Leicester’s The Last Trip To Gandahar arrived on the scene about two years back with a contribution to (his own) City Fly‘s In House EP, which was followed by his first EP on DC-based disco/house imprint Better Listen Records. With a 10″ drop on Kolour landing between then and now, the English producer returns with his second full-length EP, this time on his home imprint of City Fly (which makes a return after a brief hiatus). Higher showcase three original tracks and a remix by the in-demand Byron the Aquarius. While the title track explores integration of live vocals, courtesy of Erik Rico, the A2 and B2 provide more trademark Gandahar affairs — layering together jazz-funk and disco samples for smooth experiences.

Our premiere comes courtesy of the A2, Escape Through Time. A percussive and chant-laden intro build into the song, as a jazzy chords and strings slowly simmer into play. It’s a chilled affair through and through, employing the jazz-funk aesthetics that were just alluded to. The whole thing sits nicely into the vibe the producer has cultivated for himself — laidback and loose feeling disco endeavors that nod to the effortless cool of paradisaical 70’s influences from across the globe.

The 12″ should be hitting shops soon, so be sure to hit that Juno reminder.

Martín

Cet article The Last Trip To Gandahar – Escape Through Time [CityFly] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Consistency. This is a quality of dance music that’s hard to achieve, especially given the pressure labels and producers have to come out with release after release in order to stay relevant in people’s newsfeeds. After some point, you are bound to drop the ball.

However, consistency is exactly what has been achieved by the prolific entities that are the subject of today’s post. On one hand, you have the artist Aroop Roy – who throughout his decade-long career has been a reliable source for house, music fans with proclivities for more organic genres such as jazz, afrobeat, latin, and funk. On the other, you have London based label Delusions of Grandeur, run by certified legend Jamie Odell (better known as Jimpster). In terms of my musical journey, there are few labels out there that have exposed me to more of my favorite artists than DoG. Their releases from Recloose, 6th Borough Project, and Session Victim showed me beyond a reasonable doubt that jazz and house music can co-exist and it’ll sound bloody amazing while doing so.

This is why the partnership between the two for Aroop Roy’s forthcoming release What I Love is so fitting. Why shouldn’t some of the most prominent and consistent jazz-heads in the game not come out with a record? In fact, the only question one should ask is, “Why it took so long?”

Well, the wait is finally over! We were fortunate enough to get our hands on the lead track from the EP. Off the jump, Aroop Roy builds the foundation of the song with a mixture of breakbeat, drumming and fleeting vocals that bellow out the key phrase “I love…” From there, the UK producer works in his signature assortment of synth stabs and sequenced melodies that have acted as his trademark sound. The real meat of the tune happens around the breakdown at the 3-minute mark, where you hear all these elements playfully deconstructed and put back together – acting as a brief respite for listeners before the floor-to-floor workout is brought right back in.

For those that already have their wallet in their hand from reading this, you can pre-order your copy of What I Love by following this link right here!

Yassin

Cet article Aroop Roy – What I Love [Delusions Of Grandeur] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Parisian Disco surgeon Chevals is back in action with a fresh 10” on Kolour LTD. The release marks the producer’s third outing, and curiously, all of the mysterious horseman’s records thus far have been with American imprints. After sell-out drops on Homage and Better Listen, Chevals moves his magic to the longer-tenured KLRLTD for the 9th entry in their 10” series.

Our premiere comes via the A-side in “I Can Prove It”. It’s a midtempo, loopy disco gem that sits perfectly in Kolour’s established soundscape. The chopped vocal sample builds in via clever filtering and phrasing before unleashing into epic fullness, accompanied by a chorus of strings and horns and all. Of course, like on all of the Frenchman’s productions, the drums just straight-up bang. Also, the flipside hosts a very very nifty Philly disco edit, but we’ll leave the details of that for another outlet.

It seems this horse cannot be held, as Chevals continues to add to his catalogue of tastefully effective reworks. The two-tracker is a nice entry for a mainstay like Kolour, too: serving to both diversify the roster with some new blood and add cohesively to its deep discography. Anyways, be sure to cop this sure-to-be in demand 10” in a couple weeks. Set that Juno reminder!

