Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world The techno and deep house connoisseurs amongst you will no doubt already be familiar with the name Rennie Foster. BY JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world The thing about house music is that you can have all the technical expertise in the world yet only make songs which are tepid and limp. Without heart and soul any electronic track is nothing more than a succession of bleeps and beats. Two people who understand this concept all too well are Fabrizio Mammarella and Phillip Lauer. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world After a summer filled with festivals, the act of listening to music in the sanctuary of your own home can appear a little strange. For a while every summer I briefly conclude that the best way to appreciate the bands or DJs that you love is while standing in a mud strewn field with ten thousand other people while the rain lashes down on your head. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world This week I have taken it upon myself to highlight, in no particular order, some of the albums released in the first half of 2017 which have forced me to crack a smile, and convinced me that getting out of bed isn’t a complete waste of time. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Since launching in 1998 Cologne label Kompakt have proven themselves masters of melody-rich techno, dance floor bangers, and pop-tinged house. Yet, as the imprint’s revered Pop Ambient series of albums attests, they are often at their very best when they lessen the pace. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world It’s a shame how difficult it is to buy a 12-inch single these days. Just go into your local HMV or Saturn and try to purchase one, it’s harder than Batman in a bad mood. Not every town or city has a specialist dance music store willing to take a chance and stock singles, and while the chains have largely expanded their vinyl sections they concentrate on albums rather than short, sharp bursts of joy. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Now that festival season is firmly upon us it can be hard to find music prepared to take chances, experiment, or which has a sense of emotional depth. Short DJ sets, unimaginative selectors, and impatient crowds mean that subtlety and nuance can be overlooked in the search for the next chant-a-long, or hands in the air anthem. This week I will be highlighting some music you are unlikely to hear at Space or Glastonbury, but which will challenge you and light up your day. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Good music should please the listener, cozying up to them like an old friend. Great music should challenge our prejudices, taking us down avenues and through landscapes which, alone, we would fear to tread. In this week’s article I will be reviewing some new music which challenges perceptions, gets us dancing, and will, hopefully, linger long in the mind. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Fans of graceful soundscapes and bittersweet electronica are probably already familiar with the name Mario Hammer And The Lonely Robot. 2015’s L’esprit De L’escalier for Cologne label Traum was a cerebral and mesmerising journey into the soul. With the highest of production values, and an open-hearted emotional core, its thirteen tracks of soft-focus ambiance were, and still are, a rare treat for the ears. By JOHN BITTLES
Music | Bittles’ Magazine: The music column from the end of the world Nothing stands still. Except for my good friend Stand Still Jones of course, but that’s another story. This is why I have decided to re-jig my singles reviews. Once a month, (or whenever I can be bothered) I will be highlighting some of the records which have been making me go all gooey-eyed, or demanding repeated plays. Most will be new, some will be old. Hopefully, everything included will raise a cheer. A review by JOHN BITTLES