United Recordings

Charm and Strange are Tom Scott and Harry Purser, one coming a formal jazz/classical background, the other a valve/analogue hardcase. They make music the hard way: capturing performances rather sequencing on computers. Using an arsenal of vintage gear, the duo mix up John Carpenter synths, lush orchestral arrangements and New-Wave beats. The sound is melodic, multilayered, raw and live. With an output spanning dark techno and acoustic/classic reworkings of trance classics, Charm and Strange are the perfect addition to the United roster.

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Based in the Netherlands Electronic Bodyguards are Robin “JAYDEE” Albers and French producer Ricoslide. The Electronic Bodyguards is all about smooth sensual sounds, rhythms and emotive songs.

While Jaydee explores his downtempo side with the Electronic Bodyguards project, he is actually also the producer of probably one of the best known House anthems ever. “Plastic Dreams”. Ricoslide also has an uptempo past having made several electro dub records and playing keyboards in several reggae bands. Together these influence meld and the temperature falls through the floor to a chilled frozen quotient. Their music has been described as Electro-chill, deep-lounge or electronic downtempo. After 2 years and 15 tracks the resulting album is upon us and proudly being released here at United Recordings.

This album reveals an unexpected variation of sounds and styles. Whilst electronics feature heavy in the back bone of most tracks it also crammed full of classical instrumentation and free form performances. You can also here elements of dub, electro and jazz. Album opener and recent single “Are U 4 Real” is a perfect touchstone for the sound of the album; jazzy rhodes, smooth sax, silky vocals and George Benson-eque jazz guitar.

Sit back, relax and let the bodyguards safely accompany you on a sonic journey….

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United Recordings returns to fruition with a hypnagogic foray into slo-mo vocal house from Motif, entitled ‘Halo.’

Motif is the music production project of Aaron Taylor (UK) and Thomas Lemmer (DE), and as individual artists, their works can be found on over 100 different releases worldwide. Their combined talent produces harmonic, melodious house music that errs on horizon realms of 80′s pop.Halo utilizes the ethereal vocals of Lena Belgart over delayed pianos and breathy pads. It’s nostalgic and definitely beautiful.

To pack a punch, we’ve commissioned a selction of fine remixes. First up we have Joe Morris, who manages to inject some soft funk amidst the washes of synths, with a gradual build of subtle stabs and vocal edits across the 5 minutes. Foto’s remix vamps things up a bit with some African percussion and arpegiated synths, giving the track some edgy night time vibes.

To finish, we’re dealt an instrumental to mull over solemnly on our journeys through the twilight. Lovely stuff.

After a short pause between original releases United is back on the scene with a positively chilled vibe.

Netherlands based duo Electronic Bodyguards is made up of Jaydee (who in a previous housier life made the anthem and European hit “Plastic Dreams”) and Rico Slide. The pair now create sophisticated, icy cold, jazz infused, chill-out masterpieces of the highest order.

As a taster for their upcoming album the title track “Are U 4 Real” gets the remix treatment. The original’s slick guitar, silky sax and mellow vocals act as the perfect bedfellows for a trio of remixers from around the globe. First up is Eastern Russian Sportloto who electrifies the proceedings with his nu-disco stylings.

Next we are off to Japan where left-field groove merchant Keita Sano adds his quirky-funk sounds to the polished original to take it in a slightly less traditional route. Finally its over to Italy where Billy Bogus uses swathes of big analog sounds put his sci-fi-disco spin into the proceedings.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Electronic Bodyguards album.