Plenty has happened since Cobblestone Jazz released their last album, 23 Seconds, in 2007. The group toured the world virtually non-stop, soaking up inspiration and refining its chops on stage and in the studio alike. Member Mathew Jonson moved from British Columbia to Berlin, setting up a studio headquarters spilling over with analog machines and oddball audio equipment.

And longtime friend and fellow traveler Colin de la Plante (aka the Mole), a collaborator with the Cobblestone trio in the live project The Modern Deep Left Quartet, became the official fourth member of Cobblestone Jazz’s studio lineup. Now, in anticipation of Cobblestone Jazz’s second album—appropriately enough, titled The Modern Deep Left Quartet—the group surfaces with a teaser 12″. “Chance Dub,” which opens the album, gives us a first taste of the gentler, more subdued sound that came out of last summer’s album sessions. In place of the monster riffs and psychedelic freakouts of tracks like “India in Me” and “Dump Truck” is something deeper, smoother, maybe more reflective. A lone chord progression leads the way, brooding but still nimble; around it build swelling synth pads, sub-bass pressure, sprightly bass sequences and of course the high-precision rhythm programming that gives the group such a formidable sense of funk. It’s a mellower side of Cobblestone Jazz, but it also displays the power of restraint. Mixed and recorded in real time, like all the band’s music, the track is always evolving and always in motion, but it never feels busy. It’s simply driving, sensual, properly analog house music, the way it was meant to be.

On the B-side, “Chance,” offers a radically different take on the same material. The groove remains the same, but in place of the looped chord changes of “Chance Dub,” Danuel Tate takes the lead on Rhodes piano, with a long, rippling solo that gives the tune its easy-going sense of exploration. That’s also Danuel behind the vocoder, dropping a haunting vocal melody that sinks deep into the subconscious. It’s as deep and as defiantly late-night as Cobblestone Jazz have ever gone. And it’s the perfect introduction for the rich, dynamic, all-encompassing album The Modern Deep Left Quartet—the next chapter in the Cobblestone saga.

Minimaland Feedback: Cobblestone Jazz ensure quality and this release is one of the strongest examples of that fact. This tracks has all you may require in music: progression, attitude, spirit, beat and lots of rhythm, also a brilliant artwork.  A must have, collectors stuff.

a1 - Chance Dub

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b1 - Chance

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Wag#060
Release Date: 22.02.2010

Japanese producer Cherry returns to Bristol’s Four:Twenty in March with his second EP, the “World Waits EP”, backed with a typically superb remix from Areal/Kompakt producer Ada.
As with his first EP for the incredibly consistent Four:Twenty, “The Alex EP”, “The World Waits” is melodic, electronic house at it’s best. Unselfconscious and emotive, the Toyko based producer’s output sees him drawn in a myriad of influences to create something which sidesteps trends masterfully. Title track “World Waits” is a mammoth 12 and a half minute excursion into layering of melodies which is completely mesmerising. Simplistic drum programming, with just a smattering of variation, combined with an equally simplistic arrangement allows the dominant, nagging synth riff to steal your attention and hold it throughout.
Cologne’s Ada delivers an equally hypnotic take but pursues a more reductionist avenue. An 808 kit provides the backbone while the original’s riffs are tempered with filtering and a more sporadic structure. Subtle strings are also added and add just a modicum of intensity to great effect. “When The Truth Is” rounds the package off with a captivating mix of melancholic jazz piano, sinister soundscapes and drum/sub interplay which while certainly more sample based than it’s A-side, is no less original. This is yet another wholly ‘different’ release from Four:Twenty and showcases yet another great new talent.

Minimaland Feedback: Deep, Melancholic and Emotional… Cherry’s music will project different emotions in you. Ada remix is simply amazing, I must say that she is, nowadays, one of my favorite producers and everything she touches turns it into gold.

a1 – World Waits

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a2 - World Waits (Ada remix)

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b1 – When The Truth Is

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FOUR#053
Release Date: March, 2010

Berlin’s Minimood continues its foray into the realms of quality techno and tech inspired house following up recent stellar releases from Gregorythme and Fusiform & Mark Henning with this outstanding single from Cologne based Ziggy Kinder. Kinder is a producer that has been key in the success of Matthias Schaffhauser’s Ware label providing a string of superb singles that have seen him forge his place amongst Germany’s musical elite.
For his debut single on Minimood Kinder kicks off with the wonderful ‘Lucky Look’; the infectious and uplifting melody bounces and warps its way through the airspace luring you in for more. ZIGGY KINDER’S gravity defying magical touch finely reinforces MINIMOOD’s hallmark sound of seemingly careless simplicity camouflaging underlying musical genius. An outstanding dancefloor track that is already a hit with Dj’s everywhere.
The original is followed by an excellent remix from Minimood’s own Erich Bogatzky and volt.mar. Stripping the original back into more dubbed out minimal territory, the lush incidental melody stabs and wriggling clavs craftily blend for maximum seduction. Mysterious, edgy and slightly anxious, this new production team are already showing themselves to be masters of mood manipulation.
Finally Kinder closes the packaged with the alternatively titled ‘Look Lucky’, where he moves into darker club territory with this chugging monster. Drawing inspiration from classic techno forms but unbound by its rules, its classic old school groove is projected into more unpredictable contemporary territory through a bleep infested melody and some mind bending jittery and unpredictable percussion to form an irresistibly funky product. Pure quality.
Minimood continues to impress at every turn and this single is certainly no exception