Martín

Cet article Chevals – I Can Prove It [Kolour LTD] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

After a quiet couple of years, Glasgow house music veteran Ali Herron aka OOFT! (soundcloud) is back with a bang, set to release his debut LP “Intricacies of Modern Life” on his own label, Foto Recordings. The album will be out on a double-LP vinyl package as well as on CD and marks the first album both for Ali and for his label. On the 2×12” you’ll find 10 tracks, but the CD also includes an intro, interlude and outro. Until a recent string of edits and a digital EP, we hadn’t heard much from the Scottish producer and now we know why. Almost 3 years in the making, the album was taking up most of his time in the studio. Pair that with manufacturing delays at MPO and faulty test pressings, well, it’s self explanatory.

The Glaswegian producer is known for his low-slung deep house leanings as well as his numerous edits released over the years and we get a full glimpse of his various styles on the debut album. Tracks like DSRV and Not In Love showcase exactly some of the sounds that OOFT! has become known for, with slower tempos and heady grooves chugging along. The title track Intricacies of Modern Life as well as Proteus Maximus and World Keeps Turning exhibit a more melodic approach with lush synths and arpeggiated rhythms.

[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/premiere-ooft-uptown-haze” /]

Some of the more peak-friendly cuts, such as our premiere today, Uptown Haze, as well as Let Yourself Go and Love Shock, display Ali’s knack for finding catchy vocal samples that only serve to aid the infectious rhythms bound to cause some beguiling moments on the dance floor. Finally, the DJ favourites are The Big C, with its atmospheric chords, strings and fantastic synth work and Keep On Pushin’, with fervent rhythms, moody chords, big stabs and of course the mesmerizing vocals of Stee Downes.

Overall, “Intricacies of Modern Life” leaves little to be desired as an album, striking a nice balance between some easy listening and club-friendly cuts. Although known for a lot of edit work in the past, OOFT’s debut LP really focuses on his roots as a house producer first and foremost, with subtle nods to disco and other influences sprinkled throughout. The album should be out on vinyl next week so be sure to pre-order your copy directly from OOFT’s Bandcamp or at the usual haunts.

Igor

Cet article OOFT! – Uptown Haze [Foto Recordings] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

If you have been a following the underground disco scene the past few years, there is a good chance you have heard of Harry Wolfman before. Since 2011, the funk producer from London has managed to release tracks on prominent labels such as Dirt Crew Recordings, Razor-N-Tape, The House of Disco, Under The Shade, MTA Records, and Lost My Dog. Building a reputation as quite the prolific producer, Harry has decided to add another label to his growing list by coming out with the EP “Nemoto” on Dutch outfit OUTPLAY.

For those that are unfamiliar, the label is run by producers Hans Peeman (Junktion) and Daniel Leseman and recently came out with records by some of our favorites like Loz Goddard and Fouk. Now, with Harry Wolfman under their belt, OUTPLAY is beginning to solidify themselves as one of our most reliable sources of house music in the game.

In their 8th release, OUTPLAY has put out a four-track array of tunes that do well in showcasing Harry Wolfman’s range as a producer. From down-tempo melodies that sound like they have been taken from space to chopped-up basslines that seem hell-bent on making you dance, Mr. Wolfman shows that there isn’t much he can’t handle in the studio.

That being said, our personal favorite from the record has to be its lead track “Nemoto.” Clocking in at almost 10 minutes, this original weaves in elements of filtered house and unadulterated funk that act to lull the listener at points, while energizing them at others. In between these moments, Harry keeps things interesting by incorporating an assortment of modulated synths and memorable quotes like, “It was like disco was the Titanic and we were all on board…”

Although I wouldn’t say this EP will make you sink like the Titanic, it will certainly help you get down! To get yourself a copy, simply follow this link right here.

Yassin

Cet article PREMIERE: Harry Wolfman – Nemoto [OUTPLAY] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Parisian sample-based house label In The Box Records, kicks off 2018 with a project from fellow Parisian, and co-founder of In Any Case Records, Malouane (soundcloud). With previous releases on Lagaffe Tales and his own label, Malouane continues a hot streak with another project full of intelligent sampling and chilled-out deep house grooves. His unique take on creating atmospheres has resulted in comparisons to MCDE and Rick Wade, and if he continues with this charming, jazzy, soulful house he’ll certainly rise in the ranks of producers to watch.

