This one is a double first for Shall Not Fade - the launch of the new Killer Cuts series focused on groove-heavy dancefloor fillers, and Marc Brauner's debut on the Bristol label.
The born-and-raised Berliner has previously released on German labels Midnight Snacks and Pentagonik, and joins the Shall Not Fade roster with a collection of classic house tracks to make you miss the clubs. Brauner covers a breadth of moods on the record, the A-side filling you up with euphoria; opener "Too Real" is a gorgeous bit of lofi house tinged with funky guitar inflections and a retro feel that sweeps across the whole release. "Things I Did" and "Tool For Lovers" drag you out of winter and into a 90s Ibiza summer, utilising a 303 bassline and classic house stabs to warm up your dancing feet.
In comparison to the warmth of the first half of the record, the B-side gets more haunting in tone, first by introducing rolling breaks in "I Know You Would" and especially in "Tears of a Fallen Angel". This is the emotional core of Brauner's offering, euphoria tinged with sadness over a punchy rhythm that juxtaposes the subtle vocals woven throughout. The record closes with a hint of post-disco; "Neptun" is a real groover of squelchy electro synths that is reminiscent of Patrick Cowley and the early, smoky nightclubs of New York. The bonus digital track "Out of Time" carries on a similar energy - it's a piece that doesn t keep still, glittering with playful synth melodies and a surging cacophony of vocal samples.
| pos | title |
|---|---|
| A1 | Too Real |
| A2 | Things I Did |
| A3 | Tool For Lovers |
| B1 | I Knew You Would |
| B2 | Tears Of The Fallen Angel |
| B3 | Neptun |