Minimaland Feedback: You probably know Ziggy Kinder from his releases on Ware Records. He has been one of the stand outs of the label and now, in his first release on Minimood he confirms all his talent. Deep vibes and lots of good mood!

a1 - Look Lucky

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b1 - Lucky Look (Erich Bogatzky and Volt.Mar remix)

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b2 - Lucky Look

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MINIMOODEXTRA#003
Release Date: February, 2010

After a hugely successful parting shot of 2009 with Mark Henning’s “The Right Time” Hypercolour delve into the new decade with a killer foray into basement house music from Plasmik with their “Retune EP”.

Brothers Roman and Marcel Fritz have developed a formidable reputation from just a select handful of strong, 909-led house EPs for Offenbach’s Connaisseur and remixes for the likes of Tsuba and Crosstown Rebels. Their no-nonsense ‘real’ house ethic has won many a fan, including the Hypercolour team, who first picked the guys for a remix in 2009 and subsequently pestered the duo for a release.

That release is the “Retune EP”, four tracks of robust, deep modern house packaged with a remix from the label’s Alex Jones.

Whether it’s the simplicity of the title track and it’s one chord stab motif, the Pagan-esque skippy drum and flute combination of “Flute”, the warped vox of “Faces” or the dense off-kilter melodies of “Smoothly” each track is imbued with an earthy, analog feel which oozes charm. This feel, in no part hampered by some excellent FM bass tweakery and 909 work, is pure Plasmik.

Alex Jones’ rebuilding of “Faces” doesn’t harm things on this EP, either. His almost myopic, belligerent attitude to the avoidance of trends has resulted in much of his work completely polarising opinions but that is his greatest asset and it shows here. Rough, un-quantized drums sit loosely under shuffling loops while layered snares and a bizarre walking bassline make for a woozy piece of dancefloor tomfoolery which is as wonderful as it is unique.

This is a cracking start to the year from Hypercolour and potentially the last release from Plasmik for some time, so check it out

Minimaland Feedback: Retune me more!

HYPE#017
Release Date: February, 2010

The My Favorite Robot imprint follow up the awesome Vandermeer single ‘Positive Light’ with another bold release, this time in the form of James Teej’s cover of the Bowie classic ‘Space Oddity’ backed with a stunning set of remixes….
Taking on a cover version of a record such as David Bowie’s seminal ‘Space Oddity’ is not a task for the faint hearted, yet that is exactly what the much lauded James Teej has done with this latest single for the Canadian based My Favorite Robot label. Where many ‘dance music’ covers have failed in the past, with their leaning towards easy commercialism, this version of the much loved classic excels in every way, bringing a new vibe to a legendary composition and showing Teej’s talents as a first rate producer and a damn good vocalist to boot.
Teej has spent the last few years building an enviable reputation with a string of superb singles for the likes of Connect Four, No.19 Music and of course My Favorite Robot Records. He has also remixed for artist such as Trentmoeller and Solee and is signed for an album release on Matt Edwards excellent Rekids imprint.
The ‘Space Oddity’ single launches off with Teej’s original version, a warm, melodic and downright soulful recording that takes the ‘oh so’ familiar lyrics and gently morphs their intonation into a laidback and engaging vocal track. The backing track’s 4/4 rhythm is gently augmented by subtle rolling percussion whilst the rich organ parts give depth and character to this instantly likeable cover.
The remix package comes in four parts, the first of which is a dub from fellow Rekids artist Toby Tobias who turns in an epic ten and a half minute slow house workout build round a stunning bass heavy groove. Snippets of the vocal swirl round the mix before being joined by a simple acidic top line and Detroit inspired sythn stabs, this is perfect piece of late night tackle that is bound to be a big hit for the new year and beyond.
Next up we have label bosses My Favorite Robot who take a stripped back approach, delivering a deep and hypnotic version that lends itself perfectly to the cosmic slanted vocal. This mix draws you in from the opening bar and keeps you the hooked to the final fade.
Montreal based producer Maher Daniel steps up next and gives us an insight into why his music has been picked up by labels such as Get Physical, Bedrock and Souvenir. His remix turns up the dancefloor intensity a notch and provides a heads down house cut that is pure class.
Closing the package Toby Tobias returns with his fourteen and a half minute ‘Plane Love remix’, a monumental piece of dubby house that builds its way towards an intense and masterful climax; a wonderful conclusion in a great package.
The Robots and their merry band of musical minstrels are taking the good ship MFR into new and unchartered seas and the results are damn impressive. Roll on 2010….

