Stil vor Talent Releases
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SVT 073CD Dapayk & Padberg – Sweet Nothings
Opposites attract: that’s perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when listening to Niklas Worgt and Eva Padberg’s new album, Sweet Nothings. The pair, better known as Dapayk & Padberg, join the Stil vor Talent family for their third full-length effort, a natural decision after the success of Dapayk’s recent The Little Things You Do and Let Go EPs. Similar to their previous LP oeuvre, as well as Dapayk’s solo work, one is simply astonished by the diversity, intertextuality, coherence and playfulness of the end result, something that must be attributed to the experienced duo’s wide-ranging set of influences. Work on the LP commenced two years ago and stretched across several continents. From the beach on Bali, via Miami, Los Angeles, Berlin and a ski chalet in the Austrian Alps, stunning and remote locations were to be the spectacular backdrop for Dapayk & Padberg’s creative process. Thus, one encounters soft and harsh sound textures, dark and light images, sonic euphoria and sadness as well as lyrics of love and loss throughout the tour de force that is Sweet Nothings.
Things kick off with the trippy ‘Too Lazy’, a brooding afterhours number, which is equal parts paranoid and mesmerising as a wonky bass vibrates under dubbed out pads, eerie synths and vocal whispers. A bold move by Dapayk & Padberg as artists of lesser confidence might have opted for a lighter opener. Next, ‘Play’ immediately delivers the antidote however, reversing the evening’s proceedings back to the peak time. A housey beat pushes through muffled crowd noises and is backed up by a vocal repeatedly urging us to ‘play it out / play it loud’. The real strike of genius is the quirky piano here, which wouldn’t be out of place on Berlin’s most notorious dancefloor. On title track ‘Sweet Nothings’, Dapayk & Padberg’s sound takes another turn, presenting us with a deep but forceful groover, whose distorted high-hats and trancey synth stabs create a vibe both euphoric and weirdly subdued. The lyrics, moreover, emphasise the duality at the core of the album as Padberg ponders ‘you’re good for me – you’re bad for me’.
Moving on, ‘Fluffy Clouds’ does quite the opposite to what its title suggests – rather than being a soft little piece, we are treated to big-room techno fodder à la Berghain. A skeletal framework of heavy kicks, dark pads, white noise and dense metallics works relentlessly underneath a cold spoken word, proclaiming ‘not human, not animal – just a body in motion’. Machine funk par excellence. Next up, ‘Endless Game’ leaves the four by four rhythm behind in favour of a broken beat structure. A shuddering bass and affectless vocal reminds of The Knife’s wonderfully weird moments, which is always a good thing. ‘The Sun Came Up’ rounds off the mechanical triplet with a pumping beat and robotic vocals, while a progressive synth lead helps along the track’s love lyrics, turning this into a truly stunning moment at the album’s heart.
With the sharp glockenspiel and old-school hip-hop beat of ‘Razorskit’, Dapayk & Padberg crafted a short interlude to cleanse the palate, before the gear is shifted once more on ‘Berlin Summer Nights’. Anthem alert: classic rave sounds of epic proportions glide through an arrangement of bouncy beats, crisp percussive work and hopeful vocals until a powerful breakdown delivers the hands-in-the-air moment. Continuing seamlessly, the vocals on ‘Take These Scissors’ again nod to Karin Dreijer Andersson, which is further underpinned by the playful and airy arrangement of weird sounds that bare an Asian twist.
Showing another of the duo’s many facets, ‘Backyard’ enchants thanks to mystical lyrics sung beautifully over a deep quasi-dubstep structure. Marking Sweet Nothings final wind down, the atmospheric song shines through intricately crafted fragility and is the perfect contrast to the previous two tracks. ‘Continental Drift’ is similarly confident as Padberg’s sexy vocals compliment a slow, fat beat and progressive pads. Finishing off the LP, ‘Driveby Beauty’ offers a final surprise by speeding things up once more: ambient soundscapes float over organic beats, while classic vocal house motifs are left to work their magic effortlessly. All that is left once the last notes play out, is an intense longing for more, as one realises how deeply emotive and versatile a journey Dapayk & Padberg have blessed us with.
Dapayk & Padberg – Too Lazy Dapayk & Padberg – Play Dapayk & Padberg – Sweet Nothings Dapayk & Padberg – Fluffy Cloud Dapayk & Padberg – Endless Games Dapayk & Padberg – The Sun Came Up Dapayk & Padberg – Razorskit Dapayk & Padberg – Berlin Summer Nights Dapayk & Padberg – Take These Scissors Dapayk & Padberg – Backyard Dapayk & Padberg – Continental Drift Dapayk & Padberg – Driveby Beauty -
SVT 072 Kellerkind – Backflash
'Backflash' – as the title of Kellerkind's new EP on Stil vor Talent rightly suggests – is a full-blown blast from the past that utilises 80s aesthetics in order to craft a wonderfully contemporary EP much in vain of the en vogue sound of 2011: slow, forceful goovers with basslines so big, they might just crush you. Nothing less was to be expected of the charismatic Swiss producer Marco Biagini who has already proven his wide-ranging understanding of house music with tracks like 'Länzer is a Dänzer' or 'Groovebox'. On the A-side, the title track works around a delicately crafted, vintage Miami synth lead: while it naturally provides 'Backflash' with a nostalgic touch, its mellow qualities are lifted by a dangerously obese bassline and devilishly catchy hook. Add Kellerkind's impressive ear for groove and vocal sampling, and you're on to an absolute winner. Moving on, Niko Schwind's remix of 'Backflash' subtly shifts the original’s elements around while extending on its vocal sample – a soulful voice urges the listener to 'get it right'. When the break introduces Schwind's trademark piano keys and shuffling rhythmic structures, it's clear that the SVT stalwart is once again on target here. Kellerkind continues to explore the vintage theme on the B-side with 'Disco Light', whose laser synths, mesmerising bleeps and chugging bass might just catapult you back to Paradise Garage in '78, were it not for the track's classicist house percussion. Finally, 'Down To' brings the fun back to the dancefloor as Kellerkind's own deep vocal hums serve to replace a traditional bassline. Underlined by yet another beguiling synth motif, ‘Down To’ concludes this stunningly retro-futuristic EP, which is both, sonically coherent and viciously enjoyable. A brilliant start to 2012! Wie der Name der neuen Kellerkind EP auf Stil vor Talent bereits erahnen lässt, handelt es sich bei ‚Backflash’ um eine Begegnung mit der Vergangenheit: den 80s. Kellerkind bedient sich freizügig der Klangästhetik der Post-Disco Ära und verarbeitet sie in einer EP, die, dank langsamer Grooves und bulliger Basslines, aktueller nicht sein könnte. Weniger war von dem charismatischen Schweizer Marco Biagini allerdings auch nicht zu erwarten, da er mit Tracks wie ‚Länzer is a Dänzer’ oder ‚Groovebox’ sein weitreichendes Verständnis von House bereits mehrfach unter Beweis gestellt hat. Los geht es mit der A-Seite, auf der sich das Geschehen um eine delikat gefertigte Miami Synth-Lead dreht: sie verleiht ‚Backflash’ eine ordentlichen Portion Nostalgie. Zeitgleich sorgt eine monströse Bassline und ein teuflisch griffiger Hook dafür, dass das Tanzbein nicht zu kurz kommt. Ganz im Gegenteil, denn Kellerkind beweist sein geschultes Ohr für Groove und Vocal-Sampling und schenkt uns somit einen absoluten Dancefloor-Killer. Darauf folgt Niko Schwinds Remix von ‚Backflash’, der dem Arrangement des Originals treu bleibt, dabei aber dessen Vocals in ein souliges Clubmanifesto ausbaut. Wenn Schwind im Break die für ihn typischen Pianosounds unter funkige Stabs legt, wird klar, dass er mal wieder voll ins Schwarze getroffen hat. Auf der B-Seite geht es nahtlos mit der Vintage Thematik weiter: Kellerkind katapultiert den Höhrer mit Laser-Synths, hypnotisierenden Bleeps und fettem Bass auf die Tanzfläche der Paradise Garage von ’78, verstärkt den Track jedoch noch durch klassische House Percussion. Zuletzt verbreitet ‚Down To’ noch einmal gute Laune im Überfluss – hier wird eine traditionelle Bassline von Biaginis brummender Stimme ersetzt. Gepaart mit einem weiteren, Ohrwurm verdächtigen Synth-Motiv, beendet ‚Down To’ gekonnt eine retro-futuristische EP, die nicht nur klanglich schlüssig ist, sondern auch verdammt viel Spass macht. Ein fulminanter Start in das Jahr 2012!
Kellerkind – Backflash Kellerkind – Backflash (Niko Schwind Remix) Kellerkind – Disco Light Kellerkind – Down To -
SVT 071 Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Romantic Thrills | Part II
Following ‘Romantic Thrills Part 1’, the first EP connected to Niconé & Sascha Braemer’s recent LP of the same name, vinyl lovers are now being treated to ‘Romantic Thrills Part 2’, which dazzles with three distinct remixes by Stil for Talent heavyweights Oliver Koletzki, Florian Meindl and Dan Caster. Again, all tracks are geared towards the dance floor as they appropriate those special moments of the originals, while employing them to a diverse range of new contextual frames. First off, however, Niconé & Sascha Braemer present ‘Love Me’, one of the sexiest tech house tracks of their album. With its billowing synth pads and mesmerizing vocal that lead the way for an organic and super-deep bassline kicking in at the very right moment, it simply had to be cut in wax. Next, Oliver Koletzki shows us a different side to his usual output: while definitely being just as musical, his remix of ‘Liar’ surprises with a discoid edge. The humorous vocal sample that already made the original version so enjoyable eventually introduces funky guitar licks, which are perfectly supported by a dry kick and fat bassline. By working a rather tongue-in-cheek synth hook into the track’s bridge, Oliver manages to turn ‘Liar’ into a wonderfully contemporary sounding nod to the 80s. On the flip, things quickly turn more dynamic as Florian Meindl’s remix of ‘Little Love’ ups the tempo through techy percussion and energetic stabs. The outcome is a jazzy groove-fest that can hold its own next to Niconé & Sascha’s beautiful original. In fact, it feels as if Meindl injects the druggy ‘Little Love’ with a good dose of steroids as his remix pushes you from one climax to the next thanks to ultra-tight drum programming. Finally, Dan Caster throws down a dark mix of ‘Run Away’, which builds on the original’s melancholic vibes. While Caster restrains from overusing Jan Blomqvist’s vocals, he definitely doesn’t hold back on the bass as muddy sub frequencies add to the track’s emotive feel. Completed by hard-hitting hats and a very well arranged breakdown leading into a heavy kick drum, Dan Caster’s mix provides this gem of a remix EP with a perfect round-off. Nach ‚Romantic Thrills Part 1’, der ersten EP-Auskopplung Niconé & Sascha Braemers gleichnamigen Albums, werden Vinyl-Liebhaber nun mit ‚Romantic Thrills Part 2’ belohnt, einer 12“, die mit drei individuellen Remixen von Stil vor Talent Schwergewichtlern Oliver Koletzki, Florian Meindl und Dan Caster punktet. Auch hier wird wieder das Tanzparkett gewürdigt, wobei alle Tracks das besondere Etwas der Originale aufgreifen und diese in eine vielschichtige Palette neuer Kontexte setzen. Erst einmal geht es allerdings mit Niconé & Sascha Braemers Original ‚Love Me’ los, einem der heißesten Tech House Tracks des Albums. Die prallen Synth-Pads und bezaubernden Vocals begleiten den ultratiefen Bass, der immer zum richtigen Zeitpunkt die Boxen zertrümmert. Beim hören wird klar, der Track musste in schwarzem Gold verewigt werden. Darauffolgend zeigt Oliver Koletzki, dass er auch anders kann: während er seinem sehr musikalischen Stil treu bleibt, überrascht sein Remix von ‚Liar’ mit seinen discoiden Elementen. Das schon im Original hervorstechende, humorvolle Vocal-Sample weicht schnell besonders funkigen Guitar-Licks, die mit einer trockenen Kickdrum und feister Bassline perfekt in Szene gesetzt werden. Wenn sich in der Bridge dann plötzlich ein Synth-Hook breitmacht, der bei Miami Vice nicht fehl am Platz wäre, wird einem klar, dass sich ‚Liar’ in eine wunderbar gegenwärtige 80s Nummer verwandelt hat. Auf der B-Seite geht es dynamisch mit Florian Meindls Reinterpretation von ‚Little Love’ weiter, bei der das Tempo dank pfeffriger Percussion und energischen Stabs straff angezogen wird. Das Resultat ist ein jazziges Groovefest, das mit Niconé & Braemers anspruchsvollem Original klar mithalten kann. Man wird das Gefühl nicht los, dass Meindl das schläfrige ‚Little Love’ mit einer ordentlichen Portion Steroide injiziert, da sein tightes Drum-Programming den Hörer von einem Höhepunkt zum nächsten treibt. Zu guter Letzt präsentiert Dan Caster einen ‚dark mix’ von ‚Run Away’, der auf der Melancholie des Originals baut. Während die Vocals von Jan Blomqvist gezielt sparsam eingesetzt werden, drängen sich die emotionalen Aspekte des Tracks durch druckvollen Subbass in den Vordergrund. Auf flotte Hi-Hats und einen Breakdown folgt eine heftige Kickdrum, sodass Dan Casters Mix diese Remix-Schatzkiste wundervoll abrundet.
Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Love Me or Leave Me Alone Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Liar (Oliver Koletzki Remix) Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Little Love (Florian Meindl Remix) Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Run Away (Dan Caster Dark Remix) -
SVT 070 Björn Störig – Humming Top
After successful remixes for Oliver Koletzki, Niko Schwind and Animal Trainer, it’s Björn Störig's turn to deliver the goods on his first solo EP, 'Humming Top'. And boy, does he deliver: The fresh youngster presents high-calibre musical house, spiced up with funk, disco and jazz aesthetics.
Title track ‘Humming Top’ doesn’t waste much time: Crisp percussive elements are laid over a beefy bass-line from the get-go, while a progressive piano melody mingles with a distinctly vintage synth. Climaxing over a mysterious vocal whisper, this is mellow tech house of the finest sort.
Moving on to 'Jazz Thang', the title says all. Without catering to clichés, the track literally oozes jazz sounds. A big, chugging bass-line lends momentum with the help of a heavy kick and sharp hi-hats, while horns, strings and a beautiful piano arpeggio are left to do their jazz thang. An absolute late-night wonder.
On the flip, the bare bones of 'Frizzante' are similarly techy, yet decisively sexed-up by viscously funky bass slaps and pressing vocal samples. As if things weren’t hot enough already, a sax is introduced to drive things forward towards the apex, while an authentic percussive roll perfectly rounds of this highlight. Of course, nothing less is to be expected of an experienced drummer, who has proven his rhythmic abilities with The Koletzkis. Trust us, 'Frizzante' is one of the biggest groovers this side of the moon and a shining homage to boogie.
Last but not least, ‘Connected Ways’ shifts the mood from peak-time to more relaxed territory, finishing off the proceedings beautifully by fusing previously heard aspects into a deep groover that would be at home in warm-up sets and at Sunday afterhours alike. There isn’t much left to say other than ‘Congrats, Björn!’.
Nach erfolgreichen Remixen für Oliver Koletzki, Niko Schwind und Animal Trainer, ist die Zeit nun reif für Björn Störigs ersten Solorelease, ‚Humming Top’. Hier serviert uns der freshe Newcomer hochkalibrig musikalischen House, gewürzt mit einer guten Portion Funk-, Disco- und Jazzästhetik.
Der Titel-Track ‚Humming Top’ verschwendet keine Zeit: knackige Percussion liegt vom Startschuss an auf einer bulligen Bassline, während sich eine progressive Pianomelodie mit einem Synth-Hook vergnügt. Mysteriöses Geflüster markiert den Höhepunkt des Tracks, der zeigt, wie samtweich Tech House sein kann.
Der Name von ‚Jazz Thang’ sagt bereits alles. Weitab von gängigen Klischees, trieft der Track förmlich vor echten Jazzsounds. Eine mächtige Bassline treibt mit Hilfe scharfer Hi-Hats und einer vollen Kickdrum das Geschehen voran, während Bläser, Streicher und ein verspieltes Pianoarpeggio Platz haben, ihr Jazz Thang zu tun. Ein wahres Late-Night Wunder.
Das Skelett von ‚Frizzante’ ist ähnlich techy auf der B-Seite – strotzt allerdings, dank teuflisch funkiger Bass Slaps und drückender Vocal-Samples, vor Sex Appeal. Als wäre es noch nicht heiß genug, forciert ein Saxofon den Klimax, der perfekt mit authentischen Drum Rolls abgerundet wird. Etwas anderes ist von einem erfahrenen Drummer, der auch bei The Koletzkis den Rhythmus angibt, natürlich nicht zu erwarten. Glaubt uns, ‚Frizzante’ ist ein mächtiger Groover und eine leuchtende Boogie Hommage zugleich.
Zu guter Letzt wird mit ‚Connected Ways’ der Gang von Peaktime zu ruhigerem Terrain heruntergeschaltet. Gekonnt kombiniert der Track bereits auf dieser EP vorhandene Aspekte zu einem wundervoll deepen Finale, das sowohl in Warm-up Sets wie auch sonntäglichen Afterhours seinen Platz finden wird. Da bleibt nicht mehr viel zu sagen, außer ‚Glückwunsch, Björn!’.Björn Störig – Humming Top Björn Störig – Jazz Thang Björn Störig – Frizzante Björn Störig – Connected Ways -
SVT 069 Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Romantic Thrills | Part I
It's a love story: Stil vor Talent have long been mad about Niconé and Sascha Braemer so that the recent past has seen some very memorable releases by the two producers. Now it's about time they join forces to release a whole album together, of which the first set of two vinyl packages is taken. Known for their often very musical techno and house productions, “Romantic Thrills Part 1” encapsulates this style while adding an extra element of sex and pop appeal, without straying too far from the dancefloor.
'Pianotic', 'Runaway' and 'Caje' are three prime examples of how to incorporate piano, trumpet or guitar melodies organically into electronic music without sounding artificial. The melodies on 'Pianotic' make you want to hug the world again and again. Meanwhile, the guitar on “Runaway” adds a deeply melancholic element to a track underlined by wonderful singing, which bears the odd nod to Radiohead. 'Caje' takes the Spanish guitar to the dancefloor, makes everyone sit in a circle and clap their hands to this Iberian summer wonder. The sun will break through the clouds when you put this on. Finally, 'Little Love' progresses slowly towards deeper techno terrain with great sounding synth leads and basslines. Keeping the vocal elements central to the arrangement, it makes for a brilliantly deep and soulful tech anthem. Clearly, every track here is a winner, so that this EP is a must-have for vinyl lovers and DJs alike!
Es handelt sich um eine Liebesgeschichte: Stil vor Talent ist schon seit längerem ganz verrückt nach Niconé und Sascha Braemer, sodass die letzte Zeit einige beeindruckende Veröffentlichungen der beiden Produzenten hervorgebracht hat. Es war also an der Zeit sich hinzusetzen und ein ganzes Album zusammen zu produzieren, von dem die erste von zwei Vinylauskopplungen ihre Tracks bezieht. ‚Romantic Thrills Part 1’ verarbeitet denselben, sehr musikalischen House und Techno Sound, für den das Duo bereits bekannt ist, würzt ihn allerdings mit einer deftigen Priese Pop-Ästhetik und Sexappeal, ohne dabei zu weit vom Dancefloor zu wandern.
‚Pianotic’, ‚Runaway’ und ‚Caje’ sind Beispiele dafür, wie smooth man echte Instrumente in elektronische Musik einbringen kann, ohne dabei künstlich zu klingen. Die Melodien in ‚Pianotic’ rufen einen quasi dazu auf, die Welt zu umarmen, während die Gitarre auf ‚Runaway’ dem Song eine melancholische Energie schenkt, die der Gesang perfekt unterstützt. Ähnlich ist es bei ‚Caje’, bei dem man sich dank Spanischer Gitarre am liebsten in einer Kreis setzen und den iberischen Sommer besingen möchte. Der Track vertreibt jegliche Wolken, die die Sonne blockieren. ‚Little Love’ bewegt sich dann stetig dem deeperen Technosound dank toller Synth-Lead und einer dickeren Bassline entgegen. Das soulige Vocal-Arrangement garantiert ein wundervoll warmes Sommergefühl. Jeder der Tracks ist ein ganz klarer Gewinner, so dass ‚Romantic Thrills Part 1’ ein Must-Have für Vinylliebhaber und DJs ist.Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Pianotic Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Runaway feat. Jan Blomqvist Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Caje feat. Narra (Album Edit) Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Little Love -
SVT 068CD Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Romantic Thrills
It’s a love story: Stil vor Talent have long been mad about Niconé and Sascha Braemer so that the recent past has seen some very memorable releases by the two producers. Now it’s about time they join forces to release a whole album together. While Sascha Braemer only recently caused waves with his über-track “People”, Niconé is a long-established pillar of top-class electronic music. And when he plays out, people realise which celebrated DJ and producer hides behind the alias.
Known for their often very musical techno and house productions, “Romantic Thrills” encapsulates this style while adding an extra element of sex and pop appeal, to put it frankly. All their production experience and DJ expertise seem to have streamed into an album that manages, in all its eclecticism, to be conceived as a complete whole. The tracks work like songs, unfolding their pure magic only when listened to in full: often adding new, but decisive elements later in the track, they are clear about when to drop the beat back in a seemingly subconscious fashion. Think what you want about electronic albums, this one is so much more than a mere collection of unreleased singles.
Let’s begin where things start off gently with the slow-moving, piano-driven “Dreamer”, which, halfway through, is more reminiscent of Radiohead than the sound of Berlin’s club scene. Simply a pretty epic pop track with a great falsetto vocal line, then. “Little Love” progresses slowly towards deeper techno terrain with great sounding synth leads and basslines. Keeping the vocal elements central to the arrangement, it makes for a wonderfully deep and soulful tech anthem. “Liar” best represents the eclecticism at the album’s heart. Over a Skaaeske groove, a chunky bass and considerably slower BPM, a male speaker humorously ponders over his relationship to drugs. This is bound to be a favourite at the afterhour. Title track “Romantic Thrills” then moves things back to the dancefloor, with an infusing tech-house groove, piano stabs and deeply hypnotic vocals. “Runaway”, “Pianotic” and “Caje” represent three more prime examples of how to incorporate piano, trumpet or guitar melodies into electronic music organically without sounding artificial. The guitar on “Runaway” adds a deeply melancholic element to a track underlined by wonderful singing, which, again, reminds one of Radiohead. The melodies on “Pianotic” meanwhile make you want to hug the world again and again. “Caje” takes the Spanish guitar to the dancefloor, makes everyone sit in a circle and clap their hands to this Iberian summer wonder. The sun will break through the clouds when you put this on.
Things take yet another turn to more oldskool-orientated dancefloor music with “Never”. Sascha and Niconé have managed to recreate a late disco track that meets up with Chicago House along the line. A thick bassline, some wonderful strings and a great melodic vocal make this track oh so very special. Up next a secret gem: “Love Me” is one of the most sexy tech tracks on this album. The billowing synth pads and mesmerizing vocal lead the way for the organic and super-deep bassline that kicks in at the very right moment, every time. With “Not The End” the album signals that it’s actually slowly coming to an end. It’s a powerful little piece of tech-house that works with many delicately arranged samples. Ultimately, “Thänk You” is another humorous and epic spoken-word piece, with a siren marking the groove and the piano melody causing shivers down the spine of the listener. What an ending to a top-produced and perfectly arranged album with 11 tracks of the finest quality!
