A long time coming, Norm de Plume’s follow up to the first release on his Plumage vinyl-only imprint arrives three years later. But it’s worth the wait.

Two disco edits work that typical Norm de Plume intro, easing you in with a repetitious slow build up. A sparse drum beat teases the sample in, before unveiling the familiar source material. It’s deep house that’s unapologetically slow, sweet and perhaps a touch sickly.

The flip is the real winner. Even more sparse than the A-side, ‘Stretchin Gretchin’ plays with a curtly chopped chant and a stomping bass beat, before working in cowbells and sharp claps. Simple but effective summer tool.

Plumage | May | vinyl

In other news, the organisers have announced an extra night: the festival will now continue through Monday with sets from Ivan Smagghe and Justin Robertson. Everyone with SMS wristbands will get free entry to Barbarella club, and in order to keep revellers happy during the day, London promoters Percolate and Not So Silent wil lbe be supplying the daytime beats.

Stop Making Sense is made up of a number of stages including the beach bar, the wood stage, set among the Mediterranean pines and oak trees, and the outdoor nightclub Barbarella’s Discotheque, where the party continues until sunrise. In between, there are daytime boat parties that embark from the bay twice daily for intimate, raucous shin digs with you favourite DJs and crews.

This year, SMS presents excursions from Aus Music, Sub Club, The T.Party Movement, Warm and Get. (Not to be missed is the Friday party from our good friends Trouble Vision and Love Glove, featuring Hunee and residents.) See what to expect here: vimeo.com/88016216

Tickets for the boat parties are highly sought-after, and tend to sell out ahead of the event. Grab them here: billeto.co.uk/en/users/sms

Thursday Day: Lovesick : Severino : Blonde Ambi5on : Lovesick DJs
Thursday Sunset: Aus Music : Leon Vynehall : Will Saul

Friday Day: Trouble Vision present Love Glove : Hunee : Larj Hans : OK Jones : Rolfie
Friday Sunset: Sub Club : Harri & Domenic

Saturday Day: The T.Party Movement : Mosca : Maribou State : T.Williams
Saturday Sunset: Warm : Nick Hoppner : Gerd Janson : Ali TilleS : Myles Mears : Ollie Seaman

Sunday Day: Orlando Boom : Psychemagik : Kiwi : Orlando Boom DJs
Sunday Sunset: Get Diverted : Anja Schneider : Rob AlldriS

Festival tickets:

Tickets start at £120: stopmakingsense.eu/sms-5cket

See you there, in the meantime check our review of least year’s festival here.

Clued-up Swedish imprint Aniara continues its strong run of late (standout releases coming by way of Genius of Time and Henrik Bergqvist last year). And Dorsiburg aka Alexander Berg – one half of Nordic production duo Genius of Times – steps up to the plate with some highly efficient house music.

The ethereal mood of the title track provides a soothing intro, giving way to the more functional ‘Devotion’ – deep tribal beats dunked in subaquatic low-end. ‘Mystical Influence’ runs with the exotic theme, upping the ante as formerly lumbering tribalist rhythms are injected with some fervour, but retaining the EP’s low-slung, after-hours feel.

Lovely house release for discerning dancefloors open to a touch of exoticism.

Aniara | June | vinyl

Inkswel turns in the latest mix for Melbourne Deepcast – a groove-laden journey of deep, percussive house music:

In Inkswell’s own words: “This was recorded live at local Adelaide haunt SOUNDPOND, an online radio station. Just a collection of everything really, some new exclusive bits from Ugly Drums, Layfar, the Cold Chillin’ Inkswel project, my EP on Wolf Music, some stuff from Greeen Linez, classic Maurice Fulton, boogie and disco nuggets, a remix I did on Yam Who’s label, unreleased Grooveman Spot, Lumberjacks In Hell stuff, Drexciya, Nu Era aka Marc Mac, upcoming stuff on my Hot Shot label and loads more!”

Lord Of The Isles continues to churn out quality music at a prolific rate. Here the Scotsman lays down two lengthy tracks on Phonica, each a cosmic disco epic in its own right. ‘Greane’ starts with  a medley of hollowed kicks before launching into a buoyant surge of pitch-bent synths and malleable basslines. The track pulses forward determinedly, flexing its retro-futuristic muscles, stopping only once or twice during its 10 minute runtime for stand-still breakdown, before bursting back into life. ‘Gigha’ treads similarly colourful territory with its cheerful synths, but behind lies a hum of rising, emotive strings.

Two typically intriguing tracks from Lord Of The Isles.

