Music Charts for Fashion Shows, Seaside Cafe, and more

It’s been a while since the last time I updated the “chart” section, so now I’m going to offer something a bit special. A couple of weeks ago I was applying for a job at a music consultancy firm, and part of the application process required me to choose tracks for some specific scenarios. After spending a whole day trying to dig the right tracks, fortunately I got the job in the end. Here’re the scenarios and the tracks I picked:

A. Fashion Show 1 – Contemporary Menswear, e.g. Alexander McQueen, Burberry

1. Radiohead – The Amazing Sounds of Orgy

2. 2562 – Flashback

3. Detachments – Circles (Martyn Remix)

4. Sid Le Rock – Slainte Mhor

5. Kasabian – Ovary Stripe

B. Fashion Show 2 – Classic Womenswear

1. Noze – Kitchen (Pop version)

2. Tom Clark – Floating Cells

3. Kiki – Damaja

4. Greie Gut Fraktion – Wir Bauen Eine Neue Stadt

5. Corrugated Tunnel – Time Machine

C. Stylish Seaside Cafe
1. Sissy – All Under

2. Bluetech & Lynx & Janover – To Mend

3. Pet Shop Boys – Love Etc.

4. Gui Boratto – Colors

5. Oasis – Champagne Supernova

D. Eames Furniture

1. Sensorama – Where The Rabbit Sleeps

2. Sid Le Rock – Durch Dick Und Duenn

3. Gui Boratto – Azurra

4. Phil Kieran – Raining For Old Friends

5. Lugano Fell – Two Hundred Clocks And A Metre

E. The Theme Song for a Film about Myself

Radiohead – Like Spinning Plates

Album Review: “Chamber Music” by Raudive aka Oliver Ho

Over the past few years we’ve seen the tech sound evolve in a diverse and exciting fashion, and indeed with the plethora of styles out there in the house and techno scene, it’s no easy task to cultivate a sound that can truly stand out these days. Yet on Chamber Music, the debut album of Oliver Ho’s Raudive moniker, there’s a distinct and sophisticated soundscape that really caught our attention.

The 9-track LP begins with Is It Dark In Here, a track that captures the dark, minimalist and fluid feel of the productions released on Ho’s very own Wires imprint earlier this year. Slow, sparse percussions are coupled with ethereal female vocal layers to create a bleak, atmospheric and cinematic vibe, which is well sustained on Cone thanks to the sombre saxophone and moody piano notes.

Paper then picks up the pace with its snappy claps, undulating bass and twinkling synth stabs alongside the edgy glitches of the strings, before the beatless Over soothes us with warm, lush ambience and transfers us to Khaki, another tech affair whose rapid syncopated beats, hypnotic bells and loopy synth tones sink the mood further down to a deeper level whilst injecting a fair amount of dark drive into the progression at the same time.

The next track Brittle is the most club-oriented track on the album, and indeed its driving groove owes much to the melodious synth riffs and loopy chopped up vocals flowing atop the solid kick. Despite the minimalist setting it’s very upbeat and dynamic, and should work very well on the dancefloor.

Continue to read my review on Chamber Music on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

EP Review: “Zusammen (Remixes)” by Dance Disorder

The latest offer from BPitch control is the remix package of Dance Disorder’s Zusammen, a disco-tinged cut released on the label earlier this year. With the reworks from Mr. G, Discodromo, and Jerome Sydenham, we have a number of tasty flavours to choose from here.

Exploring somewhere away from the pumping streams of disco synths from the original, UK producer Mr. G aka Colin McBean has crafted a bittersweet number kick-started by some melancholic synth lines; solid tech beats and undulating bass are also in operation, giving the track a steady drive. After the stripped back midsection slices of melodies then kick in alongside the harmonious return of the pads, constituting a mellow and coherent piece together.

Italian duo Discodromo then bring back the disco vibe of the original mix, but with a lighter twist thanks to the fluid and melodious piano riffs atop the energising disco layers. The original’s grand and epic feel is not fully retained, yet it sounds brighter and more colourful here.

Continue to read my review on Zusammen (Remixes) on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

EP Review: “In The Spirit (inc. Deepchord Remakes)” by Hatikvah

Three quarters of the year have passed, yet there’s no sign that Soma Records’ top form is going to diminish. Their latest release, In The Spirit, sees them further strengthen their roster as German duo Hatikvah – formed by Florian Schirmacher and Helmut Ebritsch – make a solid debut on the label. Also included in the package are two impressive remixes by Deepchord, aka Rod Modell, as well as the acapella from the original mix.

Driven by the deep and mellow vocals by Schirmacher, the original mix is a moody affair that drifts unhurriedly. The metallic stabs manage to inject some edginess atop the neat techy beats, whilst the humming delivers a light dose of funk and generates a rhythmic groove amidst the hollow surroundings.

The Kinematic Mix by Deepchord then takes a more aggressive direction, with the throbbing kick pumping up the energy level alongside the intense synth stabs. Despite the industrial flavour of the track, the vocal snippets still sound fitting here, especially after the sci-fi trippy synth creeps in after mid-section, creating a spacey heads-down vibe for the cavernous settings.