Sascha Braemer and Niconé have clearly managed to create an album with distinct and versatile stylistic aesthetics. At full length, it unfolds like a familiar narrative to many a night out: it starts off dreaming about the club, then invades that space, letting the night progress, until it slowly comes to a reconciling end. This album is all killer, no filler. Just the way it should be.
Es handelt sich um eine Liebesgeschichte: Stil vor Talent ist schon seit längerem ganz verrückt nach Niconé und Sascha Braemer, sodass Stil vor Talent auf einige beeindruckende Veröffentlichungen der beiden Produzenten zurück schaut. Es war an der Zeit sich hinzusetzen und ein ganzes Album zusammen zu produzieren. Während Sascha Braemer vor kurzem mit seinem Überhit ‚People’ für Furore sorgte, handelt es sich bei Niconé um einen alteingesessenen Hasen der elektronischen Musik. Erst beim Auflegen erkennt der eine oder andere welcher zelebrierte DJ und Produzent sich hinter dem Alias verbirgt.
‚Romantic Thrills’ verarbeitet denselben, sehr musikalischen House und Techno Sound, für den das Duo bereits bekannt ist, würzt ihn allerdings mit einer deftigen Priese Pop-Ästhetik und Sexappeal. Hinter den Tracks dieser LP stecken jahrelange Erfahrungen im Produzieren und DJing, die nun zusammenfließen um ein Endwerk zu schaffen, das sowohl eklektisch, wie auch rund ist. Die Tracks funktionieren hier als Songs, sodass sich die wahre Schönheit der Platte erst beim Hören des Ganzen entfaltet: Oft werden erst gegen Ende eines Stückes hin neue, prägnante Elemente eingeführt, die genauso sitzen, wie der Bass, der unterbewusst jedem Drop folgt. Von elektronischen Alben kann man halten was man mag, aber bei ‚Romantic Thrills’ handelt es sich um ein Gesamtkunstwerk.
Ruhig geht es mit dem langsam trabenden, pianobasierten ‚Dreamer’ los, das nach der Hälfte eher an Radiohead als an die hedonistische Berliner Clublandschaft erinnert. Ein einfach epischer Popsong mit Falsettgesang eben. ‚Little Love’ bewegt sich dann stetig dem deeperen Technosound dank toller Synth-Lead und einer dickeren Bassline entgegen. Das soulige Vocal-Arrangement garantiert ein wundervoll warmes Sommergefühl. ‚Liar’ hingegen veranschaulicht den Eklektizismus der Platte wohl am besten: Eine männliche Stimme führt einen schizophrenen Monolog über Drogen und wird von einem Skaaske-Groove, einer stämmigen Bassline und langsamer BPM untermalt. Das wird ganz klar der Favorit für die Afterhour. Der Titeltrack ‚Romantic Thrills’ treibt den Höhrer mit seinem ansteckenden Tech House-Groove, Piano-Stabs und hypnotisierenden Vocals dann wieder in Richtung Dancefloor. ‚Runaway’, ‚Pianotic’ und ‚Caje’ sind Beispiele dafür, wie smooth man echte Instrumente in elektronische Musik einbringen kann, ohne dabei künstlich zu klingen. Die Gitarre auf ‚Runaway’ schenkt dem Song eine melancholische Energie, die der Gesang perfekt unterstützt, während die Melodien in ‚Pianotic’ einen quasi dazu aufrufen, die Welt zu umarmen. Ähnlich ist es bei ‚Caje’, bei dem man sich dank Spanischer Gitarre am liebsten in einen Kreis setzen und den iberischen Sommer besingen möchte. Der Track vertreibt jegliche Wolken, die die Sonne blockieren.
Mit ‚Never’ zeigen Niconé und Sascha Braemer eine weitere Facette und wenden sich der Alten Schule zu. Das Duo rekreiert Disco und Chicago auf hohem Niveau mit einer fetten Bassline, schönen Strings und melodiösen Vocals. Darauf folgt dann ein kleiner Schatz: ‚Love Me’ ist sexy Tech House par excellence. Pralle Synth-Pads und verzaubernder Gesang weisen die Richtung für einen ultratiefen Bass, der immer zum richtigen Zeitpunkt die Boxen zertrümmert. Mit ‚Not the End’ signalisiert die Platte, dass es langsam aber sicher dem Ende entgegengeht. Ein starkes, kleines Houselied, was sich delikater Samples bedient. Mit dem letzten Track ,Thänk You 2011’ beweisen die Jungs ein weiteres Mal, wie viel Humor sie haben und setzen ein Spoken-Word durch eine Piano-Lead in Szene, bis es einem kalt den Rücken herunter läuft. Was für ein tolles Ende für eine so gut produzierte und top arrangierte House LP!
Sascha Braemer und Niconé haben es ganz sicher geschafft, ein Album zu kreieren, das eine klare, aber dennoch abwechslungsreiche Ästhetik verfolgt. Im Ganzen entfaltet es sich wie die Schilderung einer durchfeierten Nacht: am Anfang träumt man vom Club, bis man sich genau dort wiederfindet, während die Zeit langsam an einem vorbeirauscht. Irgendwann muss die Nacht dem nächsten Tag weichen und findet so ein seichtes Ende. Dieses Album ist ‚all Killer, no filler’. Genauso wie es sein sollte!Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Dreamer Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Little Love Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Liar Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Romantic Thrills Niconé & Sascha Braemer feat. Jan Blomqvist – Run Away Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Pianotic Niconé & Sascha Braemer feat. Narra – Caje Niconé & Sascha Braemer feat. Wrongkong – Never Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Love Me Niconé & Sascha Braemer feat. Narra – Not The End Niconé & Sascha Braemer – Thänk You 2011 -
SVT 067 6 Years of Stil vor Talent | Part II
It might sound like an empty phrase, but when Oliver Koletzki founded Stil vor Talent in 2005, he certainly didn’t anticipate where his label would be today. Now – six years and over sixty releases later – Stil vor Talent can look back at many magnificent moments in the label’s history. Originally started to give other musicians the chance to showcase their music, Stil vor Talent has preserved this very down-to-earth attitude until today and has helped foster the careers of producers such as Channel X, Niko Schwind, Juli Holz or David August to name just a few. While there have never been any musical or stylistic limitations, an open philosophy dominated by quality and individualism prevails at Oliver’s label, from delicately designed record sleeves to their own fashion line and to music that varies from house to pop to jacking dancefloor cuts.
Now it is time to congratulate everyone involved and the fans of Stil vor Talent with a special birthday present: two six-year anniversary EPs celebrating present and future of the label. Part 1 features five new tracks that are very much orientated towards all corners of the contemporary dancefloor. From melodic house on tracks by Niko Schwind and Björn Störig to Animal Trainer’s beautiful early morning anthem “Krambambuli”, house is an overarching theme on this EP. But other genres find their way into the release as well: Niconé and Sascha Braemer have teamed up with singer Anna Rikje Rosenthal to create a slow-moving pop track with “Never too late”, which is sure to be a raving success in the same vain of Oliver Koletzki’s collaborations with Fran. Oliver Koletzki himself chips in a breathtaking tech house cut built around a soulful trumpet hook. These are the first five of 10 individual birthday presents released on vinyl.
Es mag heute wie eine Plattitüde klingen, aber als Oliver Koletzki 2005 sein Label Stil vor Talent gründete, ahnte er nicht wie erfolgreich dieses einmal werden würde. Jetzt – sechs Jahre und über sechzig Veröffentlichungen später – kann Stil vor Talent bereits auf viele magische Momente zurückblicken. Ursprünglich gegründet um Newcomern eine Plattform zu bieten hat sich an dieser Einstellung bis heute nicht viel geändert und so hat Stil vor Talent über die Jahre schon Künstler wie Channel X, Niko Schwind, Juli Holz oder David August für sich und alle anderen entdeckt. Dabei war die Philosophie von Stil vor Talent nie von stilistischen oder musikalischen Grenzen geprägt, vielmehr dominiert beim Berliner Label Qualität und Stil, wie man an den individuell gestalteten Plattencovern, der hauseigenen Modelinie und natürlich der Musik, die von House über Pop bis zu Dancefloor-Hymnen reicht, ablesen kann.
Jetzt macht sich Stil vor Talent selbst und all seinen Fans ein besonderes Geburtstagsgeschenk: eine Doppel-CD, die Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft des Labels feiert. Auf der einen CD 1 „What We Do“ gibt es 17 komplett neue, exklusive und unveröffentlichte Tracks von einigen der besten Stil vor Talent-Künstler, während Oliver Koletzki auf CD 2 „What We Did“ einen 70-minütigen Mix aufgenommen hat, der einige seiner ganz persönlichen Highlights der jüngeren Vergangenheit von Stil vor Talent beinhaltet. Auf beiden CDs merkt man sofort, dass Oliver Koletzki eine tiefe Liebe für alle Arten von elektronischer Music inne hat und dass er von Menschen umgeben ist, die diese Offenheit und diesen gelebten Eklektizismus mit ihm teilen.Kellerkind – Läncer is a Dancer Mick Rubin – Rude Boy Florian Meindl – My View on Disco Ryan Dupree – My Way Tobi Kramer – Me Kamav Tu -
SVT 066 6 Years of Stil vor Talent | Part I
It might sound like an empty phrase, but when Oliver Koletzki founded Stil vor Talent in 2005, he certainly didn’t anticipate where his label would be today. Now – six years and over sixty releases later – Stil vor Talent can look back at many magnificent moments in the label’s history. Originally started to give other musicians the chance to showcase their music, Stil vor Talent has preserved this very down-to-earth attitude until today and has helped foster the careers of producers such as Channel X, Niko Schwind, Juli Holz or David August to name just a few. While there have never been any musical or stylistic limitations, an open philosophy dominated by quality and individualism prevails at Oliver’s label, from delicately designed record sleeves to their own fashion line and to music that varies from house to pop to jacking dancefloor cuts.
Now it is time to congratulate everyone involved and the fans of Stil vor Talent with a special birthday present: two six-year anniversary EPs celebrating present and future of the label. Part 1 features five new tracks that are very much orientated towards all corners of the contemporary dancefloor. From melodic house on tracks by Niko Schwind and Björn Störig to Animal Trainer’s beautiful early morning anthem “Krambambuli”, house is an overarching theme on this EP. But other genres find their way into the release as well: Niconé and Sascha Braemer have teamed up with singer Anna Rikje Rosenthal to create a slow-moving pop track with “Never too late”, which is sure to be a raving success in the same vain of Oliver Koletzki’s collaborations with Fran. Oliver Koletzki himself chips in a breathtaking tech house cut built around a soulful trumpet hook. These are the first five of 10 individual birthday presents released on vinyl.
Es mag heute wie eine Plattitüde klingen, aber als Oliver Koletzki 2005 sein Label Stil vor Talent gründete, ahnte er nicht wie erfolgreich dieses einmal werden würde. Jetzt – sechs Jahre und über sechzig Veröffentlichungen später – kann Stil vor Talent bereits auf viele magische Momente zurückblicken. Ursprünglich gegründet um Newcomern eine Plattform zu bieten hat sich an dieser Einstellung bis heute nicht viel geändert und so hat Stil vor Talent über die Jahre schon Künstler wie Channel X, Niko Schwind, Juli Holz oder David August für sich und alle anderen entdeckt. Dabei war die Philosophie von Stil vor Talent nie von stilistischen oder musikalischen Grenzen geprägt, vielmehr dominiert beim Berliner Label Qualität und Stil, wie man an den individuell gestalteten Plattencovern, der hauseigenen Modelinie und natürlich der Musik, die von House über Pop bis zu Dancefloor-Hymnen reicht, ablesen kann.
