Review: TwelveBitMusic - First Flight EP (Colour and Pitch)

I have to be honest – I first listened to this EP from Finest Wear and James Hockley’s new project  on a dodgy PC system, with nowhere near enough sleep after playing a loud and banging 6 ½ hour set. To my surprise it sounded bloody fantastic – and it sounds even better today.

The whole EP is effectively a master class in production, mixing and mastering. It’s obvious that these are tunes that have been written and produced with a lot of care, and I dare say, love, and the mixes are perfectly structured for DJ play. Production throughout is as crystal clear as a mountain lake (and at least twice as deep) and every element is expertly placed and has plenty of room to breathe  which makes for a very refreshing and enjoyable listening experience.  Add the fact that all three cuts are as danceable as hell and there’s no question that this is a very special release.

My favourites of the three tunes are the wonderful “Don’t Use Me” – once the main riff kicks in (after an extremely DJ friendly intro) it really doesn’t let you go – and “Steady Rising” which has an edgier lead synth that, to me, gives it a little more urgency. Having said that, the warm and lovely “Lifted High” is in no way a filler, and I’ll definitely be playing all three of them – I think you should be too.

TwelveBitMusic‘s First Flight EP is the pure, melodic deep house that lots of producers currently claim they’re making – but unfortunately they’re mostly wrong. Not much else out there at the moment comes close to this. Essential.

Review: Onium - Immix EP (Harmonious Discord)

Austin, USA. Capital of Texas. Home to SXSW, Willie Nelson, Google, Ebay and Harmonious Discord - a label that has "been the purveyors of offbeat melodies" for the last eleven years.  Created to provide a musical outlet for artists that defy convention, their latest release comes to us via Onium - also known as Stephen Moon. Onium first featured on the Discordian Dreaming Series. This however is his debut full length EP.

Well known for "pushing the edge", Onium flirts heavily with dub techno in this EP. Track One entitled - "He Breathes" feels dreamy and serene in the build up, with drifty synths that make way for a deep progressive baseline. Track two takes the baton and builds on to an edgy electronic euphony. Entitled "Opslo" and with three additional remixes, you certainly dont feel short changed! Up first, Echo Conscious brings us something a little more uplifting, with the introduction of cowbells, lighter melody and minimal distortion. This is offset by mucher darker, but equally stunning remixes from Bleupulp - which at times fools you into thinking that two tracks have been badly blended and Hemiptera - whose mix has a strong progressive feel to it.  "Sharing Light" demonstrates a much stronger techno influence as does the final track "Piped". The synths have a more sinister edge, with heavy echo and persistent bass lines, as in Breathe.

With a motto like "Cacophony at it's finest", this EP embraces it with both arms, although any harshness is quickly offset with a beauty that washes over you. It has cutting edge, creative production and I cant wait to hear more in the future from this forward thinking artist.

Immix is out now via Beatport and all good download stores.

Preview: SIS - Lucid Hangover EP (Lucid Dreaming Records)

Self confessed boutique label, Lucid Dreaming Records are this month celebrating their two year anniversary. And what better way to do it, than with the talented SIS. The German born artist - better known as Burak Sar, is well known on the house scene, with releases on Cross Town Rebels and Get Physical to name just a few.

 LDR's primary goal is to "evoke certain emotions and feelings inside of you. We want you to dream big and lose yourself in the music" and this is exactly where I found myself. Lost amongst an eclectic mix of percussions, deep tones and atmospheric melody.

The first track on the EP is entitled "Clash" and has a haunting yet uplifting melody, with pan pipes slicing through the smoothness to create an individuality to this stunning tune. Track two "Hang" keeps you totally uplifted, and adds an oriental feel to the whole vibe.

The EP as a whole is a beautiful work of art, and although it conjures up visions of beaches on far away shores and beautiful sunsets, it keeps a consistency to the beat throughout, giving versatility, and ensuring that this will be equally at home in the darker reaches of the clubland.

'Clash' is out on June 8th; until then you can enjoy some previews here:

Preview: Warma - Bunny EP (KDB Records)

Out on May 19th, this EP comes from the "first post-Soviet vinyl label", KDB. With some of the quirkiest artwork we've seen this year (a figure skating Putin anyone?!), the title track is a fun slice of techy house from Ukranian producers Warma. There's also a remix from South African producer Philip Jo, part of Dubai's seminal Audiotonic crew.

The Seth Schwarz version is truly the star of the show here though, featuring no less than 30 layered violin parts, all played live by the Berlin producer.

If you like your dance music emotionally charged, epic and containing lyrics about rabbits, you'll want to snap this one up!

kdb-records.com

Review: Vipul - Evolve (Wind Horse Records)

At the forefront of the emerging deep house scene in India, Wind Horse Records has consistently impressed from day one. This latest release features both Vipul & Hamza, the two producers who most represent the label's unique sound.

Vipul's title track 'Evolve' is a typically dreamy, spiritual slice of house music, full of emotional twists and turns.

Ross Couch's remix moves the track toward the dancefloor with a bouncey swagger, however the breakdown takes us into achingly beautiful, cinematic territory.

Label owner Hamza's version retains many elements from the original track, adding low slung beats, basslines and sublime piano chords.

Dutchie Music boss Juan Mejia takes control for the final remix, taking the original into even deeper waters, full of melodic fragments and dreamy arpeggios.

