Young Detroit-native Kenny Hooper steps up for his debut release on Elypsia Records with not one, not two but three 12 inches full of prime Motor City techno and electro escapism.

Titled “Detroit Orbiter Series” Volume I, II and III, each EP features four tracks, showcasing Kenny Hooper’s brilliant and contemporary personal take on classic Detroit sounds.

The twelve tracks of the “Detroit Orbiter Series“ trilogy signal the arrival of a fresh Motor City talent ready to rake the world and dance floors by storm with his chunky and funkified sonic fictions.

Elypsia Records is very proud to welcome Detroit’s next generation of promising artists!

Ken Clements aka Kenny Hooper, an artist whose legacy stems from the vibrant music scene of Detroit, Michigan, has joined the roster of Elypsia Records.

His solo career adds to his joint projects with "Trackmasta Lou" (Scan 7) and "The AM" (Ann Marie Teasley of HXL 1), showcasing his affinity for techno, house, and electro.

His discography, in conjunction with renowned record labels such as KMS, 4-Christ, Transmat, Heist, Seclusion, and Underground Resistance, highlights his contributions to the original Detroit music scene.

Many of the elements of the Kenny Hooper sound derive from artists such as Terry Parker, Theo Ratliff, Mike Banks, Kenny Dixon aka "Moodymann" and D.J. Maaco. Motivated by his Detroit identity sound, there is a passion to leave a legacy by continuing to create a sound that is his own.

His philosophical take to describe his style of music is quoted as "attending church on Sunday mornings then clubbing on Saturday nights". His electronic music is deeply rooted in gospel music, from which he first drew inspiration while playing drums at the age of three.

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The A side features the original version while the B side features a slightly deeper mix, all in the proper Chicago/ New York house styles.

The limited edition vinyl version comes with colorful artwork by graphic artist Reza Hasniand and is pressed on neon pink colored vinyl.

Fabrice Lig has melody running through his veins. On his quest to explore his deep love for the bitter-sweet yearning of Motor City techno, his tracks transcend trends. Over his three-decade spanning career he has refined his blend of soul-infused dance music to striking effect. His gift for a catchy hook is unmatched.

His new studio album “The Mental Bandwidth” shows his musical range as a producer once again. On the album’s twelve tracks, he effortlessly traverses, cosmic house, funkified techno and electronica, combining his trademark quirky melodies with playful songwriting and dance floor focused beats. The album format is giving Lig enough space to explore his musical ideas from different directions while staying true to the overall atmosphere.

“The idea for the album was to go back to the fundamentals of the original Detroit sound and to find new ways of expressing that soul in my music – as I’ve been doing for years”, explains Lig.

With Ann Saunderson and the former Kraftwerk-member Wolfgang Flur, the album features two heavy-weight collaborations that connect the “The Mental Bandwidth” to Detroit’s musical legacy, too. Slikk Tim aka Garry Grittness also has a cameo in the form of a funky bassline on “Healing”, the pop-infused Ann Saunderson collaboration.

The title of the album is inspired by Lig’s lecture of Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir book “Scarcity: Why Having So Little Means So Much” which explores new approaches to reduce poverty. “The authors discovered that the mental bandwidth of poor people is sometimes really low because of short term issues they are facing and are forced to solve”, explains Lig.

Those issues are reducing the mental bandwidth for long term thinking capacities, which in turn has consequences for the decision making process. An example: before the quality of education of poor kids is increased, the quality of life they have must be increased. This increases the capacities of the kids to learn more than solely better educational programs...

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‘Cinema’ is a brilliant snapshot of both artists working together in unison, with Fabrice providing his trademark ‘high tech funk & soul’ sound alongside Wolfgang’s keen, tried and tested ability to fuse clever pop inspirations and catchy vocals through the use of robotic mechanics. Perfect music which balances the headphones and dancefloors on the horizon.

Five versions are on hand with the EP, including the original version of ‘Cinema’, a French version of the original, as well as a remixes from Detroit’s Ectomorph, UK Electro kingpin Carl Finlow, and Dutch synthesis maestro Versalife aka Conforce.

