Star gazing with The Orb & Lee Scratch Perry
1 (2) THE ORB FT. LEE SCRATCH PERRY – THE OBSERVER IN THE STAR HOUSE – COOKING VINYL
This LP just had to happen, and it’s not a marriage made in heaven as such, it’s more a meeting of cosmic minds that goes way beyond your average bods natural way of thinking, and thank goodness for that is the resounding voice of unreason, we wouldn’t expect any less. Turn on. Tune in. Drop the lot. Enjoy. http://youtu.be/SQx-BefP9-Y
2 (3) MACHINES DON’T CARE – BEAT DUN DROP (MADHAVA REMIX)
– COLUMBIA / DECONSTRUCTION
The Madhava Remix takes it out of the cheesey rave arena, and sits Meleka’s vocals on an energy fuelled fluid skanking groove, which takes the song to a whole new level, with rushing Balearic brass that has got that amazing Andrew Weatherall & Hugo Nicholson feel.
3 (8) KID KOALA – 12 BIT BLUES – NINJA TUNE
Eric San aka Kid Koala finally got the machine of his childhood dreams, an SP-1200 Sampler, the legendary piece of kit used by hip hop royalty. So in a flash of inspiration he went back to basics, which turned out to be the blues, after three days of cutting up, reassembling, multi tracking and getting creative, this raw and spine tingling labour of love was in the bag. You can almost feel the dust and haze. http://youtu.be/Bihh-irzmn0
4 (9) SARP YILMAZ – SPREAD LOVE (REWORK) – APPAREL
Lifted from his highly regarded LP As If I Care, and tweaked by the man himself to deep and druggy blissed out soulful perfection for this very special one sided 12”. With love from Istanbul.
5 (NEW) THE PRESETS – YOUTH IN TROUBLE – MODULAR
The Australian duo make a barn storming return with a hands in the air techno anthem that a peaking Underworld would be proud of. http://youtu.be/59VaXUt-yMg
6 (10) DJ W!LD – AFTER YOU LAY DOWN EP – ACT NATURAL
The title track packs big room bumping house rhythms and builds with atmospheric ecstatic Balearic pads. Nice!
7 (7) ALI LOVE – THE JUNGLE / PLAYA – No.19 MUSIC
The opening Playa is a deep and sparse house affair with Mr Love’s vocals giving it a bit of a Paisley Park feel. Meanwhile The Jungle keeps the vibe but gets trippy with effected vocals and electronic animal sounds, plus it comes with a delirious fever inducing Seb Brigante Remix.
8 (11) KINNIE THE EXPLORER – KINNIE THE EXPLORER – ALCOHOL
Bournemouth outfit that are causing quite a stir. Their debut LP veers off in all manner of directions but also has a constant intricate refreshing psychedelic core, that doesn’t keep referring to the past and from which anything is possible. Onwards & upwards. http://youtu.be/zWrhB6jE7qs
9 (4) MAXIMO PARK – THE UNDERCURRENTS – V2
A beautiful jangly love song with yearning sweeping emotional harmonies full of hope and regret. Lifted from their excellent critically acclaimed LP The National Health. http://youtu.be/XTzCIZKgRMo
10 (12) NIGHT TRAINS – NO MORE HEROES – ACID JAZZ
Take one of The Stranglers 70’s anthems, fire it up with stompin’ northern soul beats, dress it with 60’s bubblegum and front it with a Millicent Martin influenced singer. Result: A guaranteed good time to be had by all. http://youtu.be/VMj6Nw_Yafw
11 (NEW) CRYBABY – WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN LOVE – HELIUM
The third single to be lifted from the modern crooner’s critically acclaimed LP comes backed with three brand new heartbreakers. Sprinkle some stardust on your quiff. http://youtu.be/afmpQVe8sRE
12 (14) DIESEL JARVIS – NITE DANCE / CE SOIR / THIS MAN – MOTON
Lip Gloss coated disco with sweeping shimmering strings and a certain French / Casablanca feel. Backed with a good dose of The Balearics, including a dirty low slung & funky percussive work out, alongside an invite only Euro kaftans at dawn number. E-Boat delight.
13 (22) PHLASH – HOUSE PHILLERZ EP VOL 2 – ARCHIVE
London’s Phil Asher brings it on with round two. Vaporize sets pulses racing with the bare essentials of solid knocking machine rhythms and strobe infused acid. Deep Beat stays true to the vibe and gets its hooky riffs through cleverly treated percussion. Last but by no means least All I Want will have you skipping all the way home with familiar vocal treats and jazzy vibes.
14 (19) DJ ROMAIN FT. HYPE HUNNETS / MOBIUS STRUM – LUV IN THE CLUB EP – AMA
A quality split release with New York’s DJ Romain Ft. Hype Hunnets delivering a title cut of hooky synth riffs, solid boompty boomp rhythms and hip house stylee vocals. Meanwhile Costa Rican duo Mobius Strum produce infectious atmospherics with soulful depth. Class
15 (NEW) DJ YODA – HAPPY FT. A BOY CALLED GEORGE – SUNDAY BEST
Boy George charms and caresses the electro pop infused African rhythms with professional ease, earning himself a commendable feather in a nice new shiny hat. Skream and Zombie Disco Squad boost the dancefloor action.
