Compilation release on Ready Mix Recs

Normally I'm on the music fan/reviewer side of the fence but just for today I am on the artist side. I have a new compilation out on Canadian label Ready Mix Records which has been home to some superb artists over the past decade including Tone Depth, Stan Kolev, Quicksound, Lemon Popsicle etc.

The mix is volume two in the Already Mixed series and covers the more New York/East Cost side of the label's sound. The artists mentioned above are included as are some special edits and co-productions I worked on which are exclusive to the mix.

The mix is available in mixed and unmixed versions at Beatport but you can check out a 20 minute teaser of the mix in the player below!

Various Artists - Already Mixed Vol.2 (Compiled & Mixed by Rob Warner) [192K Clip] by Ready Mix Records

Beatport for tunes and full mix: Already Mixed Vol 2, mixed by Rob Warner

Head on over to www.facebook.com/robwarnerdj for more info and music.

Rob's August House / Tech / Chart

The eternally progressive Pure Substance label hits out with one of it's best releases to date, a wicked jammy house number from Alex Deep. M.in shows no signs of producer fatigue and keeps his output top notch in his new collaboration with Jonas Fahz.. And to top it off, the first time I've ever had two, let alone three productions by kiwis - even if one is my own.

House / Tech / Chart / August 2011
1. Alex Deep - Nothing More (Pure Substance Digital)
2. M.in & Jonas Fahz ft Peter Eilmes & Nick Maurer - Welcome To My House (Trapez Ltd)
3. Filterwolf - Never Ever (Daniel Heidt Remix) (Filigran Records)
4. Dave Nash - Keep it Up (Flaming Soul Deep Remix) (Ready Mix)
5. Future Mode - New World Order (Shaveer & Rob Warner NYC Dub) (Ready Mix)
6. Rob Salmon - Middle Blues (Faucet Records)
7. Chuck Cogan - Intensity (Original Mix) (Ooze Recordings)
8. Carl Taylor - Perplexer (EPM Music)
9. Dilby - Party Starter (Joel Armstrong & Skai BeatsNBass Dub) (Dot Dot)
10. Luka - African Nights (Charles Moui Remix) (Drum Mode)

Classic Pick: Blaze - Wishing You Were Here (A Vision For Jane Mix) (Slip'n'Slide, 1999) 20:20 Vision crew turning soulful garage into hypnotic tech house with ease  > on Youtube

Top 10 Chart - Jan 2010

My top ten 'Future Garage' chart for January 2010 kicks off with one of techno's rising stars, Japanese artist Itokim who's released a string of spacey tech-inspired gems over the past year or so. Milton Jackson and Tom Shur-I-Kan's Dark Energy goes deeeeeeep with Pablo Fierro's 'Get Up Away' and Timos's 'Move On' is a groovy, drum-led number with vocals reminiscent a few classic 1990s Murk productions.

1. Itokim - Long Way Down (Organica Music LabWorks)

2. Pablo Fierro - Get Up Away (Shur-I-Kan Remix) (Dark Energy)

3. Timos - Move On (Sonido)

4. DCNT - Clocked (Sonata)

5. Shoxy - Hit The Floor (Jesus Loved You)

6. Marco Da Mata & Satine Collectif - Mundo Estatico (Original Mix) (Ready Mix)

7. Python - Long Way Home (Original Mix) (Pure Subtance Digital)

8. Orchun K - Confessions Of A Shiftless Prayer (Mecha Recordings)

9. Ozgur Can - Fall In The (Weplayminimal)

10. Hrdvsion - Oh, It's Mastered (Living Records) 

Classic revisited: Elegia - Basic (Laurent 'Laboratoire' Garnier Mix) (F Communications, 1999)

Stan Kolev 'Emotional Content Remixed' : Review

'Emotional Content Remixed' is primarily a collection of the single release remixes from Stan Kolev’s 2007 album with a few new remixes added in for good measure. The opening remixes of the LP intro ‘Routts‘ are done by Faces who takes things synthy in the progressive style Ready Mix are known for. Beat Factory’s remix of the same track is a more big-room affair with a techy slant and cut up vocal snippets used to great effect. ‘Inner Sense’, a total gem in its original form, is remixed by Dutch duo Edwin & Ferdy who impress with their trademark, a laid back and low key vibe remix. Christos Fourkis remixes the same track taking a more groovy, hypnotic vibe while UK’s K-Bana takes on two remixes ‘Inner Sense’ and ‘Get There’ with a bouncy, crisp groove for both. Eelke Kleijn’s remix of ‘Flashback‘ is also included - a grinding gem which would rock any late night jam with ease. Daniel Kyo, Marrakech, The Quasar, Add2Basket, Human8 and more contribute solid mixes making, in all, 15 remixes with more than enough quality to set up any lover of progressive or tribal infused house with a hour of quality listening.

