- Modeselektor - Zig Zag
- Claude Vonstroke - Who's Afraid Of Detroit
- Steve Bug - You Make Me Feel
- Wighnomy Brothers - Moppal Kiff
- Kupon - Zoom Out
- Booka Shade - Night Falls
- Francois DuBois - I Try
- Kupon - Zoom In
Felix Da Housecat - Rocket Ride - Anja Scheider & Sebo K - Rancho Relaxo
- Sascha Funke - In Between Days
- Booka Shade - In White Rooms
- Thomas Schumacher - Red Purple
- Akabu - Phuture Bound (Ame Mix)
- Andrea Doria - Quantised Traffic
- Extrawelt - Fernweh
- Stephan Bodzin Vs Marc Romboy - Phobos
King Unique & Nubreed - Balance Presents: Electric_02
Label: EQ Grey| Release Date: 10/9/20062005 saw the creation of EQ's 'Electric' series, with Australian local Gavin Keitel talking the helm. As an offshoot from the label's highly successful Balance series, 'Electric_01' surprised many and came to be held in high regard as one of the favourite titles of the year for some, not just in Australia, but across the globe. Now one year on, and the label are set to bring the second volume in the series to us, as the dirty house dons King Unique join Australian legends Nubreed.
"Look! It's alive. It's alive."
So exclaimed Henry Frankenstein in response to the creation of perhaps the most famous monster that literature has produced, and similarly, the 'Electric' series has truly taken on a life of its own.
Conceived in 2005 as an offshoot to EQ's world conquering 'Balance' series, in hindsight EQ relinquished all control upon handing the reigns to Gavin Keitel. The intention had been for 'Electric' to be a platform, upon which, up and coming DJs could make their debut on the international stage without the label's commitment to cutting edge, quality underground music wavering in the slightest. While Keitel fit the bill perfectly, few could have imagined the full impact this electrically charged super-conductor would have on the series debut. If the intention had been for 'Electric' to become EQ's "quiet achiever", the culmination of Keitel's vision and subsequent outpouring of support from all forms of the dance music media quashed this idea.
While lacking the international reputation of previous Balance stalwarts such as Chris Fortier, James Holden or Paolo Mojo, Keitel had very effectively put both himself and the 'Electric' series on the world stage. This has left EQ with an unenviable, yet by no means unfortunate dilemma. That of ensuring the follow-up would be worthy of being propped upon the building block forged by Keitel's genre-spanning electro to tech-house to minimal masterpiece. As would only be expected, EQ have not only taken up the challenge, but responded with the force of an electrically charged atom. The second in the series won't disappoint those fans expecting nothing less than cutting edge, underground dance music, delivered by uncompromising compilers. Yet even with this in mind, as always, EQ have ensured a surprise of tantalising proportions.
Firstly, 'Electric_02' will be showcased over two CDs, and the involvement has grown from a single DJ on the first 'Electric' to a combined total of six artists on 'Electric_02', with one being famed illustrator & cartoonist Neil Swaab who has been named as one of the top visual artists in the U.S. by Print Magazine, creating the cover-art.
Keeping the local vibe's electric current flowing are local heroes Nubreed. While the Melbourne trio's unwavering commitment to quality can never be questioned, it would be a vast miscalculation to equate tenacity with inadaptability or inflexibility. A far cry from their lauded Y4K breaks compilation of last year, here Nubreed are given the freedom to explore the more house orientated and electro sounds that the band members find equally interesting. And judging by Danny Bonnici's Ableton assisted DJ sets in recent times the results will be nothing short of breathtaking.
The second CD is an equally exciting prospect, with dons of the dex'n'fx DJ sets, duo King Unique to be 'Electric's first international ambassador. Whether it be their own productions, remixes or radio sets, no small part in their rise to prominence is due to one high quality project after another. Unique in more than just name, their sets take the more highly publicised Ableton Live accompanied sets of Sasha to a whole new level. Having always used samplers, laptops and effects since King Unique's inception in 2001, today at least half their sets are made up of mash-ups and re-edits done in the studio, incorporating Ableton Live. To quote the boys, "While Matthew Roberts mixes these mash-ups off CDs, Matt Thomas uses Ableton to play FX, big whooshy sci-fi noises, vocals and stuttery-robo sounds over the top. Then the whole mix goes through a Pioneer EFX unit for further treatment. The result is pretty fat."
More then just fat, the result is likely to be Electric.
- Ioan Gamboa - Karla 9/10
Julien Roby on 31 May - Nick Muir - Airtight (Kassey Voorn Remixes) 10/10
Julien Roby on 31 May - Saccao - Muhaha / Melis 8/10
Julien Roby on 19 April - Paul Hazendonk - The Long Journey 9/10
Julien Roby on 19 April - Pablo - Stratus / Turn The Page (Remixes) 9/10
Brian Cody on 19 April - Ditto - Don't Phase Me 8/10
Brian Cody on 19 April - D-Nox & Beckers - Jet Lag Slave Remixes 7/10
Brian Cody on 5 April - Alexey Sonar - Twisted Monkey 9/10
Lucy Blair on 26 March - Full Funktion & Ridgewalkers ft. El - Karma - 9/10
Julien Roby on 25 March - Hernan Cattaneo & SoundExile - Japanese Snowbell 9/10
Julien Roby on 25 March - Ian O'Donovan - Forever Untold 7/10
Dennis Van on 25 March - Lank & Marco Grandi - Along The Way 9/10
Julien Roby on 24 March - Mitrinique - Green Mountains EP 8/10
Mitch Alexander on 24 March - Raxon - Someday 8/10
Lucy Blair on 24 March - Damabiah - Le Sang et La Seve Remixed Vol.1 9/10
Julien Roby on 24 March - Greg Benz - Kickdrums and Ex-Girlfriends 8/10
Julien Roby on 24 March - White Maison - Night Driving 8/10
Carleton Neil on 14 May - Nosmo Vs Kris B - One For The Road (DFuse & Hiratzka Remixes) 3/10
Jason Calvert on 4 May - Gui Boratto - Take My Breath Away 9/10
Carleton Neil on 4 May - Guy J - Lamur 9/10
Jason Calvert on 4 May - Mr G - Makes No Sense 5/10
Darren Rhys on 1 April - DZI - Unleash / The Beast (Remixes) 8/10
Darren Rhys on 1 April - Mike Monday - Zwivetty EP 8/10
Darren Rhys on 1 April - Fergie - Breakin (Remixes) 6/10
Jason Calvert on 30 March