Pezzner & Amina - Exit (CRM120)

Up next on the decade strong Crosstown Rebels is class live act Pezzner who joins forces on ‘Exit’ with vocalist and co-producer Amina. ‘Exit’ is a charged and emotional journey with a edge of darkness, where the power of raw electronics meets the mystical and sultry tones of Amina’s incredible Bjork-esque voice. ‘Pipes’ sees Pezzner go it alone with a mixture of organic sounds and shakers wrapped up in one hypnotic groove as mellow dubby textures flow into fluid, abstract melodies. Continuing Crosstown’s tradition for head-turning remixers, up steps Hotflush boss and dubstep pioneer turned master of versatility,  Scuba. Delivering his take on ‘Exit’ with elastic bass and an expanding soundbed of jarring chords and alternating synth lines, the result is a suspense filled and soaring sonic ride.


Seattle’s Dave Pezzner wants to tell stories and feed the brain with his dancefloor focused productions and this mantra is finely displayed here as well as on previous album works, ‘The Tracks Are Alive’ (Freerange Records, 2010) and ‘Last Night In Utopia’ (Systematic Recordings, 2013) and EPs for Crosstown Rebels off-shoot Rebellion, Dirtybird, Ovum and Anjunadeep. Highly regarded across the board as a producer and live act, his work has been described as “lush and tense with a transcendental twist” and his live shows and DJ sets have moved the dance floors of some of the most renowned venues including Space Ibiza, Rex Club in Paris, Womb Tokyo, Fabric London, Cielo New York, and Chicago’s famed Smartbar.


Amina is an Italian Egyptian heir to a mystical culture she grew up through the memories left by her mother, a musician and composer, and the exploration of multiple instruments and later an obsession with poetry. Fate led her to meet Dave Pezzner in 2011 and this gave rise to a passion project that fused Amina’s poems with a collaborative mix of eclectic and harmonic sounds that brought Amina’s lyrics and voice alive within Pezzer’s three-dimensional sonic imagery, full of tension and transmission…


Scuba needs little or no introduction. As the head of Hotflush Recordings, one of the most illustrious and genre-bending labels of our times and with a history steeped in the UK dubstep scene, Paul Rose aka Scuba and SCB has been residing in Berlin since 2008 and is now a future-facing figurehead in electronic music with a sonic style reaching far beyond his dubstep roots.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM120
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: !K7 / Above Board
• Released: Mon Feb 3rd, 2014

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Various - 10 Years Of Crosstown Rebels (CRMCD025)

Crosstown Rebels commemorate 10 years of historical releases with a three CD collection spanning over thirty of their best records from the vaults. Named label of the year 2013 in the Ibiza DJ Awards and Resident Advisor’s No 1 label in 2011, the Rebels also encompass innovative global events, a festival series and a worldwide artist network. Arguably the most established and renowned house and techno label of our time, this collection is laced with nostalgia and documents its brightest and boldest moments.

‘10 Years’ revisits some classic and early releases from the scene’s biggest stars including Maceo Plex, Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones, Tiga, Soul Clap and Art Department alongside more obscure yet still unforgettable material from Andre Kraml, Pier Bucci, Minilogue and Deniz Kurtel. These are the sounds that made Crosstown Rebels the label of the past decade and document some historical moments that have shaped the current musical landscape.

Crosstown Rebels sits at the epicentre of a global underground movement. Formed by Damian Lazarus in 2003, after successful stints as A&R at City Rockers signing the likes of Felix Da Housecat and Tiga and as former music editor for style bible Dazed & Confused, Lazarus created Crosstown Rebels as a platform to not only deliver quality and timeless music but also to launch the careers of many up and coming artists who have gone on to become the most successful in their field.

‘10 Years’ maps the label’s and the artists’ collective journey. Over a decade of dancefloor moments are charted, from some of the earliest output from everyone’s favourite techno maverick Seth Troxler, ´Love Never Sleeps´, to the ‘Summertime’ anthem - the track that shot Jamie Jones into the spotlight, up to the epic ‘Without You’ from the unstoppable duo Art Department. The timeless Mathew Jonson remix of Hiem’s ‘She’s The One’ is featured alongside the debut EP release from Boston duo Soul Clap and early electroclash anthem from Kiki & Silversurfer feat. Captain Comatose, ‘Shake Off’. A new generation of artists such as Francesca Lombardo, Ali Love and Fur Coat point to the future and keep the story moving forward for the label’s output.

