Lawrence Friend, Author at Public House UK

The Sloppy 5th’s – Tuna Melt

Okay, so I’ve had a little break over xmas and the new year from reviewing tracks and I think I’ve found something amazing to bring in the new year with! Check out this track out on Jungle Funk Recordings as a part of their ‘Playa Del Carmen 2015’ compilation release by producers ‘The Sloppy 5th’s’.

I was made aware of the Sloppy 5th’s a while back when they did a remix for Sphera Recoords, and have kept them on my radar since! The track I am talking about today is called ‘Tuna Melt’ and its a fast-paced techno banger! Loads of little blip stabs, flowing drums, bouncy hats and a low bumpy bassline! All of that laying under some echoey whispery vocals.

I was sent this track before xmas and have personally tried and tested it on radio and on a dancefloor, it’s a corker! Luckily it’s out already so get yer mitts on it now. There are two other tracks featuring on the release and they are both definitely worth checking out, this track in particular stood out to me. Happy days!

Click here to buy on Beatport:

Preview: Leftwing & Kody ft Robert Owens – I Wanna Be

Here’s something forthcoming on the amazing Lost Records by the label owners ‘Leftwing & Kody’. For this release they feature Robert Owens.

Well lets start off by mentioning the strangely addictive and dirty bass riff throughout the track, it sits nicely under some sketchy tech drums, great use of hats and snares. On top there is a synth stab pattern as well as a delayed vocal.

My poor attempt at trying to describe the track really does it no justice at all, you simply need to hear it! Check it out now, it will be available to buy from December 1st 2014 as part of their ‘I wanna Fixation’ EP..

Check out the Soundcloud link and support the artist by buying the track on Beatport/Traxsource when it is released:

FREE DOWNLOAD: Sandy B – Make The World Go Round (K & K 2014 remix)

It’s not often you come across a decent remix of an old track and the remixer is giving it away for free, but here is one!

DJ/Producers ‘K & K’ have done a complete rework of the classic ‘Make The World Go Round’ by Sandy B. They have taken that main bass pattern from the original and made it a lot deeper, over the top they have laid that awesome vocal and also added a load of stabs. This rework is huge! An amazing attempt and they have brought this into the modern day, wicked! Download it..

Check out the Soundcloud link and DOWNLOAD THIS TRACK FOR FREE:

FREE DOWNLOAD: Route 94 – Forget The Girl (The Squatters Remix)

I’m not usually one to go mad for big electro(y) basslines but this one grabbed me! This is a remix of the Route 94 track ‘Forget The Girl’ by The Squatters. It features a nice organ sound on the breakdown sat nicely underneath the vocal, there is a really nice build up, then BANG this huge bassline comes out of nowhere!

The Squatters were kind enough to put this on their Soundcloud as a free download so take full advantage and grab it while it’s hot! It’s getting hammered all over the big radio stations and in the clubs.

Check out the Soundcloud link and DOWNLOAD THIS TRACK FOR FREE:

Preview: Tim Cullen & Made By Pete – Full English

Something forthcoming on the mighty Grin Recordings by Tim Cullen & Made By Pete. I have been fortunate enough to see both of these producers play out; I met Tim at Ministry of Sound and had a chat, top guy. And I saw Made By Pete play in Brixton, top dj! Both are credible producers in their own right so you can imagine my excitement when I found out they have collaborated!

Now, I had to listen to this track a couple of times to be able to grasp everything that’s going on as their are little stabs and snippets coming from all directions, the more I hear it the more genius I think the production is. The attention to detail is amazing, and some great effects. I particularly like the old skool, big room orchestra stabs throughout. Plenty of build ups and breakdowns. I’ve said enough, just take my word for it and listen to it! The promo is getting some huge support from the top dj’s all over the globe already!

Available on 15th December, put it in your diary!

Check out the Soundcloud link and support the artist by buying the track on Beatport/Traxsource when it is released:

Modium & Lizzie Curious – Let It Roll

Something brand new by Modium featuring the vocals of Lizzie Curious out on Whore House Records. This is a very high energy, piano driven track with a nice flow. I am familiar with Lizzie’s vocals from some of her previous tracks (I’ve even reviewed a few) and this one is up there with the rest of them. The whole track is married together perfectly with simple piano chord stabs, a big breakdown and build up, all before the big drop. This track just oozes summer, and it makes me smile when I hear it!

