djmag.com 115

MUSIC

ENTER STAGE LEFT

Actress returns to Ninja Tune with more leftfield magic on ‘AZD’...

p.138

HOT SELECTIONS

This month’s essential tracks

p.116

BY THE BUCKETLOAD

May’s albums unpacked

p.136

ON THE MIX ‘N’ BLEND

Compilations not to miss this month

p.140

djmag.com116

HOUSE BEN ARNOLD ben.a.arnold@

gmail.com

T Williams & James JacobTogether EPMadhouse

8.0 Solid dancefloor gear from T Williams and James Jacob for Kerri Chandler's Madhouse imprint. Leaning to the old school — but not in the tired and tedious manner to which this page is frequently subjected in its search for fine house music — 'Together' delivers stabby keys and skippy beats. What's not to like? 'I've Been Thinking' pulls out sliced and diced vocals, a filtered garage loop and jacking percussion, while 'Work' brings the swing. Proper.

RoyerDocumentedMork

9.0 Deep, undulating joy from Paris-born Royer via Losbter Theremin's spin-off imprint Mörk. 'Clqsse2' (the names don't get any easier to pronounce) is dusty but warm, unctuous house music, while its 'Sunday Lit' re-rub ups the tempo to a frisky swing. On the flip, 'Healyrslfw_lee' (told you), 909 rides skitter atop gentle, loopy arpeggios, while the dub-heavy 'd'or22' pulses and swells, a crisp hat picking its way through the depths. It's fabulous. Ensure you check out ASOK's 'Inner Circle', also recently out on Mörk, while you're at it.

FYI ChrisSnafubarRhythm Section International

8.0 FYI Chris — two chaps called Chris living in Peckham — drop

four tracks of supremely wonky house music for the excellent and equally Peckham-centric Rhythm Section. 'Repeater' couples metallic percussion with some lo-fi thumb piano vibes, while 'HTRTWr' (nope, us neither) drones and wheezes, before ushering in a satisfyingly girthsome bassline. 'Lonestar' is, perhaps, the star of the show, a dubby, leftfield hip-house groove that's pretty hard to resist. Most pleasing all round.

Pale BlueComes HomeMe Me Me

8.5 New York's Mike Simonetti dons a new(ish) alias, Pale Blue, for Man Power's increasingly essential Me Me Me imprint. 'Comes Home' is boldly, dizzyingly hypnotic, layers of bleeping arps firing off in all directions, while vocals from Elizabeth Wight call to mind the early days of prog house, and William Orbit's pivotal Guerilla Records. Spanish producer Pional turns in a slightly more dancefloor-orientated re-rub, while 'Have You Passed Through This Night', on the flip, is gorgeous too.

Damian Lazarus & The Ancient MoonsI Found YouCrosstown Rebels

8.5 This is epic, end-of-night anthem business indeed from Damian Lazarus and his crew The Ancient Moons (comprising vocalist Zulu, Ben Chetwood on 'electronics', and Rob Gentry on keyboards). 'I Found You' sweeps and swirls, a robotic bassline butting up against

grand pianos and a vocal so soulful it will be making grown men weep on terraces across the globe this summer. South Africa's Black Coffee turns in an emotional re-rub, while former Trouw don Patrice Bäumel delivers some seductive depth.

Ponty MythonBlack MagicBurnin Music

8.5 Weird and strangely wonderful stuff from Ponty Mython, out of Vilnius, Lithuania. Junkyard clatterings of percussion and keys with the hypnotic echoes of a street organ meld together on 'Black Magic'. 'Street Sunbath', with its melancholy arps and absurdly mucky bassline, is moody and magnificent. EP closer 'Hidden Object' is thick with chugging Afro beats, tribal chants, oddball horns and a low-slung groove which is just irresistible. Originality is often tough to find in this game, but Ponty appears to have it by the bucketload.

Ross From FriendsDon't Sleep, There Are SnakesLobster Theremin

9.5 Likely to be one of the stand-out house releases of 2017, this scorching four-tracker sees South London's Ross From Friends having climbed to dizzying heights over the space of just a handful of EPs. Making his debut on Lobster Theremin's main label (following his breakthrough 'You'll Understand' on its sub-label Distant Hawaii), 'In An Emergency' dissects distant R&B smoothness with tough 909 beats. When it breaks, it's just perfection. 'Donny Blew It', meanwhile, with its New Jack chords, is salve for the soul.

MONEYSHOT!

01. DIAL 81 FEAT. PAUL RANDOLPH ‘Luminous Stasis’ Mahogani “From his excellent ‘In Company Of Others’ LP, which is full of nice soul and house songs, as well as excellent remixes.”

02. PLANETARY ASSAULT SYSTEMS ‘Twelve (Psyk Rework)’ Mote Evolver “I’m a big fan of PAS and Luke Slater’s work in general. I love the raw energy of Psyk’s drums on this one.”

03. DJ DEEP ‘Surge (Mr. G Protected Dub)’ Deeply Rooted House Records “Part of the ‘Cuts Series Remixes’ on my label. I’m very happy about this raw hyper-funky remix by Mr. G!”

04. NUMMER ‘Détente Aux Enfers’ Nummer Music “I love the attitude of this release. The groove is so relentless; it’s deep and mysterious, funky and original.”

06. PATRICK CONWAY ‘Sandy Lane (Romain Poncet Edit)’ Rekids “A really nice release on Radio Slave’s excellent label that features a Pangaea remix too. This is a special edit by Romain Poncet.”

07. HENRY WU FEAT. BANTON ‘Deep In The Mudd’ Eglo Records “These days I’m really digging into the mid/late ‘90s West London broken beat records, all the NSM, Kaidi, Dego, Phil Asher etc… All those tracks sound so fresh nowadays!”

08. DJ HONESTY ‘Loitering (DJ Deep Remix)’ Scenario “It’s been a pleasure working with Sebo K for a remix on his Scenario label.”

09. DJ SOTOFETT ‘Ol Pa Ibiza’ Borft “What strikes me with this track, and its beat-driven version ‘Ol Pa Klubb’, is that they sound very ‘personal’. They’ve got a lot of character, each version sounds unique.”

10. TOMORROW’S PEOPLE ‘Open Soul’ Melodies International “I purchased this Japanese re-issue online and found out afterwards that it will soon be reissued on Melodies International. A must-have.”

DJ DEEP DEEPLY ROOTED HOUSE

QUICKIESRaamRaam006Raam

8.5 Ooozing class, this sixth release on Swedish producer Raam's own label is a corker. 'Tilted' keeps it understated, while deep, dub-disco 'Const' is a slo-mo delight, topped off with a remix from Qnete.

Art AlfieKRLVK9Karlovak

8.0 Weirdly, this is Art Alfie's first solo EP on his own Karlovak label. 'Trippfiguren' is the killer; a building, minimal chugger. But it's all pretty good, to be fair.

Dijon feat. Charles McCloudPersonal SlaveClassic Music Company

7.0 Murky, mucky business from Classic veteran Honey Dijon and her chum Charles McCloud, this acidic bombshell is for the freaks on those late-night, low-ceiling dancefloors. Aces.

El Prevost b2b DoorlyEP1Reptile Dysfunction

8.0 Supremely strange house music from El Prevost and Doorly, dropped on the latter's Reptile Dysfunction label. 'Black Music Invasion' is assured to spin out any raver close to the edge.

djmag.com 117

TECHNO RI

CHAR

D BR

OPH

Y ri

char

dbro

phy@

gmai

l.com

01. SERENA BUTLER ‘Oto’ Eerie “Really cool track, fathoms-deep with this great murky atmosphere and trippy vocals, reminiscent of Air Liquide material from way back.”

