Audio Love 2014 #11

Music

Hold onto your wigs, lock up your grandads – it's Audio Love!

Oskar Offermann Distance is Depth EP (White)

The White label boss Oskar Offerman has just dropped his latest EP and its very very good. We at Ransom Note have been fans for a while (check the interview from way back in twenty twelve here) and this new 12 does nothing to curb our enthusiasm. I heard it the other day and had to peg it straight down to Phonica on my lunch break to grab it for a gig that evening.

The EP kicks off with 4^th Dimension which is a loose, slightly scruffy but generally optimistic house number with a beautiful three note string hook that keeps you smiling throughout. On the flip weve things get a bit deeper and a bit more downtrodden. Test of Time centers around a dubby vocal of two guys banging on about music while the track chugs away behind it. Finally Before Seeing Clear is a dark, bumping house number with a spoken vocal that kind of puts me in mind of the smoking on a cigarette bit from Shari Vari. All three tracks are killers highly recommended. (Joe Europe)

Out now on wax

Amir Alexander Gutter Flex EP REPRESS (Argot)

Argot and its sister label Tasteful Nudes have both been very strong new additions to the electronic music landscape over the last year or so. Theyve put together a string of releases from the likes of Gunnar Hassalam, The Black Madonna and Pittsburg Track Authority which have planted them firmly on the map. Now theyve decided to repress their first ever release, which was a wonderful 4 tracker from Amir Alexander, and its an absolute belter.

All the tracks are high quality, deep deep house music which give the impression that his heart is in Detroit even though Alexander himself hails from Chicago. For me the stand out is the title track, which is a melancholic yet energetic tour de force. (Joe Europe)

Grab it while you can on wax

Chicago Damn Space Flower Girl EP (Merc)

Im a bit of a fan of Chicago Damn. Actually, Im a lot of a fan of Chicago Damn. This means that Im very excited by this new 12 hes just dropped on Mark Es excellent Merc. This is more than up to the usual high standards of both artist and label, this is 4 tracks of beautiful, slow, full sounding, sample-tastic house music. (Joe Europe)

Out now on wax

Joe Europe

Garnier – AF4302 EP (50 Weapons)

Some fearsome Techno from Garnier (sans his first name for this release – that would have just been too friendly) – three very strong tracks on this EP.

This is the A-side, M.I.L.F., which would go nicely as a soundtrack for a hooded vagrant creeping up to someone in a dark alleyway and doing something atrocious to them such a sinister build up. And that sets the tone basically – loads of analogue-sounding machines and basic-Detroit-kinda sounds, put together with a passion and intensity that is typically Garnier. (Mike Boorman)

Wil's One (Two or Three) Liners

Vondelpark – California Analog Dream (Factory Floor remix) – R&S
Out last year but bundled as part of a Vondelpark remix EP doing the rounds. Elsewhere you'll get fine reworks of various Seabed tracks from Falty DL, Happa, Bullion, John Roberts, Robag Wruhme and Debukas but this meaty mother is where our money still is. An understated, brooding, beauty.
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LOLAWOLF – Jimmy Franco
I guess you could call this the err upstairs one-liner section. Er upstairs digs on all this hybrid pop shit. I guess it isn't half bad. That's a compliment from a prick like me.