OndaQuadra

Four Tet, Louie Vega, Todd Terry, Moritz Von Oswald, Crookers. For a few days now we've been sweating over our decks, summer is advancing with full force, the ladies are shedding their clothes and the records are following suit. The names you've just read are only part of the picture, because some big names hit the mark, some come close, and the unsuspected kraut turn from the long-haired one will surprise you.

Then there's an Italy that has never surrendered. Ra.H back to the future, Cisco holding court and Crookers stirring up revolt: right now the comparisons aren't feared, and sometimes they're even won. Tony Allen and Marlon D. will take you into the most unmentionable indulgences, M.A.N.D.Y. and Buy Now will be your playmates until dawn, but in this fourth issue everything pales next to Moritz's mega edits. Words still aren't enough.

Little Louie Vega feat. House Of Rhumba – Miami Beach (baba) [VEGA]

New single from the prolific Vega. Our man decides to man the keyboards for this collaboration with House of Rhumba, whose name perfectly explains what we're about to hear. Vega doesn't surprise, staying anchored to the dance style he's now accustomed us to: soulful house with tribal elements, bongos, soft keyboards and Latin rhythms all contribute to yet another tribal piece in Vega's dance puzzle; plenty of class, but perhaps also plenty of anonymity. A track you'll hardly hear in a club, much more likely to turn up in some lounge bar. Worth noting on the EP is the "House Of Rhumba Jam Mix", a ride powered by bongos alone, with no kick drum or other frills, which strongly recalls Masters At Work's "What A Sensation" stripped of its accompaniments; a track that will interest DJs far more than casual listeners.

(r.d.c.)

Todd Terry – Underground [Inhouse]

It wasn't just a flash in the pan: Todd Terry officially returns with a production of his own after the excellent compilation for Strictly. The comeback finds him tackling a three-track EP (at least in the promo version) that shows a Terry grappling with the modern sound of house. Indeed, the lead track is decidedly infected by the electro sound, especially in the bassline, sharp and oblique, accompanied by an almost looping vocal chanting the track's title. With the second track, "Motherland", we go back to a sound much closer to Terry's past, with an almost big-beat kick and all those very black backing vocals we love so much. Personally I was hoping for a bit more, but I have to say that after so many years of silence, it's certainly not a disappointing return - quite the opposite.

(r.d.c.)

Jay Tripwire – Cycle 24 Ep [Nervous]

I'm happy to flag this EP of honest deep house. It's made up of four different tracks, but rush to hear the third one: "Space Jazz"; an incredible dreamlike digression, with an enveloping rhythm section over which liquid synths roam in absolute freefall. A nocturnal journey into the darkest corners of the dancefloor.

(r.d.c.)

Dj Eako & Robert Livesu feat Ez – Night Moves [Stereo Cool]

A track-packed EP, including a Deep Dish remix. A tune that wouldn't surprise me to see climbing the charts, given its wink toward easy melody. Crowd-pleasing Electro-House, with that "tara tattara" hook chanted over and over. Commercial for sure, but damn if it doesn't get stuck in your head and refuse to leave. For the more "hardcore" purists, there are plenty of remixes that step on the gas, so there's something for every taste.

(r.d.c.)

Marlon D. feat Emory – Lift Your Hands Up To The Sky [Jellybean Soul]

What sheer bliss. A ride on this track's synth solo will take you a long way, spurred on by the "trance-inducing" vocal that seeps insidiously into your senses. There's not much else to say — the important thing is to surrender to this track's disarming atmosphere, perhaps finding yourself dazedly humming the main hook. For those who can't get enough, the EP offers plenty of versions of the original track, so you can find your own personal place in the world.

(r.d.c.)

BabyFunk presents – Africa To Detroit [CityDeep]

Could you possibly not listen to a track with such an inviting title? Luckily you can't, because otherwise I'd have missed out on a truly engaging track. The title already says it all: take Africa, run it through Detroit's sequencers, and you get the result: electrified tribalisms, transfigured, almost camouflaged, within the icy beats of this successful blend of house and techno. What more could you want?