@Beatport: Emotional Content Remixes

Rob's Music Reviews - July 2009

Unusually for me there have been a number of progressive tracks which have caught my ear this week. The Quasar & The Pressure and Victor G both show that prog is not as dead as some claimed and, when done right, can be more futuristic than much German techno. At the other end of things is the superb new EP from Santé and some dope remixes of Milton Jackson.

Santé - Damabalaa E.P. (Souvenir Music)

In the summery South American groove that’s worked for them before Santé hits the mark with a smooth ethnic groove layered with haunting vocals, a wooden flute, Deep Forest-esque samples and a few subtle piano stabs. This is a nicely balanced meshing of elements which is made even better with the addition of a dub version which is more of a peak-time dance floor version. With ramped up percussion and a harder hitting groove it’ll cater perfectly to the more tribal house oriented fans. A must for followers of the Laurent Garnier, Luciano etc sound.
Santé - Damabalaa E.P. on Beatport

The Quasar & The Pressure - Take Me Over (Ready Mix Records)

Starting out as if it’s going to turn into a mid-90s MAW track ‘Take Over Me’ quickly shows it’s not the average filler prog and is one of those few releases which flawlessly meshes styles and hypnotizing you almost immediately. Sultry synths, vocals with spacey FX and a deep, rolling bassline give it a groove which would work on most dance floors and the Hungarian trio show their class in keeping it interesting without resorting to any gimmicks to keep your attention. The Gorge remix is a more subtle and low-key, perfect for late night sessions.

The Quasar & The Pressure - Take Me Over on Beatport

Victor G - Sleepy Days E.P. (Pure Substance Records)

Victor G steps into minimal prog with the original mix in an edgy, steppy groove that slowly builds into a layered dubby prog number which would sound epic in a big room and probably scary as hell at 6am with a super low sub-bass pulsing through it for most of the track. The Andy Slate remix of 'Sleepy Days' is fantastic with a heavy, distorted kick and deep bass which hails back to early Maurizio releases. Slate meshes old-school sounds into his productions making this an example of how to make nasty bottom-heavy grooves without ramping up the BPMs or cheese-factor. The bonus 'No Maybe' is a more funky number with a bouncy synth and nice use of delays and FX on the elements. Well worth checking out.

Victor G - Sleepy Days E.P. on Beatport

Milton Jackson - Never Be Wrong (Remixes) (Dark Energy Records)

The original of ‘Never Be Wrong’ was solid enough as it is so it is a nice surprise to hear new mixes which take it in very different directions. The Burnski Orange mix is a deep take with a nice synth line, a heavy drum kit and groovy bassline which gives it a warm-up sort of vibe. The Sei A remix is more peak-time and twisted. Like some of his other productions it’s got a real Detroit influence to it with small twists and turns coming and going, never sticking to a groove for long. It would fit in well with lots of classic techno and just as easily with the more Chicago house oriented music. Nicely done!
Dark Energy Records on Beatport
Enjoy!

Rob Warner Top 10 June 09

Once again the tunes on high rotation are a mixed bag of techno, quirky German house, tribal drum-tracks and whatever Omid 16b happens to have put out recently. Renato Cohen drops his new LP, Sixteen Billion Drum Kicks, with a clutch of awesome Detroit-esque tracks. Stan Kolev also makes a solid return after his brilliant album last year and Dutch tribal guru Jaimy turns all beachy with his latest..