Jetzt macht sich Stil vor Talent selbst und all seinen Fans ein besonderes Geburtstagsgeschenk: eine Doppel-CD, die Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft des Labels feiert. Auf der einen CD 1 „What We Do“ gibt es 17 komplett neue, exklusive und unveröffentlichte Tracks von einigen der besten Stil vor Talent-Künstler, während Oliver Koletzki auf CD 2 „What We Did“ einen 70-minütigen Mix aufgenommen hat, der einige seiner ganz persönlichen Highlights der jüngeren Vergangenheit von Stil vor Talent beinhaltet. Auf beiden CDs merkt man sofort, dass Oliver Koletzki eine tiefe Liebe für alle Arten von elektronischer Music inne hat und dass er von Menschen umgeben ist, die diese Offenheit und diesen gelebten Eklektizismus mit ihm teilen.Oliver Koletzki – Going Places Animal Trainer – Krambambuli Björn Störig – To Know Niko Schwind – Moving Forward Niconé & Sascha Braemer Feat. Anna Rikje Rosenthal – Never too Late -
SVT 065CD 6 Years of Stil vor Talent
It might sound like an empty phrase, but when Oliver Koletzki founded Stil vor Talent in 2005, he certainly didn’t anticipate where his label would be today. Now – six years and over sixty releases later – Stil vor Talent can look back at many magnificent moments in the label’s history. Originally started to give other musicians the chance to showcase their music, Stil vor Talent has preserved this very down-to-earth attitude until today and has helped foster the careers of producers such as Channel X, Niko Schwind, Juli Holz or David August to name just a few. While there have never been any musical or stylistic limitations, an open philosophy dominated by quality and individualism prevails at Oliver’s label, from delicately designed record sleeves to their own fashion line and to music that varies from house to pop to jacking dancefloor cuts.
Now it is time to congratulate everyone involved and the fans of Stil vor Talent with a special birthday present: a six-year anniversary compilation that celebrates past, present and future of the label on two CDs. The first CD titled “What We Do” presents 17 all new and exclusive unreleased tracks by a lot of the label’s closest artists, while the second CD named “What We Did” is a 70-minute mix by Oliver Koletzki that includes some of his personal highlights of the more recent past of the label. Both CDs show that Oliver Koletzki has a deep love for all avenues of electronic music and that he is surrounded by a group of highly skilled producers who share his musical openness and eclecticism.
Es mag heute wie eine Plattitüde klingen, aber als Oliver Koletzki 2005 sein Label Stil vor Talent gründete, ahnte er nicht wie erfolgreich dieses einmal werden würde. Jetzt – sechs Jahre und über sechzig Veröffentlichungen später – kann Stil vor Talent bereits auf viele magische Momente zurückblicken. Ursprünglich gegründet um Newcomern eine Plattform zu bieten hat sich an dieser Einstellung bis heute nicht viel geändert und so hat Stil vor Talent über die Jahre schon Künstler wie Channel X, Niko Schwind, Juli Holz oder David August für sich und alle anderen entdeckt. Dabei war die Philosophie von Stil vor Talent nie von stilistischen oder musikalischen Grenzen geprägt, vielmehr dominiert beim Berliner Label Qualität und Stil, wie man an den individuell gestalteten Plattencovern, der hauseigenen Modelinie und natürlich der Musik, die von House über Pop bis zu Dancefloor-Hymnen reicht, ablesen kann.
Jetzt macht sich Stil vor Talent selbst und all seinen Fans ein besonderes Geburtstagsgeschenk: eine Doppel-CD, die Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft des Labels feiert. Auf der einen CD 1 „What We Do“ gibt es 17 komplett neue, exklusive und unveröffentlichte Tracks von einigen der besten Stil vor Talent-Künstler, während Oliver Koletzki auf CD 2 „What We Did“ einen 70-minütigen Mix aufgenommen hat, der einige seiner ganz persönlichen Highlights der jüngeren Vergangenheit von Stil vor Talent beinhaltet. Auf beiden CDs merkt man sofort, dass Oliver Koletzki eine tiefe Liebe für alle Arten von elektronischer Music inne hat und dass er von Menschen umgeben ist, die diese Offenheit und diesen gelebten Eklektizismus mit ihm teilen.Niko Schwind – Moving Forward Björn Störig – To Know Mick Rubin – Rude Boy Murat Kilic – Burnt White Clouds Chroma & Inexcess – I Can't Erich Lesovsky – Regenmacher Animal Trainer – Krambambuli Bruch & Junior – Slack Me Oliver Koletzki – Going Places Niconé & Sascha Braemer Feat. Anna Rikje Rosenthal – Never too Late Ryan Dupree – My Way Kellerkind – Läncer is a Dancer Florian Meindl – My View on Disco Jürgen Kirsch – Appletrees Tobi Kramer – Me Kamav Tu Channel X – It's too Late Daso – Playing on Grass -
SVT 064 Ryan Dupree vs. Erich Lesovsky
New talent meets old talent on Stil vor Talent. That's how we roll. Label daddy Oliver Koletzki was so impressed with the winner of the Niko Schwind remix competition that he is now releasing two tracks by him on this EP. Meet Ryan Dupree who shares this release with sonic mastermind Erich Lesovsky, one of the most exciting sound creators this side of the atlantic. Ryan starts things out with "Don't Stop", a deep and equally uplifting piece of tech-house that builds on a female vocal sample, some great synthesized drum patterns and effects and a very strong groove. One for the peak time indeed! "Step by Step" is a more minimal hit that is based on a huge bass, some dark and thumping effects, while still keeping an element of funk through the use of cut-up samples. Both tracks are truly impressive hits in their own right that will certainly move the dancefloor, so best to keep watching out for Ryan! On the flip Erich Lesovsky enters his wonderful world of synths, effects and machines. "Tanzholz" starts out with the sound of dripping water and then slowly moves into an areal piece of techno that keeps on building and building through some rhythmic synth patterns and great effects. The sound design on this piece is simply incredible! Last up is "Crystal Clock" which is techno at its best, both straight forward and dreamy through the use of some very unique and unusual synth sounds. This EP is filled with goodness and with four tracks of equally high quality this is a no-brainer.
Alte Hasen treffen auf junge Hühner. So läuft das bei Stil vor Talent eben. Oliver Koletzki war so begeistert vom Gewinner der Remix-Competition der Niko Schwind Single, dass Ryan Dupree jetzt gleich zwei Tracks zu einer EP beisteuern darf. Zusammen mit dem Soundtüftler und Maschinenfreak Erich Lesovksky teilen sich die beiden den nächsten Release auf Stil vor Talent. Los geht's mit Ryan Dupree, der mit "Don't Stop" ein deepes, aber dennoch sehr nach vorne gehendes Stück Tech-House entworfen hat. Getragen von einem weiblichen Vocal klappern die synthetischen Percussions nur so vor sich hin und unterstützen den pumpenden Groove. Diese Nummer geht nach vorne und direkt ins Ohr! Bei "Step by Step" geht's etwas minimaler daher. Ein mörderischer Subbass, einige dunkle und rhythmisch platzierte Effekte aber genug knackige Funk-Elemente, um den Dancefloor zu erobern. Beide Tracks sind eine beachtliche Werkschau von Ryan Dupree, auf dem man in Zukunft am besten beide Augen werfen sollte! Auf der Flip dann Erich Lesovsky und seine Welt voller Synths, Effekte und Maschinen. "Tanzholz" beginnt mit dem Sound eines tropfenden Wasserhahns und verändert sich dann langsam zu einem breiten Stück flächigen Technos, das sich immer weiter nach oben schraubt, durch rhythmische Synthesizer-Patterns und großartige Effekte. Das Sounddesign ist schier beeindruckend! Zuletzt dann "Crystal Clock", das man wohl einfach als Techno beschreiben kann. Gerade aus nach vorne und trotzdem verträumt, aufgrund von sehr eigenen und besonderen Synth-Sounds. Diese EP zeigt, dass alt und jung perfekt koexistieren können!Ryan Dupree – Don't Stop Ryan Dupree – Step By Step Erich Lesovsky – Tanzholz Erich Lesovsky – Crystal Clock -
SVT 063 Channel X – Little Symphony
Aah, how we have missed them! The fine young gentlemen that are Channel X, two of Stil vor Talent's most active producers of meticulously crafted and deeply energetic tech-house smash hits. And just in time for the open-air season they now come back with two very convincing pieces of dancefloor art. First up is 'Little Symphony', an epic space opera that takes it cues from early 90s techno and mixes it up with post-modern grooves and beats. The wide and open spaces are filled with some very hymnal string patterns that are given a final treatment with a reverbed and high-pitched vocal sample. Contrast that with the rather jittery beat and a subbass as deep as the frequencies will go and you got yourself a substantially clear bit of techno that is best imagined when it is dark and only some beams of air tell you where you are. Channel X do not produce, they direct and all of the sounds are their actors! On the flip things get more light-hearted and set for the daylight hours as well. 'Steamboat Willie' is a heavily sample-orientated swinging piece of jack. The rhythm guitar lead the way on top of a clap-based loop that sets the basis for some very jazzy interpretations along the way. Clarinets, trumpets, percussions, brass, effects and even some talking vocal samples are all allowed to join in this hedonistic big band that is at play. This is one for the sunshine, this is one for the smiles on the faces, this is one to feel instantly good about yourself and everything around you. Two very different tracks on this EP, but both equally stand out for themselves.
Wie wir sie vermisst haben. Die beiden Herren hinter Channel X, die mit ihrem sehr detailreich produzierten und tiefem, soulvollen Tech-House-Sound zu den aktivsten Produzenten bei Stil vor Talent gehören. Und genau pünktlich zum Start der Open-Air-Saison kommen sie jetzt dahin zurück, mit zwei sehr überzeugenden Stücken für den Dancefloor. Zuerst ist da 'Little Symphony', eine monumentale Technooper, die sich am Technoklang der frühen 90er Jahre abarbeitet und diesen mit postmodernen Clicks zusammenmischt. Die weiten und offenen Räume werden mit hymnischen Streicherflächen gefüllt und diese wiederum um ein nachhallendes und hochgepitchtes Vocal-Sample ergänzt. Dazu steht im Kontrast der leicht kribbelige Beat, der wie eine verwackelte Handkamera wirkt, und ein Subbass, der in den tiefsten Eben der hörbaren Frequenz sofort gehörig in den Magen geht - heraus kommt ein glasklares Stück Techno. Channel X produzieren nicht, sie inszenieren die gesamte Mise-en-Scene und sind Regisseure ihrer Sounds! Das gilt auch für die B-Seite, auf der es klanglich aber sommerlich und etwas heiterer zuspielt: 'Steamboat Willie' ist ein auf Samples basierendes Stück swingender Tech-House. Eine Rhythmusgitarre und ein auf Claps setzender Loop bilden die Grundlage für eine sehr jazzige Interpretation. Klarinette, Trompete, Percussions, Kontrabass, Effekte und selbst ein scheinbar aufgenommener Mitschnitt einer Party gehören zu den Akteuren dieser hedonistisch anmutenden Big Band, die gemeinsam sehr viel Spaß zu haben scheinen. Dies ist eine Nummer für den Sonnenschein, eine Nummer, die alles andere um einen herum vergessen lässt. Zwei sehr unterschiedliche Tracks von Channel X, die für sich genommen aber jeweils eine perfekt in sich geschlossene Welt darstellen.Channel X – Little Symphony Channel X – Steamboat Willie -
SVT 062 Niko Schwind – Good Morning Midnight | Part II
And here it is: the second vinyl EP of Niko Schwind's album "Good Morning Midnight". It features some of the unique tracks that Niko has created together with some of Berlin's hottest production talents. On the A side are two tracks that feature the clicky tech-house boys that are Channel X, where things kick off with "Back from the Bar". It sounds as the title suggests: a little wobbly, a little drunk, a little crazy, but also pretty magic. Quite clearly this is an homage to one of Berlin's not-to-be-forgotten clubs that is unfortunately history now. But things continue on here at least with "Don't Turn the Lights On", a more straightforward dancefloor track, with a trumpet as the main protagonist. This is one of those tracks that keeps leading up to a real arms-in-the-air-moment if it wasn’t so damn housy at the same time. On the flip the magical connection between Niko and label daddy Oliver Koletzki can be heard on "Master of Ceremony”, a chopped-up house track with epic dimensions. When things get to the piano breakdown, they get very musical and colossal before dropping back into a great house track. The stark contrast between the piano melody and the groove on this really make it. Last but not least then, the original album opener "Good Morning" that features the singing of Fran. It works great as a great album opener, but also perfectly as a slower and more thoughtful addition to a great EP.
