Artie Flexs – Damaged EP (LMDX019)
Catalogue Number: LMDX019 | Release Date: November 2009
Available to download from:
Juno Download
Beatport
Stompy
Traxsource
The Lowdown
Artie Flexs debut release ‘Disco Space EP’ for Lost My Dog in July of this year was an instant success, with Mixmag’s ‘House Tune Of The Month’ accolade being the tip of an impressive iceberg of support. Four months later and the Latvian DJ and producer is back with the ‘Damaged EP’, four devastatingly deep, techy and infectious grooves with electronic stylings befitting acts such as 2020 Soundsystem, Spirit Catcher and Motor City Drum Ensemble, three names to whom the 19 year old has been compared in reviews.
Support on Artie’s previous release, ‘Disco Space EP’:
Mixmag: “With all three cuts boasting a really infectious groove, this is captivating stuff.”
DMC Update: 5/5 “Three sublime exercises in deeper house with techno testicles.”
iDJ: “Artie Flexs delivers three intelligently primed deep to tech house club fillers.”
VMM: Recommended Tune “Worthy of a Spirit Catcher production, this is very tasty indeed”
Goa Club: “Three tech house cuts in the style of artists like 2020 Soundsystem and Motor City Drum Ensemble.”
Following the release of ‘Damaged EP’, in December Artie and Lost My Dog will release his debut album ‘The Journey’ in mixed and unmixed formats for free.
Artie Flexs was born in Riga, Latvia. He started DJing in 2002, playing at small clubs in his hometown before securing a residency at a club called ‘4luv&$’ playing more mainstream music, as many DJs will admit to when first starting out. At the same time he began to produce music and started working with fellow Latvian DJ Abu (of V.S. Project) who opened Artie’s eyes to a wider selection of music including progressive house, tech house, minimal and breaks. In 2006 he took a big step up the DJ ladder, playing alongside leading Eastern European DJs such as DJ Vital, Mr. Djinn and DJ Lite. 2007 was the year of definition for Artie, playing at famous events and club nights including Tonuss Club (Jelgava, Latvia), From Dusk Till Dawn (Tallinn, Estonia) and Wash My Brain (Rezekne, Latvia).
By early 2009 Artie’s music writing skills had also reached a more professional level and the first results were seen on Bedroom Muzik and Bashi Records in the spring of 2009. Shortly afterwards he contacted Lost My Dog with whom he has signed a string of projects.
Magazine Reviews
DMC Update – 5/5
Latvia’s Artie follows July’s ‘Deep Space’ EP with another tasty excursion into that timeless style of deep house originated in New York around the late 80s on labels like Nu Groove. ‘The Blame’ is majestic and loping with big riffs and lush chord-beds. The glacial space-drops hanging from the bassed-up testicles of ‘Precious’ recall great producers like Wayne Gardener – pure NY. After also nodding at modern torch-beaers like 2020 Soundsystem, Artie emphasises the underlying techy elements on ‘Damage’, which could be the best cut with its effortless drop into electro-flecked pastures. Like I’ve said before, the best pure house to come out of this country for donkey’s, thanks to records like this.
iDJ – 7/10
Timely drops with lovely, deep classic piano hooks save the nineties feel of ‘Precious’, but the true pick is the Chicago fashioned ‘The Blame’. Just check those organ grabbing chord stabs and retro piano strings.
This Is Why We Dance
You can usually rely on Lost My Dog for some solid deep house action, and this four-tracker from Latvian newcomer Artie Flexs doesn’t disappoint. On this evidence, the fact that he’s gonna have a debut album out soon is definitely good news, especially as it’s apparently gonna be available for free download – more news on that when I have it.
In the meantime, the tracks here mainly plough a deep house furrow, with two warm, instrumental dancefloor groovers – The Blame and Precious – and two cuts that mess about in that deep/prog hinterland, In Control and Damage (still in a dancefloor way, though, not a drifty pointless way, in fact In Control is quite techy). Unsurprisingly it’s the former two I’m feeling more, especially the bouncier Precious, but this is a safe use of your Earth pounds all the same.
DJ Reactions
Dubfire: 5/5
Fred Everything: like The Blame, thx
Brothers Vibe Precious is choice for me, Cool house vibes…
Grant Nelson: Full support
Asad Rizvi: another fine release on LMD
Nick Warren: 4 crackers, all worth playing
Blakkat: 5/5, Wicked!
Nick Holder: Artie Flexs is on the radar! Deepness well thought out!
Jason Hodges: Quality as always from the LMD crew..smooth deepness is always in order,this Damaged EP does not disappoint!
Sean Smith: Damage is mental. Feeling it!!
Murray Richardson: very good ep…The Blame is the one im feeling most of all!
Mr White: nice release !!! once again lost my dog puts together a well balanced ep !! this will get some PT!!
Matt Masters: sweet sounds.
Brown: Really like The Blame – some great synth action with a nice swingy feel and classic sounding bassline.
Harold Heath: all four tracks are cool, “the blame” probably the strongest, maybe because of its new-oldschool feel.
Brothers Vibe: Precious is choice for me : ) Cool house vibes…
Danny Stott: Really like this ep, deep & techy grooves throughout, really tight stuff!
Nacho Marco: Yes!
