After their hot contributions for “Treats Vol. 2”, SESSION VICTIM prove indeed that they are « On The Roll » with a funkafied and no holds barred EP that pays homage to their Hip-Hop Roots.
» Move Me So « starts rather simply, with just a guitar and a vocal, but you can hear a moving bassline and distant rhodes chords creeping up from the background. Two minutes into the track and there’s still no kick drum, although the level of excitement produced by the magnetic groove is almost unbearable. A filtered drum break finally gives way to a four to the floor beat that should turn any dancefloor into a frenetic party. The track builds with high energy, as the pounding bassline seems to be directly lifted from an early 90’s Hip-Hop classic. The breakdown sees the vocal/guitar loop being played differently until the second part shifts gear and brings more surprises in the mix with the intro rhodes chords coming in and out. But just as you think this jam will stay on the same vibe until the end, the now-famous “Session Victim twist” appears and this time the boys conclude the track with gorgeous keyboard chords that slowly mellow the whole thing out, as if the song has reached serenity after so much action.
» A Wooden Mind« begins with a rather off-beat percussion and bass loop, but a very comfortable analog groove sets in after a while. You’ve just embarked for a fantastic voyage…until a quirky rhodes motif steers the song into a somewhat more hypnotic direction, with a catchy but faint melody playing from a distance. A new part reintroduces the chords found at the beginning while the quiet melody gets pushed to the forefront in its full pop glory. “A Wooden Mind” finishes rather splendidly with elements of the melody appearing at will while the chords gently fade away…
» Secrets « is the EP’s closer and the first 100% Hip-Hop instrumental ever released on Retreat! Starting off in true old school fashion with only a drum workout, the track then releases a Leslie-fuelled organ loop as well as scratchy guitars. Enhanced by vocal snippets emphasizing the importance of being original, “Secrets” is a veritable showcase for Session Victim’s ever-evolving talent and a perfect conclusion to this well-crafted EP.
A1 – Move Me So
B1 – A Wooden Mind
B2 – Secrets
Release: June 30th 2010
(Releasesheet)
One year old and four releases deep, RETREAT present its first 2010 offering with the long awaited second volume of the »Treats« series. Featuring 3 exclusive tracks from Session Victim and Quarion, »Treats vol.2« showcases the producers’ ability to move beyond the traditional House sound, incorporating more Soul and Disco influences as well as coming up with a few surprises! Read More »
After a split 12” and two eps from its founders, your favourite vinyl-only label welcomes an exciting new artist for its fourth release. Hailing from Berlin, Hunee is a true music lover, a passionate dj and an amazing producer (not to mention a top notch friend). His recent productions on Feel Music, w.t. Records and Drumpoet Community have caught the ear of many key players and made him one to watch in 2010. Needless to say, Hunee takes it to a whole other level with his Barrio Payment trilogy: from soulful House to slow-mo Disco via Afrobeat, the producer holds nothing back and that’s exactly how we like it at Retreat hq.
Read More »
Just in time to conclude a bittersweet summer (at least in Berlin), Retreat brings the heat with a soulful EP from one of his founders, hotshot producer Quarion.
As the name implies, Dusty Fingers sees the beatmaker return to his Hip-Hop roots and dig in the crates for a sample-based deep & dirty 3 tracker! Read More »
Welcome to the 2nd chapter of the RETREAT saga!
Contribute was just a teaser for Session Victim so with Out On Love, Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling show their true potential through three tracks of undiluted funkiness. Read More »
Is there a better way to introduce a label than by releasing 2 exclusive tracks from its founders? Quarion and Session Victim (featuring Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling) show what RETREAT stands for with this pancake-hot split EP!
A Night At the Zukunft was inspired by the marvellous club in Zurich and has been a standout during Quarion’s live sets in the last months: shakers and dubby stabs introduces the track that gets later anchored by a tuff beat. You’re already hooked on the floor when the sub bass drops and you’d be happy if the track stays that way… but wait! Rising from the background, Detroitish chords respond to the initial pads and before you know it, you find yourself screaming as the track breakdowns with THAT vocal sample! And since we’re all about the fine things in life here at RETREAT, the A-side ends with a bonus in the form of Zukunft Beats …
As you flip the record and the needle hits the first bars of Contribute, you instantly know you’re listening to a floorfiller: the funky guitar and flipping hi-hats make up an exciting intro that leads to a perfect disco loop, featuring counterbeat rhodes chords and a drunken triangle! The groove is just infectious and could convert any non-believer to the power of the ONE (as in the Godfather Of Soul’s meaning of the word). Staying on the JB tip, Contribute then breaks down to the sweetest of bridges, with analog synths and all, before resolving back to the main pattern with a vengeance. Irresistible!
A1 – Quarion – A night at the zukunft
A2 - Quarion – Bonus beats
B1 – Session Victim – Contribute
Release: April 15th 2009
After their hot contributions for “Treats Vol. 2”, SESSION VICTIM prove indeed that they are « On The Roll » with a funkafied and no holds barred EP that pays homage to their Hip-Hop Roots.