Niko Schwind feat. Channel X – Back from the bar Niko Schwind feat. Channel X – Don't turn the lights on Niko Schwind feat. Oliver Koletzki – Master of Ceremony (Original Version) Niko Schwind feat. Fran – Good Morning -
SVT 061 Niko Schwind – Good Morning Midnight | Part I
Here comes the first vinyl EP of Niko Schwind’s just released album “Good Morning Midnight". This release does not only feature three of the best tracks of the album, but also an exclusive remix by house wonderboy David August, who does not cease to amaze with his retro-yet-contemporary vision of house music. But first things first: Enter Niko Schwind, 31-producer and DJ, whose now second album on Still vor Talent describes his musical transition from minimal tech-house to soulful house music and follows a clear musical trajectory that views house music from many angles, from pop-infused vocal to more techie dancefloor kicks. On this vinyl EP things start out with “Midnight” that is best described as a percussive tech-house track that features some pretty wasted vocals, stomping bass sounds and pizzicato strings. Overall, a real unique track that is sure to set the floor on fire. Next up is “Shine", which slowly pulsates through a very prolific oldschool baseline, some great vocal samples and a wonderful piano melody. Over to the flip is “Wake Up” that will work the floor with a percussive and very funky tech-house approach that includes some real vintage organs. Then, it’s over to David August who has produced an exclusive remix of the album opener “Good Morning” that features the voice of Fran. While the original is a slow moving track, David has put his magic fingers on the track and turned it into a wonderfully emblematic 90s house track that has all the appeal and energy of that time, while still being very 2011 indeed. A deep and chunky bass, jazzy hi-hats, finger snapping and some great vocoder effects on the original vocal make this one truly stand out. Wonderful work by David! This EP is the perfect first collection of Niko’s album for the club dancefloor in mind.
Niko Schwind – Good Midnight (Original Version) Niko Schwind – Shine (Original Version) Niko Schwind feat. Staller – Wake Up (Original Version) Niko Schwind feat. Fran – Good Morning (David August Remix) -
SVT 060 Niko Schwind – Good Morning Midnight
It has been two years now since Niko Schwind’s debut album was released. In this time Niko has produced two records for Stil vor Talent, which showed his musical transition from more minimal tech-house to soulful house music. For his new album he has now produced ten tracks of house music that follow a musical journey from a pop-infused intro to musical dancefloor anthems.
“Good Morning Midnight” starts out with the vocal house track “Good Morning” that features singer Fran, who has recently so successfully sang on Oliver Koletzki’s tracks. This collaborative track is a slow-paced house groover with Fran’s whispered vocals acting as the perfect starting place for this album. The use of the piano seems central to Niko’s productions in this track and they remain a central element on the album. “Shine” is a track that slowly pulsates through a very prolific old school bassline, some great vocal samples and, yes, a wonderful harmonic piano melody. Things get a little more technological on “Playground Love”, which features the typical ‘Schwind’-Groove that is comprised of some punchy beats and vocal samples on the loop. An epic breakdown makes this track ideal for the mix, and the samples that Niko throws in on the mixdown are perfectly well placed. Then, “People” kicks things off in a deeper direction. The deep and slow-paced synthesizer melody juxtaposes the quite hectic nature of the loop and the bassline on this track. The result is a beautifully deep hit that seems perfect for the start of the peak time. Aiming for the peak time itself is the track “Good Midnight” that is best described as percussive tech-house that features some pretty wasted vocals, stomping bass sounds and pizzicato strings. Overall, a real unique track that is sure to set the floor on fire.
For the second part of the album Niko has got together with some his closest production partners. First up are two tracks with his label buddies from Channel X with whom he has produced two melodic tech-house tracks. “Back From The Bar” sounds as the title suggests: a little wobbly, a little drunk, a little crazy, but also pretty magic. “Don’t Turn the Lights On” is a more straightforward dancefloor with the trumpet playing the main part in this. This is one of those tracks that keeps leading up to a real arms-in-the-air-moment if it wasn’t so damn housy at the same time. “Wake Up” featuring Staller is another percussive and very funky tech-house affair with some real vintage organs and vocal samples. Things stay very funky on the following track that Niko did together with Oliver Koletzki. “Master of Ceremony” is a chopped-up house track with epic dimensions. When things get to the piano breakdown, they get very musical and colossal before dropping back into a great house track. The stark contrast between the piano melody and the groove on this really make it. Last up is “Coming Home”, a very slow moving ambient track that features Patrick Blasa. This almost jazzy and leftfield song with some great vocals perfectly closes the circle of the album that started slow and ends in a similar way.
With Niko Schwind’s first album for Stil vor Talent you never loose the feeling that each of the tracks would work harmoniously on the dancefloor, but also within the concept of this album that goes from slow-moving vocal house to pretty nifty tech-house and back. Niko Schwind is a magician when it comes to producing very fine and mature pieces of house music that are sure to work great on the dancefloor. Maybe Niko has had the DJ in mind that he is himself, as the tracks seem to perfectly provide great productions, but also the ideal ability to mix them in and out, with little samples providing great audible cues. After all, as the title suggests “Good Morning Midnight” is an album with the dancefloor in mind.Niko Schwind feat. Fran – Good Morning Niko Schwind - Shine Niko Schwind - Playground Love Niko Schwind feat. Fran – People Niko Schwind – Midnight Niko Schwind feat. Channel X – Back From The Bar Niko Schwind feat. Channel X – Don´t Turn The Lights On Niko Schwind feat Staller – Wake Up Niko Schwind feat. Oliver Koletzki – Master of Ceremony Niko Schwind feat. Patrick Blasa – Coming Home -
SVT 059 Sascha Braemer – People
After his last EP on Stil vor Talent in 2009, born-and-bread Berliner Sascha Braemer is now back with three fresh tracks for the spring of 2011. In the meantime, his funky minimal jump-up tech-house has led him to release on labels as prolific as Kindisch or Dirtybird. Things kick off with “Belle", a ferocious attack on your groove muscles and dancing bones. This tune glides as softly as the wings of an angel while shaking you around like a giant would a dwarf. The up-beat groove is based on a great cut-up vocal sample and some animating synthesizer stabs. Sweet! Then, “Felicitous", which is considerably slower than the previous two tracks. Still, the vocal on this one and the deep electronic body come together perfectly to form a deep and dirty suckerpunch to your euphoria synapses. Last up is “People” keeps the effected vocal approach and that really makes this tune. Imagine a super deep bassline, some wonderfully syncopated hi-hat trickles and a constant groove to underline the power of the vocal. This track is club pop - so deep and yet so magic it will run shivers down your spine on the breakdown. Sascha Braemer seems to have put all his experience of peak-time club moments to early morning afterhour visions into his own transcript of signature sound. This is not be mistaken, this is simply on-point.
Sascha Braemer – Belle (Original Version) Sascha Braemer - Felicitious (Original Version) Sascha Braemer - People (Original Version) -
SVT 058 Dapayk Solo feat. Camara & Jon Hester – Let Go
It seems that Dapayk used to listen to a lot of Hip-Hop when he was younger. His latest EP for Still vor Talent "Let Go" has got these influences written all over it. The title track starts out with a male vocal and some sounds that sound a little like scratching before things then quickly head into the direction of the club. The vocal by singer Camara could not be more reminiscent of 80s house music and this track has got all the soul and groove of this era. Beneath the delicate vocal and sound patterns lies a wonderfully simply staccato house groove that is sure to get everyone shuffling. On the flip things get a little more techy with "Nekan", a deeper and more melodic tech house glider that gently takes the listener towards a harmonic state of mind. Beautifully arpeggiated pads, a warm soulful groove and some reverbed vocals make this one. Last up is the sample-based tech-house stomper "Up Yo" featuring production partner Jon Hester. This is loop heaven: a pushy beat loop with many snares, reverse samples and an unexpected saxophone melody make this one the perfect changeover track from warm-up to peak-time. This EP shows Dapayk's skills to combine many musical influences into his unique still of tech-house music.
Dapayk Solo feat. Camara – Let Go Dapayk Solo – Nekan Dapayk Solo feat. Jon Hester – Upyo -
SVT 057 Niconé Feat. Narra – Caje
Niconé is back on Stil vor Talent with his very much loved project that has already brought us an absolute scorcher on Stil vor Talent before. Again he features the wonderful vocal of Narra on this hypnotically happy percussive house affair "Caje". The original track grooves on some free swinging percussions and a softly moving house loop making this a very subtle killer for any afterhour. While Narra's vocals carry the track as light as a feather it is after the breakdown that things get really musical! For the remixes Stil vor Talent has aligned a high-quality and diverse array of current top-notch producers. Things go dark, minimal and very technological with Pan-Pot's take on "Caje" that still keeps a very soulful element in its approach. Then, Berlin's coolest kid on the block Adam Port knows that every track gets better with a lot of claps–and he sure is right in his interpretation of "Caje". This is one of these tracks that sucks the listener in so deep that there is simply no escape: repetitive yet constantly changing and constantly grooving while remaining very pure! For his very soulful groove Dirty Doering adds some wonderfully melodic synths and guitars to his track that turn "Caje" into an even more summery house affair. This release is filled with tracks that will long echo on the dancefloor!
Niconé Feat. Narra – Caje Niconé Feat. Narra – Caje (Adam Porter Remix) Niconé Feat. Narra – Caje (Pan Pot Remix) Niconé Feat. Narra – Caje (Dirty Doering) -
SVT 056 Bruch & Junior – Runway to Kenia
booking contact | download press kit | soundcloud | facebook | myspaceAfter having released on Stil vor Talent's digital sublabel before, the producer tag team Bruch & Junior make 2011 their year and start it off with their first own vinyl EP on Stil vor Talent. Four brand new tracks that float around very nicely between house and techno. Things kick off with title track "Runway to Kenia", a deeper tech-house tune built on various samples creating both a very unique atmosphere and a permanent groove. A slow killer that you better watch out for! Then, "Whatcha Want" is an oldskool piece of house, including that classic 909 open hi-hat pinpointing you in the right direction all along: to some deep arpeggiated xylophone melodies, a great reverbed vocal and a super simple, yet very effective bass line. This one is hot! On the flip "Seat no Fastbelts" is staccato-house at its best. Every sound seems to be crafted with such care you are almost afraid this is going to break and actually, it is, with one of those epic vocal-built breakdowns. Add some white noise and this one will drop beautifully like coins in a Roman fountain. Badaboom! Last up is "Jazzbians", a very musical house track including a superb piano melody, lots of percussions and a very happy vocal snippet. This one goes down like a Gin Tonic on a hot summer's day or a hot bath in the ice rain. Just like that! Bruch & Junior's first EP for Still vor Talent is very likely to really blow up on the dancefloor.
