This is an overview of the music that the 909 crew are feeling this month. Not focused on new releases, it serves as an insight to our musical journeys and the discoveries we make on the way.
Sho-Nuff – Tonite
Thought I’d start with the song I’ve been listening to the most this month. Before THAT closing by Young Marco at Farr Festival, where he now infamously played Wham’s Last Christmas and Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime in the middle of July, he dropped this absolute stunner. Without straying too far into the discussion over Marco’s song choice in his closing, I don’t understand how people can diss him when he was playing emotional closers right before his controversial choices. This has everything you could possibly want from a closing song: Soft, progressive chords tinkering away in the chorus, a big vocal with some really uplifting lyrics and those enchantingly cosmic synths piercing the twilight. It really is a beautiful piece of production and is woefully underrated by pretty much everyone apparently, which is most glaringly evident through its dirt cheap price on discogs. For the record, closing with Christmas songs is a fucking wicked idea to pump through that last gasp of serotonin and to ensure you’re talked about for the next month or so. I just wish people would talk about this song instead.
Leo Anibaldi – I’m Really Sick (SFX Beats Mix)
This is about as huge as you can make music really. It’s been a staple in Queen Helena Hauff’s sets lately, and people have been noticing. To be honest, it would be hard not to. It’s so raw and aggressive that there is no doubt that this would send electro nuts like me absolutely crazy. I must admit, this was an absolute myth to find and the peeps of Analogue Shazam ended up having to email Helena asking for it because none of us could find it! Lo behold, Her Grace pulled through and sorted us all out with the merchandise, and good God it is as gassed as I hoped it would be. That build up is probably the most excessively ostentatious build up I’ve ever heard in an electro track. I give shit to the EDM tunes that employ the same technique, but it just works here. This is a fierce and uncompromising electro cut that is a weapon guaranteed to send a crowd para when you drop it. Use with caution.
Edward – Io Io
Giegling is in a weird place at the moment. As referenced in our 909 feature on Konstantin last month, Giegling has been excommunicated in some circles due to Konstantin’s outright sexist comments. Some people might therefore see it controversial that I’ve included Edward’s new release on the label. To those people, I think you know well enough where you can stick your opinion. This is a far-cry from anything that both Edward or any of his other label members have ever produced before. The percussion is brutish and tribally, which in itself makes it unique as a Giegling imprint. However, it’s that vocal. That damn vocal. I absolutely love it. Haunting, trippy, enchanting, melancholic. You name it, it’s got it. It’s totally unique and I’m super impressed with Edward’s ability to use it to such effect. This song would be a perfect curveball to play at an outdoor venue somewhere. Preferably in a woodland forest or something like that. I daresay that in my opinion this is the best thing that Giegling have put out since the Prince of Denmark’s final curtain call: 8. The cover art is also absolutely beautiful… it reflects the trippiness of the release itself and makes me want to be groovin’ out of my gourds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIoF-h0nQXs
DJ Sotofett pres. Jesse – Puhallus (One Mo, Pad Conga Vocoder Mix)
This is the third month in a row where I’ve included a Sotofett cut in this feature, and I think therefore it might be time to stop underestimating his ability to produce some killer ambient. He might well be the hottest and most prolific producer in the scene at the moment. He literally cannot stop churning out sick music. As well as his Børft EP, which was released earlier this year to sound reviews, he also released a 10” on Wania with Jesse and LNS. Both releases could easily serve as the highlight of another artist’s year, but both are completely overshadowed by his most recent release. The song I’ve included here is the last track off of this release and his second album: Twotinos, and it’s just an absolute trip. The first thing that struck me about this song was its percussion, which is excellent. No one can do percussive weirdness quite like Sotofett and this might well be his magnum opus. It is complex, intelligent and deeply groovy. The choppy synths are a nice addition as well, but my favourite part is the deep, elongated chords that shimmer in and out every now and then; brimming with emotion and melancholy. The sound design of the whole track is absolutely supreme, if not pretty damn weird. It reminds me of the ambient goodness of someone like Música Esporádica, which is a superlative compliment considering it’s one of the best pieces of music ever made in my opinion and an all-time favourite of the Red Light Records guys. This is perhaps Sotofett’s most interesting and brilliant production to date. All hail our favourite dragon slayer!!
Steffi – Cease To Exist
Ahhh I just LOVE Steffi. She is one of the producers I will always turn to if I’m asked to name a favourite artist, no bullshit. Songs like Yours, Nightspacer and Reasons have defined my musical journey throughout the years, and she is one of the best female role models in the scene; as her reputation and expertise is evidenced by her residency at both Berghain and Panorama Bar. She is part of the elusive club (only her and Ryan Elliott really) that regularly play in both rooms, and that is the best testament to her talents that I can think of. Anyway, back to this song. This hasn’t actually been released yet, and is due to come out on the 22nd September on her third album: World of the Waking State. However, we here at 909 were lucky enough to receive a promo of the album to listen to, and spoiler alert, it’s fucking amazing. A full review of the album will come out when the album is released, but what I can tell you right now is that she’s truly at the forefront of revolutionising electro and it is her best album yet. This song is probably the most traditional electro song on the album actually. It is heavily reminiscent of Claro Intellecto’s Peace of Mind, and although it’s very industrial and mechanical in its production, it remains warm and human in its construct. DJ Stingray, in a recent interview with Resident Advisor, commented that electro needed leaders to pioneer the genre going forward in order to prevent it becoming too stale and monotonous. I genuinely believe that Steffi will lead this surge. This album is so forward-thinking and momentous, and I hope that this song can convince you that I’m not gassed and that she really is that good… Finally, this has nothing to do with anything really, but I just wanted to gush about it a bit. To confirm Steffi’s wickedness just that little bit more, she recently threw a 100% electro party at Berghain with Umwelt, Mesak, DJ Stingray and herself. Tell me that’s not the most badass lineup you’ve seen this year and I’ll show myself out…