02. MARKUS SUCKUT ‘EXILE 006 B1’ Exile “Superb rolling and funky vibes from Suckut, a real functional club track that has a slick production and bags of energy.”

03. 2000 AND ONE ‘Hood Thang’ Intacto “Loving this homage to Robert Hood from Dylan Hermelijn, funky as hell with its use of the First Choice acapella, this cut packs a real punch.”

04. ALEX DOLBY ‘Less Sugar’ Affekt Recordings “Heads-down, no nonsense techno from Alex here, the synths remind me a little of Gat Decor, it’s got that little progressive trancey vibe going on for all the right reasons.”

05. RHOMB ‘Worn Out Places’ Modularz “Excellent techno track from Rhomb, very well produced, the mallet hits give it a nice spiritual vibe and the beats are rolling.”

06. ITPDWIP ‘Blinded By The Light (Jeremiah R Remix)’ Lobster Theremin “Ace electro tones on this one, real cruising techno music with sweet melodic touches and a warm wandering bassline — music to really get lost in.”

07. A SAGITTARIUN ‘Kobalt’ Elastic Dreams “A new track from my latest release. I went back to basics on this with funky drums and claps and searing pads chopping back and forth — simple, yet seems to be going down well.”

08. MERI ‘Rademaster’ Amber Muse “Quite a unique vibe on this one. Meri creates a super wall of sound with driving drums, evil acid and an old school sound that makes it irresistible to these ears.”

09. STEVE PARKER ‘Destination Moon’ Planet Rhythm Records “Loving this, a great club track with a synth hook that worms around the brain. This has a nice Detroit vibe to it.”

10. EDIT SELECT & MIKE PARKER ‘Composite 01’ Edit Select “Amazing sound on this, very refined and atmospheric techno, not banging but a really intense and psychedelic builder — reminiscent of some of Jeff Mills’ classic minimalism.”

A SAGITTARIUN ELASTIC DREAMS

Mr PauliWeekend WarriorWrong Era

8.0 Ingmar Pauli hasn’t put out a record in seven years, but ‘Weekend Warrior’ has been worth the wait. From the title track’s epic synth melodies to the hypnotic pulses of ‘Nebraska’, ‘Warrior’ sees the Dutch producer showcase his distinctive interpretation of West Coast electro/disco. The EP also sees him explore deeper and farther than before; on ‘Night Fashion’, he flirts with deep techno, while ‘After Hour Boogie’ is a slick electro-funk workout. Solitary DancerDualismDark Entries

8.0 ‘Dualism’ is only Montreal pair Solitary Dancer’s second release, but it is an assured EP. ‘Anything' sees them use jittery drum patterns and a repetitive vocal sample to create an eerie techno track. By contrast, ‘Losing Touch’ is a low-slung 808 workout, while on ‘Emails 2 Myself’, they team up with Marie Davidson to create the kind of ice maiden-led electro-disco track that Miss Kittin used to specialise in. GeminiLe FusionAnother Day

8.0 After some labels put out ethically questionable Gemini reissues, Another Day does the right thing and gets Spencer Kincy’s permission to re-release ‘Le Fusion’. Despite

being over 20 years old, these three untitled tracks are as unpredictably brilliant as ever. Woozy rhythms, deranged vocal samples and drunken organ riffs unravel over muddy bass and Gemini’s signature drums. Hopefully this reissue will go some way to helping an iconic artist who has sadly fallen on hard times. MicrolithSubtle VarianceCentral Processing Unit

8.5 This is one of the saddest jobs for a reviewer. Rhys Celeste, the talented young artist who worked as Microlith, passed away unexpectedly recently. He was only in his mid 20s, but as ‘Variance’ shows, he was hugely talented. This release alternates between rugged, bass-heavy electro and wonderfully melodic tracks, all put together with an understated touch. It really is a beautiful legacy, and the label are kindly donating all the proceeds from its sale to Rhys’ family. Please support this record that celebrates Microlith's all too short life. BinnyDevil’s Orchestra EPTortured

7.5 It’s great to see Billy Nasty relaunching his techno label Tortured with a proper underground release. The title track sounds like vintage Umek, with its hammering rhythm and eerie stabs, while on ‘Alternative Methods’, Binny delivers a twitchy minimal workout. ‘Roll With It’ sees him tease out a gnarled acid

sequence, while even the deepest track, ‘Untitled’, has a menacing edge to it. ‘Orchestra’ beats the hell out of the miserable, gloomy faux-techno that has been in circulation for too long. SageCrumbs Of LifeTasteful Nudes

8.5 Sage is the alias of Dublin producer Lee Kelly and he makes an excellent debut on Tasteful Nudes, an Argot offshoot. 'Pears’ and ‘Botanic Jargon’ are fine deep house/techno tracks — the former in particular revolves around a powerful bass — but the other two tracks really impress. 'Longshifts' is a seductive breakbeat affair that increases in intensity midway through, while the title track jacks with the raw energy of '90s Midwest house and techno. Can’t wait to hear more from Sage.

ReagenzRoll Split/Melrose AveAway

9.0 Move D teams up with Jonah Sharp to deliver the fourth release on Away as Reagenz. Both tracks sound like they were recorded in one take, which is the usual approach for this project. That said, both ‘Roll Split’ and ‘Melrose Ave’ resound to expertly weighted, deft percussion, fat basslines and sensuous melodies. On ‘Melrose Avenue’, the pair add in some shimmering guitar chords. It all adds up to one of the finest deep techno releases so far this year.

MONEYSHOT!

QUICKIESConforceHypothetical Future PointTranscendent

8.0 Boris Bunnik’s Transcendent label is reserved for his deepest music, and this is no exception. ‘Constant Changes’ is a beautiful, reflective affair and is worth the price of this record alone. That said, ’Transition’ and ‘Introspection’ are charming breakbeat workouts that are worthy of your attention.

M ParentThe Practice Of PseudoscienceChem Club

7.0 M Parent uses hardware to produce techno, and this approach results in an impressive debut on Chem Club. Underpinned by throbbing bass and skippy drums, these tribal grooves are surprisingly understated yet still highly effective.

Kovyazin D & MoralezThe Night WatchEidetic

7.5 The second release on Brokntoys sub-label Eidetic is closer in sound to its parent thanks to the brooding electro of ‘Sunken Space Sea’. That said, it also contains the EBM-heavy title track, which is sure to introduce Eidetic to a wider audience.

Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 11:54

djmag.com 119

GRIMEFE

LICI

TY M

ARTI

N fe

licit

y.m

arti

n@dj

mag

.com

Steel Banglez Money feat. MoStack, Mist, Haile, Abra Cadabra Polydor

8.0 Could Steel Banglez be the UK’s answer to Metro Boomin? On this new cut, featuring some of this country’s biggest and brightest spitters (Mist, Abra Cadabra), the East London super-producer lays down a snare-heavy, explosive beat for the MCs to ride, while MoStack nails the hook by explaining in bullet-point detail how he’s getting way more paper than you.

