For his new EP, ‘Undercover', Items & Things co-founder Marc Houle jumps in his time machine and heads back in time. Destination Chicago, 1987, and a face to face with Master C&J exploring the mysterious power of plunging basslines and moody synths. On remix duties Berlin based Miro Pajic sneaks in charting a decidedly bleepier course while Bruno Pronsato delivers his signature 'romantic techno' sound.
 
There’s no way back and Marc launches the fist bars of ‘Undercover’ with just a bouncy kick and a vintage ‘house’ bassline. With reverb in full effect the drums and hi-hats find their own space and time. Then, if the synths that roll in aren’t mysterious enough for you, the pillow talk vocals will be. The end of each line, spoken with a certain sense of agitation, is covered by chords that ride, all night long. The revelation is for your imagination but you might not want to be ‘Under Covers’ with this guy.   
 
Next up, Miro takes the dirty sheets and chucks them in the washing machine for a good old fashioned rinse and spin. This mix creeps along all bubbles, pops, tick tocks and rim shots. Snare rolls glide in and out of time only to snap back for a sub-bass drop or a little heavy breathing. What more can you ask for?
 
Bruno’s ‘Electric Blanket Dub’ warms things up quite nicely with its intricate, heady take on the original. Bringing a subtle balance to the three mixes with vaguely organic tones, natural rhythms and spontaneous drum fills, Mr. Pronsato comes through in full on a cold Berlin night.
 
The final track, ‘Triple E’, is an underground goodie brandishing a relentless kick and enough swing to make Chancellor Merkel do the Jitterbug. Combine sharp snares, a muted bass warble and nonsensical vocal snips panning from side to side and you have the perfect late night jack track or pump priming party starter.
   
True to the ‘no rules’ vision laid out by Marc, Magda and Troy, this new edition of ‘Items & Things’ is weird and wonderful with more bounce to the ounce.


http://www.iheartitems.com

BUY HERE: BEATPORT

The 15th digital release on Patrick Bateman’s always reliable Tic Tac Toe is from Berlin based Miro Pajic and comes backed with some high profile remixes from Alexi Delano and Jussi-Pekka. Pajic is someone who has always explored a romantic gloom and mathematic sense of rhythm through his stripped back techno releases on labels like Lazerslut, Klickhaus and Harthouse, and for that reason has always garnered much support from the likes of Troy Pierce, Adam Beyer, Magda and many more similar artists: happily, this excellent new EP is likely to do exactly the same.
Opener “Moan” pairs weirded-out vocals with eerie samples, which swirl and swoop about the darkened landscapes depicted by Pajic. It’s warm, atmospheric minimal techno with a deeply embed groove which gets you, and keeps you, dancing as various claps and percussive hits come in and out.

“Dark Butterfly” is the other original cut and is more detailed than the first. Here the drums drop from a greater height and the pace is more upright, but just as many deft production details linger in the lovely techno spaces that remain.
The first remix comes from Swede Alexi Delano who has made big waves with releases on seminal labels like Plus 8 and Clink. This new school techno talent makes “Moans” into a wonky wig-out tune perfect for the dead of night. His synth sounds are globular and suggestive as the original’s vocal haunts the track from start to finish.
Closing out what is another connoisseur selection of sleek minimal techno, rising star Jussi-Pekka transforms “Dark Butterfly” into an acidic, gurgling tech house monster that bides its time to build to a tense peak. The well defined beats and shiny FX are mangled into a slippery arrangement which never sits still: one for the afterparty, for sure…


www.tictactoe-records.com


BUY HERE: Beatport

According to the calendar of the Mayas, our planet will end this year, which is hopefully an imprecise forecast. Nevertheless Miro starts his 2012 with an apocalyptic sounding and 29th state-of-the-art release on Lazerslut. The title track Zombie Beauty floats with a funked up, filthy disco beat. Typical for Miro, it melds with a heavy leading bass synth which reminds of Carpenter style late 70's sci-fi horror movies. To cover the spectrum, he rounds out the track with doomy bleep glides, other obscure vintage sounding synth chords and his perfectionist atmospheric colors from outer space.

Falling Love Birds is far from a romantic or sad love song in its classic sense.This track rather fits a 2012 Maya-vision soundtrack from every aspect. Unsurpassable romantic gloom masterly assembled to an ultimate dance tune to hell. Miro's passion for accurate, emotional expression peaks at levels barely heard by other artists in this genre. Love it or loathe it - There's no in-between!

Release Date:
27/01/2012 (Beatport excl.)
10/01/2012 (all other shops)

BUY HERE: Beatport