Retreat

Woodland sets the tone for the whole ep: a reduced and droney House tune that makes great use of vinylinduced noise. Constantly moving hi-hats combine with a subterranean bass to provide a super-tight groove that is highly addictive. With only a chord stab and some extra percussion altering the groove from time to time, Woodland is definitely a deep and hypnotic affair, somehow reminiscent of Photek’s early output but with an unmistakable Reiling twist.

Matthias’ Hip-Hop influences particularly shine through on the heavy 100 bpm banger Kalkskar. This pretty reduced track showcases a medieval-sounding guitar loop build upon a skippy beat. But when most producers would be happy with the main loop playing straight through the whole song, Matthias never lets it rest: the guitar gets filtered, halved, echoed or reversed before finally fading into oblivion.

The Hissing is pure excitement on wax and proves the age-old saying that “The B-Side Wins again”: the drama unfolds on a slow House tempo as strident strings get beefed up by pounding drums and a low bassline. The pressure kicks it up a notch during the break when a character informs us about incoming pain and the sound of hissing. The beat then drops back in with extra string riffs and spooky organ touches. Tension rises when additional percussion creeps in to slowly introduce another dramatic monolog breakdown. But the hissing stops as soon as the groove returns, keeping the track alive for another minute before it’s ineluctable fate.

As the ep’s closer, Malachai is a masterfully crafted tune that rolls with the tightest of basslines. This Hip-Hop/ Drum ’n’ Bass hybrid begins with a warning about upcoming terror scenes before letting loose a stateof- the-art beat workout. Weird synths and percussive elements help keep the excitement levels in check before the song experiences a proper Hip-Hop changeover. The drums move back in while a faint melody calmly drivesthis refined track to its conclusion.

A1 – Woodland
A2 –Kalkskar
B1 – The Hissing
B2 – Malachai

Release: October 5th 2011
(RTR-10_Releasesheet)

You, On A Friday Night begins flat out with one of the dirtiest square wave bassline this side of the Atlantic, promptly followed by tambourine beats and offbeat FM stabs. It’s a rock-solid foundation and Iron Curtis unfolds it delicately for a good minute and a half before introducing the breakdown with a piercing synth chord. As the rhythm kicks back in with extra percussive elements, the iron man gets down to work on the bassline by twisting, filtering and stretching it in a very impressive manner. The beat drops once again while the sharp Juno synth reveals a proper chord sequence, bringing an unexpected emotional feel to the entire track. After an exciting build-up, the drums reappear and an additional hi-hat implements the final touch to this bouncy masterpiece.

Quarion deliberately ventures in tooly house territory with the super-effective groove of Mysteries Of Time. This tune highlights dubby chords revolving around a heavy 118 BPM rhythm and a strong sub-bass. Although pretty basic in its form, Mysteries Of Time has a very live feel as the beat seems to drift in and out of the foreground while someone speaks about the confusion of our awareness of time. The madness happens after 3 minutes as Quarion flips the script on time manipulation and introduces a bold tempo change! But you won’t be bobbing your head for too long as the track soon goes back to its original form and concludes as enigmatically as it began …

Turn the record over and the shuffling beat of Good Intentions will instantly pull you in Session Victim’s realm. The groove provided by these dusty Rhodes licks is nothing short of addictive and it will get your hips moving in no time. Subtle vocal snippets and a flowing drum programming lock the whole track on rails while keeping your behind on the floor. Your excitement grows as the SVM boys filter the main theme and Jupiter chords appear from the background. No doubt that you’ll be sweating that last shot of Tequila when the drums slam you back in the track and the loop makes a glorious comeback! But you’ll be able to catch a breather when a sweet synth melody plays along these dusty keys until Good Intentions reaches its well-rounded conclusion.

A1 – You, On A Friday Night
A2 –Mysteries Of Time
B1 – Good Intentions

Release: May 25th 2011
(RTR-09 Releasesheet)

We may share the ultimate bond with the moon Europa: the presumption of oceans underneath its crust of ice as well as an atmosphere that is mostly filled with oxygen make this satellite a good candidate for possible extra-terrestrial life (more micro-organisms than 3-eyed aliens though). Quarion’s »Europa« hopes to reveal the secrets underneath the ice layer: beginning with a skippy beat and a tinkling piano, the track evolves rapidly as subtle keys and a cosmic choir appear from beyond. The voices morph into pure excitement during the breakdown while gorgeous new chords are being introduced. The bassline drops and an irresistible groove settles in, soon followed by a catchy synth melody. The song rises to its apex only to be brought down immediately with a new set of Boogie drums. Extra analogue synths make a welcome entry while the main chords rise again from the background. That is until the reappearance of the Boogie beat which tones the music down and brings the mysterious »Europa« to its conclusion.

