Azimute - Control (CRM134)

Introducing a fresh electronic pairing as AZIMUTE, Crosstown Rebels gets set to present a glowing debut EP comprising three original cuts of pure and understated class. Lead track ‘Control’ pulses with robotic sex appeal as creepy sluggish grooves and low end swing collide with hypnotic percussion and rumbling bass. ‘Always’ by contrast begins life as a more skittish affair, until an unexpected and powerful bluesy soul vocal and undercurrent of UK bass pervades this ever evolving sonic framework. Closing the package,‘Where Is The Magic’ shows AZIMUTE at their most frenetic and energetic, where the pacey percussion and propulsive groove is interjected with a dose of weirdness. AZIMUTE’s statement of intent is a bold and playful one, conveying the raw talents of two of electronic music’s true heads and masters.

AZIMUTE is a new musical project combining the energies of rising techno DJ­-producer Cesare Marchese and veteran DJ­-musician Quenum. They became close when working together via Serialism on Quenum’s latest artist album ‘Face To Face’ and quickly realised they share a common musical vision and way of life. With this debut release on Crosstown Rebels and another forthcoming EP due to drop on Derrick May’s Transmat Records, it’s clear the duo are about to set techno hearts racing.

   Cesare Marchese (aka Cesare vs Disorder) is the freshman in the band, but no newcomer to electronic music. His productions have been released on top labels such as BPitch Control, Vakant, Dumb Unit and Get Physical. He was named “Beatport’s Ones to Watch” in 2009 and plays regularly at top events and festivals worldwide. His experience stretches to all aspects of the techno universe; he’s been running his label Serialism since 2007 and promotes label nights at Watergate in Berlin and other top clubs in Europe.

   Quenum is also well known in the scene and well respected for his longevity and quality contributions. He started his first label Access 58 in London in the mid 90´s and later co­ founded Cadenza Records with Luciano, composing with him the techno anthem Orange Mistake. His discography stretches over decades and continents, and includes top labels such as Soma, Crosstown Rebels and NovaMute among many others

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM134
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: !K7 / Above Board
• Released: Mon Nov 3rd, 2014

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons - Lovers' Eyes (Mohe Pi Ki Najariya) Remixes (CRM133)

Damian Lazarus and the Ancient Moons entered our orbit earlier in the summer with the stomping and mystically brilliant ‘Lovers´ Eyes (Mohe Pi Ki Najariya)’. Now the highly anticipated remix package is upon us - featuring a souped up re-edit from man of the year Dixon that and a driving remix from Swiss/Spanish underground star Mendo.

“I had a feeling Dixon would be into Lovers Eyes but I didn’t expect him to request to remix the track. Talk about kudos! The edit he has delivered pushes all the right buttons for the dancefloor and the drop is one of the biggest you will see all year. To compliment this we took a more rollin’ approach with the excellent Mendo remix, who cuts up the spirit of the track into a peak time killer.” - Damian Lazarus

The single ´Lovers´ Eyes (Mohe Pi Ki Najariya)´ was the first release from Lazarus´s new collaborative artist project, which will build towards an album and live shows in early 2015. Joined at the production controls by James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco, Arctic Monkeys, Florence), for this track Lazarus completed album recording sessions in Mexico in February. Ancient Moons brings together a wide assortment of vocalists, collaborators and players, from around the world, with more details of this heady mix to be released in the near future. 

Already one of the year´s more unique and distinctive electronic music releases named both Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune and Mixmag’s Big Tune of the month, Lovers’ Eyes was inspired by Lazarus´s more leftfield Lazpod tendencies, the Get Lost events and Day Zero festival in Mexico. It’s music for deserts, jungles and sunrises. Featuring the vocalists Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad and Hamza Akram - Pakistan´s leading Qawwali singers, here they sing of cosmic love, and the four eyes of the lovers becoming one, set against Lazarus and Ford´s incendiary techno production. Qawwali takes the form of a series of thematically and formally linked verses, and is steeped in a tradition that can be traced back to the 13th Century. Lazarus first encountered Fareed Ayaz and co. performing in the film ´Reluctant Fundamentalist´, starring Riz Ahmed. Riz, who also records for Crosstown Rebels, made the necessary introductions, and the unique collaboration was born.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM133
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: !K7 / Above Board
• Released: Mon Oct 6th, 2014

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Ibellini - Wide Soul (RBL020)

For his debut release, Ibellini delivers an impressively polished EP, ‘Wide Soul’, on Crosstown Rebels´ off­shoot RebelLion. The title track, ‘Wide Soul’, captures an intensely mystifying mood with a deep funky bass line, a wobbly lead synth and a warm, uplifting ambience. ‘I Dream Of Funk’ steps up the fantasy with its epic sweeping textures, layered melodies and a sprinkle of shimmery ear candy. On the B­side, Desolat favourite Guti remixes ‘Wide Soul’, turning it into a deeper and roaring techno thumper for the early hours of the morning. Rounding off the EP, ‘Milk & Honey’ is the perfect journey for sunrise moments, its resonating organic tones creating a feeling of strong elation.


Ibellini has been a staple on the London DJ scene since the tender age of 14. The trust he’s built with London music lovers has enabled him to play alongside the most vibrant and forward thinking artists in the business, such as Damian Lazarus, Jamie Jones, Guy Gerber, Matthew Dear and Martin Buttrich.

Ibellini set out to put his stamp on the scene, creating the ´Peculiar´ parties, which are held at anomalous London spots, cultivating a loyal following and featuring the most talked about artists in the industry.

This year Ibellini has played at the BPM Festival in Mexico and at Miami WMC with rave reviews from Rolling Stone.

Ibellini has built relationships with established figureheads over the last few years, his unreleased tracks are regularly played at festivals around the world, DC10 Ibiza and Boiler Room sets such as The Martinez Brothers this passed Summer. Upcoming releases are receiving a lot of enthusiastic feedback from both artists and clubbers.

• Label: Rebellion
• Cat no: RBL020
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: Above Board
• Released: Mon Oct 20th, 2014

Tracklist:

- Wide Soul

- I Dream Of Funk

- Wide Soul (Guti Remix)

- Milk & Honey

LINK TO THE TRACKS