Zone Magazine Issue 011 - Paul Oakenfold

label focus
18-09 Records is a fantastic
house & techno label based in
Scotland. They have released
material from the likes of FAKE SELF,
ACID AJ, Patrick J, Ryky and label
owner David Grant. What’s
remarkable about this label their
versatility and the consistency of
their output whether tech house,
techno or straight up deep house
tracks. Recently they got a bit of an
image update with a fresh new logo,
artwork and website, and their next
few releases will be taking them into
darker territory with more straight up
techno releases scheduled.
Top 5 Releases:
Patrick J – Locked Out EP
Patrick J returns to 18-09 with his first
EP since May, providing three superb tech
house variants on the 'Locked Out EP' that
were well worth the wait.
Falling is an excellent intro track to the
EP. Jackin beats and deeper sounds is on
order with this track with stabs that hark
back to that 90's garage house sound.
Let's Do It is an all round deeper sound to
Patrick's usual sound, the type of track
you would expect to hear at the after
party of a main techno event. Droning
basslines combine well with well placed
percussion to produce a track worthy of a
place on most set lists.
Keep On is the all round track that
encompasses the sound of many genres.
Deep house bass coupled with jackin
grooves and a tech arrnagement makes
this track the pick of the bunch.
Ryky – On Right Now
After the success of his previous EP in
2015, the Move It EP, Ryky returns to
18-09 with this big and bashy tech
houser, On Right Now. Stand out from the
track is the subtle sampling of Ellis D - My
Loleatta.
Original Mix is a proper tech house
track, a bassline that gets you right in the
core and shuffling percussion that will
move your body. Supplemented with
warm pads and that subtle sample, the
original mix is a perfect track for house,
tech house or techno sets.
Graeme Vass' remix sets more of an
early night tone and strips the original
mix bac to a more house orientated track
that would sit well as a builder track.
Piano rolls are the order of the day with
this remix and compliments the original
mix well.
Ryky provides a secondary mix to his
original with the Ghetto Mix which harks
back to that 90s house sound that is
proving to be a winning formula just now.
Thumping kick drums, 808 and 909
percussion and sweeping pads combine to
make this remix another cracking take on
the original.
ACID AJ – I Don’t Know
Acid AJ returns to 18-09 with the follow
up to Housewives on Acid with this huge
tech house smasher, I Don't Know.
Original Mix plays true to Acid AJ's
signatue sound of solid bass coupled with
hard hitting perussion and very catchy
vocals which act as the hook of the track.
An excellent weapon for late night tech
house sets or early night techno sets.
Matt McLarrie is on remix duties and he
comes highly rated with previous works
being on Criminal Hype, Younan and King
Street and support on his tracks come
from Kerri Chandler, Steve Lawler and
Mihalis Safras. Matt's remixes takes the
harder sound off the original mix whilst
maintaining that tech house edge.
FAKE SELF – Chaos In Europe
Man of the moment, Fake Self, returns
to 18-09 with his first full release on the
label after providing the remix that
propelled previous 18-09 Rokaman - Get
Up to the number one spot of the
Trackitdown Tech House Chart.
The aptly titled Chaos in Europe, is a
no nonsense tech house track that would
sound relevant within any house set. A
basic but effective bassline is layered
underneath stabbing synths, shuffling
percussion and a vocal loop that breaks
free from being 'just another house track'.
Ryky – Underground Perspective
Returning to 18-09 with the follow up
to his number one track, On Right Now,
comes Ryky with this tech stomper,
Underground Perspective.
Sampling an interview from Detroit
techno legend Carl Craig discussing his
music, the original provides a top slice of
tech house in, what is fast becoming,
Ryky's signature sound. Grooving
percussion, stomach trembling bass line
and hint of acid synths, this track is sure
to be another smash for Ryky.
Remixes come from Alex Descarada,
head of CRAFT Underground Records, with
his first release on 18-09, that strips the
original back to a more minimal tech
sound whilst making full use of the vocals.
Fake Self completes the package with a
more upbeat tech sound remix that would
suit both house and tech sets.
Connect:
www.facebook.com/1809records/
Words By Conor McEvoy
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 45