Page 45 - Zone Magazine Issue 011

ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 45
label focus
18-09 Records is a fantastic house & techno label based in Scotland. They have released material from the likes of FAKE SELF, ACID AJ, Patrick J, Ryky and label owner David Grant. What’s remarkable about this label their versatility and the consistency of their output whether tech house, techno or straight up deep house tracks. Recently they got a bit of an image update with a fresh new logo, artwork and website, and their next few releases will be taking them into darker territory with more straight up techno releases scheduled.
Top 5 Releases:
Patrick J – Locked Out EP
Patrick J returns to 18-09 with his first EP since May, providing three superb tech house variants on the 'Locked Out EP' that were well worth the wait.
Falling is an excellent intro track to the EP. Jackin beats and deeper sounds is on order with this track with stabs that hark back to that 90's garage house sound. Let's Do It is an all round deeper sound to Patrick's usual sound, the type of track you would expect to hear at the after party of a main techno event. Droning basslines combine well with well placed percussion to produce a track worthy of a place on most set lists.
Keep On is the all round track that encompasses the sound of many genres. Deep house bass coupled with jackin grooves and a tech arrnagement makes this track the pick of the bunch.
Ryky – On Right Now
After the success of his previous EP in
2015, the Move It EP, Ryky returns to 18-09 with this big and bashy tech houser, On Right Now. Stand out from the track is the subtle sampling of Ellis D - My Loleatta.
Original Mix is a proper tech house track, a bassline that gets you right in the core and shuffling percussion that will move your body. Supplemented with warm pads and that subtle sample, the original mix is a perfect track for house, tech house or techno sets.
Graeme Vass' remix sets more of an early night tone and strips the original mix bac to a more house orientated track that would sit well as a builder track. Piano rolls are the order of the day with this remix and compliments the original mix well.
Ryky provides a secondary mix to his original with the Ghetto Mix which harks back to that 90s house sound that is proving to be a winning formula just now. Thumping kick drums, 808 and 909 percussion and sweeping pads combine to make this remix another cracking take on the original.
ACID AJ – I Don’t Know
Acid AJ returns to 18-09 with the follow up to Housewives on Acid with this huge tech house smasher, I Don't Know. Original Mix plays true to Acid AJ's signatue sound of solid bass coupled with hard hitting perussion and very catchy vocals which act as the hook of the track.
An excellent weapon for late night tech house sets or early night techno sets. Matt McLarrie is on remix duties and he comes highly rated with previous works being on Criminal Hype, Younan and King Street and support on his tracks come from Kerri Chandler, Steve Lawler and Mihalis Safras. Matt's remixes takes the harder sound off the original mix whilst
maintaining that tech house edge.
FAKE SELF – Chaos In Europe
Man of the moment, Fake Self, returns to 18-09 with his first full release on the label after providing the remix that propelled previous 18-09 Rokaman - Get Up to the number one spot of the Trackitdown Tech House Chart.
The aptly titled Chaos in Europe, is a no nonsense tech house track that would sound relevant within any house set. A basic but effective bassline is layered underneath stabbing synths, shuffling percussion and a vocal loop that breaks free from being 'just another house track'.
Ryky – Underground Perspective
Returning to 18-09 with the follow up to his number one track, On Right Now, comes Ryky with this tech stomper, Underground Perspective.
Sampling an interview from Detroit techno legend Carl Craig discussing his music, the original provides a top slice of tech house in, what is fast becoming, Ryky's signature sound. Grooving percussion, stomach trembling bass line and hint of acid synths, this track is sure to be another smash for Ryky.
Remixes come from Alex Descarada, head of CRAFT Underground Records, with his first release on 18-09, that strips the original back to a more minimal tech sound whilst making full use of the vocals. Fake Self completes the package with a more upbeat tech sound remix that would suit both house and tech sets.
Connect:
www.facebook.com/1809records/
Words By Conor McEvoy