Blackout Audio/M8 Magazine Reviews November 2005
Here's my reviews for this month! If I've reviewed your track send visuals (300dpi jpg) to gerard@m8magazine.com to make it stand out in the mag - techno needs an identity!!! :) For everyone else - let me know what ya reckon bad or goood ;)
SINGLE OF THE MONTH
Laurent Garnier
‘The Cloud Making Machine (Reworks Vol 1+2)’
(F COMMUNICATIONS)
There is such a wide range of music on these two remix packages, that it really should become mandatory for this to end up in everyone’s collection. Of specific interest to techno freaks on Volume 1 are the Slam mix, a Smith and Selway epic and DJ OS’s Davis’ weird but breaktaking trip into a majestic circle of brand new emotions. Volume 2 focuses entirely on the techno genre, but there really isn’t’ much more to be said than stop moaning and buy it the damn thing. C2 and Alex Attias both deliver timeless mixes that will stand up to be counted in years to come. Essential. M8/M8
ALBUM OF THE MONTH:
Slam
‘Nightdrive’
(RESIST)
CD1 from this double CD has come out of the car only once this month - and that was only for a kiss and to rub it quickly against my crotch area. I’ve been a fan of the Slam boys since they began, but this twenty-track education is leagues above anything they’ve done before – taking minimalism out of the techno ballpark and giving it a unique and desperately fresh identity. Every track blends seamlessly into the next, but what is most impressive is the actual music itself – sequencing techniques and sound-collages that you quite simply haven’t heard before. I heard the new Richie Hawtin album the same week as this and to be quite honest, it didn’t even come close. Move over Hawtin – the boys from Scotland are taking over. M8/M8
The Mantis
‘Kool and Deadly’
(HEROES INTERNATIONAL)
The glory days of Fred are back with this three-track club anthem from Cari Lekebusch. This EP kicks off with ‘Zombiefier’, a truly masterful work that shows just how much of a genius the original Swedish master is. ‘Nightvision’ is a midnight shuffler of classic proportions but just wait until the needle hits the third track! ‘Bootwerk’ quite literally has the dance floor up in smoke and once you hear the electro sample you will know why! M8/M8
DJ Ladida
‘Slave 2 Rhythm’
(POTENTIAL)
DJ Ladida from the Czech Republic was originally know for her modeling and booty flashing skills, but since then has moved onto bigger and better things (ie Techno). This release from her on the Space Djz’s Potential imprint is typical of her sound and it fits somewhere between Preach and Corola. The bassline on the original mix of this is huge, capturing a dark mechanical feel that dances around obtrusively in front of you. Jamie Bissmire and Ben Long complete the experience with two great remixes on the B-side. M6/M8
Glenn Wilson
‘1st Emotion’
(AUDIO EMOTIONS)
Wilson’s sound has undergone many changes in the last few years, mutating through dark LSD ridden filth to techno party central, but now we have yet another side to his schizophrenic personality with this three tracker on the brand new Audio Emotions label. The production here is absolutely first class, especially on the main A-side track, but it’s the awesome injection of funk that shines through – check the sharp ear piercing stabs on the B1 track ‘Metal’. Finally you’re blessed with a remix from techno legend Cari Lekebusch. Big recommendation. M8/M8
Unknown
‘Vol 10’
(FRESH GRIND)
Fresh Grind, the label with that mysteriously sexy watermark on its plastic, brings you a delicious kick driven monster that stands out like a pair of breasts waving in the wind – all pert and erect, majestically slapping themselves up and down your cheeks, side to side and then in a quaint little circular motion. Even then, the pert round center gingerly licks you all over and you’re soon dreaming of late nights out with a milkman and ladies from the Playboy Channel. M8/M8
Celtec Twinz
‘We Were Kingz EP’
(ADVANCED)
Four tracks on this one, the A-side sporting two mixes of the title track and the B-side featuring a Patrick Skoog mix of ‘Celtronica’ – the original being a tribal synth workout that sounds great at the beginning of a set The A-side is tribal but more loopy-club orientated that the B. Advanced have been coming up with some crackers of late and this is one that needs to be given the once over. M6/M8