The original version of ‘Cinema’ is a gorgeous slice of sonic wizardry designed for exploring the borders between underground electronic club music and pop sensibilities. Catchy vocals play alongside a multitude of synth textures, coexisting perfectly in a melodic mélange equally as pleasing to the ears as the dancing feet. Catchy and clever vibes in equal doses.

Detroit legend Ectomorph’s ‘Sinema Mix’ strips away the main elements and twists the original into an analogue heavy, heads-down drum workout saturated with carefully calculated effect manipulations to the vocals. Equal parts trippy and relentless, the remix is a broken beat workout designed to melt minds, fully ready for a dark concrete warehouse when permissible.

Electro legend Carl Finlow (Random Factor / Silicon Scally) delivers an interpretation of the original which stays loyal to the playful pleasantries of the original version. The signature bouncy, staccato-tinted grooves from Mr. Finlow are at center stage, with the UK producer fully embracing the original vocals and musical elements. A crisp, clean and precise remix, just as expected.

Versalife(aka Conforce) brings his beloved Dutch electronic style to higher levels with his take on the original, fully utilizing (what feels like) each and every one of his favorite machines from within his studio. Aggressive, quickly moving mischief is the name of the game with his remix, complete with sharp, attention-grabbing synths stabs and punchy, powerful drum programming.

Rounding out the EP is a special bonus version of the original, aptly titled the ‘French Version’ for reasons you’ll be quick to discover once you listen closer to the lyrics within the tune. Yep – the spoken word bits have merged from German to French!

Regarded as one of the greats from Detroit, Rick Wade has crafted an incredible discography of tracks blurring the lines somewhere between deep house and techno with a sound and style brilliantly his own.

His outstanding ‘Timeless EP’ from 2017 returns to Elypsia Recordings with an onslaught of remixes delivered by a diverse and unstoppable roster of modern musical mavericks – each respectfully twisting the original magic of Rick’s original productions and creating a fresh take in their own style.

The Way I Am’ comes in the shape of Tresillo and is an absolute belter of a prime-time stormer. Dominated by gigantic synth melodies, the track weaves around percussive alterations with hi-hats, sharp claps and energetic rides paired perfectly with the catchy musical wiggles and kicks. The familiar vocal sample from the original sneaks into play with perfect placement - offering a reminder of Rick Wade’s awesome original.

Rick’s previously unreleased track, ‘Academy’ receives the first of two remixes from Seattle house hero Pezzner. The ‘CR2’ Remix takes the groove into subterranean territories with a heads down bouncer of a track, fully embracing Pezzner’s more house-focused approach. A percolating bassline keeps the cut moving ahead while soft, divine pads offer a classy sonic texture suitable for wide-eyed ravers and urban headphone listeners alike.

Detroit’s Vintage Future joins the remix roster with his take on ‘Planet Deep’, one of the standout cuts from the original EP. The track is absolutely saturated with Detroit soul. Deep, machine driven textures and gorgeous otherworldly melodies rest alongside a truly infectious groove. The famed keyboardist for Model 500’s live gig, Vintage Future knows clearly how to craft an incredible groove with his keys, and the sounds from this impeccable remix are tip top.

The second remix of ‘Academy’ from Pezzner continues his remix focus in a deeper house mindset, with Pezzner delivering even softer sounds, and more intense pad dynamics. This retouch includes the addition of some gorgeous orchestral stabs and organ textures which gives the remix a soulful touch – made to focus on a slightly more melodic approach than the previous Pezzner rework.

Belgian producer and DJ Fabrice Lig aka Soul Designer has releases his twist on house and techno via an array of esteemed imprints over the past two decades such as Playhouse, Third Ear, F Communications and Planet E amongst many others.

Here we see him deliver his latest single via Belgium’s Elypsia, the Brussels based imprint launched in 1995 and home to material from Dan Curtin, Claude Young, K. Alexi Shelby and Orlando Voorn.

The original mix of ‘Do You Like Cookies?’ is up first and sees Lig fusing twitchy resonant synth licks, bumpy swinging drums and call and response vocal lines to create a Chicago-tinged contemporary house cut.

