Search dance music

Review: It's fair to say Khijda's debut EP on Especial was one of the highlights of the label to date. Mustafa - in original form and remixed to distraction by Timothy J Fairplay - became the soundtrack for many a Summer party, while Abul was perfect for those deeper late night
afters.
This time though we present a stand alone 4 track EP of original music so that Khijda's sound can be full explored. Starting with the title cut, the duo aim right for the dance floor, mixing throbbing live bass, guitar and a touch of Eastern mystic vocals that twist and rise higher and higher.
This is followed by the deep dub vibes of Aura. Coming on as if the idjut Boys had relocated to Istanbul, the bass rumble and tripped out fx are overlaid with strings, xylophone and even a nice does of (more) cowbell that is full of funk and ass moving swing.
On the flip is where things take a warped turn with Indecis. It's incessant rhythm and
Eastern flavour, mixed with 80's style cut up vocals, take the sounds championed by Baris K and Acid Arab to new (and bazar) heights.
Finally then, the EP comes down with the beautiful 'Balearic' grooves of The Quiet And The Red Stop. With a nod to their roots Khidja again forge their own journey, creating and carving out a sound of their own that is unique and at the same time compelling. Watch the skies.

Review: Especial is proud to announce a special release with 2 official remixes of the seminal afro-cosmic classic. With a nod to both the future and past, remixes come from NYC's drum-loop champ, Justin Van Der Volgen and is backed perfectly with Dusseldorf's mysterious tribal exponents, The Durian Brothers. Harking the original in many ways, Van Der Volgen's remix is a perfect homage. A crucial key change, plus subtle loops and arrangement make the right moves, allowing the instruments to build and build to the infamous horns and scat vocals interplay and on to crescendo. For their version, The Durian Brother eschewed simple remix in favour of a live jam which merges the Brothers poly-rhythmic percussion with the African influenced swing, guitar chops and horn stabs of the original. A perfect jam between the bands, but some 3 decades apart. Hope you enjoy.

Review: [Emotional] Especial is the new label from the Emotional Recordings stable. A sub label to Emotional Response, Especial is though squarely aimed at the floor rather than the head. In a similar vain to the limited 4 EPs-only label that was Emotional Relish, it will merge the sounds and styles that influence contemporary electronic producers, taking in new wave, new beat, EBM and proto-house to create something modern. Jamie Paton of Cage & Aviary helms the debut release with Bizarre Feeling. A youth soaking up punk, dub and new wave, the EP acts at times as a homage to the sounds of New Order, The The, Kraftwerk and the then other-worldly machine funk emanating out of mid-80s Chicago. With both Timothy J Fairplay and Scott Fraser aiding and abetting down in the Scrutton Street bunker studio, with keys, guitar and a heavy dose of space echo, plus hypnotic FX laden vocals from Jamie himself, all propel the EP beyond pastiche and make the perfect start to Especial.

Review: REPRESS ALERT: Especial is delighted to welcome Baris to the roster. Known for his edit series of obscure Turkish Psychedelic, Rock and Disco, here he takes the producer's chair to present "200". Working with musicians and singers to create a completely original production. The song's message for equality (of the sexes) highlights the bigotry and backward political and religious boundaries his country faces and acts as a siren to the current troubles. Handed to Emotional Recordings over 5 years ago but with no label to release it at that time, now we are delighted to be able to release 200's message. The original is backed with remixed from new production duo Khidja, as well as East London's finest, The Asphodells. Teaming up with guitarist Balabas, Romania's Khidja turn in a deep and introspective interpretation mixing their own heavy eastern influences, while the B-side sees Weatherall and Fairplay don their Asphodells mantle for two renditions that firmly lay it before the ALFOS alter. With artwork (by Jamie Paton) highlighting the struggle for fairness and freedom in his homeland, we hope the release can be seen as a support for their tribulations and highlight the talent that lays East.