Available now on the Hoxton Whore’s label ‘Whore House Records’, go get it..

Click here to buy on Beatport:

Interview: My Digital Enemy

My Digital Enemy talk Zulu & Vudu Records

With almost every release hitting the charts, Serg and Kieran have managed to not only bring their My Digital Enemy project to the forefront of house music, but have also developed two of the most successful independent labels on the scene. Both Zulu Records and Vudu Records have exploded over the last two years, filling the Beatport charts with premium releases that showcase their unique, cutting edge sound. We caught up with My Digital Enemy to find out a bit more about the label and where they’re taking things into 2015…

Hi guys, thanks for taking time out to chat to us! We’ve just about waved goodbye to summer 2014 – what did it have in store for My Digital Enemy? Any stand out moments?

MDE: Two events stand out for us! The first was Warming up for Mark Knight at the Toolroom Knights party at Booom in Ibiza. It really was an epic night! The second was playing to 10,000 people at the Oldenbora festival in Germany! It was amazing weather and the vibe was amazing!

You’ve been working on various projects together for over 10 years! How did you meet and start producing music as a duo?

MDE: We met when we were about 17. We ended up at the same college in Haywards Heath and were both in various bands, some of them at the same time. We both got heavily into The Prodigy and discovered the Rave scene in the mid-nineties and didn’t look back. Our band days were behind us but we still wanted to produce music so we started DJing and both took out loans to buy Akai Samplers. We both signed up for the same Music Technology college in Worthing to get an understanding of Music Tech and recording techniques. We have worked together ever since!

You set up Zulu Records in 2012 and since then it’s become a serious (excuse the pun!) powerhouse in pushing out some of the biggest recent tracks in house music. What led you to set up your own label?

MDE: We got pretty frustrated with the industry. We were releasing on labels that kept moving release dates and throwing our own schedules out of the window; now we have full control and can space our releases out as we see fit!
The fact our label has gone on to have such a presence on stores such as Beatport is amazing. It’s been a lot of hard work but we love it and won’t be stopping any time soon!

Considering how long the label has been established, how does it feel to have gained the support from top DJs such as Fatboy Slim, Fedde Le Grand, Roger Sanchez and Steve Angello?

MDE: It really is amazing to think it’s only two and a half years old. We are so pleased with how it has worked out. What really is great is some artists that we really admire are now bringing tracks to Zulu. The fact some of the biggest DJs in the world are supporting our releases is awesome!

Vudu Records is your most recent project, a deep/tech label which dropped ‘Shamen’ and ‘Desire Life’ earlier this year – what was the reason for setting up a second label?

MDE: We wanted an outlet for dirtier more underground music that we feel doesn’t suit Zulu Records as well. The way we see it now is that Zulu Records is for uplifting mainroom house and Vudu is for the deeper, techy, underground records.

Both Zulu and Vudu have been smashing out incredible tracks lately, are the labels going in the direction you wanted? Was there always a game plan?

MDE: We regularly talk over the direction we want to take the labels and yes there was always a gameplan. I think it’s important to have direction in whatever business you are in. We do sometimes have “Wildcard Records” which maybe are not in the style that we would consider the label to be. It keeps the interest for the customers. It’s important to try new things so you don’t get stuck in just one sound as everything else moves on.

You’ve become well known for the themed compilations you’re putting out – Miami, Beatport Decade and most recently, ADE – why do you think these mini albums do so well?

MDE: Its great as it gives us a chance to release tracks from unknown artists alongside all the Zulu regulars. It’s important to give these new producers a chance as these opportunities for a “foot in the door” could see them on their way to becoming one of the world’s top DJs! We tend to theme our albums around events. At the moment we do Miami, Ibiza, Amsterdam and a Zulu Anthems compilation at the end of the year. It was cool to be asked by Beatport to do the #BeatportDecade compilation with our top tracks since we started the label.

