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Reviews: House / Techno

 
 

Review: Anthony "Shake" Shakir Frictionalism 1994-2009

Pick
Label: Rush Hour

Real Detroit techno heads have long been repping Anthony "Shake" Shakir's work, but only a few outside of that small scene have given him his proper due, if only because his profile's rise has been restrained by health issues and limited-run releases. Read more » 

Review: Kasper Bjørke Standing on Top of Utopia
Label: hfn

The sophomore solo LP from Danish producer Kasper Bjørke, Standing on Top of Utopia, is a collection of solid, if unremarkable, songs on the hfn label. Known for his award-winning group Filur with Tomas Barfod, Bjørke's occasionally forgettable productions benefit from collaboration, care of guest vocalists Louise Foo, Jacob Bellens, and WhoMadeWho's Tomas Hoffding. Read more » 

Review: Bomb the Bass Back to Light
Label: !K7

Plenty of people have mentioned the supposed tropical influence on the new Bomb the Bass album. Granted, Tim Simenon worked with Brazilian Gui Boratto (and a host of other guests) on this follow-up to 2008's Future Chaos, and the resulting album is light and breezy. Read more » 

Review: The M&M Mixes John Morales
Label: BBE

A Bronx-based mixing pioneer, John Morales certainly worked with some disco luminaries, and it is these tracks on best-of collection The M&M Mixes that still hit with force. Selections from Curtis Hairston, First Choice, and Universal Robot Band still get people out on the floor at gay disco nights, mostly because of Morales' use of prominent funk bass and ass-shaking congas. Read more » 

Review: Thomas Hammann and Gerd Janson Live at Robert Johnson Vol. 4
Label: Live at Robert Johnson

Frankfurt clubbing institution Robert Johnson keeps it close to home on the fourth installment of their ongoing mix series. Having manned the decks for nearly a decade at the club's Liquid night, Thomas Hamman and Gerd Janson are no newcomers to the world of house, and on Live at Robert Johnson Vol. 4, the duo weaves a striking, confident testament to the genre. Mirroring the exemplary track record of Janson's Running Back label, the selections here are impeccable. Read more » 

Review: Pantha Du Prince Black Noise

Pick
Label: Rough Trade

The third full-length from Hendrick Weber maintains the high quality of previous efforts while pushing certain elements of his shoegaze-y, minimal-inspired techno sound further. Noah Lennox (a.k.a. Panda Bear) contributes some lovely multi-tracked vocals to "Stick to My Side," giving even more emotional resonance to Weber's always-emotional sonic palette. And in a nod to classical minimalists like Philip Glass and Steve Reich, the prepared bells and other organic percussive elements heard on the album repeat in hypnotic swirls, yet change slightly every so often. Read more » 

Review: Cassy Simply Devotion
Label: Cocoon

Perhaps best known for working the decks at Berlin's Panoramabar, Cassy Britton is a DJ and producer whose penchant for sultry, lush sounds has long set her apart from her minimal ilk. Yet on her second official mix CD, her technique seems a bit off, if only because the first half of the mix features some questionable choices in contrast. Read more » 

Review: Marcus Nasty Rinse: 10
Label: Rinse

By now, any electronic music aficionado with a pulse has heard of UK funky. Punctuated by shuffling garage beats, tropical-flavored percussion, and R&B flair, the music is the latest in a long line of post-garage urban sounds emanating from the British Isles. One of the scene's figureheads is Marcus Nasty, founding member of legendary grime collective N.A.S.T.Y. Crew, who took notice of this new crop of producers—most of them coming from grime—making this new mutant house strain and quickly began promoting the sound on Rinse FM. Read more » 

Review: Riva Starr If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade
Label: Made to Play

Italian-born Riva Starr (a.k.a. Stefano Miele) is difficult to pin down. His talent for catchy hooks is as well known as his predilection for pilfering sounds from various genres, and both tendencies are on full display here. Read more » 

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