BPitch Reclaim the Dancefloor
Kiki
Run With Me
(Bpitch Control, BPC 095)
What an album. Kiki manages to maintain a relentless dancefloor pace from beginning to end. Beginning with the darkly epic and effective End of the World – a gothtech hit in the making surely, Arnaud Rebotini must love it and be jealous at the same time. Kiki then changes the mood with So Easy to Forget which reminds me of Daft Punk. Run with me is a slightly more jacking track with abrasive pads that provide a heady groove. Those first 3 tracks contain some low and moody vocals which enhance the eerie and timeless quality of the tracks.
Moving on, The Big Picture counterpoints a one note Detroitesque bass line with some rather lush swoons and swooshes. From here on the moods develop and break out of the electro-techno mould. Classix Nouveaux slows down and breaks up the pace. Drawing Circles moves into discotech territory whilst Up does what it says: uplifting breakbeat rave. The Calling is one of the highlights of this album, pre-Plaid(esque) horns juxtaposed with a hookish guitar line and raveoid stabs which will keep you dancing all night long.
To close the album proper, Kiki Turn(s) the lights down with a Terrence Parker Detroit-style piano loop and the eerie voices beg us to turn the lights down. As a juicy bonus, a slightly retooled Luv Sikk Again (sic) is included to take us through the finishing line with a grin on our faces. Listen to this on your Track & Field training sessions or at home dancing whilst you are washing up or in a discerning DJ set. Wherever you are Kiki is your favourite athlete.
Favourite Tracks: The End Of the World, Classix Nouveaux, The Calling, Luv Sikk Again.
What an album. Kiki manages to maintain a relentless dancefloor pace from beginning to end. Beginning with the darkly epic and effective End of the World – a gothtech hit in the making surely, Arnaud Rebotini must love it and be jealous at the same time. Kiki then changes the mood with So Easy to Forget which reminds me of Daft Punk. Run with me is a slightly more jacking track with abrasive pads that provide a heady groove. Those first 3 tracks contain some low and moody vocals which enhance the eerie and timeless quality of the tracks.
Moving on, The Big Picture counterpoints a one note Detroitesque bass line with some rather lush swoons and swooshes. From here on the moods develop and break out of the electro-techno mould. Classix Nouveaux slows down and breaks up the pace. Drawing Circles moves into discotech territory whilst Up does what it says: uplifting breakbeat rave. The Calling is one of the highlights of this album, pre-Plaid(esque) horns juxtaposed with a hookish guitar line and raveoid stabs which will keep you dancing all night long.
To close the album proper, Kiki Turn(s) the lights down with a Terrence Parker Detroit-style piano loop and the eerie voices beg us to turn the lights down. As a juicy bonus, a slightly retooled Luv Sikk Again (sic) is included to take us through the finishing line with a grin on our faces. Listen to this on your Track & Field training sessions or at home dancing whilst you are washing up or in a discerning DJ set. Wherever you are Kiki is your favourite athlete.
Favourite Tracks: The End Of the World, Classix Nouveaux, The Calling, Luv Sikk Again.
Ellen Allien
My Parade Mix CD
(Bpitch Control, BPC 094)
When I read that this mix was meant to represent Ellen Allien’s love of beats and breaks, I thought: “Oh dear, whatever next”. But in fact, Ellen’s mix has nothing in common with what I had in mind. Instead, Ellen Allien takes us down nostalgia lane with vintage tracks from labels like Warp, R&S, Vinyl Solution and Ellen’s previous label Brain Candy.
So what does it sound like? Well to me it sounds more like early 90’s techno and electronica mixed with some inspired Bpitch exclusives from the likes of Modeselektor, Apparat, Tomas Andersson and Ellen Allien herself, but if you want to call it breaks ‘n’ that’s fine by me. The mixing style is very proficient and smooth. That is partly a problem because the tracks mix so well together that the listener may feel sedated by it all. But if hi-hat overkill and delayed plinky synth stabs are your thing then this is right up your street. Also handy if like me you need a crash course in old-school techno styles.
My only criticism is that may be this mix is too short and 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald or LFO are nowhere to be seen on the tracklisting. Other than that, this showcases Ellen Allien’s superb turntable skills.
When I read that this mix was meant to represent Ellen Allien’s love of beats and breaks, I thought: “Oh dear, whatever next”. But in fact, Ellen’s mix has nothing in common with what I had in mind. Instead, Ellen Allien takes us down nostalgia lane with vintage tracks from labels like Warp, R&S, Vinyl Solution and Ellen’s previous label Brain Candy.
So what does it sound like? Well to me it sounds more like early 90’s techno and electronica mixed with some inspired Bpitch exclusives from the likes of Modeselektor, Apparat, Tomas Andersson and Ellen Allien herself, but if you want to call it breaks ‘n’ that’s fine by me. The mixing style is very proficient and smooth. That is partly a problem because the tracks mix so well together that the listener may feel sedated by it all. But if hi-hat overkill and delayed plinky synth stabs are your thing then this is right up your street. Also handy if like me you need a crash course in old-school techno styles.
My only criticism is that may be this mix is too short and 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald or LFO are nowhere to be seen on the tracklisting. Other than that, this showcases Ellen Allien’s superb turntable skills.
More info: www.bpitchcontrol.de
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