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Go BackMusic Box March Selection by whatpeopleplay.com

Posted: 8/3/10 12:20

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Music Box February Selection by whatpeopleplay.comUnless someone takes the time to professionally DJ, finding the time to wade through the endless amounts of tracks released on a daily basis is impossible, let alone trying to find a decent one worthy of the title hit.

Luckily, premier distributor Whatpeopleplay has teamed up with I Voice to provide a little guidebook for overwhelmed fans of quality underground dance tracks.

There are plenty of places to get bombarded by the kinds of hype that talentless mainstream hacks buy in bulk, but there are surprisingly few that cut through the underground's own haze of conspicuous hype to determine whether that new EP on Kompakt or Perlon is worthy of investigation. It is not the price of tracks these days that is in question but one, rather, of time so with this feature we hope to save readers' time and effort while increasing their overall satisfaction with such a fast-moving musical genre.

April has been called the cruelest month, so that must mean calendar neighbor March is the most fortuitous. The latest picks from Whatpeopleplay offer hard evidence that this statement may in fact be true.

Jackmate & The Missing Linkx
01. Jackmate & The Missing Linkx “Discodisco 2” (Pampa)
Michel Baumann of Philpot Records was tapped for the second release on DJ Kose and Marcus Fink’s new label. Pampa. “Discodisco 2” is a confusing mess of aimless jamming in noodly, gypsy jazz hell starting with that rudimentary bass line, which seems out of place. There are soulful hints of what could have been brilliant but were easily squandered in the pursuit of laziness.

Rating: 3/10
Oni Ayhun
02. Oni Ayhun "OAR004-A" (Oni Ayhun Records)
The vaguely titled “OAR004-A” is a rough and tumble piece of brilliance that takes its cues from old industrial albums, early Warp releases, and some mutant strain of minimal techno that has yet to be named.  Few tracks sound like this one, and in this case, that’s a good thing. There are rumors that Oni Ayhun is really the Knife’s Olof Bjorn Dreijer in disguise.

Rating: 7/10
Rezkar
03. Rezkar “Above The Clouds (Mystery Boy Edit with John Daly Beats)” (Running Back)
South Africa’s Rezkar makes an appearance on Running Back with this catchy slice of retro house. The enigmatic Mystery Boy takes the original melodic hook and mixes it with some hefty bonus beats created by the track’s remixer – John Daly. The result is the kind of smooth track that finds its way on to Jus-Ed’s Underground Quality radio show.

Rating: 6/10
Robag Wruhme
04. Robag Wruhme "Blech Beule (Ark Remix)" (Circus Company)
In his quest to have a hot single every month of 2010, former Wighnomy Brother Robag Wruhme drops this dynamite platter for the high profile Circus Company imprint. Staying true to the ‘Company’s sound, Wruhme keeps this one midtempo and glitchy. Parisian Ark adds tasteful and welcome elements of hip-hop and jazz to his re-work and helps to keep Wruhme’s streak alive.

Rating: 7.5/10
KiNK
05. KiNK "Bitter Sweet" (liebe*detail)
Bulgaria’s KiNK is definitely a rising star with a slew of notable remixes and his inscrutable work with Neville Watson on Rush Hour. His first original track for liebe*detail is comprised of melancholic layers soaked in fleeting bliss, the perfect track for the perfect moment. Words fail to do it justice, much like trying to describe a falling snowflake, the beauty is so faint and brief that it must simply be enjoyed as is.

Rating: 8/10
Elektro Guzzi 06. Elektro Guzzi "Hexenschuss" (Macro Recordings)
Elektro Guzzi hails from Vienna and play live, analog techno with real instruments and no sequencers. “Hexenschuss”, produced by Patrick Pulsinger, combines the best elements of minimal techno and dark post-punk ala the Birthday Party, expanding the dialog of underground music in exciting new directions. The buzz on these guys will be huge in coming months if all of their tracks are this good.

Rating: 8.5/10
Kjofol
07. Kjofol "Little Garden" (Apparel Music)
Kjofol merges his studious classical piano training with the four-on-the-floor recklessness of house music on “Little Garden”. The electronics on here give it a nice vintage psychedlic feel, like a dusty old Legendary Pink Dots album. However the treated piano, while evoking Harold Budd in spots, comes across more like George Winston, making this track more New Age than late night techno.

Rating: 4/10
Jona
08. Jona "Rise" (Supplement Facts Records)
High-profile producer Jona returns with this highly anticipated release from Supplement Facts. “Rise” doesn’t do much, but it doesn’t really need to as it is built on an utilitarian but energetic bass line. The groove is inescapable under Jona’s masterful hand, creating yet another peak hour classic.

Rating: 7/10
Rennie Foster
09. Rennie Foster "Afrocentrik" (Greta Cottage Workshops)
There is little, it seems, that Rennie Foster can do wrong these days. Every good track or remix out there feels like it has some connection to him. While that isn’t actually true, Foster always manages to rise far above the crowded field and deliver tune that stay fresh and memorable long after a night at the club. This quirky mix of acid, deep tech house, and African music elements is no exception.

Rating: 7/10
Bon & Rau
10. Bon & Rau "Brothers & Sisters (Original Mix)" (Smallville Records)
Jacques Bon & Christopher Rau team up for the debut as the duo Bon & Rau for Smallville Records. “Brothers & Sisters” is a sensitive, well-constructed piece of deep house influenced techno. Many influences appear throughout, including some fantastic but understated jazz licks. There are no clichés here, just a focus on a functional groove and heady funk.

Rating: 7.5

 Words by Sean-Michael Yoder

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