As the label notes say: "Overall, this evocative offering from Vipul shows his transformation isn’t merely ensuring survival as an artist, but rather gaining him higher ground with each new rung on the
hierarchical ladder. "

'Evolve' is available now on Beatport and all other major download stores.

Preview: Santiago Lopez - Red Sunset (Apollo)

Apollo is one of those labels which sticks to its aesthetic and artistic guns. While other imprints are frantically trying to switch their sound in a futile attempt to reflect whatever the cool kids are salivating over this week, Apollo is still floating serenely around in space without a care in the World...

In my book, this consistency of sound and vision, coupled with a seemingly constant supply of supremely talented artists who hardly anyone has heard of (yet), makes them one of the most important electronic labels around right now.

Their new release by San Francisco's Santiago Lopez is typically spacey, cinematic and evocative.

If you like moody music which gives you room to imagine and think- grab a hold of this one.

As the press release puts it: "Apollo is pleased to announce Santiago Lopez's three-track "Red Sunset" EP. Contemplative in nature, the triptych of tracks comprising "Red Sunset" are deep house gems that sparkle in their glowing surroundings."

The EP is out on December 12th exclusively on Beatport.

Preview: Mesake feat. Indre Ju - Red (DeepWit Recordings)

We return from a long break between posts with a label who have had rather a long break between releases. Denmark's Deepwit Recordings are a favourite of ours here at You and The Music, so we are extremely excited to see them releasing new music again.

We're happy to report that their upcoming release by Lithuanian newcomer Mesake is completely and utterly true to form. Full of sublime atmospheric touches, sweet chords and delicate vocals from Indre Ju, the original version sounds like sunset on another planet...

Of the remixes, the ever reliable tONKPROJECT's version stands out a mile for us, jammed full of musical invention and emotion as per usual.

The release is out now on all major download stores- grab your copy here

Review: Sumsuch - Simpatico (Colour and Pitch)

In a post major world, labels are launched so often that there's probably a profitable business out there for anyone with the ability to think up arresting and attractive names for them. On the other hand you *could* always make your label stand out from the ever-growing crowd by releasing stunning and innovative music. 

And luckily for us, that's what producer/DJ and now (once again) label owner Sumsuch has chosen to do.

"Simpatico" the debut release on his Colour and Pitch label (great name btw) is a frankly brilliant collaboration with Philadelphia vocalist Will Brock that moves the soul as well as it moves the feet - and trust me, this one is going to be a dancefloor filling stalwart in the days and months to come.... I've only heard the original mix so far, but tbh I'd be as happy as a pig on one of Brighton's rubbish strewn streets if it was the only mix that existed. Not least because it would lift me out of the mire and into the sunlight. Uplifting deep house? You'd better believe it. And you'd better buy it too...

'Simpatico' is out now, exclusively on Beatport. Grab your copy HERE

Review: Monsieur Minimal - Candy Face Remixes (The Sound Of Everything)

Producer and musician Monsieur Minimal has been creating his unique brand of accessible indie dance for around five years now, but is still relatively unknown outside his native Greece.

Hopefully this is all about to change, with this fantastic selection of remixes of his emotive and haunting new single 'Candy Face'. The original version can be found on his 2012 LP titled 'Minimal To Maximal', which is also well worth a listen.

Containing a massive number of remixes (9 in total), there is truly something for everyone in this package, with many shades of electronica and house represented, as well as something called ‘chill-wave’ (I'm getting out of touch in my old age it seems)...

Highly recommended: the sublime, sunkissed version by E Major a.k.a. Elias Tzikas, as well as the more club-oriented, powerfully emotional rework by Dimi Phaze.

The package is out to buy now via Beatport and all major download stores.


Check out the original version (and stunning video) here:

Podcast: Sumsuch - 2B Continued 'Open Spaces' Mix

Here's a brand new mix from Sumsuch for your delectation. An hour of reflective and emotive deep house joy, free to download. The mix was compiled exclusively for Israeli electronic music website 2B Continued.

1. Horizon Variations Intro - Max Richter - Mute
2. Stole My Soul (South West Seven Remix) - Seven Music
3. We Have Wings ft. Lophius (Seraphine Remix) - Jonas Afonso - Apollo
4. Invisible Man (Hernan Cerbello Remix) - Peluca - Apollo
5. This Old Town feat. Matty Eeles - Sumsuch - Apollo
6. House Music Soldiers (Sebastian Davidson Remix) - Hamza + Vipul - Wind Horse
7. Ser Mi Dama (Martijn Remix) - Hohle - Deep Edition Recordings
8. Losing You (Cyril Hahn Remix) - Solange - CDR
9. Give It All Away (Original Mix) - Mirage Man - Nightrunners
10. Looking For The Real Thing (Harris Robotis Remix) - Kurt & Russell - Mr Kim's Records
11. These Times ft. Jinadu (Dixon Refix) - Jimpster - Freerange
12. Like Now (Andreas Saag Remix) - Jevne featuring Robert Owens - OneThirty Recordings

Listen / Download here:

Preview: Rocco - Selfish People

We can't get enough of this incredibly emotional and moving piece of music from French super-producer Rocco.

We've been fans of his for many years now, but this track really is something special.

Enjoy!