Ed Chamberlain
03/06

Apt E Vol. 1 is the first entry in a series of 12” compilations featuring the off-the-wall projects of various Seattle-based artists. For this installment, we’ve rounded up tunes from three of Seattle’s heavyweights; Eve Defy, Flora FM and ‘nohup’. With tracks landing somewhere across the spectrum of electro, ghettotech and breakbeat, there’s a little something for everyone here, all the while remaining cohesive. [info sheet from distr.]

Elossa Records sixth release “Back in the Waves” is the debut album by DJ Nada.The album contains six instrumental and three vocal tracks. It combines wavy synthesizers with dusty jazz and soul samples. Nada’s hip hop background is strongly present, and the album contains heavy aesthetics of house, nu-soul and modern funk as well.DJ Nada is known for his previous hip hop productions (e.g. Gracias, Pavel) and he has been active in the DJ scene in Helsinki for 15 years, involved in clubs such as “Yo! Kuudes Linja Raps”, “Disco Hi-Life”, “High Hopes” and “No Way Out”

Electrodefender is back with a bang, serving up his signature West Coast influenced electro. These are for the floor! Limited to 100 black vinyl copies & 50 red vinyl.

Levi Bruce, aka Unknown Mobile, has been a prominent figure of the Canadian Underground for quite some time He resides in Montreal and has contributed to a number of North American labels. It seems only natural that he is the next release on Planet Euphorique. “Mobile Sorcery” could be his most rhythmically diverse 12” yet, recorded in just a couple of weekends it breaks free from 4 to the floor, experimenting confidently with syncopation, voices dipping in and out of focus. The opener Broke Melt presents a driving baseline filled with attitude, flickers of glistening synth arpeggios to soften the clanging drum patterns, working in harmony with delicate top lines. The hypnotic haze of textures carries through the record, A2 lifting in energy; shooting stabs, ricocheted sub base filling the space between commanding snares. The Beat Dub of Sorcery strips the track back to the essentials, resulting in a perfect tool for DJ’s building tension. Surprisingly keeping the essence of the tune whilst offering hints of more dubbed, percussive club pushing UK bass.The B Side explores more of these unconventional rhythmic themes whilst highlighting the power of melody. Heavenly Depression accurately depicting it’s title, pulling on the struggle of your emotions through an ever-progressing lead woven tightly over sweeping pads. The closing track Wilders Lake ties the record together cohesively, lifted stabs to calm the tripped out percussion swooping in and out, growling bass alluding to darkness. The EP blends genres to create new feelings from familiar foundations, channelling Detroit inspired grit and emotion; well rounded to suit hazed and hedonistic dance-floors.