Butter Side Up

Butter Side Up’s 12th release, Weekend at Raymond’s Place’ comes from San Diego’s hotly tipped John Manhard. A densely textured and unpredictable six-track EP whose languid groove and swing will sound equally sweet warming up a dancefloor or late into the following day. Based in LA and resident of cult party V:isions, John’s been on a roll of late, with releases on the likes of Mui Mui, Perfect Timings & InTheBagg (alongside Dylan Payne) cementing him as a singular producer with an impressively broad reference board. The EP’s first track, ‘Shake Your Body’ immediately gets under the skin, a bouncy groove and synth-line pulling you under its command. Over the next 30-odd minutes the spell doesn’t lift - deep house tropes twist and turn playfully over shuffling breaks and swinging basslines, reminiscent of West-Coast house’s finer moments. Manhard’s studio-craft and ear for the unpredictable give a fresh perspective to a much revered and distinctively Pacific-coast sound. This is music for the fuzzy margins either side of peak time. It’s fitting that Hamish first met and heard John’s music at a hazy afters in LA back in 2022, drawn to a selection of tracks which were largely his own. Two years later these ideas have refined to form another stellar release on BSU, complete with original artwork from Max Binski and scheduled for release in early October.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.net

Butter Side Up Records welcomes back Liquid Earth for Deputy Dog, his second EP on the label. It arrives in early May and once again explores a sublime and spaced-out club sound with original artwork by Cleymoore. New school mainstay Liquid Earth last appeared on this label in the summer of 2020. Since then, the LA-based artist has continued to bring his sound to labels like Kalahari Oyster Cult and his own Liquid Earth Physical. He mixes up elements of the OG 90s tech house sound with fresh West Coast feels, infectious analogue grooves and a real understanding of dance floor dynamics. This new EP continues that signature sound with opener '2 The Dance Floor' bringing tight, punchy drums and swirling cosmic pads that make for a cinematic trip. 'Deputy Dog' gets more unhinged with its wild modulated leads bleeping and squeaking over brushed metal drums and a fat bassline. 'Rim City' continues to up the ante with party-starting energy coming from quick, slick drums and jungle breaks, raved-up chord patterns and subtle trance vibes. It's a brilliantly busy arrangement to really make the floor cut loose. Last but not least, 'Feels So Good (As It Should)' locks you into a deeper, more marching groove that's coloured with muted neon pads and cosmic motifs. These are full-flavour tracks that brim with musical character and plenty of dance floor clout.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.net

London based label and party Butter Side Up follow-up a sold out debut release from Christian Jay with another helping of atmospheric house music, this time from Leeds based rising star Midge Thompson. The long time BSU associate serves up three tracks that are complemented with a rare remix from the legendary Titonton Duvante. Opener ‘Destination 2242’ is a slick and spaced out broken beat groover. Sci-fi motifs wither next to a sprinkling of garage percussion and rubbery drum programming is brilliantly loose and body popping. ‘Delta’ gets even deeper, with skeletal drums knocking out an infectious late-night rhythm while dreamy pads flesh things out. Spacecrafts drift in the background to add some cinematic stylings and make it perfect for the more close-knit dance floors. On the flip, ‘Beeston Lights’ picks up the pace with perfectly rolling kicks pulling you in as keys twinkle up top like a distant metropolis at night. It’s smooth and breezy house music to carry you away on a blissful vibe. Remixing is Titonton Duvante, a long time influence on the Butter Side Up crew and a cult figure in heady house circles thanks to definitive work on his own Residual Recordings, Mosaic and many others. His chunky take on techno is hard to beat, as proven here with a remix that re-works the drums into busy, restless things that work the feet while the Americans’s typically ethereal pads bring real depth. Original artwork by Sophie Douala.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: gpsr@wordandsound.net