Robert Hood‘s techno and Femi Kuti‘s Afrobeat intertwine in a new form where jazz-grooves reign supreme. For the fourth season of La Compagnie des Indes & Sourdoreille Variations live series of creations for France TV, the duo were united around the singer and producer James Brown, performing a tribute to the legendary Godfather of Soul who passed away in 2006. This Variations album is the live recording of this unique collaboration and performance, capturing a very special moment in time.
The evening witnessed a meeting of two icons in their own genres: one with synths and drum machines, the other on saxophone: Robert Hood and Femi Kuti embody excellence in their respective fields and the pair combined to make something truly unique, soulful, funky and spontaneous. Recorded in one 30+ minute take, Variations is embellished by Femi’s exquisitely free-flowing yet restrained saxophone, whilst Hood anchors the groove with layers of pads and kicks with the long-time mastery of a true DJ.
Alongside Jeff Mills and Mad Mike, Hood is one of the original members of Detroit techno group Underground Resistance. His style is characterised by minimalist and experimental tones with an assertive groove. Throughout the ’90s, he helped pave the way for techno to flourish – giving birth to minimal techno with his seminal album Minimal Nation. Since then, he has been consistently forwarding electronic music culture with ground-breaking productions, sensational performances and his M-Plant label.
Alongside him, Femi Kuti takes on every musical style with his saxophone, which he plays with a virtuoso touch: pop, soul, electronic music and Afrobeat, of which he is one of the leading exponents. The son of Afrobeat singer and political activist Fela Kuti, he has inherited his father’s zeal for both music and activism, where he continues to highlight the plight of most Nigerians living conditions in the oil rich state.
With Variations the duo capture an explosive combination on a special night in Paris 4 years ago, 27th November 2019, filmed at the ADP Group headquarters (Paris Aéroport – Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – Roissy).
TRACK LISTING
A. Robert Hood & Femi Kuti – Variations (Side A – 18min 54sec) B. Robert Hood & Femi Kuti – Variations (Side B – 15min 43sec)
Closely following a busy 2023, GiGi FM announces her brand-new record label, offering Kiwi Synthesis Diary Vol. 2 to mark the debut. Sea~rène takes aim at dreamlike and ethereal electronic music to reconnect the subconscious and the cosmos through immersive storytelling. As the identity quote of the label says itself “We are Sea~rène swimming in-between supernatural tides, forever following the emotional waves of the universe”.
Already quite accomplished in her milieu through an acclaimed release on Bambounou’s Bambelabel, where she explored the relationship between bodily technologies and music, as well as through her residency on NTS Radio where she explores inter-dimensional sounds and shares her own musical palette, GiGi also continues to perform at strings of performances in the past years in settings like Berghain, Rural Japan, Draaimolen, Fabric, De School, Primavera, The Bunker New York, and Sustain Release.
The French/Italian artist takes her productions further with this first release of her imprint. A continuation of her first self-released project, Kiwi Synthesis Diary 21k, in 2021, GiGi FM celebrates the exchange between her, as the owner of the journal, and its reader through euphoric soundscapes and vibrant psychedelia. Taking a step back from lockdown introspections, blurred lines between dream and reality like ambient and drony atmospheres, GiGi gives us a bent club record full of colors and life.
GiGi FM guides us through dreams of sonic environments and the adventures to be had through them. Some are characterized by evolving fractals and shifting landscapes like in the healing mushroom journey of Amadamushies and the mythical Japanese Heron Tsuru. Combining steady rhythm and immersive ambiances, the result intends to soothe into a state of openness through kindly familiar territories. Sifting through the tracks, we find ourselves traveling fast through cosmic ecosystems like in the spiritual and cosmic teaching that Tevora‘ represents, as well as Househopping (Keroppi) and Sly Xupete Di Barcelona, conveying the urgency to feel and create, even within difficult circumstances, while Spazio Teletrasporto takes us on a hypnotic whirlwind trip into the depths of the cosmos and our inner consciousness. Through these chapters of a journey, a connection between the mind and the beyond is implied, and its importance is highlighted.
Deeply influenced by astrology, philosophy, and the cosmos; for GiGi, music is both a tool for expression and introspection. As a multi-hyphenate artist, she continues on her quest to push artistic boundaries and hold space for unique audience experiences. Whatever medium she may adopt, the result is a rich embodiment of the interconnectedness of sound, color, movement, and metaphysics.
TRACKLIST
A1. Amadamushies A2. Tevora A3. Sly Xupete Di Barcelona B1. Spazio Teletrasporto B2. Househopping (Keroppi) Digital Bonus. Tsuru
Created over the span of two years, Balance 32 marks a creative high point in the career of Madrid-based artist Henry Saiz, and this marks his third appearance for the hallowed compilation series. Spread over an expansive three discs, it has given him the space to curate a truly stunning odyssey of creative expression-one influenced by everything from AI to his recent ADHD diagnosis.
