Robytek
Luna Africana
Italian label Rebirth is going through an energetic phase at the moment, so if you haven’t done already (and Laurent Garnier, Ame, Prins Thomas and Ben Watt are just some of those who have) check out the excellent Go That Deep by NUfrequency featuring Shara Nelson, with a hot remix by Charles Webster. Now the label’s releasing Luna Africana, the follow-up to Robytek’s last track Sun. With this new one, the Italian producer leaves behind the prog and dreamy lines of the previous single and explores a darker side, while also dipping into his fascination with the Afro-cosmic sound. A remix by Germany’s Roland Appel perfectly completes the package. 7/10 NDC
Out on Rebirth
Shlomi Aber
Tokyo Shanghai EP
2007 was a great year for this talented young producer. Together with a bunch of like-minded people, he’s redefining the club music map of his home country Israel, which until recently was mainly concerned with the more traditional proggy and trancey side of the scene. Mixing influences that move from jazz to techno to minimal, acid and house, Shlomi has made a massive impact, with his work getting the support of luminaries such as Carl Craig, Richie Hawtin, Francois K and, of course, Ovum boss Josh Wink. This two-track EP is just what you you’d expect from follow-up to the strong Freakside of last year – nothing less than a similarly strong release. 8/10 NDC
Out on Ovum
Danton Eeprom
Face Control/Missing
Over the past year Danton Eeprom has really made an impact with his Fondation imprint and tracks and mixes for the likes of Tsuba and Freak N Chic. And rightly so, as he has a fairly unique take on house music. Face Control is futuristic dub house at its best, and a track which combines an incessant groove with intricate sound design to make a wonderful listen. With a super-intense breakdown, this isn't a tune to be forgotten quickly. Missing is darker house-noir track, with a heads-down vibe and unnerving pitch-shifted vocal samples – definitely one for later in the evening. Great stuff, all in all, from Mr Eeprom. 8/10 DM
Out on Fondation
Brauns/Gruber/Nürnberg/Kazaam
Amistad EP
For its fifth release, Lorna has drafted in four artists who are getting quite a few props via releases on Liebe*Detail and Diynamic. Brauns, Gruber and Kazaam serve up Aire Fresco on the A-side. A bassline very reminiscent of Luciano's now seminal remix of Argy's Love Dose is the pulsing undercurrent of the tune, while the top line is a woodblock-based percussive affair which also seems to draw some Love Dose influence. Our Feeling by Gruber and Nurnberg on the flip is a nod back to classic deep house. Vocal hits, warm chords and a great dancefloor arrangement make it the sort of tune that will be played a lot over the coming months. Amistad EP is in familiar house territory, but it’s executed so deftly that it will win widespread support. 6/10 DM
Out on Lorna
Ryoh Mitomi
Ballet EP
A release on R&S and Technasia's Minimaxima was a fine start to Ryoh Mitomi's production career, and he continues his good form with this EP for Immigrant. Modern minimal techno with some old school references is the order of the day on Pointe, but that tracks is eclipsed by the brilliant Detroit-infused deep house of Stranger Than Paradise. Remixes come from Polder, who ups the funk stakes, and A-Inc, who throws down his shuffly wobble with aplomb. Well worth a check… 7/10 DM
Out on Immigrant
Rene Breitbarth
Le Rythme Korg
Le Rythme Korg kicks off this three-tracker with jazz-fuelled percussion and some lovely keyboard work. It’s deep house with twists, turns and a peak-time inclination, and it makes no apologies for being so. West Park Unit's remixes echoes the sentiment with a more driving, techier version which uses the contrast of the original’s musicality with their monotone bass excellently. However, it's the last track of the EP, Le Groove Rhodes which wins out. Bass-heavy, filtered drums and a warm-as-hell Rhodes add up to an eye-closing early/late-night bomb. 8/10 DM
Out on Dessous
coming soon…
Catch Dean at…
February 21: Codex Fourth Birthday with Rob Mello @ AKA (London)
February 23: Issst/Viva Warehouse Party (London)
March 1: Yumla Knows pres… (Hong Kong)
March 25: Tsuba Recordings @ Suitelounge (Miami)
March 28: Supernature WMC Party (Miami)
April 5: Nish Nish @ Platinum (London)
April 11: Sweat (Leipzig)
Catch Nico at…
February15: Process:Minimal on Resonance FM (London)
February 21: Codex Fourth Birthday with Rob Mello @ AKA (London)
February 23: The Egg (London)
March 1: Nish Nish @ Platinum (London)
March 8: Das Schiff (Basel)
Visit www.thinkcodex.com, www.myspace.com/codexclub, www.myspace.com/nicodeceglia and www.myspace.com/deanmuhsin