Rob's Future Garage Top 10, June 09

1. Renato Cohen - Cosmic Man (Sino)

2. Mark O'Sullivan - The Game (Nice & Nasty)

3. Spedro feat. Lara Bello - Sola (Höhenregler)

4. Steven Cock - Dirty House (Annekes Chocala Remix) (Vee Recordings)

5. Jaimy - Metropolitan (Drum Mode)

6. &ME - F.I.R. (Sante Remix) (Keine Musik)

7. Stan Kolev - Get There (K-Bana Remix) (Ready Mix)

8. Omid 16b - Same As You (Club dub) (Sequential)

9. Jacksonville - Station one (Doppler)

10. Nicola Martorano & Roberto Capuano - Stay Tuned (Hot Fingers Music)

Classic Pic:

Subspecies - From Da East (East Coast mix) (Strictly Rhythm, 1996)

Reviews with Rob Warner - February 09

Darren Duvall - My Control (Remixes) (Ready Mix Records)

A host of remixes of what was a solid track from 2006 starts with Turkish talent Murat Ozer whose two mixes are deep rides of sublime subtlety which have just the right amount of elements, drop-outs and soul. It comes in both ‘keys’ and ‘no keys’ version which is a nice addition. Sebastian Davidson’s mix is more abstract with an atmosphere which will appeal to progressive lovers. Daniel Kyo completes the pack with a techier take which is a bit more peak-time with stabby synths and bouncy groove.

Chris Luzz - New York Sleaze EP (Shaken Republik)

Shaken Republik hits the jackpot with Chriss Luzz’s latest three-track EP. ‘Real Lies’ is a sparse tech-prog monster which proves its quality on first listen. The basic melody rings out over a techy groove which, over four minutes, builds in a pretty relaxed manner before adding in a jammy acid synth reminiscent of French tech-heads The Youngsters. This is a perfect to bridge the gap from a warm-up to peak-time vibe. ‘7AM Beer Run’ is more straight-up prog with crisp percussion and hypnotic synth/bass line. Luzz keeps with the techno influences adding the small details bit by bit to raise the intensity without resorting to obvious drops/rises. Check out New York Sleaze at Beatport.

Subb-an - Opiates EP (Immigrant Records)

Subb-an has had a string of top notch productions on Immigrant so it’s not surprising to see him pop up again with another. Dubby, techy styles are the name of the game here and the killer on the EP is ‘Sloopy’ which has quite a sinister vibe to it. Some tweaked out synth sounds and vocal samples give this a dark, basement club appeal which is what I love. John Tejada adds a solid remix which is more hectic and full of acid bleeps and clicks. The whole EP is worth a listen if dubby tech styles are your thing.

Album Review - Stan Kolev "Emotional Content"

If Stan Kolev's "Don't Be", released last year on Ready Mix Records, was a sign of things to come then he was well on target. Riding the fine lines between house, tribal, progressive and trance, "Emotion Content", is a breath of fresh air so far as electronic artist albums go in recent years. Making dance floor tunes is one thing but producing a quality album which can be listened through and appreciated as one work is another. "Emotional Content" has done just that.

Leading in Kolev lays down his style pretty quickly. An laid-back ethnic and progressive mash-up of styles paves the way with "Routts" and "Suspended Memories" before the tempo picks up with "Inner Sense", a sultry 90s-style New York house number - subtle and groovy. "Deep This" follows on and you can see where Kolev is going - adding in synth riffs and more edgy elements.

Last year's album teaser "Don't Be" is included in an album edited version before the next peak-time numbers fall in the form of "F-substance" and "Flashback", one of those x-factor tunes which defies genre: future-garage-tech-prog to make a wild attempt. "Even Flow" and "Hollow" kick ass in a more energetic synthy way and will bode well with fans of more euphoric (I didn't say 'trance' but goddamit this makes me like the notion for a change) sounds.

It isn't often an album makes the top grade for me but "Emotional Content" gets an easy 5 out of 5. There doesn't need to be any genre sticker attached to this release except: forward-thinking dance music.

- "Emotional Content" is available now on Ready Mix Records at Beatport. The single release of "Flashback", including a remix by Eelke Kleijn, will be released in March. Other remixes due in 2008 from Bart Van Wissen, Add2Basket and more.

Music Spiel - 17 September 2007 new tunes updates

2007 hasn't let up for a minute with the number of quality tunes coming out. September "Spiel" has more from across the global dance floor.

