Chart courtesy of The Economist.
01. Ricardo Villalobos, “Electonic Water” [Perlon] (buy)
Soon to be the subject of its own review, Villalobos’ “Vasco EP Part 1” is a stunning addition to his already vaunted discography. The rippling melodies of “Electonic Water” largely stay submerged, only occasionally rearing their heads to roar with blistering intensity at passersby. Thick with the irregular rhythms of a hypnotic cowbell, muffled walking bass and a fiercely slapped belt (or some approximation) and riddled with ear-piercing electric flare ups, “Electonic Water” conjures a daunting swamp alive with robots instead of animals.
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02. The Per Eckbo Orchestra, “Beat Bravo” [Oslo] (buy)
Guillaume Coutu Dumont yet again exhibits how he’s earned his buy-on-sight credentials with this new collab with Oslo boss, Federico Molinari. “Beat Bravo” navigates a well lubed jungle lush with rolling hand percussion, wandering vibe progressions and chiding vocal drops. It’s just toolish enough for a long mix and just tuneful enough to stand on its own — exemplary of Oslo’s signature sound.
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03. Jim Rivers, “Mirage” (tobias. remix) [Simple Records] (buy)
How this young Bristol-based producer went from prog house to releasing on Simple Records and being remixed by Tobias Freund is a mystery to me. But his colorful and blocky original makes for great remix fodder, as proven by the delightfully thick treatment Tobias metes out. Its buzzing low end aerates the dance floor below as dub upstrokes plant seeds and refreshing torrents of delayed synth soak dancers. A fine introduction to Rivers and a finer remix from one of techno’s masters.
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04. Chic Miniature, “Escandalo” [Crosstown Rebels] (buy)
As if there weren’t enough excellent Coutu Dumonts solo and collaborative releases, this one revisits his partnership with Mutek-affiliated producer, Ernesto Ferreyra. The result sounds a bit like My My with more meat on its bones, filling every nook and cranny with a collage of live, sampled and generated sounds. The previously released “Kimono,” in all its badgering poppiness, is sure to rile up dancers and DJs alike.
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05. Touane, “Tolousian Duck” [Persona] (buy)
Although his efforts are rarely acknowledged, the versatile Marco Tonni keeps churning out great and impossible to pigeonhole tracks for labels like Lan Music, liebe*detail, MiniSketch and his own Persona. “Tolousian Duck” is perhaps Touane’s most anthemic tune to date, hooking dancers into its ever expanding motif. Highly recommended.
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06. Leonid, “Mora” [Statik Entertainment] (buy)
07. tobias., “I Can’t Fight the Feeling” [Wagon Repair] (buy)
08. Rndm, “Wakefield” [Dial] (buy)
09. Move D, “Drone” [Modern Love] (buy)
10. Peter Grummich, “Mountain” [ProgCity Deep Trax] (buy)
