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Artist: Gorge & Marc Lenz
Title: Yuna
Label: 8Bit Records
Cat. #: 8BIT167
Release Date: 04.06.2021
Tracklist:
A1. Gorge & Marc Lenz – Yuna
B1. Gorge & Marc Lenz – Ansia
B2. Gorge & Marc Lenz – Little Aimie
It’s widely know that Gorge loves to work with different partners in his studio. Since his countless collaborations with Markus Homm and Nick Curly it was now the first time he sat down together with Marc Lenz for these 3 tracks.
Artist: Arnaud Denzler
Title: Forever EP
Label: Amsem Records
Cat. #: AMSEM009
Format: Digital
Release Date: 7th May 2021(EP) / 23rd April 2021 (Different Paths)
Tracklist
Amsem Records welcome Paris-based producer Arnaud Denzler for his first appearance on the label this May as he delivers his four-track ‘Forever’ EP.
A DJ, producer, live performer, and member of Paris’ La Claque crew, Arnaud Denzler is a rising talent to watch within the French capital. Having released his first material last year, early-May sees the rising talent head to blossoming French imprint Amsem Records as he delivers his emotive and slick ‘Forever’ EP.
“Recorded while the world could still party, ‘Forever’ is the perfect house soundtrack to walk you home in the early morning. Halfway between the club and our beds, we quietly navigate to the rhythm of our emotions, through the remains of a not-so-distant euphoria and latent melancholy, where reminiscences of the past and wanderlust intertwine, carried by a delicate and nuanced sonic palette.” –Amsem Records
Opening via the acid-tinged synths and smooth violin melodies of ‘Long Story Short’, the Parisian quickly unwinds and reveals a sound palette rich in resonant, vibrant tones. ‘Forever’ welcomes a medley of mesmerising pads as they weave effortlessly amongst vivid electronics and refined organic percussion, before diving into the sweeping, 90’s influenced soundscapes of ‘Different Paths’. To close, Denzler rounds out the EP via Eastern-influenced solos and smooth, deep grooves of final cut ‘From Far Away’ – punctuating the EP in excellent fashion.
Artist: ANATTA
Title: Kickback Afterhours
Label: Music Is 4 Lovers
Cat. #: MI4L021
Format: Digital
Release Date: 7th May 2021
Tracklist:
01 Kickback Afterhours
02 Only Good
03 Don’t Doubt It
Music Is 4 Lovers release three immersive deep tech tracks from ANATTA this May.
Los Angeles-based artist ANATTA delivers three groovy deep tech tunes on Music Is 4 Lovers. All three tracks are perfect for a dark early AM dancefloor.
Artist: Paolo Rocco
Title: Life In Pieces (LP)
Label: FUSE
Cat. #: FUSELP05
Format: Digital
Release Date: 30th April 2021
Tracklist
Paolo Rocco delivers his ten-track debut album ‘Life In Pieces’ on FUSE.
First single ‘Ever So’ featuring house icon Robert Owens is out now accompanied by a pair of remixes from Mandar member S.A.M.
Born Canadian of Italian descent, Montreal-based DJ and producer Paolo Rocco has emerged as one of the most consistent names within house music over the past decade, with a wealth of material via the likes of Hot Creations, PIV, Berg Audio, Constant Sound, Taverna Tracks, and Rutilance Records showcasing his own take on house, deep house, and minimal territories. Having closed 2020 with fresh music on his own RAWMoments imprint, late-April welcomes the arrival of his biggest project to date as he makes his label debut on London’s FUSE to deliver his ten-track debut album, ‘Life In Pieces’.
“As my first solo album, I wanted to create a timeless collection that incorporates my range while reflecting my love for late 90s early 2000s rave culture. Something that stands out on the dancefloor yet can also be listened to at home, at a pre-party, an after-party, or on the way to either. I want to give a big thank you to everyone who believed in this project, some even more than I did. From my hometown Montreal RAWM fam, to the London FUSE crew, I couldn’t have asked for a better support system for this project. I hope I made you all proud; this is mine as much as it is yours.” – Paolo Rocco
Starting via the rich piano melodies and breakbeat infused percussion of ‘Close Your Eyes’ featuring Kiki & Mavi, before welcoming house legend Robert Owens to the fore on the grooving ‘Ever So’, Rocco quickly establishes his production range and delves into pockets of the house sphere in style. Tracks such as ‘Close To Me’ and ‘Space Music’ fuse low-slung basslines and scintillating synths with atmospheric pads and hooky vocals, while the off-kilter ‘Ville Néon’ alongside Maryam Hallou strips things back and lays the focus on sharp organic percussion, alluring spoken word snippets and twisting electronics across a warping after-hours cut of the finest calibre.
