textura

Albums
Cory Allen
Ellen Allien
Barry Altschul
A-Sun Amissa
Matt Baldwin
bvdub
Cass.
Gensu Dean & Planet Asia
Dreissk
Mats Eilertsen Trio
Farthest South
Ben Fleury-Steiner
William Ryan Fritch
Function
Ben Goldberg
Graveyard Tapes
Julia Kent
Annea Lockwood
Madegg
Stephan Mathieu
Moss Garden
Papir
Ian Pooley
Quiet Evenings
Seba
Dirk Serries
Nadia Sirota
Space Dim. Controller
Splashgirl
Mark Templeton
Versalife

Compilations / Mixes
The Aftermath
DJ Sprinkles
Finding Time
Friends Will Carry You
Future Disco Vol. 6

EPs / Cassettes / Singles
Break / Enei
Consequence
Elektro Guzzi
Stefan Goldmann
Hogweed And The Aderyn
Karol XVII & MB Valence
Mise En Place Pt. 2
Reverence
Warszawa
Whodat

VA: Reverence
Soiree Records International

True to form, the always superb Soiree International imprint delivers the goods on its latest EP. Despite contrasts in tempo and dynamics, the quartet of cuts on this go-round favour a kind of warm, Ibiza-like vibe that makes one long for summer's arrival.

An entrancing example of Drivetrain's customary house goodness, “The Greatest” works Fender Rhodes, vocal sighs, and bubbly synths into a, yes, driving flow of jazz-inflected moodscaping. The smooth tune goes down as easily as a cocktail on a summer patio, and the vocal's assertion that “today is the greatest day” is a sentiment convincingly conveyed. As smooth is CloudMaster Weed's “Sweet & Delicious,” whose simmering groove receives a nice energy boost from the vocal presence of Goddess Stephanie. Her drawl adds a cool sensuality to the cut, even if the delivery at times almost sounds too laid-back.

More aggressive by comparison is Rennie Foster's “Low Boxing,” whose acidy, synthesizer-speckled pulse is enhanced by an ear-catching hiccup in its rhythmic flow and a luscious covering of hazy washes and electric piano chords. The EP's other animated track is J. Garcia's “Lost,” which works a tight, jacking groove into six minutes of physical splendour and achieves its goal as effortlessly as the EP itself.

March 2013