Review: Friends for many years, Richard Sen and Scott Fraser come together with a dose of mutual admiration and back slapping by remixing each other on this 2 track EP. However, what makes this collaboration different is there are no original versions appearing, just these remixes. By completing an unfinished track of each the other, the pair have taken the respective unarranged music and gone back to their East London studios to, in essence, finish the other's songs in the form a "remix". Known for a myriad of deep electronic dubs in the last few years, Scott provides plenty of surprises with his remix of Richard's Night Navigator. A driving 10+ minutes 'piano-house' opus, the late 80s Italian / Balearic vibrations run straight through his interpretation of that classic Mediterranean sound. Not for long though, as firmly dragging things straight back to the dark and wet streets of Hackney, Richard takes Scott's Ask For Control and creates a tough, percussive, deep dub remix that would propel any basement dance floor through the early hours.

Review: Emotional Especial gathers pace with an eighth release from Richard Sen, a man whose cultured touch has had a hand in various strands of the UK underground for the past two decades. Graffiti artist, graphic designer, music curator, DJ and producer are all vocations Richard Sen has done at one point or another. Here he goes solo with the Ghost Train EP, a dark and brooding release of old school meets new school house jack that takes it's cues from '80s New York, Italian house and the nascent UK acid house that Sen himself documented with aplomb on a 2012 compilation for Strut. Naggingly familiar samples and a low slung box jam groove drive the spectral title cut forward, whilst Sen's mastery of delay is shown with aplomb on the Dub version that closes out the record. Nestled in between is the highlight however in "Meteor Shower" where discoid basslines merge with psychedelically charged keys and hollowed out steppers percussion.

Review: Following their acclaimed debut album, Migration, on Prins Thomas' Internasjonal label in 2012, Jamie Paton and Nigel Hoyle (aka Nigel Of Bermondsey) have seemed relatively quiet save for the odd remix here and there. Tucked away deep in their South East London base though, a series of remixes and solo projects have been steadily forming. With new C&A material planned for 2014, plus more to come from Jamie's new solo efforts, as well as Nigel making a long overdue reappearance in Maurice & Charles, now seems the right time to draw a line under their collective work to date. Here then are a collection of unreleased interpretations, including the sought after vocal remix of psychedelic darlings, in Goat's anthemic Run To Your Mama. This is followed by a late night dub of 80s pop duo Blancmange that mixes strings, guitar and some dub bass with a dose of space echo before bringing Neil Arthur's classically recognisable refrain shining through. To finish is a remix of Goat's label mates Teeth Of The Sea. FX-soundtrack vocal, bubbling 303 and 808 combine on a proper 3am dub that builds beyond some mere drug-chug.

Review: Having a debut that managed to possibly be the most regularly outed track by Andrew Weatherall as he dug deep to discover the sound that resonated as A Love From Outer Space, while at the same time seemingly slipping under the radar of practically everyone else and disappearing in to relative cult obscurity is some mean feat.
Unperturbed that the odd(disco)ball that was the acidic genius of Morodor In Milan was shamefully overlooked, Maurice & Charles have again taken time out from their daytime media and art enriched lives to hunker down and offer up another take on their twisted idea of what makes people groove. In Sofa Love, their ode to the marvels and pitfalls of the mega-city, bubbling 303 again underpins a twisted lyrical journey. Set against crashing percussion, this is their peaen to la Metropole. Ably supporting it is a driving, rhythmic workout from our own Jamie Paton, taking the original and stripping everything back to jack like it should. If that frightens off the less adventurous, then I,Carpenter will perhaps offer a respite. An off-kilter, acid-funk nod to the experimentations of Eno & Byrne, this quirky gem makes you wonder, why did no-one use that sample before? To end comes a solo debut from Soft Rock's Piers Harrison. His drum heavy remix straightens things up and lets the story unfold.

Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** Emotional Especial return with a release from Romanian duo Khidja that comes packing some excellent remixes from senor Fairplay and Juju & Jordash! Brought to the attention of EE thanks to Hardway Brother Sean Johnston, who returned from a Bucharest DJ gig singing the praises of two young DJs, Khidja's productions are as impressive as their selections on the evidence here. "Mustafa" is more immediate with shuffle percussion, swirling sirens and acid bubbles leading to a perfect horn break. In the hands of Mr Fairplay, the track takes on anthemic qualities; the stabbing bass and build have allegedly seen howls of appreciation when it's dropped at A Love From Outer Space. "Abdul" finds Khidja in a more calming mood reminiscent of Art of Noise, though the kick and bass ensure there is plenty of rhythmic emphasis, whilst the Juju & Jordash remix edges towards a Balearic digidub vibe.

Review: To accompany the release of Especial's compilation mix CD, "Eleccio" - offering of a
snapshot of the first 9 EPs on the label - a limited edition sampler EP is being released
featuring 4 unreleased remixes from the label's roster to date.
Ever since the first white labels appeared at the end of Summer 2013, [Emotional] Especial
has had a busy release schedule, putting out music that are a slightly warped take on club
music. Mixing the influences of dub, electro, disco, proto-house, house and techno, a feeling,
a sound, a vibe has appeared without any preordained plan.
With the release of EES10CD - a DJ meets studio compilation mix created by label mainstay
and handyman, Jamie Paton - to mark the end of first series of the label, it was decided to
included a couple of specal unreleased remixes to add a bit of new with the old in the mix.
To that end this limited edition vinyl sampler was created to include the two remixes, plus
the inclusion of another two gems that simply needed to see the light of day.
First is the alternative "Member" remix of Inhalt by Black Merlin - a strings meets leather
bar club-dub-out that takes things deeper and darker than before. This is followed by Jamie
delivering his own take of Khidja's massive Mustafa, with a warped, swamped out dub. Next
is another mix from Cage & Aviary of their pals, Blancemange. Brooding low-slung rerub dub
anyone? Finally there is a very special remix by Khidja of The Ganges Orchestra. Reissued
on Emotional Rescue in 2013, this special remix takes the vocal mantra of the original and
creates a balearic-raga tale that perfectly rounds off Especial to date.

Review: Former Padded Cell and Bronx Dogs man Richard Sen has made some great records in his time, and "Songs of Pressure" is up there with the best of them. Joining the dots between murky dub disco, horror soundtracks and EBM, it layers spooky, delay-laden synthesizer motifs and wonky vocal samples atop a heavy dub rhythm and punchy machine drums. Pals Andrew Weatherall and Timothy J Fairplay deliver a bongo-laden, dubbed-out revision (part wayward exotica, part humid Balearic dub), while Acca strips the track down to its' nare bones for a ket-addled Dub.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record has very light surface marks/smudges, but otherwise in perfect working condition***