Stepping up first on remix duties next are two veterans of the Chicago House scene, Dance Mania’s Dj Funk joins forces with Dj Amar for two interpretations of the title-cut. First is the ‘Rough Remix’ which as the name would suggest takes on a raw dynamic feel before the ‘Cookies Monster Remix’ lays focus on a snaking synth line and a more loop-driven feel.

Berlin’s CYRK then round out the release with an Electro-tinged twist on things, bringing crunchy 808 drums, stuttering arpeggio synths and cinematic strings into focus while intricately reworked chops of the original wind within the groove.

The addition of Maurice Jackson’s outstanding vocal stylings topped off the original with a perfect human element.

Following the global success of the original version, Elypsia Records has enlisted some of the scene’s top tastemakers to deliver a remix package worthy of the original, featuring that same calculated combination of soul and steel.

Leaders of the Parisian underground, DJ Deep & Roman Poncet, provide the first remix which is all about building incredible tension. A tightly squeezed kick drum, short synth chops and cleverly placed vocal samples drive the groove. As the track grows, additional hats and synths arrive, leading up to a quick break before all the floor-rocking energy bursts free. Big!

Dutch Techno legend Orlando Voorn steps up next for his first of two remixes, this one leaning towards a very House-centric shuffle with warm, friendly key stabs and the full use of Maurice’s vocals. A truly joyful work of dance music magic here, with a relentless rhythmic drive keeping the party happening at full force.

Underground Resistance’s very own Mark Flash takes the remix responsibilities for the B1 with his gorgeous synth-saturated rework of the original. An energetic and stomping kick drum powers perfectly alongside future-facing melodies which shine brightly on top of the tune. This one is guaranteed to serve as an earworm for days after the party has ended.

Rounding out the EP is the 2nd remix from Orlando Voorn, this time peering into the underground with a stripped back jackin’ track utilizing a looped key melody on top of carefully placed vocal samples and claps. Some unexpected synths appear at the second half of the tune, putting a bit of new-age funk into the party stomper.

Burdens Down (The Remixes), by Scan 7

4 track album

Bandcamp Album of the Day Nov 19, 2018Elypsia Records

Orlando Voorn’s musical output goes from strength to strength with each new release showing the Dutch musician flex his producer muscles in new and stronger forms. His trademark sound, a brilliant mixture of Detroit influence and Dutch modernism, is thoughtfully crafted with the dancefloor centrally placed in his musical mind.

Mr. Voorn’s latest venture arrives in the form of the ‘Dirty Rules Crew,’ a collaborative effort for Elypsia Records which is absolutely impossible to resist, and guaranteed to smash the club to pieces.

Kicking off the release comes the Christian Bonori remix of ‘Dirty Rules.’ The Italian producer / DJ wastes no time getting things going with a tough-as-nails kick drum and sharp, moody synth stabs. The energy grows stronger with each passing phrase, with additional percussion, vocal samples and textures placed strategically, pushing the tune towards it’s boiling point.

Orlando Voorn’s version of ‘Dirty Rules’ is a captivating cut centered around a relentless and powerful percussive groove which confidently captures Orlando’s ability to combine true late-night mayhem with well calibrated patience. The vocal samples flow in and out of consciousness whilst loopy synth melodies construct a hypnotic atmosphere brilliantly.

Diving into more submerged territory is the final version of ‘Dirty Rules,’, credited as the ‘Deeptech Mix’ for clear reasons. Saturated textures, repetitive vocal samples and a heavy use of reverb all result in a perfectly murky heads-down dancefloor experience. True afterhours power for those who can handle going below the surface into deeper musical territories.

Dirty Rules, by Orlando Voorn

3 track album

Elypsia Records

Working together in Jean Vanesse’s Belgium studio, their debut EP, “Spin Coaster EP” was born. Through intense live collaboration over 3 full days, the results are these incredible original tracks and a remix from the American house legend, Osunlade (Yoruba Records). Belgium’s Elypsia Records have an absolutely essential release here for those looking for proper club weapons – each track dreamt up by a crew of producers with decades of critical acclaim and club credibility.

