Search results: Intuition

Notes: Playa - a hip hop virtual instrument plug-in for MAC and PC packed with fat sounds, pro features and an interface that is ridiculously easy to use. Whether you're using a midi keyboard, MPC pad controller, or just your computer by itself, Playa gives you serious control over your music. Welcome to music and beat making paradise!

Playa serves up over 450 instruments and pad layouts, all in an interface that's guaranteed to have you laying down cutting edge beats and music in no time. Playa interfaces seamlessly with your DAW and midi controllers so you can just it hook up and start laying down grooves the way you're used to. Like a glove, Playa fits your style.

Review: Do we really want to know What You Should Know About Yourself? There's a high chance we find out something we don't want to hear but alas, the NX1 duo poses the question anyway across a broad selection of techno sounds on 11 different tracks. The moods are often introspective and provide an opportunity to get lost in deep thought and challenge yourself. The dramatic ambient start makes way for crunchy drums and fizzing synth disruption on 'Based In Lies', then dark and hard drums define the monstrous menace of Polarized Soul' and industrial clatter brings the heat on the militant and marching grooves of 'Cosmos Inside You.' A fierce album of uncompromising techno.

Review: One half of the former Ilian Tapes fixture The Zenker Brothers, Marco Zenker continues his solo adventures with 12 tracks of idiosyncratic techno productions. If you're looking for a comparison it's perhaps worth looking over the border to Vienna and the two fingers to convention shown by Cheap Records at their height. In similar style, the tracklisting sees lithe, dancefloor pleasers like 'Carefree' and edgily distorted 'Switch Stance' rubbing shoulders with the vintage drum machine-led dubbiness of 'The Tibet Terrier'. So, whether you're after maverick beats or something renegade and yet playable, it's all here waiting for you.

Review: Weird, enigmatic, and unarguably wonderful would be three ways to describe the names that have been brought together on this reissue of part of a compilation series that first landed on cassette via the VP231 imprint as the 1980s got into gear. A collector's item in the truest sense, Alternative Funk Vol.2 is a strange yet recognisable beast, with so much here being almost familiar but alien at the same time.

Over the course of the track list, then, you'll find proto-e-funk (Dee Nasty's 'Orientic Groove'), block party electro hip hop ('Asphalt Zombie' by Scoop!), broken, guitar-lick-heavy funk that's almost definitely been sampled for pop and house mash ups, only set to the vocals of a militant German sex droid ('Der Sound Kosten' by Melsjest), and spoken word poetry worthy of Hunter S. Thompson layered over driving breaks (Randall Kenney's 'Norma Jones'), alongside a host of even trippier, experimental and abstract stuff.

Review: The latest release on Jonny Nash's Melody As Truth label sees Los Angeles-based talent Diego Herrera come forth with a new album under his familiar Suzanne Kraft moniker. It is of course just one of several projects the West Coast artist is involved in (Pharoahs, Dude Energy, Blase being several others) but the overall sunkissed, melodically rich sound he brings to them all make him a perfect fit for Melody As Truth. The seven tracks on Talk From Home were recorded over a few weeks in the winter of 2014, and feature Herrera playing guitar alongside more familiar synth tones in a mood that stays resolutely mellow from start to finish. Its three releases deep for Nash's label now and all of them have been sublime.

Review: Lizard Label is a brand new American imprint that kicks off with the aim to "be that sunbathed rock, the artist to be the sun and the listener to be that lizard" and provide warm sounds to pock you in the moment. The first release is a notable one from Chicago-based artist Wav Fuzz who offers up a true electronic odyssey across six tracks on Sensing. These are sub-aquatic techno excursions, electro workouts and deeply immersive dubbed-out soundscapes for maximum cathartic impact. All the music is finely crafted which makes us all the more intrigued about who is behind this low-key alias.

Review: RECOMMENDED
Horror Vacui, Sheer Mag, Torso, Terremoto and Crimson Scarlet team up with vocalist Chelsey Crowley and synthesists Andrea Mantione and Giacomo Zatti for one hell of a retro-tinged electro-pop adventure. New Earth is the sound of Adventures In Babysitting running into The Goonies celebrating their 21st birthday at Tech Noir, if that's enough 1980s movie references to get the point across. It's a snare topped, high energy rush of a record that makes no apologies for itself. And nor should it.

