wobbling synth and diced up orchestral samples. 4 Da Lyfe is a soulful and slightly more meditative track, with a vocal loop expressing solidarity and self-affirmation. Wildcard feat. Jana Rush, stands alone as the only track without a vocal element, instead utilising a piercing and insistent synth to create a powerful sonic intensity. Overall this is triumphant record, and a worthy successor to the original Tekvision release, proving once again that Traxman is an unrivalled exponent of MPC-driven footwork energy.

Audio coming soon.

1. IT'S LASTING BASS
2. LET ME SEE YOU NAKED [feat. DJ Juicy]
3. WORK DAT MUTHA FUCKA (Footwork Remixx) [feat. Steve Poindexter]
4. TO DA HOZZZZ (Remixx) [feat. DJ Deeon]
5. 4 DA LYFE
6. WILDCARD [feat. Jana Rush]
7. OSAKA

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Traxman - Tekvision Vol. 2 LP

Teklife

£10.50 £7.25 (£8.70 Inc VAT)

Released 16th December 2016

Teklife Records are ready to drop their third release: New Start by Taso. The 7 track LP features collaborations with DJ Rashad & DJ Spinn, Gant-Man, DJ Tre, DJ Manny, DJ Taye and DJ Earl. New Start follows on from a highly coveted vinyl edition, critical acclaim and strong DJ Support for Open Your Eyes by DJ Earl. Once again, the spirit of collaboration is a key element: Teklife is a closely connected group of friends, working together harmoniously, and pushing each other to greater heights and depths through a shared love of footwork music. Smoke Dat Green, Taso’s collaboration with DJ Earl, was featured on Open Your Eyes, and now Taso himself takes centre stage for the next instalment, presenting unreleased classics alongside brand new footwork sounds. An accomplished DJ and MC, Taso frequently appears alongside Spinn at Teklife showcases all over the world. But despite a busy touring schedule, Taso never stops making beats. A multi-instrumentalist with a degree in audio engineering, Taso fuses raw musical talent with technical expertise. Since January this year, he has released an impressive 8 volumes of the Cold Heat EP series, bringing together a whole range of musical styles and moods through his MPC at 160 BPM. This versatility and willingness to draw inspiration from different sources is evident throughout the New Start LP. The title track is sultry and soulful, with Rashad and Spinn’s masterful influence clearly present. Don’t Get Mad provides a stark contrast: a dancefloor-orientated hype track featuring an on point vocal by Gant-Man. Bussin featuring DJ Manny and DJ Tre sounds like a love letter from footwork to jungle music. Over on the flip side, we start off with AM Track: another beautifully crafted classic featuring DJ Rashad and Dj Spinn. In the Green Room featuring Dj Taye is a muscular, speaker-rattling West Coast jam, and Murda Bass takes its cue from golden era UK Dubstep. The heavily - filtered final notes of De Capo Al Coda featuring DJ Earl round off a diverse but consistently high quality outing from Taso and the Teklife family. Message from Taso: “Thank you and much respect for supporting Teklife music. Without you there is no us. This record is dedicated to DJ Rashad and his family.”

Audio coming soon.

1: New Start (Featuring DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, TASO)
2: Don't Get Mad (Featuring GANT-MAN)
3: Bussin (Featuring DJ MANNY, DJ TRE)
4: AM TRACK (Featuring DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn)
5: In The Green Room (Featuring DJ Taye)
6: Murda Bass
7: Da Capo al Coda (Featuring DJ Earl)

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Taso - New Start LP

Teklife

£10.49 (£12.59 Inc VAT)

Teklife Records are excited to announce their second release called : Open your Eyes by DJ Earl. From the opening notes of Smoke that Reggie and throughout the 8 track record, DJ Earl lays down expertly crafted footwork rhythms filled with wavey synths and killer vocal hooks. Every track on Open Your Eyes is a collaboration- as DJ Earl teams up with other Teklife members from his native Chicago and beyond. The cover art has been provided by Shepard Fairey, a long-time friend and mentor of Ashes57. It is an honour to have his iconic Obey artwork adorning a Teklife record. The limited edition vinyl is available to preorder now. Teklife’s debut release, Afterlife, celebrated the life and music of the late, great DJ Rashad. Afterlife received widespread critical acclaim and DJ support from the likes of Gilles Peterson and Kode 9. The first press vinyl sold out in no time, and a second edition is on the way. For Teklife’s follow up release, DJ Earl takes centre stage. A leading figure in the footwork movement, and long time collaborator with DJ Rashad, DJ Earl is a key member of the Teklife family. Open Your Eyes is a brutally strong EP filled with future classics. Moods range from the mellow-toned Smoke That Green feat Taso, to the high octane funk of Let’s Work feat Moondoctor & OPN. It’s hard to pick a stand out track, although Ratchet deserves a special mention for guaranteed dance floor destruction. A special shout out goes to OPN, who worked closely with Earl on this project. Message from Dj Earl: ‘This record took 2 years to complete and a lot of hard work to get right. I hope it gets people excited about the music we are making and about Teklife Records.’