Osunlade kicks off the release on A1 with his rework of ‘Spin Coaster.’ The remix is a late night machine jam saturated with sharp synth textures and a shuffling rhythm which will lock the dancefloor tightly in place. A perfect blend between House and Techno, it’s a shining example of Osunlade’s keen ability to capture imagination with function, tension with release.

‘Ghetto Beat’ steps up as the A2, with a drum heavy cut full of off-kilter hits and tones which twist and turn in frequency and timbre. It’s the type of track that will get the crowds cheering and jackin’ and dancing without a break. A proper tool to slam into the set whenever energy levels need to lift higher and things need to get slightly twisted.

Title track ‘Spin Coaster’ sets up the B-side with a master session of prime time techno making magic. A playfully thick bassline resonates in and out of the analog rhythms while a synth tone builds tension over the track’s entire duration. A few breaks for the clubbers to catch their breath are placed in the perfect spots – but only for a brief moment before things kick back in.

Rounding out the release is ‘Ghetto Train,’ an absolutely mental banger designed to melt the minds of those fortunate enough to be on the dancefloor when it’s dropped. Relentless rhythms, huge hand claps and a sharp staccato shuffle drive the tune whilst synth stabs grow filthier with each passing phrase. Clearly the results of an insane studio session from the crew.

Spin Coaster EP (Including Osunlade Rework), by Quadra 163

4 track album

Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 3, 2018Elypsia Records

He is well known for his particularly funky use of Roland’s sh101 analog synth, and for his particularly emotional and personal melodies and harmonies.

There is no doubt that after more than 20 years of teaching himself production processes, complex midi programming and harmonies, Fabrice’s sound is unique and recognisable among the thousands of weekly techno releases.

Demonstrations of these skills appear on the crème de la crème of electronic music labels such as KMS (Kevin Saunderson), Planet-e (Carl Craig), Submerge, R&S, Third Ear, 7th City Records (Dan Bell), F-Communications (Laurent Garnier) , Versatile, Classic, Compost, Subject Detroit, Motech, Raygun, Playhouse Records, Kanzleramt (Heiko Laux), 70 Drums (Ken Ishii), Clone, Trapez ltd and so on... An exceptional discography into mythic labels, into history of electronic music.

By the end of 1998, after his first DJ and production experiences, under the Interwaves and Bug Orchestra nicknames, Fabrice was elevated to the ranks of the Detroit musical elite by Mad Mike himself, thanks to his classic remix of E-Dancer’s Banjo track on KMS: “Fabrice is a part of Detroit music's history by being the first white producer to record on KMS, and the first double groove recording from NSC”.

Fabrice has built a solid discography and reputation, confirmed by his reknowned appearances at the world’s best clubs & festival line ups such as Panorama Bar-Berlin, Fabric - London, Womb-Tokyo, Detroit Fuse-In Festival, Fuse - Brussels, Loft - Barcelona, Sub Club - Glasgow, The End - London, Sonar Festival, world famous official Montreux Jazz Festival, Bourges festival (On stage with Jean-Michel Jarre ), to name but a few. One of the highlight of Fabrice dj career is the paper into Detroit Free press where his performance was voted best dj Set of 2005’s Detroit Fuse-in Festival.

Fabrice also collaborated and remixed some artists like Laurent Garnier, Kevin Saunderson, Agoria, DJ Hell, Ken Ishii, Kenny Hawkes, Rob Mello, Frederic Galliano, Chymera, Trüby Trio…

After his last Soul Designer's album on Third Ear (2007), Fabrice decided to take a bit of a break from music and concentrate on some educational projects. Nevertheless, he released his classic Purple Raw EP on Versatile in that period, as well as some own EPs on R&S, Subject Detroit, .. next to a few remixes. Over the last few months however, Fabrice quietly prepared the celebration of 20 years of music by producing a new album with the idea to make a strong “come back” with fresh material for late 2014.

And when Carl Craig first heard "Galactic Soul Odysseys", he instantly decided to invite Fabrice to join Planet E's prestigious family. Once again, Fabrice work is entering history of music through one of the most respected labels from the techno community.

