House & Techno Top 10 - November 2010

Some funk-inspired madness here as well as some hypnotic grooves to save your ears from Black Eyed Peas McMusic. There's too much good music out there to listen to fodder. Don't let the idiots win!

House & Techno Top 10 - November 2010
1. Raph Dumas - Afraid of Change (Enjoy Recordings)
2. Examine - Essential Reconstruction (Snejl)
3. Alec Carlsson - 22 (NialaKil Remix) (Elektek Recordings)
4. Ramiro Lopez - Brunch in Guadalmar (Mucky Pups Mellow Version) (Mingtum)
5. Nicole Moudaber - Feel That (iVAV Recordings)
6. Antoine Caesar & Timur Valiev - Le Mag (Hans Bouffmyhre Remix) (Indeks)
7. Berny & Guru - Will You Be Mine (Open Bar Music)
8. Magda - Doom Disco (Minus)
9. Niko Rivera - Santa Fé (Nico Cano Remix) (Leventium Recordings)
10. Arno E. Mathieu - Lamb of Sun (Dub Version) (Clima)

Classic Pic: Corrina Joseph - Live Your Life With Me (Atlantic Jaxx, 1996)
Brilliant vocals over a live-element house track. One of the Basement Jaxx crew's best ever efforts and remixes to perfection by Roger Sanchez who could almost do no wrong in that era.

October in Tribal House (Part 2)

Raph Dumas - The Best Funk Of Your Life (Enjoy Recordings)

Straight from one of the most original producers in electronic music is an album by talented Frenchman Raph Dumas. TBFOYL is a complete breath of fresh air - showing how to give sample-based music soul to boot use live-elements to perfection. Played across 19 tracks ranging from jammy Chicago style house to chillout jams Dumas showcases his funk/soul/jazz-inspired attitude to DJing and live performing with his band La Colba Mil.Lenaria. 'O'Spell' is a funk/jazz dancehall effort which pays heavy tribute to American gospel music while 'Umbalahh' hits the big-beat groove reminiscent of early Fatboy Slim with the cheese turned down a notch. The absolutely standout 'Afraid Of Changes' is Dimitri From Paris meets Brand New Heavies in a saxophone-led dance floor destroyer which is packed full of elements but skilfully avoids getting cluttered. At the other end of the spectrum is 'She Drinks Champagne', a downtempo house groove with a cut-up vocal sample and an old-school Chicago sort of cheekiness to it. Raph Dumas' album is A-class from start to finish and recommended listening no matter what you're into. Listen to/Buy 'The Best Funk Of Your Life'

Antoine Caesar & Timur Valiev - Le Mag / Immunity (Indéks Music)

The usual techy madness from Indeks begins with the massive Hans Bouffmyhre remix of 'Le Mag' (listen) which is as dark as tech-house gets these days rolling with a dubby drum-line, a sinister sub bass and some expertly placed and delayed samples. 'Immunity' (listen) ramps up the madness even more adding a vocal and distorted drums and glitch samples. Quality stuff all round. Indeks Music at Juno Download

Rob's House and Techno Reviews - June 2010

Antoine Caesar, Timur Valiev - Whisper of Mars (Indéks Music)

Indeks hits its 16th release with one of the best yet. ‘Whisper of Mars’ has a dubby, peppy groove reminiscent of some 1990s Plink Plonk releases – oozing with hypnotic elements. Everything seems to fit flawlessly here until the main groove dips out and the whispered vocals fade out to eerie horns displacing the main groove just long enough before dropping back in. The flip-side ‘Dica‘ is a groove along similar lines although more peak time in vibe. The tonky percussion gives it a roll which is quite infectious and would rock many a dance floor. This release is one for Stacey Pullen-style techno lovers. 4/5
Whisper of Mars at Beatport

Edmund - Deep Deluxe EP (DeepClass Records)

Edmund delivers another really moving EP of deep house in a style which is really starting to take hold. In a sort of Kerri Chandler meets Milton Jackson way ‘You Got The Love’ rolls out a sparse percussion arrangement, superbly placed keys and hooky sampled vocals in a way which is eye-closing groovy. Dance floors will love this vibe even if it might be more warm-up material for many. ‘World Of Fantasies’ hits a more bouncy, spacey groove with a stuttering bassline beneath another really understated vocal. Edmund’s almost trademark stabbed keys appear here again and complete the track to perfection. 4/5
Deep Deluxe EP at Junodownload

Yuki - Unizen (Jason Phats Digital)

Fitting somewhere between the party and big-room house categories is this belter on Jason Phats Digital. It might ring too many bells to be an underground stormer but the original of Unizen has a dope groove, nicely arranged keys and infectious vibe. The alternative Jonas Hayes mix of Unizen will hit the mark for more DJs with a deeper, darker vibe which adds a few interesting percussion elements and is a little less epic. Dope stuff! 3/5
Unizen at Junodownload