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Re-treats Vol.1 – RTR18

Seven years and five volumes of »Treats« down the line, Retreat flips the script in 2016 and introduces a brand new remix series (cheekily) entitled »Re-Treats«! With Nebraska, Session Victim and Quarion reworking stables from the RTR back catalogue, »Re-Treats Vol.1« is a brilliant showcase of the art of the remix as each artist comes up with a truly personal take on the original material.

RTR-18_LabelSeven years and five volumes of »Treats« down the line, Retreat flips the script in 2016 and introduces a brand new remix series (cheekily) entitled »Re-Treats«! With Nebraska, Session Victim and Quarion reworking stables from the RTR back catalogue, »Re-Treats Vol.1« is a brilliant showcase of the art of the remix as each artist comes up with a truly personal take on the original material.

RTR18 starts in high fashion with digger extraordinaire Nebraska tackling the label’s most famous track so far, »Good Intentions« from Session Victim. It’s merely impossible to rework a bonafide modern classic but the english producer manages this task with ease and stays close to the original by breaking down the main loop into a one bar groove with super crisp beats. This would already suffice as the core for a powerful track but the real action begins after a short break: Nebraska brings the original four bar loop back at the forefront while adding a wicked samba twist to it! And as the kick comes back in, you can help but dance with your arms in the air and a big smile on your face. The »Soho Samba Mix« is an irresistible tune with that unmistakable »London« flair, not to mention a proper dancefloor anthem in its own right!

Turn the record over for Session Victim’s take on »A & F« from Iron Curtis & Leaves. It will only take a few bars for you to feel that you’re in  for a special ride with the one and only »Two Man House Band« at the commands. Matthias’ and Hauke’s version of »A & F« is much more a cover than a traditional remix as SVM add percussion, layers of juicy synths, loose drum fills and quirky samples over the original chords  and vocals. There are shades of Jazz, Soul, Reggae and even a bit of Pop in the »612 Remix« but the vibe is 100 % Session Victim. The lads  really excel in sun-drenched grooves and this remix is bound to become another staple in their dynamic live set for this summer’s festival season.

If the previous two reworks manage to somewhat stay close to the original material, then Quarion’s version of »Black Cream« takes an alternative route and propels Session Victim’s track into another dimension. Constructed around a tough beat and an hypnotic synth, the  »White Smoke Remix« is thrusted by a powerful bassline and flying hi-hats that evolve in rapid succession. Parts of the original (a vocal  here, a guitar there) are being fragmented to molecular level and clash with each other at light speed, as if Quarion managed to run these elements through the CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. It’s a dense, yet fluid remix and a thrilling conclusion to this first volume of »Re-Treats«.

A1 Session Victim – Good Intentios (Nebraska Soho Samba Mix)
B1 Iron Curtis & Leaves – A & F (Session Victim 612 Remix)
B2 Session Victim – Black Cream (Quarion’s White Smoke Remix)

Release date: April 16 2016
(RTR18_Releasesheet)

Setting the Pace

download_20151215_152347As we wrap up another twelve months, we’d like to express our gratitude to the DJs, music lovers and fans who have made 2015 such an important milestone for Retreat.

Although our label was silent for more than a year, you’ve supported massively our “comeback” releases from Quarion and Session Victim, not to mention the repress of „Treats Volume 1“.

You’ve proved us once again the pertinence of our “quality over quantity” philosophy and we intend to pursue that route in 2016 and beyond.

As a small token of our appreciation, we’d like to offer a 10% discount on all Retreat-related articles in the Webshop if you place your order before the 1st of January 2016. Please note that with the xmas craziness in full swing, your package might arrive a bit later than usual…

Thank you for the support and stay tuned!

Ps: The next installment of the “Treats series” is up next and it will be a special one!

Session Victim – Two man house band EP – RTR17

RTR_Label-17After last month’s »Busted Moniker« EP from Quarion, Retreat is thrilled to announce a new 12″ courtesy of house music’s most energetic duo, the incomparable Session Victim! The aptly titled »Two Man House Band EP« is the lads’ first record since their 2014 magnum Opus »See You When You Get There« and perfectly transcribes the energy that Session Victim pour into their incendiary live show. Tailormade for a night out in the club or a joyous day at the festival, the »Two Man House Band EP« once again prooves that Session Victim are unstoppable in their pursuit of the ultimate groove!

»Summer Games« is an ode to that most festive of seasons and could easily hold the claim of being Retreat’s »biggest« track so far. Built around an Hypnotic organ loop, »SummerGames« completely blurs the lines between house, funk and soul : rolling breakbeats, catchy vocal snippets and a very groovy bassline are the core elements of this anthem that could rock any party. Yet Session Victim add a slight twist in the form of a melancholic string motive that appears in two chiseled breakdowns. It’s a little reminder that summers do not last forever and that one should enjoy them while they last …

Flip the record in order to dive into the deeper realms of »Black Cream«, a more reflective track for the late hours. With its jazzy (almost broken) beat, guitar licks, rhodes pads, subtle percussion and ethereal vocals, »Black Cream« is the soundtrack to an exciting underwater trip with Matthias and Hauke at the controls. Thanks to the captains’ lively drum programming, the track flows effortlessly and we’re treated with many surprises along the way before a gradual rise brings us back to the surface.

