Having made a name for himself with releases for Curle, Regular and Absurd over the years, Bolivar’s dubbed out house sounds have become a firm fixture in electronic music since 2004. Alongside his own releases, his band Pulshar with Avant Roots partner Aphro [Sergio Sainz] has also notched up three LPs, the most recent being the ‘Inside’ work for Desolat.

Here, on ‘Must’, Bolivar tips a nod to his love of dub but from the opening track onward we see true reflection of his wide-ranging influences. 80′s disco bleeds through on opening track ‘Rise Your Demons’, a slo-mo track that gives way to the pensive deep house tones of ‘Eleven Years’ before the two sounds meet in the quirky, upbeat ‘Midnight Frogs’.

Hazy jazz meets dub overtones in ‘Off Soft’ [feat Fabel] while the jazz licks filter into the appropriately titled ‘Smoke Mode’ and following track ‘Diamonds’ which takes a more stripped back approach in showcasing its roots. The last section of the LP, across four tracks, runs a myriad of deep house aesthetics and, carrying on the LP’s densely textured melodic approach, provides a gossamer covered range of moods.

‘Must’ is an accomplished, cohesive LP that sees Bolivar at the height of his deft and subtle yet compelling writing. Paired with exceptional production values that give appropriate space and cosseting warmth, this writing really shines.

The post Pablo Bolivar – Must appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

Matt John found fame in the hey day of the stripped, minimalistic electronic music movement of the 2000′s, releasing original works and remixes for the likes of Minus, Perlon, and Bar25, a label born out of the Berlin- based nightclub of the same name, where John was a resident DJ. This residency opened up the opportunity for John to showcase his twisted, hypnotic style to the open-minded souls of the city and hone in on what would become his signature sound on display throughout this package. Here John joins the Cocoon roster, following the likes of Minilogue and Extrawelt with a full length LP.

The unique style and vibe of Matt John is displayed from the get go with ‘Interview’, built around tight analogue drums, spoken word vocals and drawn-out, echoing effects that built an intense atmosphere full of depth. ‘Angel’ follows, employing direct 808 rhythms and reverse string melodies resulting in a dark and hedonistic vibe. John’s twisted vibes are brought to the forefront in ‘Monogram’, which features his signature bleeped out, glitchy style. The vibrant, Jazzy tones of ‘The River featuring Marc Lorbeer’ veer things in a more musical direction with evolving piano progressions, while ‘Ocean Inside’ embraces a more contemporary aesthetic with dubby touches, ethereal synths and gritty low-end tones.

‘My Pocket’ follows, tipping its focus towards a more percussive-led style, with sprinklings of jazz also thrown into the mix for good measure. Title track ‘The Keys’ employs crunchy drums, bulbous sub-bass and preachy vocals uttering ‘enter the signs of today’. ‘Britz Wind’ takes things deeper, indicating the winding down of the LP, while track nine ‘The Surf Owl’ further displays John’s ability to create the bizarre in amongst the beautiful, featuring melting pot of heavy beats and synthesized bird-sounds, a creation that undeniably unique and forward thinking.

‘Today’ opts for a moody arpeggiated style bass line as its driving force while murmuring vocal lines and penetrating guitar licks create a distinctive electronic workout. Last up to close the release is ‘Froydish’ a hypnotic cut with sounds that follow a more contemporary direction, forming a soft and warm ending for a heavy album.

The post Matt John – The Keys appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

Taking in tracks from Naum Gabo, 6th Borough Project, Funk D’Void, Lord of The Isles, Aunti Flo and Debukas to name but a few, The Underground Sound of Glasgow is true to its title in every sense.

Keith McIvor, aka JD Twitch is a name synonymous with quality and eclecticism in modern electronic music and his Optimo project alongside Jonnie Wilkes is no different. The duo’s Optimo [E!pacio] club night, which ran from 1997 to 2010 on Sundays in Glasgow’s Sub Club, is the stuff of legend. McIvor had previously been a House & Techno DJ playing at events such as Pure, a techno night that dominated Edinburgh’s clubbing landscape for ten years, until by his own admission, seamless mixing and ‘obvious, easy and predictable’ musical selections wore thin with him – planting the Optimo seed.

