Another month, another batch of beats from my own personal crate. What with the weather seemingly getting warmer (got away lightly this winter, methinks) and the longer days slowly returning (I fucking hate leaving work when it’s dark) i’m sure i’m not alone in allowing the odd thought of summer to drift into my subconscious. Let’s get real, everything’s better in summer. The music sounds warmer, the drinks taste better, and the girls wear less. Anyone remember that Mars advert campaign a few years ago revolving around words that make you smile? I do, and i’d like to add one to the pile: ‘Terrace’......which leads me nicely to:
Nolan – Thief [Nurvous Records]
Absolute belter of a summertime Houser. Reminds me of the sort of thing Switch or Jesse Rose were hammering not so long ago, and very much like the sort of thing the impeccable Room With A View imprint continue to push to this day. Newly released on Nurvous with a full complement of equally endearing remixes, it’s the latest in a line of top drawer House cuts to resonate from the sister label of landmark New York label Nervous. You can hear the city’s unrestrained funk pouring out of every frequency band, and although February’s cold spell hasn’t quite released its grasp on us just yet, this should do rather nicely until it does.
Ryan Thompson – Come To The House (Tom Budden remix) [Cubism]
Been a big fan of Thompson and Budden’s output over the last few years. Between the two of them, they’ve really slogged it out to showcase their dexterity in the studio, and 9 times out of 10 they create the sort of floor fodder that decimates nightclubs. This effort on Cubism is no exception, with Ryan’s driving original mix being given some tough love from Budden, to create a chunky late night weapon with more than a slight dab of Garage-style rolling bassline. The ensemble piece sounds fit to burst, with synth stabs filtering through in the breakdown, and orchestral stabs peppering the groove to lend it a dramatic feel. If like me you’re a fan of the recent amalgamation of 2-step Garage and straight-up House that appears to be rearing its head across clubland (a-la Mosca/TEED/MCDE etc) then you’ll find much to love within this belting EP from two of House’s most trusted authorities.
N’To – The Sand Dealer [Form]
I’ve only recently noticed the oddly named N’To, and whilst I struggle to pronounce his name when people ask me “what’s this tune?”, he is actually one of my favourite discoveries. I purchased the entire EP of his ‘Stupid’ release (something I almost never do), such was the strength of the tracks included on it, and if anyone’s curious as to why then by all means check out the latest Kai-Zen podcast (mixed by yours truly, with the Worakls remix included about halfway through... shameless plug I know but i’m not sorry). Back on point though, the man has a seemingly effortless knack of crafting ethereal Progressive tracks in much the same vein as Dominik Eulberg, Dosem, Marc Marzenit, or Guy J. This track is one of many that I could have picked to showcase where he’s at musically, but give it a listen and you’ll see what I mean. A great shout if you’re from the Bedrock school of thoughtful House music.
The Fear Ratio – Morning Blues (Plaid remix) [Blueprint]
Went to Fabric at the weekend, and before we set off, my good mate Chris Page made sure I listen to a slice of his newly-acquired vinyl. He seemed pretty chuffed about this particular release, as it was a new collaboration between James Ruskin and Mark Broom. After dropping the stylus, there then followed a selection of glitchy tripped-up electronica that was the very definition of ‘DJ unfriendly’. Off-kilter rhythms and varying beat patterns bounced all over the place, and it was immediately clear that this new project from two of Techno’s most highly-regarded artists was a foray into the more experimental vision that both producers obviously share. This track ‘Morning Blues’ is taken from a remix package on Ruskin’s own Blueprint label, and believe me when I say you can’t dance to it. What you can do however, is listen and enjoy the deliciously challenging production, and then keep your ear to the ground (not literally) because i’ve got a strong feeling the best is yet to come.
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