DAN PRICE – SYCOPHANT [FRACAS MUSIC]

I’m feeling a bit late to the party on this one, as this EP has been sitting here begging me to review it for far too long. Released on 29 April, Sycophant is the first single on the label after the much touted album from label boss Dan Price to introduce the label.

Dan Price – Sycophant (Original Mix) has a nice chuggy undertone, with beautifully syncopated deep drums, making for an overall quality tune. Alex Costa is on remix duty for the second tune of the EP, bringing his signature high energy, serious techno vibe to the original. Properly tweaking for the late late night crowd, the breakdown in the remix trims down to next to nothing before giving a gut punch worth of bass.

The truly nice thing about this EP is that both the remix and original could have a place in my sets, purely dependent on just how riled up the crowd are at that point.

Keep on the watch for big things from Fracas and Dan Price…I’ve heard of some major compilation inclusions for his recent releases, and I’m sure that is just the tip of the iceberg.

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Dan Price – Soundcloud
Dan Price – In Session Podcast
Alex Costa – Soundcloud
Fracas Music – Beatport

JOHN NORMAN – WAITING FOR SPRING CHART (MARCH 2013)


Well, my March chart is late making it to the blog…but Spring is late too. I’m beginning to think it is never coming.

Here are some deep and dark techno tunes to help keep us warm here in the frozen prairie and beyond.

I know I usually say something about each, but to be honest, these tunes speak for themselves.

Mr Bizz – Bamboo (D-Unity Remix) – Beat Therapy Recordings

Taster Peter – Seeker (Original Mix) – Octopus Recordings

Billy Dalessandro – Spring Juice (Original Mix) – Archipel

The Deepshakerz – Workout (Original Mix) – Area Remote

Shlomi Aber – Limited By You (Original Mix) – Be As One

Jason Fernandes – Guess (Original Mix) – Excentric Muzik

Pan-Pot – White Fiction (Original Mix) – Mobilee Records

Adam Beyer – Take Me Away (Alan Fitzpatrick Remix) – Truesoul

Miss Kittin – I Don’t Know How To Move (Original Mix) – wSphere

Miguel Herrnandez – Bass Brood (John Norman Remix) – UNT! Records

JOHN NORMAN REMIXES

John Norman copy_800px

Not one to rest on his previous laurels and successes (such as the recent after party for Ghosts On Tape and featured guest spots on Coco.fm and Modulate FM), fellow Manaloguer JOHN NORMAN is back at it again with a couple of new and soon to be released tracks on 7 STARS MUSIC and UNT! labels.

First up is John’s remix of “Paralende”. The vibraphone/marimba melody pulled from the original mix by DAIMOND ROCKS and the down to business groove make for some tasty tech house. I am a big believer that a proper remix should pay homage to the original by remaining recognizable while adding the character and soul of the remixer, and this track embodies that philosophy nicely.

 

“Bass Brood”, from MIGUEL HERRNANDEZ‘s new EP soon out on UNT!, is decidedly more minimal (is that an oxymoron?). It is dark, gritty and sinister. This is typical of the sound you’d expect a room full of sweaty people dancing to at 3am in some dingy, nondescript warehouse. And I’m pretty confident John would prefer it that way. The vocals samples remind me of a train station announcement in a nightmare I once had. Make no mistake; this is Techno.

You can get “Bass Brood” right now and “Paralende” on April 4th from all the usual suspects.

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John Norman Links:
John Norman on SoundCloud
John Norman on Facebook
John Norman on Twitter

7 Stars Music Links:
7starsmusic.com
7 Stars Music on SoundCloud
7 Stars Music on Facebook
7 Stars Music on Twitter

UNT! Records Links:
UNTRecords.es
UNT! Records on SoundCloud
UNT! Records on Facebook

GHOSTS ON TAPE IN WINNIPEG

ghosts on tape - wpg

San Francisco’s GHOSTS ON TAPE provided a monumental highlight at the Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition in 2012. Our friends at Dualbeat convinced him to come back to Winnipeg for a more intimate show, albeit, one that almost never happened. There was a bit of drama with the original venue who’s management has become known for pulling out on their commitments for nearly everything. Thankfully the lads at Dualbeat hustled their way into the newly minted Royal Albert Arms – an iconic landmark in Winnipeg’s music scene. The Albert has been closed for over a year and I believe Ghosts on Tape will be the first proper show since then, hopefully unveiling new sound, lights, and well, new everything.

The long-winded intro above is a bit necessary. You see, Ghosts on Tape comes from traditional house and techno roots, the kind usually found buried deep underground; the kind that permeates dank warehouses; the kind that’s comfortable in the dark. While The Albert may have recently undergone a lengthy procedure, cleaning its aesthetics and making it the kind of place you may introduce to your new girl/boyfriend, the venue was known as being one of the seediest clubs across Canada. I’m hoping some of the grit wasn’t washed away or painted over and we can all get ravey to whatever Ghosts on Tape brings.

