tunes to eye up

O. Xander - Less Is More EP (us007) 
Release date: 9 April

A1. Lovers Theme

10,000 suns

10,000 Suns

Hi, How Are You

Since their launch in 2013, Frankfurt based Traffic Records have cemented their reputation as a vinyl-only powerhouse. The label is known for consistently pushing the boundaries of the minimal soundscape with a refreshing lack of predictability, embracing influences as far-reaching as electro, UK garage and bleep. Each Traffic release captures a distinctly unique energy and intoxicating strangeness that brings the leftfield to the dancefloor’s front-left. 
 
This essence of the Traffic sound is encapsulated by its latest four-tracker: Traffic013, Etienne’s ‘Combat EP’. The strikingly diverse 12” stomper comes from French-born Berlin-Based DJ and producer, Etienne Ottd, whose spaced-out sound takes listeners into uncharted territory of techno, electro and tech-house. His calculated ‘quality-over-quantity’ approach has allowed him to curate an enviable discography of accessible strangeness. With a biography like this, it goes without saying that today’s premiere has us very excited. 
 
Heating things up on the A1 is ‘Rez’: a pared-back, bass-heavy groover with a grabbing kick.  A wobbly cosmic-sounding stab cuts through the deranged melody, keeping our interest peaked and our feet firmly on the dancefloor. The A2 is home to ‘Disto’, an aptly titled dystopian journey into a world of distortion. There’s markedly more going on in this track than the A1, but a distinct rawness ensures it never feels busy or overwhelming. The spaced out bleeps that enter midway through provide an intoxicating contrast to the track’s slamming hook. 
 
Flip it over and the B side begins with ‘Le Spnk’: a hard-hitting 4/4 stomper that reeks of a sweat-soaked peak-time basement. A shuffling techno hat pattern and growling synth keep the vibes well and truly on the dark side. An avid soundcloud commenter described the track as a “floor destroyer”– we couldn’t agree more.  Closing off the EP on the B2 is the atmospheric and ethereal ‘A New Dawn’ where synth lines dance among a muffled kick. It is the type of track that restores a wave of energy to the dancefloor– the ideal addition to a spacy sunrise set. 

On the whole the EP’s experimentation with an eclectic soundscape has paid off in spades. It’s near impossible to pick a track of the record - a testament to Etienne’s sorcery. To ensure you get your hands on the wax, pre-order a copy from your distributor of choice now.

Premiere: B2 - Etienne - A New Dawn [TRAFFIC013]

I:Cube - Transpiration (Original Mix)

CST008 Lowris -  3xwell (SIT unpublished remix)

Juan MacLean and Man Power debut as Juan Power for Life and Death

Life and Death continue to serve up brilliantly unpredictable releases with a new one that brings together American DFA stalwart Juan MacLean with the UK’s Me Me Me label head Man Power, plus an edit from the boss, DJ Tennis. 

Juan MacLean is a multi-faceted artist who has a history of everything from playing in post hardcore bands to producing some of DFA’s most celebrated releases. He does classy house bangers with synth pop and disco layers like no one else. Man Power, meanwhile, is someone who is fantastically eclectic in what he does on all fronts as a DJ, label boss and producer. He’s made corrugated acid, hands in the air house and machine disco and plenty in between on his own label, but also cult outlets like Correspondent and ESP Institute. The coming together of these two undoubted studio wizards, then, is a fascinating prospect. 

And so it proves right from the off: opener ‘Crescendo’ is a nine minute masterpiece with rickety house drums making you move while the shuffling percussion builds the pressure. Gorgeously warm chords eventually join the fray and have a blissful effect that sets you off dreaming and keeps you in a trance until the end. 

DJ Tennis himself then steps up with an edit of ‘Excuse Me Daddy’ that is deep and cavernous. Next to the suspensory pads is an intricate synth line that takes you in on yourself in perfectly melancholic ways. 

Closer ‘Praise The Toad’ then picks up the pace with more live sounding drums and a sparkling lead synth that rises and falls to cosmic effect. Drawn out over the full length of the track, and in amongst some chattery claps and smart effects, it makes for a journey to the stars that will cast a real spell on all who hear it. 

This is an innovative collaboration between two masters of their craft.

Tour dates
22nd June: Juan Power @ Topaz Deluxe, Mexico
26th July: Juan Power @ Elsewhere, NYC

PRE ORDER

Juan Power - Crescendo

Bogdan Andrei - Another Side Of The Story

Sub label of LORI Records IROL borns with the aim of giving space to creativity and Ideas. A spot where every artist can express his music without prejudices and limitations. We want to give space to those tracks which will never be released for an artistic choice but that really deserve to be shown to the world.

IROL001 - Only Vinyl - Limited Copies

Available at:
Kma60 - http://bit.ly/2GRIBp7
Deejay.de - http://bit.ly/2GRJ7n3
Decks.de - http://bit.ly/2GPGOkx
Juno.co.uk - http://bit.ly/2ua2aq6
Yoyaku.io - http://bit.ly/2GPH0Ah
Viniil.it - http://bit.ly/2SlrlOg
+ Many other record shops

A1. Nameless - Io_1 [IROL001] (Snippet)

Lyrics &amp; vocal by Rich Medina. Feel free to download and remix! Original track is here http://soundcloud.com/forss/journeyman

Please add your tracks to the Forss remixed group, http://soundcloud.com/groups/forss-remixed

Journeyman Acappella

Been on more dance floors than there is atoms in space.. 
Now its time to give some magic back to the people ∆

tunes to eye up

Spicy