Bruch & Junior – Runway to Kenia Bruch & Junior – Whatcha Want Bruch & Junior – Seat No Fastbelts Bruch & Junior – Jazzbians -
SVT 055 Juli Holz feat. Daso – Winterabend
Finally, Juli Holz is back on Stil vor Talent. The whispery and enchanting voice of the blonde singer and producer can now be heard again on two new tracks on Stil vor Talent. While her topics are still clearly defined, circling around music, love and life in the big city, her music has become more house-orientated and is even mingling with straight pop music. On the title track of her EP "Winterabend", translating as "winter evening", the charismatically shy Juli Holz sings about the cold feeling after a break-up. The constant overlaying of her own vocals almost creates the feeling of an inner dialogue with herself making Juli a truly digital artist, who creates her music on the fly, changing, alternating the musical patterns on her laptop while singing on top of this great poppy groove that goes under your skin. However introvert her music might be, it's pop music how it should be. On the flip label manager Oliver Koletzki has the pleasure to create his own remix of "Winterabend". He keeps the speed of the original but transforms the track into a much more dancefloor-orientated piece of house music. Big organic beat loops, Juli's voice samples cut up and then his oh-so-typical array of grand pianos and funky guitars make this, once again, simply a crescendo of greatness! Juli has teamed up with her old friend and production partner Daso to create the daunting tech house drift that is "Königskinder". This one keeps pumping all through its almost ten minutes and is a very neatly orchestrated piece of music that throws in some of Juli's highly reverbed vocals that are then cleared up again as well as some drunk trumpets over the pumping tech-house loop. While it's rapidly getting cold outside, we are happy we now have some warm music to hold onto again!
booking contact | download press kit | soundcloud | facebook | myspaceJuli Holz feat. Daso – Koenigskinder Juli Holz – Winterabend Juli Holz – Winterabend (Oliver Koletzki Remix) -
SVT 054 Oliver Koletzki & Fran – I Might
After Oliver's and Fran's track "Echoes" already received the full remix treatment it is now the slow jazzy trip-hop ballad "I Might" that gets cured for the dancefloor. First up Murat Kilic takes the original and transforms it into a fast-paced grooving tech-house monster that cuts up the vocal to a rhythmic piece of percussion that jumps nicely in tune with the great punchy synth. This tune is deep, fast and for the floor. We can see the floor shuffling to this already. Then, the Swiss producers Animal Trainer who keep the jazzy ethos and vibe of the original while still creating something new to groove to. Some very natural and organic drumming underlines the deep piano parts that are clearly inspired by the original. Add some house beats on top and here it is: a musical dancefloor pusher. Besides the original track there is also one more track on this EP: a remix of the equally jazzy ballad "Strandbar Berlin" by Björn Störig, who happens to be the drummer of Oliver's live band "The Koletzkis". He has created a wonderfully smooth deeply moving house track that catapults "Strandbar Berlin" onto the dancefloor. The second installment of album remixes is fit and ready for the floor!
Oliver Koletzki & Fran – I Might (Muratkilic Remix) Oliver Koletzki & Fran – I Might (Orginal Mix) Oliver Koletzki & Fran – I Might (Animal Trainer Remix) Oliver Koletzki – Strandbar Berlin (Björn Störig Remix) -
SVT 053 Kellerkind vs. Animal Trainer – Swiss Edition
Private number accounts, smelly cheese and a funny language is not all there is to Switzerland, stupid! Of course there is a lot of great house music coming from the land of the ski, as we know already from Stil vor Talent's very own producers Kellerkind and Animal Trainer. Now here comes an EP totally dedicated to the Swiss. First up is the DJ and producer Kellerkind who start out with "Snupi", a sample-based time machine to a better era that includes a perfectly orchestrated ensemble of organic jazz beats, analogue pianos, digital strings, some vocals and an unstoppable groove. In collaboration with buraq, Kellerkind presents us the more stomping piece of tech-house with some stronger beats – "Charly Braun". Still, the classical instruments from trumpets to an upright piano solo to some nicely placed string stabs are all in here to create that very special molding between electronic and acoustic music. It's like big band film music for the house dancefloors! On the flip it's the Zurich-based production duo Animal Trainer with two fresh tracks. "I Give U" can't conceal the fun that the two must have had when creating this swinging piece of tech-house. Imagine a cartoon-style pitched up vocal, some real speedy piano sample plus a really enchanting groove. This is a body shaker! "Handsome" rounds up the EP with a very strong dancefloor focus; actually, this is a tech house monster. Slowly pumping at the beginning this track really kicks off when the synth melody drops in around halfway through the track. A real subtle beast that keeps on pumping until the end. Well done Still vor Talent: four new, very unique house tracks hailing from Switzerland. Grüezi!
Kellerkindel – Snuppi Kellerkindel – Charlie Braun Animal Trainer - I Give U Animal Trainer - Mr Handsome -
SVT 052 Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Echoes
A1 Echoes - Niko Schwind Remix A2 Echoes - Original B1 Echoes - Solomun Remix B2 Echoes - Oliver Koletzki Remix The producer and DJ Oliver Koletzki and singer Fran are still firmly riding on the fast track to glorious pop music. After the first single “Arrow and Bow” of their new album “Lovestoned” they now release “Echoes", both as a maxi single with four different remixes and a vinyl edition that includes three of the remixes. But let’s start with the original, which is easily one of the strongest and most powerful songs of the album. It is here where Koletzki’s background as a producer of house and techno meets with Fran’s ability to create divine lyrics and perform them with her unmistakable voice. With it’s groovy loop, some softly floating pianos and great musical synthesisers the track reminds of pop tracks by the likes of Mia or Morcheeba. A sure hit, for the dancefloor, the living room and the radio station! Stil vor Talent’s goldfinger Niko Schwind who takes some of the best parts of the original vocal and bassline and adds some surrounding percussions and effects. By adding some strings to the vocal on the breakdown, he manages to create an eery moment that is juxtaposed by the pure beauty of the rest of this techy remix. After the original Version it is the Hamburg-based house don Solomun who drops a fat acidy bassline onto the sweet vocal and perfectly manages to have everyone going wild while at the same time hugging each other. Add some typical empathic strings and this is the ideal sundownder track. And, Solomun, like all of the remixers seems to be very much in love with Fran’s vocal. And to be honest, we can’t get enough it ourselves.
Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Echoes Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Echoes (Oliver Koletzki Remix) Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Echoes (Kris Menace Remix) Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Echoes (Niko Schwind Remix) Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Echoes (Solomun Remix) -
SVT 051 Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Arrow and Bow
Finally here it comes! After his über-successful last album “Großstadtmärchen” including the singles “Hypnotized” and “U-Bahn” Oliver Koletzki is now releasing the first single release of his new album “Lovestoned” that is set to be released in autumn this year. For the album, and subsequently this first glimpse of the album, Oliver Koletzki has teamed up with singer and girlfriend Fran, who previously hypnotized listeners across the country with her magical voice. “Arrow and Bow” - the title hints at what this song is about: love! Musically the track is a thrilling trip into 80ies pop sounds: synthesizers that cause goose bumps, clap snares that will move heads and toes and of course, Fran’s beautiful voice that reminds us about the wonderful game of getting to know each other. This is an authentic love song, a danceable pas de deux that has one message: love is fun! The single comes with three extra versions of the original track and Oliver has really managed to convince some of the hottest names in house and techno to remix this first single. Man of the moment Marek Hemann has turned the track into a deeply romantic house affair. Keeping some of the best parts of the vocal but colouring them with some beautifully melodic synthesizer patterns makes “Arrow and Bow” fit for the educated dancefloor and ready for summery house music action. Purely wonderful! Then, Stil vor Talent’s very own Channel X have taken a more minimal approach transforming the poppy original into a grooving and pumping piece of tech-house. Filled with effects and one of the purest breakdowns this track keeps bouncing right through until the end. This is killer - no filler. Of course, Oliver Koletzki himself has taken the original to produce a club remix. And this track combines Oliver’s ability of songwriting with his skills and perceptions of a DJ. The superb mix of steady house grooves and piano melodies juxtaposed with snippets of the original vocals make this track highly ready for any k
Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Arrow and Bow Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Arrow and Bow (Marek Hemmann Remix) Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Arrow and Bow (Oliver Koletzki Remix) Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Arrow and Bow (Channel X Remix) -
SVT 050 Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Lovestoned
Lovestoned! Finally here it comes: the eagerly anticipated follow-up album of DJ und producer Oliver Koletzki, set for release in September this year. After the success of “Großstadtmärchen” Oliver Koletzki has teamed up with singer Fran, voice of the über-successful single “Hypnotized", to record an 11-track electronic pop album. Fran and Oliver are not merely partners in crime when it comes to music - they are also lovestoned, glued together by their mutual love for music and their love for each other. A fact that is omnipresent on their new album: eleven songs about getting to know each other, eleven songs about spending time together, eleven songs about the first kiss, eleven songs about the wonder that is love! Muscially, “Lovestoned” is a journey through Fran’s and Oliver’s different influences: from sample-based house to synthie-pop, from late 70ies glam to late 90ies ambient in the style of Bonobo and on top this album also includes some nuggets of Jazz. The impeccable songwriting, the feeling for the right dose of pop anthems, Fran’s pure voice in English and German elevate Fran’s and Oliver’s music to a new height...
Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Lovestoned Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Arrow and Bow Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Echoes Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Kleiner Drei Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Strandbar Berlin Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Hollywood Boulevard Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Fingertips Oliver Koletzki & Fran - Smile Oliver Koletzki & Fran – It's a pleasure to meet you Oliver Koletzki & Fran – Kissenschlacht Oliver Koletzki & Fran – I might -
SVT 048 Aka Aka & Umami – Ich & Du
One of Berlin’s finest DJ and producer teams – AKA AKA – are back on Stil vor Talent with their first full on 12” that showcases three fresh tracks, straight for the floor. Things kick off with title track “Ich & Du” (Me & You) where AKA AKA invite everybody on the dancefloor to sing along to this smooth deep and melodic vocal that is performed by Umami. Over a tantalisingly smooth tech-house loop the track slowly ushers everyone into musical nirvana while still letting off enough steam on the breakdown to make this track a very unique peak time tech-house-fest. Hit! Next up on the flip is “4 Fäuste für ein Halleluja” which was already released last summer to great acclaim on the digital sublabel of Koletzki’s label. Now on vinyl it sounds even better: a chunky kick drum and those signature percussions AKA AKA are known for plus some great chopped up vocals. If the title is reminiscent of Bud Spencer’s fight-up films, these are also represented in the sounds: some great foley effects of people getting smacked add to the creative percussions on this slow techy burner. Last up is “Sandpiper”, the perfect track for the summer afterhour: happy Southern guitars and some sped-up singing over a slightly faster groove teleport us directly on the beach dancing along to AKA AKA’s happy techno.
Aka Aka & Umami - Ich & Du Aka Aka - 4 Fäuste für ein Hallelulja Aka Aka - Sandpiper -
SVT 047 Channel X – X Files Part 2
Prepare for the summer season with this second four-track-vinyl release of Channel X’s debut album “X Files”. Producers André and Mirko start out with “Behind the mirror”, a track that perfectly encapsulates the funkiness that they manage to inject into minimal techno. Then, with “Monday” they have created the ultimate Berlin afterhour wooden minimal tech-track. If there were a track right for 10 am at renowned Berlin’s adults playground Bar 25, this would be it. On the flip it’s more of the musical circus-infused polka tech-house that we love this city for: “Circus Bizzare” is full of strange effects, short vocal snippets and percussions while “Marvel”, the last track of the EP, simply remains a wonderful straight piece of grooving minimal house music that you just can’t stop moving to.
Channel X – Behind the Mirror Channel X – Monday feat. Meggy Channel X – Circus Bizarre Channel X – Marvel -
SVT 046 Channel X – X Files Part 1
This is the first of two vinyl releases of the Channel X debut album “The X Files”. André and Mirko decided to put four smashers on this first EP: it kicks off with circus-infused polka minimal tech track “Freak Show”. Next up is “Strange Girl”, the tooly and soulful vocal tech-house that Channel X have become renowned for. On the flip it’s Channel X show how deep their house approach can go on the super sweet male vocal track “Snug Descent”. Last, but surely not least this EP finishes with “We love the X”, a perfect showcase of what Channel X stand for: vocals, effects, big basslines and strong loops.
