Best New Releases from February 2020
The month of February brings love notes, a wave of passion, and of course, exciting new releases, albums, and remixes to help to get us through the end of the winter. We selected the ten favorite tracks of the month featuring an Avancera, a Swedish production tandem of Dorisburg and Kalawila, Brothers Not Friends, His Master’s Voice, Iron Curtis, Isolée, Dauwd, Overmono, JamRat, Shampoo Douglas, and Adult Fiction released via Mountain Explosion Device, KCZMRK, Uncanny Valley, Maeve, Psssh Records, Poly Kicks, Rhizome, Pluie/Noir, and Adult Fiction
Dauwd
Idris
Psssh Records
Psssh Records is a brand new label co-founded by Dauwd Al Hilali and Dave Redmond, whose inaugural release is the opening installment of the trilogy from Dauwd himself. The record label was “ born from a collection of demos the pair felt deserved their own home...” and will focus on “eclectic, pursuing less contrived grooves, from impactful dancefloor works to an ambient playfulness,” a press release explains.
The second track on the “ 01” record, employs an avant-garde approach with twisted grooves, raw, captivating energy and subverted funky baseline fit to grace any DJ set.
Thom Yorke
Not the News (Overmono Remix 1)
Poly Kicks
Overmono, the UK techno siblings Tom and Ed Russell, better known as Truss and Tessela, released two remixes of Thom Yorke's "Not The News" via their Poly Kicks imprint. "POLY012" EP features two edits of "Not The News," one of the leading tracks from his third studio album ANIMA.
Combining a smooth breakbeat aesthetic with a sense of melancholic charm, the first version of ‘Not The News’ flows through an elegant ornate of buoyant harmonies and introspective electro-funk.
Iron Curtis
Against My Window (Dazed Mix)
Uncanny Valley
Uncanny Valley welcomes the fifth installment of their spectacular VA series that celebrates the imprint's 50th release, following the colorful collection of PINK, RED, ORANGE, and BLUE. Building upon high sonic standards set by colorful editions, GREEN brings together four unique works by the label artists such as Iron Curtis, Perm, CVBox, and Dispo 5000.
The compilation opens with Iron Curtis’ “Against My Window ( Dazed Mix),” a track which brings house vibes with an atmosphere of gentle melancholy laced with dark undertones and brooding, bass driven groove.
His Master’s Voice
Taurus
KCZMRK
His Master's Voice unveiled his debut album via Paul Rich's imprint KCZMRK. The rising German producer keeps carving his own musical niche by blending ambient and techno sounds that drape cinematic and truly poetic moods. With a captivating 2019 solo EP through Delsin Records and a beautiful contribution to KANN's "Banana Split" compilation, His Master's Voice follows up with his first album' Log: a Canis Majoris'. The gorgeous collection of eight tracks was recorded live in one take, and it further showcases his musical versatility and production prowess.
"Taurus" spirals its way through endless ambient textures, slowly unfolding its mystical charm. The overall composition works on a profoundly emotional base with broad, helium-tuned synths layers, celestial atmospherics, and ricocheting into eternity electro rhythms.
Avancera
Who is Princess Zorldo?
Mountain Explosion Device
The Swedish production duo of Dorisburg and Kalawila come together as Avancera for a perfect union of sound on "Who is Princess Zorldo? ( Inc. Mor Elian Remix)" EP released via Kalawila's Mountain Explosion Device. Their debut package consists of two original tracks backed with a remix by Berliner Mor Elian.
The A-side opens with the title track "Who is Princess Zorldo? "channeling an eerie euphoria of atmospheric dub techno. With raw energy and haunting dub groove, the track is a perfect fit for a nocturnal peak time set moment.
Isolée
You Are
maeve
Berlin-based Maeve records start the decade with an utterly gorgeous release that comes from the hands of a sonic architect isolée. Following his 2017 "Mangroove" EP, the artists return to Maeve with his second solo outing. Entitled "Candy Apple Red" EP, the four-track package touches on multiple genres. The producer's trademark microhouse sound featured in "You Are," a moody disco-house in "Candy Apple Red" or straight-up club-oriented house music in opener "Mad Marauder."
The B-side opens with the beautiful "You Are," which meanders into groovy deep house territories with pondering basslines, minimal driving rhythms, and crisp instrumentation punctuated by mood-setting harmonies.
Brothers Not Friends
Alpha Beta
The Rotterdam-based production duo of Thomas and Oscar Peters combined forces as Brothers Not Friends to self-release a new EP called 'Faq.' The three-track package consists of delicately constructed sonic miniatures loaded with immersive soundscapes, hazy electronics, nostalgia-drenched melodies, and breakbeat-driven grooves.
The otherworldly beauty "Alpha Beta" is conveyed through futuristic elements, abstract kaleidoscopic synthesis, and poly-rhythmically designed rhythms. Keep an eye out for Brothers Not Friends' next release.
Shampoo Douglas
Reedonko
PluIe/Noir
Shampoo Douglas teamed up with the vinyl-exclusive imprint Pluie/Noir to present a diverse collection of tracks "inspired by 90's sci-fi infected Detroit electro, drenched in deep mellow tones, weird outer-worldly timbres, and sharp drum-arrangements."
The original intention was to release this record as part of a 3xLP album, though the plan did not come to fruition. The "Kepler 66 Hotline" EP is described by Douglas brothers as the "post-apocalyptic journey set in 2046 A.D. far out on the Kepler 66 Planet, where The Douglas Brothers (Alchemists of Sound) have now set up their inter-dimensional sonic fortress. Due to complications on Earth and a third world war breaking out, Earth's population was forced to migrate to unknown territories. Those with pride choose to stay, while others took off to finally create their Utopias on alternate dimensions. Insufficient Credit. Thank you for calling Kepler 66 Hotline. For more virtual space-time continuum travel, insert credit. To speak with the manager, press 1. Do nothing, and you will be automatically rebooted to reality in 30 seconds."
The third track, “Reedonko," delves into the post-apocalyptic landscape painted by pulsating electro rhythms underpinned with the wobbling bassline.
JamRat
Marble Grounds
Rhizome
Rhizome is a new vinyl-only imprint based in Seattle. Their inaugural release comes from a local live performing duo JamRat. With the “Marble Grounds” EP, JamRat offers up two original tracks, each escorted by a remix from Glueped, the production collaboration between Cristi Tudorache (-Melodie) and Mihai Mihacela (Teluric).
The title track presents the EP’s most funky house vibes with dreamy pads and harmonic sense of rhythm that reigns supreme through the record. It has a nostalgic feel that will have a long-lasting impact on the dance floor.
Adult Fiction
Laws Of Motion
Adult Fiction
The Belfast-based Adult Fiction starts 2020 with the exciting “Laws Of Motion” EP released through his newly-fledged eponymous imprint.
The “Laws Of Motion” EP has all the hallmarks of the early 90’s classic, taking influence from the UK garage, deep house, and electro that was inherent of that period and blending with it intricate jazzy elements and breakbeat-driven rhythms.
The title track is a voyage into a sonic tapestry that merges the early 90’s London sound with an emotive power, breakbeat rhythms and, juxtaposing melodicism.