Point of Reference

POR’s Top Tracks of 2017: O’Flynn - Tru Dancing

O’Flynn burst onto the scene in 2015 with the critically acclaimed & sample heavy ‘Tyrion / Desmonds Empire’ EP on Blip Discs and whilst he only has 3 other EP’s too date, all I might mention of impeccable quality, he has done much to improve his profile and is definitely on a lot of people ‘one’s to watch list’, 2017 was no different.

This year saw O’Flynn release his first EP on the world renowned ‘Ninja Tune’  imprint whilst also fitting in 30+ shows, a clear rise on the 5 he played in 2015. This aside our highlight of the year from this exciting young producer & DJ was his carefree disco facing ‘Tru Dancing’ that was at home in many a sunny mid-afternoon festival set this year. 

This track isn’t just another disco house song, its structure is highly different and its production is quite innovative. In the build up sections  O’Flynn has taken away the percussion elements to leave the faint background horns and samples. It’s an effective approach which only increases the impact when the drums and percussion finally break through at the crescendo. It’s a perfect party track as it creates an element of surprise before the ‘drop’ and connects with the crowd perfectly when it does all come together, we saw many a Dj using to full effect this summer!

POR Tops Tracks of 2017: Moon - Light of Virtue

2017 certainly saw a huge revival in all things acid, with those unmistakable TR-808 sounds finding their way into so many sub-genres, from disco edits, techno, big-room house, deep house you name it, and this little known & underrated release from the collaborative project between Germany’s Johannes Alpert & Johannes Paluka was a particular highlight. 

We first heard track in a hugely impressive mid-afternoon set from Banoffee Pies at Gottwood this year, and it served as a perfect set interval, placed in between two sections of full fist pumping infectiousness, and it was effective to say the least. 

The track itself is a paced, self-assured outing and the two producers have had confidence in their own restraint and keeping to their philosophy of less is more. Those delicious acid flavours are what drives the track with swirling synths and an off kilter percussion structure.

POR’s Top Tracks of 2017: Shinichi Atobe - Regret

As i’m sure most readers here will know RA made a huge statement by deciding to discontinue their end of year RA poll. Their reasons were justified, honourable and we hole heatedly agree with the move. 

POR on the other hand is certainly not a industry influencing media outlet that reinforces gender roles & demand for artists, but with the motives behind RA taken on board this year we have decided to do a ‘Top tracks of the 2017′, they will be in no particular order are are merely our favourite tunes, rather than the objectively ‘Best’ ones of the year. So, without further ado please see out first addition to ‘POR’s Top Tracks of 2017′

After a 13 year hiatus, and returning with one of the best tracks of the decade ‘Butterfly Effect’ in 2014 Shinichi Atobe has been on fine form with three LP’s in 4 years on UK imprint ‘DDS’ and has crafted a incredible, unmistakable signature sound which for me puts him right on the top of the pile in his corner of electronic music

This effort, ‘Regret’, features on his beautifully named 2017 LP ‘From The Heart, It’s a Start, A Work Of Art’ and is instantly recognisable as an outing from the Japanese maestro. Simple, Clean and centered around one insatiably effective electric hook with subtle kicks or percussion elements added or taken away as the tracks progression.  

Shinichi is a master craftsman in this Ambient house-facing genre and we can’t wait to see what other immersive offerings he has for us in 2018.

Red Greg - Room 2 - XOYO - 08/12/2017

Following what is probably the best line up for any residency we have ever seen, POR found  themselves at motor city drum ensembles penultimate show. Alongside himself he invited the one and only Mr Scruff whilst giving room 2 duties to Red Greg.

Red Greg has been described as the DJ’s DJ, and with fans such as Floating Points, Jeremy Underground, and Mr Mendel his credibility speaks for itself.

Recordings of mixes by the man himself have been described as incomparable . However I felt a sense of optimism in experiencing a show by myself. After hearing someone’s very best recordings multiple times, one gets a sense of feeling that anything experienced will not live up to the high expectations, little did I know what a treat I was in store for.

Myself along with some like minded affiliates, entered XOYO, with absolutely no intention of experiencing MCDE, and his headliner Mr scruff. With no disrespect to either of these 2 massively respected selectors, because they are both firm POR favourites.

Instead we went straight to room 2, where we knew Red Greg was in control. Arriving at around 11, we could not even imagine the 6 hours of disco master class we where about to witness.

Following on, cult tunes like The Fatback Band’s Spanish hustle made an appearance and were accompanied by slightly less known numbers like; True Feeling’s Love Me Love Me.