As Jean-Michel Jarre said in an interview for MTV : "What is touching me in Fabrice Lig's career is the way he is following his own line, without caring about trends, and that's the path an artist should follow. It is not post Detroit, it's an emotion"

Fabrice is really excited to be back on tour for live performances around the globe and to present that new material to his fans...

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Inspired by Kevin Saunderson, his original TECHNO MIX (7:06) is a hardcore and high energy track with intensity to match the wildest of crowds.

The EP also contains 3 remixes of the track, each exposing and accentuating the brilliant aspects of his complex tune.

It begins with the LUCIEN FOORT REMIX (6:41), a lively big room hit with a punch fit for an epic Saturday night.

UK MIX (6:46) follows with subtle electric melo- dies and rhythmic drum and bass patterns that give listeners the feel of wonder and excitement under a clear starry sky.

With a clean and gravitating groove BIT FLOAT REMIX (7:42) would fit perfectly in any Ibiza party with flair and style.

This release is a masterpiece of its own and nothing less than the product of a man who was born with beats and melodies ingrained in his soul.

From the early age of 9 his natural intuitions became apparent when his drum teacher told his parents he could play everything that was shown to him, even though he had no ability to read a score.

He began to DJ at the age of 12, and 3 years later won the DMC - World Mixing Championships of 1983 at just 15 years old. Steve Clisby, from the popular American band “American Gypsies”, recognized Voorn’s ability and taught him chord structures, which gave him the tools to begin composing tracks using keys and bass.

His artistry then took off, making a name for himself with his vibrant dance tracks under the alias "Frequency". Today, he's known as one of the Netherland's most inventive and ingenious producers in the world of electronic dance music. Having produced a wide variety of music under a number of monikers including “Fix”, “Format”, “Urban Nature” and “X-it”, his diverse ability stems from his natural inclination to explore new styles and unleash new sounds.

Throughout his profound career he has worked with a vast variety of small and established artists, including the three founders of Detroit techno: Atkins, May, and Saunderson.

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Before he was ever known as DJ T-1000, he was a published cartoon artist and radio DJ in Detroit writing press releases for Underground Resistance to get by.

One day, Underground Resistance was in need of a last minute DJ for their tour in Australia, and a door flew open for Alan Oldham. With passport in hand he departed on his journey as a DJ, which little did he know would eventually span continents.

Influenced by everything around him, his work has dynamically changed and evolved along with his life.

Currently as an international DJ living in Berlin, his latest creation is the ACIDSPACE EP, released by Elypsia Records under the DetroitRocketScience name.

The traveler himself takes us on an intergalactic adventure, beginning with ACIDSPACE (8:48). With a steady beat and a unique blend of serene space sounds, this jam excites the imagination for the journey to come.

It is followed by ROCKET TO BERLIN (7:20), a subtle and intricate mix that entices one to enter the unknown. VESTA SYSTEM (6:22) finishes the EP off on a note that leaves listeners grooving and enjoying the ride. Creativity and sweet sounds are what it’s all about for Alan Oldham.

With his recent musical shift to mellower, sci-fi inspired jams, he continues to let listeners see for themselves.

From his beginnings as a member of Underground Resistance (replacing
Jeff Mills), to seminal releases on Tresor Berlin, BPitch Control, Third
Ear, Suspected, Elypsia Records (under his Detroit Rocket Science
alias), his own Pure Sonik label and many others, to remixes for such
heavyweights as Loco Dice and Ellen Allien, to his legendary artwork for
such labels as Transmat, Djax-Up-Beats, New Religion, Houndstooth, Dark
Entries, and more, Oldham does it all.

Under his stage name of DJ T-1000, Oldham has criss-crossed the globe
rocking dancefloors from Amsterdam to London to Rome to Tokyo to
Shanghai to Mexico City to his native Detroit and back to his current
home in Berlin, where he holds down residencies at Tresor Berlin and
Suicide Circus.

As an illustrator who started out in the indie comics scene of the
mid-1980s, Oldham levelled up to canvases and has had successful
international gallery shows in Amsterdam, Vienna, Paris, Stettin
(Poland), Detroit, and  Berlin, with more to come.

Over 25 years in the game, and Oldham remains at the forefront of both art and music.

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