13.10.2009 von mk.

“Dirty soul meets a clean positive groove, ruff with the smoove, dark and light, all the opposites are in harmony: this is the sound of ‘Scrambled Negg’…”
(E.A.S.E., Nightmares On Wax)
Finally Dan Ward aka NEGGHEAD delivers “Scrambled Negg”, a stunning fusion of future bound funk beats and refined stand out tunes way beyond the ordinary…. from a space in time where musicianship meets dj attitude, where the essence of HipHop, Soul and Jazz is (still) what’s making people dance (and smile of course) - and where therefor the beats come a tiny bit larger than usually.

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29.9.2009 von mk.

Who or what is Voom:Voom? Well, that’s easy enough: a basic internet search soon reveals that they are the acclaimed ‘Vienna-Munich Connection’ (Compost-Records.com) of Peter Kruder (he of Kruder & Dorfmeister and Peace Orchestra, and the trio’s Vienna leg) and Christian Prommer and Roland Appel (Trüby Trio and Fauna Flash). The trio’s more recognised monikers are easy to discern: languid, leftfield electronica; jazzy beats; a ray of drum’n'bass; and deep house. But what of VoomVoom? Allmusic.com describes their sound as ‘minimal groove’, The Face said they were ‘banging, and bass heavy’, while the aforementioned Compost website – and it should know a thing or two – says the boys concoct some of the ‘hottest, uplifting grooves’. The much-missed Jockey Slut once described one of their 12-inches thus: ‘The Future Sound Of London getting down and dirty with Dread Flimstone, 4 Hero and the Scissor Sisters. A must have, in short’. DJ Hell described, succinctly, one of their twelves as a ‘superhit’. So what else is there to know? Well, the idea of VoomVoom came into being at the wedding of Compost’s Michael Reinboth in 1998, that much we can tell you. However, their reasons for being are plentiful and depend on who you speak to. According to Christian they are “three lonesome souls, with no friends, who have the same interest in experimental dining”. Peter’s account is a little more prosaic: “We were always talking about our studios, new technology, new ways of producing certain sounds and most of all we enjoyed each other’s company.” What can be said with the utmost confidence, though, are their motivations. Bored of the rigidity of most electronic music, they deigned to create music that was so fantastically free of tired generic definitions, that even those who moderately dipped their toes onto the world’s greatest adult playground – the dancefloor – would find something to get them excited. This broad spectrum takes in techno, house, electro, dirty disco, sweeping orchestral symphonies and even a touch of blissful downtempo. It’s a thrilling, heady, soulful and instinctive mix. Gathering outstanding DJs and producers like Marcus Worgull, Mr. Charles Webster, Henrik Schwarz, Wahoo, Deetron et. al. “Mixes” now presents the best remixes from Voom Voom’s monumental album “Peng Peng” (2006) summing up 10 outstanding tracks for those that know good dance music.

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16.9.2009 von mk.

Pop is not so much a genre but rather a certain sound. Just like a metropolis embraces all the different faces, feelings, views and ways of life of its inhabitants, the memorability and the gloss of the pop-sound are exactly the attributes that merge and weld very diverse contents and styles into one.

In that spirit, Stereoshape’s debut EP on iD.EOLOGY is pop at its very best. Whether their songs tell stories about romantic daydreams, that tingly anticipation of a wild night out, about psychedelic trips through inner and outer realities, the start of a new love or simply about the fascination of a flirt on the dancefloor, it’s always their palatable and polished sound that connects all these themes just as easily as stylistic elements from triphop, funk, blues, electro, lounge and disco.

And since this EP is so urban in function, it’ll work for you just as appropriately in a city mansion loft as in a top-floor club, while chilling out in the park as while being on the subway.

So forget all about genres - this city is all about sound.

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1.9.2009 von mk.