 Crosstown Rebels continues to birth many creative offshoots including a film series (Rebel Rave), global events (Get Lost), an apocalyptic festival (Day Zero) and various sublabels such as Rebellion, RebelOne and Crosstown Digital Rebels that house alternative musical whims and threads. Each pioneering outlet continues to take radical new approaches and this reminiscent collection is the first time their musical identity can be digested as a whole. Here’s to the next decade of forward thinking music.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRMCD035
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: Above Board
• Released: Sat Feb 1st, 2014

Tracklisting CD1

01 Amirali - Beautiful World

02 Fur Coat feat. Cari Golden - You And I

03 Ali Love feat. Kali – Emperor

04 Kiki & Silversurfer feat. Captain Comatose – Shake Off

05 André Kraml feat. Schad Privat - Safari

06 Maceo Plex – Can’t Leave You

07 Jamie Jones feat. Ost & Kjex - Summertime

08 Pier Bucci – Hay Consuelo (Samin Remix)

09 Tiga – Pleasure From The Bass (Subb-an Remix)

10 Deniz Kurtel feat. Jada – The L Word

11 N/A Feat Rosina – Fables & Fairytales (Deniz Kurtel Remix)

12 Art Department – Without You

CD2

01 Seth Troxler – Love Never Sleeps

02 Dyed Soundorom feat. Aaron Carl - Naked

03 Guti & Dubshape – Every Cow Has A Bird

04 Russ Yallop – Rock Me

05 Jamie Jones – You!

06 The Royal We - Party Guilt

07 Art Department feat. Soul Clap & Osunlade - We Call Love

08 Maceo Plex - Frisky

09 Jamie Jones – Moan & Groan

10 Deniz Kurtel featuring Guests Of Nature – Yeah

11 Soul Clap – Break 4 Life

CD3

01 Maceo Plex – Vibe Your Love

02 Francesca Lombardo - Sofiel

03 Chic Miniature - Escandalo

04 Mathew Jonson – Dayz

05 Sis – Faces

06 Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia – Far Away (Jennifer Cardini & Shonky Remix)

07 Minilogue - Hitchhikers Choice

08 Inxec vs. Droog – Westbound

09 Jennifer Cardini & Shonky – Tuesday Paranoia

10 Hiem - She’s The One (Mathew Jonson Circles In Time Remix)

Russ Yallop - The Journey (Remixed) (CRM113R)

Back in July, Russ Yallop released the artfully dark and dirty, trippy ‘The Journey’ on Crosstown Rebels, featuring the high and haunting vocals of Aimee Sophia. Now getting the remix treatment by Melokolektiv, the rising French production duo craft a more driving techy groove that keeps the sinister atmosphere of the original but weaves in alternative textures with streaks of acid and melodic bleeps. On the B-side Russ Yallop revisits his original tracks and offers up a full-bodied dub of ‘The Journey’ as well as a wonky tech dub version of the ‘How I Feel feat. Belle’.

Russ Yallop made a come back to production this year with this killer release on Crosstown Rebels and since spent the summer living and playing out in his second home of Ibiza - including a residency at Paradise DC10. Hailing from the North of England, Russ was an integral part of the recent wave of nu-house and continues to grow as an original artist with plenty coming up for 2014. Previous releases have come on Nurvous, Losing Suki and Rebels offshoot Rebellion.


Winning the Beatport Remix contest to rework and release ‘The Journey’ on Crosstown Rebels, Melokolektiv are two French electronic music lovers who have been DJing together for the past 4 years and have lately been taking their inspiration from artists such as Damian Lazarus and Laurent Garnier into the studio. Their productions are aimed squarely at the dancefloor, combining deeper atmospheric elements with a strong notion of groove.


Melokolektiv have released music on labels such as Betoko’s imprint Chilli Mint Music, Loulou Players, Kolombo’s label LouLou Records or Tenampa Records. After this remix for Crosstown Rebels, the duo will be appearing on Claude Monnet´s record label SSOH with a track made in collaboration with Adn. The next will feature on the next compilation of Acumen for Time Has Changed Recordings.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM113R
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: Above Board
• Released: Mon Dec 16th, 2013
• 
  

Tracklist:

A - The Journey (Melokolektiv Remix)

B1 - The Journey (Russ Yallop Dub)

B2 - How I Feel (Russ Yallop Dub)

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Kele Okereke - Heartbreaker (CRM119)

Lead singer of award-winning band Bloc Party and DJ/Producer Kele Okereke has announced a new EP of original productions on Crosstown Rebels in November. The new ‘Heartbreaker EP’ from Kele Okereke features three original tracks and a superb remix by Recondite.

The first track from the EP, eponymous ‘Heartbreaker’ shows Kele’s Garage influences, and features vocals from Bobbie Gordon. ‘God Has A Way’ features old school house chord stabs, more uplifting guest vocals and a driving rhythm, whereas ‘Get Up’ provides a sparser, deeper atmosphere and is the only track to feature Kele himself on vocals. The EP also features a remix of lead single ‘Heartbreaker’ by much respected Berlin based techno artist, Recondite. Kele Okereke's first two solo EPs, under the artist name 'Kele', pushed the envelope of his electronic production standards. 'Heartbreaker' continues to further the dance-floor trajectory introduced on aforementioned 'The Boxer' and 'The Hunter' EP's.

From Bloc Party’s Platinum-selling debut album to Okereke’s guest vocals for artists like The Chemical Brothers, dance music has always been the underlying influence for Kele. Having spent ten years making records in studios working with some of the greatest producers in the world, Kele now feels he knows how to make music that he wants to hear.

