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viewing 1 To 25 of 27 items
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2LP
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ITEM 033LP
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Italian DJ and producer Madato presents his first release since 2012's well-received Portraits EP (ITEM 014EP). With Crafted, his first true long-player, he displays his true dexterity and expertise as a unique storyteller in a world saturated with mediocre attempts at originality. From start to finish the album exudes a clever boldness that many artists seem to leave behind, instead retracing well-worn paths. But not Madato. This is effortlessly apparent throughout Crafted, as techno, disco, rock, and electronica freely intertwine in unique dancefloor gems. With a masterstroke, Madato paints his silent canvas with an array of organic instruments and machines alike. "Last Virgin" and "17 Miles" exude a penchant for rock 'n' roll and dub aesthetics, effortlessly combining crunchy guitar riffs and low-slung bass laid under blasts of spaced-out echoes and super-slick vocals. Losing no focus, Madato leans further into the realm of techno on tracks like "Oh Lover" and "My Fellini"; both are finely-tuned, psychedelic burners constructed from live instrumentation. "G-Boys" manages to incorporate all of the album's concepts into one fluid piece; freaky vocals and guitar licks meet four-to-the-floor grooves and a quivering bassline, creating a tune that is as much punk rock as it is house music. Each individual piece stands on its own merit and authenticity, but when grouped together, they form a genuine, cohesive, and perfectly executed vision come to life.
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12"
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ITEM 031EP
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With its driving disco-not-disco groove and dynamic arpeggiator line, Golpe De Estado, "Secreto" builds and caresses the listener over the course of its epic nine minutes: part Paradise Garage, part Broken Hearts Club, its dubbed-out disco rhythms, perverse synth lines, and jugged vocal snippets build a debauched sonic landscape that is as forward-thinking as it is nostalgic. "Night Swimmers" is a Carpenter-esque piece that is as at home in the after-hour as it would be accompanying Argento imagery, it's measured build, luscious synth lines, and slow-motion bass line rounding off the EPs final moments. Remix duties come from Magda and Carreno Is LB.
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CD
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ITEM 030CD
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Marc Houle is back with his latest full-length album entitled Cola Party on his own Items & Things imprint. The album contains nine tracks, with the main singles being "Cola Party" and "I Don't Wanna Know About You." "Cola Party" sets the scene with Houle's textbook pitched-down vocals weaving through tightly programmed drum patterns and heavy low frequencies. "I Don't Wanna Know About You" is a late-night jam whose pulsating lead synth and effortlessly catchy main vocal hook make it one of the more upbeat tracks of the album. Cola Party comes as a long-awaited follow up to Houle's well-received 2012 LP Undercover (ITEM 012CD/LP). As an album, it contains all the elements fans and followers have grown to love with every Marc Houle release; his signature take on techno and jacking, minimalistic funk shines through from start to finish. If anything, the album is a clear example that Houle is still at the top of his game after more than 10 years in the business.
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2LP
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ITEM 030LP
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12"
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ITEM 029EP
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Marc Houle a four-track EP with two original cuts and two remixes: one from Magda, the other from label artist NYMA. True to Items & Things form, "Fusion Pop" acts as an amalgamation of warped sound -- haunting synth lines, jagged bass-lines, eerie vocals and bouncing leads feed the sonic landscape for the 115BPM title-track. On the flip, the acid-infused overtones of "Hello Friend" paint an equally eerie scene. As the distorted repetitions of the male vocal mantra drift off into the ether, steady hats hold the reverberating groove: part Carpenter soundtrack, part twisted after-party anthem.
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12"
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ITEM 028EP
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Forging a distinct sound that combines icy minimal structures with Euro-girl vocals that are as haunting as they are catchy, the five cuts that appear on Rework's Blackout EP provide their trademark Anglo-French funk antics and a healthy dose of dancefloor melancholy. The title-track grooves forward into stripped-down, post-minimal techno territory, while mocking lyrics ring out on "You're a Kid." When the chugging, Kraut-esque bass line of "Tape" kicks in, listeners are driven through a maze of twisted dancefloor mischief. Hedgehog reappears on stripped-down EP closer "Tame," rounding things in a distorted mess of new-wave sensitivity and sublime pop emotion.
