Crosstown Rebels 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: New to Crosstown Rebels' 12"s encampment is producer HoneyLuv, who impresses on her debut release for the Damian Lazarus-run label with the fresh heat that is 'Right Spot'. Corralling remixes from Dennis Ferrer and Byron The Aquarius, HoneyLuv's palette is watery, polyrhythmic, hip-housey and fast-moving, channelling every smart move from transitional 'wubs' to tambaleironautic drum progressions, which back up the beats firmly, and move so fast that they could probably snap an ossified hipbone if played back loud enough. The track's central vocal is also an original vocal, pleading with the listener that they meet HoneyLuv at the correct rendezvous, aka. the 'spot', in order to catch the right rave-wave.

Review: Jonathan Kaspar returns to Damien Lazarus' Crosstown Rebels for another round of captivating and melodic techno by way of his latest EP 'We Come'. Already having graced the discographic annals of Cocoon and Kompakt, Kaspar's sound is now well established; his pushes and pulls adeptly between big room, dubby trance and broken-down electro and house, never quite placeable in the intermediary spaces between them. One could call it progressive house, but that would be underselling it; 'Flash Point' is the highlight here and the case in point, making masterful use of ducking and distortion to really flesh out the central syncopated stab as a focal point of the track. Nor should Paul Brenning's version of 'Transposed Sky' be missed for a second.

Review: The left of centre musical universe of Crosstown Rebels ushers in this lively new EP from Oceanvs Orientalis. 'Neutrality' features on the A-side and is a spiritual fusion of steely tech house beats and spine tingling chords, angelic distant vocals and lots of loose percussion all with a slightly psychedelic feel. On the flip is a Nick Curly remix which pairs whitings back and settles the beats into one of his signature tech house frameworks with hooky little pads and late night allure. Good stuff.