not bad, but heard better from babicz, sounds half finished

“The wealth of artists involved is truly amazing and it was great to get Pig&Dan involved along with artists who we have worked with in the past, like Robert Babicz, Wehbba, Guy J and Stelios Vassiloudis. Ultimately, I'm really happy with the release and can foresee a lot of these tracks carrying on into the summer season for a lot of DJs.” - John Digweed

As we head towards the month of March there’s earnest debate on various noteworthy music sites about Miami WMC 2012, but there can be no doubt that there will be magical moments that will be talked about for months to come. The Bedrock showcase at Cameo (Thursday 22nd March) featuring John Digweed, Hernan Cattaneo, Guy J, Marco Bailey, Omid 16B, Henry Saiz, Denis A and Stelios Vassiloudis, will be an amazing party, as will John Digweed’s extended set at the Bedrock and Creations party on Saturday 24th at The Vagabond in downtown Miami. Bedrock_Underground Sound Of Miami captures the essence of why electronic dance music is such an exciting prospect right now, showcasing the amazing underground talent, both established and new.

Take, Sirenize, the latest project involving Rowan Blades and rising star Dennis White (aka Thermal Bear on Traum). This duo never compromises, always staying true to the underground with a strict artistic ethos & integrity, as opening track, ‘Everybody’, proves.

From ambient soundscapes, downtempo vocal tracks and slo-mo house, through to deliciously deep house, tech-house and acid grooves, the supremely exciting debut artist album from Greece’s Stelios Vassiloudis, “It Is What It Is” on Bedrock, showed the world that variety is the spice of life. So it’s no wonder that Stelios makes two appearances here: flying solo on the inspired ‘West’ and teaming up with sometime collaborator Sasse (aka Klas Lindblad from Finland) on ‘Benedict’. Sasse’s first releases came out on the legendary Sähkö/Puu as Freestyle Man and rightly are considered a milestone in the Scandinavian house sound. His Moodmusic and Sunday Music labels are highly respected worldwide, so his production skills are up there with the best, as ‘Benedict’ shows.

Germany’s Robert Babicz has a music career that already spans nearly two decades, comprising five albums and multiple singles. The mark of a true musical innovator, he continues to reveal his talent and skill as one of Europe's most essential techno producers. His contribution here, ‘Echo From The Past’, is yet another stunning creation from this hero to many. 

Guy J’s brand new track ‘Shining’ (BEDGJDIGI01) and the hot remixes of tracks from his critically acclaimed ‘1000 Words’ album, have been setting floors alight since the start of 2012, so its no surprise that ‘Nightstalker’ is yet another absolute gem. As one of the standout electronic artists in the world today, Guy J is at the forefront of a movement towards the melody-rich and emotionally charged roots of the house music spectrum. 

Canada’s Maher Daniel & Casa (aka Mike Casa) are both upcoming, pivotal figures on the Montreal scene. Daniel’s remix of Tone Depth's 'Rumblefish' (Bedrock) was #1 on Beatport's techno charts for over two and a half months, cementing a relationship with the label that sees ‘Music, Machines & Life’ introducing a very exciting vibe to the proceedings here. A low-slung, heavy hitting tech monster is the order of the day.

Hailing from Brazil, Wehbba is one of the latest additions to Brazil's fine history of innovative techno producers. He made a big impression with his remix of Christian Smith’s ‘Flyertalk’ on John Digweed’s ‘Structures’ album, leading this dentist graduate, licensed diver and Jiu Jitsu fighter to have his debut track, ‘Mammut’ included on ‘Bedrock 12’. Now, with the bouncy percussive beauty of ‘Motone’ he makes an exciting, welcome return. 

If you’re talking about exciting underground producers it would be rude not to mention Igor Tchkotoua and Dan Duncan (aka Pig&Dan), since 1999 their distinctive mixture of influences has given them a sound that is both innovative and easily recognizable. Their Sonic Society label and relationship with Sven Vath’s Cocoon family have led to global respect for this dynamic duo. Teaming up with English ex-pat, Mark Reeve and Malta’s Dean Demanuele has led to a truly international melting pot of hip-swinging, groovy rhythms on ‘Machines’.

Few French electronic music artists combine experience, avant-gardism and guaranteed success on dance floors as Electric Rescue (aka Antoine Husson) does. His distinctive brand of ultra-dynamic techno and sensuality has already proved itself on Bedrock. ‘Dope’ (BEDDIGi13) was a Balearic techno monster, combining the elegance of Detroit attitude to the groove of a big room tune. The highly hypnotic ‘All Access’ with fellow French prodigy, Timid Boy (aka Damien Almira) is equally amazing here.

Catalan producer and DJ Marc Dosem is unquestionably one of the hottest rising stars in the underground electronic dance scene. His bold debut album, “Parallel” (Sino), was released to much critical acclaim in the summer of 2011, further cementing growing respect, having already unleashed massive tunes such as “Silent Drop” and “Beach Kisses”. Dosem’s stunning remix of Henry Saiz ‘La Marea’ (BED100R) was a highlight of 2011. His unrivalled ability to harness glistening melodies, taking listeners on a trip through wondrous realms of emotion, are supreme on ‘How Do You Do It’, a fitting finale to what is an extraordinary collection of the finest underground electronic dance music.

Once again, it’s hats off to Bedrock for raising the bar even higher with this exceptional compilation. In this day and age to not only survive as an independent label, but also to flourish and constantly evolve, bringing forward new and exciting talent, is something that should be applauded. 


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