A personal highlight of the evening was Le Stim - A Tribute To Muhammad Ali, played from the break, a tune which Red Greg has dropped in countless mixes but every time gives the same sense of aura and expectation. The way he builds Up to a trade mark number is like no one else. But, as you think you have heard a DJ at his best, you are treated to another seamless transition. I don’t think I heard a beat out of place all night.

As I thought I had been treated to everything my Friday night had in store for me, with selections from the very best, and a flow that only the man him self could pull off. As I am readying myself to leave, the subtle piano riff of Sylvester’s, give it up tickle through the speakers.

With this iconic tune playing, I realised I have never been subjected such a masterclass, of firstly such in depth knowledge of the disco era, and secondly, someone who has the mixing experience that spans decades.

Ouvrijster - Lazarus / Mostly You

Make Believe Disco, a vinyl only Dutch and Danish run Label From the same collective behind Sleazy Beat Recording bring you their 3rd release. This time its Ouvrijster with the production duties.

The newcomer from Amsterdam’s bustling and ever growing music scene, delivers with 3 killer tracks. The EP starts things off with an incredibly infectious, sample heavy groove disco by the name of ‘Lazarus’.

The Reverse is more of the same, the same intricate artistry, but somewhat more ready for the dance floor.  ‘Mostly You’  floats you through with bubbly vocal samples, whilst ‘Flamboyant’ Slows things down with a broken beat jam but sticking to the recurring disco vibes.

Banoffee Pies Records - Limited Series 06

Banoffee Pies Dropping their sixth edition of the limited series, which comparable to the others is not confined to any musical genre, but an array of UK influenced spectacles ranging from Jazz to Electro.  

Gallegos starts things off with ‘Save Your Love For Me’  a groove dominated buy jazzy clarinet whiffs, mixed with hypnotic claps and a thudding off beat baseline. The Electro blend, ‘Hanging Gardens’ from Bristol local Seka and the 2-step Themed  ‘Dreams’ from Jay Anderson round off the A Side.

The Bside opens more of a head nodding number courtesy of Owain K’s Floor filling ‘Touched’. The EP is rounded off with another jazz style track, but with a very different vibe to the first, This time we have been given a more mellow insight, accompanied by chopped up piano riffs, and muted trumpets.

Pender Street Steppers - Raining Again

The Vancouver music scenes leading pair, Pender Street Steppers are back in action after a lengthy hiatus with another release on their hometown label, Mood Hut with a 5 track EP which is arguably their strongest production to date.

They begin with the deep Balearic composition ‘Raining again’, the clean guitar riffs next to with swirling melodies and showcasing hints of African highlfe juxtaposing with ambient house, 2 genres that have no right to be fused together. But somehow it works.

Whilst staying on the Balearic side of things the rest of the EP is more of the same, with various influences from the world of dance music; ‘Molto Bene’ pays homage to early the Italian house movement. And ‘No Need’ gives us a insight into the deeper side of house with delayed drum kicks and retro hip hop vocal samples.

The only way to really experience what this record is about is to listen to it for yourself.

Andre Solomko - Le Premier Disco Sans Toi

Favorite Recordings bestow Ukrainian born producer Andre Solomko’s new release. After moving to Finland, Solomko, a multi talented musician, started the Vinyl Jam label and amassed two self produced albums; ‘Où es-tu maintenant ?’ & ‘Le Polaroid’.

‘ Le Premier Disco Sans Toi (dub)’ which translates to ‘The First Disco without you’, is an infectious vintage groove sprinkled with disco flavours and breaking into a dominating saxophone break that Andre is renowned for.

Unfortunately, the dub version is all Favorite have previewed so far, but on the plus side we have the 2 tracks to look forward to, and if what we have heard is anything to go by, we are in for a real treat.

Expected release date - 8th January 2018

Pépe - Lemon Fanta

Dropping EPs previously on In Paris and Renascence, budding Spanish producer Pépe gets a debut pressing on accomplished lofi outfit Lobster Theremin.

The A side boasts ‘ Rainfall (Part I & II)’ , a feel good deep house number with endless piano loops, gives us 12 minutes of enchanted bliss.

With Spanish vocal samples ‘Lemon Fanta’ Is much of what you would expect from the London Label, that trademark lofi sound paired with animated basslines and engulfing chords that makes this track stand out.    

Tilman and Soutine - Fine 04 - One Day Off

Chief of Berlin based label Fine, Tilman collaborates with Soutine producing 3 killer house cuts, released back in April of this year. This little known label is definitely one to follow.

