Aretha Franklin – Spanish Harlem

Every Saturday here at the Labs we like to get in about a bit of soul or funk. Our collection so far was sadly lacking some Aretha so it’s time to correct that wee oversight.

Quite rightly known as the “Queen of Soul”, she was also picked as the ninth greatest vocalist of all time by Rolling Stone and no music collection is complete without her. I’ve picked out a particular favourite of mine but her back catalogue is packed to the brim with absolute classics so expect to see her popping up time and time again.

“Spanish Harlem” was originally released in 1971 and showcases that unique voice brilliantly.

Fire it up, enjoy the sun if you’ve got it and bask in the greatness of Aretha Franklin.

Aretha Franklin – Spanish Harlem

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Adam Freeland – Coastal Breaks

With his Global Underground and Back To Mine compilations still getting regular plays at Labs HQ, Adam Freeland is still one of our firm favourites here. With most of his time now spent playing overseas and doing the odd remix, it easy to underestimate his impact.

This can be measured by the impact of his Coastal Breaks series of mixes from the mid 90s. Tapping into the Big beat and breaks wave, he also easily referenced some DnB, jungle, house as well as funk, soul and jazz which made for a bitches brew of sounds.

If you check out his Soundcloud page you can also check Coastal Breaks II as well as the Tectonic mix.

Underworld – Cowgirl

The fact of the matter is that you can never have enough Underworld in your life. I heard this tune on a mix recently and it envoke loads of memories (somewhat hazy ones mind!) of dark basements, thumping bass and hands in the air euphoria.

People really lost it to this tune when the break kicks in and it always made for a full dance floor. So draw the curtains, turn out the lights and turn it up LOUD!

Of course for the extended euphoria if was often played with “Rez”, especially by Underworld themselves during their live sets so it would be foolish not to include it here as well!

Phuturelabs – Experiment 19 on Radio Magnetic

The Ustream journey continues as what has been referred to as the Paul Hardcastle experiment goes out live and is also recorded for some anytime listening action.

The 19th features DnB to techno converts Trevino & Endian, new Glasgow label High Sheen and a dub monster from the Dubmonger. We also return to old favourites Boddika, Midland and pay homage to Glasgow’s second best glasses wearer Auntie Flo.

Download Phuturelabs – Experiment 19 on Radio Magnetic or stream below before heading over to the episode page on Radio Magnetic to spread some love.

Tracklisting:

Wooden Shjips – Crossing (Andy Weatherall rmx) (Thrill Jockey)
Late Nite Tuff Guy – One Nite At The Disco (Greg Wilson Rework) (Dessert Island Discs)
Rey & Kjavik – Wooden Chapter (Compost Black)
Endian – DBPLT01 (Non Plus)
Auntie Flo – Futurismo (Huntley & Palmers)
Dubmonger – Poolbeg St. Dub (Dubmonger)
Radioactive Man – Nasty Radio (Wang Trax)
The Mole – Even Now Just Us (Jimmy Edgar rmx) (Vitalik)
Boddika – Acid Jackson (Swamp81)
Genotype – Spaced Up (Decarythm)
Jack Dixon – You Won’t Let Me (Apollo)
Hot Chip – Day & Night (Daphni rmx) (Domino)
Midland – Placement (Lone rmx) (Aus Music)
Sepalcure – The One (Kevin McPhee rmx) (Hotflush)
214 – Here We Stand (Fortified Audio)
Protect-U – Motorbike (Planet Mu)
Frikstailers – Sudaka Invasor (Monkeytown)
Mia Dora – Invisible Man (High Sheen)
Actress – The Lord’s Graffiti (Honest Jons)
The Makers – Don’t Challenge Me (Chocolate Industries)

Joy Orbison & Boddika – Dun Dun / Prone

Its always a good day when you hear that two of your favourite producers have hooked up again. Well that day is here as Joy Orbison & Boddika are back at it on their new label SunkLo.

As the names suggest, “Prone” is a more laid back vive where as “Dun Dun” is one for the dance floor. Don’t sleep on this people as its a limited vinyl run so grab it from Rubadub now.

House Of Disco Records – Busy Tone EP

House Of Disco Records are about to drop their fourth EP with an impressive line up that takes in OOFT!, Debonair and Late Night Tuff Guy.

It’s a heady mix of slo mo disco and soul. Check out some clips and hit the link to get the heads up on the release.

Top Tunes – April 2012

It’s that time again where we review some of our top picks from the previous month. We get deep into the new releases from April as well as some due to drop early in May. Once again its been a bumper month with loads of new EPs that have made the juices flow.

First up is this dirty house bomb from the guys behind the Feel My Bicep blog.

Producing under the name Bicep their latest tune “$tripper” has been in many top tens since its mid April release and we ain’t any different.

Many classic tunes are getting the rework treatment at the moment and they don’t come bigger than “Throw” by Carl Craig alias Paperclip People.

The label Planet E have got the Slam boys on board for some techno treatment to give a double shot of classic. Massive tune.

The Cómeme label has been lying silent for a few months now but are back with a bang with two new EPs planned. When we heard the Christian S EP filled with heavy synth work, twinges of acid and loads of house we got excited.

You can grab the title track “The Power of Now” below courtesy of XLR8R.

