Page 51 - Zone Magazine Issue 014

Waxhands [UK] - House & Techno
MUSIC REVIEWS
Good Vibes EP – Vincenzo D'amico [Little Festival Records] - Zone Top Tune - 10/10
Taking the leap from event brand to record label is a brave one. However London based The Little Festival have spent a solid few years building up their unique take on the day/night party and have earned themselves both the respect of their peers within the industry aswell as a huge and loyal following. For their first release they have called upon the up and coming Vincenzo D'amico. The Italian has had previous releases on D-Floor Material, Deeperfect Records and Lapsus Music, and this EP is a perfect representation of his style. Title track “Good Vibes” is a straight up tech house roller. Chunky percussion is layed over techy drums, with the spoken vocal used throughout. This is peak time stuff. The Emery Warman remix of “Good Vibes” goes a bit deeper with jazzy stabs and licks layered across elements of the original, but also giving a very french house vibe to the track aswell.
Rounding up the ep is “Dust” which takes things on a darker direction. Heavy chunky drums and percussion over a tight but beastly bassline keep things going nicely. Not overly complicated, but it doesnt need to be, simplicity is key sometimes. For me personally “Dust” is the pick of the bunch but theres something for everyone here. Great start and look forward to hearing more from Little Festival Records.
http://classic.beatport.com/release/good-vibes-ep/1931645
Groove Trippin EP – Jeff Fader [Fade to Funk] - Zone Recommended Tune - 9/10
Another new label for the new year, 2017 is looking like it going to be a good year so far for new music. Based in the south east of the UK, label boss Jake Miller has been on the scene for nearly a decade. Now under the alias “Jeff Fader”, he has taken the bull by the horns and decided to take te next step and start his own label. His debut EP is all about the deep house sound that he says the label is all about. Title track “Groove Factor” takes things on a classic deep house tip, with a proper vintage sounding chunky bassline, complemented by smooth pads and synths. Drums are solid and punchy, this is equally peak time stuff and also pretty chilled out aswell. It makes you feel like summer is just around the corner.Second up is “By myself”, and the pick of the 2 for me, this is proper old school deep house. Reminding me somewhat of the seminal “Lovin me” by BRS, with a sub bass that could be confused for a 747 taking off, complemented by vocal stabs and rising stings throughout, giving things an energy giving this a more peak time feel to it.
Perfect for a bar or a club this again is another great start for a fledgling label that I can see only good things from if this is the benchmark they've set themselves.
https://www.beatport.com/release/groove-trippin/1924132
Everybody – Steve Mulder (Incl Juliet Fox remix) [Minimal Sessions] - Zone Rating - 8/10
Yet again another case of a well known club brand that has taken the next step to label, LA based Minimal Sessions have been throwing parties for many years now, forging a well deserved reputation for their unique brand of driving techno. With a penchant for the darker elements of techno, the label has had a string of successful releases so far, “Everybody” will no doubt be the same. Steve Mulder could be described as a “Techno legend” within the scene and his original mix is a dark, driving affair, with a huge kick drum and minimal bassline. Dark synths are layered over the top of the ride hats at the top and the use of a particularly well known vocal sample that I’m sure most people will recognise is used enough to give the track character, but not overly so.
On remix duties Minimal Sessions have called in Berlin based Juliet Fox. This is the pick of the 2 tracks for me, as she takes the original, and pretty much reconstructs it (as any decent remixer should). Things are slowed down and the track has a distinct swing to it which gives things a groove which works so well. Scatty hi-hats keep things moving, and a darker spoken vocal is repeated in a nod to the original. Chord stabs punctuate the track at intervals and help break it up.
Great release, both tracks are strong, and will work on many floors, with different results for the right crowd. https://www.beatport.com/release/everybody/1932668
Maya Jane Coles – Dont put me in your box EP [Hypercolour] - Zone Rating - 7/10
No introduction needed for this artist, if you dont know who Maya Jane Coles s, stop reading and get on the internet and do yourself a favour. Having calved her way into the world of house, deep house and techno, some would say she is the first lady of house. With a string residencies and gigs the world over and an ever increasing back catalogue of top notch productions, this EP follows the same theme.
First up on the EP is “Parallel Worlds”, which is all about the simple undulating bassline, snappy hats and detuned vocal samples. Its simple, never boring and shows a restraint most producers wouldnt be able to hold. Filtered stabs keep the track moving while the drums have enough energy to keep the floor happy. Next “Something in the air” takes us on a magical journey, the filtered gentle arpeggio is the binder for the track and holds everything together. Layers of delicate synths are layered perfectly over this and the simple repeating bassline has enough punch to give it floor appeal as well as making this, as well as the rest of the EP, the kind of feel that you could easily listen to it at home. Etherial vocals are scattered over the top of the mix with tons of reverb to give them space.
Track 3 is “Dub child”, and things get slowed down a notch, and the aim is firmly in the club with this track. Undulating filtered synths give the bassline a distinct funk to it, whilst again vocals are used rhythmically to give the track movement and space at the same time.
Finishing up the EP is “Cutting it fine” and again this is one for the dark sweaty points of the night with a sub bass that will make you feel the need to call a structural engineer. This is deep tech at its best, minimal drums, a huge bass and synth stabs all used to perfect effect to give everything a chance to breath. Siren like synths build in the breaks to give a release before diving straight back into it. This is naughty stuff.
Great EP, its been out a while now but is still a great package with something for everyone.
https://www.beatport.com/release/dont-put-me-in-your-box-ep/831816
Mordor - Operation EP [Distressed] - Zone Rating - 7/10
The techno offshoot of south east based Rotate records has been a little quiet as off late, but Distressed is back and on top form with this great new 2 track EP. Another south east based artist, Mordor has gained the attention of a fair few labels and promoters recently, and with this EP you can see why.
First up is “Code Failure” a straight up rolling techno number. With the rolling bass line perfectly accompanied by the bell like recurring percussion and the lazer like synths constantly rising, and giving the track an element of darkness to it. The drums are tight and heavy but with a certain delicateness to the arrangement meaning things never get too busy and giving every element room to breath.
“Wotridimer” is more of the same, heavy on the atmospherics, with oppressive reverbs on most of the element giving the effect of being in a massive empty space whilst also giving a sense of foreboding. This is very clever stuff, with the minimal production style being used to let every element have its own space within the mix and make sure everything is heard. It has great impact and I can see this being devastating in the right djs hands. Very much look forward to seeing what else Mordor has to come up with, and great to have Distressed back. https://www.beatport.com/release/operation-ep/1940959
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