#6 Feat. Staff Picks in Indie Dance

Mr. Computer sees two figureheads of Dutch electronics pay homage to the voice of electro disco, the vocoder. Figi and Luca dellOrso team up to sing praise of a tool that has crossed genres and styles and give the little metal larynx deserved limelight on their own three track theatre. Rumbling bass is shot through with crisp snaps in the title piece, warbling vocals rising as keys dance in this wonderful collaboration. Production across the 12 is beautifully clean and sharp, allowing the rich analogue sound and robotic lyrics to be fully appreciated. Of course, as happens with the vocoder, those lyrics are just that shade of bittersweet. That brooding quality is used to full effect by Luca dellOrso in Fire with Fire. A bold and daring melody is countered by a tale flecked with sorrow, the brightness and immersion of synths contrasted by the filtered and fractured human voice. Figi flies solo for the finale. Moonlight (Vocoder Version) dips words in a thick mechanical syrup, a story of burning love recanted to moonbeam rinses and bending disco bars. A true celebration of man and machine.

Luca Dell'Orso, Figi

#32 Feat. Staff Picks in Indie Dance

Through darkness diamonds spread their richest light Part seven with Tallac, Luksek, Francesco Cascella and Hypersensitive.

Tallac, Luksek, Francesco Cascella, Hypersensitive

#33 Feat. Staff Picks in Indie Dance

Bordello A Parigi welcome the prolific Kirill Junolainen into the fold. He debuts under his Konerytmi alias with four tracks that join the dots of disco, italo, synth pop and wave. The title piece, Super Ekstaasi, is an analogue rollercoaster of emotive lyrics and sparkling synthlines shot through with distant melancholy. The frosty Klassikkoelokuva follows. Contrasting its predecessor, this glacial work of electro cuts crystalline chords with crisp claps and bending basslines. Temperatures rise on the flip. Slow and sci-fi inspired, the thoughtful Hirvijarvi explores the cosmos through searching synthlines and probing percussion. The gamut of Konerytmic is on display with the finale being no exception. Uusiaalto is both brittle and bold. Refracted computer chirps are draped in soaring strings, pinpricks of drum piercing the stern samples that break the delicacy of the tracks composition. Super Ekstaasi through and through.

Konerytmi

#36 Feat. Banner in Indie Dance

Daniel Monaco and John Noseda join forces for Alektra, a new project born out of a deep love for Hi-NRG and raw 808 sounds. Renowned for their dj sets, trips that delve into tropical obscurities, Chicago jack and Rimini romances, the pair have channelled a unique blend of untamed house and shimmering italo melodies into pure dancefloor euphoria. Their debut release, Shake Your Body, drops on Bordello A Parigi. Neon synthwork is punctured by clean punches of percussion, scaling melodies set firmly in the golden analogue era. Key stabs drive the track with Only Bees honeyed lyrics pushing the energy levels higher. In true 1980s anthem form, the flip is dedicated to the instrumental with the synthesizers and their hypnotic melodies taking centre stage: Alektras machines smouldering with fiery intensity. That same intensity closes, Only Bees mellifluous vocals given the limelight for the acapella close. Dancefloor definitions redefined. Welcome to Alektra.

Alektra, Daniel Monaco, John Noseda

#36 Feat. New Releases in Indie Dance

Daniel Monaco and John Noseda join forces for Alektra, a new project born out of a deep love for Hi-NRG and raw 808 sounds. Renowned for their dj sets, trips that delve into tropical obscurities, Chicago jack and Rimini romances, the pair have channelled a unique blend of untamed house and shimmering italo melodies into pure dancefloor euphoria. Their debut release, Shake Your Body, drops on Bordello A Parigi. Neon synthwork is punctured by clean punches of percussion, scaling melodies set firmly in the golden analogue era. Key stabs drive the track with Only Bees honeyed lyrics pushing the energy levels higher. In true 1980s anthem form, the flip is dedicated to the instrumental with the synthesizers and their hypnotic melodies taking centre stage: Alektras machines smouldering with fiery intensity. That same intensity closes, Only Bees mellifluous vocals given the limelight for the acapella close. Dancefloor definitions redefined. Welcome to Alektra.

Alektra, Daniel Monaco, John Noseda

#47 Feat. Staff Picks in Indie Dance

Antoni Maiovvi is an artist like few others. Knights of New Haven summarises his unique ability and unparalleled range. This return to the Bordello reflects the influence of the West Coast Sound of the Netherlands as well as that machine music of his adopted home of the U.S. Later Not Lately bends bars above a throbbing kick, hi-hats ruffling the clean arcs of string. Echoes of Chicago and Detroit penetrate the EP. Melting melodies fold and oscillate under the crashing cymbals of Slack Blabbath, staggered synthlines jolted by tight percussion patterns. A brother-in-arms opens the flip, Danny Wolfers drafted in under his Legowelt moniker to turn his magic to Later Not Lately. Undulating undertones are sliced by serrated snares before a sordid TB303 is unsheathed, Wolfers soulful and squalid retelling of the original. The Madness in the Method closes. Fizzing static blurs drum patterns, a taut note piercing the dense bass fog. Teetering between the profound and the profane, Maiovvi pivots his horror disco trademark sound with driving house drums and devil-may-care grandeur. An EP of epic proportions.

Antoni Maiovvi

#74 Feat. Staff Picks in Indie Dance

Hot on the heels of A Promise In The Cold Night, LVCA returns to Bordello A Parigi with The Wanderer. Building on his diverse and unique style, genre cross-pollination sits at the heart of this four tracker. Renowned for his analogue live sets, LVCAs passion for the machine smoulders on this EP. Acid, electro and new beat are central tenets, with the synthesizer taking centre stage. A litany of influences is drawn upon. Crashing snares countered by bright bars, melodic swirls threatened by machined vocals, drum rolls and key stabs marking shifts of intent. Speaker cones conjure late night basements, darker shades churn and melt in the fog and strobe. And throughout, genres and styles converge. Chicago house thaws the frigid severity of wave, italo echoes offering a distant warmth against colder tones taking hold. A 12 that illustrates the dynamic depth and the vibrancy of a true talent.

Lvca