Denis A releases a new 3-track single, Z

Denis Alentieff aka Denis A, one of Russia’s most exciting DJ/Producers releases a new 3-track single, Z.

Denis Alentieff became Denis A in 2007, when he first proved himself as a highly talented DJ at a party in Moscow alongside American DJ star, Christopher Lawrence. During the following two years he has developed his DJ skills to the highest degree, and is now regularly joined on the decks by the cream of international talent at his DAR label parties. Recent visitors have included Danny Tenaglia, Dave Seaman, Beltek, Nick Warren, Style Of Eye, Sebastian Leger, Danny Howells and Robert Babicz.

In 2008, Denis A launched the DAR label as a creative outlet for his studio productions. With Denis’ own highly distinctive style crossing genre boundaries via progressive, techno, deep dub and minimal influences, DAR has been steadily building a strong fan base. Releases have featured handpicked remixes by Style Of Eye, Solaris Heights, Pig & Dan, Wally Lopez, and Robert Babicz. A steady stream of DJ support for Denis A productions has come, most notably, from Laurent Garnier, Dave Seaman, Sasha, Hernan Cattaneo, Tiesto, Glenn Morrison, Desyn Masiello, Deepgroove, Josh Gabriel, DJ Vibe, Sebastien Leger and Nick Warren, since the label’s inception.

With a continuous flow of new singles, an ever growing international DJ schedule, big parties planned in Moscow, and his DAR label to rum, it looks like 2010 is going to be a very exciting year for Denis A.

Z is the 15th release on the DAR label and offers three stunning tracks. Z is a chilled minimal trance journey into space and time.  Fans of of that whole “Northern Exposure” vibe, will enjoy this track. Along The Coast takes off into a deeper hypnotic funky electronic direction. While, After Z delves deep into dubbed out late-night territory for those more mellow moments.

Denis has also unveiled some of the hottest new Eastern European remixers from Russia, Ukraine, and Slovenia, over two Remix EPs (DAR011 Part 1 & Part 2), with their interpretations of some of the DAR label’s best tunes to date… Chemical Test, Heaven and Mirage. Since then, Denis A has continued to blur the boundaries between genres with more timeless electronic dance music in the form of Brutalizm and Muai Thai In Bangkok (DAR102), and most recently the intense acidic analogue atmosphere of Test Drive (DAR013) and percussion fuelled Ahnenerbe (DAR014).

For more information visit www.darlabel.com and www.myspace.com/alentieff

Shifted + Dubpack + Football + DJs

SHIFTED + DUBPACK
SATURDAY 12th JUNE 2010
@ BRIXTON JAMM
261 Brixton Road
London
SW9 6LH

So the World Cup is upon us, but let’s not forget that the summer party season is getting well and truly underway. On June 12th Shifted and Dubpack are throwing a party to kick off England’s campaign and the summer in style, with an eclectic line up of DJs playing music across the board after the big game has been shown on an equally big screen.

The focus of this night is squarely on having fun, with a retro tuck shop, barbeque, Slush Puppies (alcoholic or non!) and an exhibition of live graffiti painting to keep you fed, watered and entertained.

That’s not to mention the artists on the night…

Shifted and Dubpack have pulled together a mighty impressive selection of DJs, who will be serving up a veritable smorgasbord of music and who may not necessarily be playing what you would expect. You can catch the likes of CHEFAL and TUBBY playing Jungle, WALSH (alongside a special guest on the night) playing some classic UK Garage and turntable behemoths ROSSI B & LUCA playing – well – a bit of everything.

There will also be plenty of Dubstep, Reggae, House, Hip-Hop, Hardcore and even Disco to keep you interested throughout the night. A perfect way to celebrate England’s win and if you get there in time to catch the game, it’s just £5!

This all takes place at the Brixton Jamm, 261 Brixton Road, SW9 on 12th June.