Rude Kid x Ghetts Banger After Banger Are You Ready Music

8.5 With lines like “Screw the top off the Fanta/Flatline fizzy” (a reference to his beef last year with Scrufizzer), Ghetts blows the roof off the UKG-tinged beat, courtesy of Rude Kid. Dropping in audio samples of Dizzee’s ‘I Luv U’, Ruff Sqwad’s ‘Together’ and the ‘One Take’ instrumental, the pair cleverly pay homage to some of grime’s greats. You’re allowed to go a bit immodest on the track title when your track record is this good.

YGG Bad KeepinItGrimy

7.0 Some superb garage business from YGG. DJ Q is on the buttons here, fresh from producing Jammz’s excellent ‘Who’s That Girl?’, contributing a bubbly instrumental that could be plucked straight off a Pure

Garage compilation. The bois-terous trio — PK, Lyrical Strally and Saint — spar relentlessly over the beat, offering the kind of anthemic sung chorus (“YGG we shut the rave down...”) that’ll have crowds skanking en masse.

Proc Fiscal The Highland Mob EP Hyperdub

8.5 With the likes of Ransom FA, Shogun and Polonis, Scottish grime has recently been grabbing wider attention than its Northern confines have previously permitted. Now a new producer straight outta Edinburgh, Proc Fiscal, has just inked a deal with Hyperdub that shows off more of the production side. ‘The Highland Mob’ EP takes grime all the way up to 160bpm — perfect for all those DJs who wanna make some grime and footwork blends.

Slick Don Highs & Lows Bad Taste Records

7.5 Brum MC Slick Don clearly has an appetite for sinogrime beats. The visuals for ‘My Don’ saw him spitting in front of a Chinese Greggs, over a lilting pan-Asian melody, and now ‘Highs & Lows’ employs those same plinky synths over a shuffly beat — the handiwork of Bad Taste main-stay Walter Ego. Articulating the struggles and woes of city life, Slick Don (who’s responsi-ble for this month’s DJ chart) tells it like it is.

Bonkaz Quality Control 2.0 Forever Gang/All About The Melody

6.5 Bonkaz follows up ‘Quality Control 1.0’ with yet another mixtape. The 25-year-old Croydon rapper recorded this over six weeks at XL’s New Gen studio — which he’s described as something like a ‘journal’. With an assembly of guests that counts both legendary MCs and unsung heroes — Ghetts, Loick Essien and Mark Asari — Bonkaz proves that he only does things by a certain standard.

Scrufizzer x Eyez 3210 StayFizzyRecords

4.5 An ode to the brick-like Nokia phone, which along with the fabled 3310 has cropped up in a host of grime tracks, ‘3210’ is the latest cut to shine a light on the device that brought us Snake. For the link-up between Scru and Eyez alone, this track is worth a spin, but unfortunately doesn’t live up to the hype; the Mischief-produced beat carries the track while the pair deliver a forgettable hook.

Young YizzyThis Is Life EPSamurai Sound

9.5 What were you doing aged 17? Presumably not as much as Young Yizzy, who’s Lewisham’s latest grime hopeful. Having made waves through the underground and memorable appearances on radio, Yizzy’s ‘This Is Life’ EP showcases a mellower side to his sound than the dizzying drill aesthetic we’ve been hearing on ‘Snakes n’ Stitches’ and ‘Big Man’, all while delivering some of the catchiest hooks we’ve heard in ages (check ‘Bodied On A Beat’).

MONEYSHOT!

SLICK DON BAD TASTE RECORDS

QUICKIESVariousDefinitions Volume TwoDurkle Disco

6.5 Bristol’s Durkle Disco are purveyors of all things dark and grime-tinged around the 125 to 140 mark, and this new instrumental pack cements that reputation with contributions from Gundam and Denham Audio.

Tempa feat. ScorpzToo MuchTempa

6.5 Two members of Birmingham grime royalty link up! Tempa and Scorpz spar on a beat that is the work of Midlands producer MYI, and comes packed with quotable bars, plus nods to Giggs.

AvelinoEnergy (Young Fire Old Flame Remix)More Music Records

9.0 The Tottenham young gun joined forces with Wretch 32 on the original, and now the track gets a reshuf-fle where the pair trade bars, harking back to their collaborative mixtape in ‘16.

01. SLICK DON ‘Highs & Lows’ Bad Taste “This tune means a lot to me because it represents the ends and where I’m from. If you have been brought up in England and aren’t from a lavish back-ground, you will be able to relate in some way or another.”

02. DAVE X AJ TRACEY ‘Thiago Silva’ Tropics Sound “Sick. Flows upon flows. Catchy, and the beat complements Dave and AJ nicely. Very grime.”

03. SIR SPYRO ‘Topper Top feat. Teddy Bruckshot, Lady Chann and Killa P’ DEEP MEDI “This was one of my favourite tunes of 2016. Big up Spyro for this banger, very fresh. Big up the MCs as well, the Jamaican/yardie flows sit on this heater perfectly.”

04. JAMMZ ‘Who’s That Girl?’ I Am Grime “VIBE! I like this one for a few reasons, the content is different and it is 100% real but you still wanna nod your head to it. That’s what it’s about.”

05. WALTER EGO & RAWKID ‘Nine+1 feat. Trim’ Bad Taste “Walter Ego smashed the producky on this one, with Rawkid bringing the fire from Sheffield. I like the chorus, unique and catchy and Trim murked his verse, complemented the song perfectly. Sick.”

06. PREDITAH (FEAT. C4) ‘Touch Road’ Circles Recordings “HARD. The bassline makes you wanna screw up your face and headbutt a wall. Fresh and innovative, big up Preditah on producky and C4.”

07. THE SQUARE ‘Pengaleng’ No Hats No Hoods “For da gyaldem. You have to cater for the girls, always, and this one does that nicely.”

08. SKEPTA ‘That’s Not Me’ 3 Beat “One of the biggest grime tunes we all know but I had to include this because it is a classic and will always remain a classic grime song. Big tune.”

09. EYEZ ‘Never Ever’ Unreleased “Grimey but with a powerful message. I rate this one from Eyez, reppin’ Derby, proper.”

10. DIZZEE RASCAL ‘Stop Dat’ XL Recordings “Had to include this classic grime tune because I remember when I was about 10 and went to HMV with my mum to buy the album. I always remember feeling powerful when I listened to this tune, not just from the energy but also because I related to Dizzee’s whole character/aura.”

BIG ZUU RADAR RADIO

DJ CHART

djmag.com120

ELECTRO/PROGRESSIVEANGUS THOM

AS PATERSON angusthom

aspaterson@gm

ail.com

FatumSuperfectaAnjunabeats

8.5 The Fatum quartet made their way into the good books of Above & Beyond over the past year with their refined take on big room electro, and ‘Superfecta’ is their most storming effort yet. A driving record that works wonders as a noisy mainstage banger, it also paradoxically taps into the progressive soul of Anjunabeats’ past. Grungey electro grooves, tight percussion and slamming momentum, leading into a broken-beat breakdown that’s embellished with French house stylings. Basically, it’s a festival-strength record with everything but the kitchen sink.

DezzaAre You GoneColorize

8.0 Progressive maestro Dezza flips to the Colorize stable for a record that’s brimming with peak-time energy and synth-heavy emotion, as well as a rougher edge to things to bring the right balance. Dezza really does work hard to flesh out and develop the electro bassline that he allows to take centrestage early on, bringing it to life with plenty of neat sonic touches.

