Nadia Ali & Starkillers & Alex Kenji - Pressure[Spinnin']

                           
I didn't like Nadia Ali's performance at Sunburn because it felt like, I dunno, a pop concert. But there's no doubt she's got a really nice voice and it adds a beautiful vibe to a track. Sick percussion on this, typical Starkillers(Nick Terranova) style(remember Cantina?), supplemented with Nadia's vocals and Alex Kenji's oh so minimal feel. The thing is, this track could've exploded after the build up with the piano chords getting more prominent, but the focus stays on the drums and the energy is brought back to where it was, typically Alex's style. Bouncy as hell, this one !

I'm going to try and feature more peaktime tunes since they are ignored quite a bit on the blog, as pointed out by a friend. I can't update the jukebox playlist, Mixpod.com is getting anal about rights violation blah blah. I'm on the lookout for other players.
Release Date : 15-02-2011 | Set Fit : Getting There, Peaktime, Finish | Time of the Day :
Night
    

Claire Ripley - Reuben Von Pueben[1trax]

               
Claire Ripley just dished out a stellar EP on 1trax. One half of the compilation, Reuben Von Pueben(I don't know where that name came from) has a swingy tech house groove with funk thrown in, random voice samples fade in and out(one of them says "Web Central is....just Google it and you'll know"), while dub chords play along, which is the magic really, trying to fuse something so edgy with warmth. Can't avoid shaking to this. Part of the Ego's EP, which also features, well, Ego's.
         
Release Date : 31-01-2011 | Set Fit : Warmup, Getting There | Time of the Day : Late Afternoon, Early Evening

Hypnotic Duo - Lonely People[Mistiquemusic]

                  

The younger generation has started ruling the scene with artists like Nicolas Jaar, Maya Jane Coles, whose productions are receiving worldwide acceptance. Joining the bandwagon, Marius Paplauskas and Justinas Gritenas aka Hypnotic Duo dish out a progressive house monster on Mistique Music. There are some tracks that don't really need all the fancy antics, just the essential elements, to make it big. This tune's high pitched notes playing along does the magic. Part of the Lonely People EP, which features remixes from Breeze & Quadrat, Deep in  Calm, MSZ and Wav-E.

                     

Release Date : 10-01-2011 | Set Fit : Warmup, Getting There | Time of the Day : Late Afternoon, Early Evening 

Phil Kieran - Skyhook 1[Phil Kieran Recordings]

                         
Yeaaaaaaaaaaahhh ! I finally ID'ed one of the most insane techno tracks ever made and I've been digging this one for a long long loooong time. First heard it on DJ Bluesky's(Sandeep) set Nocturnal Therapy back in 2007. I couldn't find the tracklist so I just played the set over and over again to hear this banger of a tune. Phil Kieran released it on Novamute earlier on, but he decided to re-release it on his very own Phil Kieran Recordings. So much tension on this one, minimal yet melodically inclined with tons of glitch and atmospherics thrown in. Eclectic electronic is the best way to describe this. Part of the  Skyhook EP, which features two other versions of the same plus remixes by Adam Beyer & Jesper Dahlback, Green Velvet, Scuba, SCB and an ambient take by Ricardo Tobar. Do not ignore this !
                   
Release Date : 15-11-2010 | Set Fit : Warmup, Getting There, Peaktime | Time of the Day : Late Afternoon, Night, Late Night

Butch - Soul Motion[Bouq]

                         
German-Turkish, now that's a combination you don't find everywhere. Bülent Gürler a.k.a. Butch has been dominating the techno scene for a while now, pushing a loopy-techno sound that can get very annoying but so addictive at the same time. And this I can say from experience, from when Greg Pidcock dropped Joy at Sunburn 09', I didn't like the tune one bit, but once that groove set in, it felt just right. Joy has three versions now, that's how popular it got, not to forget his massive takes on Daso & Pawas' El Paso, Bouq Family & Friends' Jabloko and more recently, Chakra which drove Indian fans mad. The track featured, takes time to build up, he definitely wants you to appreciate the beauty of repetition, followed by this really addictive guitar hook that comes on towards the breakdown, that boosts the vibe of the track ten fold. Acquired taste, just like sushi. Part of the Eyes Wide Open album. 
                       
  Release Date : 19-11-2010 | Set Fit : Getting There | Time of the Day : Late Afternoon, Early Evening

Julian Marazuela - Guanchinet(Peter Martin Dub Mix)[Lowbit]

Peter Martin, you might remember him from all those insane productions with Derek Howell, provides a dub remix on Julian Marazuela's production. Starts off slow, creating an atmosphere for what's to come, with these really sweet high pitched mids that play along during the buildup, which follows with a massive breakdown and the entire thing turns into a dancefloor monster afterwards. Really been digging this lately, fresh stuff ! Part of Guanchinet EP, which includes the original mix, a remix by Peter Martin, a remix by Bambook & Ollie V and another original by Julian, Hotel California.
Julian Marazuela - Guanchinet EP by Lowbit Records
Release Date : 11-11-2010 | Set Fit : Warmup, Getting There | Time of the Day : Late Afternoon, Early Evening

C-Rock & Bredd Johnson - Bassmatic(Kruse & Nuernberg Remix)[Stir 15]

                                  
Florian Kruse & Nils Nuernberg don't fail to surprise us with their subtle yet effective sounds on C-Rock & Bredd Johnson's Bassmatic. The breakdown is short and simple but what leads to it and follows, is the beauty of the track. Part of the Bassmatic EP, which includes the original mix and a remix by Marc Poppcke, which is superb too.
                        
                        Release Date : 15-11-2010 | Set Fit : Getting There | Time of the Day : Evening