LINE UP:

ROSSI B & LUCA / CHEFAL / COTTI / WALSH B2B SPECIAL GUEST/ TUBBY / UNDERGROUND ICE / RUCKSPIN / DUBALTY / BEAT ME UP / SHINOBI / DRU / RAGGS / FRISKIE / SLUGZ & BOYSON / G MONEY / ANDY P / SYNAMATIX

Hosted by: CRAZY D / TRUEZ / IRAH / TESTA

Prepare yourself for an unforgettable night…

…Shift Happens!

TICKET INFO
Tickets £5 until 10pm, £8 thereafter

Boredoms: Super Roots 10 (Thrill Jockey)

Boredoms – Super Roots 10 – EP review

Boredoms, the boundary- breaking, sonic-shifting, head-messing group are releasing the Super Roots 10 EP through Thrill Jockey, only available as a limited double 12” release. Super Roots 10 is produced by EYE, who equally created the artwork accompanying the release.

This new Boredoms EP includes a remix of the Antz 10 track by Lindstom, the critically acclaimed Norwegian dance/house producer who has remixed a whole host of artists, including Franz Ferdinand and LCD Soundsystem. Super Roots 10 also includes a remix from the Japanese artist Altz.

Ant 10 Original is nine minutes of buzzing, tribal, rhythmic intensity, with a small thirty second break in between. The drums are thick and saturate the track, as do the drones. The Mineral Dub Break Remix is almost unrecognisable whilst Linstrom does another full overhaul on his remix, bringing in some crisper beats, subtle 80s synths and keyboards, making the pounding drums part of the background arrangements. His style from his recent collaboration with Prins Thomas is certainly recognisable.

A studio album can be expected in 2010, whilst Boredoms member Yoshimi P-We is to release her new album with OOIOO entitled Armonico Hewa on Thrill Jockey in November.

Track listing for Super Roots 10:

1. ANT 10
2. ANT 10 / ESTEREO 10 (REMIX BY ALTZ)
3. ANT 10 (REMIX BY DJ LINDSTROM)
4. ANT 10 / MINERAL DUB BREAK (REMIX BY ALTZ)

Robert Logan's second full-length: Inscape

Following the brilliant Accurate Spit Boy EP released prior to this album, April 6th will see the release of Robert Logan’s second full-length Inscape.

Those familiar with Robert Logan’s work will know what a pioneering force he is on the electronic music scene: he makes dark, resonating electronic compositions suited to the abandoned areas of dank cities, the hazy glow of bedrooms in streetlight, and the darkest part of the uncertain subconscious.

‘Inscape’ is a term relating to artistic work, meaning its essential quality. This essentiality is what Robert Logan is searching for on Inscape, more so even than his previous effort, Cognessence.

Also central to the album, we are told, is the experience of stumbling on an abandoned factory that was becoming engulfed by forest in Hungary. The duel between nature and culture, then, is a tension explored on Inscape. In fact, Logan’s recording of both acoustic and electronic instruments is representative of this. Perhaps even the art of music itself, which explores something transcendent and intangible whilst being firmly rooted on earth, is an inspiration for Robert Logan’s sonic explorations.

The opening tracks ‘ Angels and Insects’and ‘Stalactite’ are less schizophrenic that his previous work, featuring an enduring synth undertone that is the lining for a coat of aggressive bass blows and flickering blips. Even the contrast of what sounds like a piano, as unmelodic as it is, lends a hopeful sound to the dark production – something like an essence, perhaps.

In terms of genre, Robert Logan strips elements from grime, dub, drum n bass and dubstep scenes, and uses them in much purer soundcapes. The previously released ‘Accurate Spit Boy’, a highlight on the album, is an example of this, as is the brilliant ‘Throb’ which sounds like Pendulum after too much coffee (and with a lot more talent…).