SHDW & Obscure ShapeDie Weiße Rose (Tale Of Us & Mind Against Version)From Another Mind

8.0 This year SHDW and Obscure Shape have showcased the fine output of their From Another Mind label via several remix EPs, and the rework delivered by Tale Of Us and Mind Against has earned plenty of attention for representing a particular melodic extravagance. Building over several minutes with the stomping pound of its bass kick, it crescendos into a cascading chord progression melody that’s beautiful and dramatic.

PROFFMisidentified EPZeroThree

8.0 Intricate boss PROFF defects to the Zerothree camp for a one-off EP that’s something special indeed, a properly diverse collection of club-focused sounds that warrants listening to in its entirely courtesy of its ‘Continuous Mix’ that it’s bundled with. From the piano twinkles of its ambient intro, through to spruced-up synthy trap and trademark power progressive that PROFF does so very well, it builds into some real percussive stormers in the business end.

KhenLand Of Goshen (Patrice Bäumel Remix)Lost & Found

7.5 Israeli progressive specialist Khen delivered a particularly accomplished debut LP on Lost & Found last year, and its new remix package features an equally accomplished remix from Patrice Bäumel, who crystalizes the essence of ‘Land Of Goshen’ into a synthier, more melodic dancefloor epic. There’s an emotional deepness here that does really resonate in a club setting, and it’s another example of why Baumel’s remixes are turning heads at the moment.

Noise ZooNambiaEnhanced Progressive

8.5 A smash big-room record from Noise Zoo that’s among the best electro/progressive releases so far this year, a perfect blend of laser-focused arena grooves and euphoric energy. While its titular African-flavoured vocal grab might be sonic window-dressing, it’s utilised to maximum emotional effect with a particularly joyous breakdown, which is flanked on either side by a thundering electro bassline woven with just the right amount of polished white noise.

TigaEye Luv U (Butch’s ‘80s Warehouse Acid Remix)Turbo

7.5 Butch’s remix of the latest quirky club record from Tiga does exactly what it says on the tin, taking the essence of the original and blowing it up for an acid-soaked exploration of late ‘80s warehouse culture. Nostalgic it might be, but there’s plenty of 808 to go around here.

Adam Beyer vs Pig&DanCapsuleDrumcode

9.0 Recent years have proved particularly interesting for Adam Beyer, as he’s evolved from techno purism towards a new versatility that’s seen him equally comfortable DJing Ibizan terraces as the Berghain mainroom. And simply by virtue of doing what he’s always done with Drumcode, it’s developed into a brand with certifiable mass-market appeal. DJing exponentially bigger spaces generally requires a shift towards a more epic sound, and Beyer’s latest is an ideal example of this. Produced in collaboration with Pig & Dan, stalwarts of the progressive scene themselves, there’s an undeniable melodic edge to ‘Capsule’ that accompanies its steely warehouse grooves, a sinister edge of trance fused into the techno. It’s primed for predictably big success on the Beatport charts, as well as a huge impact on the dancefloor.

MONEYSHOT!

01. T.RAUMSCHMIERE ‘Juli’ Kompakt “His comeback album on Kompakt is due in May and it blew my mind.”

02. RAW DISTRICT ‘From The Inside’ Innervisions “My favourite track from the excellent new Innervisions ‘Secret Weapons’ compilation. Just how I like it, deep and banging.”

03. SASHA FEAT. POLIÇA ‘Out Of Time feat. Policia’ Kompakt “Phenomenal new Sasha tune. I got to remix it but nothing touches the original. Out now.”

04. TIEFSCHWARZ & RUEDE HAGELSTEIN ‘Jetlag’ Younion “Just a late-night soul-destroying mindfuck. As fresh as they come.”

05. JICHAEL MACKSON ‘GTI’ Musique Risquee “My kind of house music, clever and euphoric. I wish this guy would produce more, he is incredibly talented.”

06. ISOLÉE ‘Pisco’ Maeve “Maybe my all-time favourite house producer. This is a record that many DJs, including myself, love because it makes them sound cleverer than they really are.”

07. AUDIO JUNKIES FEAT. HAPTIC ‘Three Of Us’ Sincopat “A Spanish label that goes from strength to strength. This is a beautifully melancholic vocal sundowner.”

08. KANGDING RAY ‘Or’ Raster-Noton “The most visionary German electronic label turns 20. Time to revisit a favourite. Otherworldly.”

09. DEPECHE MODE ‘Where’s The Revolution (Patrice Bäumel Remix)’ Columbia “Remixing my favourite band for their latest album helped me cross one item off my bucket-list.”

10. ATISH ‘Peculiar Colors (Dance Spirit Remix)’ Manjumasi “Deep and ultra-trippy. This Californian jam has Burning Man written all over it.”

QUICKIESMike ShiverAhh (Club Mix)Ride

7.5 A silky melodic record where Mike Shiver manages to channel an impressive amount of novelty from his inventive use of vocal samples.

Cucumb45Something Weirdcore EPBBBBBB

8.0 Icelandic producer Bjarki returns under his Cucumb45 alias, evidently disinterested in meeting expectations of any kind. ‘90s rave nostalgia seems all the rage at the moment, and here he mashes it up with a gritty experimental noise aesthetic.

NotakerBorn In The FlamesArmada Captivating

8.0 A particularly moody slice of electro/progressive from Notaker that showcases his sophisticated approach to his musical arrangements, which is quickly becoming his trademark as a producer.

PATRICE BÄUMEL KOMPAKT

Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 14:30

djmag.com122

TECH-HOUSE LEON CLARKSON leonclarkson.prom

os@gm

ail.com

Adam Shelton/ Subb-anOnly Now/ Self ControlOne Records

9.0 One Records’ founders, Adam Shelton and Subb-an drop a hefty-sounding split release, Adam aiming hard with an electro-tinged 808 feast and acid fluctuations that carry Isis Salam’s disoriented vocal musing. Subb-an’s creation is a lot deeper with a grooving low end. Overall, it’s a little tougher

and enlists a more hypnotic Isis Salam vocal to great effect. AudiojackSenses EPGruuv

8.5 The ‘Senses EP’ is Audiojack’s first solo EP of 2017. Title track, ‘Senses’ builds slowly, relying on an intimate spoken sample to carry the energy forward above a bubbling and emerging construct. Remixing ‘Senses’ are Dubspeeka, who supplies a simple and effective re-edit, shifting the sonic focus of the original, and Reset Robot, who steals the show with beautifully rave-stab-styled warehouse polish. Completing this EP is a deeper slice of organ-heavy tech-house, titled ‘On The Road’. Toni VargaYuka EPUnderground Audio

8.0 Underground Audio comes good once again, enlisting the talents of established DJ/producer Toni Varga (Elrow, Amnesia) for his UA debut, the ‘Yuku’ EP. Two original cuts; the straight grooving ‘Yuka’, pairing contemplative vocals and an acid line above a booming sub-line. And ‘Kubu’, a funking, swung groove and chopped vocal pairing. ‘Yuka’ remixes come from UA affiliates System2

and Emery Warman, the former opting for a pacey sub-focused refix, whilst Emery switches things up for a sustaining bass-synth affair. Nick CurlyAmnezia EP8bit Records

9.0 A seriously impressive double A-side comes by way of Nick Curly, on his and Gorge’s 8Bit Records. The eponymous lead track is a powerful and heady tech-house roller with a space-like aura and swirling breakdown that’ll surely tear down dancefloors this summer. ‘Second Lick’ is a surprising shift into a melodious realm, but the result’s the same; a pumping, pulsing, low-riding groove with mutating arpy-synthwork atop. It’s a welcome return to form for the Mannheim maestro.

