Tag: Iron Curtis

From The Stage To The Studio And Back Again

Yes, it’s been a while since you’ve heard from the Retreat HQ. We usually send a signal when a new release is in the press but it’s not the case this time. So while we’re working on RTR19, we thought we’d give you a little update on the Retreat core artists and what they’ve been up to since « Re-Treats Vol. 1 ».

Session Victim has become the epitome of touring musicians in the last months, playing all over Europe as well as rocking shows in the USA, Mexico, Australia and Indonesia. But instead of toning down their output, this constant life on the road has actually fueled the duo’s creativity. What materialized is undoubtedly their best effort to date, the colorful album « Listen To Your Heart ». Ripe with « Sun-soaked house music on the engaging side of deep, and at the clever end of funky » (Mixmag), the LP is already labelled as this summer’s go-to soundtrack. Get the full lowdown on how the album came to fruition here and be on the lookout for Session Victim’s hi-octane live show or energetic DJ sets coming to your town very soon!

Quarion has had an impeccable run of releases in the last year, including a stellar EP on Ripperton’s Tamed imprint and a contribution for Innervisions’ legendary « Secret Weapons » series. 2017 seems to be going even stronger with two bass-heavy remixes already in the can for Compost and Drumpoet Community as well as a very promising collaboration with Joel Alter that will definitely shake the floors this summer. There are more surprises in store from the swiss producer but in the meantime, make sure to catch Quarion performing in Asia and Europe in the following weeks !

After spending the first months of 2017 in the USA, Iron Curtis is back in Berlin and eager to showcase his flawless studio skills with an impressive string of releases. First up with « Industrie & Zärtlichkeit », a wonderfully quirky album as Moon (with Johannes Albert) that had Juno declare « it’s clear that the duo have worked up something of a beauty. ». Then there’s the club-ready « Maple » EP for the ever reliable Office imprint as well as hot remixes for Hudd Trax and Klamauk. But we’ve heard through the grapevine that this flurry of activity might be only the tip of the iceberg… we suggest you keep an eye on Iron Curtis’ profile or hear him out in the club for a sneak peek of what’s to come !

Thank you for the support and stay tuned!

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)

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)

A Few More Weeks To Go…

Hauke, the Kim Brown boys and Yanneck marveling at the freshly-cut Test Pressings.
Hauke, the Kim Brown boys and Yanneck marveling at the freshly-cut Test Pressings.

RTR15 is getting manufactured as we write and if everything runs well, Retreat’s first double-vinyl extravaganza will be available from the 23rd of April in all good record shops. Make sure to secure your copy with your favourite grooves merchant or better yet, you can visit our Webshop to pre-order a special version of “Treats Volume 5” which comes with an exclusive poster!

The Retreat tour is also shaping up nicely with now 7 dates confirmed, including new gigs in Leipzig and Hamburg:

April 11 – Prince Charles, Berlin (Kim Brown, Session Victim & Quarion)
April 19 – Sabotage, Dresden (Session Victim & Quarion)
April 20 – Conne Island, Leipzig (Robert Oh, Session Victim & Quarion)
April 26 – Zukunft, Zürich (Session Victim & Quarion)
May 09 – Golem, Hamburg (Session Victim & Quarion)
May 16 – Corsica Studios, London (Mr Beatnick, Session Victim & Quarion)
May 28 – Badaboum, Paris (Iron Curtis, Session Victim & Quarion)

There are still a couple of free dates so don’t hesitate to get in touch with David and Elie if you are interested to bring the 5-year Anniversary Tour in your club!

Please stay tuned!

RTR15 coming up!

Yep, 2 slices of wax, 9 tracks!
Yep, 2 slices of wax, 9 tracks!

 

„Treats Volume 5“ is officially ready to go! Hauke and I have received the Test Pressings a few days ago and thanks to the magicians at Calyx, the tracks sound precise, bass-heavy and just right! RTR15 is without a doubt our most important project so far and we are thrilled to have so many talented artists on board for this adventure. The release date has been pushed back for the end of April but we will soon give you the opportunity to pre-order your copy, so be sure to keep an eye on our webshop. In the meantime, you can already enjoy some extracts of the A-side here.

Our „5 Year anniversary Tour“ is also shaping up nicely and so far, dates in Berlin, Dresden, Zürich, London and Paris have been confirmed. Please get in touch with David and Elie if you would like to bring the Retreat Soundsystem to your town!

Thank you for your support and please stay tuned!