Where do your influences for the labels come from?

MDE: Our favourite labels are Toolroom, Defected, Skint and Spinnin. We would love for Zulu to become as large and well respected as them one day!

What does the future look like for Zulu and Vudu? Where are you heading with them?

MDE: We are planning to expand Vudu in the same way we have Zulu…Ie adding Vudu Records compilation series and Vudu Records sample packs. We are also looking at doing Zulu Records nights at Miami & Amsterdam next year!

And what have you got lined up as My Digital Enemy? Anything in the pipeline?

MDE: We have just signed with Cherrytree Management in the US who have hooked us up with some really well known vocalists. Watch this space because there are some awesome collaborations on the horizon…

Check the latest Zulu releases on Beatport
http://www.beatport.com/label/zulu-records/25154

Check the latest Vudu releases on Beatport
http://www.beatport.com/label/vudu-records/31073

My Digital Enemy
www.mydigitalenemy.com
www.facebook.com/mydigitalenemyofficial
www.twitter.com/mydigitalenemy

Preview: Gordon John – Hot EP

Here is something forthcoming on Kidology London by a good friend of mine ‘Gordon John’. This is Gordon’s debut release on the label and what a banging two-track EP it is!

The first track on the EP is called ‘Hot For You’ and is a very upbeat, bouncy main room house track. Loads of energy in the main hook, even the non-dancers in a club would be bouncing around to it. The breakdown is really nice, loads of effects and the main riff playing throughout on piano then BOOM.. it drops! Big tune!

The second track is called ‘Booming’ which is another high energy banger, I love the continuous high stab throughout and the really deep warpy bassline, everything in this is married together so well. The breakdown is very atmospheric and drops so nicely into the bass riff for a few bars before bringing back in the hats and high stabs. Absolute genius, nice one Gordon! This is gonna get hammered!

Not quite sure of the release date on this yet, but I’ll keep you posted.

Check out the Soundcloud link and support the artist by buying the track on Beatport/Traxsource when it is released:

Preview: Thomas Leigh – Give U

An absolute corker coming soon on Arcko Digital by producer ‘Thomas Leigh’ with two awesome remixes to boot. The original has a really nice repeating vocal with a flowing organ pattern and an old school stabby synth riff, all sat nicely over some cool, deep drums. Great track!

The remixes are by Arcko Digital’s very own D’Marco and Cor Caroli and both are slightly tougher than the original. D’Marco’s mix features a nice airy breakdown before a big snare fill and drop into a deep bass pattern, very nice. Cor Caroli’s remix takes full advantage of the organ pattern but adds some real nice drums and gives it a real big sound.

This is released on 17th November, I can’t wait!

Check out the Soundcloud link and support the artist by buying the track on Beatport when it is released:

Affkt ft Thomas Gandey – Lost In Process EP

Here’s something new out on Suara, now this is a label I’ve had my eye on for a long time and have written countless reviews for as they are continuously bringing out tracks that just seem to do it for me, this release is no different!

This time round they have a great four-track EP from Affkt featuring Thomas Gandey. There is the title track with remixes from Cristoph & Wehbba and another track called ‘The Boss’. All tracks have a real deep, eerie feeling, the original of ‘Lost In Process’ has a lovely little hook which carries the track so well. The remixes show great variation and add different ‘genius’ elements. This EP is an all-round weapon!

I’m very impressed with this release and can’t wait to play it out! Out now exclusive to Beatport, check it out..

Click here to buy on Beatport:

Dirty Secretz – Everything

Anyone who follows this blog will know that I follow Whartone Records closely. As hard as it is to say, this is probably my favourite Whartone release to date! Fresh from dj/producer ‘Dirty Secretz’ is this whopper of a track!

It’s difficult to know where to start when talking about this track as it seems to have everything (no pun intended!), from old skool piano’s, organ sounds, great vocals and a real sense of summer! I’ve actually left it quite late to talk about this track as it’s already climbing the Beatport charts, and rightly so! Check it out and you’ll understand. Definitely one for a banging dancefloor.

Click here to buy on Beatport: