Released as a free download in support of Ukraine is this sublime production, The Passage. Centred on a few fundamental elements it is both the repetition of the melancholic, yet quietly explosive, keys along with the dreamlike breath of Alina Pash’s voice that captures the essence of its body and soul. Then the rugged dance of bass arrives accompanied by the sting of a hi-hat shuffle again announcing another outstanding piece of music from Thomas Melchoir that if anything proves to be all too short.
Beginning the happier New Year by revisiting a record released almost a decade ago (now available digitally) doesn’t necessarily make sense as Magazine Sixty strives to highlight what is new within particular fields of music and their emotional consequence. But then again we are talking about the production ethics that fuel, Thomas Melchior’s label which if nothing else are very much about the expansion of forward-thinking. In this instance alongside Bruno Maman and Tim Hutton under the acronym Twin TM, Keeper of the threshold boasts a lesson in bold bass, insistent drums plus an unnerving energy that pulls together various influences from nineties garage to twisted electronica , yet feels feels defiantly contemporary. That sentiment continues in Let’s get the party on which starts with a funky flair and ends up blending Acid into the mix. The excellent The fall of the house of shadows then ends the release with darker rhythms coloured by emotive synthesizers alongside a rush of grainy percussion plus a brutal rumble of low-end.
Another brilliant release this time sees Jus Nowhere’s back 2 Beirut edit of Don Juan ignite the touch paper of riotous imagination, tempting future sounds alongside incendiary rhythms out of the ether and into the present. From the word go its percussion fuelled frenzy grabs your attention amid a swirl of vocal touches, tough bass stabs plus defiant hints of synthesized alchemy. Originally released back in 2007 on Perlon this new digital version feels every bit as urgent nudging notably into 2021.
Originally appearing at the beginning of the previous decade on Aspect Music this brand new Thomas Stieler Sunshine Edit breathes fresh life into its existing, essential charms. The vocals still dance around the rhythms in tantalising ways but there is now a greater sense of urgency injected into the tougher roll of drums, plus suitably rugged smear of bass, which lifts this version into more breathless realms of bliss. The Sunshine of the title is also entirely appropriate here as soulfully charged chords combine alongside a warm wash of ambience pointing towards the hot abandon of summer months ahead.
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