Mistress Recordings is the offshoot of DVS1‘s main label HUSH, where the Minneapolis artist explores the more pioneering sounds of house and techno, from producers pushing at the boundaries of genres. Appearing as heavyweight 10″ & 12″ with high quality packaging as well as downloads, these are essential items for your collection even before you get to the music.
E1. Nutype - “Noisy Ride“
Nutype presents a thick rolling bass and shaker hi hats that pin down the other elements of the track. There are handclaps, knocks, subtle squirts of acid and chopped and delayed vocal samples arranged in a complex yet measured way. The breakdowns are of particular note, emphasising the absence (rather than the presence) of these elements with subtle sweeping sounds. Heads down business and very good.
E2. Mike Gervais - “Grind“
Mike is a producer I’ve a lot of respect for and his contribution to this EP, ‘Grind’ is a classic workout of pacy drums and atmospheric, breathy synths. There is a subtle and maddening build of tension in the long breakdown as the synth elements work their way up from the depths and slowly overwhelm the percussion. The tension is kept high by an evolving sample and tight, fast hi hats pulling things onwards. This is powerful and intelligent techno.
F1. Opinion - “Autobahnkirche“
This track is a different beast altogether. Stripped back, flat beats let the background pops, crackles and scrapes breathe providing some some machine funk, but this track is all about the plucked harmony and dubby stabs. It’s beautifully and simply done, and accented at various points by small changes in the percussive parts and echoing shots. Again, the subtlety of the production shines through.
F2. A&S - “Xenix“
I wasn’t prepared for this hyped up, jacking tune but what a pleasure to find it here! Nestling behind the thundering beats and hats is the sort of fattened, burbling funk that’s simply irresistible on a dancefloor. The track oozes classic analogue warmth and arrangement, opening up hi hats and emphasising snares and handclaps as it flies onwards. The simple top line of just 3 notes repeating over and over rounds it out perfectly and provides lightness to re weight below it. Surefire club destroyer and my pick of the bunch.
Mistress is one of those labels that sets itself apart from the crowd with the variety of its releases and the roster of artists it supports. If it’s not on your radar then it should be, and 5.3 is a great place to start.
You checkout the whole Mistress 5 collection in the player above including 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.
- Reviewed by Stuart Ingram for deathtechno.com