The moon Ganymede has much in common with Europa but scientists agree that it is impossible for the former to harbour life. This is why »Ganymede« is the beatapella version of »Europa«, a short but effective rework with only the basic drum elements…

The moon Callisto is the furthest away from Jupiter’s radiation. It is said to be highly suitable for a human base, in case we intend to explore this part of the solar system one day. »Callisto« is therefore Quarion’s ode to space travel in the form of lush organ chords, heavy drums and ethereal pads. The track is a deep and dreamy journey that flows effortlessly as cosmic rhodes melodies and detroitish synths move around the stereophonic landscape.

The moon Io has over 400 active volcanoes and its atmosphere is made up of sulphuric dioxide. A very, very dangerous place indeed, which inspires Quarion to show his rougher side via a raw and heavy 110 bpm workout. The sounds are kept to a minimum (weird pads, strings and a heavy bassline) but »Io« is full of surprises, the best of all being a minute long break where the listener feels suddenly lost in deep space … before »Io’s« gravity pulls him back on its perilous grounds.

A1 – Europa
A2 – Ganymede
B1 – Callisto
B2 – Io

Release: December 15th 2010
(Releasesheet)

»Cover Me« provides the tone for this EP, starting off with a distinctive un-straight kick drum that underlines a pad motif and a percussion build-up. The aquatic bassline lures you in the track while new chords are rising up from the background. The whole song breaks down after 3 minutes only to start again with renewed energy. Shuffling hi-hats, vocal snippets and quirky synths provide an ecstatic groove and lift the track to new heights of bounciness. No doubt that »Cover Me« would become a Co-op classic if the party was still happening in London …

Flip the record over and »Stumbled Across« introduces guitar stabs, crowd noises and reversed chords until the whole thing crashes down into a House beat that is jacking beyond comparison. A tribute to one of the founders of the Chicago sound, “Stumbled Across” is that seldom tune that manages to feel 100% classic yet 100% fresh at the same time: the 808 & 909 sounds are familiar but the arrangement and overall vibe allow the track to stand proudly on its own two feet. A masterpiece!

»Creeps« clocks around 90 BPM and showcases Iron Curtis’ talent in leading music into unexpected directions. The track begins with melancholic chords but evolves quickly into a fascinating journey, complete with strings, organs, bell-like sounds and bizarre interjections from what appears to be cocktail aficionados in an upper class party! The beat alone is definitely not your average Hiphop drum track (with a gated snare that Phil Collins would die for!) but excels in providing depth and consolidation to the whole structure.

The Ep concludes with the mind-bending »All My Friends«, a 2 minutes, 80 bpm neck-breaker whose wonky synth could make your body want to perform krump moves. Lethal!

A1 – Cover me
B1 – Stumbled Across
B2 – Creeps
B3 – All My Friends

Release: November 10th 2010
(Releasesheet)

» 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)

SESSION VICTIM start things off with the magical »Danish Daughters«, a slow groover that begins in a gentle but assured way, sparking your interest with its infectious guitar and piano loop until the beat kicks in and makes you irrepressibly shake that thang. Adding a synth line here or a bell sound there, the duo keep the pace of the track steady until a startling guitar riff breaks it down, giving way to the original loop to return in its full glory, complete with extra organ dashes!

Closing off the A-side is the sweaty »Midnight Hour«, an ode to down and dirty Soul music, complete with gritty guitars, rhodes licks, smoky vocals and those sweet SVM chords. The track is masterfully arranged, with each sound taking the right space at the right time although always leaving room for the unexpected. The biggest surprise of all comes in a subtle but definitely Dj-unfriendly ending. Prepare to ride that pitch knob!

On the flipside, we find QUARION venturing in new territories with the boogie-influenced »Pepper Candy«. The first part consists of a dense mixture of House stabs, shuffling hi-hats, a piercing synth pad and a seldom but devastating sub bass. As the tension reaches its apex, »Pepper Candy« suddenly evolves into a Boogie tune, with gorgeous rhodes chords, a liquid bassline and loud handclaps!
But as soon as you’re about to get carried away by clapping along, the track switches back to its original state, this time with more pressure and some mysterious percussion. A few minutes in and the song breaks down once again for another dose of sweet boogie, this time with an extra melody thrown in for good measure!

