25th January 2010 Releases

CONFORCE
Love and Hate EP:
A1. Love Hate
B1. The Land Of The Highway
B2. Stop Hold
meanwhile. 12"
(MEAN 018)



'After four singles for some of Europe's A-list techno labels, Meanwhile welcome this inspired 22 year old Dutchman - Leeuwarden-based Boris Bunnik. As Conforce, he prefaces a stunning double album incoming soon, one of profound electronic depth representing classic techno's next wave with this melodic, stunning and need we say highly limited three tracker. The album is named 'Machine Conspiracy', ready compiled and set for release in February 2010, and shows the rude good health of the rising Friesland province sound, especially when set next to contemporaries like Delta Funktionen, Damian Keane and Mohlao. If you can't stand the deepness, get the hell out of the way.

'Conforce arrives then with rolling form and great anticipation after dropping a couple of killer limited twelve inch vinyls, 'Our Concern' and 'Junction' for the excellent Rush Hour : big spins for Derrick May, Josh Wink, Rolando, Laurent Garnier, Reggie Dokes, and many more ensued. Lately, heavyweight output has continued across an ep each for Modelisme 'CCCP' and 'Cruising' for Curle - both again very well received. 'Cruising' itself charted at No. 2 in Philip Sherburne's Best of 2009 Critical Beats end of year round up for The Wire magazine. Word's out on Conforce, that he is melodic and thoroughly excellent.

'Love Hate' for us pretty well defines what's best in futuristik Motor City techno-soul- house music - the sheer drama of this track as it ripples and swells all shapes it for those who care: dense and modern, pressed deep in a new era for the physical medium. Generations of fans from Model 500 and Shakir right the way through should be involved, and note: Heady stuff that comes highly recommended!'


F
Energy Distortion Part 1:
A. Energy Distortion
B. Energy Distortion (Untold RMX)
7EVEN 12"
(7EVEN 012)




'January 2010 sees the release of this 12" sampler, including the eponymous track 'Energy Distortion', backed by an incredible remix by the man on fire right now, Untold. F gives a taste of his forthcoming LP, and what a tune!!! With 'Energy Distortion', F takes his own level higher. Supported by SKREAM ('This one’s sexy! BIG!!!'), JOE NICE ('Fire in the hole!!! Tunes are heavyweight!'), PINCH, HEADHUNTER, MARY ANNE HOBBS, SCUBA, UNTOLD, 2562 and the 7EVEN Gang, this sampler is only one track of the 15 forthcoming on the 'Energy Distortion' album! '

18th January 2010 Releases

SULLY
A. The Loot (Sully RMX)
AA. In Some Pattern
Keysound 12"
(LDN 015)





'Massive new twelve from Sully - big one for all the all night bubblers crew! Another impeccable selection from the Keysound camp, Sully's tracks here set a high standard indeed for the new decade. Following an acclaimed twelve late in 2009 for Frijsfo Beats. that was defined by a genuine sense of jittery urban tension - these tracks are fuller, more composed and even better produced, whilst retaining a taut flex for the dancefloor massive. Sully's version of J-Treole joins the dots between El-B and Herbie Hancock, splintered vocal fragments pay due respect to UKG originators, luxurious keys cause reminiscence of some classic MJ Cole remixes, the low end is one for all pirates, killer. 'In Some Pattern' offers some premium future rollage: harder edged rydim cracks usher in rude hypercoloured synth splashes - all displayed upon a bassline with fearsome dancefloor potential. As with the now universal Hyph Mango from 2009, the simplicity of the elements used really defines the tune and helps guarantee surefire wreckage on the floor - especially when the drop hits with an infectious break - stealth attack ! Big tune for followers of Untold, 2562, Pearson Sound, Synkro etc.'