Check the Facebook event listing here, but in summary:

Ghosts on Tape
Saturday, March 16
The Royal Albert Arms
$12 adv. / $15 at the door
Local support by Shael, Redworm, Justin Kase
Visuals by Pixel Pusher

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Links:
Ghosts on Tape on SoundCloud
Ghosts on Tape on on Facebook
Ghosts on Tape on Twitter

JOHN NORMAN ON COCO.FM MIAMI

John Norman on coco.fm – 18 Feb 2013

Hey guys and gals,

it has been quite a long time since I released a mix, the most recent of which was my ADE Preview for EUN Records back in October. With lots of new tunes built up, including a couple new and unreleased bangers from yours truly, I’ve put together a 2 hour mix of the finest in techno and tech house for your enjoyment.

The mix begins on the lighter end of things, and spirals into the deep and dark recesses of a warehouse vibe. I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

The team at COCO.FM in Miami have the exclusive premiere for the mix, which will air tonight from 9-11pm EST.

Listen here: http://coco.fm/on/ @ 9pm EST on Monday 18 February

You can also download the FREE coco.fm mobile application for your iPhone or Android device at their App stores. That means that there is no excuse to not tune in!

I’ll be live tweeting (@JohnNormanMusic) through the mix with the tracklist…so send a message!

FIGU DS – EINE SEELE (JOHN NORMAN REMIX)

Figu Ds - Eine Seele (John Norman Remix) 500x500

To borrow from a classic Eddie Amador track, “Not everyone understands Minimal music”. And maybe that’s the point.  But it’s clear that someone who does understand minimal is Winnipeg techno-maven JOHN NORMAN (who, of course,  should be no stranger to Manalogue readers.)  Nowhere is this understanding more apparent than on his newest release, a remix of  FIGU DS “Eine Seele”.

Eine seele is German for “a soul”, or at least that’s what Google Translate tells me.  And this remix certainly has the soul of the original while adding it’s own, like any good remix should.  The subtle drone, the slightly offbeat snare hits, and the fluid melody transform the dark atmosphere of the original into something a little more esoteric, if not quite so, well…minimal.

Released earlier this month on EUN RECORDS on Figu Ds’ “Prenzlberg” EP, you can grab it exclusively on Beatport now.  Other shops to follow soon.  If you dig minimal, you should grab this one.  And if you’re not into minimal, that’s ok.  It’s a spiritual thing, a body thing, “Eine Seele” thing…

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EUN Records Links:
eunrecords.com
EUN Records on SoundCloud
EUN Records on Facebook
EUN Records on Twitter

John Norman Links:
John Norman on SoundCloud
John Norman on Facebook
John Norman on Twitter

Figu Ds Links:
Figu Ds on SoundCloud
Figu Ds on Facebook
Figu Ds on Twitter

JOHN NORMAN – BEST OF 2012 CHART

2012 was a great year for House, Tech House & Techno music and there are many tracks that could have easily been in my Top 10 for this year. Below are some of the tunes which were major players for me in 2012, and even taking us into 2013.

Johnnorman_206

1. What I Might Do (Club Edit) – Ben Pearce – MTA Records
Deep and Soulful, this track has been ace since I first heard it back in October. Smooth. Sexy. Deep House.

2. Let Love Decide Feat Roland Clark (Art Department Remix) – X-Press 2 & Roland Clark – Skint Records
This one turned up early in the year, and was a major player in my live sets, especially summertime in London. Top tune.

3. Knee Deep In Louise – Hot Since 82 – Moda Black
Easily one of the best track titles ever, Hot Since 82 nail it with this no nonsense deep house banger. Hot indeed.

4. Skeksis – Alan Fitzpatrick – Drumcode
Is a description really necessary? Picture a dark warehouse, around 4am. Everyone is off their nut and then this gem drops. Pure techno love.

5. Lost In Music (David Hererro Ole Mix) – Chus & Ceballos, Cevin Fisher – Stereo Productions
This is another one from early in the year which has featured heavily in my sets. A nice jackin beat. And who hasn’t been lost in music at least once?

6. Pufarine – Luca M – Area Remote
I am fully obsessed with this tune. Quirky, dark, lovely.

7. Heart Of Flesh – Technasia – Cadenza
I have really been feeling Cadenza’s sound throughout 2012, and this tune stands out as top for me. Nice tech house driving bounce, and a great vocal.

8. London Town – John Norman – 7 Stars Music
Had to include what I consider my top tune of the year – it was one of my first releases in 2012, and was the catalyst to a stellar year of gigs, music, connections. And the tune is pretty solid, if I do say so myself…

9. Friends (Audio Junkies Remix) – BaAus – Lapsus Music
Loving this tune (and it is probably my wife’s favourite of my tracks at the moment). Has a nice dark brood to it with the synth line and choppy robotic vocals. Solid.

10. My Father – Felipe Puertes – Go Deeva Recordings
This tune was huge for me in 2012, and I can definitely see it sticking in the repertoire through 2013 as well. No nonsense tech house.