Christian S – The Power Of Now

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The Idjut Boys have been at the forefront of the underground house scene since the early 90s and have put on, played with, remixed and produced some of the greats of the scene.

Their productions can lead you from house, to psych, to italo and beyond which is right up our street. Their newest production for Smalltown Supersound does just that. Immense stuff!

Been very much digging a new free download from techno producer Oliver Lieb that I uncovered on Soundcloud. Full of atmosphere with a glitch sheen its well worth a click of your mouse.

DJ Haus has been keeping himself busy of late with his “Unknown To The Unknown” imprint and its latest outing “Needin’ U” was a classy slab of old skool tinged house that was right up our streets. He’s now got the remixers on the go and this super chunky R1 Ryders remix is the one for us.

Available at Boomkat.

Dj Haus – Needin’ U (R1 Ryders rmx)

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Drum n bass producer Marcus Intalex has been causing quite a stir in the worlds of house and techno lately with his new Trevino alias.

This new 12 for Naked Lunch follows material for 3024 and a tasty remix for Hotflush and ensured all eyes are on his new material.

We love a bit of Todd Terje action here at the Labs and this ridiculously funky remix of Joakim ticks all the right boxes. Tis a must have for fans of quality house and you can snag it over at Bleep.

Glasgow label Mortar & Pestle have quickly built up a decent back catalogue of beats and their latest sees Baby Diego (AKA one half of Dolby Anol) unleash some good times house and bass heavy beats in the shape of the “Back II Love EP”.

Make sure to check out the new Mortar & Pestle show on Subcity too if this floats yo boat.

Shogun Audio have a reputation for delivering top quality drum n bass across all the sub genres and their latest EP “Evolution 3″ features must have cuts from the likes of Rockwell and dBridge.

Edinburgh producer Hostage is one of the most consistent producers around and his latest rework sees him deliver this jackin’ slab of techno goodness for Moveltraxx. Available now at Beatport.

Bass Clef – Reeling Skullways

While Bass Clef is an artist that’s long been associated with the dubstep scene, his “Rollercoasters of the Heart” 12 for Punch Drunk hinted at more 4/4 based experimentations and now he’s delivered a long player for the label that takes the progression a step further.

Pressing play on “Reeling Skullways” leads you to being greeted by two minutes of mechanical IDM and ambience before we get down to the meat and bones. The eight tracks contained within its walls lean heavily on classic house and techno while still retaining the odd wander into slightly more leftfield bleepyness.

You can grab “Suddenly Alone Together” courtesy of Mixmag and stream the full album sampler below to give you a taste of what to expect.

Available now at Boomkat.

Production Unit – Broken20.2 (45 version) – free download

We reviewed Production Unit’s brilliant “ICU Tracks EP” last week and while the bleeps are still rattling around our head, he kindly sent this bonus track over for us to pass on.

Recorded during the same sessions as the EP, it moves slightly away from the theme but not completely and further more whets the appetite for his forthcoming album on Broken20.

Grab the MP3 below and read on to find out more direct from the horse’s mouth.

Production Unit – Broken20.2 (45 version)

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From Production Unit:

It occurred to me that I had these spare tunes from the ICU Tracks sessions. There are two versions of Broken20.2, one at 45 (this one) and one at 33. I wanted to recreate the vinyl experience of having a record that plays well at two speeds.

Unlike the other tunes on the EP this doesn’t actually feature a noise from the ICU ward. Instead, I wanted to recreate the endless movement of a ventilator, so the way I came up with it was to use an organ, because they can be powered by air moving through the instrument. I made this partly-random, off-kilter organ riff to simulate irregular breath, but it’s still fairly regimented, as if a tenuous process was being controlled by the machines (which, of course, it was/is).

I’m definitely not trying to glorify a grim mood. Instead, I’m trying to take control of sounds and experiences that had control of me for a while in the ward, to make something positive out of a sometimes negative period.

It’s slightly different to the other ICU Tracks, more of an overt steppers vibe I guess, so it didn’t quite sit with the others. I’m still really happy with it and would like people to hear it.

Phuturelabs – Session Five – Apr 12

For Session Five we start to nail down the Ustream flow with this 50 minute outing.

Mixing up the genres with house, acid, techno and tech house the flow is right and the mixing is tight as one of our best live Sessions to date unfolds. Inner City, Boddika, Kerri Chandler, Carl Craig and more provide the sonic weapons that keep the headphones running hot.

Download Phuturelabs – Session Five – Apr 12 or stream via the nifty Mixcloud player.

Tracklisting:

Inner City – Future (MK AW Deep Dub)
Jack Dixon – Lose Myself (Dauwd Remix)
Deadbeat & Danuel Tate – Lazy Jane (909 Dub)
Lee Guthrie – Into The Light
DJ W!ld – Last Summer (Kerri Chandler Remix)
Massimiliano Pagliara – Sensation 9 (Dubbed mix)
Cari Lekebusch – Ghost Notes
Nautiluss – Sabbath
Skudge – Below (Boddika Acid Refix)
Boddika – Acid Jackson
Trevino – Derelict
Christian S – The Power of Now
DJ Haus – Needin’ U (Photonz rmx)
Slam – Azure (Carl Craig rmx)