Minimaland Feedback: Having a space oddity is good, having so many is near perfection…

Tracklist:
1 - Space Oddity (Original)

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2 - Space Oddity (Maher Daniel remix)

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3 - Space Oddity (My Favorite Robot remix)

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4 – Space Oddity (Toby Tobias dub)

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5 – Space Oddity (Toby Tobias Plane Love remix)

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MFR#015
Release Date: February, 2010

September 23rd 1999 was a monumental day for the Canadian electronic community… or at least should have been. This was the day the first Cynosure Recordings release, entitled “The Focal Point”, was launched out into the world. Comprising a combination of deep minimal house and jackin techno the record was steadfastly ignored and overlooked by the international techno community at large, setting a precedent and laying a course that the label has embraced as it’s burden for just over 10 years now.
Though Cynosure has provided a steady stream of fodder for the discerning DJ every few months since, music journalists the world over have by and large refused to mention it. No label profiles, no formal mention of collective works, and sadly no one hit wonders have graced the catalog. Conversely, the elite taste makers which make up the crème de la crème of the underground DJ community have continually charted and dropped track after track the world over . A strange phenomenon certain to boggle the mind of cultural theorists for years to come.
Admittedly the labels A&R choices have always gone against the grain of the populous dance music norm. Though he could be a accused of many things, “band wagon jumper” is certainly not a tag which label head Mike Shannon could wear comfortably or honestly. A devastatingly talented DJ in his own right, he has chosen to be an example both with his sets and the label of the most uncompromising possibilities that dance music has to offer. Never following, always leading, the rarest of a modus operandi. As such it seems all too fitting after a decade of living in the shadows that Shannon, the master of the piss take and techno’s prince of cats, should choose to deliver the label anthem “Under the Radar”.

Minimaland Feedback: Collectors Stuff

Tracklisting
side A – Under the Radar – Mike Shannon’s original mix
side B – Under the Radar – Ricardo Villalobos mix
side C – Under the Radar – Deadbeat mix
side D – Under the Radar – Rozzo mix

Digital Only – Under the Radar – Wasted Chicago youth dub mix (aka Justin Long and Mazi)
Digital Only – Under the Radar – Massi’s NYC deep dub mix (aka Massi DL)
Digital Only – Under the Radar – Massimo Di Lena’s Loon mix

CYN#040
Release Date: 25.01.2010

The waiting is finally over! After all the ups and downs of the past year, we can happily report that Joshua Eustis now firmly intends to continue Telefon Tel Aviv as a solo project. In order to mark his decision with a bang, the wonderful title track ‘Immolate Yourself’ is being released as the second single from the current LP. The song has been entrusted to highly acclaimed and diverse remix artists who have skilfully stripped down the epic album track to more club-friendly formats.

The A side is delivered by label-mate Thomas Muller, whose finely detailed techno soundscapes can now be enjoyed on five BPC 12″ releases. His ‘Immolate Yourself’ remix takes a much more direct approach. He reduces the lush arrangement of the original to a powerful basic framework, leaves out the vocals almost entirely, and creates a surprise when the track
crumbles into sonic chaos towards the end.

Miss Fitz aka Maayan Nidam has had singles released on labels including Raum Musik and Freak n’ Chic, and these have been remixed by renowned artists such as Ricardo Villalobos. Her version of ‘Immolate Yourself’ also makes a clear break from the album track and serves up her very own brand of abstract, dancefloor-friendly house. Once again, all the opulence of the original is thrown overboard; a dry beat is placed at the centre of the arrangement and enriched with sinuous vocals.

Ben Klock needs no further introduction – he is the epitome of the bleak, hard minimal sound. His album ‘One’ is currently available on Ostgut Ton, and as a remixer he has earned the highest acclaim for his version of Depeche Mode’s ‘Peace’. Ben’s ‘Jack Mix’ is fittingly titled and lives up to all the expectations of the name. The track is stripped back to a resounding, hammer-like beat framework – minimised for maximum effect.

BPitch legend Sascha Funke delivers a surprise with another astoundingly reduced remix, at least by his standards. He turns away from the melodic richness of his current album ‘Mango’ in favour of repetitive fragments and an extended arc of tension which will surely make his ‘Immolate Yourself’ remix a massive after-hour hit.