Strange happenings are going on down at Scrutton Street, EC1. With release after release cementing the names of those based or working out of the studio bunker, a desire for pushing the boundaries of electronic music is primary with little concern for what's hip. So if anyone can Tim can and here with his newly birthed pseudonym comes Junior Fairplay. With a one-sided release and remix to his name on Crimes Of The Future a glimpse has been offered of what's in store, but How Do You Like Me Now? gives it straight. Pioneering and back to the British techno of early Black Dog, Reload, Stasis and of course, the seminal "Selected Works" clearly inspires, but so too does one of those musical moments where genres clash, tear and stretch as something new is being born. It all starts with the uplifting House anthem of Classic Version, eschewing the oft-tasted horror stylings and aims direct for that 4am MDMA airfild rush, before the EP drops, locks and spins on it's axis, with 3 pure breaks cuts to overload the senses and say, now is the time! A voyage to another side to the mythical lost chord via a moment in time where open filds, abandoned warehouses, the kick of 4/4 house, hip hop breaks and the dub of sound system culture merged but for a short while. Not house, not rave or jungle. A proto sound born of blood, sweat and Rage.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Stuart Leath flexes his contacts book with an all-star cast of producers and respected scalpel artists called on to rework cuts from the recent Never Seen The Dunes EP by Khidja. Any 12" featuring the collective talents of Discodromo, In Flagranti, Red Axes and Selvy on mixing desk duties should get you excited and this crew bring the disco heat. "Never Seen The Dunes" is given the Discodromo treatment, adding pulsating bass, driving arpeggio, all while allowing the bump of the original to keeping pushing things on. This is followed by In Flagranti's inspired 'Autobahn' retake of the deeper vibes of "Aura" which is apparently a huge favourite of the label. A matured cruiser that keeps the swing, it all leads to those strings and Eastern flavours gliding over for the perfect finale. Things head darker on the reverse, with Tel Aviv's shinning stars Red Axes, manning the controls for the scatter bounce of "Indecis" for the stand out remix. Twisted vocals, brooding FX and reversed guitar all atop a mesmeric kick, things just keeps going higher and higher. Finally "The Quiet Before The Red Stop" is tweaked by Selvy of The Very Polish Cut Outs and Transatlantyk fame, adding some club bump to Khidja's Balearic original.

Review: Strange happenings are going on down at Scrutton Street, EC1. With release after release cementing the names of those based or working out of the studio bunker, a desire for pushing the boundaries of electronic music is primary with little concern for what's hip. So if anyone can Tim can and here with his newly birthed pseudonym comes Junior Fairplay. With a one-sided release and remix to his name on Crimes Of The Future a glimpse has been offered of what's in store, but How Do You Like Me Now? gives it straight. Pioneering and back to the British techno of early Black Dog, Reload, Stasis and of course, the seminal "Selected Works" clearly inspires, but so too does one of those musical moments where genres clash, tear and stretch as something new is being born. It all starts with the uplifting House anthem of Classic Version, eschewing the oft-tasted horror stylings and aims direct for that 4am MDMA airfild rush, before the EP drops, locks and spins on it's axis, with 3 pure breaks cuts to overload the senses and say, now is the time! A voyage to another side to the mythical lost chord via a moment in time where open filds, abandoned warehouses, the kick of 4/4 house, hip hop breaks and the dub of sound system culture merged but for a short while. Not house, not rave or jungle. A proto sound born of blood, sweat and Rage.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Emotional Especial and Cocktail d'Amore Music enter 'cahoot-mode' once again with a second round of Sfire remixes that take proceedings down a deeper, more stripped-back path courtesy of the inimitable Timothy J Fairplay and Willie Burns. Two artists who need little introduction offer up two remixes each that take the unique original to new dance floor extremes. Timothy steps up first with his take on "Sfire 2" via differing vocal and instrumental versions. His trademark, echo laden rolling percussion and John Carpenter-style key lines take the original Synth-pop homage to the dark room. Adding Arps, a lifting, hedonistic breakdown and the scatter-stepper drums and claps found on the Instrumental version and this is pure COTF territory and the better for it. Mr Willie Burns meanwhile has long followed his own path for his take on "Sfire 3", offering one of his deepest remixes to date. Thudding kick, brooding pads and dark strings force the vocals to go down, way down for examination. The distorted vocals of Remix 1 are countered by Remix 2 letting the track shine via a seemingly endless 4/4 beat. Psychedelic, trance inducing, pulsating, this is an ever growing mind expanse.