This compilation, the first since Fabric’s 52nd edition, is a project which, alongside remixes and productions for the likes of Endless Flight, Eskimo and DFA, will further the Optimo cause of real DJing.

‘Glasgow is a relatively small city but has always had a very vibrant nightlife with wildly enthusiastic audiences. I’m very fortunate to have been able to travel the world playing music but can in all honesty say that almost nowhere beats a night out in Glasgow for raw energy and an unbridled passion for music.

Glasgow also has a rich musical heritage that continues to this day across the musical spectrum. Putting this mix cd together which focuses on electronic music from Glasgow and its environs was a real challenge as there was so much great music, both old and new to choose from and it would have been easy to have done a mix twice the length. There has been a mini explosion of producers and labels coming out of Glasgow recently and I’d say it is the most exciting time for electronic music in the city in all the time I have lived here, with a palpable buzz and sense of possibility in the air.
This mix could easily have been a mix of Glasgow House or Techno or Post Bass Aqua Step or any other micro genre of dance music one may care to invent but rather it covers the spectrum of electronic dance floor sounds from the city that are interesting to my ears. I’m not sure if there is a “Glasgow sound” but there is definitely a Glasgow attitude to making music and I hope that comes across in this mix.’ JD Twitch, Feb 2013.

The Optimo:The Underground Sound of Glasgow mixed by JD Twitch sees a full worldwide release on 6th May on Glasgow Underground along with a vinyl sampler.

Tracklist

1. John Steven – The Big Kilmarnock Bonnet
2. Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat – Glasgow Jubilee [A JD Twitch Optimo mix]
3. 6th Borough Project – Do It To The Max
4. Debukas – I Am Machinery
5. Doubleheart – Ghent
6. Cronk Family Enterprises – Tifit Hayed
7. Lord Of The Isles – I Remember
8. Konx Om Pax & Magic Daddy – Portland [answering machine message intro]
9. Sparky – Portland [2012 Extended Version]
10. Mash – Style Is The Answer
11. Golden Teacher – Love Rocket!
12. Naum Gabo – Ay & Oh
13. HaHaHa – Burka’s Palace
14. Scott Fraser – Remains The Same
15. Auntie Flo – La Samaria
16. Hutton Drive – 324
17. Dollskabeat – Bored Of Shit
18. Leeon – The Outsider [Conforce mix]
19. Gary Beck – Before The Crash [Wet Job edit]
20. Factory Floor – Real Love [An Optimo [Espacio] mix]
21. Funk D’Void – Jack Me Off

Sampler

A1 – Lord of The Isles – I Remember
A2 – Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat – Glasgow Jubilee
A3 – Auntie Flo – La Samaria
B1 – Factory Floor – Real Love [An Optimo [Espacio] Mix]
B2 – Golden Teacher – Love Rocket

The post Optimo – The Underground Sound of Glasgow appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

Teng Records was launched by Nick Woolfson one half of the electronic outfit, Mock & Toof, in 2012 as a platform for Nick to release a newly formed house and techno sound under the AKRA alias. Now seven releases deep the imprint has spread it’s wings and blossomed into an already reputable label, with Neville Watson, Matthias Vogt and Nubian Mindz on the roster, and the likes of Ewan Pearson, Kerri Chandler, 6th Borough Project, Chicken Lips, 2Bears, The Revenge and Groove Armada supporting, testament to it’s quality.

The release opens with the original version of ‘TunnelVision’ here, which sees AKRA delve deep into his dark, atmospheric vibe with eerie tones and cavernous reverbs, a boomy kick and crunchy drums add a further weight, while the focal point introduces a cosseting organ melody and emotive piano chords, adding a shimmering beauty to the record. Next up Matthias Vogt turns in a remix following his Mias Void ‘Tactics’ EP earlier In the year, Vogt takes things in a deep techno direction with some saw-wave bass action, 707 style rhythms and smooth, evolving pad lines. The latter stages introduce more bubbling bass tones and some resonant psychedelic synths for good measure, once again tasteful stuff from Vogt.