IDO GOVRIN
Moraine
Interval CD
(IL 04)






'Moraine by Ido Govrin is composed of exquisite sound qualities consisting of restrained gestures of simultaneous assembling and disassembling processes, slow though diligent creation holds a promise for total collapse, destruction, and as such, fills the listener with sweet sadness and longing. The album's name, 'Moraine', indicates the working process but not just that. Moraine is a geological phenomenon created when the bedrock underneath is scoured and crushed by the movement and extreme pressure of a glacier eventually to the size of dust grains. It is being transported beneath the glacier's infrastructure as a thick stratum of solid substance and creates various forms throughout the plateau. In 'Moraine', Ido Govrin investigates the micro level of sound process where vast amount of sound partials are being generated and manipulated; blocs of sonic substance creates morphed sound strata. Continuous forms and entities of sound collide into each other, crushed and woven into one another; the acoustic gale seems to briefly appear as a spatial object, dwelling in space. Promptly afterwards, the stratification and deterritorialization continues simultaneously. The six electro-acoustic pieces exhibited in 'Moraine' were partly created by the analysis-re-synthesis process of acoustic instruments (Cello and Violin) and partly by a pure computer generated process of sound.'

11th January 2010 Releases

CHRIS ROBISON
Chris Robison and His
Many Hand Band
Chapter Music CD
(CH 067)





'Chris Robison And His Many Hand Band, released privately in 1973 and reissued now on CD for the first time, was one of the world's first records by an openly gay songwriter. Coming just a few years after the Stonewall Riots of 1969, Many Hand Band is a dazzling feat of musical daring. But Chris Robison is not just a pioneering gay musician, he has been an all-pervasive presence in New York rock from the late-'60s onwards, having played with everyone from Elephant's Memory and Steam to Kiss, the New York Dolls, John Phillips and Bob Dylan. Not only that, Many Hand Band is a totally freewheeling and unique album, coalescing all the sensory overload of downtown New York City life in the early-'70s. It touches on folk, psychedelic rock, Latin funk and more, all filtered through Robison's sly and cheeky personality. There is no "woe is me" self-pity here, just an uplifting sense of fun and natural self-expression.

'Recorded almost totally by Chris himself late at night in a cut-rate studio, Many Hand Band is one of the few remaining undiscovered classics from the period, gay or otherwise. It's difficult to appreciate now, more than 35 years later, how daring and how groundbreaking songs like "Looking For A Boy Tonight" and "Italian Boy" were upon their release. In the album's comprehensive liner notes, filled with rare photos and a frank interview with Chris, he talks of RCA records turning him down because they didn't want another "faggot" on their roster (aside from Lou Reed and David Bowie).

'Meanwhile, he became a poster boy for the burgeoning gay lib movement, playing Washington Square Park with Bette Midler in front of thousands in 1973. Chris would go on to play with pre-Kiss group Wicked Lester, as well as join the New York Dolls for their Japanese tour of 1975. His later band Stumblebunny toured Europe supporting the Hollies and wrote their later hit "Stormy Waters." Bonus tracks come from a rare single released in 1974 on Buddah Records, featuring the all-time shoulda-beena classic "I'm Gonna Stay With My Baby Tonight," subsequently covered by Ronnie Spector and George McCrae. It's a wild and fascinating story, but Many Hand Band contains the seeds of it all -- all the hedonism, passion and beauty of Chris Robison's life condensed into one incredible record.'


ORIGAMI PRODUCTIONS
Laidbook 03: The Cosmic Issue
Origami CD/10x Art Cards
(OPCA 1004)





New instalment in this excellent monthly series from Japan:

4th January 2010 Releases

DISTANCE
A: Distance 'Clockwork'
AA: Pinch ft Rudey Lee
'One Blood, One Source'
(Distance Remix)
Tectonic 12"
(TEC 033)



'Tectonic is very pleased to present a particularly heavyweight slate from one of the masters of bass, the legendary DJ Distance. As a foundational pioneer to dubstep with many system rattling classics under his belt - either on his own faultless imprint Chestplate, on his albums for Planet Mu, or even his early Hotflush releases - Distance always makes an impression by means of impeccable production skills, earthquake subs and a refined thirst for darkside power chords! Following on from his last outing on Tectonic in 2006 as part of Tectonic Plates Vol 1, with 'Temptation', Greg Sanders delivers the excellent 'Clockwork' and the now anthemic 'One Blood, One Source' (Distance Remix).

