J ALBERT 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Exotic Dance Records founder J.Albert has been scouted out by Will Bankhead for the man's The Trilogy Tapes imprint, and we have to say that this feels like the perfect match. Both the label and the artist have a knack for the unexpected, with the former having released an infinite multitude of electronic genres and the latter twisting and turning between techno, electro, and something undefinable. Made up of glitchy breaks and surreal waves of electornic dust, "Money Between Friends" and "Envy Turned Curiosity" both exude an industrial dubbiness that is rarely achieved by others. On the B-side, "Deepstate Riddim" is some neo-jungle badness that evolves the genre magnificently, and "Designer Life" ends on a more sinister note, launching a minimal wave of electronics surrounded by warm blasts of sub-bass. Recommended, naturally...

Review: Brooklyn's J Albert returns with more tripped-out lo-fi house. The Exotic Dance Records boss follows up some great releases of late on top labels such as 1080p, Hypercolour and Black Opal. Whether it's the euphoric strobe-lit ecstasy of "No Longer Me" (dub) that's awash in delay drenched rhythm patterns, snarling bass and hypnotic synth leads. Or the brooding B side cut "Smoke & Mirrors" which is reminiscent of fellow local Patricia and packed full of dusty drums, haunting pads and chilling chord progressions: this one's a totally heads down affair for very late at night. Black Orpheus is a Berlin based label run by expat Patrick Conway, who has appeared on such esteemed labels as REKIDS and Forbidden Planet.

Review: Since making his debut back in 2015, J. Albert (real name Jiovanni Nadal) has gleefully drifted between labels, making appearances on 1080p, Cult Trip and Black Opal along the way. Given this track record, it's perhaps unsurprising that Hypercolour have snapped up this on-point three-tracker. There's much to admire throughout, from the punchy, broken house rhythms, lilting deep house chords, hardcore style breakbeat fills and eyes-closed vocal samples of "Don't Hide It", to the Derrick Carter-goes-bleep analogue funk of closer "Vista". Sandwiched in between you'll find the superb "Xtra Sauce", an early Basement Jaxx style fusion of crunchy, U.S garage-influenced beats, fizzing chords and warehouse-friendly late night aesthetics.

Review: The Exotic Dance label from J. Albert and Person of Interest was inaugurated just over a year ago with the Dance Slow cassette from the former, a hefty 10-track CS that set the stylistic tone of rough round the edges house and techno. After the two shared sides on the label's debut 12", J. Albert mans this third Exotic Dance release which features a four-track clutch of highlights from the Dance Slow tape. Given the eminently danceable nature of the tape, this is a most smart move; as is including the seductive title track. Raw house burner "2AM" also features on the A-side, whilst the flip has the '80s flecked "My Passenger" and the blissful thumper "Truth & Understanding" which has a very familiar sampled hook wedged deep in the mix.

Review: New one by New Yorker and co-founder of Exotic Dance Records Jiovanni Nadal aka J. Albert for Opal Tapes vinyl offshoot. This is gritty urban techno reflecting on street life in Gotham City. On the A side we got the squealing and hissing grind of "Bloo N Red" followed by the sublime and broken house of "Ting Waan"; absolutely loved this bittersweet and emotive piece. On the flip "Dyslexia" has that haunting and dusty attic jam style, much like fellow NYC hero Patricia and then "Earring"; equally nailing that particular aesthetic too but with more of an industrial edge with its textured and metallic rhythms doing a fine job.

Review: Emergency Cosmetics is New York hardware afficionado J. Albert's second 12" offering, and comes as the inaugural 12" release for Los Angeles based Hesperian Sound Division. A valient effort into capturing a fully realized aesthetic, the EP digs into all corners of the Brooklyn producer's repertoire, nodding a head towards classic NY style house and contemporary electronics alike. Side A of the record explores an etherial and transcendent voice, with tracks, "Beta 3", and cult classic, "Are You In". On the B side, a departure towards concise and minimalist dancfloor cuts presents itself, beginning with high hat clinic "Pick Me Up", and culminating in the weighty yet delicate floor burner, "Givin' Lip".

Review: Since debuting last year, J. Albert has showcased his brand of hard-to-pigeonhole dance music on an impressive array of imprints (Lovers Rock, Black Opal and Cult Trip included). Here, the Exotic Dance co-founder pops up on 1080p, treating fans of the Vancouver institution to a quartet of ear-catching compositions. While there are a few fairly typical 1080p type cuts present (see the dreamy, breakbeat-driven deepness of "All In", and head-in-the-clouds broken house of "Strictly J"), it's arguably the most eccentric cuts that hit home hardest. Chief among these is opener "Pangs", which feels like pitched down jungle-jazz fused with horizontal deep house, though the bumpin'-but-ocean deep "For Soho" isn't far behind.

Review: Person Of Interest's name is proving to be a self-fulfilling prophecy despite the producer's steadfast anonymous approach with an increasing clamour for their music after some breakout cuts for Ron Morelli's LIES label. Ahead of a debut for Clone Royal Oak, Person of Interest adds the fledgling Exotic Dance label to their collar on a 12" that shares space with Broken Call and Black Opal artist J. Albert. If you are familiar with the duo's respective bodies of work, you will know their grubby styles complement one another and that proves to be the case on this 12". "Thank You For Believing In Me" suggests J Albert seems to possess a similar knack to Tony Naples for warbling melodies and earworm vocal hooks, whilst "See You At The Bank" finds the Florida-based producer dabbling in Acting Press-style breakbeat house with some aplomb. Down below, POI pairs up fairly staid drums with some deliciously colourful and unpredictable acid lines and organs on "Pompano Acid" whilst "Still" is a crusty little percussive DJ tool.

Review: Brooklyn lo-fi imprint run by Gaul Plus releases a compilation of its current artist roster. Starting out with current scene favourite Patricia with the dusty, rusty and utterly sublime "Tallemaja" showing off his now trademark emotive groove. There's also some gritty low slung acid courtesy of Segv with "Xy" and local tough guy Nick Klein who follows up some great releases on Unknown Precept and Ascetic House with the grinding and decayed techno punk of "Selling Gods In Knots": we really dug this one! On the flip head honcho Gaul Plus gets stuck in with the booming and oddly hypnotic junkyard jams of "Show Me Off" and J Albert serves up some more dreamy deep house of the vintage variety on "Ionian".