FlashmobFreakin’ BabeToolroom Records

8.0 The energy-raising single, ‘Freakin’ Babe’, sees Flashmob, aka Alessandro Magani, continue his exploration with the single format. It’s a jacking, synth stab-a-thon with some trademark vocal chops thrown down for good measure, and drops on the mighty Toolroom Records later this month.

Sidney CharlesSoultrade EPMoon Harbour

9.0 A landmark 100th release on this one for Moon Harbour, with Sidney Charles delivering a rock-solid trio of club-ready tech-house that begins with the beautifully deep ‘Make Me Moove’ — with a rhythm that bubbles from the very lowest frequency around Lady Vale’s effecting delivery. Title track ‘Soultrade’ is a twisted peak-time sound, relying on a short gliding saw stab and sampled vocal additions. The swinging groove of ‘Der Haus’ completes the trio, with a longing vocal scream aiding the intensity, which completes a stunning effort for both artist and label.

MONEYSHOT!

01. EMANUEL SATIE ‘Voodoo’ Saved Records “A bit of self-promotion! My new record on Nic Fanciulli’s Saved Records, a trippy synthy ride.”

02. DANIEL DUBB ‘Stupidfly (Shaf Huse Remix)’ Inmotion Music “Shaf Huse is the man, with his very unique grooves, and he does it again on this one.”

03. SEBO K ‘Brock Wild’ Bass Culture Records “A hypnotic bassline-driven groover that is interrupted by a Rastafari MC and telephone bleeps. Sounds amazing on the floor.”

04. EMANUEL SATIE ‘Soso’ Saved Records “The B-side of my Saved EP, a straight peak-time track that works every time for me.”

05. KINK ‘Beats’ Clone Royal Oak “KiNK is probably my favourite producer. Here he delivers a jacking beat with a huge stabby breakdown in the middle. If played at exactly the right moment, this makes people go nuts.”

06. JADEN THOMPSON ‘All Day’ Cuttin’ Headz “Very fresh housey grooves on The Martinez Brothers’ label here. The whole EP is fire, but I especially like the vocal bits on this one.”

07. DJ T & LAZARUSMAN ‘Banger’ Get Physical Music “DJ T delivers a banger here, hence the title. Lazarusman delivers the catchy vocals.”

08. RADIO SLAVE ‘Feel The Same’ Rekids “The vocals and the stabs on this one are killing me, a simple track with great effect. Radio Slave does it again.”

09. WAFF ‘Wormhole’ Moon Harbour “The bassline and percussion here make me dream of Ibiza, the synth bursts are the icing on the cake. Killer.”

10. EMANUEL SATIE ‘Stoned Love’ Edible “Lastly, an upcoming record of mine on Edible. Eats Everything is already playing it everywhere. Expect some crazy split-up vocal lines and uplifting stabs on this track.”

EMANUEL SATIE SAVED RECORDS

QUICKIESSasha feat. PoliçaOut Of Time EPKompakt

9.5 A stunning single from the living legend, Sasha. It's haunting throughout and utilises a breakbeat loop to give it all some welcome grunt. Patrice Baumel turns in a superb remix that's all the more proggy.

Caleb CallowayThe Place EPDo Not Sleep

8.0 Syncopated percussive patterns and a strong bass pulse give 'The Place' a cutting edge, with cool support from the rolling rhythm of 'Madame'. Caleb's form continues to ascend.

BellAcid Stomp EP 8.0 Pumping, pounding acid textures that'll switch up sets and delight dancefloors revelers. Lovely stuff from Robin Ball and his recently formed label, Memory Box.

CASSIMMNevermind EPSense Traxx

8.5 A label that's pushing some very hot music right now and this latest offering from CASSIMM gets remixes from Mad Villain, Greco (NYC) and Tom Jay. It’s varied and pumping throughout.

Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 14:31

djmag.com124

DISCO JONATH

AN BURNIP jonathanburnip@gm

ail.com

LizardsSeparate Ways EPFutureboogie Recordings

8.5 Last heard on Leng, the Geordie duo up their game for a release on Bristolian party collective and label, Futureboogie. The pair work chiming, melodic old school house and Balearic vibes across the two original contributions; both giving a little space to experimental synth authority, Lords Of The Isles, to add a touch of radiophonic wizardry to his dazzling remix production.

Jan DemisPreludioOpilec Music

10 I-Robots’ Opilec Music reissues this high gloss, Italo-disco rarity from 1983, now given extra life from renowned collector, adept DJ (his legendary ‘The Amazing Run In The Tube’ mix series on Panama Racing are testament to that) and scene producer, Flemming Dalum. Featuring original and instrumental versions, Dalum’s new version is accompanied by an edit/extended version from I-Robots, but Dalum’s version is the highlight here; a tougher production and thin use of the vocal makes for a surprise feature. Top marks.

Pete Herbert & Martin Denev feat. Robert OwensPass Me By (inc. Daniele Baldelli Remixes)Nang

8.5 Favourites of the nu disco, house and cosmic scenes collude on this one-off production for Nang. Legends and veterans alike — Robert Owens, Daniele Baldelli, Pete Herbert — score large with this EP of gleaming, upfront disco music fronted by the unmistakable croon of the greatest voice in house music, Robert Owens. Top production

again from the unfloundering Herbert and Danev, packed with a brace of equally strong mixes from the great Daniele Baldelli.

Ron BasejamThe Sound Of A Feeling EPDelusions Of Grandeur

9.0 Crazy P’s Ron Basejam lands on Freerange offshoot Delusions Of Grandeur with an EP of slick, disco-fied house and breezy, cosmic/Balearic jams. Ron works another solid production with plenty of technical flair and originality. Another feather in the cap for the label, it comes with an impressive remix from Millionhands’ Tee Mango which drives the tension with plenty of disco drama. Ace. Golden BugKrokodil (inc. Moscoman Remix)La Belle

7.5 Golden Bug turns in towards his own La Belle imprint for some extended mutant disco play. Six tracks crawl between mid-tempo minimal synth and creeping death-disco; rowdy punk-funk and muscly EBM tracks. Perfect gear for any jocks wanting to switch the mood into something a little darker and a bit more sophisticated, plus there’s the seductive draw of a particularly strong Moscoman remix, who works the brooding electronic dub version.

Alessandro AlessandroniAfro DiscotecaFour Flies

10 Alongside Ennio Morricone, Italian composer/musician Alessandro Alessandroni scored countless soundtracks (mostly of the 'Western' genre) throughout the '60s and '70s, immortalised by his ‘whistle’, as played out in ‘The Good, The Bad & The Ugly’. Sadly no longer with us (he died at the time of writing this), a final testimonial to the great man is the release of these four previously unavailable tracks (known only by the box of a recently found tape as ‘Afro Discoteca’). At the more experimental end of the disco and cosmic sound, ‘Afro Discoteca’ captures a rare and not often heard approach of Alessandroni’s in these four-themed pieces. A rare treasure found.

MONEYSHOT!

01. HARRY THUMANN ‘Sphinx’ CBS “Vocoder, slap-bass solo, and the same gimmick as in Knight Rider… What else do you need?”

02. DINOSAUR L ‘You’re Gonna Be Clean On Your Bean’ Sleeping Bag Records “Arthur Russell = all-time inspiration.”

03. STU PHILLIPS ‘Jelly Belly (Electronic Music from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century)’ Intrada “Stu Phillips… Knight Rider… Buck Rogers… Mucho lovo in da Disco.”

