Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Spooky Celebrations
Ghostly International's sister label Spectral Sound is celebrating its 50th release with a compilation that comprises highlights of every one of those 50 releases. That's right kids you get a whopping 50 tracks for under a tenner plus a bonus Megamix of the catalogue by Derek Plaslaiko!The compilation is sequenced chronologically, opening with Spectral’s first release “Irreparably Dented” by a then-unknown DJ/producer named Matthew Dear. In his Audion guise Matthew Dear went on to have the labels biggest hit with the monstrous "Mouth To Mouth". A remix by Heartthrob is included in the package. Other artists include James T. Cotton’s acid-house experimentation, Osborne’s smooth retro-disco, and Kate Simko’s elegant minimalism. Bodycode and Peter Grummich both deliver jacking Techno beats, while Daso's subtle retro Tech House gives a warm edge. Basically there is Techno of all shades on this release and everyone will find something to get into.
Matthew Dear - Its Over Now // SPC - 11
Osbourne - In Gear // SPC - 20
Bodycode - Bounce Back // SPC -37
The full release of 50 mp3s and the megamix is available at Beatport and Turntable Lab
Resident Advisor are giving you the chance to win the first 50 vinyl releases from the Spectral back catalogue. The question is tough. What band’s vinyl-sleeve design inspired the original Spectral stock jackets? Enter the Competition.
Labels: Audion, Bodycode, Ghostly International, Matthew Dear, Osbourne, Spectral Sound
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Before I Go
This will be the last from me for a few weeks as I'm about to jet off on holiday but before I leave you in Langer's hands I've got just about enough time for one last post. Unlike many of my previous posts, there's no 'theme' to this one other than the fact that all of these tracks / albums have been getting some air time on my headphones.I'm guessing that few outside of Scandinavia (myself included) will have heard of the curious genre known as Skwee but from the little I've read about it's basically synth driven lo-fi electronica that doesn't take itself too seriously. Eero Johannes' anonymously titled debut LP sits within said classification and delivers 13 tracks of bleepy goodness that range from synth pop similar in style to the the excellent Datashat through to slightly tougher and more 'serious' tracks that wouldn't sound out of place on a wonky aquacrunk dancefloor.
Eero Johannes - Katt Witt 700 Watts //Planet Mu buy
Next up is another debut LP but this time on a mellow hip hop tip. Adrian Michna started his recording career under the moniker Egg Foo Young and had an EP out on Andrea Parker's Touchin' Bass imprint a few years back and has done a handful of remixes and some production work since. On Magic Monday though he's dropped the pseudonym and his first name preferring simply to be known as Michna. The album is a tasty little number reminiscent of RJD2's early work with each track offering something a little different from the next whilst maintaining a warm relaxing vibe throughout.
Michna - Believe In It //Ghostly International buy
The ethereal vocals and soothing piano on Dutch Elm, the opening track of Sunken Foal's Fallen Arches, might lead the listener to assume it's going to be a breezy and relaxing ride all the way. However, while tracks such as Cash Poor are in a similar mould, this is a Planet Mu album after all so things get a little more 'challenging' as the album progresses and the various electronic toys are thrown into the mix.
Sunken Foal - Cash Poor // Planet Mu buy
Labels: Electronica, Ghostly International, Hip Hop, Michna, Planet Mu, Sunken Foal
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Sun Is Shining
OK, so if you live in the UK this title of the post isn't exactly holding true this summer although the other week I think I counted a whole 6 days of decent weather! Round about the same time I also obtained a copy of Greg Wilson's 2020 Vision.Now, if you play me disco-tinged house on a harsh winter's day you're likely to get a reception as cold as the weather but there's something about the sunshine that suppresses my appetite for sharp clinical techno and mellows my temperament to more uplifting sounds.
Many of you will know Greg Wilson for his 'Credit to the Edit' series and for this compilation he again throws a couple of his own re-edits into the mix alongside other tracks from 2020's back catalogue. A couple of the tracks from the album are posted below but for me it's really the whole package that makes this an essential summer purchase and reminds me of those happy times dancing in a field as the sun comes up.
Spirit Catcher - Sweet Deal //2020Vision
Random factor - Second Principles //2020Vision
Buy the album direct from 2020Vision.
For those of you that don't do such soulful sounds, regardless of the circumstances, here's some dark downtempo electronica. It's from the new Twine LP, Violets which is definitely one for the head rather than the limbs. Although I'd not heard of these guys ahead of this release, a quick scan on Discogs suggests that they've been mixing up the answerphone messages with the static and guitars for a while now in order to deliver their particular brand of atmospheric ambience.Twine - In Through The Devices // Ghostly International
Buy Violets at Juno.
Labels: 2020 Vision, Ghostly International, Greg Wilson, Random Factor, Spirit Catcher, Twine
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Paranormal Activity
There is currently lots of activity over at Ghostly International and Spectral Sound. I got sent the brand new remix album from Lusine (AKA Jeff Mcllwain). Entitled Podgelism (Tracks taken from his debut album Serial Hodgepodge) it is a stunning collection of glitchy rhythms and intricate melodies remixed by himself plus other top-flight electronica producers including Apparat, John Tejada, Lawrence and Matthew Dear.My favourites from the album include scatter-shot rhythms and warm tones of Flat (Lusine Remix) and Falling In (Lusine Remix). Matthew Dear steels the show however with his pure liquid electronics interpretation of Flat For You. Masterful.
Unfortunately I'm only allowed to give you one treat from this album but you can listen to the rest of this superb collection here.
Lusine - Still Life (Lusine Remix) // Podgelism LP - Ghostly International
Next up are some brand new remixes of one off the biggest tunes of last year. Audion's Mouth To Mouth was a track of atomic bomb proportions, destroying every dancefloor within a 50 mile radius. It's no surprise then to learn that is has got the remix treatment from both Heartthrob and Konrad Black. Trying to better the energy of the original would be impossible so both producers have opted to strip the track right back to it's minimal foundations leaving it's bassline and adding snippets of the original synths which gave it such a distinct sound.We can't give you the full versions but my boy RAW has done a special little edit for your listening pleasure. You can however listen to the other mixes here.
Audion - Mouth to Mouth (Whorenando's "Couch to Couch" mix by Konrad Black) EDIT // Spectral Sound 12"
You can buy both these releases at Beaport and Juno from March 20th
Labels: Electronic, Electronica, Ghostly International, Lusine, Minimal, Remixes, Spectral Sound, Techno
