Dustin Zahn makes his album debut in March 2014 with the release of Monoliths on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label

Miss You

Paul Johnson - Give Me Ecstasy

Label: DanceMania
Vinyl: Sex Crazed / Track Happy

Paul Johnson - Give Me Ecstasy

Inject

Riva Starr – Raw Edits Vol 1

Renowned for his ability to bring creativity and flair to his wild remixes, edits and re-edits, Riva Starr is a hugely welcome new addition into the Saved fold. Bringing a special collection of new edits, the producer displays the kind of dexterity that has made him so impossible to pigeonhole over the last decade.

First up, Riva delivers a driving and energetic mashup of DJ ROLAND CLARK’s “The First Time” and Paul C & Paolo Martini’s “Take Some Time.” Frenetic percussion in the top end and futuristic FXs create a party-focused pace as the dubby atmospheres and pumping beats add the power and momentum. The ghetto-funk vocal adds another dimension to make this Riva’s own personal homage to the history of house music. The raw edit of “Chasing Autumns” by Taras Van De Voorde continues that exploration further, tapping into a unique mix of classic sounding house with rich piano chords and emotive strings; and a modern, raw sounding warehouse energy that burns and stomps away underneath.

Taking things into a much deeper hue, Riva with his colourful edit of Luca Morris’ “Play By Play.” Built around subtly shifting melodies, a deep, rolling bassline and tumbling drums, the track shuffles forward with bags of personality and charisma. Intoxicating and heady, this one will keep heads down whilst infiltrating the feet. Riva’s edit of Rino Cerrone & Flavio Diaz’s “Extraordinary Wiring” is a dizzying, head-spinning workout that swirls and shakes with an unsteadying disposition. Funky drums interplay with highly distorted synths and mechanical sounding basslines to create a sound that is at once playful, addictive and unstoppable.

Buy at Beatport

Taras van de Voorde - Chasing Autumns (RIVA STARR RAW CUT) (128Kbps Edit)

Released on Whistleblower Records in October 2015

Tribe

'Tribe'

Having developed an impeccable reputation in the past twenty years since delving into the word of turntables and mixtapes at an early age, Sims can be called a genuine legend in the world of techno. As a producer he has remixed Jeff Mills, Chris Liebing, Adam Beyer and Kevin Saunderson as well as releasing on just about every seminal techno imprint there is. As an A&R he’s been at the helm of nine labels, including the highly influential Ingoma and KB Records inc, and continues to steward Theory and Hardgroove towards the boxes of the discerning fans. 

Most recently the London-based producer has seen his ‘Way Back Wednesday’ (with Tony Anderson), ‘Funk You’ and occasional disco radio shows garner huge support while ploughing further energy into the futurist techno club night “Machine’ alongside Kirk Degiorgio. 

It’s with Sims’ multitude of achievements and notoritey in mind that the knowledge that ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is his debut LP is somewhat unbelievable, but fact it is. After initially hooking up with Adam Beyer’s Drumcode imprint late in 2010 after a long standing friendship, the affable and dry witted Sims’ was persuaded to deliver an LP and the lengthy writing and selection process began. The result is 11 superb productions which showcase Ben’s talents, influences and perhaps most importantly, his vision of what techno can and should be. 

From the off ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is a technicolour affair that refuses to sit too comfortably into one groove, preferring to pull the listener through a range of vibes that, while disparate, flow together perfectly. As the album moves, snippets of new vibes bleed through before developing into themes and this is one of the brilliant elements of ‘Smoke & Mirrors’.  

The rousing and prophetically titled ‘Riots in London’ opener leads us into a frenetic, dub-tinged and filter-driven aesthetic which is neatly carried on in ‘Descent’ but subtly augmented with almost-there soulful vocal samples. This nod to soulful elements is then carried on in the less pacey, house referencing ‘ The Snake’ which fuses stabbing keys to a skipping beat which is as much New York as it is Detroit, London or Berlin. 

As ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ develops, suprises like the out-and-out tech-funk of ‘Back To The Pod’ and the street party disco of ‘Can You Feel It?’ are hinted at but never lack surprise when dropped. The emphatic drive of the huge sounding ‘I Wanna Go Back’ featuring Blake Baxter takes things back to techno territory and does so with real purpose while darker edged tracks such as the lethal ‘Bullet’ and the late-night discordance of  ‘The Afterparty’ ramp up the tension. 

The twilight sections of Sims’ debut are perfectly judged. The dubbed (and blissed) out title track lightens the mood before the slightly more aggressive but widescreen ‘The Calling’ trips proceedings out in anticipation of the closer, the Tyree Cooper vocalled and aptly titled ‘I Feel It Deep’

‘Smoke & Mirrors’ has been more than worth the wait. It’s as balanced, entertaining, engaging and powerful as you’d expect from such an artist as Ben Sims and, complete with artwork from Alan Oldham and collaborations from Blake Baxter and Tyree Cooper, is essential stuff.

Ben Sims - I Wanna Go Back (Featuring Blake Baxter)

Radio Slave readies a double A-side to mark the 100th release on Rekids this February.

Having recently celebrated ten years, the consistency of music on Matt Edwards’ Rekids is indisputable with releases from Nina Kraviz, Mr. G, David Morales, Peggy Gou and DJ Deep to name a few. Aside
from his A&R abilities Edwards’ extensive understanding of electronic music is evident in his various pseudonyms. Amongst these Radio Slave is easily his most illustrious and most fitting for the seminal label’s milestone 100th release.

“I had to make these tracks. It’s what we do and it’s the perfect release for Rekids 100” – Matt Edwards

Containing all the hallmarks of a Radio Slave production, ‘Another Club’ merges looped vocals with thudding kicks as echoing stabs and infectious hats work their magic. On the flip, ‘Feel The Same’ is a
funky slice of Detroit inspired house.

A. Radio Slave - Another Club

BITT135 - Giovanni Carozza - Hypercolour (2000 And One Remix)

The Edits Vol.1

Rosinenbrot (Gary Beck Edit)

To celebrate the milestone catalogue number UTTU100 Len Faki has remixed label head DJ Haus for this special limited one off coloured 10 inch release.

DJ Haus - Let My Brain Go (Len Faki Remix)

Soon o n Drumcode
2013 remake of the 10 years old track "Pontapé"

BITT135 - Giovanni Carozza - Hypercolour (2000 And One Remix)

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