Most interesting is ‘Balaton’ (name of the expansive Hungarian lake), and ‘The Warmth‘ which after the bursting aggression of ‘Ultraflux’, comes as peaceful (if still dark) electronica. These glimpses of silence, evoking the vast, still, misty waters of that lake, recur throughout the album on various tracks and show not only Robert Logan’s perceptive and sensitive range, but also his ability to create something that acts as a complete album concept.

BBC Online said of Logan that he is “…something of a prodigy… a man that is already showing a maturity and a musical/textural understanding that many simply never find.” And frankly, I couldn’t agree more.

Inscape is available on Slowfoot Records on CD and digital download.

This is a link to Robert Logan’s MySpace.

Robert Logan's Accurate Spit Boy EP

There’s a lot of excitement around the career of Robert Logan. At only 21, he has opened for Massive Attack, co-written the score for the Oscar winning documentary Taxi To The Darkside and is involved with ongoing collaborations with the godfather of experimental music Brian Eno.

His previous album Congnessence was harshly experimental, and now the Accurate Spit Boy EP predicts a refinement of his sound for the his second album Inscape, to be released on the 6th April.

The EP is a testament to why Robert Logan is so lauded. The raw, haunting electronic blips and deep bass buzz that emanate from the five tracks inhabit an untouchable space of their own, resonating with the underbelly of human nature – these tracks evoke bleak fear and dark intrigue.

The opening track ‘Accurate Spit Boy’ takes the basic elements of other genres that have made waves through the underground – grime, ragga and dubstep – and hones them into a raw digital music that remains unique in its field. ‘Pigs’ also stands out as an example, beginning with frantic drum and bass blips before moulding itself around a cold dub-based sound.

But Accurate Spit Boy EP doesn’t belong in the dank underground clubs like some of these other genres, it rather inhabits the lonely parts of suburban bedrooms, industrial wastelands and vast cityscapes. The final track ‘Cut By Concrete’ shows the industrial influence in the relentless hammering of the opening which then goes on to drive the bass-heavy main section of the track.

Two of the tracks – ‘Accurate Spit Boy’ and ‘Cut By Concrete’ – are taken from the forthcoming Inscape, but remixed for this vinyl only release.

It may be that we look forward to the career of Robert Logan, but based on Accurate Spit Boy EP, it’s already arrived, and it’s frighteningly good.

The Accurate Spit Boy EP will be released on Slowfoot Records on 12” Vinyl.  If justice is done, his music will be as great a success as Burial’s innovation was last year. Visit Robert Logan’s MySpace to listen. This is the link to Slowfoot Records.

Another great release from Fat! Records.  Mystic Man & Eshamjaro get the dubstep remix treatment from two upcoming producers – Reso and Hektagon.

Mystic Man & Eshamanjaro is Mark ‘Merka’ Ford and MC Esha.  Together they released a retrospective, beat driven hip hop debut album, In Heavy Weather. From the album Reso remixes Minds I and Hektagon chips in with two versions of The Rambler, Vocal Remix and Dub Remix.

Reso’s Braindead Remix of Minds I is a richly layered mindscape, something that sets him apart from other more minimal dubstep producers.

Both remixes of The Rambler see Hektagon fusing sketchy freeform jazz horns with a heavy throbbing dubstep sub-bass wobble.  The Dub Remix works really well for me.  A great track; and one that makes it straight into my setlist.

For more information vist the Fat! Records website.

Heavy Water is the recently released album from South London duo Crackle. Made up of bass player Nick Doyne-Ditmas (Shape Morton, Pinski Zoo), and drummer Frank Byng (Snorkel, Spring Tides), Crackle’s sound is unsurprisingly very much driven by rhythm.

There is plenty of invention here too, with an always engrossing palette of digital and analogue sounds in the mix. Echoes of dub and minimal Jazz appear and disappear over the constantly involving rhythm playing. I am reminded of late 60’s Miles Davis, and the heavy dub of Augustus Pablo – all coming together in a thoroughly modern soundscape.

The mixture of solid playing and sonic experimentation makes for a stimulating and often fun listen. Recommended.