Apparently the contents here were originally written for the band's debut EP, Exposure, and with a male voice in mind. Listening back to the arrangements it became clear that there was a huge amount of Italo disco potential, and therefore Crowley was drafted to realise that. We're incredibly glad she was, as this is really something very special indeed.

Review: Deux Filles was not a band of two girls, as their name might suggest, but rather film soundtrack composer Simon Fisher Turner and Colin Lloyd Tucker. Both men were part of an early incarnation of The The and took the concept so far as to dress as women for the over. They even reportedly played a gig in full female attire before later being outed. Musically, they managed to lay down an enchanting sound that offers up a unique take on Gallic pop, Brian Eno-style ambient and European leaning prog rock. This is the band's first album since the early 80s and it comes on nice blue wax.

Review: Legendary New York label Nu Groove very much helped to define the house sound of the 90s. While The Burrell Brothers aka Rhano and Rheji were the label's most famous artists, its pioneering catalogue also included the likes of Kenny Dope, Joey Negro and Frankie Bones & Lennie Dee. This 12" from the revived label is by The Utopia Project, a solo alias of Rheji and one rooted in classic house but with a modern edge. 'A Better Day' is tender piano house from the 1980s, then 'You Don't Know What To Do' has an r&b bump to the vocals and beats. Acid defines the mid tempo house of 'With You' while things get deep and bubbly on the muddy closer 'La La Land.'

Review: "The Reminder" is Feist's follow-up to "Let It Die". It features contributions from Jamie Lidell, Gonzales, Mocky and Renaud LeTang.

Review: Levana's Tears is Aura Nox's first solo EP on Science Cult, which also makes its own debut with this fantastic electro 12". The opener is all twitchy synths and slapping drum breaks before the drums and synths 'A Sliced Up Pear' sound like they have been fired out of some futuristic later gun. 'Intuition' explores a slower, darker vibe with menacing bass and jittery drum patterns, and the remix of it from Black Merlin then slows down even further to make for a widescreen cinematic exploration. 'Petite Mort' (Trenton Chase remix) rounds out with some happy melodies and retro 80s synth flourishes. All in all, a fine debut.

Review: "Infernal Intuition" is a next compilation by the notorious Insomnia records. Compiled by label resident DJ Metalgear from Moscow. This time it's collection of extremely psychedelic, pumping and futuristic tracks by some newcomers and already well-known artists. With "Infernal Intuition" they bring to trance audience a taste of upcoming Insomnia music and are presenting the projects who are going to make their albums at Insomnia - Alien Mental, Hallucinogenic Horses, Technical Hitch and Troglodytes. This compilation is inspired by underground parties and crazy forest trips which finally had changed their lives and opened third eyes for weird fractal world beyond the reality. We trust our intuition! This guys gonna definitely rock the trancefloors all over the globe in the next years!

Review: Eleh's "Floating Frequencies/Intuitive Synthesis Volume 2" requires dedicated and careful listening. High volume and/or headphone use is highly recommended for maximum experience - especially on the b-side which is focused on ultra low end bass pulses being slowly modulated by bass frequencies well below the level of human hearing. The a-side is a detailed account of the emerging frequencies resulting from the carefully crafted meeting of seven sine waves. It is also highly recommended that stereo listeners are seated at least seven feet away from their speakers, centred, with ears at speaker height. This Important Records release brings the ultimate in aural experiences.

