Ark & Pit Spector continue their inspired journey with an extended EP full of groovy jams and absorbing rhythms for Hold Youth. The Frenchmen have formed a potent alliance with a series of expertly-crafted, high-quality releases dropping over the last couple of years. On this new EP they go deeper into their sound explorations with five original works and a remix from their Parisian buddy and Hold Youth member, Le Loup. First up, we go into bumping jazzy territory with ‘Chauffage Central’, a mesmerising cut with swirling pads, soulful vocal clips and a jaunty b-line. Straight up after that, Hold Youth rudeboy Le Loup gives ‘Chauffage Central’ a funky little rework, throwing live sounding percussion, Nubian vocal clips, trumpet parps and a pumping bassline into the mix which gives a totally different identity. The final track on side A, is a cheeky teaser called ‘Petite Ondée’. Rolling out for just under two minutes the track has a muffled, jazz-esque feel to it with a warm rolling bassline and bright, sparkling piano keys. On the flip we kick off with ‘Air Conditionelle’, a lush, retro feeling with those oh-so-familiar heavy-hitting eighties snare licks. The bassline takes you to a New York City street and the whole atmosphere is that of an old school NYC neighbourhood, while a spoken-word sample adds a human touch just before the track comes to an end. ‘Sub Tropical’ goes a little leftfield with an unusual combination of sounds in tandem with a pulsating low end, occasional sax licks and punchy percussion to give it plenty of energy. ‘Averse Et Contre Tous’ closes out the EP with a slothish ride into the sunset – Ark and Pit Spector show their experimental side presenting an odd union between blues samples, gruff electronic sounds and piano keys. Another triumphant effort from Ark and Pit Spector, in fact, some of the finest work to date. Make sure you check it out!
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He’s been in the game for 15 years now, and throughout Ark has proven he’s not one to spread himself thinly. Leading up to 2010’s Arkuarium on THEMA, he had released a string of collaborations that wandered enthusiastically and whose experimentalism culminated on that record. Apart from a few celebrated remixes since then, Ark has been busy in the studio crafting a new batch of focused heat, mostly alongside his brother Pit Spector, himself a respected producer and DJ known from associations with Circus Company and Minibar. As we finish exploring a heavier sound with our well received Re:Vision Series, the sophisticated deep house tracks on Ark and Pit Spector’s new Call of the Horns EP announce a new direction for the artists and a direction we seek to illuminate as we define the different shades of the spectrum at THEMA. Continuing with this metaphor, opener Wrong Way certainly makes use of the many colors of deep house music. There’s the yearning, faraway vocal, the spacey piano chords, the dusky-voiced monologue, and the funky bass, but it is all delicately interwoven with dense layers of ambient sound and effected, sweeping pads. Like its title, Velours moves in a sexier swing with nearly-nonverbal vocals moaning against liquid pads and a chugging, organic rhythm executed with extra, slinky details that get more frantic as it moves along. The disco-sampling, discofied feel of Clark Kent finds the producers thriving in the witty kind of groovy house Ark has played with so much before. They wait until the very last bar to deliver the punch line, but until then it’s a rollicking, wacky ride filled with squealing synthesizers, slap bass-style licks, and chirpy vocal samples. They Ruff again looks to its own title with a firmer stomp in the rhythm section that contrasts their continued use of subtle production touches. The breakdown is unusual, unexpected, and downright dirty, and with the interlude reprise of BKorizon that closes, it brings the EP to a strongly assured finish. Here at THEMA, we’re once again happy to be reunited with old friends, and the feel-good dancefloor vibes from Ark and Pit Spector warmly confirm this camaraderie with all of its history and detail. As a statement of intent and a revelation of a partnership, Call of the Horns signals both commencement and continuation of a bright future for THEMA and this duo.
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Ark & Pit Spector continue their inspired journey with an extended EP full of groovy jams and absorbing rhythms for Hold Youth. The Frenchmen have formed a potent alliance with a series of expertly-crafted, high-quality releases dropping over the last couple of years. On this new EP they go deeper into their sound explorations with five original works and a remix from their Parisian buddy and Hold Youth member, Le Loup. First up, we go into bumping jazzy territory with ‘Chauffage Central’, a mesmerising cut with swirling pads, soulful vocal clips and a jaunty b-line. Straight up after that, Hold Youth rudeboy Le Loup gives ‘Chauffage Central’ a funky little rework, throwing live sounding percussion, Nubian vocal clips, trumpet parps and a pumping bassline into the mix which gives a totally different identity. The final track on side A, is a cheeky teaser called ‘Petite Ondée’. Rolling out for just under two minutes the track has a muffled, jazz-esque feel to it with a warm rolling bassline and bright, sparkling piano keys. On the flip we kick off with ‘Air Conditionelle’, a lush, retro feeling with those oh-so-familiar heavy-hitting eighties snare licks. The bassline takes you to a New York City street and the whole atmosphere is that of an old school NYC neighbourhood, while a spoken-word sample adds a human touch just before the track comes to an end. ‘Sub Tropical’ goes a little leftfield with an unusual combination of sounds in tandem with a pulsating low end, occasional sax licks and punchy percussion to give it plenty of energy. ‘Averse Et Contre Tous’ closes out the EP with a slothish ride into the sunset – Ark and Pit Spector show their experimental side presenting an odd union between blues samples, gruff electronic sounds and piano keys. Another triumphant effort from Ark and Pit Spector, in fact, some of the finest work to date. Make sure you check it out!
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Introducing Damien Zala… the next promising young Frenchman to release on Hold Youth. Although relatively unknown, his first album ‘Lonely Happiness’ received strong support from Theo Parrish, Norm Talley and Luke Hess amongst others. Combining analogue synths and drum-machines with acoustic elements and samples from old records, the trained sound engineer is a rigorous technician aiming to create sophisticated deep house atmospheres. Hold Youth provide a breeding ground for open-minded and innovative music, and Zala’s Second Life EP ticks all the right boxes. Exploring sounds from a broad spectrum, ‘Ms Blue’ is the moody opener that creates a melange of raw minimal jazz, while the B side continues in this vein with more of an obvious off-key German micro house influence. ‘Considered Done’ references the late Herbie Hancock, sampling his voice over a flowing piano melody and punchy bass line, while ‘Tribute to Willy Simon’ goes all out funky, full of brass, with a classic Hip Hop swagger.

