Pacific Rhythm Canada Vinilo y CD

Review: C-thru - The Otherworld is a classy collection of introspective, cosmic-leaning dance music from Austin-based producer Jesse Edwards. It finds him paying his own personal homage to the golden era of trance, ambient and downtempo and they come after years of inactivity and mark a fresh new phase for Edwards, who was previously known for his psychedelic project Red Morning Chorus which got some deserving attention from Boards of Canada, no less. Edwards began his musical journey in the late 90s, collaborating with Jessica Bailiff on several albums, including works with Flying Saucer Attack and His Name is Alive, but has never sounded better than this.

Review: Deep house dons Frank & Tony keep on finding fresh new ground in their chosen genre. It's now Pacific Rhythm in Canada that welcomes them for this latest tasteful outing starting with the somnambulant sounds of 'Agitate' and its drawn-out and dreamy chords. The soporific sounds continue on 'Exiles' with its gentle grooves and starry-eyed piano chords and 'Just Like You' then layers up soft sonic pulses with fizzy synth smears in a way that soothes the soul. 'Back Home' is the final tasteful piece of this most sophisticated house puzzle.

Review: The "Rhythms Of The Pacific" series hears Vancouver label Pacific Rhythms reimagine dance music to aid in vast ocean traversals. Returning with another 12" sampler of material - the tracks are slated for inclusion in a celebratory ten year anniversary comp later this year - we hear Lnrdcroy, Waterpark, Kennedy and Active Surplus bring upper-echelonic, chameleonic beats of the much-less-peggable variety. 'Galaxio Salaxio' moves between dark synth and watery dub, scarcely preparing us for the immersive chordal swims that ensue on 'Coastal Plus'. Finally, 'Blue Beam' incurs an underwater search for coves and water pockets, as jets of pressure escape through riser synths and pufferfish drums.

Review: Vancouver's DJ D.DEE steps into a new alias as Pacific Spirit, teaming up with Montreal's Patrick Holland for a fluid and wide-ranging four-tracker recorded during a snowy spell at Jump Source studios. 'Giving' opens with slouched Balearic charm-dusty breaks, soft synth pads and D.DEE's own low-slung vocals setting a pensive tone. 'Inner Reach' pivots to loose-limbed disco, laced with Holland's live bass and keys, while 'Maryvale' injects a little acid heat, all bubbling 303 and low-end pressure. 'Bleak Affirmation' closes the set on a moodier tip, drawing from ambient house and downbeat textures. The pacing is subtle, the instrumentation warm, and the vibe skews towards the introspective corners of the club. Not flashy, but full of feeling.