Dubeats
Two years after his last incursion on the label, Mark Hawkins is back on Houndstooth with his latest release, ‘Whole New Internet Game (Feat. Donnell Knox)’.
Partially produced with Kalamazoo techno legend Donnell Knox aka D-Knox who is also featured on vocals on the title track, the release is a fitting tribute to the early 90s Detroit house sound, updated with a thicker, more contemporary sounding production aesthetic.
Editor’s Review: Underground house stalwart Mark Hawkins is back on houndstooth. Two years after his last release on the label, UK-born Berlin-based house producer Mark Hawkins brings us his new five-tracker, ‘Whole New Internet Game’. True to the US DNA of his now classic signature sound, somewhere between the scenes of Chicago, Detroit and NYC, Hawkins pilots a quintet of soulful house jackers, dead set at having dancers wading under generous showers of funk and pastel-shaded synth swashes. Hawkins’ new journey opens with the title-cut ‘Whole New Internet Game’ featuring Sonic Mind mainstay D-Knox on vocals. A vibey, footwork-imbued jaunt across old-school urban scapes and spacious rooftop vistas, the track meshes the small hours kind of atmosphere with dynamic drum programming that ensures maximal traction on the dancefloor.
Low-slung A2 ‘Emerald’ follows with a deft mix of trouble-brewing bass, hi-intensity Chicago shuffle and P-Funk-inherited harmonics that’ll have you feeling like cruising across fantasized palm avenues and smokey lounges off a late ‘70s flick. Doused in delays and echoes, ‘Reprise’ aims for the deeper end of the spectrum with its sunken techno tropes, soaring chords and steely, chimey flexions. The result is a singularly epic 4×4 banger, tailored to whip up a frenzy anywhere and at every hour of the day, be it midnight in the basement or on the beach at sunrise. Back to more straightforward early ‘90s shuffle, ’Sixth’ invites us to let go of all pressure through a delectably soothing and punchy five-minute glide into the ether. Topped off by the radio version of the title-track, ‘Whole New Internet Game’ is Hawkins hallmarked jacking-house suavity at its most effectively powerful. This artist is back and he is not to be underestimated.
Emerald is out 11/20/20 on Houndstooth
Artist: Mark Hawkins
Title: Emerald
Label: Houdstooth
Release Date: 2020-11-20