As ever, he has gone above and beyond to ensure that the mix is crammed full of exclusive, unreleased material—nearly 75% of the music included—both from himself and many of his favourite producers and collaborators, from unknowns through to household names like Röyksopp.
“Since I’ve done two Balance compilations already, I didn’t want to repeat myself” he says. “My first, Balance 19, was very important for my career and I knew people would be comparing it with this new one, so I put a lot of effort into it to make it more attractive and to be able to gain more control in the final product sound-wise.” – Henry Saiz
Created in Ableton, which he uses for his DJ sets due to its unlimited creative functionality and precision (“I get bored easily with CDJs”), the mix makes great use of many effects, layerings, and production techniques to enhance the beautiful sounds that lie within.
Part 1 takes a freestyle approach to find a sweet spot between home listening and club warm-up vibes, all woven together through a narrative about the connection between the past, the future, the reinterpretation of old concepts, and AI.
Part 2 leans towards the sounds of Henry Saiz in club mode, beginning with the warm blanket of sumptuous Milio’s Dew, building gradually and flitting between the deep and the soaring. From lush progressive house to the heavenly breaks ofBrassica’s epic Celestial Suspension through some truly staggering new psychedelically tinged material from Saiz, it’s a mix packed with magical melody. The disc crescendos with the shimmering riffs of Henry Saiz & Imalgi’s Kickboxer, where synths are made to weep digital tears, and the stunning liquid breaks and heartfelt vocals of Moonlight Wolves All I Need (Third Son Remix). As ever, all is not what it seems in his sets, with heavy editing making these truly unique versions.
The final chapter of this sprawling compilation explores the increasing tempos of the current era, expanding Saiz’s DNA into new territory while maintaining all the classy elements of his sound.
A deep and spacey feel early on with plenty of dubby touches gives way to meatier sounds, psychedelic tones woven into the heavier rhythms as the tempos gradually creep upwards and elements of trance abound through a flurry of Saiz exclusives. A grandstand finish is guaranteed by way of his incredible chugging-based rework of Moonlight Wolves’ Mantra, the light dreamy beauty of Henry Saiz & Somfay’s To Steal a Star from The Night and the intense synth overload of H. Haze’s La Fuerza. A perfect end to a truly remarkable body of work.
TRACKLIST
CD1
Hal Incandenza – I Know What You Are
Henry Saiz – Black Earth
Efferent & Henry Saiz – All That Was Will Forever Be
Henry Saiz x RQS feat. Eloy – Tropical Mirage
True ZeroX – Full Moon Summer
Guillermo Medín & Henry Saiz – In Jeopardy
Hal Incandenza – El Loco Soy Yo
Robert Feltman – About Gravity
R.I.P Bestia – Ancient Subatomic Voyage (Henry Saiz GOA Remix)
Romina (ARG) – Les Chants des Baleines (Henry Saiz Remix)
Karmon – Continuum
Röyksopp – This Time, This Place (Henry Saiz Downtempo Egodeath Version)
Genius of Time – Sunswell (Henry Saiz’s Cuban Acid Trip Remix)
CD2
Milio – Dew
Bostro Pesopeo – Duschen
Wil Mancia & Henry Saiz – Hidden Valley
Henry Saiz – Entre Dos Mundos
Brassica – Celestial Suspension
Eden Burns – Free Your Mind
Rollin & Josh Wetherington – Acid Glance
Frømme – Stairway to Heaven (Henry Saiz Balance Version)
Hal Incandenza – Incivitas (Henry Saiz Balance Version)
Henry Saiz – DMT (Guy J Remix)
Marshall White & Henry Saiz – Stargazer
Miss Melera – Jade
Damabiah & Henry Saiz – Selene
Gonzalo Aranda – Prometheus (Balance Version)
Space Dimension Controller – End Times Optimist
Henry Saiz & Imalgi – Kickboxer
Moonlight Wolves – All I Need (Third Son Remix)
CD3
Big Zen – Buoyant Beat
Wa Wu We – What’s Left?
