DJ Khetama
rez32thirtytwo

In the mid 90's Audio Science released two CD only albums that have gone on to be well received and lately revered. This LP has been compiled featuring the standout tracks originally released from those recordings on Aural X-Perience and Hypnotic.

Under-the-radar and majorly overlooked Glaswegian label Beluga Records, founded and run by Lorne Walton & James Gray, operated mainly in the mid 90's and released a sleuth of music ahead of its time. Together they recorded and performed as Western Alliance and released two recently acclaimed EP's and it's there where we turn our attention to with their 'Atalanta EP' from 1996. Featuring four no-nonsense, stripped back, groovy, dancefloor rammers it's music that seems now more relevant than ever. Serious gear.

Number six-up for our Prozpektiva series and for this record we are proud to present a future star, an electronic music producer from Montevideo, Uruguay, Pi. With single track contributions so far on labels such as Holístico Records, White Scar and Lutzifer this is Pi's first full original release - with her trademark oscillations through techno, breakbeat, and electro with melodic tones the future definitely looks bright.

With The Hidden Beauty Of Dutch House '94-'98, Anacalypto Records dug deep into the electronic archives of The Netherlands. Continuing their audio archaeology, their second release breathes new life into a true gem. Closer is the first and last appearance of Luc Wächerlin aka Luca. Originally released in 1998, the four tracker was one of the final EPs to come out on Orlando Voorn’s ephemeral Slamdunk Records. The twenty-five-year-old press release describes the 12” as a collection of “beautiful, elongated, shimmering, Detroit style trancers for the morning after the night before.” Accurate words. The four works on offer are from the heyday of Techno, where flourishes of Detroit combine with the deeper currents of Sheffield for something energising and immersive. From the liquid synthwork and floating choral lines of the title piece, the listener is bathed in throbbing radiance and warmth. Echoes of “the night before” comes through in “Indian Summer.” A steady kick is the bedrock from which spirals of piano flow, fluid key changes providing a groove that roots this track firmly to the floor. Cascading chords introduce “Ultramarine”, subtle drum patterns giving way to acid scented bass and gentle currents of string. The quartet comes to a close with “Proxima.” Rich textured percussion supports drifting notes and silken chords, a touch of the otherworldly seeping through in tumbling 303 trills. Closer is years beyond its time. Soulful compositions that belong to the burgeoning sound of Techno that was developing across the globe in the 1990s. Four works of beautiful machine music lovingly restored for a new audience.

Many of us pine for a 'scene shift', not least since most music scenes are prone to growing stagnant before succumbing to uncreative forces. With that in mind, Rez19nineteen hears a full-on resurrection of the EP Word To The Wise by Sceneshifters (under a different name), in doing so revitalizing the freshness of UK house in its entirety. Or at least, our enthusiasm for it. Proper retro vocal shouts, garage house beats, and alt-mixes make for a sweet trip back down memory lane, as if rubbing the dirt of the Denon lens and taking just one last snap of a long-foregone rave. (Juno Review)