Fortezza Records presents Hydra EP

If you don't know, Fortezza Records is a new label born in Umbria, on the shores of Trasimeno Lake that aims to spread an arty approach to music-making. Here showcases its intent with a Various Artists EP that covers some fine house and techno territory.

Fortezza Records presents Hydra EP Photo by Fortezza Records

If you don’t know, Fortezza Records is a new label born in Umbria, on the shores of Trasimeno Lake that aims to spread an arty approach to music making. Releasing on vinyl and digitally, the label focuses on “sound research, curiosity and cross-contamination” and here showcases its intent with a Various Artists EP that covers some fine house and techno territory.

Already the label has picked up props from Stacey Pullen, Laurent Garnier and Danny Howells and this new EP is named after Hydra, the largest of the 88 modern constellations: that name reflects the journeying soul of the EP, which explores different sounds and emotions.

First up is DJ Ef, a newly emerging talent who has released on Sex On Wax and who serves up ‘Lily’s Song’, an enchanting bit of electronica with an otherworldly, sexless vocal echoing above a nagging synth line. Eventually some slick, rich drums land and drive the track along as twinkling, starry melodies unfold up top. Sensitive and emotional, it’s a fine opener.

Next up is Manuel di Martino, no stranger to Beatport’s Top 100 techno tracks he is an assured producer and remixer for a range of labels and has been since emerging in 2011. His offering ‘Keep in Touch’ is a spine tingling, booming bit of techno with tight metal chord stabs jamming over bulky drums and with uplifting, trance like melodies occasionally poking through. It’s high octane but hugely soulful stuff that takes plenty of cues from Detroit masters.

Federico Grazzini spends his time between Italy and Ibiza and has been playing in the most relevant clubs worldwide, from Womb in Tokyo to Cielo in NYC, from Watergate in Berlin to the best clubs in on the White Isle. Defected and Dubfire’s Sci + Tec have released him before now and his ‘One Step to Mars’ track is a kinky bit of supple and elastic house: the drums are nimble and keep you on your toes, the melodies are serene and progressive and the samples lend the track a sense of robotic funk that makes it fun as well as functional.

Last but not least, long established Get Physical and Kindisch man Alex Dimou serves up ‘Point 88’, a tantalisingly tasty bit of slowed down house with excellent frazzled synths, a swaying sense of groove and swathes of deeply emotive musicality at its core.

Various Artists - Hydra EP
Release date 29th September 2014
Label Fortezza Records

Tracklist
1. DJ Ef - Lily’s Song
2. Manuel di Martino - Keep in Touch
3. Federico Grazzini - One Step to Mars
4. Alex Dimou - Point88

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