NVSBL – Purple Dawn
Kris Omen – Nebula (Henry Saiz Balance Version)
Voiski – Hazy Suns
Aurora Halal – Eternal Blue (Wata Igarashi Crossing Remix)
Adwer – Squelch.3
Henry Saiz – Mindtrap
Polygonia – Implosion of the Known (Henry Saiz Remix)
NorB & juSt b – At This Moment (Henry Saiz Remix)
NVSBL – The Drive
Planetary Assault Systems – Eden Tide (Barker Remix)
Moonlight Wolves – Mantra (Henry Saiz Remix)
Somfay & Henry Saiz – To Steal a Star from The Night
H. Haze – La Fuerza
VINYL 1
A1. Hal Incandenza – I Know What You Are A2. Guillermo Medín & Henry Saiz – In Jeopardy A3. Robert Feltman – About Gravity A4. Karmon – Continuum B1. Royksopp – This Time, This Place (Henry Saiz Downtempo Egodeath Version) B2. Genius of Time – Sungswell (Henry Saiz’s Cuban Acid Trip Remix)
VINYL 2
C1. Milio – Dew C2. Henry Saiz – Entre Dos Mundos C3. Brassica – Celestial Suspension D1. Marshall White & Henry Saiz – Stargazer D2. Henry Saiz & Imalgi – Kickboxer D3. Moonlight Wolves – All I Need (Third Son Remix)
VINYL 3
E1. NVSBL – Purple Dawn E2. Henry Saiz – Mindtrap E3. Polygonia – Implosion of the Known (Henry Saiz Remix) F1. Moonlight Wolves – Mantra (Henry Saiz Remix) F2. Somfay & Henry Saiz – To Steal a Star From the Night F3. H. Haze – La Fuerza
Antwerp, Belgium based platform for Afrocentric rhythm and percussive music run by DTM Funk.
DTM Funk is David Mizero Tricot, one of Antwerp’s busiest bees and a long time contributor to the scene in Belgium. One of those DJ’s you can genuinely call genre-defying. He runs his own label, San-Kofa Rhythm Records, a platform for Afrocentric rhythm and percussive music and recently launched Labi & Funk, a recordstore / hairsalon with a firm focus on Black Soul Music.
Four years following the release of Up High Collective‘s debut, the Belgian beat posse return with their new project through San-kofa Rhythm Record, Koinonia.
Koinonia packs 10 kaleidoscopic instrumentals blending South Asian spirituals strains with Brainfeeder-esque beats and orchestral ambient. Koen De Petter and Ronaldo Maria, known as Up High Collective, invited several musicians to participate in their new album, including the legendary Belgian drummer Lander Gyselinck and sitar musician Bert Cornelis. Koinonia refer to mutual reciprocity between the collective and guest musicians.
Listen to Galiyon.
TRACKLIST
A1. Todi A2. Koi A3. Galiyon A4. Mainhan A5. Kanchi
Following the release of his first solo album in eight years, French techno icon Laurent Garnier commissions a series of remixes of his 33 Tours Et Puis S’en Vont LP.
This summer, Laurent Garnier announced the launch of his latest landmark album. The newest LP showed why he is such a vital force with a series of cuts, distilling his 30+ year career experiences into cutting-edge electronic music full of tension and release. Now, he continues to prove he operates at the vanguard with this exemplary assembly of remixers.
UK techno mainstay Works Of Intent opens up with his Farewell remix of Reviens La Nuit, a dark, pulsing techno sound with widescreen cosmic chords and unsettling modulations. Romantic techno master Voltaire then flips Tales From The Real World into a scintillant melodic excursion with arps cascading down the face of the track and fizzing synths lighting up the electro beats.
Next is 22Carbone, who is featured on the original album but here remix In Your Phase into a grimy, broken beat with rigid bars and twisted metal textures next to the menacing mic work. Rocco Rodamaal has 30 years of experience and is one of few veterans who remains genuinely relevant today. He offers two versions of Liebe Grüße aus Cucuron – a smooth, deep, elongated techno trip and a fizzing Keys Mix doused in melodic charm.
New York’s new wave techno star Anthony Cardinale, aka Avision, lights up his remix of Le Swing Du Pouletto with radiant and optimistic synths and a dark, brooding low end. Later, he brings plenty of marching menace and pent-up synth tension to his rework of Liebe Grüße aus Cucuron. Reshit‘s take on On the Record offers a dreamy ambient soundscape with downtempo breaks and expansive prog-rock style synths.
This sophisticated selection of techno remixes brings all-new emotions and moments of dance floor brilliance to Laurent Garnier’s superb originals.
TRACKLIST
A1. Reviens La Nuit (Works of Intent Farewell Remix) A2. Tales From The Real World (Voltaire Remix) A3. In Your Phase (22Carbone Remix) B1. Liebe grüße aus Cucuron (Rocco Rodamaal Remix) B2. Le Swing Du Pouletto (Avision Remix) B3. On The Record (Reshit remix feat. Rodolphe Burger)
Initially influenced by his homeland and the worlds of psy-trance and progressive, the artist has grown to embrace all genres and establish a wide-ranging production style that represents the array of emotions fuelling his creativity. Guy’s disregard for boundaries has catapulted his genre-diverse Lost & Found imprint into one of the most highly respected brands in the underground.
Following Lost & Found’s 100th release, and the announcement that the revered imprint is coming to an end, EG caught up with Guy Jto learn more about his motivations, the impact of the label, and what the future has in store for him.
