Phaze II Ferox 1995. Re-released on Melodies International 2020

900th Lifetime

Kicking off with direct, subtle and in-tune basement dust, Skudge has managed to capture two weekend modes.

This is a soundtrack for either those apprehensive moments, where things start to fall into place and the crowd is rest assured that this will be a time to remember.

But Soundworks is also the soundtrack for those areas that turn party-goers into altered silhouettes, captured between strobe light flashes. Those types of situations, where the smoke and sweat meet in between the last dances.

From start to finish, the fourth album carries a sound that is coherent. What Soundworks means, is that all of the nine tracks on the LP are multi-dimensional, without losing traction. There are adrenal spikes but there are also drifters - most significant in the tracks ’Floating’, ’Scape’ and ’Likemind’.

All-in-all, what we have here is a return to form for Skudge, with a capital S.

Soundworks

Cycle

Dutch producer @musicofperdu debuts on Jordan Nocturne’s @nocturnelabel with two cuts of tough, acid-dipped Italo disco

More info: https://djmag.com/listen/premiere-perdu-interlinked

Premiere: Perdu ‘Interlinked’

Bill Mango returns to his eponony-ish imprint with The Idea of You; a lush new EP of cloud-headed balearic house delights from the Lisbon-based artist plus a remix from Scuffed Recordings’ Chungo.

BUY on BANDCAMP

PREMIERE : Bill Mango - Shremble

Vinyl: https://www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/brighter-days-5
Digital: https://rushhourmusic.bandcamp.com/album/kamma-masalo-brighter-days

Since 2014, Brighter Days has been a part of the rich tapestry of Amsterdam nightlife – a semi-regular party promoting positivity and inclusiveness run by resident DJs Kamma and Masalo. On the back of the platform provided by the party, the duo has notched up a string of memorable club and festival appearances, a regular Brighter Days show on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM, and a memorable Boiler Room set streamed live from Dekmantel Festival.

Now Kamma and Masalo have taken the next step and curated a Brighter Days compilation for Rush Hour, a collection that does a terrific job in offering up slept-on and unreleased gems – including a clutch of their own tried-and-tested re-edits – while also accurately representing the sound, style and ethos of the event that inspired it.

Like Kamma and Masalo’s event, which invariably takes place in intimate dancing spaces in Amsterdam, the Brighter Days compilation offers up an open-minded, club-friendly soundtrack that joins the dots between crate-digging obscurities from the recent and distant past, fresh cuts, ‘secret weapons’ and previously unreleased music from young, local producers who have become regular faces on Brighter Days dancefloors.

Across nine tracks, Kamma and Masalo deliver an enticing blend of tactile and colourful house, disco, basement-ready throb-jobs, inspired dancefloor dubs and righteous boogie jams, some of which are appearing on vinyl for the very first time (see Haroumi Hosono and Yasuhiko’s ‘Turquois’, an exceedingly rare, CD-only chunk of deep, throbbing tribal house intoxication).

There are highlights everywhere you look, from the piano-house rush of the ‘Subterranean Mix Edit’ of S’Xpress’s overlooked 1990 single ‘Nothing To Lose’ and the South African Kwaito-boogie brilliance of Cisco The Champ’s ‘Move On’, to the Italo-disco excellence of Hugh Bullen’s ‘Alisand’, and Mr Fingers’ jacking 1988 remix of ‘We’re Gonna Work It Out’ by fellow Chicagoan house producers North/Clybourn.

Kamma and Masalo’s remixing and re-editing skills are put in the spotlight, too. There’s the edit of Discotheque’s 1982 Dutch-Belgian disco classic ‘For Your Love’ and a previously unreleased ‘dub’ edit of French-Cameroonian artist Anyzette’s 1984 gem ‘Baladoun’, a low-slung slice of drum machine-rich body music that blurs the boundaries between Italo-disco, Afro-boogie and proto-techno.