You may know Joakim Bouaziz from his 2007 album Monsters & Silly Songs, a sui generis fusion of disco, post-punk and pop that became something of an instant cult
classic. You may know him for his remixes of artists like Cut Copy, Simian Mobile Disco, Annie, Alter Ego, DJ Mehdi, Royksopp and Poni Hoax. You may know him from
his years behind the scenes at Tigersushi, the iconic Parisian label at the crossroads between post-punk, dance music and the avant-garde. But whatever you think you
know about Joakim, prepare to be very surprised by this, his third studio album “Milky Ways”.
Over the course of a tidy 51 minutes, Joakim and his band mates fold together bits of psychedelia, oldschool computer music, exotica, electro-pop, blues, new wave, New Pop, Krautrock
and more into an expansive, remarkably coherent album that refuses to be reduced to a single genre, much less a single idea. This is no pastiche: these are proper songs,
and the whole album follows the kind of overall arc that’s rare in a contemporary longplayer.

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25.8.2009 von mk.

Rodney Hunter is back – bringing with him an exceptional floorkiller! „Freak On“ adds a new and exciting dimension to the producers unmistakable groove vocabulary, making the track one of his most concise yet danceable releases ever.
Like Rodney Hunter´s last album „Hunterville“ the song „Freak On“ features shooting star Jay Sebag: funk meets soul meets disco in his intoxicating falsetto phrases. The exceptional singer recently caused quite a stir by teaming up with french producer Martin Solveig (Defected Records) on tracks like „Rocking Music“ or „C´est la vie“ (2008).
The maxi also contains two versatile mixes by the Italien/German DJ and producer Jean Claude Ades. Renowned for his combination of classical house beats with eclectic vibes he adds versatility and joyous electro-funk to the mix. Remixing heavyweights like the Pussycat Dolls or Dannii Minogue („I Begin To Wonder“, 2008) his productions not only regularly top international dance charts. He is also in great demand at clubs and festivals like Cocoon, M1, Loveparade, the Heineken Beach Festivals, MTVs Battle of the DJs, Designerama and many more.
Last but not least „Freak On“ is rounded off with a remix by Austrian producer and DJ Parov Stelar. Characterized by the freedom of jazz combined with the groove of house and breakbeats his productions are featured on more than 50 compilations worldwide. His 4 to the floor remix of „Freak On“ combines stomping bass-driven dancefloor- and captivating pop-appeal.

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11.8.2009 von mk.

Ahoi, Erdbewohner!
Die Reise durch den musikalischen Kosmos war lang, nun ist sie da. Junopilot ist gelandet und hat den Junopiloten Sound ausgepackt: kernig-segelnd,  zeitauflösend, perkussiv – und immer beglückend. Die Navigations-Instrumente wurden bereits in den intensiven 70er Jahren des vergangenen Jahrhunderts entwickelt: Hammond-Orgel, Fender-Rhodes, Gitarre, Schlagzeug, Harmonika, eine gut gestimmte Sitar. Und als Highlight das gesamte Babelsberger Filmorchester. Zusammen mit satten Baselines und fluffigen Beats ist die luftig- handgemachte Musik der Hippies im 21. Jahrhundert angekommen.

Wohin führt die Reise der Junopiloten? Zunächst in die Melodie, dieses durch allgegenwärtiges Chippotential oftmals vernachlässigte Land. Wo der Rhythmus trägt, muss die Melodie führen. Sie tut das bei Jojo Büld und Sven Meyer, den beiden Junopiloten. Den Künstlern gelingt der Entwurf entspannter Atmosphären, die sich eben nicht in Beliebigkeit verlieren. Gibt es ihn schon, den Begriff der “durchdachten Jam-Session”? Wenn nicht, dann darf er für Junopilot erfunden werden, denn die Band beherrscht die Kunst, absichtsvolles absichtslos wirken zu lassen.

Das nächste Reiseziel ist der Groove, der Landstrich in Beckennähe. Junopilot knüpft hier mit stilübergreifenden Mitteln einen geschmeidigen Soundteppich, auf dem sich balgen und kuscheln lässt.  Junopilot, das sind Klänge zum Kekse backen – oder auch Liebe machen.

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30.7.2009 von mk.