Minimaland Feedback: Great pack of remixes, all of them with very good quality! Our favourite? Sascha Funke mix … he just keeps getting a great deal of inspiration…

Tracklist:
a1 – Immolate Yourself (Thomas Muller Burning Man Remix)

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b1 – Immolate Yourself (Miss Fitz Remix)

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b2 – Immolate Yourself (Ben Klock’s Jack Remix)

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Digital – Immolate Yourself (Sascha Funke Digital Bonus)

BPC#207
Release Date: 11.01.2010

Wagon Repair is pleased to welcome Exercise One to their roster, with their newest EP Several Things At Once. This four track EP, with a bonus digital only track, is sure to please. Title track, Several Things at Once, is the result of Marco and Ingo playing around with some new gear purchased to enhance their live act. In fact, this track was explicitly meant to be an addition to their live shows as it was produced using their exact on-stage setup. By laying out a groovy foundation and letting the machines do their thing, this intentionally rough and dirty sound is able to be accessible and seducing at the same time. The A2 track, Breeze, was inspired by windchimes on Marco’s balcony, which were recorded with a mic and mixed with melodies and reverbed kicks coming from the back ground, resulting in an almost early era Aphex Twins ambient feel. Although the second tracks on both sides were originally planned to be really loud and noisy, both tracks came out on the opposite side of the spectrum as inspiration took hold. B1 Colony, is a subtle track that seems to accumulate power by winding itself into the mind and body of the listener. Whenever this one is played in front of a crowd it always has a great impact as its psychedelic and focused elements mix to great effect. As with the digital only bonus track, Twin, a trippy feeling lurks around with a kind of ‘submarine’ atmosphere. Both Twin and Colony have been a part of Exercise One’s live-set for some time now as they are one form of techno that the boys just love to play as it gives them the variety that they have always craved. The closer on the EP, Prowl, is more of an tensioned atmosphere than a track. Prowl is mainly based on sound-shifiting and old samples that are intended to transmit the mood of a predator in search of its prey. The digital only track, Twin, has a chunky, upfront bassline for a foundation, which drags you into the track like a strong under current. Little sets of percussions and delayed chords fly through the track to keep the mind focused while the body is already hooked to the groove. Pretty in your face and trancey, but just so much fun to play!

Minimaland Feedback: Several Things At Once and still all of them pretty well done!

Trackist:
A1 – Several Things At Once

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A2 - Breeze

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B1 – Colony

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B2 – Prowl

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Digital only – Twin

WAG#057
Release Date: 11.01.2010

100% Pure is Amsterdam’s longest running techno label, co-founded in 1993 by Dylan Hermelijn [aka 2000 and One] & Sandy Huner and now run solely by Dylan.For 100% Pure’s 57th release we welcome back Amsterdam’s talented techno duo – Gimikk, aka Daniel “mumbling” Sanchez and E-Contact (Eelco Augustijn) who released one of the best albums of the year, that we featured a few months ago – Untitled Concept. Accomplish Sickness is a masterful mix of dirty scraping techno treats propelled by catchy muted djembe rhythms and surprising vocal snippets. You’re going to love this infectious melody – it won’t make you sick but you’ll be dying to dance to it. It has a great bassline to boost you up and lots of hypnotic bases, just like Gimikk has been habituating us. While on the flip you’ll find Paco Osuna taken time out of his DJ residency at Barcelona’s club4 to produce this thumpingly clever remix that’s (100%) pure dancefloor, a tremendous techno track that all the underground hard dancefloors will appreciate… Bomb. There’s also a Digital only track – “Love Me” – showing another side of this guys, far more calm and subtle, as the press release says, it’s “they spacey inspired track for interstellar clubfloor travellers. You’ll love “Love Me”! Very good releases from two of the producers of the year – Gimikk and Paco Osuna.

a1 – Accomplish Sickness
b1 – Accomplish Sickness (Paco Osuna remix)
Digital Only – Love Me

Pure#057
Release Date: 25.01.2010

Intacto Records is still a pretty young label in the market. The Amsterdam imprint was founded in 2004 and since then they have been always bringing top releases to the scene with the participation of producers like 2000 and One, Shinedoe and Polder. Today we come here to present their next release that will be out in the middle of December and that was producer by the duo composed by Lauhaus & David Labeij, two of the most uprising Dutch artists of 2009. The Ep starts with the “Zero Zero”, a track full of joy and harmony, with some “stabbing and sweeping synths” and a 4×4 pumpy beat that will leave everyone euphoric. In the flip side you’ll listen “Green Sunday”, the track that really fits our standards, a fabulous deep track that seems to be telling a story due to it’s fabulous melodie, distant vocals and uprising beat. Perfect to be spread in clubs. If you buy the digital version you’ll have another track, “Sweatshop” the most pumpy track of the release and a really good add-on to the all instalment.

a) Zero Zero
b) Green Sunday
Digital: Sweetshop

INTACTO#023
Release Date: 15.12.2009