Showing posts with label Slatin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slatin. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Hidden Face - Anxiety EP

Insomniac Records' IN/ROTATION imprint continues to capture my attention. A launch pad for rising house producers, they've hosted the likes of Cloverdale, Proxy, X&G, SLATIN, NuKid and TYPE3 this year alone. Their latest, today's release of Anxiety from Parisian producer Hidden Face, features two equally unsettling offerings.

The title track lives up to its namesake almost immediately, giving its listeners goosebumps with some shiver-inducing, cold and creepy sounds right out of the gate. That icy, ominous feeling becomes a full fledged Gothic ghoul as the house beat kicks in, delivering waves of dread with each warped synth stride in its unholy drops. A masterful mood-setter, "Anxiety" remains present in your mind as you enter into the equally disquieting Dido-aided b-side "Talk To Me Again." Making use of the British songstress' Grammy nominated "White Flag," Hidden Face dives deeper into the pool of perturbing vibes. The atmosphere of this followup is subtly suffocating, exuding the feelings of dread and drowning, as its listeners slowly sink deeper into the abyss. That said, "Talk To Me Again" delivers a dope X-Files-esque dance feel, that somehow has me forgetting its foreboding core, beckoning me to the dance-floor. Each drop features a killer combination of strobing bass, swirling synths and a sparkling top-line.

Sneaky good, both bits of Anxiety are likely to become indelibly etched onto your brain, so consume Hidden Face's brilliance with care. Stream the EP below and get it from your preferred retailer here.
FOLLOW HIDDEN FACE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Friday, April 03, 2020

Enlightened Listening for April 3

Another week, another month, another new edition of Enlightened Listening. While we're around the average size of 15 releases, it's a massive edition thanks to albums from Amtrac, JOYRYDE and AC Slater. Oh yeah, and a massive 31 track compilation from Afterlife with benefits going to the fight against COVID-19 in Lombardy, Italy. Otherwise we're looking a bunch of singles and a couple EPs. Find them all in the embed below with brief descriptions after the fact. Enjoy, stay safe and stay sane.

Amtrac - Oddyssey
Uplifting and beautiful album. Leans heavily on organic instrumentation with an appropriate sprinkling of electronic. Keeps you on your toes with its varied flow and energy.

Massane - Visage 1 (No Return)
I can't remember the last This Never Happened release I didn't like. In fact listening to the lead track again now, I'm struck by its subtle strength and brilliance. Warm and beautiful. I could live here.

Various Artists - Unity
Massive stuff. Not just in the number of tracks, but in their sheer sonic size. Standouts from Ae:ther, Fideles, Stephan Bodzin, Stephan Jolk, and of course, Tale Of Us.

Qrion - B4 Montreal (TSHA Remix)
Two of my favourite artists at the moment; seemingly neither can do any wrong. TSHA's percussion prowess is once again on full display.

Netsky - I See The Future In Your Eyes
It's been a while since I've really been into a Netsky track but this one, a welcome return to Hospital, reminds me why he was the one that really got me hooked on DnB. Sensational stuff.

The Prototypes - Oxygen ft. Kudu Blue
Right there with Netsky as my favourite DnB acts, The Prototypes pull me right back into ecstasy with this soaring number.

Thommy Davis & Randy Roberts - Try Jah Love (John Morales M+M Radio Edit)
The original is one of my all-time favourite tracks and this is a welcome rendition. Morales does a great job keeping the original integrity while adding a more club/DJ friendly twist. Gotta love the way the guitar and drums are showcased.

Tombz - Three 6
The last two World Famous Headquarters releases have been two of my favourite house tracks of the year. Botnek have done an incredible job curating the label and Tombz has delivered a dope groover.

DLMT & Lökii - Freak
Big bad wolf vibes and I don't mean the Duck Sauce classic, but rather the ominous archetype. Wicked roller.

SLATIN - I Don't Think So
Wild and wonky, I'm just surprised this isn't on World Famous Headquarters. Get ready for your jaw to drop.

Mr. Oizo ft. Roméo Elvis - Pharmacist
SLATIN set us up nicely for these freak outs. Oizo stays in a league of his own.

Moralez - Reach For The Dead
The build and movement in this is incredible. Feels like an 80's soundtrack piece dropped in a vat of acid.

JOYRYDE - BRAVE
The most anticipated electronic album ever? Even with expectations at a seemingly impossible level it does not disappoint. It bangs at an unbelievable rate and features plenty of different takes.

AC Slater - Hi8 Remixed
Lots of different flavours of bangers. Real club hours type ish. Rage ready.

DJ Cruz ft. STVSH & Jay Critch - Get A Bag (ANGELZ Remix)
If this is really the last of ANGELZ's tech house output (the tweet indicating this transition has since be deleted, so perhaps it's troll), it's a fantastic finale. An exceptional roller with oodles of movement providing a ton of fun.