This is Substantial Sounds for Summer 2013. This is where we talk about singles and albums that we think stood out. We are fortunate to receive an intense amount of incredible music from some of the best labels in Electronic Music. Subdivisions Global Radio is a dance music formatted show that receives a wide variety of music for consideration to be played each week. At Subdivisions Global Radio we have an array of taste and try to showcase that on a weekly basis. A lot of music was not getting exposed such as, full albums, compilations, down tempo, chill vibe, well thought out EP’s and a ton of dance singles. We know we can’t play or share everything but we now have a great opportunity to share a great variety of music that we think is solid and that people might not otherwise hear. We are excited to use this section to introduce you, our listeners, to some of these incredible sounds!

Marsbeing – Don’t Stop Dreaming Album – Moonbeam Digital

Ukrain producer Marsbeing, is back at it with an exceptional 5 track EP (Album) of beautiful, textured Technohouse and House, with a restrained progressive vibe on Russian label Moonbeam Digital. The album starts out with “Don’t Stop Dreaming” which is an ethereal builder with a beautiful piano underlay that got my attention right away. Next up, was “Grove” which has all the Technohouse, Detroit Techno vibe this old man needed. The layered percussion combined with the melody, minus the thumping four on the floor made it stick for me. “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” is a nice, lower slung progressive track. Marsbeing ends it all with “Breath” an ambient gem of texture and depth with great stereo spread. This is a great album to keep you chill while doing office work or on the drive at traffic time!

(click link to listen)

Various Artists – Impossible EP #2 – Proceed Records Digital

Italian label Proceed Digital delivers a fantastic, various artist house EP. As a music producer and DJ/Host of a global syndicated radio show, I am personally not a fan of the various artist EP’s but was pleasantly surprised by this 4 track of solid, house jams. Proceed Records main man and owner, Haldo, starts the package off with “A Short Trip”, a feel good, house track with a grooving baseline and a bit of piano to get the party moving. Another stand out is the Fabrizio Marra track, “Shake It”, with its sweet, percussion and spacial baseline that really lets this track groove. If your into House then all four tracks are solid and worth your attention.

Various Artist – Impossible EP #2 – Proceed Records

(click link to listen)

Floorplan – Paradise – M-Plant

This album is an education in techno and house. Floorplan, aka legendary Detroit producer Robert Hood, shows how it should be done. Mr. Hood does what so few Techno producers can do, he delivers 10 tracks of solid, grooving, music that fits seamlessly and doesn’t sound or feel like your listening to the same damn song all the way through. My faves are “Never Grow Old”, a house track with a classic female voice sample and simple soulful progression. “Baby, Baby” is a floor killer of ass shaking Technohouse along with “Chord Principle” that has that classic, 90’s Detroit sound. Another fave is “Confess” because you can never go wrong adding a classic English Beat sample. All of these tracks are solid on their own but I find something special about listening to them the way the artist intended, which is together!

Floorplan – Paradise – M-Plant

(click link to listen)

Dj Schwa – Lay it Down (dj mixed compilation) – Beef Records

This compilation of downtempo and chill jams is a great change of pace just in time for summer! DJ Schwa, who is one half of the incredible Australian house production team of Shades of Gray takes you on a deep, chill, adventure that is sure to relax you and make you think about a trip Down Under. The promo came with five tracks from the mix compilation and some are top notch, chill goodness. The stand out for me was the Sarp Yilmaz track, “Simple Words'” which is soulful goodness for sure. Keep your ears open and your eyes peeled for this DJ mix and compilation worth your time and a bit money for sure!

Dj Schwa – Lay it Down (dj mixed compilation) – Beef Records

(click link to listen)

Till Von Sein & Tigerskin – Molly Brown EP – Dirt Crew Recordings

Amazing that none of the tracks off this phenomenal EP made it on the radio show, what were we thinking? Till Von Sein & Tigerskin did a great job on this EP, starting off with a bit more of a techy house track called “Being Alter”. They move straight into the deeper, sexier vibe track “Home Alone”. These pros keep the variety up with the acid house tinged builder, “Molly Brown” which is sure to keep any dance floor moving. The boys finish the EP with a funky, filter housed, tinged track called “Permille’s Kitchen”. It’s very rare in my world to come across a dance EP or dance album that is varied in sound and style yet sticks to a genre. Hats off to Till Von Sein, Tigerskin and Dirt Crew Recordings for knocking it straight out of the park with the Molly Brown EP!

Till Von Sein & Tigerskin – Molly Brown EP – Dirt Crew Recordings

(click link to listen)

Various Artist – BBQ Techno Vol. 3 – Connaisseur Recordings

This various artist compilation is nothing less then excellent! The quality and variety of these tracks are second to none. I am a big fan of a sound that I personally call, German House, which is essentially lower slung, deep vibe electronic music with tasteful vocals or samples with incredible production quality. Connaisseur Recordings is one of my favorite labels when it comes to this type of sound. We played the soulful technohouse, Koett, “End” track in hour two on Subdivisions #092. You will find the Holtoug, “Noisey Nights” (dizzy days version) track In the Bin – Subdivisions #092 section of the website. Hats off to Connaisseur for providing 13 solid tracks of goodness that I personally can listen to over and over again.

Various Artist – BBQ Techno Vol. 3 – Connaisseur Recordings

(click link to listen)

Kweku Saunderson – Half Man, Half Machine – KMS Records

To say this track does anything other then go off would be a lie. I am and always will be a sucker for the Detroit techno sound! It’s the keys, the way the music feels, mechanical but beautiful all at the same time. Kweku Saunderson brings it full force with his “Half Man, Half Machine” track. The vibe is reminiscent of “Rhythm is Rhythym – Strings of Life” and “The Martian’s – Sex in Zero Gravity” along with other Detroit classic releases from the 90’s. Kweku Saunderson may not have been born in Detroit but his sound and vibe definitely capture the spirt of the Detroit sound – Integrity, Soul, and the future!

Kweku Saunderson – Half Man, Half Machine – KMS Records

(click link to listen)

Kleidosty – Hydras at the Helm – Loöq

This is what I imagine Deep Space travel would sound like. This release is very textured and minimal but has enough variety to keep it fresh. I know that deeper ambient music is not something that a lot of people talk about and I am anything but an expert. I listened to it many times while working and have to say I found it quite good. Stand out tracks for me were “Scuttled”, “Endless Fold”, “Tuesday Shirt”, and “Fraction of Bread”. I love that the folks at Looq Records aren’t afraid to put out diverse styles of music.

Kleidosty – Hydras at the Helm – Loöq

(click link to listen)

Steven Tang – Disconnect to Connect – Smallville Records

Steven Tang builds a package of texture and variety with his “Disconnect to Connect” album. The album starts off ambient and chill but moves smoothly into tracks with textured percussion and Detroit sounding synths. The whole album is really good. The stand outs for me are “Disconnect to Connect”, the jazzy vibe in “It’s Perceived As Sound” and the deeper, Detroit vibe in “Potential Light” and “Some Solace” tracks. I don’t think there is a bad track on the album!