Juno Minimal 35 bridges the gap between this week’s minimal house and techno releases, with Parisian trio dOP featuring alongside Oliver Ho (aka Raudive) and Berghain resident Marcel Dettmann.
A staple on the Cologne scene, Jens-Uwe Beyer, AKA Popnoname has released two acclaimed full length albums on Italic, worked on the Sound of Cologne project and recently collaborated with Can percussionist Jaki Liebezeit. Now, following a string of contributions for Kompakt’s Pop Ambient series, he joins Kompakt Pop to unveil his latest work to the masses.
His original version of the track is an epic sounding piece of electro house that is loaded with Beyer’s pop credentials. Somewhere between the traditional sound of Kompakt and 80s pop from the likes of Pet Shop Boys, “Hello Gorgeous” has a classic shine. The tight drums, clean bass and shaking percussion is all brought together harmoniously by Beyer’s strong vocal performance. Later in the track, the dance vibe starts to filter through as xylophone melodies begin to fuse with trance-style pads. Preceding the original however, are two dance remixes that signal Popnoname’s intent from the off.
Opening with a rework from veterans Terranova, “Hello Gorgeous ” is turned into a streamlined, functional club track. Swirling synth arpeggios unload over a jacking house groove in this killer remix. Popnoname’s own “Le Klub Mix” keeps more in line with the original, however all but drops the vocals in favour for more trance and techno styled elements.
Review: Tom Jones
   |
An established artist on the mighty Poker Flat imprint, David Durango heads up their next digital release with the hypnotic and driving two tracker, Celia.
Entirely dedicated to his music, Durango worked solely as a producer for much of his career, making records for Label and Net Label. However, recent years have seen him step out into the light as a DJ too. Some stellar live sets have now garnered him a reputation as one of Switzerland’s premier DJ/producers. Living up to that reputation, he has been riding a wave of success recently with releases on Poker Flat and UK based imprint, NRK.
The opening track, “Give Me Up” moves seductively around a hypnotic backbone built from micro synth dabbling and jacking percussion. Loaded with a wonky funkiness, moments of trickling madness press up against the track’s pushing vibe. Its evil twin, “Celia” keeps up the hypnotic feel, taking the listener on a twisting journey courtesy of its arpeggiated synth core wrapped around darts of vintage synths. It sounds like a storm building with energy as its swirls around the track, sweeping everything along with it.
Review: Tom Jones
   |
Artist: Unknown
Title: The Freeze
Label: Unknown/White Label
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Limited 12″
Buy From: Juno Records
A (semi) mysterious US import that landed on our doorsteps last week. We’ve been sworn to secrecy on this one, but we can give you a hint or two: the producer of this record runs one of the most prominent underground labels in the US and regularly plays at European clubbing hotspots ala Panorama Bar. Indeed, you could almost say this EP was made with the upstairs house sanctuary at Berlin’s most famous club in mind – “The Freeze” is chock full of that stripped back, Levon Vincent-esque house sound that you’ll often hear belting out of the Panorama speakers at silly o’clock.
On the flip, “The Melt Down” is a siren-led chugger that offers a perfect reprise to the opener, in both name and sound. A more subtle effort, a swirling synth line and shuffling percussion form a backdrop to the throbbing bassline. This is the kind of music that needs to be heard on a big system to be truly appreciated.
Review: Aaron Coultate
|
Artist: Phil Kieran
Title: Shh Remixes
Label: Cocoon
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Phil Kieran returns to Cocoon with an EP of remixes from his Shh album of last year. Featuring reworks from Pan-Pot, Egbert and Patrick Kunkel amongst others, the EP takes on six tracks off the album, delivering new versions for 2010.
Having previously flexed his more minimal tech house muscles on two singles for the Frankfurt based label, Kieran unleashed his eponymous album in September of last year. Shh was a particularly broad minded affair that showcased his diverse set of influences, earning the accomplished Irishman much praise. Now, Cocoon delve back into the album with a clutch of excellent and equally diverse remixes.
Pan-Pot, the Berlin based duo who have also released on Mobilee and SCI + TEC, open the EP with a reductionist rework of “Blood of Barcelona”. It has a subsonic feel, with deep synth stabs piercing through a simple yet bouncy bassline. Ingo Boss also take on the same song at the end of the EP, instead turning it into a pumping club track. The strong beat leads the way as glitch tech FX play out the rest of the track. In between, rising Dutch talent Egbert morphs a hypnotic bassline into a beautiful and uplifting dub track on his remix of “Never Ending Mountain” before Patrick Kunkel turns the same track into a pumping hybrid of techno and dub that somehow keeps the harmonic feel of the original. Matador exercises a minimal wig out on “Dirt” and Kevin Gorman gets things dark, pumping and irresistibly groovy on “Playing With Shadows.”