The pair start things off with ‘So Long So Wrong’, a disco influenced house track that is pure summer vibes, that will have you reminiscing about kicking back on the beach. Real hands in the air stuff.

‘It Must Be Nice’ delivers by infusing constant kicks with bouncing basslines and growing breaks, the result, a peak time groove of the highest order.

The B-side doesn’t disappoint either. ‘Faded Vibrations’ another solid house number, starting off with a thumping intro and ascending acid oriented bass paired with dreamy chords which maintain a introspective feel.

C.K - Hybrid Textures

This subtle, dynamic effort from C.K dropped back in September as the third release on his own Aarhus-based imprint  ‘No Hands’. 

The Label is from a group of seriously talented Danish musicians part of the Regelbau crew, including the likes of Dj Sports, Dj Central, Manmade Deejay & C.K. himself All have had phenomenal years as producers, Central’s deep house effort ‘Basil (Version Intégrale Club)’ was an effortless showcase in house music and Sports’ debut LP ‘Modern Species’ is hands down one of my favorite records of the year. this young group of Danish artists should be right at the top of your ‘ones to watch’ list!

Younger Rebinds - Retro 7

Younger Rebinds is the new alias of Rotterdam based DJ and producor Benny Rodrigues, perhaps better known for a number of releases on Klockworks under the name ROD.

Releasing on Gerd Janson’s Running Back Retro 7 is a gripping journey throughout. Making use of a a 707 drum machine, driving synths and euporic breaks, this double EP showcases 8 italo disco inspired, club ready jams crafted specifically for the dancefloor.  

Rhode & Brown - B Tru 2 U

Toy Tonics are at it again with another immaculate production, this time courtesy of Munich based duo Rhode and Brown. Having initially started the record whilst on holiday in Zanzibar, they set up a studio in the south of France to finish off this Balearic composition.

4 Dreamy house cuts culminating at ‘third rail mills’. Persistent claps and metronomic high-hats from the off moving smoothly into a groove with a kick that wont fail to get anyone moving.

On the flip the LPs namesake chugs along fluently, with its hands in the air cymbals and a mythical synths this track is a real end of night operator. Rounded off with the slightly more abstract ‘Iruzu Jam’.

Metro Area - Metro Area

Environ mark the 15th anniversary of Resident Advisor’s second best album of the decade with a fully remastered repress. The result of Morgan Geist and Darshan Jesrani’s mutual affection for the lower tempo of late night 70s and 80s NYC Club Classics.

With a sound that has been described as a cross between Chic and Apex Twin, the album as a whole creates a certain aspect of suspense with its rolling baselines, house inspired kicks and production aspects heavily influenced from the disco boogie era.  

Expected release date: 21st December 2017

Mark E - Night Mover

A superbly seductive deep house slow-burner from Mark E & re-edit focussed imprint ‘ Creative Use’. This, the B-side a re-edit of a Detroit Experiment track dropped back in may 2008 and is still sounding as fresh as the day it day it landed. 

The A-side ‘Sun Shadow’ a re-edit of Lapelle’s gorgeous gospel / soul outing ‘Moon Shadow’ is one of the most expressive, immersive re-edits I have ever had the pleasure of hearing, the whole record is an absolute essential listen and we strongly recommend you do exactly that..

Auntie Flo - So In Love (Kornél Kovács Remix)

Stepping up on remix duties for this Auntie Flo track is the consistently reliable Studio Barnhus co-founder Kornél Kovács, It’s an engaging effort from the producer who has been outlaying a steady stream of music for some years now. The track itself dropped back in April on Glasgow’s ‘Huntleys & Palmers’ Sub-label ‘Highlife’.

One of the most underrated producers on the circuit, Kornél offers up a healthy slice of hypnotic pop leaning house, with infectious vocal hooks and punchy, yet harmonious synth chords driving the track.

DJ Sotofett Presents Bhakti Crew – Sunrise Mix

This dreamy, and as the name suggests, sun-laded bomb of a track blew us away the first time we heard it. From Sotofett & friends it is 10 minute masterclass, executed with a delicate and skillful touch to produce what is a perfectly balanced track well-suited to any occasion be that rooftop, after party, dancefloor, or at home in your own bedroom.

First dropped back in 2012 on Sotofett’s own ‘Wania’ imprint we clearly aren’t the only ones who love this record, with copies selling at over £100 on discogs

Grab a copy here

Sotofett is playing B2b with his Brother DJ Fett Burger at Phonox tonight, tickets still available here. With these two playing one of the standout sets last year at dimensions (with the quality on offer this was no mean feat) you would be a fool to miss this one…