Butch - No Worries

No Worries tracks the tradition of minimal musicality with looped spoken samples. Designed for a specific type of dance floor, Butch's new release is powerful if uninspiring. Percussively it packs enough punch to keep energy levels high while maintaining a technically solid production sensibility.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/cometobutch
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The Juan Maclean - Feels So Good

Feels So Good explores party vibe territory as a straight-laced yet funk-inspired backing forms the accompaniment to female vocals. Although lacking the panache of The Juan Maclean's previous releases, it's still a track that works well with the right crowd.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/thejuanmaclean
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Eddie Thoneick - Funk

Eddie Thoneick has been making music for some time but his real break-through came in 2006 with the track Love Sensation. Teaming up with Kurd Maverick, the duo came up with a dancefloor anthem that made its way into sets by Axwell, Erick Morillo and Pete Tong, to name a few. Here, his latest release Funk continues his minimalist production style. With arresting sonic grows and dissonant musical motifs, it's a serious and at times, intense recording. Vocal samples echo the track's title as Thoneick takes the listener on a dark and eerie journey. Out on 22nd March on Subliminal Records.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/eddiethoneick
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Nastala - Crazy

It's not often I feature a track based on how good the video is (never!). But this is the exception. One of the most impressive and imaginative videos I've seen in a while, directed by Andy de Vries . The track isn't bad either. Growing up in techno birthplace Detroit, Nastala began writing and singing from an early age and eventually captured the attention of electro house artist, Chris Lake. Together their hits have included Only One and If You Knew. Now her debut single, Crazy offers a catchy commercial hook with first rate production values. It didn't surprise me to learn that Ash Howes was behind the production (who has previously worked with Little Boots and Dido) but who knew that Joel Zimmerman (aka Deadmau5) was behind the drums and guitar! Looking forward to the remixes.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/nastala
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Hell Featuring Bryan Ferry - U Can Dance

Forthcoming this month is Hell's new single featuring Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry. There's a nice atmosphere to this bassline-driven vocal production. Descending bass-notes create a sinking dynamic as Ferry's effected singing makes for some attention-grabbing listening. Remixes are also doing the rounds from Carl Craig, Simian Mobile Disco & Tim Goldsworthy.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/djhell
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Michael Woods - Black Strip

More from London's man of the moment Michael Woods. Envolver EP features the title track and a additional production featured here. Black Strip boasts a catchy wordless vocal phrase that builds in ferocity until a fully-loaded percussion section kicks off. What follows is a powerful and tightly produced exercise in intensity. Out now on Beatport.

rating: ***½
url: url: www.myspace.com/michaelwoodsrecords
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Veerus And Maxie Devine - Clockism (Combed Mix / Phonk d'or Re-Work)

After success with the Coldplay homage Clockism, Veerus & Maxie Devine return with "Part Two" of the same release. The Combed Mix features pulsing synth chords and serious club percussion. It maintains a solid Main Room atmosphere that's sporadically broken up with the famous arpeggio chord phrase. Dutch DJ and Producer Phonk D'or offers a darker alternative that explores complex rhythmic patterns while maintaining the familiar phrases of the original.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/veerusofficial
url: www.myspace.com/maxiedevine
url: www.myspace.com/phonkdor
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Peres & Petersky - Hello Ladies

Out of Poland, Petersky and DJ Peres collaborate on Hello Ladies. There's a great ambiance to this production. The title might suggest a light production but it's far from it. Mysterious and experimental sounds create a tense atmosphere as pounding percussion keeps things moving forward. Also thrown into the mix are more conventional synth chords that provide a contrast to the darker elements. Mysterious electronic strings strike later on in the track (6:36) plunging the proceedings into even darker territory. Overall, an intriguing production.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/peterskymusic
url: www.myspace.com/peresdj
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Polygon Palace - Tokyo Getaway (Wild Turkeys Remix)

Polygon Palace hail from Melbourne Australia and their first single for release is Tokyo Getaway. Here, the Wild Turkeys give it a slick remix treatment. The happier atmosphere of the original is replaced with a rather more serious synth-driven tone. It's an effective switch that lends dancefloor panache to the proceedings. I particularly like the simple changes in pitch (eg 1:54) that add variation to the main synth motif. The vocal tracks here are heavily effected which helps add to the sci-fi feel of the remix. Available on itunes.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/polygonpalace
url: www.myspace.com/polygonpalace
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Paul C vs Ryan Inglis - Destiny (Original Mix)

Destiny is out soon from UK newcomer Paul C. There's a great energy to this vocal-driven and musically alluring production. The meat of the composition consists of a moody minor key motif that sets the tone for most of the track. Using arpeggiated chords and a pulsing bassline a serious atmosphere is created that sits perfectly with the vocals. This is highlighted further at times with the addition of piano chords. A nice production touch is the sparse and unexpected inclusion of a major key chord - it creates a musical breather from the otherwise well-developed intensity. Overall, well crafted new material - looking forward to the remixes.

rating: ***½
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DJ Madskillz - Surface

Madskillz, out of Amsterdam, is in great demand as both a DJ and producer, with over ninety productions to his name. On new release Surface Madskillz explores a simple house-percussion progression with infused organ accompaniments. Vocals snippets add additional texture as rhythmic layers are skillfully combined. The use of sonic grows is particularly effective as Madskillz translates his knowledge of moving a dancefloor into well-constructed DJ material.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/djmadskillz1
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Simian Mobile Disco - Cruel Intentions (DJ Pierre Acid Reflux Remix)

