Funkinevil

Ignorant/In the Grid 12"

Wild Oats

An aggressive and chilled side from the formidable combination of Kyle Hall and Fukineven . Intro is little more than a tweaked arpeggio with some vocoder boasts on top. Ignorant follows, a skeletal, nimble bass track. In the Grid is a deep, inward-looking house jam, the ride home to Ignorant's dark club. To extend that metaphor, Outro's beatless drones could accompany a cloudy drift to sleep.

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You've Never Been To Konotop (Selected Works 2009-2012) (LP) 

Firecracker

A massive set from the Ukranian purveyor of all things deep. As with most Vakula releases, the producer's adroit musicianship sits alongside an preternatural understanding of atmosphere. Jazz Mutants works a fusion bassline and comes off sounding like one of the instrumental asides from Eno's  Another Green World. The producer's piano chops are on full display on New Romantic, flexing neoclassical over a loping 303. In My Head sounds like early Theo Parrish and disintegrates into upward modular experiments. The impact of Amsterdam improv journeyman Juju and Jordash is felt, not least on which on the track dedicated to the duo. For Juju and Jordash reimagines the duo's  synth based psychedelia as a primetime detective show intro. A remarkably cohesive release in light of  the considerable time period covered.

Hugh Mane  

Spectra Sonics 12"

Running Back

Chilled out vintage house from the UK, circa 1990. The album's analog warmth and playful musicality place these dusty DAT recordings in good stead with current house releases. Back Life and Hard to Finish If Your Finish place  charming improvised leads over unstoppable square wave basslines. My Midi Is A Mess works in a more sequenced set of chords while exploring the sweet spot between The Music Box and The Hacienda. Tuff City Kids appear with a classy edit. Recommended.

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Innerspace Halflife

1000 Light Years of Acid 12"

Skudge White

Heady, substantial modern acid from the duo comprised of  Hakim Murphy and Ike Release. In a way similar to Convextion , the duo balances the more banging signifiers of the subgenre with cerebral synthwork. Open Electric Acid uses the classic 303 box in a traditional melodic context, presenting an oblique, banging bassline. Exosuit indulges more abstract modular exercises before introducing a spacious church organ. 

Todd Terje

Strandbar 12"

Olsen 

Todd's first solo release since the world-beating Inspector Norse . This set, a friendly volley to a music critic's dismissal of Inspector as "Strand" or "Beach" bar music, starts with an a-side length Samba version, buoying an insistent piano house progression with nuanced live percussion. When the progression changes to a sublime four-chord vamp it's just as massive a moment as anything on Inspector Norse - this time relying on pure musicianship rather than Arp 2600 acrobatics.

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Vakula

Bandura 002 12"

Bandura

Excellent new material from the prolific producer, the second white label release on his own Bandura. Vakula channels jazz influences here, with opener "D The Man" playing two relatively ornate piano/rhodes lines against each other. "Evening Breeze" is similarly busy, this time relying on cosmic synth interplay for a boogie-prog sound. "Fifth Experiment" is more traditional, by Vakula's standards that is, it's excellent underwater deep house. "4 G Lady" once again leans on heavily processed jazz chords and even an accomplished vibes solo. All winners, move quick.

Cliff Lothar  

White Savage 12"

Viewlexx  

Mysterious emanations from the Hague. The four tracks hear are heavy on Boss-drum machines, meandering live basslines, odd samples and Detroit-electro influence. Despite the reliance on classic analog modules, the material sounds fresh and will be of equal interest to the working dj and studio hermit. 

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Alden Tyrell  

Luv Thang 12"

4Lux

Nice late night bomb from 4Lux proprietor Gerd and Alden Tyrell. The duo recruited Jessy Allen to lend "Luv Thang" her insouciant lyrics. The instrumental version draws attention to the track's adroit 909 workout.  "Girls Can't Swim" is a harder big room techno-tool

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Hiver  

Blue Aconite 12"

Curle

Deep analogue techno from Italy. "Eglantine" bides it's time, using a dubby stab, crisp snare and subtle piano to lay the ground for a nostalgic three-chord pad. Tobias. handles remix duties, turning "Teasal" into a engrossing piece of autobahn techno. The original follows, full of clever hi-hat panning and modulation of a skyward set of chords. 

Omar-S  

Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Part 1 (LP)

Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Part 2 (LP)

FXHE

Vinyl release of the sprawling full-length from Omar-S. The collection of 13 previously unreleased tracks feel suitably epic, the producer flexing his ability to tackle a diversity of styles with a hat tip to the album form. "Be Yoself" emerges as the first in a number of tracks that will be included among past FXHE classics, and has the producer laying thoughtful synth ambience over an massive bass line. "Let It Ride" could be a mission statement for the album - Omar-S is that rare producer who leaves well enough alone, in this instance lacing a tough groove with some virtuosic piano playing for nearly seven minutes. "Helter Shelter" sounds as corroded as a Huerco S. track, while the lack of melody and subtle drums of "Tardigrade's" recall Omar's oft-quoted admonition to lazy djs: "Yeah bitch, that’s all the record do. Yep your lazy ass needs to do some other shit with it."

The title track has Omar-S indulging his sensitive side to stunning effect. A subtle Rhodes chord and brief synth figure bring in a mid-track melodic line of heartbreaking optimism. Closer "It's Money In the D" looks back to the moody piano nostalgia of "Just Ask The Lonely". Another winner.

Buy Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Part 1 (LP)

Buy Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Part 2 (LP)