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12"
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ITEM 027EP
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A pioneer of the darker side of electronic experimentation, Troy Pierce's A-side "Softcore" is anything but: a haunting, chugging peak-time production with a music DNA consisting of twisted strands of EBM, techno, and industrial, with a hint of dub thrown in for good measure. B-side "The Dangers with Strangers" is an equally-powerful effort. Elusive Bristol producer Dubspeeka (perhaps more famously known as one part of British group Kosheen) delivers a stripped-down yet driven interpretation of Troy's original. Kill The DJ-founder and ex-Pulp resident Chlo rounds off proceedings with a remix that is as atmospheric as it is club-suitable.
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12"
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ITEM 025EP
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Items & Things presents a five-track EP from label heavyweights Marc Houle and Click Box. Recorded in São Paulo, who better to describe the release than the trio themselves. "Our approach was to do everything quickly while having fun and not spending time on small details or the arrangement until after the session. We wanted each track to be slightly different but have the same overall feeling. We were having so much fun yelling ideas at each other and recording pretty much non-stop. The great thing about the project was the balance of us having a super-fun time with how seriously we take music. With the tracks on the EP, we feel that you can hear a little bit of all three of us: fat grooves, hypnotic synths, and funky bass-lines, all within a light context. Music for dancing, not thinking -- music to have some fun with."
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12"
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ITEM 022EP
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A collaboration between Items & Things label boss Marc Houle and techno/electro legend Miss Kittin. This six-track EP features two original tracks, as well as remixes from Dubfire, John Foxx & The Maths, and with two further edits from Miss Kittin herself. Building on the disco-not-disco, industrial and new wave influences of Houle's Items & Things album Undercover, the two originals on Where Is Kittin? demonstrate the wide-ranging influences and potent pairing of the production duo.
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12"
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ITEM 019EP
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Danny Benedettini returns to Items & Things with his second solo effort for the label, Sweet Lies. A child of punk and cult horror film iconography, the Italian Benedettini continues to hone his unique take on disco-charred techno experimentation. In true Items & Things fashion, the four tracks on Sweet Lies could easily be have been transported directly from late '70s Italy or early '90s Detroit. Their evocative themes explore the contrasting worlds in which both Goblin and James Stinson loiter.
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12"
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ITEM 017EP
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The Down Over EP showcases Click Box's multifaceted freshness. "Stop Down" takes cues from early acid house, playing with the framework to accommodate their own spacious sound design. "Last Day" is a low-down roller, with a sunken bass line and jabbing, processed vocals that keep the atmosphere dark. "Something Wrong" is a vocal number that unfolds in an alternate Italo disco dimension, and Madato's remix of "Something Wrong" flips and dissects the track for a deeper brand of robotized funk.
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4LP BOX
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ITEM 016LP
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Superb compilation box set containing four cream-colored slabs of 180 gram vinyl in a die-cut box made from special textured material. A compilation, solely put together by label Items & Things co-owner, Magda. For the label's first-ever compilation, Items & Things invites a few new friends to shake things up. The New York-hyped Throne of Blood creators Populette and Playhouse's stylish electro dream-team, Rework, whip up a special exceptional batch for their first label appearances, while talented newcomers Howard Watson and Nyma present their heavy-hitting contributions. Label compadres Jimmy Edgar, Miro Pajic and Andy Martin make their second appearances on the imprint, and on the home-team roster, Tomas More, Click Box, Madato and Danny Benedettini surprise us with a few new tricks as they unleash their summer sounds. Each track on the compilation is fresh, fun and tailored to the summer season, bearing funky musical traits as Magda fosters each producer's unique personality. Other artists include: Troy Pierce, Troy + Reka and Marc Houle.
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CD
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ITEM 016CD
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Items & Things present a special mix CD compilation, solely put together by label co-owner, Magda. For the label's first-ever compilation, Items & Things invites a few new friends to shake things up. The New York-hyped Throne of Blood creators Populette and Playhouse's stylish electro dream-team, Rework, whip up a special exceptional batch for their first label appearances, while talented newcomers Howard Watson and Nyma present their heavy-hitting contributions. Label compadres Jimmy Edgar, Miro Pajic and Andy Martin make their second appearances on the imprint, and on the home-team roster, Tomas More, Click Box, Madato and Danny Benedettini surprise us with a few new tricks as they unleash their summer sounds. Each track on the compilation is fresh, fun and tailored to the summer season, bearing funky musical traits as Magda fosters each producer's unique personality. Other artists include: Troy Pierce, Troy + Reka and Marc Houle.