Closing the release we have another remix of ‘TunnelVision’ from German house maestro, Iron Curtis, stamping his signature analogue sound of the original, with a raw intensity, delicate intricacies and baroque structural changes resulting in a profoundly interesting rework. The track progresses with raw, shuffling drums, acidic bass hits and sampled, warbling vocal lines, as expected resulting in more intelligent, unique, work from Curtis.

The post AKRA – TunnelVision appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

The track is slow and spacey to start with, swirling synths and soft edged melodies set the scene before more jacking neo pop beats and a female vocal transform it into something much more unhinged. Bright in colour and packed with sing along potential, it’s an anthem in the making.

As well as a more stripped dub, UK DJ, producer and Beatport chart topper Nolan provides a dub that wallows in sci-fi mystery and slowed beats as well as turning in a remix that chops the original vocal and allows it to echo and decay to nothing over and over, making it a much moodier prospect.

German producer Tigerskin aka Alex Krüger aka Dub Taylor also provides a remix which is that bit more deep and propulsive. His kicks drive the thing along as sandy shakers ride up top and frazzled synths grow ever more prominent as the track rolls. The vocal remains largely unchanged and lends the whole thing a seductive sexiness, closing out yet another winning package from the Gomma crew.

As the second single from Telonius’ debut album ‘Inter Face’ due out in August this is another wonderful taster of what waits in store.

The post Telonius – Kiss Your Face appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

His first contribution here is ‘Shame’, which has an infectious groove and punchy kick drum at its core set off against 909 snares & hi-hats. The percussion is skippy and garage leaning whilst the nimble bassline bounces up and down the scale and takes you with it. Catchy but classy at the same time, the remix comes from fast rising Hot Waves producer and Leeds based DJ Matt Fear. He imbues the track with more drama and elasticity, his raw machines lines lacing up drum fills, weird FX and a killer bassline finished off with breathy vocal cries. It’s a sure-fire dancefloor bomb.

‘Keeping Up’ is Lopez’s next original. This one has plenty of celestial key patterns up top as a tight kick clap combo powers on below. Propulsive yet rich with emotion, it’s a stylishly tripped out and late night house track that will have the right dancefloors locked in the driving deep house groove.

This time the remix comes from DJ Hell and Alex Niggemann endorsed producer George Carrasco aka Matches. His work on Noir Music has pricked the ears of plenty of important people and this remix will likely do the same for the way it stumbles and tumbles through rich drums, classic sounding percussion and an aqueous and mysterious ambiance that always retains your focus.

Already off to a sterling start in light of their first two releases, expect more of the same from Silence in Metropolis with new music coming soon from Usual Things Around, Michael McLardy & Dale Howard.

The post P.Lopez – Shame EP appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

Tala is one of a new breed of South American DJ / producers who really seem to be making a mark in the world of electronic music. Releasing for labels such as Leftroom & Depto he has built a strong following that now carries across to his own label Doble Clic that he runs from his base in Cordoba, Argentina. His previous release on Doble Clic have garnered international attention and seen support from Djs such as Danny Howells, Silicone Soul and SLAM.

‘Sometimes Swing’ opens up with the original version, a skittering House cut that marries warm pads and off kilter keys that give the record a distinct Detroit influence. Shuffling drum programming and subtle vocal elements give the record a rounded and hypnotic feel that makes for an accomplished sounding production as you would expect from Tala. The original mix is followed by the ‘Tala Club dub mix’ that sees the producer, as you would expect from the title, journey into deeper, underground club territory for a spacious and mesmerizing rework.

The first of the two remixes comes from Argentine producer Third World Orchestra who takes apart ‘Sometimes Swing’ and refashions it into a refreshing slice of House music with a chilled yet uplifting feel. The record builds towards a crescendo of pianos and subtle vocal edits in the closing minutes that sees the record going out with a bang. Finally we have German House master Tilman at the controls turning in a delightful deep House rendition of ‘Sometimes Swing’ that is a perfect closer for the package.

‘Sometimes Swing’ is another winner from Tala and the promising Doble Clic Music, enjoy!