(r.d.c.)

Antonelli – Boogie Ep [Dreck Records]

Stefan Schwander (the real name behind the moniker Antonelli) is one of the names that has made a name for himself in recent years in Germany (also thanks to his contribution to Tiga's superb "DJ Kicks"). The EP features two tracks: "Be, Bop And Boogie", halfway between deep rhythm section work and electro sounds, and "Zabriskie", a track with a strong deep house flavor. The quality is there, the originality less so.

(m.c.)

Kerri Chandler – Kong/Pong [Deeply Rooted House]

From someone who has made history, you'd expect at the very least a masterpiece with every release, expectations that this "Kong/Pong" largely disappoints. Two tracks that sound gorgeous, but that seem to lack both bite and much in the way of ideas behind them; the first is as by-the-book as it gets, while the second improves thanks to a few openings toward synth-funk. You can do (much) better, Kerri.

(m.c.)

Tony Allen – Ole [Honest Jon's Records]

When the rhythm section of the black president Fela Kuti meets one of the greats of European techno, sparks are bound to fly. The version of "Ole" remixed by Moritz Von Oswald (better known to most as Maurizio or Basic Channel) is a smooth, perfect encounter between afrobeat and electronic dub, as enveloping as few things have been in recent years. The Ise Nla version, on the other hand, is a track with an incendiary, reggae-tinged rhythm.

(m.c.)

James Ruskin – Lahaine [Tresor]

Can a 12" contain an entire era? Perhaps so. James Ruskin is a techno legend of the second half of the Nineties, and on this vinyl he distills that sound, at times brutal and at times dreamlike, that defined the years straddling the new millennium. Power and meditation, all on Tresor.

(m.c.)

Four Tet – Ringer [Domino]

In a career that stretches from the electronic rock of Fridge to his experiments with Steve Reid, by way of the sheer brilliance of the Four Tet project, Kieran Hebden finally lands on techno - and does so by going back to his roots: the four tracks that make up Ringer are a lopsided homage to German kraut-rock, on which Hebden lays hands just enough to brand the songs with his trademark sound. Cosmic suggestions, grimy rhythms, and a Four Tet who once again proves himself an invaluable artist.

(m.c.)

M.A.N.D.Y. – Fabric 39 [Fabric]

M.A.N.D.Y. behind the decks means safety in numbers. Never more spot-on in capturing the times, here's entry number 39 in the Fabric series: house split between past and future, depth, tribal rhythms and a sound built for travelling. A must.

(m.c.)

Primary 1 – Hold Me Down (FOAMO rmx) [White Label]

If you let yourself be fooled by the robotic funk opening, things could get out of hand fast - cut off on the vocal and straight into a hard-hitting groove. Powerhouse garage that flings the doors wide open for the season ahead.

(a.g.)

Crookers – Knobbers Ep [Southern Fried]

They used to call it fidget; here we'd rather just call it incendiary stuff. Fat basslines, synth-paranoia, lightning-fast breaks. Massive.

(a.g.)

Computer Club – Load Rocket [White Label]

Mike Diasio, aka Gigantor, drum'n'bass producer, 1/3 of Evol Intent - one of America's darkstep institutions - now back with his new project. The logo is the double C crossed over like Coco Chanel, but with all the taste of a Wesley Snipes movie. Electro in the vein of Simian Mobile Disco, with that dose of cynicism that was missing. Aggressive and pounding, for the less well-groomed dancefloors - the kind of thing you cling to the speakers for and pray hard.

(a.g.)

Kaliber – Kaliber 14 Remixes [Electrochoc]

Let's take a good look at ourselves and dig this one back up for the remix release. Behind it is a familiar name: John Dahlbäck. The Swedish lad is still finding his own way, while Kaliber keeps doing excellent work - this fourteenth release (we'll leave you to guess the titles that came before and after) charts a course of cosmic scope and concreteness, drawing directly from Mr. Fairmont. Measured beats and long, dreamlike patterns. The three takes credited to Jeweil, Longman and Electric Rescue are patchy at best. Go for the originals.