Jordan Two Delta – Stomp (Sensual Records NYC)
This is solid proper house by a rising talent in the scene and on the newly launched Sensual Records. After a massive recent release under alter-ego Lincoln Six Echo this is no step down from the bar already set. "Stomp" is based around a simple, rolling groove/bass and piano stab. Simple, classic and very hypnotic. The original is straight out of the 90s school - a low kick/bass and old-school vibe. Remixes come from Poussez, who turn in a sublime chord-driven future-disco anthem using only stabs of the piano, and K1W1, who does a nostalgic mix with distorted organs and deep deep bass.

TG – The Night Surfer EP (Fling Recordings)
One of the hottest new labels around, Fling Recordings, drops the latest Tim Green effort under his TG moniker. "Night Surf" is melodic minimal techno with a dark bassline and peppy tempo to it. Floaty chords and intricate percussion make this the star track on the EP. "For Sure" is a more kicking techno track which rolls along with twisted cup-up vocals creating much of the rhythm-line and a mental breakdown for great effect. Two more tracks in similar style round of the EP.

Kourosh & Ric-M - Tears (Ready Mix Records)
Calling this Portuguese tribal house undersells it just a tad. The original of "Tears" is a big-room tribal number with funky keys which sit half way between techno and big-room ethereal progressive. The anthem here for me though is the truly massive Mark Voxx remix which is everything that quality house music is about - rhythmical, suspense-filled, madness. It builds bit by bit until you're hooked into a dreamscape of beachy keys, shuffly beats before the anthemic breakdown. The mix by Omikron will appeal to the progressive fans out there and "Lontano's Ocean of Sorrow" remix to the minimal electronic side of the floor. Totally kick-ass music whichever way you bake it!

Fan Erhalder – Sparkplug EP (Immigrant Digital)
Immigrant Digital's latest four-track release is Fan Erhalder's follow up to the awesome "Crazy Ducks" EP. The opening track, "Physicist", is a peppy tech-house groover with glitchy percussion and stripped down bass. "Tupolev" is in a similar vein to Crazy Ducks and is a dance floor bomb - tough, driving tech-house with punchy synth stabs and metallic rides would drive you bananas in a dark room at 6am. Two more solid tracks on the EP round it off as one of my favourite tunes as of late.

Facundo Mohrr - North Fiji / South Fiji (FeralCode Records)
FeralCode steps out in style once again proving themselves to be one of the best progressive labels out there. "North Fiji" sets out as a slow-burning progressive journey as clichéd as it sounds, but it's the best description for this tune. The subtle chords and bubbly sub-bass give this a Nick Warren-ish style quality. "South Fiji" sets out a bit more percussive and housey but has a similar soul and character to it. This is one for the big-room journey DJs for sure.

Boombatcha - Out Of Body Experience LP (Aenaria Chill)
Luca Ricci's Aenaria Records drops yet another quality release, a eight-track release of coolness by longtime French-living English DJ Boombatcha. A couple of the standout tracks for me include "Preminitions", a synthy, techy, progressive track which reminds me of the best moments in a Danny Howells set – a tune which fits into lots of styles and just glues you to the dance floor. "Fastpath" is a more manic, funky prog number with a big bassline and old-school Guerilla Records-style synth action sure to please fans of future-retro style music. Check out the rest of the release for other quality bits in similar style.

Enjoy!

Rob Warner - Top 10 - May 2007

Some blinding good music coming out at the moment. If dark, dubby, quirky, f***ed-up, dance-floor bombs are your thing then check out some of these.

1. Livio & Roby ft George G - Monochrome (Wize mix) (Only Records)
2. Stan Kolev - Dont Be (Original mix) (Ready Mix Records)
3. Eric Sneo - Real Love (Beatdisaster)
4. NeilC - Senorina Bella (Original) (Drum Mode)
5. Jalebee Cartel - Vector The Crow (Moon Tribal Records)
6. Sunshine Jones - If You Wouldn't Mind (King Street)
7. Jeff Bennett - Ghoramara (Kungfu Dub)
8. Aldo Cadiz - Villaloca (Immigrant Records)
9. Faze Action - In The Trees (Carl Craig Remix) (Juno Records)
10. Stereo Addiction - Deviant Behaviour (Aenaria Tech)

;-)