The post Tala – Sometimes Swing appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

Rui Maia AKA Mirror People has been one of the hottest producers to come out of Portugal in recent years with a string of stunning releases on highly respected labels such as Permanent Vacation, Bear Funk, Hands of Time and of course eclectic disco merchants Discotexas. Now he is back on the imprint owned Moullinex and Xinobi with the superb ‘Kaleidoscope’ that will be receiving a vinyl release for the first time and features a brand new mix from Psychemagik.
 
The release kicks off with the original version of ‘Kaleidoscope’ a bubbling and funk fuelled disco outing that pulls together dramatic keys, a classic disco B-line and a myriad of heart warming melodic elements to create a sumptuous production that is genuinely timeless, quality stuff. The original version is followed by a remix from label boss Xinobi who turns in a superb reworking flush with bright piano stabs and stirring brass parts for an alternative that retains the original character whilst stamping it’s own mark on things.
 
Next up we have a brand new version of ‘Kaleidoscope’ from highly respected UK production duo Psychemagik. Tom & Danny, the faces behind the name, have been burning bright for some time with a string of outstanding single, remixes and exclusive edits helping them ascend to exhalted heights in recent months. Here they take the original track deliver a delightfully uplifting yet understated melodic mix that plays on arpeggiated synth lines, rich warm bass and shuffling percussion, simply sublime. The EP is closed with Mirror People’s ‘Machines’, a techy and taut production that reflects its title.
 
Another gem from Discotexas, enjoy!

The post Mirror People – Kaleidoscope remixes appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

DER039 sees another brand new signing making their debut on Deep Edition in the form of two Austrian producers, Daniel Ressi & Markus Blahus who together form the act Woodcut. Woodcut is two guys that met Djing back in 2011 and quickly realised they shared the same love and enthusiasm for deep vibrant house music.

Here they hit us with two outstanding originals, ‘Sometimes’ & ‘I Don’t', both of which flex catchy vocals, classy stabs and really cool bassline grooves that certainly fit there vibrant deep house get up, and will very easily warm you up for the coming summer months.

On remix duties the label are pleased to welcome back Rekreation. These boys have been making huge waves since their first appearance on Deep Edition around this time last year, since then signing the ‘Control / Before Me’ EP to Noir Music taking them to the next level.

Taking up the reins on the second remix Deep Edition have enlisted the mighty Brame! It seems this very talented young man can’t fall off, with super releases on Morris Audio & IDIOSYNC, he has become a firm favourite with the Deep Edition team. Here he takes “Sometimes” and reworks it into the Deep delivering a stunning mix that perfectly compliments the original.

Deep Edition have once again delivered a stellar release and if this is anything to go by we are sure to be hearing more from Woodcut in the very near future.

The post Woodcut – Sometimes EP appeared first on Cosmic Disco.

Berlin based Quell aka Nikolaos Raptis, is a relatively new name to the house scene, but the up and comer has been striking chords as of late with releases for the likes of Kolour, Tsuba and Ibadan. Raptis grew up on a diet of indie and rock whilst living in London, but caught the electronic music bug at the tail end of the 90s house explosion. Here he joins the 2020 Vision imprint, alongside the likes of Maya Jane Coles, Huxley and Subb-An, testament to his outstanding production skills.

The EP kicks off with ‘Check You Out’, which sees Quell ride out hooky, shuffling drums, raw chord stabs, and heavily delayed vocal lines in an evolving, progressive fashion. The near six-minute duration embraces a variety of classic house elements such as hi-strings, 909 drums and chopped up vocal sampl es, with variations in the groove being introduced every 16 and 32 bars. ‘Don’t Go’ follows, embracing a similar aesthetic with weighty drums, an infectious saw-wave bass hook and bright stabs. Quell draws out the background delays to build tension, while shuffling snares and additional synth melodies add a further depth to the dynamic.

The latter half of the release takes things in a more raw direction, firstly with ‘Loose Meanings’, a gritty bass hook runs alongside resonant pads, crunchy drums and a smooth chord sequence, while the late stages see Quell develop the melodies with additional tones thrown in for good measure. Lastly to close the release, ‘Right’ is offered up, Quell opts for a boomy sub bass to drive the track, while string hits, looped acidy tones and an amalgamation of vocals are tightly blended to create a heady house cut.

The post Quell – Boxer EP appeared first on Cosmic Disco.