Page 54 - Zone Magazine Issue 015

MUSIC REVIEWS
Deejay.de vinyl - House & Techno John Ricketts
St David – Street Beats EP [Quality Vibe Records] - Zone Top Tune - 10/10
With releases on Unknown Chicago, Housewax and Quality vibe to name a few, St David has amassed quite an impressive back catalogue. His latest 4 track EP on Quality Vibe looks set to see that success continue. Opening with the pure deep vibes of “Street Jam” it sets the tone with a vocal sample repeating over an undulating bassline and chunky drums. Next up is “Funk ya”, which despite the title is all about the smooth organs and shuffling snares and almost garage style drums. Proper old school deep house, great stuff. “Pacific Sense” brings in the acid, with rolling drums and open hihats on top of the 303 bassline and dreamy pads giving this track a bit of everything. “Atapi sequence” rounds things off by slowing things down and beefing up the acid factor with a huge bassline and minimal drums, coupled with nice pads, its ends things nicely.
Really good release!
https://www.deejay.de/St_David_Street_Beats_Ep_QVW002_Vinyl__258513
Stylus Heat – The Pickup funk EP [Soul Imago] - Zone Recommended Tune - 9/10
Full on funk is what this EP is all about. Stuttgart's Stylus Heat really are on fire with this. “Things to do” is chock full of the soulful female vocal samples, organ riffs and chunky bass. “Pickup funk” feels almost like a jam session, with live keys and bass over a solid deep house drum bed, it has a great groove to it. Then when the guitar lick comes in you realise this is pure funk. It all has a great feel and freshness to it, and you feel that these 2 had great fun making this EP, and it really comes through.
Finally, “Going Home” is back with the soulful female vocals and rhodes organs, coupled with the congo percussion and guitar licks and it rounds things off nicely. Great stuff and can't wait to hear the next release from these 2. https://www.deejay.de/Stylus_Heat_The_Pickup_Funk_Ep_SI1203_Vinyl__260044
Real J – Stuck in the realness EP [Waxtefacts] - Zone Rating - 8/10
Not much can be found about the elusive Real J, but this 4 track Ep is a great release, and is perfect for an early or bar set. Track one “One Love” is all about the hip hop style vocal samples and rhodes organ chords. Put these over the top over some classic chicago house style drums and its a winner. “Lets get back” is in a similar vein, with the organs in full effect over a deeper than deep bassline and punchy drums before in the breaks we have some spoken samples that sound like something straight out of Shaft” its simple, but very effective. “People playin” follows on with the same vibe and keeps things deep and jazzy, whilst the EP is rounded off with “Stuck in the realness” which brings the energy up a bit with a filtered female vocal and more of the same filtered jazzy synths and organ licks. Great stuff and all 4 tracks would fit into the right set at the right time. https://www.deejay.de/Real_J_Stuck_In_The_Realness_Ep_WXTFX005_Vinyl__257189
Giacomo Pellegrino – Inside [Detroit Side] - Zone Rating - 7/10
Hailing from Parma in Italy, Giacomo Pellegrino has been djing since the age of 14, and that experience shines through with this release. Its all about the understatement. “Inside” is a master class in minimalism an shows that with a little restraint you can create wonderful things with very little. Echoey voices and minimal drums over a sweet sub bass are all thats needed to create a floorfiller that will do the business when needed. The S.a.m remix of the title track takes things into a more deep house directions with sweet pads and floaty synths giving the track an airy feel. Really nice.
Hansell goes for the more techy side, with a squelchy bassline and drums that shuffle and groove along nicely. Finally we get another original with “Inside one” which is a simple deep house number which will do the business when needed. https://www.deejay.de/Giacomo_Pellegrino_Sam_Hansel!_Inside_DS001_Vinyl__258733
Samual L Session – In the dark [Rhythm Cult] - Zone Rating - 7/10
Gothenburg's Samual L session, after a string of successful releases returns with a great 3 track EP on Rhythm Cult. Firts up “Breaking out” is a masterclass in simplicity. Bassline, topline and drums, but all used perfectly and modulated enough to keep things interesting and the groove going. When the added lead line comes in it takes things to another level and things really get going.
“In the Dark” featuring the distinctive vocals of Elbee Bad has more of a funky feel to it, but don't worry this is still uality heads down techno. The repetitive bassline keeps things going, adding an urgency, whilst the vocals drenched in reverb give it all character and cohesion.
Finally The Chord mix of “Redlight” is a heads down roller with minimal bass and open hihats all the way to give the energy to the track. Nice well rounded EP.
https://www.deejay.de/Samuel_L_Session_In_The_Dark_RCR004_Vinyl__259348
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