Legendary Chicago DJ Nathaniel Pierre Jones is behind this minimal interpretation of Simian Mobile Disco's Cruel Intentions. The original featuring vocals from Beth Ditto is upbeat and celebratory in tone, commercially accessible and bold. DJ Pierre's alternative reversioning heads into much darker territory. With a bed of synthesized acid-inspired emissions, Pierre slices the vocals into reverb-soaked sound snippets, using them largely as looped percussive elements. Percussion layers are explored as hand-claps, rudimentary drum fills and high-hat help maintain a minimalist low-tech sensibility. The sporadic inclusion of the acid-house bassline keeps a degree of variation as rhythmic and vocal elements are allowed to play out largely unaccompanied. Overall, a uniquely Pierre repackaging of the SMD original.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/djpierresafroacidproject
url: www.myspace.com/simianmobiledisco
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Gaiser - Flashed

Flashed is new from sought-after Detroit producer Jon Gaiser. Exploring dark and foreboding atmospheres, Flashed creates an intense experience as the line between sound effect and instrument is blurred. At the center of the production is an infectious bass sustain that acts as the driving engine of the track. On top of this, Gaiser builds intricate layers of digital sound and distortion. The effect is a musical version of a David Lynch film - nightmarish in tone, yet alluring and delicately crafted. A nice touch is the addition of descending bass notes - it works as an effective alternative to the opening bass motif. Overall, a solid production for the right crowd.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/jongaiser
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Eat More Cake feat. Alexis Griffith - Red Sky (The Diogenes Club Radio Edit)

Eat More Cake are made up of writers and musicians Andrew Briggs and Matt Pearn. On stage, they're a five-piece band comprising band members, Kay Juviler-Bacon (Vocals), Alex Lane (Drums), Owen Charles (Turntables, Ableton), with Andrew Briggs (Vocals, guitar) and Matt Pearn (Keyboards). Red Sky is the first single from Eat More Cake's debut album, Climb The Ladder, Live The Dream and features the haunting vocals of Alexis Griffith. There's a calming and floating feel to Red Sky. In this remixed form, the track finds itself in the chill-out genre balancing tasteful harmonies and well structured vocal sections. This is admitedly not for most DJ sets, more an end of the night kick-back track - but it's a slick production nonetheless.

rating: ***½
url: www.
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Oxia - Sun Step (Original Mix)

DJ and producer Olivier Raymond aka Oxia is from Grenoble, France. His latest release, Sun Step, is crisply produced and firmly in the minimalist camp. A looped organ motif unfolds gradually as layers of dynamic house percussion bring the track to life. The mastery is in the details. Each layer of percussion is as carefully pieced together as the next, with powerful moments of intense rhythmic build-up (eg 5:20). Overall, flawlessly produced and simple in scope.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/oxiagoodlife
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Dave Spoon - The Key

Brit DJ and producer Simon Neale, (aka Dave Spoon) is behind The Key, a dark and moody tech-house production with a difference. Neale combines a number of musical elements - an ascending triplet phrase, a pulsing bassline, a single-note synth sustain. And by design, none of them fit into any kind of traditional harmonic structure. The effect is unsettling, creating an intriguing and dissonant atmosphere. On the right dancefloor the stirring tone of The Key makes for some powerful listening. Out soon on Beatport.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/davespoon
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Phoenix - Fences (Grincheux And Dangereux mix)

French alt-rockers Phoenix were formed by Thomas Mars, Deck D'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz in Versailles. Here, their Fences release gets the club-friendly remix treatment thanks to Grincheux And Dangereux. Upping the tempo and adding an infectious organ groove creates a funk-fuelled atmosphere that works well with the original's lyrics. There's also a retrospective nod as nineties style chords form a catchy mid-way motif (3:20). According to the remixer, "when you have a great starting point remixing is easy, and I couldn’t have had a better starting point than Phoenix...you can hear how much I loved doing it in the track". And as you listen to the joyous vocal-built chorus towards the end of this version, you can hear what he's talking about.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/wearephoenix
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Robbie Williams - Bodies (Fred Falke Mix)

Brit DJ and producer Fred Falke has remixed a huge number of artists over the years including Goldfrapp, Kelis and Jamiroquai. Here he gives Williams the remix treatment. Upping to the tempo to house-friendly bpms, Falke opts for a mysterious opening as a minor key string melody is combined with an evolving bass sustain. Eventually this transitions to the chord structure that will house Williams' chorus. Overall, Falke offers a fresh take on Bodies that brings new elements to the table.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/fredfalkemusic
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Mendo - 1992

Originally from Spain, David Mendo is a DJ and producer with fifteen years of experience on the club scene. His track, 1992 seems like a straight forward tech-house tune of the minimalist variety, on the surface at least. However, there's a sophistication and panache to the production that delivers more than initially meets the ear. The sparse musicality works in the track's favor as it delivers a repeating synth sustain that builds excitement. And the treatment of the vocal samples is particularly distinctive. Anyone know why it's called 1992?

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/djmendo
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Layo and Bushwacka! - The Raw Road (Nic Fanciulli Remix)

Laylo & Bushwacka!, otherwise known as Brit DJs Layo Paskin and Matthew Benjamin, have been key players in the dance scene for some time. Paskin was co-owner of London's legendary nightclub, The End, where Benjamin was a resident. The Raw Road is a serious production, that centers on a fast-paced bassline with experimental digital melodies, ethnic vocal samples and effects thrown carefully into the mix. Here, the prodigious Nic Fanciulli, DJ and remix-superstar gives the record his reversioning. It's tricky to remix a recording that's musically minimal to begin with. Fanciulli takes things in a new direction as he adds a hypnotic minor chord phrase and some snippets of vocals - used here more as a percussive element than a vocal. There are some smartly-designed dancefloor grows (5:05) and generally the production vibe is intriguing if understated. Out now on Olmeto Records.

rating: ***½
url: www.myspace.com/olmetorecords
url: www.myspace.com/nicfanciulli
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