04. GEORGE ISSAKIDIS ‘Cherry Red’ Kill The DJ “A rather recent classic… Hot as hell.”

05. KANO ‘It’s A War’ Emergency Records “It’s a war… We know you know…”

06. BORUSIADE ‘Feeling Of Entropy’ Correspondant “A haunting tribute to horror disco.”

07. SUPERMAX ‘Love Machine’ Atlantic “This track is a love machine.”

08. FIERO ‘Modus Operandi EP’ Giallo Disco “Best old new sound heard recently.”

09. BENEDIKT FREY FEAT. JAVOLENUS Out Of Here’ Hivern Disc “Benedikt Frey: more cowbell please.”

10. LIZZY MERCIER DESCLOUX ‘Funky Stuff ’ Philips/ZE Records “We love her!”

FLEMMING DALUM MOTHBALL RECS

QUICKIESEarthboogieMystery EPLeng

8.5 Three mid-tempo, tropical disco grooves from Nicola and Isaak as Earthboogie. More killer wares for the discotheque on Claremont 56 offshoot, Leng.

CantomaCantoma For Good MellowsSuburbia

9.5 Cosmic and Balearic bliss from the one and only Phil Mison under his Cantoma. Features a bonus remix Easter egg from Lexx.

Lily AnnGoing CrazyBest Records

8.5 Reissue of this sought after Italo-boogie monster! Includes a previously unreleased dub version that was discovered only until recently.

ALIEN ALIENPerfidiaMalka Tuti

8.0 Alien Alien’s slo-mo disco chug gets a tropical refix from Horse Meat Disco’s Severino with Ray Mang alongside Naduve’s new wave version.

Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 14:33

djmag.com126

DRUM & BASSW

HISKY KICKS whiskykicks@

live.co.uk

T-Phonic & DeadmanScare TacticsTechnique

7.5 This is a fast-paced and aggressive stepper, with a sinister and to-the-point message; ghosts do not exist, and if you believe in them you’re a brainwashed, easily-controlled idiot, manipulated by an ancient scare tactic. However obtrusive, it has to be said, this is an absolute ba-hanger! Throwing back to our golden era of jump-up, think 2007/2010 — chugging solidly and smacking you with synths which leave giant sonic swathes hanging around. DC BreaksUndergroundRam Records

7.5 Through each of their heavier and nastier releases DC Breaks never fail to show off their class, and total understanding of d&b. 'Underground' is no different, it’s brooding, ferocious and 100 percent designed to hit maximum impact. It’s a dark stepper full of angst and slabs of cold, weighty, mutated bass with touches of futuristic machinery adding texture to the track. It’s slow moving, allowing time to absorb each element in its full expertly engineered gloriousness.

Was A BeBrainstormShogun Audio

7.0 It seems only moments ago we were wowed by Was A Be’s debut release, but in their first release since exclusively signing to Shogun the Italian duo are showcasing their full skill-set from 87 to 170, from rolling tech to dancefloor destroying — and we’re loving it all. ‘Brianstorm' is a deep and techy half-time cut, with elements of sci-fi and a very pretty vocal, which work beautifully to lighten the edges around the perfectly placed empty spaces. TaxmanScannersPlayaz Recordings

8.0 If ‘Scan Darker’ is the boisterous adolescent of the scene, this EP shows its slightly more adult side. It’s a little wiser, drawing influences from the rich tapestry of sound around it. It’s a little less brash and allows for more melody and emotion. But at its core still lies the screeching, high-pitched, drum-destroying magnificence of its past. We love a bit of nostalgia done well. Dope SkillzThe FoldElevate Audio

8.0 May we suggest that you all go out and get your grubby little paws on this absolute stonker of an EP — Original Sin, Dope Skillz (aka DJ Zinc, as if you didn’t know), Friction and Killer Hurtz… yes. All on one ma-husive four-track EP. ‘The Fold’ feels old school, with classic breaks and discreet hip-hop undertones coming from the vocal. But for us the melodic bass is where it’s at. Guaranteed to make you dance.

Critical ImpactTimes ComeNew Playaz

8.5 It starts off in the realms of ethereal liquid with soft, floaty pads and a soulful vocal, but we are quickly thrown into murkier waters. A dark yet warm Reese covers the majority of the track with crisp drums sitting high above the sonic landscape. We love New Playaz, they always come with the freshest and most interesting sounds, and are always pushing the boundaries of the status quo. Metrik feat RothwellWe Got It (Spy Remix)Hospital Productions

8.5 The original track makes us feel 16 again, fresh-faced with our hearts loosely balancing on ourselves, ready to tumble and fall at the slightest flutter of butterflies. Rothwell’s beautiful vocals are so raw and emotive, the type of vocal that will see seas of ravers screaming each syllable high into star-lit festival skies, lighter high in one hand, drink spilling wavily from the other. While this remix still uses Metrik’s uplifting piano chords, S.P.Y brings some grit to the table with empty spaces and darker basslines.

Fragz feat KryptomedicPromises & LiesRed Light Records

8.0 A dark and twisted slab of neuro, with energy for days! Sharp, metallic injections carve up the flow along with a shed-load of well-placed, high-velocity, itchy, glitchy sounds, while the occasional breakdown nods to old school jungle. Kryptomedic brings a menacing vibe with a well-worked vocal. Worth a look.

Agressor BunxAgressor BunxEatbrain

9.0This track is a controlled frenzy, it’s like peeking inside the mind of a deranged, evil genius. The to-ing and fro-ing sound like a mad cartoon bomb ticking menacingly, tauntingly down to the impending explosion, and at the point of impact… Boy, be prepared for a banger. The low, grumbling, continually forward-moving sub will captivate any d&b soul and you will totally succumb to it. insanely hypnotic power.

MONEYSHOT!

01. BLACK SUN EMPIRE ‘The Wrong Room’ Blackout Music “We’re really proud of how our sixth studio album turned out to be! Hope you love it like we do.”

02. THE UPBEATS ‘De-Evolution’ Vision “Snake & Wolf (The Upbeats) have such a unique style. You can instantly hear when a tune is produced by them. The way their drums and bassline intertwine is awesome. The whole ‘De-Evolution’ series is a must-have!”

03. CURRENT VALUE ‘Starfleet’ Blackout Music “This German is a machine. His production skills are flawless. Does he have a weakness? Maybe his obsessions with headphones. He collects them, so if you have some send them over.”

04. EMPEROR ‘Calypso’ Neosignal Recordings “This is taken from his ‘Shadow’ EP. We’re jealous of the amount of funk he managed to put into this whole EP without it becoming too sloppy. Great work!”

05. PYTHIUS & OPTIV & CZA ‘Battlecruiser’ C4C Recordings “Our homeboy DJ Piet has been leaving his mark in the scene ever since he released his first ‘Abandon’ EP on our label. Now linking up with roller legends Optiv & CZA, this tune is bound to cruise the shit out of you.”

06. GRIDLOCK & HIVE Gunrunner Blackout Music “We’re very happy to be releasing Gridlock’s forthcoming album, and this tune with Hive is just so groovy!”

07. STATE OF MIND & TREI ‘Leapfrog 5’ Eatbrain “Guaranteed to get you leap-frogging!”

08. NOISIA ‘Outer Edges (Remixes)’ Vision “They just keep pushing the scene to higher levels. We all love them and maybe hate them a little for making everything sound so good…”

09. SYNERGY ‘Overdose’ Blackout Music “These Russians keep surprising us with great tunes and strange names... haha. Keep them coming please!”