A1 – Danish Daughters
A2 – Midnight Hour (I Feel It Fade)
B1 – Pepper Candy

Release: March 17th 2010
(RTR_releasesheet-05)

The B-side begins with the polyrhythmic action of Barrio Payment: layers and layers of percussion, scattered drums and marimba licks. Is this really House Music? Does anyone care? Similar to the beat freakings of Tony Allen or IG Culture, Barrio Payment rolls and rolls with a solid bassline anchoring the groove. But just when you think it’s just a drum & bass workout, Detroit-style stabs warp the track in another new dimension and turn it into the official soundtrack to Nigeria’s upcoming space program.

To finish off an already amazing ep, Hunee comes through with the super erotic Funk of Amiadar. With its slow groove and hot vocal snippets, Amiadar begs to be played as the last track of the night, before couples continue their dance behind closed doors … Sexy but never vulgar, the tune unfolds at it’s own pace, thanks to moody chords and offbeat percussion. The break is truly ecstatic: with a majestic synth bassline rising from the background and intense moaning, you can only let yourself go as the break resolves in a sweaty beat. Amiadar then reaches its conclusion in a gentle manner while the sexual tension never drops …

A1 – Foundation
B1 – Barrio Payment
B2 – Amiadar

Release: November 4th 2009
(RTR04_releasesheet)

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!

Turn Off The Light is a tribute to mid-nineties House Garage classics, when the drums were « phat » and the basslines heavy: a distant breakbeat introduces a rhodes loop before the elements combine into a powerful groove.
The beat stops while beautiful chords and hair-raising strings evolve from the background and it’s then time for the bouncy bassline to kick in. The track keeps rolling as whispers begging you to Turn Off The Light get more present but the song soon drops into an emotional break complete with soulful vocals and extra instrumentation. When the beat comes back in, you know the track has  Classic written all over it.

Seems Like … starts with a heavy 808 pattern and phased drone that later evolves into a string section. The beat is locked down with the introduction of a percussion riff and jumping bassline while you’re taken on a deep excursion as nautilus-style keys and moody vocals bring you underwater. The flashing hi-hats keep the whole song moving and you’re soon left with only the groove to keep you company. The keys sneak in from the background and you’re taken once more on an underwater journey before the beat brings you safely to the shore…

After the deep sea, Going Away takes you in outer space as a skipping rhodes lick plays with bruk-style drums that are straight out the MPC. A P-Funk bassline nails the groove as cosmic mermaids sing about  Going Away and analog synth melodies lift the whole track into the stratosphere…

Quarion was last seen circling around Venus and we hope he won’t be gone too long because we need more EP’s like this one!

A1 - Turn Off The Light
B1 – Seems Like…
B2 – Going Away

Release: August 26th 2009
(RTR03_releasesheet)

The first track on the EP starts off quite simply but your excitement builds as promising chords and a Detroit-style acid-synth give you an idea where Memory Lane is heading. After a dramatic break that features a notorious groove legend proclaiming that he’s out on love, the chords reveal their full potential and the track rolls into a major floor filler, complete with tight drum patterns, extra sub bass and some more vocal snippets. Yes!

Flip the record and the beat of Calypso Strut introduces a mysterious pad, decorated with wild percussion and playful cut-up samples. Two minutes in and the pad morphs into a drunken piano that propels the track into another dimension. A cross between hip-hop sound aesthetics and minimal techno, Calypso Strut is the sort of music DJ Premier would do if he spent too many Sunday after-hours in Berlin …
After a full percussion workout, the piano enters again for another round of alcohol-induced madness before bringing the track to an end. That’s it people, the bar is closing down, go home!

Blaune rounds off the EP on a slower tip but as  soon as the brushes enter, you can feel this is one of Session Victim’s grooviest efforts. An ethereal chord slowly touches down until the break, introducing a sweet rhodes lick that later gives way to a very deep, mid-90′s style bassline. The beat evolves as a guitar lick adds more bounce while the initial chord seems to play hide and seek with your ears. The catchy rhodes lick appears again, keeping your hips shaking along until the track masterfully reaches its conclusion.

A1 – Memory Lane
B1 – Calypso Strut
B2 – Blaune

Release: June 11th 2009
(RTR02 Releasesheet)

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