Continue to read my review on In the Spirit on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

EP Review: “Out In Miami” by Sebrok

Berlin artist Sebrok has made his debut on Oliver Huntemann’s Ideal Audio. Entitled Out In Miami, this latest release from the label sees him deliver a dark and futuristic 2-tracker.

Capturing the sleek and edgy feel of the label, the Berlin producer deftly mingles house and techno elements together in a sci-fi context, with Lincoln Road presenting a spacey journey tautly ridden by the murky bass, neat housey percussions and crisp FX, and Jefferson Avenue venturing into a hypnotic soundscape guided by the loopy, bouncy synth tones amidst some sharp swirling waves that pierce your eardrum.

Continue to read my review on Out In Miami on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

EP Review: “Sleazebox EP” by Max Cooper

We do expect unusual and twisted things from Veryverywrongindeed; and with its latest single Sleazebox EP, UK artist Max Cooper has delivered a dark and witty 4-tracker for the sleazy big-room.

Kick-starting the EP is Silicon Sleaze, a rolling techno affair consistently driven by its glitchy, metallic stabs and meaty bass on top of the crisp and chunky percussions. Next up, the 2010 Update version of Tinderbox then sees Cooper further showcase his dexterity on manipulating the sci-fi FX with a bit of filthy flavour, which is interestingly juxtaposed with the neat minimal tech progression of the track.

The remix by Hans Bouffmhyre has a more heads-down vibe, with the pulsating bass and snappy tech beats propelling the track through the dark and industrial setting relentlessly, whilst Jill Bellac, on the other hand, adds his own twist with a heavy dose of playful and catchy synths.

Continue to read my review on the Sleazebox EP on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

EP Review: “Cry (Slam Remixes)” by Dot Allison

A spacey and hauntingly beautiful remix EP by the Soma label bosses here, with the acclaimed vocalist Dot Allison getting the techno treatment.

With the fluid interweaving of solid industrial tech beats, deep shimmering synth undercurrents and spacey, menacing droning waves on the Instrumental mix by the label bosses, one can easily tell that this 2-tracker from Soma is aimed at some serious moment in the cavernous big-room.

Continue to read my review on Cry (Slam Remixes) on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

EP Review: “Pretty Lame EP” by Ductile

Don’t get misguided by the title of the single – Ductile’s Pretty Lame EP is by no means lame; rather, it is a quite original and edgy 3-tracker by the Parisian artist.

The title track is a dark and hypnotic affair, with the seductive female monologue smoothly gliding amidst the ominous, hollow and murky-bass-driven technoid background. Gloomy and chic at the same time, it will be an effective piece to suck the crowd in.

Comptine then ventures into a more experimental territory through the intricate bombardments of the gritty and metallic snippets atop the minimalist mechanical percussions, rendering an industrial yet spacey vibe for the 4-minute sonic ride.

Continue to read my review on Pretty Lame EP on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

Album Review: “Tout Va Bien” by Sid Le Rock

An album that swings back and forth in the continuum between dance and rock, Franco-Canadian and Berlin based artist Sid Le Rock’s Tout Va Bien is a delightful journey packed with appeal and surprises.

Composed of 11 tracks, this longplayer begins with the deep and swirling ambient waves on Chaos For The Aftermath, which is followed by the snappy beats, psychedelic synth background and electro snippets of Swollen Member. The next track Pow Wow sees the rock elements come into play, with the stomping drums, powerful bassline and electric riffs lifting up the energy level significantly. The laid-back vocal and stripped-down structure of Still Life then sink the tone back to a lower level for a while, before the driving trippy synths on La Guidoune harmoniously pick up the pace of the voyage again.

Continue to read my review on Tout Va Bien on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here

EP Review: Alpha Wave (Plastikman Acid House Mix) / High Plains Drifter (Voyager Remix)

Coincident with the relaunch of Richie Hawtin’s Plaskitman project, System 7’s A-Wave label has re-released (digitally for the first time) the Plastikman Acid House Mix of the duo’s track Alpha Wave.

Lasting for a duration of over 19 enthralling minutes, this classic cut opens with the portentous, relentless sirens, with the driving percussions making their appearance and picking up the pace of the progression gradually. Thrusting cymbals and high-tensioned drum rolls effectively inject considerable momentum, before the firing of the acidic leads invigoratingly lifts the track to another level. Highly fluid and vigorous, their wiggles mingle with other sonic components dynamically to render an ecstatic state for the listener. At around the 11 minute mark the track gradually slows down, and in 2 minutes there are only the spacey buzzes that swirl between the ears. Yet of course it is by no means the end of the track – as the percussive components and subsequently the synth leads make their return, the heart-throbbing mechanism gets back into operation and the energy level rises to another peak again.

Continue to read my review on Alpha Wave (Plastikman Acid House Mix) / High Plains Drifter (Voyager Remix) on Data Transmission – The Online & Mobile Dance Music Authority here