LIFE RECORDER Vinyl & CDs

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***


Swiss label Visions Inc returns with The Evolution: Phase Four. On the A side, you've got label chief Alex Attias who appears with the emotive nu-jazz journey 'Magical Feeling' (feat Sohan Wilson) followed by Life Recorder who gets some real proper house vibes happening on 'Eternal Tones 'reaching near spiritual moments. Over on the flip, June Jazzin gets those early noughties UK vibes (think Bugz In The Attic, Kaidi Tatham et al) in effect on 'Sikhanyiso' and Mark E is in fine form as always on the deep contemplation of 'Tracer'.

Review: Swiss label Visions Inc returns with The Evolution: Phase Four. On the A side, you've got label chief Alex Attias who appears with the emotive nu-jazz journey 'Magical Feeling' (feat Sohan Wilson) followed by Life Recorder who gets some real proper house vibes happening on 'Eternal Tones 'reaching near spiritual moments. Over on the flip, June Jazzin gets those early noughties UK vibes (think Bugz In The Attic, Kaidi Tatham et al) in effect on 'Sikhanyiso' and Mark E is in fine form as always on the deep contemplation of 'Tracer'.

Review: Atmospheric Existence is hardly the most prolific label out there, and the fact their releases come around seemingly once a year is made all the more special by just how good they are. Refined Textures Vol 2 is as you might have guessed the second instalment of the label series first introduced early last year, with label boss Miles Sagnia joined by Bittersuite, Life Recorder and Paramartha. It's the Bittersuite duo of Dom Thompson and Jon Gray that set the tone with "Rituals" a expansive experience that draws out widescreen almost cosmic melodic elements over a strident groove, which is complemented by dubbier, stripped down "Better With You" from label debutant Life Recorder, a track that accrues infinite levels of textural detail as it rattles onwards. Sagnia's effort is of course worthy of the "Refined" tag with "Gravitate" framed at a low angle that allows the crisp, playful programming centre place whilst Paramartha ends proceedings on a jittering acid note with the excellent "Sparticus".

Review: Having served for eight years as one of the most dependable outlets for deep, thought provoking house in the UK, Boe Recordings recently announced its plans to shut up shop, and it does so in style. Calling on regular artists as well as fresh talent, it's a perfect swansong that demonstrates just how much quality is to be found in the Boe back catalogue. Leif's "That Ice Cream Tune" is a hypnagogic slice of broken beat, while label boss Ben Boe gets into a dreamy 2-step state of mind. That's just the tip of the iceberg on this flawless double-pack from a label that will be sorely missed.

Review: Life Recorder knows how to get plenty of meaning and character out of the machines he uses to make his classically included house music. He proves that once more with a fresh outing on Vision Recordings that opens with 'Machines In My Head'. It's an unhurried cut with bendy synth lines bringing elastic movement to the rolling drums. 'The Spirit Alive' then rocks back and forth on hefty kicks full of reverb and 'Galaxy' gets more freaky and twitchy with pixelated leads and swathes of crystalline synth washing over the drums. 'The Space Channel' rounds out this most heady and atmospheric of EPs with another balmy mix of cosmic synths and classic four-four drum programming.

Review: Marseille's Life Recorder continues to develop a beauteous sound rooted in the underground European deep house approach. It's no wonder to see him releasing on Bokhari, Soul Print, Hizou Deep Rooted and others, as well as getting a co-sign for Keith Worthy's Aesthetic Audio. He's also been developing his Life Notes label with a project called Motion Process, and now he brings Life Recorder back into the frame with this elegant four-tracker of mellow house immersion. From the swirling pads and crisp beats of 'Sliding Away' to the mystical synth passages of 'That Mantra', this is pristinely executed head-tripping business for those who can't get it deep enough.

Review: Alex Attias' Visions Recordings present the brand new single from Kriss Kortz aka Life Recorder with a killer four tracker. The Marseille-based producer heads up Life Notes Recordings and has released a few great singles on various labels such as Aesthetic Audio and Hizou. Starts off with 'Feel The Glow' which is proper Chicago deep house in the vein on the seminal Prescription Records, then spiritualised drums merge with 303 acid euphoria on 'World Confusion' which rounds up the A side. Flip over and we've got the mesmerising "Lfs' which again unashamedly looks to another of The Windy City's greats in Larry Heard, with its chunky Juno bassline and immaculate drum programming.

Review: Keith Worthy's Aesthetic Audio imprint is always a trusted stable for refined deep house excursions, and France's Life Recorder is a logical addition to the ranks with his delicate, shimmering cuts that positively overflow with nutritious melodies. "Keep Maintain" slyly works some forthright drums into the mix, almost unnoticed for the the narcoleptic pads to intoning a message of ultimate peace. "No Look Back" equally stands out for its sturdy rhythms carefully masked behind winsome daubs of synthesised expression, but it's that hypnotic tone that informs Aesthetic Audio releases and it's found at every turn on this record.