“Everybody has the right to feel good. And with that in mind, my selection of music sanctions that right. ENJOY & FEEL GOOD!” (E.A.S.E., Nightmares On Wax)

With great pleasure and a wide smile, Stereo Deluxe opens the next chapter in that big and ever expanding book of comfy audio delight, known to many as the well established “Coming Home” series. Following up on seriously personal selections by a.o. Tim Love Lee and Nouvelle Vague, this “Coming Home” volume provides a truly individual choice of stand out tunes selected by George Evelyn aka E.A.S.E., the positive force behind Nightmares On Wax.

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17.7.2009 von mk.

This, the fourth solo album by pro active dj, producer and drummer RAZOOF from Cologne/Germany showcases a nicely balanced blend of analog dub/reggae feel and electronic chillout vibes. Most of the songs on “High Tide, Low Tide“ came about during Razoof’s summer residency at world famous chillout hotspot Blue Bar, located on the lovely island of Formentera. A deep influence on many levels of course…. just like an extensive journey to India did. Long time collaborators like studio cohort Emanuel Geller (of SALZ fame), Solar Moon fellowman TOM DAMS and exceptional vocalist DON ABI contributed to this longplayer just like some gifted folks Razoof met (or re-met) during production of his new album „by accident“: Philly soul diva LADY ALMA (famous for her work with 4hero, King Britt, Zap Mama a.o.), swedish jazz singer SOFIA PETTERSSON, italo-american producer ZEB (playing the Oud), Stockholm based reggae producer legend INTERNAL DREAD alongside vocalist DESMOND FOSTER, german roots reggae star SEBASTIAN STURM… they all left marks on „High Tide, Low Tide“ in their special ways. With this album, Razoof’s passion for all things reggae finally comes full circle… and a big part of that is owed to the band musicians who supported him this time around: bass player Hannes Vesper aka Cyborg Haines (who already provided low frequency backup for legend Lee Perry or german dancehall smartie Nosliw) and guitarist Manougazou (an important force behind OKADA, an experienced reggae outfit backing up acts like Zoe, Maxim and Dubxanne/Police in dub) as well first call instrumentalists like EASY RHODES on keys and ISMAEL DIALLO (saxophone).

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13.7.2009 von mk.

WhoMadeWho are all over the place after the release of their new album THE PLOT on Gomma. Now here comes the second single. KEEP ME IN MY PLANE. A beautiful downtempo disco anthem that brings together everything that the Danish disco trio is about. The remix package includes one of the best remixes London-based Neo Disco Rollers REVERSO 68 from ESKIMO RECORDS ever did. Besides a second remix by Germany’s No 1 Techno Remixer DJ KOZE. His first one for the same song by WhoMadeWho was released on Gomma 128. And last but not least a Remix by THE KDMS which is the new band on Gomma, featuring 21 year old Polish producer genius MAXIMIAN SKIBA and Londons Disco Diva KATHY DIAMOND. Known from her releases on DFA and PERMANENT VACATION. Plus a laid back version by up-and-coming band MODERNAIRE (roXour) ! BIG!

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6.7.2009 von mk.

Zwicker aka Cyril Boehler is a very prolific producer,composer and dj from Zuerich. He is part of the vital Zuerich electronic scene and has been involved in countless productions that received praise from a worldwide audience. After a handful of successful vinyl Zwicker releases on the renownend labels BearFunk, Compost Black Label and Get Physical it was time to refine the warm mixture of mutated Disco, House, Electro and Pop on a full length album. On „Songs Of Lucid Dreamers“ he has found a unique blend that combines electronic styles with songwriting. Guests on the album include: Heidi Happy, Jamie Lloyd, Olivera Stanimirov (ex Seelenluft), Matt Didemus (Junior Boys) and many more.
Sheer bliss of Swiss preciseness and nougat, an anamalgation of electronic pop, ambience and musicality by an artist formerly known as tweak – This album is sublime electronic pop at it’s best!   Quotes on „Songs Of Lucid Dreamers“:

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