Various
‘East Side West Side EP’
(GLITCH)
Alex Calver is showing himself to be one of the finest new talents in the Robert Natus/Pet Duo school of hard, nastily distorted techno. UK based Calver has been running the Glitch label for a while now but this four tracker is one of their best releases – easily matching anything coming out of the hammering noise heaven that is Germany. All tracks are remarkably well produced and if you’re in the habit of sniffing eighty year old knickers, you’re gonna be up all night with this. M7/M8
Mike Humphries
‘Back To Floor’
(PUNISH)
Incredible release from Leeds based techno pioneer Mike Humphries, giving three potential A-side tracks all on one EP. It’s not often releases like this come along, so when they do you’ve got to prepare yourself. As if the tribal A-side workout didn’t have a big enough bassline, up creeps the old school sound on the B1 tracks and you’re left pretty lost for words. It’s when the bassline on the B2 places your head in a food processor and throws a couple of horses into the equation that you really need to be calling someone. M8/M8
Various
‘Vol 3’
(MORE PUNK THAN FUNK)
Here’s a label all the acid techno freaks need to be searching for. It’s quite incredible how a label that is only up to its third release can be capable of such ‘un’ pleasantries. Turning itself into a rabid Porsche 911 that’s just had an affair with a Robin Reliant, this is one hell of an EP. . Zoid’s A side track is the real boggler, but give the EP a chance and Rhythm Logistics also sticks his fingers in the pie with a totally disgusting bass synth. Watch out for these guys. M6/M8
Spare Time
‘Lazy’
(FACTOR CITY)
Wicked new product from Barcelona based label Factor City. Space Time is a collaboration between MouseUp and Undo – aiming straight for the eyes with this no-nonsense minimal tech-punk club rocker. F Communication’s Agoria take up remix duties on the A-side but although this remix is more home listening/chill-out material – you’re still in possession of one highly sought after release. M6/M8
Add Noise
‘Citronella’
(EARSUGAR BEATBOX)
Out last month but missing inclusion in this review page, ‘Citronella’ grows on you like a spotty teenagers old stool sample. It soon becomes apparent that this is techno minimalism at its best, taking influence from a massive range of sources that will have you hooked from the word go. There’s plenty to listen to here. You need to be playing this from start to finish - with the door firmly shut and the phone off the hook - to truly understand the enormity of the situation. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. M7/M8
Various
‘Battlefields EP’
(AUDIO ASSAULT)
Riotbot provides the A-side here - but my god what is this on the B-side? Entitled ‘Kandies’ you get something similar to the Aphex Twin’s historic Selected Ambient Works album but with some unexplained techno percussion going on in the foreground. It’s melodies like this that sets some techno apart from the rest and with this track being produced by little known artists Rumenige featuring Loktibrada, you can bet this is one interesting release for techno music. M7/M8
Various
‘Mentiras EP’
(AUDIO ASSAULT)
The various EP’s that have been raising heads on Audio Assault recently are such value for money. This release features three great tracks from Oliver Giacomotto and a remix from Bas Mooy and Vincent De Wit. Oliver uses some demented resonated sound on the first of his tracks, which is all worked beautifully over a clubby techno percussion track until the break really does give this one a huge dancefloor lift. De Wit and Mooy outdo themselves on the B-side with a rolling Spanish sounding number. Brilliant stuff. M7/M8
Glenn Wilson and Wetworks
‘Electric Blue 2’
(PUNISH BLUE)
Only the second release to happen on Punish’s sister label Punish Blue and it’s simply a gruesome accident just waiting to happen. Glenn takes the reigns on the A-side - a peak time party number instructing you to ‘lick his pussy and his crack’. Not one to refuse the offer of some cool love lotion, you need to be directly in the path of the bins to fully appreciate what’s going on here. Flip over and you have immense new New York production talent Wetworks smearing some doubled up kick drum action all over your ass. You won’t be sitting down for at least a month. M7/M8