Phil Kieran’s original album showed just how versatile and diverse techno can be today. Fittingly then, this remix EP goes on to show even more imagination and creativity, throwing off the shackles of functional techno and exploring the genre’s musicality to the max.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Bodycode, Jerome Sydenham, Scuba (donning his SCB hat) and more feature in the latest minimal podcast from Juno Download.
Artist: Steve Bug
Title: Flight 111
Label: Poker Flat
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Steve Bug’s unshakably individual imprint, Poker Flat reaches its one hundred and eleventh release with a concise yet masterfully produced two tracker from the boss himself. The aptly named “Flight 111” takes in the usual Steve Bug ethos that less is more, spawning two dark and enveloping house tracks that build from unassuming positions into club killers.
“Metro Alpin” kicks things off in a haunting and moody fashion. It evolves from a firm analogue base, but manages to build itself up through a groove of intertwined acid tweaks and smooth phasing chords. The reduced levels are worked so skilfully that it actually gives the track a driving, techy feel. It’s deep, but still driving at the same time much like the sound of early Detroit that Bug clearly has an interest in. The track also has an intensely hypnotic feel, spellbinding the listener in a myriad of tech sounds and cushioned glitch.
On the flip, “Outside Inn” keeps it atmospheric and moody but adds more funk courtesy of a punchy bassline. With more of a raw sound than the a-side, the beat is kept simple whilst tense and rising synth lines that intercept one another provide the intricacy that demands the listener’s attention.
Again, Bug has been able to build with subtlety here, making it even more captivating when it drops in the later stages. At a time when percussive house tracks are all the rage, the unique German drops a brace of accomplished reduced yet highly hypnotic, techy tracks, proving not only that Steve Bug is a true individual but also that his production skills are second to none. As he constantly reminds us, “music is about passion, not fashion.”
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Till Von Sein
Title: Sundowna
Label: Supplement Facts
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Guy Gerber’s Supplement Facts imprint reaches it twentieth release by welcoming the fast rising Till Von Sein into the family. The German producer has made a string of impressive releases over the last few years but the warm and summery, groove based “Sundowna” looks set to finally demand the attention that his productions deserve.
The release opens with the playful, yet deep and groovy original version by Von Sein himself. An array of drums, shuffling chords and sweeping pads join the child-like vocals to add the fun whereas the deep rumbling bass and warm synth parts bring the sexier element to the track. Supplement Facts combine the old and the new for the first of three remixes by asking label hero Dyed Soundorom to join label newcomer Shonky to rework the track. The result is a more club orientated version which immediately finds the swing of Shonky’s signature sound but merges it with the rumbling basslines of Dyed Soundorom. The remix continues to builds throughout the constant groove until chords and filtered pads crash into the mix at once, creating the perfect club moment.
New York legend Joeski is up next, assuming a classic NYC house groove by stripping down the percussion and stepping up the 4/4s. Enchanting key motifs complete the cultured and easy feel of the excellent remix. Londoners Layo & Bushwacka! draw the package to an end with a looptastic stomper. A simple and driving relentless bassline rumbles below tribal percussion and high end wild sounding effects, adding another dimension to the EP.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Show B/Various
Title: Compost Black Label Series Volume 4
Label: Compost
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Compost Black Label, Compost’s house and tech house sub-label release the fourth volume in its mix series. Again compiled and mixed by one of the imprint’s newest acts, Volume 4 aims to represent the sound of the label right now. This time, rising star Show B is on hand to guide us through the sounds and moods of the Compost Black Label Series via 16 tracks that feature the likes of Peter Kruder, Solomun, Tiefschwarz and Jay Shepheard.
