Review
This latest EP from Hypercolour label co-owner Alex Jones brings up the big 20 for one of the more intriguing UK-based house and techno labels of recent years.
Alex Jones
Disappointing Dancefloors
Hypercolour
Disappointing Dancefloors
Hypercolour
If you're in the know when it comes to quality, forward thinking house and techno, then you will no doubt be familiar with London/Brighton imprint Hypercolour. Over the last five years the minds behind the label, Alex Jones, Jamie Russell and more recently Ste Roberts, have signed and released a crop of tracks that include Kris Wadsworth’s iconic Mainline, Mark Henning’s standout The Right Time and more recently serene electronica from dance music’s most talked about new female, Maya Jane Coles.
Much of the labels catalogue could be described as left of centre - at times slightly oddball - house and techno, and its just that which make’s it standout amongst the ever growing barrage of generic house and techno outlets. It’s fitting, then, that full release number 20 lives up to the forward thinking reputation they have established, with Alex Jones delivering a typically twisted four track EP, drenched in his trademark ironic humour – from the track title’s to the Mr Blobby artwork! Yes Mr Blobby (apparently his label cohorts think Alex is a dead ringer for Noel Edmonds’ pink friend).
2011 has already seen Jones make his debut on Connaisseur Recordings as well on legendary German imprint Playhouse, both to much praise. Much like his Playhouse release Disappointing Dancefloors combines a haunting vocal and synth line with a snare that’s hard to miss. Although the name might suggest otherwise, it’s got bags of dance floor appeal; the bass line boasts a certain funk and adds some serious groove to proceedings.
Morning Game follows in a similar fashion; a mid tempo, erie work out that make use of a diva like vocal, which in trademark Jones fashion has been processed to make it sound like it could have come from a dark sci-fi flick rather than a smooth RnB cut. Romanian Pika also uses a moaning, seductive female vocal that floats over gnarly bass tones and punchy Roland percussion.
Rounding off the EP, Cowboy Trap is a collaborative effort from Jones and Detroit’s Kris Wadsworth who supplies a colourful vocal that will bring a rye smile to any discerning dance floor. The groove reflects the playful vocals with a throbbing kick and bass, delayed synth action and metallic percussion; it’s a driving tech houser with a serious sense of fun.
Just as Hypercolour continue to cement their place at the forefront of innovative house and techno, so too does Alex Jones as a producer in his own right. Whilst many house and techno producers look to simply put forth tried and tested formulas, Jones is creating original blueprints of his own.
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