Review: World renowned Tokyo club WOMB's resident Drum & Bass party "06S" is now undertaking a new musical imprint with an original Tokyo style. 06S, probably the most well-established Drum & Bass party in Japan, are now set to launch a new label, 06S RECORDS. The label's purpose will be to present the outlook of the world of 06S by the releasing of their music and visuals on display at the parties. The main label artist is ES9 (ES-NINE), led by Japan's premier Drum & Bass DJ, DJ Aki, and his production partners Takeo and Yuuki, but the label is also tending towards introducing new/up & coming Japanese producers, as well as 06S-supportive international artists. The label's first 12" inch release is "FREE YOUR MIND" by ES9. This cut has been very well received on the 06S dance floor, as well as other dance floors around Japan. The track is definitely illustrative of the concept of 06S with its driving, energetic sound, detailed rhythmic elements and a distinctive vocal mantra. On the flip side, for a truly exquisite sound D-Bridge (Exit Records) is featured as remixer of "FREE YOUR MIND". D-Bridge has been a 'family' member of the 06S collective since day one, and his contribution to the launch of this new label serves as a sign of the family's bond! His inimitable production style, sophisticated in its balance of depth and musicality, delivers a different interpretation and vibe to the harder-styled original. The spacious breaks and ominous bassline set a simplistic and sinister mood, added later by his almost signature triangles and an intricate layering of synth melodies. The label launching tour is now scheduled for 5 main cities in Japan (Fukuoka, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo) in May 2006 alongside D-Bridge, and this particular release and the tour will definitely be a milestone for the history of the Drum & Bass scene in Japan. ES9 is formed by DJ Aki, Takeo & Yuuki with the objective of leading the Japanese Drum & Bass scene in a new direction. Aki has been recognized for quite some time as the leading Drum & Bass DJ in Asia. ES9 contributed 3 original tracks for his first mix CD, produced by WOMB RECORDINGS in 2004, and these tracks have played a part in delivering a new style and maybe even a future sound for Tokyo Drum & Bass. Aki has played at two of South America's big dance festivals, the BRASILIA MUSIC FESTIVAL and also SKOL BEATS in 2004 and 2005 respectively. This has helped him to gain greater recognition from a global standpoint. Not only producing music, ES9 have been tackling the challenge of synchronizing their music with originally created visuals, making their live performance a more complete Audiovisual experience, utilising a multitude of cutting edge technologies. They have been recently performing live showcases internationally, including Frankfurt's most established COCOON CLUB and Sao Paulo's LUST CLUB as well as their home venue WOMB. ES9 is also a core member of DUBLAB PRODUCTIONS (dlp) in Tokyo, who manage the WOMB club, and their contributions towards the proliferation of the dance music scene, and for their representation of fresh urban culture have been well respected by many club goers in Japan.

Review: Tokyo based O6S RECORDS brings you their much anticipated second installment, courtesy of leading DJ's DJ Aki, Takeo and Yuuki. Collectively known as ES9 (es-nine). 'Let It Go' had been tearing up the clubs in Japan for some time now, both in DJ sets and, more recently, their remarkable audiovisual live set, which sees Yuuki taking the mic alongside the DJ skills of DJ Aki and the technical wizardry of Takeo. This tune is a remarkable little bubbler, one that perfectly treads the fine line between dancefloor chunkiness and beautiful, melodic sweetness-not an easy feat by any means! It will take you on a ride from the hypnotic reversed pianos and infectious synth riffs of the intro to the driving bass that falls into place so satisfyingly at the drop. This one just rolls and rolls.... On the flipside we find the remix by none other than the mighty Futurebound, head honcho of Viper Recordings-the Liverpool producer who, although a stalwart of the scene for many years, is reaching his peak, especially with his recent collaborations with the likes of Matrix. Futurebound has taken the essence of the original and distilled it into his inimitable dancefloor form. His mix is bass heavy, driving and altogether massive-sounding, complete with subliminal trip-out bleepy synths familiar to anyone who's heard his recent music. To fans of tracks such as the massive remix of 'American Beauty', this is a buy-on-sight purchase. Both tracks are receiving great support from the biggest names within the scene, such as Andy C, Bad Company UK, Sonic etc, and this release is sure to further cement the growing reputation of these talented Japanese producers. This is a big release for ES9, and it's a name you'll hear again and again in the future-welcome to the attack of the Tokyo Evolution Move.