FRIDAY FLAVOURS. WAZE&ODYSSEY, FLASHMOB, ALEX COULTON

Flashmob featuring Laila Walker - Pieces (Garage Mix)

>>>Deep houser's Flashmob inject a bit of acid into their latest release on defected.  Out Feb 18th.

Waze & Odyssey - Found the Rhythm

>>>New Waze E.P due on MadTech records on Feb 25th.  The highlight has to be this huge bumpin' 90s house track; you never quite know where it's going to drop.

Alex Coulton - Adventures in 4x4

Adventures in 4x4.  Expertly produced by Hypercolour's Alex Coulton.  Currently a vinyl only release, the first track is deep, techno-rave, with magical chord layering.  The rest of the E.P takes things even more adventurous with shuffling, garage beats on Fade Realization, mechanical party chords on Function, and deep tones on Submerged.  Great package.

FCL - IT'S YOU (SAN SODA'S PANORAMA BAR ACCA VERSION

FCL are releasing the massive It's You, one of the biggest underground tracks of 2012, digitally on DEFECTED in February.  There will also be a re-release on vinyl.  The first run of 100 vinyls sold out in no time and are now fetching stupid money on Discgogs.  Therefore this jaw-dropping version from San Soda is getting a digital release complete with FURTHER remixes.  DJ Red D, the man behind quality house label We Play House Recordings has let it be known on his blog that the remixes will only be from house producers who have the quality to be on the release,

As part of this licence the track will be remixed by some people who we regard as some of the best house producers in the history of this music, and it has been decided that there will never ever be an official vinyl re-release of this one, that was a very important condition for us. Sorry for those who missed it the first time around. :-p

 



 



FREE DOWNLOADS

MIKKY EKKO - Pull Me Down (T WILLIAMS remix)

T Williams here, with a heavy garage remix of, Louisiana singer-songwriter, Mikky Ekko's 2012 track.

RACKNRUIN - Mark Two

Black Butter Records have just uploaded a heap of tracks, all in one place, on soundcloud.  A lot of the tracks are FREE.  Check out the sound of Black Butter here.  A favourite out of the batch is Mark Two from RacknRuin,a deep house cut from the jungle producer.  Although different to his older Zinc-ish, nu-jungle releases, Mark Two still brings a big bassy swagger.

FRANCO & SALLA - SECRETS

It's a new year, I'm full of cold and angry that I have to do something as proposterous as WORK. What I really need is something gentle and gorgeous to caress my ears. This mid-paced, melodic disco-driven track from Brazilian duo Franco and Salla hits all the right notes. I really liked their previous track, Emotion, also out on deep house label Erase Records. 

WHEEZ-IE FREE XMAS E.P

Happy Holidays 2012 <3 Wheez-ie (FREE EP)

Wheez-ie are breakbeat maestros, and have dropped this festive bootleg.  Is there anything better than a festive bootleg?  I'm not sure I can think of anything.  The second track is a hoover-fest.  Let's get in the spirit and, for Santa's sake, download this now for FREE!
Happy Holidays 2012 <3 Wheez-ie (FREE EP) by Wheez-ie

TRACKS OF THE YEAR 2012

1. HUXLEY - Let It Go

Released 13th February.  Hypercolour.

 

There's a lot to be said about simplicity in dance music.  On Let It Go, Huxley starts with a rolling, garage infused beat, a looped Boys2Men vocal (Huxley speeds up the Rn'B groups track, Can't Let Her Go) and a stunningly simple, yet staggeringly effective bassline.  It's when Huxley throws in a dual bassline, a joyous melodic synthy stab, on top of the deep groove that the track becomes magic.  The soulful vocal has a hypnotising effect; it's ridiculously catchy, yet effortlessly cool. I've read that this track was too commercial for some, but for me it should have crossed over even more so.  This is where British house music was in 2012 and, for me, this track wasn't topped.  Jus sayin'.

 

 

2. BARESKIN - Eyes

Released 22nd October. Hypercolour.

 

Another Hypercolour highlight from young producer, Joshua Thompson who produced a touch of techno-bass magic with Eyes.  The track has an acid bassline which toys with you for a while before dropping a sleek, melodic vocal.  It's a solid house shuffle, but it also fuses in some dark techno vibes.  A young talent to watch for 2013.

 

3. JULIO BASHMORE - Au Seve

Released 1st July. Broadwalk Records.

Au Seve is a track that did a fair bit of crossing over;  the hi-hat shuffle is instantly recognisable and enough in itself to induce pandemonium on the dancefloor.  There's an echo in parts of the track that sound so spaced out and distant, as if someone was shaking a snare drum in the background, yet the groove is so simple and fun, it sounds warm and loved up.  What a tune.

4. DRUMS OF DEATH - Let No Shadow Fall Upon You

Released 15th June.  Civil Music.





Old school vocal.  Breakbeats.  Piano Stabs.  Huge punishing techno thrown in for good measure?  Yeah, why the fuck not?  Here's to Drums of Death for producing a track that ticks all my boxes.  As does the ghoulish one's Blue Waves EP, which is pure throwback HEAVEN.

Blue Waves EP

5.  JUSTIN MARTIN VS. PILLOWTALK - The Gurner

Released 22nd May.  Dirtybird

Although The Gurner has had some quality re-works on the Ghettos and Gardens remix packages, it's still the original that does the business.  Deep, funky, senusal and soulful; this is a highlight from the album, and a really great song!



6.  Jessie Ware -110%
7. Mosca - Eva Mendes
8. Ejeca - Horizon
9. Breach - You Won't Find Love Again
10. Blawan - Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage?

TOP REMIXES OF 2012

2012 has had some serious tunes and some seriously exciting producers coming to the forefront.  I've particularly enjoyed the British contingent; producers like Huxley and Julio Bashmore and labels like Hypercolour and Wolf Music have crossed over and brought the British bass scene to new listeners.  I'm throwing in a few end of year lists throughout the month, which highlight the tracks I couldn't get enough of this year. 

 

TOP 5 REMIXES

1.  STORM QUEEN - Look Right Through (MK DON'T TALK TO ME DUB) Released - February
Quite simply, a TUNE. Released on Defected at the start of the year, MK worked his magic and produced his best work of the year IMO.  Old school, distinctive, and classy.  MK is the house master.


2. Jessie Ware - Running (DISCLOSURE REMIX)  Released - April
A massive remix that made 2012 Disclosure's year.  Uplifting and unique; the throwback chords and funked up rhythm make the track impossible not to enjoy. 


3. Maxxi Soundsystem - Stella's Way (HUXLEY REMIX)  Released - October
A bad-ass descending bass-line, subtle chords and a touch of class from Huxley.



4. JUSTIN MARTIN - Don't Go (DUSKY REMIX) Released - October
Dusky transforms the delicate, twinkly original with a deep, pulsating bass-line that fuses house and garage to maximum affect.

5.  JESSIE WARE - No To Love (GEORGE FITZGERALD MIX)
Released - November
Driving, peak time techno tinged bomb

Runner's Up

Lana Del Ray - Video Games (Joy Orbison Remix)
Kim-Ann Foxman - Return It (Populette Remix)

Shenoda - Moments (Huxley Remix)

Justin Martin - Ghetto's and Gardens (Bachelors of Science D&B Remix)
Justin Martin/Leroy Peppers - Riding Spaceships (Shadow Child 'In Search of 94' Mix)
Lana Del Ray - Ride (Photek Remix)