Mathias Shober, known to you and me as Harry Klein resident Show B, only made his debut last year but has quickly forged a sound that has won him favour amongst DJs, clubbers and the press alike. The perfect man to take us on this journey of the label, he currently runs the weekly Compost Black Label Sessions radio show with Thomas Herb. His skills as a DJ are well known too, but he kicks off this compilation with an exclusive of his new track, “Jammin.” It sets the record away with some slow, deep and groovy house music before Jay Shepheard takes us into a more reflective and emotive mood with his remix of “Merging.” Solomun hits a vintage sound with his glimmering “Somebody’s Story,” Afrilounge find a delightfully dubby sentiment on their remix of Shahrokh Sound Of K’s “Letting You Go” and sheer club moments come from Peter Kruder’s “Before Night Falls,” Roberto Rodriguez’s deep epic “Too Late” and Tiefschwarz’s remix of Turntablerocker.
This instalment of the series showcases the label’s sound through one of its most promising producers. From moody, late night house, funky percussion, jacking beats, jazzy chords and deep bass, Show B captures the colour, soul and depth that the Berlin label has typified since its conception.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Various
Title: Dessous Best Kept Secrets Volume 2
Label: Dessous
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: CD, 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records (CD, 12″ Sampler), Juno Download
Steve Bug’s Dessous imprint is one of the best and most consistent deep house and minimal labels going. On Dessous Best Kept Secrets Volume 2, the follow up to 2007’s first instalment, they prove it yet again with a compilation that charts both the current and future sound of the label. Full of emotion, warmth and soul, the release serves as a true indication of the label’s ethos as a whole and leaves a lasting impression on the listener.
David Durango has been making impressive appearances on Dessous and Poker Flat of late. So much so that the young half Swiss, half Spanish producer was chosen to open this compilation with the first of his three offerings on the release. “Juegos Fantasiticos” opens proceedings with some warm, deep house that sounds as comfortable as it does laid back. “Striptease” showcases Durango’s more upbeat side before “Human” delves into a minimal aesthetic courtesy of deft high end percussion, low bass squeezes and acute phaser work.
Alongside smooth, chord-laden house like “Le Groove Rhodes” from Rene Breithbarth and Claire Ripley’s “Labyrinth” we get the techno influenced twisted synths of Moodymanc’s “Omlette” and the darker more driving sound of “Merise” by Andrade. “New Road FM” by Burnski brings the groove with some cosmic, jacking twists and Graeme Park closes the release with his slo-mo house remix of Ryo Murakami’s “Just For This”.
Dessous Best Kept Secrets Volume 2 takes you on a delightfully soulful and rhythmic journey of their label. Although the compilation never strays too far away from their signature sound nor breaks any new barriers, it does an expert job of bringing you the vintage and emotive deep house that has made the imprint so special in the first place.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Having recently juggled a degree at UCL alongside his production career, one can only admire Max Cooper’s dedication to his music. Making subtle experimental electronic sounds with a dark atmosphere often accompanied with breathtaking breakdowns, he has earned DJ slots across the UK playing at nights like Fabric’s Wet Yourself and releasing on Traum and Tim Sheridan’s Veryverywrongindeed. We spoke to Max about juggling study and music, his dream collaboration and golden waterfalls.
Artist: Various
Title: 2010
Label: Dial
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: CD, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Hamburg based label Dial Records shot to fame in the second half of the 00s with their high brow approach to deep, minimal house and techno. Founded in 2000, they now celebrate their tenth birthday with a new compilation featuring all their usual suspects, aptly titled 2010.
Set up at the turn of the millennium by Carsten Jost and Peter M, better known as Lawrence, Dial remained largely unnoticed at first. It was only the last five or so years that the imprint famed for its sophisticated and emotionally evocative style of deep and minimal house came to the wider attention. Releases such as Efdemin’s “Bergwein” EP and Pantha Du Prince “This Bliss” have garnered them the most attention leading up to today’s celebratory compilation. But rather than just collecting the finest moments from those ten years, such is Dial’s ethos, they celebrate with entirely new material, including previously unreleased tracks from the likes of Rndm, Pigon and John Roberts.
Opening the compilation in typically refined style, Phantom Ghost embark on a fittingly theatrical ode to the pleasures of the highlife with the twilight keys of “My Secret Europe”. Cultivated 4/4s then take over, starting with John Roberts who brings a classical element into the mix on “Lines”. Efdemin explores sensuously deep tribalism on “Time,” whereas Kassian Troyer uses layers of sub bass on “Tourist” to get into the groove. Isolée makes a rare appearance with some trippier house moments on “Black Lodge” before Pigon take it unfeasibly deep on “Koto”. One of the label’s starlets, Pantha Du Prince, adds one of the highlights of the release with the enveloping masterpiece of “Fountain Drive”.