Channel X – Freak Show Channel X – Strange Girl Channel X – Snug Descent Channel X – We Love the X feat. Oliver Koletzki -
SVT 045 Channel X – X Files
"The truth is out there“: that used to be the slogan of agent Scully and agent Mulder in the seminal 90ies TV series “The X Files”. Now it’s 2010 and club agents André and Mirko can finally claim: “Our first album is out there!” On no other label than Oliver Koletzki’s prolific Stil vor Talent the two producers from Berlin that form CHANNEL X now release their debut album after tons of great singles and EPs for Autist, Kassette, Opposum, Upon You and of course Stil vor Talent. “X Files” will be released as continuous mix CD with ten new and exclusive tracks as well as some of the best CHANNEL X tracks that they have released on Stil vor Talent in the past. Also, of course, there will be two vinyl releases accompanying the CD releases, each with four tracks from the “X Files” (SVT 046 & SVT 047).
Channel X – Against the Wall Channel X feat. Meggy – Monday Channel X – Circus Bizarre Channel X – Black Coffee Niko Schwind – Fly (Channel X Remix) Channel X – Behind the Mirror Channel X – Freak Show Channel X feat. Oliver Koletzki – We love the X Channel X – Mosquito Channel X – Marvel Channel X – Ticket Channel X – My Dear Channel X – Strange Girl Channel X – Spooky Lights -
SVT 044 Niko Schwind – Midnightfunk
Might Niko Schwind be the new kingpin of house music? Everybody needs to find out for himself of course and that is best done when listening to his freshest output for Stil vor Talent: the “Midnightfunk” EP. It kicks off with the title track that features the great Chicagoeske vocal skills of Patrick Blasa, who takes us in on this journey towards a time when house music ruled the waves of the club oceans. Imagine a sticky slap bass, cowbells, high-pitched vocals and low-pitched male laughing plus of course the greatest thing about this scorcher: a somewhat jetlagged piano that seems to leap behind in one moment to then be right there again when it matters. Ace! With “Just a Groove” Berlin-based Niko dips deeply into the world of crescendo tech-house. The vocal builds up over one of those steadily wobbling basslines and some high-pitch effects juxtapose the beautiful jazzy piano of the breakdown. On the flip it’s “Sonderbar”: an even more jazzy approach to techy house music of 2010. Weird, slightly minimal, but still very musical and the best thing about it: Niko just can’t do without vocals and that is a wonderful thing. Last up then “Midnightfunk”, a more tooly piece of darker house that slowly builds up the tension and keeps grooving all the way through until it kicks off into a deep hypnotic flow. If kingpin or not: this record sounds great, all the way through!
Niko Schwind feat. Patrick Blasa – Sunshine Niko Schwind – Just a Groove Niko Schwind – Sonderbar Niko Schwind – Midnightfunk -
SVT 043 The Very Best of Stil vor Talent Digital 2
It's still like that: even though digital is everywhere there is still something very special about having your own tracks on a vinyl release. So this is it again: the very best of the last releases on Koletzki's sublabel Stil vor Talent Digital on a double-sided vinyl edition. Starting off with two tracks by Bruch & Junior that couldnt be more different: While "Fiesta de la Residencia" sounds like somebody threw some Spanish vocals and trumpets into a pool of tech-house beats and basslines at a maniac afterhour on the White Island (ergo: great), "Sunset" is the deeply euphoric sound for the morning after. The synthesizers so crisp and all around you, the beat and bassline so warm and seductive: this is purely magical music that will make you forget when the sun went down or up the last time while still making you want to shake your legs to the strong bassline and chunky loop. Hit!
On the flip then comes a re-work of a massive hit on Stil vor Talent: a 2010 version of Nicone's "Una Rosa" complete with the original Spanish vocals, but a much more grooving loop that turns into an absolute percussion fest. Claps turn into effects and we all raise our hands to those reverbed original vocals. Last up Australian Murat Kilic with the wonderfully oldskool house anthem "Summer Traffic": great melodic pads, a superbly harmonic bassline and when the breakdown kicks in, an ever-indulging xylophon melody. This whole record has got summer written all over it and helps us all get through this icy winter.
Bruch & Junior – Fiesta de la residencia
(venga edit)Bruch & Junior – Sunset Niconé – Una Rosa 2010 Murat Kilic – Summer Traffic -
SVT 042 David August – Sweden Roof
After his huge success of the summer that was "Trumpet's Victory" only 19-year old kiddo David August is back on Stil vor Talent with his second EP: "Sweden Roof". "Sweden Roof" is also the title track on this two-track EP that is about the funkiness of house music and the glorious moments of melodies. A cut up vocal sample dominates the groove until we can hear why David August is more than a producer, but a musician after all. The great organ melody will have whole floors swinging along to this monster of musical raffinesse. This sound is like crack, once you try, you want more of it.
Now! And luckily there is. Feeding our addiction on the flip is "Soul Kitchen", an even more organic piece of tech-house-niceness. Clap snares, pianos, a deep male vocal sample and equally as much sex appeal as dancing at the carnival in Rio. This is soulful house music and it doesn't get any better. These two new tracks show that David August is no one hit wonder. "Sweden Roof" proves how deeply David seems to be in touch with house music – and the dancefloor!
David August – Sweden Roof David August – Soul Kitchen -
SVT 041 Dapayk Solo – The Little Things You Do
For the freshest release on Stil vor Talent label daddy Oliver Koletzki managed to convince no less than techno protagonist Dapayk to produce a full EP. "The Little Things You Do" starts off on the logo side with "This is the..." – an oldskool house track that will have everyone singing to those syncopated vocal patches and moving along to these typical Dapayk effects. Call it hypnotic house or groovy dance music – this will work very well on the floor.
Then on the flip is the remix of "The Little Things You Do" by man of the moment Niko Schwind. An uplifting source of tech-house that explodes like a box of firecrackers on Chinese New Years Day and then gets everyone dreaming like it's the summer of love 1988. Puh – this is fantastic! Last up on the vinyl is "The Groove and Sound", a percussive house groove that keeps building up with some great oldskool synthesizer action and trippy delayed vocals. On the digital release there are two more gems: "The Groove and Sound" in a longer even more hypnotizing version and the original of "The Little Things You Do" – and this is a bomb! A wonderful happy techno anthem with some deep dubstep-like vocals and enough energy to have whole clubs jumping up and down. Honestly, we have tried this.
Dapayk Solo – This is the... Dapayk Solo – The Little Things You Do
Niko Schwind remixDapayk Solo – The Groove & Sound -
SVT 040 Oliver Koletzki – Großstadtmärchen Remixed
This is it! After “Zuckerwatte” here comes the second single release of Oliver Koletzki’s massively successful electronic pop album “Großstadtmärchen". Packed with two hot remixes of the Track “These Habits” by Lexy and AKA AKA, a remix of the über-popular track “Hypnotized” by Dapayk as well as the original of radio single “U-Bahn", this EP marks the perfect boundary between home listening and club action. First up is Lexy with his adaption of “These Habits": he surely is in love with Pyur’s voice as he sticks to the original, cutting up the vocal only slightly to add more rhythmic grooves and a soft layer of bouncy loops on top. This is a very soft approach perfect for dreamy days and dreamy nights. Next up are newcomers AKA AKA who turn “These Habits” into a tech-house-feast. Some wonderfully sequenced reverby sounds add a fifth dimension to the original, plus some shuffling beats towards the break down and then it’s just pure harmony! On the flip: enter the dancefloor with Dapayk, who surely knows how to work with female vocals from his own tracks as Dapayk & Padberg. His wooden loop and super sweet analogue bassline are the foundation for this most minimal approach of “Hypnotized” that will have you run shivers down your spine when he lets the original vocal and melody drop into his staccato beats. We didn’t know that minimal pop would sound this epic in 2009!
Oliver Koletzki feat. Pyur – These Habits
Lexy remixOliver Koletzki feat. Pyur – These Habits
Aka Aka remixOliver Koletzki feat. Fran – Hypnotized
Dapayk remixOliver Koletzki feat. Axel Bosse – U-Bahn -
SVT 039 Niko Schwind vs. Kellerkind
The leaves are falling off the trees, it’s getting cold outside, the days are becoming shorter: Time to hit the clubs and start to feel comfortable in the comfy surroundings of wonderful house music. The newest release on Oliver Koletzki’s Stil vor Talent imprint is the perfect match. One side is reserved for Berlin-based producer and DJ Niko Schwind, on the flip there are two tracks by Swiss up-and-coming house hero Kellerkind. Let’s start with “Hangover”, a wonderful array of vocals, laughing, grooves and a super sweet piano hookline that reminds us all of the good times. Shivers! Next up is “Phreak Out”, a much more techy affair with a very catchy cowbell dominating the loop. When the vocal is dropped in though, this tune turns into a an oldskool minimal house affair that comes into full effect in mad breakdown, that will make everybody raise their hands, for sure. This clears the stage for Kellerkind’s whips and lashes on the flip. “Go” is a deeply grooving sub monster that instantaneously beams the listener onto a barely lit dancefloor where music is everywhere around you, in you and between you. Perfect! Last up “I Believe” is a tripped out piece of housy techno. The grooves jumps up and down in this very druggy enterprise that is guaranteed to get everyone focussed on the most important thing in the club: the music.
Niko Schwind – Hangover Niko Schwind – Phreak Out Kellerkind – Go Kellerkind – I Believe -
SVT 038 David August – Trumpets Victory
Berlins notorious Bar 25 might have closed down for this summer, but this fresh new output by Stil vor Talents new wunderkind David August will keep everyone grooving to the swing-orientated techno that has made this place so special. “Trumpets Victory” is a full-on-attack on your feel-good-hormones: A stompy bassline, an oldskool clap snare, a cut-up vocal for some rhythmic orienation, some white noise and then the most beautiful trumpet melody imaginable. This is just 100% happy! If you think though that this was all there is to this EP, flip the record for more mindblowing melodic tech-house sounds. “Guitarra Baja” is equally strong. A Spanish guitar leads the path for this late-summer-anthem that reminds us of how house music used to be and should be forever: groovy, bouncy, seminal. David August seems to be a master of melodies and grooves. Last up there is “Children", a more percussive house affair with a playful organ line joyfully jumping up and down over the wonderfully wooden bongos and metallic hi-hats. If you are looking to extend your summer fun, this EP is more than a must-have.
David August — Trumpets Victory David August — Guitarra Baja David August — Children -
SVT 037 Oliver Koletzki – Großstadtmärchen
Oliver Koletzki’s highly anticipated second album is an electronic album of the finest proportions. The Berlin-based techno and house producer and DJ Oliver Koletzki has fully committed himself to his roots for this album. They can be traced back to pop music of the 80ies and 90ies, while his productions still manage to transport the fresh energy of today’s electronic music productions. „Großstadtmärchen“ is a perfect example for a producer’s album: Oliver Koletzki has created a musically compact long player while working together with many different singers. Both established artists like Mieze Katz from the German electro-pop outfit MIA., the hot German pop-rock-singer Axel Bosse, critically acclaimed indie band Kate Mosh as well as newcomers such as Fran, Pyur and Juli Holz have contributed to the album. The result are ten songs that easily fluctuate between catchy pop tracks, modern house grooves and 80ies synthesizer pop yet still maintaining a very own Koletzkieske sound dynamic.
Oliver Koletzki feat. Mieze Katz – This is Leisure Oliver Koletzki feat. Juli Holz – Zuckerwatte Oliver Koletzki feat. Axel Bosse – U-Bahn Oliver Koletzki – Kusskompatibel Oliver Koletzki feat. – Warschauer Straße Oliver Koletzki feat. Fran – Hypnotized Oliver Koletzki – Kleines Zwischenspiel Oliver Koletzki feat. Kate Mosh – Headshaped Box Oliver Koletzki feat. Pyur – These Habits Bonus Track by Die Raketen, Oliver Koletzki Remix – Nimm mich mit -
SVT 036 Oliver Koletzki feat. Juli Holz – Zuckerwatte
“Zuckerwatte” is the second single from Oliver Koletzki’s new album “Großstadtmärchen”. And “Zuckerwatte”, which translates as candyfloss is a truly magical tale about love and loss in the big city. The original features Juli Holz’s whispering voice that is so very fragile, and so very beautiful. This is a softly grooving electro-pop discovery. But of course this song has also been transformed for the dancefloor on this single that also features two more tracks from Oliver’s album. First up is the remix by David August, one half of the duo August & Bachert who delivers a top-notch glitchy tech-house edit that makes great dramaturgical use of the original track. Next up is Björn Störig’s vision of “Zuckerwatte”. The drummer of Oliver’s live outfit “The Koletzkis” envisions Juli Holz perform her sweet and sticky singing over some neo-soul tech-RnB influenced electronica that features a Spanish guitar, some great claps and some very nice synthesizers. On the flip there is Koletzkis’s instrumental house-homage “Kusskompatibel” and “These Habits”, on which only seventeen-year-old singer Pyur makes her debut. She sings wonderfully harmonic over this down-beat trip-hop groove and it results in a great hit for the late summer. This single is more than a single. It’s the best thing before the album!
