Donnacha Costello – Before We Say Goodbye: The Remixes review

by Juno Daily on 17.05.2010 at 14:24pm.
Last edited: 17.05.2010 at 14:24pm.

When an artist releases an album that immediately gains the respect of critics and fans alike, often their label will look to capitalise on the success with a quick remix package, pulled together to exploit the hype that surrounds the release. However, Donnacha Costello’s LP from March, Before We Say Goodbye, was not just a great album. It was genre re-shaping one, taking techno into a beautiful, emotive and diverse place where it rarely finds itself. Poker Flat, recognising this outstanding achievement, set out to deliver a remix EP that lives up to the original album and the emotions that it stands for. By drafting in Lawrence and production duo KiNK & Neville Watson, they have resoundingly accomplished the task.

Dial’s Lawrence, who like Costello poses a real musicianship in the true sense of the word, manages to glean out yet more emotive depth from the Irishman’s pristine “Leaving Berlin” with smothering strings and a glowing wash of synths. We find the German in a sultry mood as he combines a rich, dubby atmosphere with beautiful melodic structures. As the track evolves, dense strings and softly pumping percussion begin to wrap themselves around the memorable hook of the original. Rush Hour duo, KiNK & Neville Watson turn in a classic acid rework of “It’s What We Do.” Jacking all the way with a cruising bassline and tough drum machines, the duo bring a distinct Chi-town feel to the track but merge it with modern and skilful studio know-how.

Review: Tom Jones

David Durango – Celia review

by Juno Daily on 27.04.2010 at 11:20am.
Last edited: 27.04.2010 at 13:02pm.

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

Steve Bug – Flight 111 review

by Juno Daily on 19.04.2010 at 11:01am.
Last edited: 23.04.2010 at 09:31am.

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

Donnacha Costello – Before We Say Goodbye review

by Juno Daily on 19.03.2010 at 10:13am.
Last edited: 19.03.2010 at 17:42pm.

Artist: Donnacha Costello
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

Martin Landsky – Werkschau review

by Juno Daily on 17.03.2010 at 10:23am.
Last edited: 17.03.2010 at 10:23am.

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