Review: Newly announced as a participant in the forthcoming Cameron Series from Delsin along with Gunnar Haslam and Voiski, Parisian techno producer Shlomo gets another chance to show why he's so highly rated with the third release on the Right Sounds label. Whereas Shlomo's 2013 debut was given a boost by some remixes from Conforce and Stephen Brown, the Rechaim EP features 100% original material from the Taapion boss. As you might expect, lead track "The Other Side" (808 Intuition) swamps skittering Roland drum arrangements in an intoxicating dub techno atmosphere - what a bassline - and this dense production approach is displayed fully as the EP unfolds. There's something spectral hidden in the depths of the glistening "Grounded Queen" whilst the title track reins in the drums to a percussive shiver as Shlomo focuses on hypnotising you with his sound design. This aspect is evident on closing track "Theory Is The Worst" too, but Shlomo brings the dancefloor pulse to the fore with impressive results. More please Shlomo.

Review: The seeds of the Arkanoydz were sown when Giotto Bini, a long time international Italian DJ with a history in production, teamed up with Andrea Rizzo, one of the original members of outfit known as Etnica. Andrea's input into the Etnica project is legendary, as it was his melodic structures that gave the forms to the early sounds of Goa trance. Andrea and Giotto made a formidable production team together with Young Kim, (aka DJ Young) label manager of Etnicanet records, and resident for London's Fairy Tales nights. "Type One" is released on Sonic Dragon.

Review: Parisian hypnotic techno hero Shlomo finally serves up the remixes of his great 2014 release Rechaim on Kennedy Smith's Bright Sounds. "The Other Side - 808 Intuition" gets a driving and tunnelling makeover; the track went from being a mellow reduced techno cut to sounding like something on Modularz: this one is fierce! Hypnotic techno don Donato Dozzy steps up to give "Grounded Queen" an alternate and menacing rendition. This is dark side futurism from one of the true masters. On the flip fellow Parisian homeboy Bambounou gives "Rechaim" a dose of the reduced and atmospheric while label boss Kennedy Smith turns "Theory Is The Worst" into a nice piece of shuffling techno-soul with some snappy breaks and mesmerising strings.

Review: In a time of similar beats, generic textures and repetitive sounds, two young pioneers meet to shake things up. Leon Bolier and Cliff Coenraad, both part of a strong new generation of producers, bring you a surprising, original and slamming EP. 'Mighty Ducks' does not just fall outside the box, it breaks it apart! At first the track will sound a bit empty, but soon it fills up the club with it's carefully selected stabby tech-house influenced sounds, after which it returns to a trancier melody in the break before bursting into a incredible tech-trance climax! Mohawk can be described as nothing else but a powerhouse of rolling beats. When the break makes way for beautiful chords in a thrilling build-up, don't forget to jump to the ceiling with the rest of the crowd.

Review: "Intuition Sessions Sampler 2", by Mulika and Yarune, has support from Tiesto, Marco V and more.

Review: "Manjula", by Cliff Coenraad, has support from Tiesto, Sander van Doorn, Armin van Buuren and many more.

Review: Keyboardist for Poi Dog Pondering is a funk-infused downtempo jam with vox by soulful acid jazz singer Typhanie Coller. Also edgy house mix, deep SF-style remix from Charles Spencer, & infectious groove-oriented dub from Stacy Kidd.

Review: The EP of the summer finally hits music stores worldwide! Ask anyone who the trance producer of the moment is and they will undoubtedly answer: Jonas Steur. "Second Turn" was already featured on Tiesto's "In Search Of Sunrise 5" album, whilst in the meantime top DJs such as Paul Van Dyk and Armin Van Buuren supported the track. Another fine release on Menno de Jong's Intuition Recordings, which combines the best of both worlds: "Second Turn" is a track with vibrant melodic chords supported by pleasant Belgian techno beats, on the flipside "Sonrisa" is a beautiful melancholic tune with a typical Jonas Steur melody. Regardless of the temperature outside, these two tracks will definitely bring summer back! Get this release now as this package is simply essential for your collection! Supported by Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Above & Beyond and many others!

Review: Strong tech-trance production by Marninx, on the A-side the Martin Roth 'Classics Style' mix of Intuition, on the flip the original mix of Intuition & the bonus track 'Sunrise'.