'A: 'Clockwork' : Leading in with a fairly minimal 16 bar intro, 'Clockwork' tears through at the drop - unleashing a barrage of heavily weighted brutal bass, carefully ordered but chaotic drum programing which is simultaneously disorientating and driving - it's as if you are being sucked into miniature time holes in between the crack of the regulated snare pattern. As the track builds it shines full of the characteristics that make Distance stand out as a producer - each layer is carefully put together and meticulously treated resulting in a rhythm that fits the Tectonic style - unique, heavy, rolling, infallible and reserved for after hours, when the lights are down low. Pedigree.

'AA: Pinch ft Rudey Lee 'One Blood, One Source' (Distance Remix) : Take a Bristol dubstep classic and give it to an original South London dubstep master to relick the parts - and what you end up with is a bone fide anthem. Distance reworks 'One Blood, One Source' featuring the legendary Rudey Lee (Smith & Mighty), originally taken from Pinch's 2007 'Underwater Dancehall' LP as part of a remix swap (Pinch takes on the mighty 'V' for Chest Plates in return, also due out soon). The maths are simple here and it all correctly adds up to be a huge tune - not to be missed.'

DUBKASM FEATURING RAS ADDIS
A1: City Walls featuring RAS ADDIS
A2: Shofar Dub
B1: Hail Jah featuring RAS ADDIS
B2: Four Hands To The Board
(DIGISTEP & DJ STRYDA
Dubplate Mix)
Sufferah's Choice 12" (DUBK 10)


'Special request !! The people's choice has decreed that Ras Addis' City Walls become the next vinyl single from the acclaimed Dubkasm double album set 'Transform I' that blessed summer 2009 with its innovative incorporation of Brazilian sounds and deepest UK roots. So step up -this twelve is a generous package of City Walls cut nice and deep, horns sounding mellifluous and inflected with dread, and it is this impending mood the Shofar dub develops - allowing the militant rhythm to dominate centre stage - sound system ready and ultimately deadly. Backing it up is the equal devotional anthem Hail Jah with another exclusive dubplate special dug deep from the Dubkasm crew's killer selection - version like rain. Already huge favourites with the champion Iration Steppas sound system and big on plate with venerable systems such as Jah Shaka and Aba Shanti I - this is a big one for the steppers crew of all persuasions - please make sure to get on this early.

'Heralding a big 2010 looking ahead for the Dubkasm crew, watch out for the full length 'Transformed In Dub' versions package - already in the can and primed to drop very soon. Afterwards and almost too exciting too exciting to speak of - a further series of very special versions is slated for release through the summer of 2010 from straight out of the heart of Bristol's ascendant dubstep community. Names such as Pinch, Gemmy, RSD, Forsaken, Peverelist, Joker & Ginz, Gatekeeper & Appleblim, Guido, Hyetal, Jakes and Headhunter will all represent.'

ECHO_TM FT ECHO RANKS / BIODUB
A: Skylarking
B: Skylarking (Biodub's Poor Man Version)
Kanu Kanu 12"
limited edition
300 copies on blue vinyl
(KANU 001)


'Killer dubs - the debut single released by Kanu Kanu. The aim of this new vinyl imprint is to promote interesting and original artists from the Bass world - showing an emphasis apparent on all strands from reggae to dub-techno, minimal dubstep swung back right out to future garage. It's all run from Cairo, Egypt with overall conception and production by Polish producer Hatti Vatti - last sighted in 2009 on Indigo and Synkro's Manchester based Mindset Recordings, with his awesome 'Different Music'.

'The material for the single was created by musicians from three countries: Echo_TM from Poland, Echo Ranks from Great Britain and Biodub from Germany. Echo TM's production and Biodub's epic skanked poor man version both hug the sensual throbbed vibe of Rhythm&Sound at their highest grade.'