Musilik

Beats n' Feelings

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After listening to his new Split LP “A/B” the other day with some friends talking about Vakula’s extensive and musically varied output. I decided to do a little Vakula Special. Of course this can only be a very personal selection. His discography has become a long long list of LP’s and obscure to critically acclaimed EP’s. A Deep  Journey through Jazz Cosmic Ambient House Dub and Bluesrock Psychedelia.

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It was interesting to see how a small scene gathering around Frenchman Lazare Hoche transformed a very classical 90′s New York/New Jersey/Chicago/Detroit (whatever) approach back into the groovy Minimal-House aesthetic revitlizing a genre that somehow had become a little bit stuck in a role as over-commercialized no go area. Shure there have always been variations of this groovy very Ibiza related style of House music, but it were forward thinking releases by the Mandar crew (Malin Genie, Lazare Hoche, S.A.M.) and their Oscillat Label who really moved a classic house music infused minimal-sound(*) back into public attention, opening new territories for eclectic sound-researchers such as in this case Adam Stromstedt and Flord King. Adam Stromstedt is already known for some quality House tracks in a typical Scandinavian way. Together with Mr. Tophat and Art Alfie he has contributed to the highly respected Sound of Junk Yard Connections, as well as for Banoffee Pies. However he managed to gain attention in DJ Circles. Now he is releasing his second record together with Flord King on the recently founded Label Lyssna- (swedish for listen) Records. And it seems like the label is going to push a more minimal, atmospheric variation of the Junk Yard/Karlovak Sound furthermost holding the high quality standard. The A-Side Sinbad with it’s sparse rhythmic elements is leaving space for subtle but still world-opening oriental synthesizer sounds. All of which is accompanied by a decent yet fat and warm kickdrum. In fact a very minimalistic track. The B-Side is produced by Flord King and it is so perfectly balanced you could listen to it for hours without feeling an inch of boredom. Again deep shimmering Sounds are floating, modulating, appearing and disappearing. Kick and Bass so full and warm that you get addicted to them instantly. This track radiates an indestructible self-confidence. Even though it is a pumping track, there is nothing about it even close to boasting.  It does not need any show it just walks on and on doing its thing. Doing it elusively well. With this EP Adam Stromstedt and Flord King are adding their very own signature to the actual classic house / minimal discourse and a future-classic EP on top.

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Check out Leaf Project debut “Satyr”.  Even though the EP drenches of modern retro styled bliss it seems like it still has to be discovered by the people digging deep for quality house cuts. All three cuts on this 12″ are definitely worth being heard and played!

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Kez YM will be responsible for the next EP on Playground. Incredible releases by James Duncan, No Milk and Herb LF have set a high standard to the labels output and if it hasn’t been before the 8th catalogue number finally marks Playground as a true bench of classic US-House orientated deepness presenting Kez YM in his very best form. 

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This is a wonderful tune by Gibs it just got released on An. Art records.

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After the announcement of the “From Fear to Fantasia” EP on Saft Records sub print Pulp there is another Chris Gray EP coming on Saft itself. “Sweetness You Bring” is a reissue of a Chris Gray Record that was released on Deep 4 Life Records back in in 2000. This EP is widely considered as a classic record and if you listen to it you will understand why. There is not much else to say. This record is a must have! I am very happy that the record will be affordable now, because if you wanted to purchase it before you had to be willing to pay at least 100€ for the EP. Glad music lover I is today!

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Parisian Label D.KO Records will release the debut album of Flabaire. The french producer has made quite a buzz for himself with quality releases on Serie Limiteé, Organic Music and D.KO Records, where his tracks stood out with that certain MPC-swinging old school House feeling. Also I found his ‘Roland 808 Live Set’ for LeMellotron.com quite impressive,  because it is so precise in showcasing exactly that. After this it’s surprising how early the french producer comes up with such a coherent statement on the LP format. He combines his trademark dance floor grooves with ambiental and Breakbeat related rhythms, while the pieces are held together by an overall sweet melancholic density which is also continued in the warm retroesque sound design of the Album. In general I would say that past is a ongoing theme throughout this LP. On a level of musical referencing it is quite obvious how Flabaires style is rooted in the history, and even on the more experimental or lets say loose pieces on the Album Flabaire chose the traditional Breakbeat to provide rhythmical guidance through the Album’s sweet melodies which may be translated correct if they were called sweet memories. But ironically or maybe just naturally is “It’s Just a Silly Phase I’m Going Through” a modern statement of Dance Music standing in a row with the great memorable House Albums. And mainly that is because Flabaire manages to translate his ability of balancing from track- into long playing format.

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The Master of deep pumping House-Tracks is back with a 12″ on Pulp Records. Check this out!

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I totally fell in love with this techno track when UVB’s “Second Love” EP came out about half a year ago. Just had to realize that I still am. Hardwax has got some copies on their online shop.

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Since the very first 12″ by Lucky Charms I eagerly followed the Lehult releases, not only because these guys are putting out such high quality music, but specially because they are coming out of the same neighbourhood that I grew up in. Drawing their inspiration out of the history of deep underground House, their music manages it to be stylistically interesting and yeah lets say cool, but nevertheless it hits an emotional spot taking the music to a higher place outside the sheer referencing of old school sound. This emotional content is what makes their music fresh and especially in terms of this track by Liem, timeless. Ladies and Gents, House is a Feeling

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As the leaves leave the trees deepness is needed. Dubbyman? Tribute to Presciption? Should do the work!

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Incredible Deep House cut by DaRand Land. Most things on this Label are timeless great!

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In times where the classic Deep House sound reference often works as an legitimation for showing off the most effective 909 kickdrum - bassline sidechain, hiding this ‘who got the biggest stick’ game under some random dubby chords...Jason Grove brings the necessary portion of Detroit Soul into the game. And he got tons of it. Maybe this one is my favorite of his. One of these unstoppable House grooves, an uplifting filtered sample and the oversaturated synth coming in during the break is pure ecstasy.

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Albrecht La’Brooy got my attention with his(their?) first release “Good Morning Passengers” on the new imprint Analogue Attic with the breathtaking piano monster “Louis” and beautiful ambient pieces. This mix seems to be a live jam more than a DJ mix and honestly this is as mesmerizing as Deep House can get!