Dial celebrate their tenth year, and twentieth release, the only way they know how – with a selection of tracks that look unreservedly forward, proving their need to do more than simply sit back on their previous successes. We’re already looking forward to their 2020 compilation.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Tiefschwarz feat Cassy
Title: Find Me
Label: Souvenir
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Tiefschwarz issue the first single to come off their forthcoming album on their own Souvenir imprint. Featuring Berlin based techno luminary Cassy, the inimitable “Find Me” comes in both original and dub version.
The German duo will release their third studio album, Chocolate later this year. Mapping the development of their experiences of the last few years, the album takes on an innovative new sound aesthetic that displays more diversity than we have seen before from the two brothers.
They waste no time on “Find Me,” launching straight into distorted FX that make way for strutting drum patterns and rolling basslines. The groove lays down the track’s momentum, sweeping the listener away of their feet. Dark and disturbing jazz keys add character but the groove is quick to swing back in place and remove any sinister feeling.
Panorama Bar resident Cassy features, peppering her influence all over the track. Her most notable inclusion however comes on the echoed, Diva-esque vocal, the likes of which appeared on her latest In The Mix compilation for Cocoon. ‘Find Me, Love Me, Hold Me Tight, Show Me, Teach Me, Everything Alright’ turns this chugger into a complete song, as good for the dancefloor as it is on your home stereo. The dub version strips the original back, allowing the bass to drive things forward. High end sounds shake and rattle over the top, creating a unique atmosphere that matches the individuality of the original.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Gadi Mizrahi
Title: Can’t Stop This Feeling
Label: Simple
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: 12″
Buy From: Juno Records
Dare we say it, this appears to be Mizrahi’s best work yet. With a past of sultry house tracks on the likes of his own imprint Wolf + Lamb to Matthew Dear’s Spectral Sound, it seems he has surpassed them all with this 4-track wonder on Simple Records. Smooth house beats and flowing rhythms are layered with classic house vocals and groovey basslines.
Whilst the remix from Detroit resident Lee Curtiss on the title track actually slows it down a notch and adds extra intertwining vocals, the original slaves away with a melodic and soulful lead alongside subtle, almost tribal drums with a careful progression that doesn’t enter full swing until the halfway point well worth waiting for.
“Who’s Gonna Love Me Tonight” starts off all minimal with off claps like clockwork until a heavy kick and a wonderfully funky vocal and keys combination comes in, changing the pace to a romantically groove-filled piece. Finally, “Sideshow” is the most pared-down of the lot with whirring backgrounds and simple percussive effects.
Review: Flora Wong
|
Artist: Bea Tricks
Title: Be At Risk
Label: Wagon Repair Canada
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Canadian techno luminaries Wagon Repair release the debut EP from Bea Tricks. Representing an amalgamation of varying styles and Genres, the four tracks on the “Be At Risk” EP gives a true flavour of the essence of Bea Tricks. Created by Bea Tricks and beatboxer/producer Beatmaster G, “Be At Risk” was produced using state of the art studio equipment up in the hills of Ibiza. It hints at the varying influences of the duo, drawing on electro, pop, rock, hip-hop, techno, dub and old school on just the one EP. There are heaps of vocals in there too, coming loaded with potent political and ethical thought in the same vein as Green Velvet or Slam’s Year Zero.
The lyrics in “El Mansaje” detail the journey of a character the duo made up who travels through dimensions to alert different civilisations about the need to make the transition into the next phase. At a time when the end of the world is often discussed, they believe in the knowledge transmitted by lost civilisations about mankind renewing themselves rather than ending. “Melting Dancing” is less thought provoking, instead opting for some up front house music accompanied only by the titled vocal. Its chunky sound and bouncing bassline make it one to dance to rather than contemplate. “Pipstrello” turns proceedings into darker territory, utilising sinister synths, wailing FX and rumbling basslines. The angst ridden vocal adds to the feel throughout the track before “Contravention” steers us back towards old school dance music with some squelchy bass and a driving 4/4 beat.
The production duo are keen to let the listener make their own interpretations of the music. As such there are bound to be as many different understandings of this EP as there are musical styles within it. It’s up to you now to go out, get this one and make your own mind up!
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Eva Be
Title: New Crack
Label: Best Works Germany
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Andre Lodemann’s Best Works imprint launch their 2010 schedule with an expertly crafted three tracker from Berliner Eva Be. “New Crack” combines an electronic dub driven bass sound with classic old-school house influences in an EP that displays her undeniable production talents.