Phonica | July | vinyl, digital

The heavily-hyped Raw Cuts Remixes arrive with a slight but somewhat inevitable feeling of deflation on first listen. Yes Marcellus Pittman, Mike Huckaby and Recloose (an achingly tasteful lineup) are all remixing Motor City Drum Ensemble – promising everything you ever dreamed of, surely?

Certainly, Pittman’s cut is wonderfully organic: flurries of his staple metallic Detroit percussion rattles throughout, like navigating a lush jungle of brittle high hats and chiming cowbells; neatly slotted in-between is the trademark MCDE organ bass and sporadic guitar twangs.

The Huckaby and Recloose cuts are a tad more nondescript. The former weaves a choppy rhythm over a bed of soaring strings and hollowed-out drums, an ambitious approach that taps into the jazz indebted soul of Danilo Plessow’s sound. But there’s a little too much going on to really leave a lasting impression.  Recloose’s version has been doing the rounds on the internet for a few months now, a straight-up percussive groover – simple but effective drum workout.

MCDE | May | vinyl, mp3

The building where New York’s Output nightclub is located has been sold for $7.4 million.

Based in Williamsburg, the club is still expected to operate as normal under the lease that is currently in place.

It is reported that a New York City-based family with real estate holdings are behind the deal, purchasing the building from Cayuga Capital Management, who bought the building for an approximate $1.6 million in 2012, and Latus Partners.

At around 4am on Sunday morning, three men were sprayed with a substance thought to be ammonia near the South London nightclub Lightbox. Police have released CCTV images of two women and a man who are said to have carried out the attacks. It is thought to be an anti-gay attack.

Mark Williams of Orange Nation, the company that owns Lightbox, has issued a statement on the incidents: ”Unfortunately, there was a homophobic attack outside the cafe by Vauxhall Bus Station early on Sunday morning. This was an isolated incident and we have been speaking to police since it occurred, including supplying them with our CCTV footage of the local Vauxhall area.

“The police have confirmed there is no direct link with the venue or our customers. Our doors were closed at the time of the incident, with no gay events at the Lightbox that morning. Our extensive commitment with the council and Vauxhall One to provide a safe environment for everyone continues. Our thoughts go out to the victims of this awful attack and we wish them a speedy recovery.”

CCTV images of the three suspects can be found here and the Lambeth Community Safety Unit are asking for anyone who recognises them to call 0208 649 2176 or 07909 906 168.

Stop Making Sense returns to the picturesque Croatian town Tisno on July 31^st. Nestled in a secluded bay and now in its fifth year, the underground party prides itself on superbly handpicked lineups spread across a number of raucous beach and boat parties.

Read our full review of last year’s festival here.

This year’s lineup boasts DJ sets from the likes of eclectic selector Mr Ties, techno aficionado Marcus Worgull, Running Back head-honcho Gerd Janson and raw house head Vakula. It’s another eclectic, well-considered array of names, serving up chin-stroking techno (Nick Hoppner, Mr Ties) alongside the obligatory sun-soaked disco (Tiger & Woods, Harri & Domenic, Psychemagik).

With an overabundance of rival Croatian festivals, Stop Making Sense stands head and shoulders above the rest by striking a perfect balance between idyllic holiday and festival fun. There are of course also the exuberant boat parties that embark twice a day, one around midday, and the second in the early evening.

New to this year’s SMS promoters is the renowned London vinyl specialist Phonica Records, joining Aus, Sub Club, Trouble Vision, Warm, Orlando   Boom, The T.Party, Love Glove and more.

 Stop Making Sense 2014  

July 31-August 3

The Garden, Tisno, Croatia

stopmakingsense.eu / facebook.com/events/398475686949725/

Lineup:

Anja Schneider / Gerd Janson / Harri & Domenic / Hunee / Kiwi / Leon Vynehall / Marcus Worgull / Maribou State / Mr Ties / Mosca / Nick Hoppner / Optimo / Psychemagik / Severino / Tiger & Woods (live) / T.williams / Vakula / Will Saul / Ali Tillett / Anomalous Dj / Blonde Ambition / Larj Hand & The Ok Jones Band / Park Ranger / Rolfie / Mr Solid Gold

Tickets 

Advance tickets: £120

stopmakingsense.eu/sms-ticketsckets/  for details of accommodation and ticket packages – including BUY FIVE TICKETS AND GET SIXTH   FREE   special  group   ticket    offer.

Boat party tickets  £20:  billetto.co.uk/en/users/sms/stopmakingsense.yokaboo.com/