Review: Grounded in Humanity is celebrating their 6th release with trademark sounds from well known French producer Life Recorder.The EP offers 3 original tracks with deep chords and swirling arpeggios from the Frenchman plus a space tech remix from SoulRay and finally an outro from an Unknown source. It is also the 6th chapter of the story behind the label. "Uprising" describes the dramatically evolving situation on planet Earth with the clones starting to rebel against their creators...the future is dark. This limited EP is vinyl-only, strictly no digital.

Review: There's something particularly fitting about the title of Life Recorder's latest 12, his follow-up to the well-received Hope In The Soul EP on Soul Print. As the title suggests, "90 State" sounds like it was heavily influenced by vintage 808 State, and "Pacific State" in particular. The analogue-sounding beats, spine tingling electronics, melodies and wide-eyed chords all recall the rave-era classic, making "90 State" a thoroughly enjoyable, Balearic house gem. The remix package is pretty tasty too. Stojche provides a tougher, kick-heavy techno take - complete with relentless drum machine handclaps and drawn-out cymbals - while Vidinovski opts for a woozier, dreamier deep house feel. Lovely stuff.

Review: Under the name Life Recorder, Marseille-based producer and selector Kriss Kortz has steadily built his profile over the past few years, with some high profile appearances on Aesthetic Audio, Bokhari and Appian Sounds wedged in his discography. The latest Life Recorder transmission comes via Soul Print Recordings, and sees the two original A Side productions complemented by a clutch of Simoncino reworks. Both "Hope In The Soul" and "Night Moves" are redolent of the brand of deep house Kurtz has been developing across his output with the former particularly dreamy. It's "Hope In The Soul" that Simoncino devotes his attention to on the B Side with three differing reworks that climax with the sublime Morning mix.

Review: It's been some 10 months since the last release from the Austere imprint. Here, the label re-boots with a split EP featuring a variety of sinewy deep house gems. There's something particularly delicious about Gradul Lashton's "Summer Solace", a sweet mixture of darting acid lines, jaunty rhythms and dreamy melodies. Fat Dog's "All That I Own" is a fluid, bluesy delight - with a little dubbiness about the drums, naturally - while Life Recorder's "From Above" sounds like a long lost Detroit techno classic - all stargazing pads, intergalactic synth bass and relentless cymbals. Best of all, though, is Arnheim's "Late Night In The Loft", a bittersweet fusion of mournful pianos and shuffling, ultra-deep grooves.

Review: From the label: "First release from a new Chicago label; Sound Reflection Recordings. Boasting 3 deep tracks from Life Recorder, Dcook, & Jose Rico. "

Review: Japan's TH Pressing imprint is hardly prolific, releasing just two 12" singles in its first three years of operation. That said, it rarely fails to impress, with last year's Wishes & Memories Volume 1 being particularly potent. Like its predecessor, this follow-up gathers together tracks from a quartet of producers. Life Recorder begins with the breezy and melodious, Soichi Terada style deep house bliss of "While She Dreams", before Ernie drops some quirky, dubbed-out dancefloor deepness in the shape of "Dynamic Workflow". Over on the flipside, Brad P explores deep space via the Motor City electronics, hypnotic rhythms and acid bass of "Grey Blue Passion", while Takuya Yamashita goes all Global Communication on the sparkling, early '90s ambient business of "Somewhere".

Review: A sixth release from Appian Sounds finds the London based label (with roots in Dublin) continue it's focus on the split artist offerings with the Ervallagh EP featuring contributions from Miltiades, Life Recorder and label regular Natan H. Echovolt boss Ilias Pitsios has gone on record to call Miltiades "probably the best producer from Greece as far as deep house / techno stuff is concerned" and the evidence so far for Nous and Echovolt has backed that up. Here Miltiades offers a further reason to think that with the sublimely deep and rhythmically playful "S48SN" and it's well balanced out by two raw jams from French producer Life Recorder and the sweeping analogue vista of "Giving" by Natan H.

Review: Spanish deep house label Troubled Kids celebrate their 10th release with a various artist EP featuring music from Rush Hour and Neroli act Ricardo Miranda, French producer Life Recorder, Delsin house head Trevor Deep Jr. and label reps Jesus Gonsev & The Troubled Kids Gang. Waves of synths, Chicago bass and snappy snares control Miranda's busy "Polysynthetic Jungle", while The Troubled Kids Gang opt for looped Rhodes and a streamlined arrangement in "Neon Nights". Life Recorder stays deep and piano driven with "Winter Feeling", which transitions into Trevor Deep Jr.'s "T To Da P"; something moodier with a percussive skip. Four solid cuts of deeper, Chicago inspired house.