(April 2010) After a serious hiatus the German electrofunk label, City Beat Records, has taken its head from under the duvet, slipped into its white trainers and decided to return to the music scene. After an eight year hibernation the imprint is back with a split 12″ EP, side one hosting Audio Sonic Crew with the flip being home to Electrodefender. So, has the label lost its edge after such a prolonged period of breakin’ paralysis?
As soon as the needle hits this record this question is answers, no. Sonic Audio Crew’s “Cosmic Electronic” gets the show underway with phat beats and a serious bit of vocoder action. The track doesn’t sound like it came from 1980’s America, but has that cleaned up German electrofunk feel. Next up is perhaps the track of the record, “Computer Rock.” A shuddering bassline and corrupted vocoder lyrics, about the winning subject of a computer, battle it out with vintage snares sliced with scratches and samples. A real classic and treat for any electro zealot. Turn over and Electrodefender introduces himself with “Robot Track.” The vocoder is held on to as the track drops in tempo whilst holding on to some of b-boy energy. The first City Beat Records12″ in almost a decade ends with “Fantasy Place.” The tempo remains lowered for this deep track that really has some of that nostalgic US sound, with piano drops and just the right synth notes.
The sound of City Beat follows down the line of other established electrofunk labels, like Dominance Electricity. It is not a sound that harks back to the past, but appreciates its roots. Hopefully it won’t take another eight years for the next release.
This 12″ record is out now on City Beat.
Related posts ::
Idlefon :: Intensive Collectivity Known As City (Tympanik Audio)
Pye Corner Audio :: Let’s Emerge! (Sonic Cathedral)
Secret Frequency Crew :: Forest of the Echo Downs (Schematic, CD)
Sand Circles :: Motor City / Motor City Remixes (Posh Isolation)
Dickie Smabers and the Morwijk Crew :: F.C. Den Haag (Dumb Terminal)