10. L33 ‘Clublife (Prolix Remix)’ Eatbrain “The original was a hot ‘club’ tune last year and Prolix — with this razor-sharp production — managed to beast it up! Wanna get higher!”

BLACK SUN EMPIRE BLACKOUT MUSIC

NausikaFabricSubtitles

8.0 This track is amazingly clever, our guess is it was produced when we were all in a mourning limbo, unsure if the ever-iconic Fabric had a future. It’s devastatingly dark and sombre, but the most impressive thing is the mastering, it sounds as if you are in the venue. We can’t quite work out how they’ve done it, but it’s amazing. Tim ReaperAll RightBlu Mar Ten Music

8.5 Beautifully nostalgic jungle, for those who like warm and floaty. The soft, sparkling elements bring this track into romantic territory, and the high-pitch vocal takes us to the summer. Summoning images of golden shimmers of sunlight, dancing irregularly, glistening as they jump across a calm, waving sea shore. The Vanguard ProjectLUV U TNITESpearhead Records

8.0 A year on from the very first The Vanguard Project release and we are still loving each one of their outings! This is a funky little roller, with feelgood vibes from the get-go. Sunshine vocals and old school drums are darkened with deep techy touches.

QUICKIES

+Reservation

Address 4F,ShoppingMall 339,chengdu,China中国 ·成都339 ·4F 424 Space(四川电视塔）

- -

w w w . c h i n a s p a c e c l u b . c o m

我们需要去感受WE NEED TO FEEL SOMETHING

器乐矩阵MATRIX/LIVE

波动重组ROCK & RALLY

黑潮DARK WAVE

05-11-2017/THURSDAY

MAY.2017X

Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 14:34

djmag.com128

BREAKS & BASSBEN CHILD dj.jurassik@

gmail.com

Barely Royal & BunnieStarlightSaucy Records

8.5 Sitting pretty in the more thoughtful end of the bass music spectrum, Barely Royal and Bunnie are two producers with an impressive ear for the epic. 'Starlight' gives us a breakdown to befuddle the senses with warm, over-tuned vocals and a glorious wall of orchestral sound, before dropping into moody, bullet-proof breakbeats and rough-edged bass motifs. Expect big things in 2017. Ash Turner & Jade MarieCountdownFour 40

8.5 There's a sense of unease floating through the new single from Birmingham duo Ash Turner and Jade Marie, a darkling hint of curdled b-line insouciance that makes this one a laidback joy — not to mention a rare broken beat effort in the contemporary bass music pantheon. On the flip, fellow Midlands man Tuff Culture drops a four-four reworking, upping the energy levels and adding all sorts of trademark synthy goodness.

Plump DJsFear Of FunkPunks Music

8.5 There are few things in life more satisfying than the sound of a Plump DJ-programmed breakbeat. The duo singlehandedly launched funky breaks into the firmament more than a decade ago, and this sounds like a hugely welcome 2017 update on that classic sound. The brooding drop may be a fiercely contemporary addition, but the gorgeous synthwork on the breakdown and super-cool drum programming are all about the noughties.

Leda StrayAll 4 NothingTen Eight Seven

9.0 The producer with the biggest beard in bass music is back with a percussion-heavy slice of diva-led bass that comes custom-honed to twist up the rave. ‘All 4 Nothing’ is a classy little four-four banger, all Bukem-esque synthwork, rave blips and killa b-line bravado. Cultured riddims for beatniks with a love of the dance. Nina Wilde and TenguGo/Loop MachineIllegal Bass Records

8.5 Midlands bass queen Nina Wilde here teams up with south coast duo Tengu for a double dose of classy UK bass. Flitting between breakbeats and four-four rhythms, 'Go' opts for a minimalistic blend

of raw bass motifs and spooky atmospherics, with the odd smattering of Bingo Beats-era Zinc vocal. On the flip, 'Loop Machine' is a trip into the dystopian heart of darkness, all brooding b-line atmospherics and ghostly synth patches.

WittyboyBring The House Down EPYosh

9.0 Madcap bass mechanics here from Londoner Wittyboy, firing with both barrels on the rugged, noisenik four-four of title track 'Bring The House Down' before settling into slinky rudeness on the dungeon anthem 'Like Us'. Rounding off the EP in style, 'Ready For This' is the sound of space invader aliens infiltrating the dance with weapons of mass destruction, while 'Realise' plumps for a string and keys-fuelled vocal garage flip before hitting us with a heavy, heavy drop. Bassline's lord of low-end destruction is back.

Stanton WarriorsKeep On DoingPunks Music

9.0 Breakbeat heroes Stanton Warriors have been increasingly prolific of late, and this is yet another low-slung 808-roller from the arsenal. Stratospheric synthwork combines with the coolest of diva vocals and some seriously booming kick bass nonchalance on the drop for a driving little set-builder that never outstays its welcome.

Left/Right, TrespassSunspotBroken

9.5 Texas's Left/Right has a knack for throwing down sophisticated soundscapes that will burn a hole in your ear if you let them settle, and 'Sunspot' is yet another plasma bolt from the blue. The breakdown alone, a blend of super-charged electro-style chords, shattering pitch-shifted vocal hits and sparkling keys, is a sonic guillotine — in the sense that it's likely to blast heads right off shoulders with the intensity of its whirling maelstrom of energy.

MONEYSHOT!

01. DISTRO ‘The House’ SOBAD Sounds “Gotta shout about your own tracks from time to time. Had so much fun making this one, can’t wait to release it on our own label!”

02. DENHAM AUDIO ‘Masta Blasta (Bromley Remix)’ Unreleased “I love the intricate patterns the percussion uses in this remix, Bromley is king at that. The clubby kicks absolutely bang as well!”

03. OTIK ‘Danni Minogue (feat. Grim Sickers)’ Boom Ting Recordings “Vocals on this tune are too much! Sickers kills it. Also love the dissonant chimes Otik adds, really gels the whole track together.”

04. CRAWFORD ‘Play’ Punks Music “The ‘hands in the air’atmospheric build-up in this track really does it for me, followed by a simplistic drop with killer bass and drums!”

05. CALLAHAN ‘Don’t Need (Hodge Remix)’ Dext Recordings “The second section of this track grabbed me the most, can’t get enough of the big thumping drums and shuffled hi-hats.”

06. FISH ‘Quiver (Pharaoh K Remix)’ Low Pitched Records “Such a cheeky track all round, from the Rodigan sample to the repeated bass hook, it’s great!”

07. ROSKA ‘In My Zone feat. Serocee’ Roska Kicks & Snares “Old school-style UK funky banger, what’s not to like? Also can’t resist a track with a fat brass section.”

08. JAVASCRIPT ‘Hottt (Headstone Remix)’ One Eight Hundred “This remix has so much attitude, I get pissed off every time I listen to it! Drum programming is insane as well.”

09. SLY-ONE ‘Mi Cumpleaños’ SOBAD Sounds “Really feeling all the percussion-led, thumpy dance tracks Sly-One are putting together recently. This track is a perfect example of the music I love to play!”

10. PELIKANN ‘Palpitate (Distro Remix)’ Gully “Fast-paced, high-energy remix, great for getting the dancefloor moving!”

DISTRO SOBAD SOUNDS

QUICKIESTony QuattroFuerza feat. Nani CastleOwlsa

9.0 Here's a tribal rhythm cut through with Latin attitude from New York's finest, Toni Quattro. This one's all searing flute samples, carnivalesque percussion and the coolest of vocals from Nani Castle.

