Yør - Modern Slaves Of Contemporary Contexts [PurpleMaze]

Expect to get lured into the Purple Maze with this third release by the Dutch imprint, once again by mysterious producer Yør with his “Modern Slaves Of Contemporary Contexts EP”. Again it will be a shadowy and esoteric dancefloor experience like few others. The EP starts with ‘ABCM’, a dystopian landscape of buzzing machines, ticking percussion and raw drums that builds and builds until eventually coalescing into a foreboding and roughshod house groove. The sound of circling space ships, dangling glass tubes and other odd effects flesh out the groove into something really quite intense. 'Dystopia' continues in Yør's tradition of contrary titles, because it's in fact a soothing cut doused in ambiance that relaxes you after the agro ride that went before. There are some bumpy beats underneath the whole thing but the large spaces above are what mostly occupy your mind, before 'Fear And Desire' comes over like a deep, spare Redshape cut: searching synths, a fine grain texture and plenty of disheveled Detroit vibes. Closer 'Phaedra's Love' is a scuffed deep house kicker with delicate tambourines, somber buried melodies and a only the faintest sense of optimism muffled in its concealed core... Modern Slaves Of Contemporary Contexts, then, is another great EP from an unordinary sonic world.

Yør - After Strange Gods mix

After Strange Gods by Yør

Yør - Rave [Purple Maze]

After some challenging an experimental offerings last time out, secretive musicos Purple Maze are to release their second offering, the Rave EP. It comes from equally low-key producer Yør, and is a release that operates a little closer to the dancefloor than maze 001.Despite the opening track’s title, though, ‘Rave’ is still no mindless banger. It’s heavy, analogue and deep house with a well-swung kick swaying back and forth to start it off. Soon as some minor chords drop in from above, though, the air turns dark and somber and things wallow. But with the arrival of some sandy hi-hats and grimy percussion, the mood grows optimistic rather than pessimistic, and picks up momentum as a result.‘Golden Boy’ is slightly more mobile from the off. Again taught analogue bass notes start it, but nebulous samples and percussive sounds flesh out the structure as a panning tick grows louder and a radiant synth line weaves its way throughout the whole mix, threating to explode into euphoria. As a result you stayed lock in, willing it to break out, but it doesn’t… the subtle joy of the chase is immeasurable.‘2712’ is like eavesdropping on a busy dancefloor from somewhere underground: The whole thing is in fine grain, with soft focus beats and indecipherable voices all muffled by static and tape hiss. It fades and dissipates with no warning and sounds as if it started long before we tuned in, and will go on long after the thing finishes… eerie, earthy stuff.

Maze002 - Yør - Rave EP by PurpleMazeMusic

The Please - 's-Gravendijkwal [Purple Maze]

A1 - Abodigital Dishwasher

A2 - Laserguided Weapon

B1 - Sampler Crack

B2 - Sealed With A Kiss


Anonymous new Dutch imprint Purple Maze is to make its entrance into the under world of electronic music courtesy of a 4 track EP from The Please on September 26th 2011. The Dutch duo comprised of Hans Verhaag & Minggus Dorpmans favour lo-fi, often slo-mo sounds that cross pollinate house music with a whole other world of leftfield electronic sounds, and do just that on this new EP. A1 ‘Abodigital Dishwasher’ is a raw and lazy house beat that’s fleshed out with plenty of reverb, a languorous bassline and some warm male groans. It’s unhurried to the point of almost being stood still, yet as it slowly churns you can’t not listen in….‘Laserguided Weapon’ is a much more kaleidoscopic cut with glassy sounds, tinkling melodies and drippy keys all running down the face of some Fly-Lo like syncopated hip-hop beats, whilst ‘Sampler Crack’ is a moody and broody wedge of knackered, rough edged house that eventually splutters and spurts into life as something much more rhythmically complex but equally beautiful.The wide-reaching EP closes with ‘Sealed With A Kiss’ which glistens like chillwave, samples soul vocals expertly and marries the whole thing with plucked guitars and louche drums… it’s dynamic and dense, but hugely evocative just like the EP overall.