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Review: Cosmin TRG Gordian
Label: 50Weapons

With the benefit of hindsight, Cosmin TRG's debut LP, Simulat, makes more sense within the man's trajectory as a producer now than it did when the record saw its original release back in 2011. Perhaps his sophomore full-length is fated for a similar path, because Gordian comes a bit out of leftfield at first blush. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 05/02/2013

Review: Portable Albatross Remixes
Label: Süd Electronic

Portable's "Albatross" has aged well—well enough to forestall questions about why the song, which opened Alan Abrahams' 2007 album Powers of Ten, is sprouting remixes from big underground names Kowton and Anthony "Shake" Shakir six years after its release. When it comes to sculpted, polyrhythmic propulsion, neither Bristol's nor Detroit's finest can top Portable's stuttering original, and only Shakir reckons with Abrahams' benumbed, goony techno-pop vocals. Both remixers trade in a few degrees of detail for a more direct conduit to listeners' bodies. The net effect may emphasize the individuality of Portable's music, but it doesn't come at the expense of the remixes. In truth, everyone involved comes out looking pretty good. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 05/02/2013

Review: Citizen So Submissive EP
Label: MadTech

Having only begun releasing records in late 2011, Citizen's career as a producer is still in its relative infancy. And yet, when the London-based house obsessive otherwise known as Laurence Matthew Blake does get written about, there's one sentiment that is often returned to: that his music speaks for itself. One listen to Blake's latest for Kerri Chandler's MadTech imprint—or his equally potent releases on the Love Fever label—and it's easy to hear why. The man knows house, new and old. While distinctly modern, Citizen's sound draws a line straight back to the soulful height of '90s house, be it from Chicago, Jersey, New York, or his native London. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 05/01/2013

Review: Ejeca Different Rules/Life in Flux
Label: Lokee Musik/2020 Vision

Belfast-based Ejeca has quickly established himself as a prolific voice, already bettering last year's four releases with five in 2013. Like his associates in Bicep, the producer born Garry McCartney takes heavy influence from 1990s garage, so much so that many of his tracks sound like faithful recreations of this music. Of course, Marc Kinchen's dubs are legendary, and reproducing his music 20 years on is a perfectly fine m.o., if only for DJs' sake. McCartney's skill at conjuring this era is compounded by his tracks' general lack of frills; because they tend not to over-employ modern production tricks (other than sounding considerably sleeker), his songs sit well with these older productions. On his latest pair of EPs, McCartney both furthers this reputation and strays into some new, less derivative territory. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 05/01/2013

Review: Deetron Out of My Head EP
Label: Music Man

If its first two singles are an accurate taste of Deetron's forthcoming sophomore album, then the LP might very well be a vocal-heavy affair. "Crave," released at the close of last year, saw the Swiss veteran smear Hercules & Love Affair's Andy Butler onto strutting, disco-infused house, and its follow-up, "Out of My Head," is equally voice-oriented, as it features Ovasoul7's buttery tones stretched across seven terrace-filling minutes. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 05/01/2013

Review: Xosar "The Calling" b/w "Rays of Babylon"
Label: Rush Hour

Netherlands-via-California producer Xosar (a.k.a. Sheela Rahman) emerged under the patronage of Danny "Legowelt" Wolfers in the last year, releasing two EPs in collaboration with him, as well as three of her own. All of her original material was assured enough, but hints of Wolfers's influence lingered throughout. While there are far worse producers to be compared to, his stamp is definable to the point that it could smother a nascent artist's other interests. It's nice, then, to hear some of Rahman's more unique qualities dominating the mix on this latest 12", "The Calling" b/w "Rays of Babylon." Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 04/30/2013

Review: Maceo Plex DJ-Kicks
Label: !K7

Eric Estornel's DJ-Kicks is branded as a Maceo Plex effort, but its darkness will surprise those who know only his most successful pseudonym. For those familiar with his work as Maetrik, it marks a welcome return to the grinding tech-house that's filled the bulk of his career, long before the sunshine funk of tracks like "Vibe Your Love" helped spearhead the rise of the all-conquering Crosstown Rebels family. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 04/30/2013

Review: Ore State
Label: Civil

London producer Ore belongs to all the relevant online networking portals, but there's scant information to be found about him on any of them. State is his debut EP, and comes courtesy of Civil Music, a somewhat loose label that has previously released dynamic records by the likes of Darling Farah, Pixelord, and Débruit. State sits well with these artists' hybrid, transatlantic takes on various styles of dance music, hitting an undefinable—if eminently floor-friendly and uptempo—midpoint between house, techno, electro, and UK bass. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 04/30/2013

Review: Mr. Beatnick Savannah
Label: Don't Be Afraid

If London's Mr. Beatnick began his career wandering between styles, his interests have surely coalesced with his work for Semtek's Don't Be Afraid imprint. He has dubbed his trio of releases for the label Synthetes, and Savannah represents its final chapter. Although neither as anthemic as Sun Goddess nor as tailored as the original Synthetes, Savannah is a fine conclusion to a series that has, more than anything, established Mr. Beatnick as an artist with a wealth of ideas. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 04/29/2013
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