TRACK LISTING

1. A1. Heartbreaker (SoundCloud)
2. A2. God Has A Way
3. B1. Heartbreaker (Recondite's Amati Mix)
4. B2. Get Up

Release Date: November 25th, 2013


LINK TO THE TRACKS

Mathew Jonson - Blurry Remixes (CRM118)

A true techno auteur, Mathew Jonson earlier this year released his second solo album, ‘Her Blurry Pictures’ on Crosstown Rebels, encompassing a new evolution in his rhythmically complex and timeless approach over eight fluid and rich compositions. Now soon to drop is a package of unmissable ‘Blurry Remixes’ featuring a trio of first class reworks by Dixon, Tale Of Us and Akufen.


Innervisions boss and Berlin luminary Dixon turns in a storming reimagining of the atmospheric, electronic matrix of ‘Level 7’ - where straight-talking techno does the driving as layers build, get stripped back then steered onto a more melodic path underpinned by a rumbling deep bassline.


 Next up, the unstoppable duo Tale Of Us transport one of the more playful ‘Blurry’ cuts ‘Kissing Your Eyes’ into a brooding dubby sound bed of live sounding drums combined with rippling echoing synth melodies. Berlin based Carmine and Matteo aka Tale Of Us, first rose to prominence on the Visionquest imprint in 2011 and have since released on Life And Death and M_nus.


Glitchy tech meets raw rolling drum beats in Akufen’s ‘Body In Motion’remix. As hypnotic, as you would expect from the Canadian mastermind, Akufen lures you into a trance and keeps you guessing, progressing from dextrous minimal textures to full on fluid jazzy piano interpretations.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM118
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: Above Board
• Released: Mon Nov 25th, 2013

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Ali Love - Another (CRM117)

Ali Love, one half of dance duo Infinity Ink and the voice of the illustrious  Hot Natured, announces his new single ´Another’ on Crosstown Rebels. Ali´s previous single ´Emperor´ featuring Kali picked up significant radio time, with support and Essential New Tune from Pete Tong and on daytime with Sara Cox, coupled with a huge remix from Maceo Plex that´s been heard on dancefloors all summer. Having headlined the dance stage at Glastonburywith Hot Natured and performed at every major festival in Europe with Infinity Ink, Ali´s new single ´Another’ comes highly anticipated.

Co-produced with Steve Dub,  ´Another´ pumps a four to the floor beat with glitchy percussion and slinky synthetic tops with the distinctive soothing and psychedelic sounds of Ali´s vocals. Techno soul at its best. The single comes with remixes from Tuff City Kids (aka Gerd Janson & Phillip Laur) and the inimitable Felix Da Housecat. Tuff City Kids channel Reese, and drive it deeper, whilst Felix Da Housecat smooths things out and turns the emotion dial to 11. It´s quite the package.

Ali is busy putting the finishing touches to next year´s album. ´Another´ is a sign of big things to come.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM117
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: Above Board
• Released: Mon Oct 14th, 2013

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Him_Self_Her - Gone Too Long Feat. Kieran Fowkes (CRM116)

‘Gone Too Long’ from rising duo Him_Self_Her is a bonafide bomb - house with feeling and a massive bassline and killer vocal from Kieran Fowkes. Reinvigorated by Crosstown Rebels for a re-release after it came out on Mexican label Cream Couture last year, this time the infectious original comes backed with remixes from Belgian hero Compuphonic, who injects more bounce, bleeps and emotive melody and the mighty Yousef who’s darker ‘Circus Rework’ is a deep affair of rolling drums and dubby textures.


Dynamic duo Him_Self_Her is the astute combination of Claire and Leon who came together after honing individual skills for many years on their local scene in Leicester. All that it took was one studio session to realise the potency of their union and their genre blending productions are showing no bounds - ranging from deep grooves to disco infused techno. ‘Gone Too Long’ was originally released in 2012 and championed by Pete Tong (Essential New Tune) and supported by the likes of Jamie Jones. Damian Lazarus has now signed the duo and along with this re-release there is more to come on the label and the duo also have their debut album in the works.


One of the youngest DJs on the Belgian DJ circuit, Maxime Firket akaCompuphonic broke onto the international scene with a release on Tiga’s Turbo Recordings. Further releases have dropped on highly acclaimed labels including Modular, Darkroom Dubs, Systematic Recordings, 2020 Vision and Parquet Recordings.

 Yousef is a mainstay of UK house music. With a career spanning over ten years, the heavyweight  DJ / Producer and Promoter founded Circus Recordings and events and has appeared on some of the most revered and respected labels in the business - Carl Cox’s Intec, Nick Curly’s Cecille, Saved and of course Sven Vath’s Cocoon Recordings - which released ‘Come Home’, Yousef’s stunning Piece de Resistance.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM116
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: Above Board
• Released: Mon Oct 14th, 2013

LINK TO THE TRACKS