Review: Omar S treats us to a second release in the space of a week, with a much deserved reissue of some 1996 Roy Davis Jnr rawness across the A Side. The Stevie Wonder classic "All I Do" gets chopped up, laid over a killer Chi town beat filled with instantly gratifying raw drum edits and augmented by some evil bass thumps. Relentlessly brilliant and sounds just as fresh some 14 years on. Echoing a current trend this side plays outwards from the inside groove. On the flip Omar S teams up with DJ B Len D for the bongo heavy deep groove of "Da Teys" a track that's characterised by melodic keys which increase with curveball drama as the track progresses.
Review: We're so used to Omar-S pursuing a very particular form of Detroit deep house, that when the legendary producer tries something different, it takes us by surprise. Sidetrakx Volume #3 is full of surprises. Take "Uluu", for example; while still a deep house track, its' undulating dub bassline, spaced-out soul vocal and sparse beats are pleasingly different to his traditionally rolling fare. It's mighty impressive, all told, while flipside "Another One 2 Love" almost eschews deep house completely. Instead, Alex Smith delivers a sweet, almost cute soul song built around head-nodding post hip-hop beats and sweet melodies. It, too, is hugely enjoyable, and once again proves his mastery of multiple genres.
Review: Omar S is back with 'Psychotic Photosynthesis' on FXHE. This track really does float above the rest, and rather than adhere
to some petty law of nature, it steadily climbs upwards into the realm of the sublime; synths resonating with the tonal vibration
of visceral perfection. Like any other medicine, this record must be prescribed correctly for the above effects to manifest.
Review: Hot on the heels of the boastfully-titled full-length The Best comes Desert Eagle, Alex Omar Smith's first 12" of 2016. The title track is as bold and brassy as you'd expect from the Detroit producer, with swirling, minor key melodies and woozy chords complimenting swinging machine drums and a deliciously bouncy, suitably tactile synth-bass line. Arguably better is "Cry Me A River", where soulful vocal samples and wonderfully positive melody lines are expertly combined with bumpin', distorted deep house drums. Throw in some sustained note strings and a bustling bassline, and you have another guaranteed floor-filler from the FXHE boss.
Review: Omar S is back on FXHE with a seriously sassy piece of ballroom house vamping crying out for someone to walk. 'Miss Hunn'nay' features an insanely catchy vocal hook which loops out over some killer organ flex and a bassline guaranteed to get everyone grooving low down and nasty. It's Omar S at his party starting best. 'Money Hit Da Floor (Instrumental Mix)' brings it tough and deep, all snappy 909 beats, sharp stabs and those thick, immersive pads he does so well. 'Ice Cream (Instrumental Version)' closes this stellar 12" out with another finely chiseled workout which has all the hallmarks of an FXHE staple, rooted in the Motor City tradition but delivered with a panache that belongs to one man and one man only.
Review: It is hard to believe this EP is now more than 15 years old, because it certainly doesn't sound like it. It is one of literally hundreds of Omar S tunes that has more than stood the test of time for the way it so beguiling blends cold machine sounds and mechanical rhythms with irresistible synth craft. 'The Further You Look The Less You Will See' is all low-fi low end minimalism and glowing melodic warmth. 'Tecky Alexander' is a playful take on that with jittery rhythms and poppy melodies that allow your mind to wander and get lost in the subtly shifting loops. Perfection.
Review: Omar S adopts a new style for his new Side Trakx project. Detroit house meets sample based hip hop... and it really works. Possibly inspired by the passing of the late Jay Dilla, this music is perfect for relaxing and kicking back, or even warming up the early hours of the club. While Detroit hip-hop producers already proved that there's a mutual creative interaction between the cities house, techno and hip-hop scenes, it's now one of the cities hottest house producers laying down some smoked out, next level instrumentals in the vein of the late genius Jay Dilla, Madlib or Underground Resistance's Hipnotech sublabel.
Review: What more can be said about the output of Alex 'Omar' Smith? The Detroiter's releases have perhaps been a little more varied of late than we've come to expect, but the quality nevertheless remains dizzyingly high. This white label excursion is full of floor-friendly gems, with Smith's use of classic house samples and familiar vocal samples also making it one of his most party-hearted releases for a while. Check, for example, "Catch Ya", where a much-loved turn-of-the-'90s acapella rises above bouncy New Jersey organs and snappy machine drums. "Better Believe It Baby" brilliantly wraps a chiming synth loop and R&B style vocal snippets around a chunky, disco-fired deep house beat, while "Cheat" and "Pull Ovaa" are deliciously dusty, bass-heavy deep house workouts with just the right amount of hypnotic late night charm.
Review: Detroit house maverick and FXHE boss man Omar S is back with a new EP named seemingly in honour of himself. And why not? Few house producers can touch him even 20-plus years into his career. The title cut 'O Maarr' is dry, paired back but immediately catchy with a loved-up vocal loop and knackered kicks that bump along nicely. The second track 'Glass' is for lovers of lo-fi sounds of the sort that this man has made his signature. Searching synths circle the dusty analogue drums and coarse claps add some raw texture. 'Bug Off' is another archetypal Omar S cut - pensive chords that are whimsical and inwardly reflective over chunky beats and bass with brighter chords bursting out of the mix to bring a hint of optimism.
Omar S - "Ever Green" (feat Supercoolwicked) (3:46)
Omar S - "Heaven Knows" (3:41)
Review: New Omar S on FXHE this week and it's the deep, super sultry basement jam that is 'Evergreen' featuring some irresistible vocals again by fellow Detoiter Supercoolwicked, who you may remember from last year's 'What's Good For The Goose'. They increase the pressure a bit more on the B side cut 'Heaven Knows', a late night dub that's perfect for those heads down moments on the dancefloor.
Review: Such is the prolific nature of FXHE at the moment, which ever pressing plant Omar S uses must be pretty happy with their contract. Following swiftly from Omar S's ode to the Axel F sound comes the debut missive from Aaron "Fit" Siegel. Named so thanks to his work at the helm of Fit Distribution, Siegel is a key figure in ensuring the ongoing healthy output of Detroit's house and techno militia and "Tonite" proves to be an auspicious debut. Featuring the vocal talents of L'Renne, the track is one of those eminently soulful house tracks with a sparse approach to production, all the elements sounding so crisp and distinct in the mix but judged perfectly. Such a track and the tougher B Side Detroit Mix just demonstrate how on top of their game FXHE are right now - big tip!
Review: Omar S sets his considerable dancefloor skills to something a little different on a new 7" featuring the vocal talents of TroiAlexis. A young talented Detroit female songwriter who was discovered by Omar S at the Conant Gardens Party Store when she sung acapella to him at a Hi Tech party, TroiAlexis lends an air of soulful class to Omar's trademark electro-slanted electronics on both sides of this single. There's a stripped down - and we mean stripped right down - bass heavy R&B mix on the A-side, while the flip has a sturdier house mix that still gives her voice room to soar.
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