The EP’s second track, “Keep Yo Mama Clean,” is a clear stand-out. Starting with what sounds like sped-up reggae percussion, the vibe is immediately raw, vintage, and almost live in a sense. The heavy use of vinyl noise drives that feeling home, and sonically we’re transported to a laid-back street-side cafe where strangers sip coffee and read philosophy. Where a young poet tests her poetry to a small crowd and finds grace in her missteps. The track feels like that first morning buzz, that hop in your step, or that feeling like the day is conquerable no matter what it brings. Calm, confident, shimmering. Relaxed yet serious. We’ll take more of this, please.

As a whole, Malouane’s EP is a well-balanced affair that while strikingly simple, is wholly captivating. With solid remixes from Times Are Ruff and dusty-house favourite Cody Currie, you’re sure to find something of value inside this package. Needless to say, keep an eye on In The Box, they’ve been consistent with their releases and we expect them to continue delivering the heat. As for Malouane, we’ve been sold, and we’re always looking forward to more from him. In other words, get in while the gettin’ is HOT.

Ryan

Cet article PREMIERE : Malouane – Keep Yo Mama Clean [In The Box Records] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

One of the two bosses of German label Fine has four funk-filled, rolling tunes prepared for its seventh release. Look out for Tilman’s (soundcloud) dance-inducing, soul-seducing quartet of sample-heavy house and disco jams out on January 18.

A1 is packed with the usual disco/house sonic suspects: strings, jazzy keys and heartfelt vocal loops. It’s a credit to the Mainz-based producer that the bass varies significantly and with dynamism, but subtly enough that it mainstays the groove alongside the drums throughout the track. Cut 2 on the record stands out with its fluttering flute-loops, that float in and out on top of the beat throughout the song. Pleasant vocal hums, that almost sound like pads, smoothly fill out the background until about halfway when various soul-heavy vocal samples give the song a warm and almost contemplative touch.

Our premiere track from the EP, Stay Here Forever, will consume listeners with its heavy and full bass-end, and splashy and crunchy top-end. The track’s flow is now and then broken up aptly and evenly by a sequence of chopped and stuttered chord samples – not too dissimilar to a rolling Daft Punk disco thumper – to make it all the sweeter when the drums punch back in. Perhaps undeservedly buried as the record’s last track, Take Me For Your Love is arguably, overall, the EP’s most dynamic. Two guitar riffs (the first, as if sampled from the legendary Voodoo Chile’s unreleased cousin) come in interchangeably. Along with an ethereal chord progression of strings, they give the song an impressive balance of melodic simplicity and depth.

Jacob

Cet article PREMIERE : Tilman – Stay Here Forever [Fine] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Better Listen Records continues its hot streak into 2018 with a debut EP from Joe Corti (soundcloud). The young Londoner’s short discography is off to a strong start with singles on the always good Pusic Records, the always sleazy Mr. Nice Guy Records, and now a proper artist EP on one of America’s most promising underground house labels.

[soundcloud url= “https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/joe-corti-mr-kuti” /]

Comprised of carefully selected samples and exciting arrangements, From London With Love shows off Corti’s ability to dig out timeless samples for the dancefloor and weave them into a DJ’s dream. Special People and Mr. Kuti make up the rowdy, percussion-filled A-side, while Thinkin’ and Fulham Broadway go a little deeper into disco territory — keeping in line with the label’s roots.

Special People and Mr. Kuti are definitely cut from the same cloth, both containing a myriad of elements organized into hard to pin down but nevertheless emotionally engaging tracks. The repetition of the samples at play could easily get stale but, as the lyrics cleverly float in an out of understanding, one forgets about the message, sticks to the feeling, and keeps on dancing. Thinkin’ switches up the formula in favour of strings, cheers, and smart filtering. Rounding things off is Fulham Broadway, a funky number full of syncopated hits and an oh-so-sweet bassline. The tracks here could be from almost any era of which conveys a maturity beyond the producer’s years.

From London With Love is out on vinyl January 26th and you can pre-order it here.

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Adam Johan

Cet article PREMIERE : Joe Corti – Mr. Kuti [Better Listen Records] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Cet article PREMIERE: Norm de Plume – Another Flow [Plumage] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.