TURNTABLE LAB

Carte Blanche
White Man On The Moon (w/ FREE MP3 Download) EP

house bangers from Mehdi/Riton

Comprising of the super team of DJ Mehdi (RIP) and Riton, Carte Blanche can do no wrong. You take two of best DJ's/Producers around and let them go nuts with their fetish for old school house grooves and what do you get? Banging-ass tracks! So much heat on this White Man On The Moon EP, it's like "damn". There's a track for every situation here. Check the vocal flip of "House That Jack Built" and insane piano work for "Jack On The Moon(1)", the chuggy electro groove on "Bronx Brooklyn Queens(2)" and the pop/dance power of "With You(3)" featuring Alexis Taylor (who sounds strikingly similar to Hot Chip). Epic dancefloor material. Recommended!
reviewed by the Commish

file under:
new electro + electro rock + rave / vinyl with free mp3 / new electro / electro rock / rave

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DJ Mehdi
Lucky Boy LP

debut full length from funky french producer/dj

DJ Mehdi already impressed us with his Chromeo-featuring, velvet rope-dissecting single "I Am Somebody(1)," but Lucky Boy shows the man to be a far more diverse producer than that track would've suggested. The woefully short "Signatune(2)" sounds like an intro for the best song that Daft Punk never made, but falls away after just a minute. (DJs, get to work!) "Pony Rocking(3)" not only features bumping drums and a fuzzy electro bassline, but also Uffie's producer/boyfriend and Ed Banger labelmate Feadz on the distorted chipmunk old school flow. Mehdi's multi-talented wifey (and longtime Alison Tara favorite!) Fafi shows up on "Lucky Boy(4)," which sounds like Portishead on Prozac (or something). "Hot-O-Momo(5)" features Xanax and comes closest to reproducing the vintage feel of "I Am Somebody" except more of a lost Prince track than a lost Chromeo joint. 14 tracks; 47 minutes.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related / new electro / electro rock / rave

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DJ Mehdi
Lucky Girl (Thomas Bangalter & Surkin) EP

epic french house track edited by half of Daft Punk

The cover says Lucky Girl EP, but it should really be a single showcasing Thomas Bangalter's new edit of DJ Mehdi's "Signatune(1)," a seriously hot track from the Lucky Boy LP with a tragic running time of just one minute. The co-founder of Daft Punk (and godfather of this whole new Parisian sound) works this thing out to playable length (at least 6 minutes) and adds huge drums... in effect turning it into a Daft Punk track. And who could complain about that? This shit is awesome. Wifey Fafi sings the synth-driven, off-kilter "Lucky Girl(2)," and it's awfully cute, exactly like an audio version of one of her drawings. Outlines turn in a jazzy piano remix(3) and Institubes' Surkin freaks it into a suitably squiggly French house jam(4). Recommended.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related / new electro / electro rock / rave

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Justice
Audio, Video, Disco / Helix 12"

rock-leaning single from Justice

The second single from Justice's sophomore full-length, "Audio, Video, Disco(1)" showcases the Parisian duo's foray into 70s arena/prog rock. Guitar riffs and dope chord progressions drive the song instead of crunchy drums and disco baselines, a refreshing and welcome move. The heavy rock thing continues in "Helix(2)," but the track leans slightly more toward what we're used to hearing from Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay - electro-rock-disco - and we're not complaining.
reviewed by nakinboots

file under:
rock + new wave + 80/90s / new rock / ed banger + institubes + related / new disco / cosmic / edits / and more

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Justice
D.A.N.C.E. Remixes (MSTRKRFT & Alan Braxe) 12"

classic electro banger w/ quality remixes

The biggest single of the year (as far as Lab's concerned) finally gets the proper remix treatment, plus a new version from Justice themselves. Alan Braxe & Fred Falke's remix(1) stands above the rest, chock full of their trademark lush synths which somehow make anything they remix sound floating and awesome. MSTRKRFT's remix(2) is pretty nasty too, but Justice's new "live" version(3) outshines it in terms of pure dirty electro-ness. Jackson & His Computer Band's "J.A.H.C.B.(4)" won't be burning down any dancefloors, but it's definitely the most inventive and epic take I've heard on this track.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related / new electro / electro rock / rave

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Mr. Flash
Blood Sweat & Tears 12"

cinematic beats, boogie, disco, and electro

Mr. Flash throws us a mixed bag with the Blood Sweat & Tears EP and really shows off his versatility when it comes to producing different styles. Of course most would associate Ed Banger with the aggressive electro style they built their name upon and Flash does that easy (check "Flesh(1)"). But he really starts to shine when he moves away from all the square waves and into more disco freak rock mode on "Motorcycle Boy(2)" and the melodic boogie vibe of "Powerlight(3)." You also get the cool ethnic beats of "Couscous(4)" (on some Punjabi MC styles) plus the cinematic goodness of "Domino A & B(5)." Cool pic sleeve too, by So-Me of course (who else?).
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
new electro + electro rock + rave / new electro / electro rock / rave

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Sebastian
Motor Momy Army 12"

hard french electro

Another electro-charged release from Ed Banger's Sebastian. As with most of the French label's releases, "Motor" comes with a sleek cover by So-Me and is pressed with maximum levels on thick, import vinyl. The track itself kills it with more fist pumping, head banging, drug-taking, noisy electro for that ass. With all the aggressive crunchy bass, epic breakdowns, and well timed bleepery, fans of Boys Noize, Justice and ZZT will definitely appreciate. Careful with this one though - it has a very short fuse! Once you drop it, step back and get ready for mayhem. On the flip, you'll find the easier-to-digest funky electro sounds of "Momy(2)" and "Army(3)." The disco sample on "Momy" is pure gold and Sebastian freaks it hard. Slap bass, electro bass and well chopped loops all get together for the party. Also watch for the Italo-like breakdown at the end. It totally raises the intensity of the track, before dropping you into more fist pumping grooves. It's also my favorite on the wax. "Army" takes the vibe into darker realms with tense chords and freaky vocal chops. Definitely, different but signature Sebastian and a cool way to tie up the single.
reviewed by C'mish

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related / new electro / electro rock / rave

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Squarepusher
Cryptic Motion (Mr. Oizo Remix) 12"

modern funk and electro house from two big artists

Whoa, Warp Records and Ed Banger team up for this funky bit of downtempo from none other than Squarepusher. "Cryptic Motion(1)" almost sounds like a Dam-Funk track, with a groovy vintage bass line and some heavily synthesized vocals. Mr. Oizo(2) takes the track in a whole different direction, molding the original elements into a glitchy bit of electro house. Fans of either artist should love this one, recommended.
reviewed by Hires

file under:
downtempo + electronic - recommended / downtempo + electronic - vinyl / ed banger + institubes + related / downtempo + electronic - all / and more

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