Oliver Koletzki feat. Juli Holz – Zuckerwatte
David August RemixOliver Koletzki feat. Juli Holz – Zuckerwatte Oliver Koletzki feat. Juli Holz – Zuckerwatte
Björn Störig Remix -
SVT 035 Sascha Braemer – Ghost Hand
Just in case someone might have forgotten: Stil vor Talent is based in Berlin. And this EP by Sascha Braemer, one part of Heinrich & Hirtenfellner, proves just that. Braemer, who's just been at the top of everybody's DJ charts with his funk-laden minimal soul piece "Mamba Drums" on Kindisch Records, has donated three tracks to Oliver Koletzkis imprint that mirror what this city is best know for: funky minimal grooves. First up there is "Ghost track" a typical dry minimal loop with a rhythmically in touch vocal sample that is then juxtaposed by a simply astonishing piece of melody. Goose bumps and groove humps on the floor – guaranteed! On the flip: "Girl". Here Braemer has created a dubby piece of tech house that floats towards a soulful vocal and some beautiful strings. This is one for the early morning, or in Berlin, the late afternoon, those times when everything seems in perfect harmony with each other. Last up is "Guitar Man", yet another very sample-based stripped down loop with one riff of an echoed guitar being the protagonist. When that riff is fully played out, we all know it's summer. But it wouldn't be Berlin if there weren't some dark wobbly basslines seemingly destroying this but in fact creating the perfect combination of soft and hard, of light and dark. On top of this the vocal sample "I won't leave" perfectly encapsulates the vibe of the praised Berlin afterhour. Stil vor Talent is back at home with this EP.
Sascha Braemer – Ghost Hand Sascha Braemer – Girl Sascha Braemer – Guitar Man -
SVT 034 Oliver Koletzki feat. Fran – Hypnotized
“Hypnotized“ is the first single from Oliver Koletzki’s highly anticipated second album “Großstadtmärchen”. It features the newcomer singer Fran that turns this track into a wonderful electronic love story. In her beautiful crystal clear voice Fran tells the story of those moments during the night that decide where it’s going to end: a song about love, passion and the energy between two people, a catchy pop anthem about the first dance, the first kiss and that special moment when the night turns into day. Oliver has equipped this song with a wonderful piano melody and a very smooth and poppy electronic beat. Actually it sounds like Fran and Oliver have never been doing anything else than produce wonderfully fresh pop songs together. Beautiful! While the original is a summary pop anthem that you simply can’t get enough of, the remix by Format B could best be described as wonderfully happy techno-pop. Be sure to get enough of this! The two Berlin underground stars have added a great stigmatic guitar loop and a superb syncopated bass line to their groovy loop that is set to make everyone jump up and down. They have cut up Fran’s vocal and when they release it on the breakdown, the whole dancefloor will be hypnotized! On the flip there is also Oliver Koletzki’s instrumental track “Warschauer Strasse” from his album. This is a journey back to his roots, when Oliver first came to Berlin to realise his dream of making music. Also it is an homage to his love for house music. This first single sets the standard for the rest of “Großstadtmärchen”. “Hypnotized” shows how electronic pop music sounds in the summer of 2009: fresh, frisky and hypnotizing.
Oliver Koletzki feat. Fran – Hypnotized
Format B RemixOliver Koletzki – Warschauer Straße Oliver Koletzki feat. Fran – Hypnotized -
SVT 033 The very Best of Stil vor Talent Digital
All those of you who don't know what MP3s are and what digital really means have probably not noticed the digital edition of Stil vor Talent. Well, you are really missing out. Already on its fifth release, it's been getting great responses from fans and critics alike. So for all those still missing out and only buying their music on a "proper" medium, i.e. vinyl, here comes SVT number 33 that features four tracks from SVT digital on vinyl. It's the best of the best of the digital world. First up there is the electro-popping deeply thumping fast minimal monster that is "Woody Woodpecker" by the two Berliners AKA AKA. First it seems like just a great club tool, but hold your breath: when the vocals meet the woody percussions and, best of the best as promised, the didgeridoo and the breakbeat come in, this really hits the floor. This track will turn any dancefloor into a treehouse of pleasure! Straight after that it's CHROMA & INEXCESS with their piece of epic string-techno that keeps wobbling over a groovy tech bass. "Snort my violin" is where a classical theme meets the fast ride that is techno, vocals, effects and chopped up bits and blops all inclusive. This is deeply melancholic and so much fun at the same time. But it wouldnt be Stil vor Talent, if there wasn't some house in there as well. Meet the two Hamburg based AUGUST & BACHERT on the flip, two new souls on the house floor. And they have really produced some wonderful stuff. First up there is "Misssophie", which is a wonderful display of artful house production. Some honey-sweet drops of melody, a super fresh groove and some great exciting little claps and effects make this into a love anthem par excellence. A little extra bass and some dissonants in the middle seem to lead the track astray, but rest assured: there will be a very happy ending to this affair. What a beauty! Last up there is "Rosemarie", which is an equally loveable tech-house anthem. The production on this is even smoother: little arrays of sunshiny goodness and one of the most simple yet effective breakdowns that never totally gives into the temptation of wanting too much. No, it's excactly the right measure actually. Stil vor Talent digital has made it's way onto vinyl and these tracks more than deserve to be pressed on black gold and covered in a nice packaging.
Aka Aka – Woody Woodpecker Chroma & Inexcess – Snort My Violin August & Bachert – Missophie August & Bachert – Rosemarie -
SVT 032 Animal Trainer – Pablo
Finally! After their track "Talkshow" on the third birthday compilation of Stil vor Talent and their latest remix of Niconé's "Abayomi" ANIMAL TRAINER are finally equipped with their very own release on Oliver Koletzki's label Stil vor Talent. And the label boss is a dedicated fan of the sympathetic duo from Switzerland, who are already more than a household name in the country of bank secrets (has been!), mountains and 756 different sorts of cheese. Both children of the illustrous nightlife of trendcapital Zurich, Adrian Flavor and RX have made a name for themselves with their Rakete parties, which they have held at the übercool Hive club and many other locations in and around Switzerland. To be honest, they have actually played almost every club in Switzerland, but have also DJed at international parties such as the Thai Break Festival, Flex club in Vienna, Rave on Snow in Saalbach, Monza in Frankfurt or the Harry Klein in Munich. It was a natural progression for the duo to turn their passion for music and parties into their own productions. Their first very own release now takes off from where the two previously released cuts have started: soulful, warm, yet thriving tech house music with a very fresh approach. First up there is "Rumba", a track that builds around wicked echoed singing, some warm stabs and a superbly placed ice-cold huge sample that, everytime it kicks in, kills everything around it and turns this stripped down tech-fest into one real sick party anthem. This is slick and dirty, polished and grimy, combed and frizzy: all at the same time. A manifest of contrasts that results in a sea of pure bliss. But hold your horses, there is still the title track to come. And "Pablo" really is a super sweet cut. First it seems a very stripped down piece of tech house: a couple of warm reverby stabs, that are superbly produced however, some punchy percussions, and once again a great vocal sample that keeps calling Pablo from wherever the bugger is hiding. The real clue of this track though is the juxtaposition of those warm housy elements with some great thriving analogue synthies that really give it an edge and will make "Pablo" fit for any dancefloor. The main melody that joins in this array of niceness is super oldskool and will have everybody jumping before they will be taken down back to planet dancefloor by the smoothly pumping beats. What a killer debut EP!
Animal Trainer – Rumba Animal Trainer – Pablo -
SVT 031 Niconé – Abayomi
Nicone are back on Stil vor Talent! After the huge success of the weirdly tripping minimal summer anthem that was "Una Rosa", here comes "Abayomi". And again, it is the wonderful combination of Lexy's production skills and musical intuition combined with the voice of the lovely Narra that make this track describable by two words only: simply beautiful. On the A side there is their very own remix of the title track. A sample-based pumping loop that keeps on building up with its effect-laden sample library. Add a funky bassline to this and the African-sounding vocals by Narra: the result is a wonderfully original minimal piece of techno. On the flip, the Swiss duo that is Animal Trainer take on the original title to turn it into a house anthem par excellence. Some warm stabs, the cutting-up of the original vocal and many percussive beat effects: this is a journey into house. Hi-Hats, many snares and so much musical history are built into this, it will keep everyone nodding their heads on the dancefloor. Last up is the real original track by Nicone. This is even more stripped down than their own remix. Great soulful singing in a choir of voices that seem to call upon the goddess of beat. And they get it: a super sweet warm minimal sound and some strong clicks and clacks. this is as good as it gets! Once again Nicone show that they can turn any dancefloor into an African-like rejoicing choir. They take inspiration from two different worlds and one thing becomes clear: be it the real jungle or the jungle that is nightlife, everybody will be united by the beat!
Niconé – Abayomi Niconé – Abayomi Niconé – Abayomi -
SVT 030 Oliver Koletzki – Remixed 01
Back in 2008 Oliver Koletzki released his 4-track-EP "This is so fucking oldschool". Now Stil vor Talent presents the first exclusive remix package of the most successful track of the EP "Since you are gone". With this beautfiul summer house track in mind, it wasn't difficult to convince some of the biggest names in the Stil vor Talent family to get their hands on the track to produce a remix for it. First up is Goa-born techno brainchild Daso. He turns the track into a wonderfully harmonic and warm piece of melodic techno that will keep you grooving until the morning hours for sure. A great guitarry bassline, some little pumping bits and bops plus those typically warm Dasoeske synthie sounds that we simply cannot stop loving. Then, when he puts the original melody in, it's "All arms in the air" guaranteed. This remix is simply wonderful! Next up are Nicone who seem to take an entirely different approach at first and come up with a real original interpretation: A great piano sample and some great club talk about two lovers showing their love for each other make the beginning of this track sound like from a different musical plant. This totally different world is then positively interrupted by some great minimal beats. The track reaches its calamity point when all the different elements are interacting with each other: vocal, effects, loop - it all comes together at just the right moment, nice! On the flip the young Swiss producer Kellerkind is up first and he makes sure to stay true to his roots that seem to be Detroit and Chicago. A wobbling bass, a reverby beat and some softly pumping effects are the base for this track that gets its icing on the cake when Kellerkind drops in Koletzki's original melody. Last up are Penner & Muder who come up with a softly moving techno mob that includes the vocal snippets of the orginal and embeds the melody in a wonderful harmonic scenario. This track never kicks off or goes overboard - it simply keeps floating on a sea of beautiful electronic music. This first remix package of Koletzki’s last EP, that seemed to so perfectly capture the new tendency towards house music, is a great start for Stil vor Talent for 2009. Soft, grooving, pumping, melodic, innovative and beautiful. But hold on, this won't be the last of the remixes. In the summer another track of the original EP will get the full remix makeover by Channel X, Format B and Dirty Doering. To be honest: we are already shaking our feet to this and can't wait for part 2.
Since You Are Gone – DASO REMIX Love Has Got A Name – NICONE REMIX Since You Are Gone – KELLERKIND REMIX Since You Are Gone – PENNER & MUDER REMIX
Stil vor Talent digital