(a.g.)

Buy Now – Body Crash (remixes) [White Label]

The celebrated Ingrosso-Angello duo is back; for the original, head to MySpace or your local record shop. Keep an eye on Dirty South, lovers of the "filthy" sound, because after years of paying his dues behind the decks, the man has lately been popping up behind the production desk too. The remix of "Body Crash" works hard on the sample from Gusto's "Let's All Chant", which was in turn lifted from the Michael Zager Band. Stomp, sampladelia and tragedy, for one of those remixes you shouldn't be ashamed to spin.

(a.g.)

Sebbo – Wadamu Beach (Moritz remix) [Desolat]

I'll be repetitive, I'll be biased, but Moritz is God. Anyone missing these edits is missing pieces of history. Like a return from the future, Moritz lays down the law, no escape, and this remix could only come out now, spring is calling, the sun and the moon. In constant battle against time, terrifying basslines, echoes like no one else's, everything unspooling in a wave of memories and pasts. Tell it to whoever says deep, to whoever says house, to whoever says all sorts of things: tell them none of it means anything in the presence of King Moritz.

(m.v.)

Arne Weinberg – A True Story [Matrix]

Matrix, the historic Detroit label, finally presses this collection of gems stamped with Arne's name. He's got the timing down, always spacey and stretched out, weaving things together beautifully, perfect sounds, dirtying things up just the right amount, and always deeply moving. Thank you.

(m.v.)

Morphosis – Dark Myths Of Phonecia Pt.II [Morphine]

Ra.H returns under the moniker Morphosis, his darker, more hypnotic side. "MOT" and "YAM" on the two sides, and they really spin, hypnotic like few others, terrifying ambient carpets, he's on fire, and Morphine is too. Waiting for the next release, Madteo's album, which on first listen proves to be a genuinely substantial release for today's record market.

(m.v.)

Future Beat Alliance – Touch The Future [Recondite]

The Future Beat Alliance project returns with this magnificent EP. Up front, "Pitch Black" opens up space; on the flip, "Million Miles Away" rolls straight into the heart. Not to be missed.

(m.v.)

Andres – Moments In Life [Mahogany Music]

Mahogani and KDJ are synonymous with beauty. Andres has cut some of the label's finest chapters, and this "Moments In Life" is another gem in a catalogue worth owning in full. The title track is luminous, and the B-side's "El ritmo de mi gente" samples Quincy Jones just like his mentor Kenny Dixon does, stunning us all over again.

(m.v.)

Thoverstam – Blender [Rush Hour]

Rush Hour is on fire. A constant stream of new names and excellent records for the Dutch label, which is spreading its gospel across Europe. Thoverstam, Scandinavian but warmer than a Spaniard, delivers three terrifying deep cuts, floor-fillers, listening-room tracks, journey tracks, and everything in between. One to follow.

(m.v.)

James Kumo – Kumomusic Vol.1 [Ann Aimee]

Very late compared to its release date, but worth flagging: this record for Ann Aimee (a Delsin sublabel) has serious drive. Up front the gorgeous "Fluid", always deep and thoroughly cosmic; on the flip, "45 Days", which is acid from the year 3000, and "Koma", which takes flight on the dancefloor.

(m.v.)

Mr. Cisco – F.I.C.O. [Klakson]

Here's a lesson for all the fans of the supreme Ed Banger fakery. This is what analogue, disco and house are all about. Mr. Cisco is none other than our own Francesco De Bellis, member of Jolly Music and that same Francisco who delighted us with his beautiful latest album. This 12" for Klakson is terrifying, from the opening "Cosmic", like Mood II Swing set ablaze, before settling down with "Fico", more of a disco classic in the Baldelli vein, and closing with "Altro" for a real head-spinner. This is exactly what we want from Rome!

(m.v.)

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