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Riding on the back of a surge of interest in De La Club, the debut LP from Hold Youth, comes a smartly picked repress of House don Nail. While the duo is known for their eclectic vision of dance music, the first repress on the label I’ve Been There EP is in fact an exemplary example of straight-up, no-fuss House. Enjoying a modest comeback of late both as a producer and DJ, Nail originally released Full of Beestone Promise EP on DIY Discs in ’97. The stronger two of the four tracks will be repressed one on each side, ‘Our Love’ and ‘I've Been There’, distinctive for its melodic vocal and recent inclusion in the Apollonia fabric 70 compilation. While we have become accustomed to Hold Youth’s diversification of sounds with the current LP, I’ve Been There reminds us that a pigeon-holable classic can be highly refreshing More

From the two individually revered artists Seuil and Le Loup, comes the debut LP under their collaborative DJ/producing alias Hold Youth. A collection of dance-orientated tracks, designed to make the body move, De La Club explores the origins of Hold Youth’s fundamental influences to their modern day stance.A LP in two parts, the first vinyl is almost a retrospective of primarily State-side club sounds, but also of the pair’s early musical staples. Paying homage to old skool production, the inspiration drawn from the Detroit greats like Moodymann and Andres is clear on the funked-out, jazzy vibes of Street My Baby or the smooth flowing Les Enfants Du Soleil. Hold Youth’s love affair with head-bobbing hip hop also makes an appearance on the intro and outro, sampling the one and only J Dilla, perfectly combined with their own personal beat-boxing. Not forgetting their French 90’s roots, Kool & The Boug oozes that warmth defined so well by Pepe Bradock and Trankilou… a club track which has the power of subtlety to submerge the dancefloor that one level deeper.Part two looks to the example of German minimal and micro house and brings us up to date with the sounds fresh from Hold Youth’s record bag today. Be it the weird and murky territory of Dodge This, or the eerie, glitchy world of Black Dog, their modern vision of De La Club is darker and sturdier in its stature. But it is the ability to weave seamlessly between the LPs two halves, two ideals, which truly characterises the Hold Youth ethos and their signature DJing style.

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Seuil & Le Loup aka Hold Youth for deep vibes. Really good EP. More

all tracks written, produced & Published by Jordan Fields Music Ascap. More

Detroit’s original underground groove-maker comes on board with a 4-track package of goodies. For his debut release on Hold Youth, Mr. Rick Wade brings back the deep and soulful vibes of his famous ‘night series’ with Night Addiction EP. The A-side title track kicks off with dark keys winding through a thumping bassline and sultry horns, while Enter Dawn plunges deep into an ocean of warm pads and hypnotic bass. Flip over to the B-side for the obscure sounds of Hold Youth’s modern rework of Night Addiction, plus S3A’s disco-house interpretation, full of funky sampling, that will surely have your hands up in the air. More

For the fourth release, Hold Youth presents a new member to his family. S3A is a new french artist who travel all over the scene for some years, but finally release his great music. After his first acclaimed works on Phonogramme, he brought us 4 deep and moody tracks, where he draws his style from his standards. We remind you that we work vinyl only, so check your dealer asap for this essential 12" !!!

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Seuil & Le Loup return with Hold Youth's 3rd release, revealing a new aspect of their universe. The original of Jinx is a dirty & hypnotic track with an unstoppable groove. 2 remixes complete the package : the first comes from Doctor San Proper who takes you on a voodoo Journey that won’t let you go unscathed, whilst on the flipside, Och delivers a killer modern techno-oriented 12” to thrill any dance floor.

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Leading deep house connoisseurs and creators of Hold Youth Records Seuil and Le Loup, gear up to unveil their labels debut EP ‘Classics’ – an excursion into blue-eyed soul and hip-hop infused grooves. Retaining an element of mystery and authenticity, Hold Youth will be a vinyl only label, keeping it strictly underground. An outlet for Seuil and Le Loup’s own productions, the label will feed on their musical inspirations, and nurture homegrown talent while exploring a range of sounds and styles, from hip-hop and soul through to house and techno. Hold Youth is also the name of the DJ duo and their residency at Social Club in Paris. ‘Classics 001’ is a split EP with two offerings from Hold Youth on the A-side. The first track ‘Nautil Us’ is a rework, which modernises the 1974 ‘Nautilus’ by Bob James while ‘Paname’ focuses on the solid underground house style with that all-important French touch and a sprinkling of NYC. On the B-Side, Seuil delves into funkadelic, hip-hop influenced waters with ‘Khemestry’, which pays homage to Trankilou and J. Dilla’s deep side. Le Loup rounds off the EP with a track rooted in Cuban Salsa, but with brawny beats and a modern hip-hop twist.

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