Innershades – That Girl

Label: Wicked Bass

Wicked Bass follow up top releases from Huerco S and Parris Mitchell with their third physical pressing in the form of a debut from Belgian producer Innershades. The newcomer brings a rough slice of house whose retro style is matched only by its raw dancefloor heat. Given the dusty mastering and compressed percussion you'd be forgiven for mistaking this for an old Dance Mania cut, and indeed the comparison rings true thanks to Innershades' effective fusion of a few simple layers. A dangerous bassline and hollow kicks lay the ground work, but it’s the details that do the damage here; an uneasy synth wash and tuned toms standing out from the fuzz.

That Girl / That Girl (Locked Groove She's A Hoe Remix) / That Girl (Vakula Remix)

The original is a hard act to follow, but a canny choices of remixers ensure both offerings are worthwhile. First off Hotflush darling Locked Groove takes a cleaver to the original, leaving grimy 303 scratches and spare percussive twitches to duel it out over the remains of the original’s melodies. It’s a darker, moodier take on the already brooding original, but Locked Groove builds the tension masterfully as the track goes on. Ukrainian analog house don Vakula steps up for the second remix, bringing the original’s Chicago-referencing elements to the fore along with psychedelic organ stabs and serrated synthlines. Overall it’s a muscular package for Innershades’ debut, bristling with personality and raw character, altogether augmented rather than stifled by its retro stylings.

7/10

January Roundup

So the first month of 2012 comes to a close, and it seems a strong start to the year. Here I’ve collected together some of my favourite releases of the month, moving from the biggest dance hitters through darker UK dance territory and back round to bubbly bass tracks, all topped off by a couple of slow and smooth electronic moodsetters. Enjoy!

You can click on some of the tracks to get to my original review.

 Pusherman - Shake It Off

 Boddika & Joy O - Swims (Alternate Mix)

 Jon Convex - Closer

 GoldFFinch - Point of Entry

 Sei A - Break The Pattern

 Dadub - Perseverance

 Kowton - Looking At You

 Artifact - Deserted

 XI - Squeeze

 Machinedrum - DDD

 Locked Groove - Rooted

 Cuthead - Brother

123Mrk - Untroubled 

 Jacques Greene feat. Koreless - Arrow

Disclosure - Flow 

 Benjamin Damage & Doc Daneeka - Halo feat. Abigail Wyles

 Lianne La Havas - Forget (Shlohmo Remix)

Locked Groove – Rooted

Label: Hotflush

Rooted

Drowning

Change

Most people’s introduction to Belgian producer Locked Groove, aka Tim Van de Muetter, will have been in the form of his track Drowning, which was one of the standouts of Scuba’s great DJ-Kicks mix from last year. The arresting Techno number was also what got Locked Groove signed to the always on-point Hotflush imprint, and on his debut release it is joined by two deviations into other dance genres, and although there’s nothing here to break any moulds, each track is a perfectly composed addition to Hotflush’s admirable canon. Everyone in the dance world is always on the lookout for new sounds and the next big thing, but when you can re-interpret classic sounds and structures as well as this new producer, there’s not really any reason to look elsewhere.

Stomping centrepiece Drowning is an intense affair purpose-built for peak time dancefloors, layering finely tuned textures before dropping out impressively a minute in, only to return with an extraordinary piston kick, pulling the track clearly into Berghain territory. The 4/4 kick recedes and emerges from focus across the track, complimented by sharp snares and Shed-like synth streaks. It’s an absolutely monstrous tune, and the only real surprise is that it doesn’t dwarf Muetter’s other two offerings on the EP. Next to Drowning, title track Rooted more than holds its own, as a warmer cut paying homage to classic Detroit sounds. Placid and melancholic pads lead a long introduction to a less prominent 4/4 thud, resulting in a tune that presents more of a journey than the central track. Midway through we move into acid territories with a squiggly bassline and vintage synths, and while it’s not a surprising turn of events, it’s put into action perfectly.

Final cut Change is the most unassuming track here, but it also threatens to be the most interesting, offering a clarity and personality more immediately than the other cuts. An unsettled synth-bed soon gives way to a fine techy groove, and the choice vocal sample sounds as much a personal mission statement as it does a crowd-pleasing touch of humanity. It’s impressive how mature these tunes feel for a debut release, and even though Locked Groove hasn’t brought any game-changing styles to the table, this fine collection is more than deserving of repeated spins and a place in any forward-thinking DJ’s set.

7.5/10