Motorcitysoul - Technique
Frankfurt veterans and deep house pioneers Matthias Vogt and Christian Rindermann aka Motorcitysoul will release their second studio album ‘Technique’ on Simple Records on October 13, 2008.
Finally, after 4 years, following two very successful releases (‘Kazan’ and Space Katzle’) on Will Saul’s Aus Music last year, the guys started putting together an album and Will saw his Simple label as the perfect avenue to release it. After more than six months of intense work and experimentation in the studio ‘Technique’ is now ready and it´s their first album fully written and produced together as a duo (the first album was written by Matthias, and C-Rock helped produce it). A feast of lush melodies and harmonies, lovingly crafted beats and percussion, ambient excellence and smart vocal numbers. On the album’s title C-Rock explains: “It’s an elegant word that refers to the way we work and hopefully how our music sounds. We’re very technically focused yet we aim for our music to have genuine soul and warmth. We also do everything in the studio so technique is the key to that.”
‘The Start/Deliver Me’ kicks off the journey into the Motorcitysoul sound, enlisting the vocal talents of Swedish vocalist Ernesto to complement the soulful, summer-tinged house grooves. As the lush chords build and the vocals progress, it’s clear this uplifting opener is one that’ll have you rolling down your car window with a smile on your face. “Maybe it’s a risk to start a house based concept album with such a soulful track but we don’t have to justify it, because of the soul in our name,” says C-Rock wryly. ‘Space Kätzle’ was originally a hit last year on Aus Music, ‘Space Cats’ (as it translates) sees Matthias and C- Rock use their studio expertise to layer together lavish arpeggios and harmonies that treat you to an almost cosmic house voyage. ‘Solar’ is the %uFB01rst ‘ode to the cinema soundtrack’ offering on the album and sees the guys get experimental in the studio with deep trippy keys layered with mad aquatic sounds.
‘Change You’ sees the guys team up with American vocalist Ovasoul 7 to create a dark and hypnotic house journey with huge club potential. The subtle Rhodes melodies give way to Ovasoul’s vocals and a powerful electronic bassline drives the groove forward. The balance between the subtle and soulful and dark and electronic is captured perfectly. ‘Kazan’ gets a 707 drum machine facelift for the album. Matthias and C-Rock went back to their Chicago in%uFB02uenced roots to reshape it into a raw, jacking groove with enormous energy. ‘Hatoay’ sees the guys working with percussionist Heiko Himmighoffen, giving him free reign to add his percussion to the kick drum and bassline. The result is an intense ‘wall of percussion’ feeling, complemented by the signature ‘lush motorcitysoul chords’. ‘Hermelin’ is a trippy drumless number best listened to in the dark. Kicking off with spooky analogue jolts and sweeping pads, it’s joined by a more stabby bassline before some effects are added to give this a real feeling of elegance.
‘The City’ is quite simply classic Motorcitysoul: a driving house groove coupled with soulful melancholy. Bringing in vocalist Marlene Jonson, who’s previously worked with C-Rock on his Stir 15 label, ‘Movement and Motion’ is a dub in%uFB02uenced track with simple beats and harmonies, that allow the vocals to breathe and shine. To %uFB01nish off the Motorcitysoul journey is another beautiful ambient moment ‘Xyz’. Clearly influenced by Vangelis and Brian Eno this is epic yet dark, spooky yet enchanting and certainly leaves you feeling full%uFB01lled but eager for more. “This is the strongest reference to our cinematic and movie soundtrack in%uFB02uence and perfect for %uFB01nishing the album,” says C-Rock. “We hope it leaves the listener with a ‘what comes next?’ feeling in anticipation of the next album”.
Tracklisting:
01. The Start feat. Ernesto
02. Deliver Me feat. Ernesto
03. Space Katzle
04. Solar (Album Version)
05. Change You feat Ovasoul 7
06. Kazan (707 Edit)
07. The City
08. Hermelin
09. Hatohay
10. Movement & Motion feat Marlene Johnson
11. XYZ