»Finderlohn« is a smokey downtempo workout which finds Session Victim digging deep in their collection to demonstrate their prowess in manipulating samples. Beginning with an instanly classic guitar and piano loop, »Finderlohn« allows a shuffly breakbeat to take center stage, sometimes reinforced with double-time hihats for a more dramatic effect. The tune is definitely a headnodder’s paradise and the listener is taken that little bit higher thanks to a mystical flute solo that concludes »Finderlohn« in a psychedelic way.

A1 Summer Games
B1 Black Cream
B2 Finderlohn

Release date: September 18th 2015
(RTR17_Releasesheet)

Quarion – Busted Moniker EP – RTR16

RTR_Label-16Finally putting to rest a one-year break, Retreat is back in full swing in order to bring more heat this summer thanks to the “Busted Moniker EP” from Quarion! With four tracks that showcase a jazzier, somewhat wilder side of the Retreat co-founder, “Busted Moniker” has the stamp of a producer on top of his game, squeezing out all of the funk from his machines and letting loose without too much over-thinking. Can you handle it?

The ambient introduction “Lost Coordinates” represents a direct follow-up to Quarion’s offering on the “Treats Vol.5” Compilation. Built around a circular four note theme, white noise percussion and a distant choir, “Lost Coordinates” evokes a ghost spaceship that is drifting through the void, his destination unknown and his point of origin long forgotten.
The bumpy house beat of “A Thousand Questions” teleports us back to a more familiar territory: this is proper club music with a sweet jazzy touch. Not holding back on his skills as a musician, Quarion treats us with a Rhodes bassline, deep piano chords and many drum fills. The tune moves along nicely and just when you think it couldn’t get any better, Quarion surprises us with a break that introduces energetic Juno stabs and a booming new bassline. Slick!

“Burnin'” is maybe the EPs hottest track (all puns intended) and is sure to light fires on dancefloors all over. Beginning with a deep bassline atop a shuffled beat, the groove becomes irresistible as soon as the cheeky vocal samples arrive, but it’s the entrance of an infectious and offbeat Rhodes loop that is sure to make the dancers go crazy. As the track gets stronger, the theme breaks down in descending chords and we’re left with just the kick drum and a percussive noise. The loop soon emerges anew from the background now coupled with a phased cymbal for one more everlasting burn… Ouch!

“You Were The Only” is the EP’s conclusion, a jazzy Broken Beat workout reminiscent of what came out of West London at the turn of the millennium. Starting with a catchy synth, the track truly opens up when the additional sub bass and skippy Juno chords come into play, but the real magic happens after a short break. The bassline evolves into an 8-bar sequence with beautiful chords to match and we’re instantly taken on a jazz journey with sprinkling keys, ethereal strings and more Juno stabs. A perfect finish to a very juicy EP!

A1 Lost Coordinates
A2 A Thousand Questions
B1 Burnin’
B2 You Were The Only

Release: August 17th 2015
(RTR16_Releasesheet)

 

Communication Restored

IMG_20150504_054939~2
Slipmat 1: “Hey, let’s take a selfie with the Tokyo Skyline in the background!” Slipmat 2: “Have you grown a pair of hands?”

« The Rise And Fall Of Retreat »: what appears to be the title of a cheap gangster movie is actually the script that Hauke and I seemed to have unknowingly followed in 2014.

The rise was gradual and smooth : the label reached the small milestone of being five years old, we put out a compilation on double gatefold vinyl with exclusive music from some of our favorite artists and we went on tour around Europe to celebrate Retreat’s 5-Year anniversary. But the fall was sudden and abrupt : our distributor Intergroove filed for bankruptcy in july and this struck an almost fatal blow to our finances…

So for the first time in the label’s history, we took its name literally and folded back. Retreat moved away from the spotlight in order to heal and calmly prepare the next move.

Thus after consolidating our relationship with a new distributor (Word And Sound), sanitizing our finances and most importantly spending countless hours in the studio, Hauke and I are thrilled to announce that Retreat will be back in the summer of 2015 with the help of not one but two releases!

RTR16 by Quarion will be available in July while RTR17 by Session Victim is expected to drop mid-august. As you can imagine, there are still a few details to finalize but we thought it was important to get back in touch with all of you and announce that Retreat will be introducing year n°6 with a double summer slam!

More information to follow of course but in the meantime, thank you for your support and please stay tuned!

Various – Treats Vol.5 – RTR15

RTR15_Cover-rgbRetreat celebrates its fifth birthday with a very special edition of the infamous »Treats« series! Volume 5 is the label’s first double vinyl in a carefully designed gatefold sleeve and features exclusive music from all the Retreat regulars as well as exciting new guests: Session Victim, Quarion, Iron Curtis, Mr Beatnick, Kim Brown, Jamie Lloyd and many more. »Treats Vol. 5« is a fantastic collection of tracks that stands on its own as a compilation while offering some of the most heartfelt House music for 2014 and beyond.

