Rush Hour Recordings: Tom Trago, BNJMN, Virgo Four, House of Jezebel &c

this label has been killing it lately with creative, purely pleasurable house that's both super-smooth and totally jacking. the re-release of the virgo four album last year, which i was really glad about cuz i'd never heard it before. house of jezebel's "love & happiness" at the tail end of 2010 was brilliant:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQc_bucF3Bk

tom trago's iris is probably my favourite dance album of 2011 so far, give or take the k-she reissue - so many ideas and hooks from start to finish, in both the vocal and instrumental tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgy6ICmftZY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyTS1cl0Ql0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeS45_lxJ2U

his xlr8r podcast is excellent too: http://www.xlr8r.com/podcast/2011/04/tom-trago

bnjmn's plastic world is a great album from this year too, also his louche podcast: http://soundcloud.com/djmixes/bnjmn-louche-podcast-45-27-05

Tevo Howard fulllength forthcoming should be amazing. Enjoyed the Shakir comp last year. 30 seconds into Tom Trago listening and loving, so thanks for that.

Loving both the Virgo releases, and the Mandre stuff I've heard is pretty sweet.

let's not forget rush hour direct current, my bread and butter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61ZExOpcZKU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJLFglK7qDk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXwrUfEUd7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_fHuWTORRE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEgg-p5oTzk

http://covers01.subsequent.de/cover/00/00/97/0000972c_199x199DPI72.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgtLt7-IgPA&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxCHloDK6Tg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aly7FMMGgpU

complete the set

http://s.dsimg.com/image/R-2424810-1283337249.jpeg

Tevo Howard fulllength forthcoming should be amazing.

ooh didn't know this was imminent, i love "the age of compassion"

I really like the direct current stuff too, can't get enough of the latest Cosmin TRG double 12".

Those Virgo re-releases are amazing too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxqBjC4EQIM

one of this year's best remixes imho

that tom trago album has been blowing my mind. one of my favorites this year as well

obviously the virgo and mandre stuff is phenomenal, and i sprung for that cosmin trg thing on vinyl and have been enjoying that. surprised we didn't have a thread on this label sooner

i have't heard mandre yet. must get on that.

it is hard to believe there wasn't a thread already! not mentioned (in this thread): oliverwho factory "galactic transit", anthony shakir comp, freak seven "nano"

the shake comp alone is one of 21st century man's greatest achievements

all of the Rick Willhite and Gene Hunt comps are totally essential

the House Of Trax, Ron Hardy and Rob Hood reissues most welcome

Ricardo Miranda "Black Acid" and Boo Williams Residual EP two of the biggest records of 2010 for me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZwiFhZHDg&feature=related

comprehensive romanthony reissue later in the year

comprehensive romanthony reissue later in the year

1xCD not so comprehensive?

it sounds like it might just be unreleased early demos?

i guess any news is good news but a 3xCD box of black male tracks would be appropriate as well as a reissue of romanthony & dj predator ... going to put on live in the mix to celebrate

huh, thought I read something that made it sound like more than just demos! that's a (mild) shame.

from FACT

Rush Hour bow to no one when it comes to dance music reissues, and their 2011 schedule is as mouthwatering as we’ve come to expect. The main even from our point of view is a planned anthology of Romanthony‘s work. For the past decade the US vocalist and producer has been best known for his contributions to more commercial-leaning house productions, but Rush Hour’s set will naturally focus on his earlier, grittier work, ranging from hits like ‘The Wanderer’ to more obscure cuts lovingly sourced by Macdonald from the vaults and lesser-known vinyl releases.

“I started browsing Romanthony’s catalogue and came across all these private pressings that he made, and there was a lot of stuff that wasn’t released under the Romanthony name but was really good, and because he pressed them up himself they always stayed under the radar.”

This compilation will be available on 3xLP and CD; we’re already drooling in anticipation over here.

actually reading it again it sounds like maybe it will be a mix of early black male stuff ... is the "under the radar" stuff michaelangelo and trojan horse? are the "private pressings" marymac!, mc gift and da housin' projects?

I picked up the Tevo Howard full-length Pandora's Box yesterday, and it's really, really solid (if slightly austere):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LR9fny9_As

The Recloose EP from earlier this summer is fantastic as well, and I've got the Tom Trago LP on special-order right now... Very excited for it. Thanks for the tip-off.

This Tom Trago record is FANTASTIC, wow! Lex, you're right--so many hooks and great little ideas all over everything. I can already tell this is going to get lots of play. (Also: clear vinyl!)

Yeah, the Tom Trago is astonishing. Immaculate and so generous. Not quite accurate I know, but still I mentally file it somewhere halfway between Metro Area, and Luomo's Convivial.

I kinda just want to bang the drum about this Tom Trago until everyone I know buys a copy. It's undeniable. And yeah, it touches a whole lot of bases in terms of style without being so enamored with its own eclecticism that it becomes a mess or doesn't hang together.

we talking about the new one or voyage direct?

Iris (new one)...

(bangs drum) Tra-Go Tra-Go Tra-Go

it is a damn good record

what has this label been up to lately? i liked this one from a few months back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWcLmi1ypWs

^ Yep, really nice. Maxi Mill was a co/ghost producer on Iris and this 12" definitely sounds like an extended more functional (no insult) take on the Iris sound.

still getting lots of mileage out of the tevo howard album too... i guess on the whole it is a bit austere but anyone who will f/w the stuff on the 'techno and keven drumm records' thread should find it relatively warm and charismatic

The Tevo's grown on me... His new-ish EP "The Drum Machine Man" (first release on his own Tevo Howard Recordings Label) is freaking fantastic, too.

so psyched for romanthony

wow i just realized what this BNJMN stuff has been reminding me of: ken ishii's more ambient work

idk shit about ken ishii, what tracks/albums in particular? i really dig the BNJMN stuff

has rush hour put anything out recently? seems like they've gone a but dormant but i prob missed some stuff

ok welp to answer my own question...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtWRFc23D6Q

i feel like it samples something contemporary but i can't put my finger on it

this looks rad, too: http://www.discogs.com/Burrell-Brothers-The-The-Nu-Groove-Years-Part-1-1988-1992/release/3400334

omg rheji burrell RULES. That's an awesome comp but so incomplete.

well it does say 'part 1'

Alfabet -Hell of Samba

http://soundcloud.com/rushhourrecords/sets/alfabet-e-f/

Has been doing it for me recently. Can't stop playing those dub versions Tom Trago put out the end of last year too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcHHz9iQIqk

here's what i was talking about, re: ken ishii

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKewO2UL_Qk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJnNBeGqozc

really feeling tevo howard's "at all pursuits"

holy crap @ "once upon a time in amsterdam"..... slow burner

"caught on you" on amsterdam all-stars is also great. man!

C2 remix is the dancefloor bomb, 1997 style

http://soundcloud.com/rushhourrecords/sets/tom-trago-use-me-again

this thing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVSeYANZ_B4

The new Tom Trago album is really good - a bit back-heavy but takes in a lot of styles. Crydamoure filter-house, jacking analogue revivalism and melancholic disco all present, and the last track takes Mentasm hoover noises and marries them to sad vocodored house, which is more brilliant than the description suggests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPujwDoSMWI

"Two Together" is an absolute JOY to hear in the club.

yup and yup