ROLAND TINGS “LIVE IN THORNBURY” CS (SILK051) $6

Australia friends always tell us what a slayer SILK house-smelter Roland Tings aka Rohan Newman is in the live setting, as we’ve never had the pleasure yet ourself. Finally someone sent us proof: this cool, ripping, well-recorded recent warehouse set of his. Stitches in some choice trax from his OOP “Milky Way” 12″ as well as a slew of inspired unreleased jams.

LP EDITION

CD EDITION

PHARAOHS “REPLICANT MOODS” LP/CD (SILK045) $12/$9

Not Pharaoh – one guy, one midi controller – but Pharaohs, plural; a dance band and magical rarity amid the forlorn ‘Lesis landscape of solo producers and desktop DJs. Bunkered between an arrangement of stackable synths, the Pharaohs squad jams workshop-style, an endearing, funky, spirited live-thrive. Replicant Moods is one part airy coastal jazz, that Ibeatha-meets-Madchester baggy-style the group melted soles with on their first 12” Uhh Uhh, and two parts sci-fi soar into the new age, complete with Philip K. Dick winks, tech-know wonks, and sleek Daft Punk-choreographed boogies. A Maria Minerva guest soft spot on the ESG/Weymouth bass bust “Miraculous Feet” lends another sweet shuffle to the clone conga line of Technics tracks. Replicant Moods is sensual – like a slinky cyber-booty shake – and also considered, a nuanced composition slowly evolving into a compelling layer dip of star-stretching get-down.

LP EDITION

CD EDITION

COYOTE CLEAN UP “2 HOT 2 WAIT” LP/CD (SILK044) $12/$9

Metro Detroit frisky/risky dreamer DJ Coyote Clean Up serves up a heart n’ hardbody emotional saga with 2 Hot 2 Wait, his deep-debut freaky full-length on 100% Silk. Hot-under-the-collar horniness (a woman simply counts to three on “Zebra Go Seek” and you start to undress), headphone-house grain (the fuzzy gut-bump on “The Least U Could Feel” is like warm breath whispering in your ear), skrewed RnB Freestyle strip-hop (stuttery layers give hopeful, life-affirming energy to the lover-lost “Awesome Luv”) and out-of-time mash-ups (“Double Dip” is a memory overlapping, with a classic ’95 dial-tone under and over contempo EDM knob-twists) blend blissfully, fashioning a sentimental journey through a sex-love-loss odyssey. 2 Hot 2 Wait is a sensua-stellar standout, beckoning, daring, colorful and celebratory in its exhibitionism and lust.

BOBBY BROWSER “STILL BROWSING” 12″ (SILK043) $9

House is at home with Bobby Browser, who may be Still Browsing after 2012’s Just Browsing EP, but these four tracks feel like he’s finally splurged on the pleasure-purchase. Never afraid to fuse sad Soul II Soulisms with flute-floozy Milan model-walk wonders, or blue lipstick platformed dance with classic groove-back ogle-voguing, Bobby Browser remains a San Fran late-night-on-Haight-night Latin legend. Browser’s known for Djing gel-gems like “Bad Bad Boys” and other, mostly forgotten romantic thrift store singles, and as producer he’s got the same no-boundaries deep-‘preciation for all that can be stirred in his stoopid stew. Howard Jones meets Earth, Wind, and Fire meets N’dea Davenport meets Sade meets Frankie Knuckles but not at all straightforward, and nothing short of silky slip-peeling. Always lovely and light, sleek and chic, Bobby Browser’s bought a spot on your yacht. It’s going to be a smooth cruise.

MARIA MINERVA “BLESS” 12″ (SILK042) $9

Fresh again, SILK’s favorite dunce-dance diva Maria Minerva tries on a new wardrobe with her Bless EP. Busting out with sweet n’ swingy single “Black Magick,” Minerva caters her classic la-la lyrics about an occult/joke-cult romance over a new waif, Schneider-esque pop-Rock Lobsta beat. “Space 4 U” slips echo-drone vocal monologues over a LaFace-style RnB booty bumper, while “Symbol of My Pleasure” sneers with a “Walk This Way” funk lick, both reminding fans of Minerva’s naughty/playful creep-creativities. Rounding out the EP are “Soul Searchin” – a sleazy, down-tuned, junk-jungle comatose doser – and Lady Blacktonika’s “Black Magick” Garage trippin’ remix – a layer cake of luscious tush pushin’ and an ode to another sassy Lady, Miss Kier herself. Confidence is key, and this is Maria Minerva struttin,’ on and off key, through her newest collection of Wand Songs.

LEECH “TUSKS” 12″ (SILK040) $9

Micro-scene main man and Kranky konfidante Brian Foote bounced from Chicago to Portland to L.A., first getting into gear and then getting into gear to become Leech, his deconstructed-dance-‘deavor. Known for “just getting it,” Foote was the maker of dreams come true when he manned the mix for Zola Jesus, LA Vampires, and Grouper, but as Leech he takes his levels-devil, diagonal dub, mood mixin’ wonk wizardry to someplace strange and sideways. Leech plays a conceptual concert, sucking sounds from hear and theirs. His is the genre of Chrono Dance, taunting with temporary tempos while foregoing four on the floor for time-traveling beats. Tusks is a style-sampler, approaching acid, teasing techno, and jumbling jazz; it’s the blip and bloop-ers reel of Big Dance Ideas, and you will dance – just not comfortably.