01. Basic Channel – “Lyot Rmx” / Basic Channel“Lyot”
Remix is a genre-defining piece of dubby deepness by Mark Ernestus & Moritz von Oswald. The structure of the original is mostly intact but it’s mixed less densely. This is lighter and more kinetic than the original. The sounds have a lot more space to breathe and the pacing is excellent. A track that came out 20 years ago and quickly transformed into a timeless masterpiece.
02. Steve Reich – “Music for 18 Musicians” / Nonesuch
Being a fervent techno music fan, I find this piece not only a vital piece of history, but maybe an indirect predecessor to the stuff I hold so dear today. Not only does it apply and excel at so many techniques techno artist are still keen on using today, but through this piece Steve Reich actually did it better than many can even hope to pull off today, over thirty years later. The melody, the harmony, the skillfull arrangement and perfect timing, plus much more, all of that makes “Music for 18 musicians” as popular and justifiably venerated as it is today.
03. Boards of Canada – Music Is Math / Warp
This BOC track from the legendary “Geogaddi” album contains a beautiful synth that comes accompanied by a squashed drum machine beat and vocoder samples. The track ends with a haunting vaguely-human-sounding wail. The whole album makes me think of radio towers and industrial buildings: the beauty of nature peaking though something destructive and man-made.
04. Serge Gainsbourg – Bonnie & Clyde (Herbert’s Fred & Ginger Mix) / Mercury
France’s original dirty old man and music pioneer, Serge Gainsbourg, gets the once-over by one of my favourite remixers. Herbert puts one of his trademark beats & clicks under “Bonnie and Clyde”. An outstanding example of how remixes can revitalise older and honoured artists.
05. Chilly Gonzales: “Oregano” / UniversalChilly
Gonzales is an excellent pianist and the compositions of his album “Solo Piano” are quite varied. It contains a beautiful arrangement of melodies from start to finish. Its extremely hard to pick a favourite, it changes all the time, but just now I would go with “Oregano”.
06. Yagya : “Rigning” / Sending Orbs
Yagya is definitely in a class of his own when it comes to dub techno. There is enough diversity in the music to captivate you, yet sufficient depth to allow you to drift within yourself. From beginning to end, the album is a complete conceptual piece wrapped around variations on the main theme, from careful selection of atmospheric elements to delayed dub minor chords in maintained perfect harmony.
07. Rhythm & Sound: “See Mi Yah” / Burial Mix
Another successful record by German duo which changed the history of techno/dub music. This time they collaborated with Studio One legendary artists and some Berlin-based singers. The result is one-riddim-album which, though monotonous, is very hypnotic and simply beautiful. The vocalists spread the atmosphere of melancholy and meditation.
08. Bonobo: “Between The Lines” (feat. Bajka) / Ninja TUNE
“Between The Lines” is a track off the “Days to Come” LP which is the third studio album from Bonobo and it provides an exhilarating experience. It’s a moody listen that contains a genuinely cool swagger that whisks you away on an effortlessly pleasing daydream of spine-tingling beats and electronics.
09. Paul St. Hilaire & René Löwe: “Faith” (Vox Mix) / False Tuned
This record is a true masterpiece and whatever comes from Vainqueur (René Löwe) or Tikiman (Paul St. Hilaire) is brilliant. Such a smooth track which you can play late at night or early in the morning while drinking your first coffee. It has a nice ambient background and a repetitive theme. The vocal sounds like some ghost from another world that suddenly appears and leaves and makes the track more mysterious.
10. Carl Craig: “Twilight” / Planet E
“Twilight” is part of the “Just Another Day” EP. It’s a great example of Carl Craig’s ability to both stay close to his own style and to come up with something new to blow you away. I think it’s one of the best productions Carl made.
youANDme – PPPP (Rhythm Cult)
RCR is a third and final sub label affiliated with Paul Loraine’s Rhythm Cult brand: it is a vinyl only arm that completes the puzzle and kicks off with a fine outing from youANDme. The focus for this label is pure and simple; the dance floor. As such each release will be cut to wax and will have a compelling sense of groove and drive.
youANDme is a duo that has long been associated with the Berlin scene and quality house and techno. They have released on the likes of Cocoon and Desolat amongst others, and run their own Rotary Cocktail label, plus Polymorph and a few other mysterious outlets. Picking up props from big name players and at home remixing the likes of Seth Troxler and Lawrence, this pair has nearly a decade in the game behind them, and it shows in their accomplished sounds.
Opener ‘PPPPP (Diva Mix)’ is a truly compelling house track with an effortlessly groovy feel, disco fried stabs and smooth wood block hits that glide the thing along. It is party starting yet subtle, big yet clever and has some firing vocal samples to really set the track alight. The just as essential Drunken Diva Mix is a rework that has playful drums dropping in and out, bigger stabs and more cut up energy thanks to lots of careful tweaks. It is freewheeling and charming and cannot fail to make you move. Lastly, an instrumental version is supplied for purely physical dance floor deployment, and is sure to be devastating.
As far as ‘floor focussed music goes, there can be few more tasteful and tasty tracks for DJs and dancers to enjoy than those on this great first release from Rhythm Cult’s new vinyl only arm.