Review: Seriously underground minimal house on offer here from Chicago's Hakim Murphy under a new alias. "Kallabo" is the kind of mysterious, candle lit deep house you'd hear on a Giegling record. "Porta" shuffles and bleeps in a more uptempo outing where you can hear the noise of tape in the background, competing with the hiss of the 808 hats to stunning effect. "Boops" bring the funk in this reductionist house jam for analogue freaks. Finally "Raw Intuition" stomps away with its brutal modular synth bassline run through a delay and knocking down everything in sight! Highly recommended!

Review: Och pops up on Baby Ford's PAL SL imprint after a solid debut on Autoreply's offshoot Stuga Musik. Although the producer behind the Och pseudonym remains mysterious for now, his early productions have garnered support from such esteemed figures as Ame, Norman Nodge, Gerd Janson, DJ Sneak and Anthony 'Shake' Shakir, and this latest 12" is, in our humble opinions, Och's best yet. The standout track here hogs the entirety of the A Side, with "Bombay Bedbath" characterised by some beefy drums and a drowning, late night soul vocal which complements the rolling groove. Flip over for two wonderful B Side obscurites, namely the rich ambient textures of "Interlude Intuitive" and twinkling piano lines and moody atmospherics of "Out Of Key In". Top release.

Review: After a sunny and recovery summer break the Dark-Noize family now strikes back with a new artist in the boat: Marninx presents Ecco. Productions like “Embrace" or "Holding You Breath" at Moonrising Records and some releases on Infrasonic go so far on the account from Peter Smit out of the Netherlands. "Intuition" includes all that what you can expect from a real trance track. Pure feeling and musical precision make "Intuition" a sound work of infinite harmony and abundance. A thought-out arrangement and exploding sequences are the foundation of the ultimately sophisticated masterpiece of the extra class. With "Intuition" Peter created the fascinating late summer hymn on Dark-Noize Recordings. As an absolute highlight no smaller than the top producer of the hour, Mr Martin Roth, was entrusted with the remix. If you know "Yomc" and "Technopunk", you also know Martin Roth's physiology to the music. More than 150 productions within the last ten years so far went on his account, among many other top remixes for considerable artists like: Solars One, Paul Van Dyk, Sshiller, The Thrillseekers, Blank & Jones to name only a few. Martin creates his "Intuition" as a perfect mixture from electronic and more progressive sounds with its advanced bass- and drum-elements. From beginning to end he worked out with finest precision, which changed up each club into a large event latest if the hook begins! Martin Roth has performed to create his own accurate interpretation of "Intuition". As a further special after the long summer break additionally the deep trance tune "Sunrise" is released at the flip-side. The title is program; the quality of the track was even confirmed by Armin van Buuren and Aly & Fila by massive support in their sets and radio shows for already some weeks.

Review: After a sunny and recovery summer break the Dark-Noize family now strikes back with a new artist in the boat: Marninx presents Ecco. Productions like “Embrace" or "Holding You Breath" at Moonrising Records and some releases on Infrasonic go so far on the account from Peter Smit out of the Netherlands. "Intuition" includes all that what you can expect from a real trance track. Pure feeling and musical precision make "Intuition" a sound work of infinite harmony and abundance. A thought-out arrangement and exploding sequences are the foundation of the ultimately sophisticated masterpiece of the extra class. With "Intuition" Peter created the fascinating late summer hymn on Dark-Noize Recordings. As an absolute highlight no smaller than the top producer of the hour, Mr Martin Roth, was entrusted with the remix. If you know "Yomc" and "Technopunk", you also know Martin Roth's physiology to the music. More than 150 productions within the last ten years so far went on his account, among many other top remixes for considerable artists like: Solars One, Paul Van Dyk, Sshiller, The Thrillseekers, Blank & Jones to name only a few. Martin creates his "Intuition" as a perfect mixture from electronic and more progressive sounds with its advanced bass- and drum-elements. From beginning to end he worked out with finest precision, which changed up each club into a large event latest if the hook begins! Martin Roth has performed to create his own accurate interpretation of "Intuition". As a further special after the long summer break additionally the deep trance tune "Sunrise" is released at the flip-side. The title is program; the quality of the track was even confirmed by Armin van Buuren and Aly & Fila by massive support in their sets and radio shows for already some weeks.