Completing the package are two cuts that demonstrate the duo’s love of showcasing tracks by young and little-known Dutch producers. Peffa’s ‘Routine’, an immersive and emotive treat that blends elements of deep house and Detroit techno, is just one of numerous unreleased tracks by the producer that Kamma and Masalo has been showcasing in their sets in recent years, while Desmon – whose ‘Submerge’ is a woozy, off-beat deep house treat – has been a regular on Brighter Days dancefloors since the start. It’s a fitting nod to what makes Brighter days special: a close-knit community of dancers and inspired, lesser-known music old and new.

Peffa - Routine

Skylax welcome back Nicolas Aftalion with another powerful ep "Spirit of House II" after his sensational debut on the label, acclaimed by the queen of the genre Cinthie. Deeply inspired by the New Jersey house sound popularized by Tony Humphries, and the vibrant energy of the New York scene. This release embodies the essence of original house music, delivering an exhilarating and impactful experience. Following the success of "Spirit of House I", this sequel is a natural progression in Aftalion's musical journey. Prepare to be transported by the enchanting tracks within. "Cruise in Paradise" blends jazz and Spanish influences, reminiscent of the iconic moments on the album "Forever Changes" by the American band Love (as crazy as it sounds), fusing original house with free jazz in an improbable yet captivating manner. "A Message to Mad Mike" pays homage to the visionary DJ and producer of Underground Resistance, expressing profound admiration and love. This is a monumental record that encompasses everything contemporary electronic music has forgotten. "Paris Is Burning" serves as an ode to the voguing culture of the '90s, a celebration of queer expression and vitality. "Soulful in Paris" takes us back to the soulful and rhythmic sounds of Strictly Rhythm and the timeless energy of Ultra Naté. As a digital bonus, indulge in the excellence of "Baby Driver" and "Blaster." "Spirit of House II" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of house music's roots while embracing innovation and artistry. Prepare yourself for an extraordinary musical journey that showcases Nicolas Aftalion's profound understanding of the genre and his ability to create timeless and groundbreaking compositions. In addition, on the label's bandcamp, with the purchase of the vinyl, you can get 2 exclusive unreleased bonus track. Already praised by CINTHIE

"Skylax has never cared for trends of fads and has always dealt in classically inclined house music from artists old and new. The French imprint now looks to Nicolas Aftalion for the second volume of his Spirit of House EP. He captures just that expertly with the opener 'Cruise In Paradise' riding a nice mid-tempo groove with heartfelt vocal hooks. 'A Message To Mad Mike' ups the energy a little with more prominent pads and 'Paris Is Burning' taps into a sense and soulful groove with lush, lazy drums. 'Soulful In Paris' has a nice 90s feel the way the chords and drums sit with one another and is sure to bring the good times." Juno Records

Nicolas Aftalion "Spirit of House II"
A1.Cruise in Paradise 
A2. A Message to Mad Mike
B1.Paris is burning 
B2.Soulful in Paris Master 
Blaster (Digital Bonus)
Baby Driver(Digital Bonus)
SKYLAX 158 / LAX158

BUY VINYL

SKYLAX 158 - B2.Nicolas Aftalion "Soulful In Paris"

https://stellaromsource.bandcamp.com/album/nite-glo

Sudden

Vortec - Follow The Numbers (Artema Recordings)

Sweet (short n sweet)

Orrin [Minimal Groove Concept]

Fragments 2

Written and Produced by Layered Moods
Artwork by Dr. Me

Digital release date: February 27, 2020
Order here: https://bit.ly/38p0YOp

© 2019 Hivern Discs

Fragments 2

Layered Moods - Z

Since 1997 Rush Hour has cultivated itself into a haven for music lovers worldwide. The reputation Rush Hour has built mainly comes from the fact that first and foremost Rush Hour focuses on music they totally believe in and have a love for. The Rush Hour family has a strong sense of pride in always working with and feeding off that impulse and faith, rather than working for the mighty dollar or bottom line. Rush Hour has always been this way.

Peffa - Routine

Rush Hour Music

Related tracks