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12"
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ITEM 014EP
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All tracks on Madato's Portraits were recorded with external sources and self-produced sounds, using Korg synths, pieces of a drum kit, a guitar and a modular rack to create an organic listening experience. Portraits is a literary mini-soundtrack from a producer who's played live at Watergate and debuted his first album on Items & Things.
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12"
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ITEM 013EP
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The second volume of the Various Items series features Darabi and Tim Paris. Darabi's "Player" is a modern echo of Jamie Principle's Chicagoan R&B. It's an animated piece led by sassy lyrics over suspenseful atmospherics. The dub version shaves off the bulk of the lyrics, leaving a subtle hint of vocals trailing behind. Paris' track unravels around the seductively-malicious vocals of Sex Judas. On the instrumental version, the quirky vocals are pulled out like a cloth from a dinner table.
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CD
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ITEM 012CD
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Marc Houle has been famous for his releases on Richie Hawtin's M_nus label. Now the U.S. producer unleashes his brand-new album on his own imprint Items & Things (which is co-owned by Magda and Troy Pierce). Undercover is a double departure. His last album, Drift (MINUS 098CD/LP) was on M_nus, and his label, Items & Things, was a M_nus sub-label. He's now left the label, and Items & Things stands on its own two feet. With this new-found freedom, Marc's synth-driven techno sound continues to grow, evolve and surprise. Nowhere is this growth more evident than in the tracks that make up Undercover. Things kick off with "Hearing," which has a bassline that drives like a vintage Mercedes shifting gears on the Autobahn as it picks up speed. The synths, with their soft melody, let you know how smooth the suspension is while a metallic voice whispers in your ear from the back seat. "Undercover" is a case study in the deep and moody side of old school Chicago house. "Juno 6660" sounds like what could have happened if early Warp artists like LFO and Sweet Exorcist had grown up on NYC freestyle rather than Detroit techno. "Very Bad" is actually very good, so Marc must be referring to something else entirely. "Bink" sounds like it's from an old music box that's been wound up just a little too far, held steady only by 4/4 beat, acid house claps and bouncy bass. On "Am Am Am," Marc takes things in a bit of an industrial direction. Not the industrial of Nitzer Ebb and Einstürzende Neubauten, but rather, a construction site buried deep inside an unsettling dream. When "Mooder" drops, you wake up slowly and find yourself back on the dancefloor. The track's driving rhythm and pitter-pat toms keep things moving underneath the track's ever-dreamy pads. The album concludes with "Under The Neath," which succeeds in taking things even deeper while at the same time unearthing Marc's roots in the sound of Detroit techno. With influence and inspiration from such diverse sources, Undercover carves out a distinctive flow that is all his own.
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2LP
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ITEM 012LP
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Gatefold double LP version. Marc Houle has been famous for his releases on Richie Hawtin's M_nus label. Now the U.S. producer unleashes his brand-new album on his own imprint Items & Things (which is co-owned by Magda and Troy Pierce). Undercover is a double departure. His last album, Drift (MINUS 098CD/LP) was on M_nus, and his label, Items & Things, was a M_nus sub-label. He's now left the label, and Items & Things stands on its own two feet. With this new-found freedom, Marc's synth-driven techno sound continues to grow, evolve and surprise. Nowhere is this growth more evident than in the tracks that make up Undercover. Things kick off with "Hearing," which has a bassline that drives like a vintage Mercedes shifting gears on the Autobahn as it picks up speed. The synths, with their soft melody, let you know how smooth the suspension is while a metallic voice whispers in your ear from the back seat. "Undercover" is a case study in the deep and moody side of old school Chicago house. "Juno 6660" sounds like what could have happened if early Warp artists like LFO and Sweet Exorcist had grown up on NYC freestyle rather than Detroit techno. "Very Bad" is actually very good, so Marc must be referring to something else entirely. "Bink" sounds like it's from an old music box that's been wound up just a little too far, held steady only by 4/4 beat, acid house claps and bouncy bass. On "Am Am Am," Marc takes things in a bit of an industrial direction. Not the industrial of Nitzer Ebb and Einstürzende Neubauten, but rather, a construction site buried deep inside an unsettling dream. When "Mooder" drops, you wake up slowly and find yourself back on the dancefloor. The track's driving rhythm and pitter-pat toms keep things moving underneath the track's ever-dreamy pads. The album concludes with "Under The Neath," which succeeds in taking things even deeper while at the same time unearthing Marc's roots in the sound of Detroit techno. With influence and inspiration from such diverse sources, Undercover carves out a distinctive flow that is all his own.
