Staff Picks: June 25th 2021

Review: Back in 2014, Chez Damier dropped two mixes of 'Speechless' on Popcorn Records, paying tribute to fabled Parisian nightspot Rex Club in the process. Now the Prescription legend brings the cut back to life for Adeen, and there's a whole cast of other big hitters involved as well this time. First up, Nicholas remixes 'Speechless' and goes in heavy on a Rhodes hook, while Damier himself doffs his cap to Berlin's house mecca on the fluttering, guitar-laced 'Panorama Bar mix'. Camille Migas creates something limber, expressive and sparkling for more reflective moments. On the flip, more high-grade remixes from Jef K and DG complete the package for some of the finest house music money can buy.

Review: Juno exclusive 45 !! The Mukatsuku label's latest release offers up two killer cuts from Los Angeles beat-maker J Dankworth, the DJ/producer behind the Dig. Find. Listen. Sample. Chop mixtapes. There are two luscious tracks to choose from, both of which were first featured on a digital-only EP back in 2017. There's the deep, drowsy, Guru/Jazzmatazz style headiness of warming A-side 'Freezer Pizza' and the jaunty, head-nodding brilliance of string-laden flip 'Nardwuar'. As supported by DJ Spinna, DJ Koco, J Rocc, Skratch Bastid, Rob Luis,The Allergies, Skeme Richards, Smoove,Marcel Vogel and more....

Review: Melbourne, Australia based sextet The Traffic, headed up by Ivan 'Choi' Khatchoyan, serve up a special MJ feature funk 45. Presented in a special pressing in red vinyl with black splatter, we get awesome renditions of Michael Jackson tracks 'Beat It' and 'Thriller' from his iconic Thriller album from 1982. The big band energy of the players make these cover versions worthy your attention, with a killer horns section imitating the king of pop's falsetto to great effect.

Review: Edit fans will long have been tuned into the work of Japan's Mister Mushi, who is pretty much a God-like figure in the scene. His Mushi 45 label now comes on strong with another slice of gold that is all killer hip-hop meets funky grooves. IN vocal form 'Masai Mobb' has fantastic horn work that teases and pleases over rolling beats and with some golden era, smooth as butter raps. Flip it over for the playful instrumental in all its chunky, 60s spy move tinged glory.

Review: Pretty much any DMX Krew record could be bought on sight, such is the consistently high quality of the Bedford-born producer's productions. Even so, we're particularly enjoying his latest electro excursion on Breakin'. In its original form, 'Night Creatures' is a sparkling slab of starfall, acid-fired electro gorgeousness boasting a fine spoken word vocal from Blak Tony. An acapella of that vocal is also included on side A, alongside a tougher, TB-303-fired Dub mix. Over on the flip DMX Krew switches to warehouse-ready rave mode via the throbbing electro-meets-80s house goodness of 'Bounce Your Body', before offering some Aux 88 style hedonism on 'Dynamic Jit'.

Review: More blissed out chilled breakbeat from Rising Sun aka Steffen Laschinski featuring a killer remix from The Ambientist.

Review: Fresh from must-check outings on Constant Black and Pathway Traxx, Niko Maxen fires up his Maxen label for the first time this year and delivers a quartet of quality cuts on vibrant purple vinyl. He teases us in gently via the slowly shifting intergalactic pads, bumpy bass and crunchy drums of 'Aaaa', before opting for a tougher, chunkier and slightly sleazier tech-house sound on 'Bbbb'. Over on side B, 'Cccc' is a metallic and percussive slab of early morning tech-house funk, while 'Dddd' sees him get busy with retro-futurist Chicago bass, snappy snares, solid kick drums, ghostly chords and oddball vocal samples.

Review: The current wave of UKG is showing no signs of slowing, and more importantly, there isnt even much sign of a backlash in the usual comments sections and forums. And why would there be, because nothing gives you a pure shot of adrenaline and euphoria than a good garage tune. And here are four of them on the fledgling Enchanted Rhythms label. SPK Brings an edgy vibe with 'Morchang', B0n gets all tripped out with cyber funk cut 'Semenovich Vibe' while 'Green Is God' is a lush, stripped back and late night kicker. The dark closer from Dick & Dan ensures this is a must cop EP.

Review: Grenoble-based Sekhem is back with its second various EP. This one features French producer Mohammed Vicente on the A side with the ferocious acid breaks of 'The Death Of Snake' as well as Moya81 with the early '80s synth pop of 'Synthetic Mind'. Over on the flip we have got international talents such as veteran Madrid producer Do/Or/Die who delivers the slamming sci-fi beats of 'Bleep Wave' while Italy's Davide Piras (Subwax Excursions/Mont Lake) does his best impression of legends Dopplereffekt on 'Rewind'.

Review: Here's something to set the pulse racing of any serious jazz enthusiast: a recently rediscovered recording of a live performance made by the Pharoah Sanders Quartet at the Grand Auditorium at Studio 104, Paris, in 1975. The tenor saxophonist is undoubtedly the star of the show throughout, though the fluidity of the double bass playing, the loose-limbed drumming and the rush-inducing breeziness of the piano parts - especially on "Love Is Here" parts one and two, which reminded us of another Sanders classic "You've Got To Have Freedom" - are all equally as ear-catching. Musically, it's as inspired as you'd expect, nestling somewhere between the great maestro's greatest "astral jazz" recordings and more traditional forms of jazz.

Review: American producer, sound engineer, and composer Art Stewart spent many years working for Motown (producing the likes of Marvin Gaye) before he founded Eboni Band in 1981. It put out only one album, which has been out of print and hard to find ever since. It features an incredible array of talent from Motown and Ivory Coast's Eboni Records including James Brown collaborator Fred Wesley and take sin disco, jazz, funk, world and afro influences. 'Sing A Happy Song (Shake It On Down)' opens with low slung, atmospheric funk, then 'Fasso' sinks into an ethno-jazz sound which is spine tinglingly spiritual and 'Desire' brings a disco party.

Review: Acid Jazz Records' ongoing licensing agreement with legendary Benin label Albarika Store turns out another treasure here. This one shines a light on traditional voodoo ceremonial music from Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou Dahomey. It was rebased in 1974 as one of Albarika's earliest offerings and finds the band playing on a large ceremonial Sato drum, which is played with wooden stick beaters and reserved only for special ceremonial occasions. Full of traditional rhythms and ritualistic grooves, it's a deeply spiritual funk sound that cannot help but connect on a deep level.

Review: 
The always fiercely independent Perc Trax is one the shining lights in the industrial techno scene. Now Ali Well's label welcomes Manni Dee for a second album following his superb debut on Tresor a few years ago. He has released on then label before but not over the longer format so this is a joy to behold. The record expands on his early 12"s n the label with coarse techno rhythms interspersed with broken beat and non-dance floor outings that make it all the more of a listening experience. The addition of some guests doesn't detract from the core sound, but only heightens the impact overall.