The slinking ‘Our Time’ featuring Alix Alvarez takes things back straight into the peak time as skipping drums meet icy hats, while ‘Waddabout Chu’ with T.O.S. and ‘All The Reasons Why’ introduce rubbery bass slaps, rich stabs, and infectious vocals to keep the energy high. To close, the blissful ‘I’ve Been Here All Along’ combines hazy melodies with Tiffany Pontes’ silky vocals, before wrapping up proceedings via ‘This Life’ – a heady closing production that sees Rocco excellently flex his house muscles.
A body of work rich in classy collaborations and slick solo production, ‘Life In Pieces’ delivers a blissful journey through Rocco’s rich sound palette, revealing the most in-depth project of his career while marking his long-awaited debut on FUSE in style.
Artist: Eddie Fowlkes
Title: Knuckle Head Series Vol. 7
Label: City Boy Music
Cat. #: CBMD-007
Format: Digital
Release Date: 21 May 2021
Tracklist:
1. Hold Me Down
2. What It Do!
Back with more Techno Soul, Eddie Fowlkes, one of Detroit Techno’s founding fathers lays down two gorgeous new tracks for his City Boy Music label in May.
‘Hold Me Down’ goes deep with a simple groove, jazzy keys and smooth vocals while ‘What I Do!’ funks up the house – both ripe for sunny days.
Artist: Gåddisøn
Title: 848
Label: Gåddisøn Music
Cat. #: GM003
Release Date: 30th April 2021
Tracklist:
1. 848
2. I Know You
3. Sun Down
Gåddisøn builds on his self-titled new label’s early success with a third fantastic release that showcases the talents he has been honing for the last 20 years.
UK based Gaddison has been deeply entrenched in the house and techno underground for the last two decades, often veering towards the more minimalistic corners of the spectrum. Operating out of Surrey but with a rising international profile, he has played vital venues like 93 Feet East and Ministry of Sound. He draws on years of clubbing experiences and takes influence from elements of garage, jungle, drum & bass and hardcore. All of this has helped him serve up killer tracks for labels like Whoyostro, Maintain Replay Records and Quanticman Records, often while picking up chart-topping positions on sites like Juno and Beatport. What’s more, the first two releases on this label, focussing on Gåddisøn’s own music, have picked up support from those in the know, such as Stacey Pullen, Terry Francis and Marco Faraone.
The supple and hypnotic opener ‘848’ pairs rubbery dub drums and well swung wooden hits with deft synth design. It makes for a cavernous atmosphere that draws you in ever deeper. The heavier ‘I Know You’ has earth rumbling drums that march along beneath twisty, dystopian synth motifs. It’s a futuristic sound with a serious groove. Stylish closer ‘Sun Down’ is another warm and deep cut techno roller with the sort of expansive cosmic synth work that has you gazing off into the distance.
These high-class tracks mark another standout release on this already vital young label.
The shows will take place across some of London’s best venues including Loft Studios, Village Underground and The Cause
Forum Birmingham reveal Opening Season with Bicep, Slowthai, Honey Dijon, David Rodigan MBE and Andy C
Forum Birmingham‘s opening announcement sent a much needed shot of confidence across the music industry and now comes the news of the tastefully curated line-ups, as well as details of its high spec second room, Space 54. Playing the opening season from August through to December will be a diverse mix of electronic talents such as Bicep Live, DJ Hazard, Slowthai, Kerri Chandler, Shanti Celeste, DJ Boring, Skream, Gerd Janson, Honey Dijon and India Jordan with a live gig program to be announced later in the summer.
Forum’s Opening Night will take place on Friday 6th August and will be free for local NHS staff, key workers and the first 2000 people to buy tickets to Forum Birmingham events.
Forum Birmingham is a 3,500 capacity venue – formerly known as The Ballroom, the Top Rank Suite and The Academy – and has been the site of legendary moments in British music history thanks to hosting everyone from The Clash to The Beastie Boys. The space has been fully renovated in preparation for a return to those glory days. In addition, the brand new second room, Space 54, will offer a different musical vibe. A high spec, stand-alone club with its own entrance and chunky d&b audio sound system and holding 350 people it will be a darkened, intimate space for those late-night sessions where you get lost in the moment and forget everything but the music.