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12"
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ITEM 011EP
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Marc Houle explores the mysterious power of plunging basslines and moody synths. On remix duties, Miro Pajic sneaks in, charting a decidedly bleepier course while Bruno Pronsato delivers his signature romantic techno sound. Putting Abraham Lincoln on the cover of a minimal techno record could only be a Canadian's idea.
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12"
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ITEM 010EP
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French producer Tomas More presents five tracks of twisted dance music with eerie yet rich and beautiful atmospheres. "The Big Shot" teases and taunts with handclaps and bouncy baselines playfully skipping from start to finish. "Machine's Perfume" is a passage of deep space ambience where sparse machine noises are laid bare. "Eating You Is The Only Solution" has acid twitches and a melancholic robot voice wondering where everyone has gone. "Road To Nowhere" is groovy and moody electronica with beautiful, building melodies.
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12"
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ITEM 007EP
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Troy Pierce, Marc Houle & Magda team up to present their first-ever trio release on Items & Things, Down & Out Vol. 1 -- which takes its name from their newly-created party series -- events that are based around the dark & intimate, off-the-radar and under the ground.
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12"
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ITEM 008EP
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Items & Thing presents creative sounds from producers tucked in various corners of the world, with each track having as much distinct character as the producer who created it. Parisian Clement Meyer has crafted a sound that's bold and against the grain. On "Making Moves At Random," he showcases his deeply intense style with signature precision. Every which way the cinematic production twists and turns, it builds subtly yet intricately. Other artists include: Tomas More, Andy Martin and Gabriel Ferreira.
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12"
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ITEM 006EP
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Marc Houle, Magda and Troy Pierce entrust their imprint to Italian up-and-comer Danny Benedettini. "Tell Me Quietly" is a retro-tinged trip through modern dancefloor sounds, with slickly-executed beats and tight arrangements. "Disco Hook" takes its cues directly from its name -- a three-note bass loop pieces it all together, combining neon melodies with a house beat for an intriguing taste of deconstructed disco. "Nephastum" takes the disco influence even deeper with sultry cut-n-paste voices and floating Rhodes keys.
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12"
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ITEM 005EP
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Naples' Madato is always looking at what's beyond the waste. Inside his dream box you might find Laura Palmer making out with Ian Curtis, Charles Bukowski writing a fairy tale, or perhaps John Nash singing along to Bauhaus songs. File under: trippy disco-inspired dance music, not defined by a genre but more of an attitude. Post-punk undertones mixed with psychedelic sensibility.
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12"
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ITEM 004EP
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Detroit-based Jimmy Edgar brings his unique electronic vision to Items & Things for their fourth release. "Funktion" kicks off with sweet chord stabs and laid-back laser sweeps. A gentle background melody will draw bodies to the dancefloor like bees to honey. Dark acid tones abound on "Young Thing" with dirty vocals posturing over a sparse, razor-sharp 808 groove. The beats get nasty as Seth Troxler reforms "Funktion," and Edgar's own acid remix offers a more toxic take.
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12"
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ITEM 003EP
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Click Box is São Paulo DJs/producers Marco As and Pedro Turra. Coupling retrospective beats and bass lines with big hooks, hypnotic melodies and constantly modulating synths, it's the perfect blend of past, present and future. "Sugar Pain" is low-key with stripped-down beats and arrangements. "Bass Tilt" presents a super-sparse 808 groove and rich vox-like effects and chord sequences. "Fun K Mouth" has warping synth riffs and vocal chants, while "Microgram" is full of tight rhythms and moody, mysterious synth pads.
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viewing 1 To 25 of 27 items
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