These are the words you first read on Evan Bartholomew aka Bluetech’s website.

 

Evan has been at the forefront of the IDM movement since releasing his first album Prima Materia in 2003. Since then he has developed into many musical directions, and produced a plethora of brilliant ambient, downtempo, dub, idm, dubtech, minimal and tech house releases as Bluetech, Evan Bartholomew and Evan Marc, on numerous labels.

 

I was nicely surprised by Evan’s new Bluetech album Phoenix Rising. This release clearly demonstrates the rich maturing of Evan’s style & taste, a ripening of delicious musical fruits so it seems.

 

Phoenix Rising still retains Bluetech’s intelligent signature sound, but has a slightly more mature and funkier undercurrent to his previous releases. Sophisticated, clean, intricately constructed, meticulous and spacious…with dashes of fat squelchy basslines, cheeky squeaky melodies, flamboyant sound swirls, orchestral treats, and smooth rolling beats. Each track is unique to the next, making this a fine array of diverse examples of Evan’s musical genius.

 

The best treats on the menu for me were the orchestral theme in “Kingdom of the Blind”, the groove in “The Phoenix Rising” and the surprising jazziness of “Invocation-The Fire Within”. But Track 2 on the album entitled “What the Night Reveals” is the track for me, I’m hooked on its low down dirty slow and squelchy bassline and uplifting flute melodies. Get your hands on this album, it’s Bluetech’s best release yet.

 

To purchase and for more info go to: www.bluetechonline.com

 

Review by Becca Dakini (Dj Dakini – Melbourne, Australia)

Friday 28th November 2008

 

FEATURED ON www.fluid-radio.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are a fan of intelligent & delicately glitched-out IDM laced with melodic oscillating rhythms & slightly industrial crunchy sounds & textures, then I recommend you pay close attention to Halogen’s first EP release “Recycled Broadcasts”, available via free download from November 16th from www.maternitymedia.co.uk

 

This is an impressive first release from Halogen aka Adam Janota-Bzowski, and I’m keen to hear what else is in store from this talented artist. The unique theme to this release is human communication, and Adam has demonstrated this by intrinsically layering old 50’s radio broadcast samples & human voices throughout the EP. This gives his sound a unique & original quality, as you find yourself listening to flawlessly produced cutting edge electronic sounds with a familiar 50s feel carefully woven through – quite an interesting & original combination that works brilliantly.

 

Very carefully crafted & tweaked, each track on the EP has a different feel to it, and all are of high quality & production. No filler here, only refined sonic gems. Glitch & IDM fans everywhere will delight in Halogen’s finely tuned ear. The highlight of Recycled Broadcasts for me is the second track on the EP entitled “Manilla“. Tantalizing whirrs, tripglitched themes, finely cutup scratching, sultry swinging blues samples and a big beat undercurrent contained within this track, inspire you to want to strut your stuff in front of a speaker stack in a fur coat with champagne and a whimsical smile.

 

Get your hands on this EP – you know what they say – the best things in life are for free…

 

Download from www.maternitymedia.com

 

Reviewed by Becca Dakini (Dj Dakini, Melbourne - Australia)

Friday, 21st November 2008

 

FEATURED ON www.fluid-radio.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember when I first heard Solar Fields’ sound a few years ago. I was enraptured by his deep epic rich sonic textures, and immediately sought out everything he had ever produced so I could start spinning his sounds into my sets. The man behind the music is Magnus Birgersson. Based in Sweden, this visionary sound artist releases on the distinguished French ambient label Ultimae Records (www.ultimae.com). His album “Leaving Home” released in 2005 is still one of my all time favourite releases, and is a timeless work of aural beauty and brilliance that will never date nor tire. Nothing quite matches this producer’s ability to ease you into a sonic space that is undulating, deep, haunting, beautiful, cathartic and epic. Naturally, I was honoured to review his latest mix especially for Fluid Radio, set to air at 7pm on Sunday 9th November.

 

 

This mix is a perfect example of Magnus’ diversity when it comes to sound, and demonstrates his natural talent for taking the listener on a deep inner sonic journey. His deep hypnotic heartbeat grooves, heart-bursting melodic epic crescendos, ethereal bass-filled themes & wide haunting spacious sonic tapestries, ensure this mix will please even the most critical listener. Flawlessly mixed, this recording features quite a few of his original signature tracks that have been delicately tweaked, layered and remixed, quite the treat for fans old and new. Dotted amongst the familiar soothing sounds you will discover a few new tasty tracks – maybe a preview of an upcoming release (fingers crossed!). The journey progresses from deep bass heavy intelligently layered ethereal realms into a crescendo of up-tempo hypnotic beats, moving back smoothly into the warm welcoming ambient sound-realm that Solar Fields is famous for. Don’t miss this delicious mix from one of today’s most talented maestros within the ambient realms…

 

For more on Solar Fields, go to www.solarfields.com

 

Reviewed by Becca Dakini (Dj Dakini, Melbourne - Australia)

Monday, 10th November 2008

 

FEATURED ON www.fluid-radio.co.uk