16 (23) SASSE – TOOK MY LOVE Ft. BIG BULLY – MY FAVORITE ROBOT
Old school house that has got a classic D.J. International / Chicago Trax feel, especially Sasse’s Detroit Mix which features those back in the day cow bells alongside Big Bully’s vocals, transporting you back to ecstatic times in a sweaty strobe lit and smoke filled basements. Superb.
17 (NEW) LUND QUARTET – LUND QUARTET – A FUTURE WITHOUT RECORDS
A five piece from Bristol with a debut LP of jazz that breathes without any complicated clutter or fuss. There is something very refreshing and pure about this sound, as it works its way around your grey matter like a pleasant but intriguing smoke. http://youtu.be/5XmQh0lfyQQ
18 (21) GENO WASHINGTON & THE RAM JAM BAND – HOLDIN’ ON WITH –
ACID JAZZ
Another corker in the Rare Mod series. Four tracks recorded in early 1968 and not heard since, serving up soulful psychedelics with an in with the in crowd knowing basement feel. It’s time to smoke loads and get misty eyed.
19 (NEW) OF MONSTERS AND MEN – LITTLE TALKS (PASSION PIT REMIX)
– ISLAND
The American electro pop geeks give the Icelandic six piece a club makeover and keep their mighty pop appeal intact. http://youtu.be/QtF9sXUBhJY
20 (20) SEAMING – MERMAID EP – THE STATE 51 CONSPIRACY
Creepy and astounding four track EP that is totally original and will take you to places you’ve never been before. Her unique voice and eerie musical arrangements create a sense of fear and wide eyed magical wonder. Seaming To is going to be a star for all the right reasons. http://youtu.be/5ZXAdkrQhM0
21 (25) REWORK – WEREWOLF EP – MEANT
The title cut is pacey and dirty addictive smut, backed with Touch Yourself on the flip, techy riffs over bumping house and white trash vocal loops. Meant head honcho Remain delivers a smouldering mood enhancing fashionable remix. Nice.
22 (18) HOLY OTHER – HELD – TRI ANGLE
Debut LP of moving drones, ambient washes, euphoric highs, electric clicks, low slung grooves, biblical choirs, first gasps, last breaths and mixed emotions of an intertwined deep and meaningful loving relationship. http://youtu.be/IjYyeWqk9V0
23 (13) SOLEDAD VELEZ – WILD FISHING – ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Debut LP of raw and gritty Chilean folk that has got a certain PJ Harvey feel, it’s dark and from the gut with an honest and on the edge approach that bites. http://youtu.be/SwBYDoJIRo4
24 (24) CESAR CABALLERO – FUNKETEAO – GROOVE GARDEN
A nice slice of fat and funky sparseness with dub piano from Toronto. Comes backed with a storming remix care of Omid 16B, who pumps the groove and teases with drops.
25 (NEW) MARK STEWART FT. FACTORY FLOOR – STEREOTYPE – FUTURE NOISE MUSIC
A building throbbing mish mash of understated subtle melancholy with jangly guitar from PiL’s Keith Levine, alongside Nik Void’s can’t be arsed art house duet vocals. Comes with an interesting set of remixes.
26 (NEW) MOLINER – YELLOW RIGHTS EP – DEPAART
Deep house Madrid style with creative use of the spoken word vocal. The title cut takes an empowering preacher route, whilst the flip Emilia gets blissed out and stoned. Nice.
27 (NEW) GRAINGERBOY – VINTAGE (JAGZ KOONER REMIX) – POP CRISIS
Balearic / New Beat synths and shuffling rhythms groove the verses, and the choruses burst into big hair, diamantes and pixie boots electro pop. Think Erasure with the drama toned down and put through The Hit Factory. http://youtu.be/8oHJuAatvvQ
28 (30) KING DINOSAUR – THE NIGHT EP – ARTILLERY
Ethereal melodies and heavenly vocals float above a bed of uneven beats, glitches and sparks.
29 (NEW) THE GASLAMP KILLER – BREAKTHROUGH – BRAINFEEDER
DJ / Producer from Los Angeles delivers an intense mind blowing disjointed racket of a debut LP. Like wrapping your head in tinfoil and putting it in the microwave. The only let up is the amusing Fuck. http://youtu.be/7GEn72FVQeY
30 (29) LORN – WEIGH ME DOWN – NINJA TUNE
A disturbing masked whirling dervish of a tune lifted from his critically acclaimed LP Ask The Dust. Illum Sphere takes away the sharp edges and wraps it in lush warm tones, Mike Slott brings shuffling percussive rhythms, wobbling bass tones and jazzy key flourishes to the mix, and Mono/Poly goes for atmospheric choral pads offset with electronic seagulls and aggravated Morse code. http://youtu.be/uaVPh0mBeXA
To get your track submitted for consideration please contact Dean Thatcher at deanthatcher25@hotmail.com Vinyl & CD’s much preferred.
