Best New Releases from August 2016
By Irina Kotik
August brings a full slate of incredible releases and amazing remixes that spans the wide spectrum of underground house and techno. We've hand picked our ten favorite tracks of the month featuring scorching releases from Benjamin Fröhlich, Davis, Lost Scripts, Cleveland, SBTH, Agoria, Michael Mayer, Frankey & Sandrino, Man Power, Jon Charnis and Roman Flügel. Tracks are listed in no particular order.
Lost Scripts
'S.O.P.'
Hivern Discs
The Hivern Discs Edit Series continues to impress the electronic music world with its fourth installment by Lost Scripts, a great collaboration between John Talabot and Pional. The A-side “S.O.P” revives the theme of a 2014 TV show, “The Knick”.
Here is how Hivern Discs describes this beast of a summer tune: “On the A side,”S.O.P” revamps the theme of a popular TV series with krautish rhythms and woozy percussive details to transform it into kosmische monster ready for the club”.
In short, “S.O.P” is a dance floor destroyer of teh highest magnitude. The vinyl only release comes as a limited edition 10” housed in a silk-screened sleeve.
Benjamin Fröhlich
‘Holloway’
Permanent vacation
Munich based Benjanin Fröhlich graces his own stylish Permanent Vacation imprint with a beautifully atmospheric and deeply melodic four tracker “Rude Movement” EP. The A-side "Holloway" is a hypnotic tapestry of towering arpeggiated synths gently woven with seductive harmonies and irresistible groove. The timeless quality of this stunning tune will take the listener to faraway times and places.
Davis
'Ewer'
In Their Feelings
Arguably one of the most talented electronic music producers from the vibrant underground music fields of Brazil, mastermind and visionary Davis keeps things groovy, soulful and hypnotic on his latest offering, “Ewer” EP, released via his own "In Their Feelings” imprint that he runs with another incredibly talented producer, Pedro Zopelar. The four-track "Ewer" EP establishes the indefinite boundaries of Davis' impressive musicality and cutting edge production, as well as demonstrating an ability to bridge the musical gap between Europe and Brazil.
The title track “Ewer” is an intelligently crafted piece of work brimming with a sheer melodic hypnotism that resonates long after the tune has reached its end. Evocative moods are painted by a mesmerizing synth line infused with analog rhythms and beautiful melodies.
King Britt pres. Oba Funke
'Uzoamaka' (SBTH Remix)
Losseless & Something Happening Somewhere
“Sing...Dance...Be Free To Dance…”
A timeless classic ‘Uzoamaka’ by a legendary King Britt is getting a fresh new treatment by the two highly touted boutique record labels, Losseless, and Something Happening Somewhere. These fantastic remixes were provided by SBTH (Show-B and Thomas Herb) and Love Over Entropy, each adding their own taste and style to the tune. SBTH's striking version rattles the dance floor and injects a whole new breath of life into the the tune. Here is what powerhouse Kompakt says about this mesmerizing release: "When two of the most exciting young labels today join forces to breath new life into a classic King Britt production there’s not much that could go wrong. Oba Funke’s "Uzomaka" might have 14 years on its back but it blends in perfectly with nowadays rediscovery of house music’s African heritage. Thanks to Lossless & SoHaSo for these wonderful remixes! Michael (Kompakt)"
Frankey & Sandrino
‘Leap’
Mule Musiq
Frankey & Sandrino is one of those collaborations that we simply can’t get enough of. After releasing the hit ‘Hydrae’ EP through Kompakt Records this past June, the German duo is making their debut appearance on Mule Music serving up two gorgeous grooves that will leave any dance floor smoldering. Deep, intricate and hypnotic, the title track “Leap” is a carefully handcrafted piece that will take the listener to another dimension.
Benedikt Frey
‘Out Of Here’ (Roman Flügel Disco Drama Rework)
Hivern Discs
Two years after the vinyl-only limited release of Benedikt Frey’s arresting “Out Of Here” as the second entry of the Hivern Disc Blanc series, the German electronic alchemist Roman Flügel and Stockholm based producer Simon Haydo reinterpret this magnificent track.
Roman Flügel’s “Cosmic Disco Drama Rework” grooves with the Kraftwerk-esque robotics and is full of tension with its dramatic arpeggiated synth stabs and elegantly haunting melodies.
Here is how Hivern Discs describe this dark with a cinematic twist version: “Flügel’s Cosmic Disco Drama Rework lives up to its name, maintaining the noir disco spirit of the original track but infusing it with tension-building sequences and strings that give it an extra mischievous twist. Our favorite Frankfurter also straightens the rhythmic skeleton and adds shuffling shakers to make it a relentless dancefloor weapon."
Cleveland
‘Rio’
Permanent Vacation
German powerhouse Permanent Vacation returns with the fourth installment of the label’s eponymous compilation series featuring Map.ache, Man Power, and Kann amongst many other talented artists. One of the stunning tracks on the compilation comes from the Luxemburger Cleveland - “Rio” is a breath-taking musical journey of shimmering percussion sounds, silky warm pads, floating sequences, and subtle melodies that magically transport the listener to a serene place.
Agoria and Michael Mayer
'Blackbird Has Spoken'
!K7
Two leading electronic producers, Michael Mayer and Agoria, teamed up for their second collaboration of the year, with the mind-melting "Blackbird Has Spoken". Released via K7! record label, this multilayered groovy composition is filled with a mystifying tranquility that induces a dreamy cinematic melancholy.
Agoria writes "Michael was one of the artists I asked to remix one of my songs ('Sky is clear') when I began making music. We are on the same boat, sharing miles and smiles all over the world since years, I'm so happy we finally managed to sit down together making our first common piece of music: Une eau de Cologne de Paris".
Kauf
‘A Ruin’ (Man Power Remix)
One Half
"Understand here what you want or need to understand... I am on my way but I am not waiting for you...I am still looking for you! "
The incredibly talented producer Geoff Kirkwood, also known as Man Power, has got his hands on Kauf’s new track“A Ruin”, the first single from the forthcoming LP ‘Regrowth’. The remix is engulfed in deeply emotive elements, harmonious layers filled with lush melodies, and astrong bass line. The mighty Man Power delivers a marvelous soulful experience for listeners.
“I feel Kauf approaches music in a similar way to myself, primarily from an emotional standpoint,” explains Kirkwood. “I loved the opportunity to take his beautiful original and turn that emotion inside out. Making an intimate personalised expression of longing in to a public declaration of hubris.”
Brian Cid
'Hidden' (Jon Charnis Remix)
Manjumasi
Following releases on Get Physical, Nervous and Lost & Found over the past few years, US producer and Extinct Records label boss Brian Cid offers up a new "Hidden" EP to San Fransisco-based fledging imprint Manjumasi. The beautiful package features two original tracks and remixes from Nico Stojan and Jon Charnis. The incredibly talented LA based producer Jon Charnis steps in with the interpretation of “Hidden” intertwining a silky groove with a delicate canvas of sweeping chords, magnetic harmonies, and tribal percussion that compliment the spiritual sentiments of the original.