June album roundup

June album roundup

1 July, 2010 | 8.10AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: album of the week, album roundup, ben klock, blue six, efdemin, gorge, ital tek, james holden, kode9, mathew jonson, mr. g, netsky, nobody, oneohtrix point never, onra, pier bucci, reboot, robyn

Every month, dozens of great artist albums get released on Beatport, but they can often get lost in the shuffle of tracks and EPs. We single out some of our favorites for the Album of the Week, but that barely scratches the surface.

To help you keep up with the best in Beatport’s catalog, here’s a roundup of some of the key full-lengths that came out in June, including albums from Efdemin, Gorge, James Holden, Kode9, and more.

Blue Six, ‘Noesis’ [Naked Music]

Naked Music staples Blue Six are back with their first album in three years, and they sound as sultry as ever.

Pier Bucci, ‘Amigo’ [Maruca]

Chile’s Pier Bucci presents the followup to his 2005 album ‘Familia’, this time on his own Maruca imprint. Ranging from downtempo electronics to pert tech-house, it’s full of organic rhythms and textures.

Efdemin, ‘Chicago’ [Dial Records]

Three years (and many singles) after his self-titled debut album, Berlin’s Efdemin is back on Dial Records with ‘Chicago’, taking his interpretation of house music well beyond what the title suggests. Stunning.

Gorge, ‘Mood’ [8bit]

8bit’s Gorge drops a deeply satisfying collection of deep house and tech house: it’s a Mannheim steamroller straight to the heart of the dance floor.

James Holden, ‘DJ-Kicks’ [K7]

Border Community’s James Holden drops what’s likely to be one of the year’s finest DJ mixes, with the likes of James Ruskin and Legowelt rubbing up against leftfield types like Caribou and Lucky Dragons. Sensual, psychedelic, and frankly stunning.

Ital Tek, ‘Midnight Colour’ [Planet Mu]

Drawing from dubstep, leftfield funk, and electronica, Brighton’s Ital Tek comes up with a rich, absorbing journey for the senses.

Mathew Jonson, ‘Agents of Time’ [Wagon Repair]

Hard to believe that this is Mathew Jonson’s first solo album, but it is. Darker and more varied than his most recent album with Cobblestone Jazz, it runs from tech house to hip-hop-influenced downbeat, and it’s brimming with Jonson’s passion and personality.

Ben Klock, ‘Berghain 04’ [Ostgut Ton]

Rather than jackhammering his way to your heart, Berghain resident Ben Klock is unusually restrained here, moving from ambient techno to the far edges of four-to-the-floor in one long, thrilling arc.

Kode9, ‘DJ-Kicks’ [K7]

The Hyperdub main man Kode9 offers his state-of-the-art treatise on bass culture, pulling together dubstep, grime, and U.K. funky into a powerful, celebratory statement.

Mr. G, ‘Still Here (Get On Down)’ [Rekids]

The veteran DJ and producer Mr. G comes correct with a stellar album for Radio Slave’s Rekids label: it’s raw, analog-infused tech house as only he can do.

Netsky, ‘Netsky’ [Hospital Records]

Netsky’s debut album pulls out all the stops with rushing beats, rich harmonic passages, and cleverly processed vocals. From down-low wobblers to playful synth workouts, it’s as soulful as it is varied.

Nobody, ‘One For All Without Hesitation’ [Alpha Pup]

The LA beatmaker extraordinaire fuses crisp breaks, freaky keys, and syrupy AutoTune on this adventurous foray to the outer limits of hip-hop.

Oneohtrix Point Never, ‘Returnal’ [Editions Mego]

Appearing on Editions Mego, Brooklyn’s Oneohtrix Point Never sets a new standard for kosmische synthesizer music. It’s ambient on steroids.

Onra, ‘Long Distance’ [All City Dublin]

Fans of Flying Lotus, Dâm-Funk, and Outkast won’t want to miss this fantastic longplayer from Parisian beat-freak Onra, out on the ever-on-point Dublin All City label.

Reboot, ‘Shunyata’ [Cadenza]

The Cadenza sound—lush, rippling, trippy, and above all groovy—is alive and well on Reboot’s first album. Even five years ago, who would have believed that Ibiza would ever sound like this?

Robyn, ‘Body Talk Part 1’ [Konichiwa]

Even if you don’t think you’re a fan of electro-pop, give Sweden’s Robyn a chance: from the Green Velvet-inspired ‘Don’t F**king Tell Me What To Do’ to the Royksopp-produced ‘None of Dem’, it’s a spirited tour-de-force from an artist determined to do things on her own terms.

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