No novice to electronic music, Eva Be is building on the success of her “Trippin With Eva Be” EP in addition to her Moving Without Travelling long player which came out two years ago on Jazzanova’s Sonar Kollectiv. “New Crack” is the continuation of her sound as she moves further towards her reggae-dub influences.
The title track showcases her widely appealing sound in a funky and squelchy, electro-warped dub track. Melodic synth stabs pour out on top of funky bass, a 4/4 beat and a multitude of pads and claps. She keeps it deep, never letting the sound get too heavy and keeps a lighter feel with quirky sound samples. Dutchman Darko Esser delivers a more dramatic, crystalline twist with his more intricate remix. Toning down the energetic synths of the original, he creates a more ambient and atmospheric sound than Eva Be’s work, balancing the EP to perfection. Label boss Andre Lodemann is up next with his previously unreleased remix of Eva Be’s “She Walks Alone.” Taking the track into the sounds of deep house he reduces Pegah Ferydoni’s vocal to just the occasional exclamation of “so right and so wrong” and then adds a disco-dub glaze, giving the remix a real lounge feel.
The “New Crack” EP is a tight package of sophisticated house music from a producer that is very accomplished at showcasing the variety of her musical influences out in one track. We can only hope that another Eva Be release will be on its way soon.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Donnacha Costello
Title: Before We Say Goodbye
Label: Poker Flat Germany
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Title: Before We Say Goodbye
Label: Poker Flat Germany
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Only his third LP in an established career that spans nearly a decade and a half, Before We Say Goodbye is Irishman Donnacha Costello’s latest album that deals with the topic of techno in his own unique and beautiful way. Released on Steve Bug’s Berlin based label Poker Flat, the album proves that techno music can harbour the skill, emotion and diversity that is so often missing within it.
Much like his 2001 masterpiece Together Is the New Alone, this LP taps into an ambient texture, but builds it with techno rhythms and pulsations. By keeping his club sentiment at bay, Costello delivers a subtle album that flows with the kind of natural current that is often lost within techno productions. Weaving in and out of styles, up and down tempo ranges, the LP is expertly crafted to take you on a journey that ebbs and flows with purpose. From the deep and melancholic but groovy slow burners such as “Leaving Berlin” and “A Warm Embrace” that set the LP off, Costello moves into an old school mood on “It’s What We Do” before hitting his stride with the more up tempo offerings of “No-One Is Watching” and the onomatopoeic “Roll It Out.”
On the second half of the album he winds things down with tracks like “With Me Still,” “Stretching Time,” the mournfully melodic “The Tug” and the beautiful “Last Train Home” which finishes the LP off in aptly reflective mood. Such is the musicality of Before We Say Goodbye that it feels like an album crafted outside of techno and underground dance, but at the same time using the sounds and the flavours of the genre to redefine the way we view ambient techno in the UK.
Review: Tom Jones
|
Artist: Martin Landsky
Title: Werkschau
Label: Poker Flat Germany
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
After recently releasing a teaser EP for Werkschau, the full album is finally here and ready to roll. German producer and DJ Landsky has been through many different styles in his time, but today he’s a firm favourite on the Poker Flat label, and this album acts as a compilation of all his best work so far.
Probably his most well-known tune, “1000 Miles”, gets an overhaul, appearing here as “2000 Miles”. It becomes a more pacey affair with more punch in the bottom end, and more squelchy synths on top, altogether bigger than the original. Elsewhere his mix of Detroit Grand Pubah’s “Surrender” is a real winner, layering the laconic spoken-word acapella over some deep and beautiful minimal grooves. There’s more funky action on his mix of SoopaFi’s “Talkin’ Large”, as well as some fresh percussion on the dubiously titled “Mission Upskirt”. But mostly though, Landsky lays on superior deep techno by the pound on Werkschau. “FM Safari” is a hypnotic and brain-melting delight, while “Monitor One” is a shape-shifting essential which could work in any number of DJ sets. Well worth getting up to date with Martin Landsky’s work so far.
Review: Oliver Keens
|
With musical genres and definitions continually crossing and evolving it’s hard to say what makes up a minimal mix these days, but Juno’s 32nd minimal podcast is a stripped down affair that wouldn’t sound out of place at any of the world’s hotspots…
Highly respected electronic act Booka Shade will release their fourth artist album this May on Get Physical Music and Co-Op, with a collab with Yello one of the drawcards.