This first wave of announcements is more like a tsunami: expert curation means musical niches from dub to disco, house to techno, breaks to bass are covered with real breadth and depth. Highlights include one of dance music’s most acclaimed live shows from Northern Irish pair Bicep and a party-primed sizzler from masters of the form such as Skream, Gerd Janson, DJ Boring, Bradley Zero and TSHA. There will be upfront house parties with Chicago royalty Honey Dijon next to contemporary tastemakers Palms Trax, HAAi & Disco Pussy, supremely deep and soulful selections from pioneer Kerri Chandler with free-spinning NTS favourite Mafalda and organic house man Folamour.
Drum & bass fans will get hot under the collar at the prospect of three hours from venerated veteran Andy C next to more from local brum selector DJ Hazard and Truno, while the sound system will be put through its paces at night of dub reggae royalty with David Rodigan MBE and Trojan Sound System plus Massive Attack’s Daddy G and dub don Mad Professor live. On top of that, expect high tempo bangers from the dizzyingly dexterous Shanti Celeste and Anastasia Kristensen, refined beats from Secretsundaze, edgy rap from Britain’s
most compelling young MC Slowthai and plenty more to come.
Throughout the season, in-house night &Friends will take over Space 54 with cutting-edge curation from Forum’s official resident DJs; local star Barely Legal, Erol Alkan, Hammer, Lenzman, LTJ Bukem, Oneman, Saoirse, Theo Kottis, 24 Hr Garage Girls, and Yung Singh. Expect only the most classy selections from the worlds of house, club, techno, drum & bass and garage at these edgy sessions.
Forum Birmingham – Opening Season
AUGUST
6th – Forum Birmingham Opening Night
(Free opening night tickets will be offered to the first 2000 customers who buy tickets to any Forum Birmingham event. 1000 free tickets will be donated to local NHS staff and key workers.)
SEPTEMBER
10th – &Friends at Space 54: TNQ pres. Lenzman, Fox, SATL & Blindside
11th – Foliée with special guests
24th – &Friends Barely Legal w/ Anastasia Kristensen
25th – Honey Dijon, Palms Trax, HAAi & Disco Pussy
OCTOBER
1st – &Friends at Space 54: Theo Kottis w/ Secretsundaze
9th – Foreverland with special guests
16th – Kerri Chandler, Folamour, Mafalda, Disco Pussy plus special guests TBA.
22nd – &Friends at Space 54: Saoirse w/ Shanti Celeste
30th – Festival Of The Dead Halloween Special
NOVEMBER
5th – DJ Mag Presents w/ special guests.
13th – Andy C – 3 Hour Set, DJ Hazard, Turno, Harriet Jaxxon
19th – &Friends at Space 54: Oneman w/ Tim Reaper plus special guests TBA
20th – David Rodigan MBE, Trojan Sound System w/ Dawn Penn live & Dennis Alcapone, Daddy G (Massive
Attack) w/ Solo Banton, Mad Professor live, Channel One, Benny Page, Ed Solo, Jessi G
26th – &Friends at Space 54: Erol To The Rhythm – Erol Alkan All Night Long
DECEMBER
3rd – Bicep – Live
10th – 24 Hour Garage Girls w/ Champion, Soulecta, Oppidan
11th – Skream, Gerd Janson, DJ Boring, Bradley Zero, TSHA, Sally C, Fall Forward.
27th – Foliée with special guests
31st – NYE – Very special guests TBA
**A full program of live gigs and non-music content will be announced later in summer.
Artist: Chicks Luv Us
Title: Dream About You EP
Label: CLU Recs
Cat. #: CLU001
Format: Digital
Release Date: 23rd April 2021 (Beatport Exclusive)
Tracklist
Chicks Luv Us launch their new label ‘CLU Recs’, opening via their two-track ‘Dream About You’ EP this April.
Bubbling names within the European house scene for many years, Marseille-based duo Anthony Fonseca and Julien Nerani, aka Chicks Luv Us, have risen from exciting names to watch to established figures within the scene across recent years. Following a near fifteen-year journey fuelled by passion, persistence, and most importantly, friendship, the duo have sculpted their spirited work ethic and dedication to create their own take on house and tech house, welcoming releases to date via the likes of Desolat, VIVa, Snatch!, CUFF and elrow to name just a few whilst holding down key residencies across France. Up next, the pairing will now add the titles of label owners to their resumé as they launch their new label CLU Recs, an imprint focused on ‘exploring all nuances of the Chicks Luv Us sound’ – kicking things off with their own two-track ‘Dream About You’ EP.
Title cut ‘Dream About You’ opens the EP and welcomes the introduction of hazy chords, slick drums, and infectious, soulful vocals as the pairing reveal a groove-heavy lead track perfect for the peak time and the after-hours, whilst ‘FK You Up’ fuses warping synths, punchy kicks, and rubbery bass licks to close things up in style.