»Treats Vol. 5« begins with Jamie Lloyd’s »Spiro Hustle«, a slo-mo burner that will definitely put this talented Australian native back in the limelight after a few years of radio silence. Retreat’s hottest property, Session Victim, are next up to bat with the dancefloor-approved »Much Too Strong« which sees them experimenting with percussive instruments while keeping their funk firmly in the pocket. The back-to-basics rawness of »Co Co Jam Boo« from Frank Music’s Johannes Albert closes the A-side with a bassline that will stay in your head long after the needle hits the run-out groove.

Flip the record over for Reverend G’s »Pam’s Cleavage«. The secretive priest is on a mission to save lost souls and his jazz-fueled dancefloor offering should motivate everyone to attend service at the Church Of The Lord Jack in Neukölln! »I Am Batman« from deep house heroes Kim Brown is an emotive ride through Gotham city. It’s another fine example of the duo’s faultless artistry and closes the first chapter of »Treats Vol. 5« in a delightful way.

Quarion introduces Retreat’s first ever C-Side with »Enter Coordinates«, a bass-heavy yet uplifting track that promises to reach the confines of the galaxy with the help of gorgeous chords and a freaky arpeggio. Mr Beatnick follows up with the acid-tainted »Hold On To Your Dreams«. The London producer is a master of aural story-telling and his Retreat contribution makes for an unforgettable trip through multiple music genres.

Iron Curtis is up next: »Love Commitment« is a very strong House track where tension and relief are perfectly dosed within an unmistakable groove. Another stellar achievement from Retreat’s most extravagant artist! The D-side ends with the reflective (but neck-snapping) »Blush« from Giegling cohort Robert Oh. This melancholic hip-Hop instrumental is still as catchy as it gets and represents the ideal conclusion to »Treats Vol. 5«.

A1 Jamie Lloyd – Spiro Hustle
A2 Session Victim – Much Too Strong
A3 Johannes Albert – Co Co Jam Boo
B1 Reverend G – Pam’s Cleavage
B2 Kim Brown – I Am Batman
C1 Quarion – Enter Coordinates
C2 Mr Beatnick – Hold On To Your Dreams
D1 Iron Curtis – Love Commitment
D2 Robert Oh -Blush

Release: April 23rd 2014
(RTR15-Releasesheet)

Session Victim – Can’t help it EP – RTR14

RTR14_LabelRounding up a year which saw crucial releases from Iron Curtis and Quarion, »Can’t Help It« is the long awaited return of sample wizards Session Victim to the ep format. This Retreat 3-tracker is a profound, subtle and quite melancholic affair, perfect for those emotional moments in the early morning. Skillfully arranged and featuring the impeccable playing of Linnart Ebel, »Can’t Help It« is once again an essential statement from one of House Music’s most fascinating duo.

»Pass The Diesel« begins with a stuttering beat, seagulllike noises and muted chords that wouldn’t be out of place on a vintage Group Home instrumental. Staying on the aquatic tip, Session Victim introduce a beautiful rhodes sequence which takes the track into a dream-like – dare we say californian? – direction. Spiced up with gentle synth noodlings, ethereal vocal snippets and a magical strings motive, »Pass The Diesel« bathes in the deeper shades of House without ever drowning in a cliché, thanks to its snapping drums and vivid arrangement.

Slowing things down a notch, »Hyuwee« starts off with what is maybe the most unconventional instrument in Session Victim’s repertoire, the banjo! But the fear of witnessing these down-to-earth-boys actually becoming the boys-down-south vanishes after 30 seconds: a melancholic 3-Chord theme, snappy 808 patterns and funky drum fills lead the tune in a familiar (but vast) territory. Linnart Ebel’s talent is put to great use with subtle guitar licks that give a lively feel to the whole song. You will notice that Session Victim have labeled »Hyuwee« as an »instrumental«. Does it mean that we can expect a vocal version in the near future? All bets are on as to who will provide the vocals to this one …

Flip the record over for the magnificent »Tearwiper«, a slow-house groover which might be Session Victim’s deepest excursion on wax so far. Abyssal chords, radio effects and a dragging 105 bpm beat set the stage for a grand sonic adventure. The track breaks down after the introduction of the guitar theme and a warm sub bass takes center stage in order to drive »Tearwiper« in a confident manner. Shakers and bubbling synths are floating around whereas Linnart’s hypnotic playing provides a steady backing to the bassline. Another breakdown and the elements are nicely washed away while a thoughtful guitar solo brings this underwater journey to an end.

A1 – Pass the Diesel
A2 – Hyuwee (instrumental)
B1 – Tearwiper

Release: December 11th 2013 (get it here)
Release Party in Berlin on December 13th at Oye Records
(RTR-14_Releasesheet)