KhesisReal Strong/Sling ShotSaucy Records

8.5 Flitting between two-steppy breakbeats and four-four on 'Real Strong', Bulgarian producer Khesis delivers a taut and muscular slice of UK bass that blends washed out atmospherics with the toughest of drops. On the flip, 'Slingshot' is a dose of synthy breakbeat with destructive drops, sick percussion fills and the rawest of low-end.

djmag.com 129

HIP-HOP & TRAPNE

IL K

ULKA

RNI n

eilk

ulka

rni@

btin

tern

et.c

om

Porter RayLightroSub Pop

8.5 Very much digging Porter Ray's 'Watercolor' album that's just dropped on Sub Pop — partly it's down to his voice, a kind of voice I haven't heard in hip-hop for too long — slightly camp, fiercely articulate, gentle and able to portray vulnerability. 'Lightro' is one of the highlights — gorgeous synth-heavy trap-funk where the details aren't allowed to dominate but sit back in the mix, haunting the peripheries in a way that's way more moving than all that foregrounded shininess so common to trap productions. Superb.

Freddie GibbsCrushed GlassESGN Records

6.0 I prefer it when Gibbs is hooked up with Madlib but this is still music that demands your attention; less for Teddy Walton & Eric Bow's lush production than for Gibbs' narrative that takes him from his childhood traumas through his drug addiction all the way through to his anxious present, including reference to the rape case that clouded his 2016. It’s let down badly by an autotuned chorus that's just entirely unnecessary and weakens the impact of Gibbs flows. Damn straight I'll still be listening out for the new album. Like he says, “The future started yesterday”.

Trauma 74Spit PersonalityEvil Twin Records

8.0 Middle-aged hip-hoppers stand UP! Alongside the return of DB and Corners, great to hear this —

Trauma 74 is a comparatively more veteran voice only now dropping his debut album 'The God Given Image', and this is the lead-off single from it. Wonderful beats reminiscent of Lewis Parker and even Large Pro, but what really compels about this is Trauma's rhymes — focused, suggestive, thoughtful and unforgettable. For hip-hop heads, and absolutely not interested in being a banger. Let's have more of this.

SupergodEgorHealth Records

9.0 WOAH — King Kashmere takes a break from Strange U duties to hook up with Leeds producer Bambooman to deliver a totally different flavour. Very limited edition this, so snap it up as soon as you see it — KK's verbals are as diseased and deranged and captivating as ever, Bambooman lets the minimalism stay minimal and cumulatively creep you the fuck out with this little electro thump frantic with tiny little creaks and drones and creepy whispers. The kind of hip-hop MR James would dig. Essential.

Da Flyy HooliganClicc SuitGourmet Deluxxx

8.0 Not a single. Not by a million miles. No hook. Thank fuck. What an enthralling tiny slice of monomania this is — the beat never wavers, the droning keys and horns never let up, DFH never swerves anywhere away from about a foot in front of your face. Ruffneck music very, very redolent for me of the similar manoeuvres being made by Westside Gunn and Conway over in the States — if that doesn't pique your interest,

where the fuck's your head at, pal? Hoping DFH drops a lengthy long-player soon.

Children Of ZeusI Can't Wait/Don't Say A WordFirst Word Records

8.0 Squeezing this in sideways to the hip-hop page (cos it's kinda R&B) because Pete Rock's been blasting it and what a sweet sweet slice of Mancunian soul this is — 'I Can't Wait' unfolding in Rhodes-laden radiant wonder, and the flip thunking with smokey grit and langour. Wonderful little 7" that should be in your bags toot-sweet.

01. WU-TANG CLAN ‘Protect Ya Neck’ Loud Records “This was the first hip-hop track I heard that really resonated with me. Before, I was only into drum & bass and jungle but Wu-Tang had something raw enough to bridge the gap in my mind. After this I would never be the same again.”

02. GANG STARR ‘Full Clip’ Virgin “This was the first Gang Starr song I heard, and also the first time I heard someone say ‘BIG L’! Guru is one of the best MCs to ever touch the mic, he inspired my style a lot and still does. R.I.P Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal.”

03. M.O.P ‘Home Sweet Home’ Loud Records “Man, this beat! Producers don’t reach this level of skill easily! Nottz is a beast! M.O.P is the best tag-team in hip-hop — I’m sorry, but it’s true!”

04. BIG PUN ‘Beware’ Loud Records “Big Pun is one of the five hip-hop gods. If you are trying to be an MC in any genre you should study this man! He is officially the best at multi-syllable rhyming.”

05. THE LAST EMPEROR ‘The Dozen’ Red Planet Music “This man is very underrated, he is one of my top five MCs, his outlook on the world is very unique and still inspires me. He has a new album coming too, produced by Haak Filmore — make sure you look out for that.”

06. THE GOD FAHIM ‘Firelord Ozaii’ Bandcamp “This kid is the future of gully American hip-hop, yo! Everything he does reminds me of what hip-hop was and still is. I’ve covered a lot of old stuff but hip-hop is still alive and kicking. Look out for an album I’m producing for this kid.”

07. RUNT DAWG ‘High As A Motherfucker’ Brick Mobb “Runt is one of the illest today! On the real, not many messing with my G! There’s only a few mans that still get me hyped to write a bar, and he’s one of them! Go check his new album on Gilla House Records.”

08. RAH DIGGA ‘Straight Spittin 2’ Elektra “This is the level any MC should wish to be at no matter the gender, but if you’re a female MC this is the queen. Forget all that other ish... Digga Digga all day!”

09. SLICK RICK ‘The Moment I Feared’ Def Jam “Rick is one of my top five MCs. This track is the perfect example of true story-telling. Only a few have been able to keep this tradition alive.”

10. BDP ‘Bridge Is Over’ B-Boy Recordings “This beat was ahead of its time, Scott La Rock was a true hip-hop great! KRS-One kills it again for this classic battle!”

LEAF DOG HIGH FOCUS

Strange U (King Kash-mere & Zygote)Terminator FunkHigh Focus Records

10 If Strange U released a single every month I'd make it Single Of The Month. The first track off my UK album of the year thus far — I say 'thus far', but to be honest I can't see anything topping 'LP#4080', such a stun-ning suite of unhinged magic it is. What's crucial to what makes 'Terminator Funk' so compel-ling, though, is that Strange U are clearly touched by the old. They only zero in on vintage ODDNESS, the lopsided beats and unearthly ancient-futurist noise that made things like 'Come Clean' such earthquakes in hip-hop consciousness. King Kash has never sounded as unmanneredly awesome as he does here — vocal seemingly slurred/slowed until it hums with Zygote's incredible lo-end tectonics. Absolutely essential, and if you haven't got the album yet consider your 2017 utterly bereft.

Deeflux x KrazeSpaceshipsBroke Records

7.5 Natty little minute-long slab of cosmic funk with a groove so sumptuously deep 'n' wide it's worthy of Adrian Younge. The lyrics are total gibberish as you'd expect, but who cares when you've got 60 seconds of aural cinema to goggle at. Album drops soon called 'Take One' and, yeah, I plan on taking one.

Leaf DogThe LegacyHigh Focus

7.0 Phi Life Cypher, Smellington Piff, BVA, Cracker Jon, Jehst, Jack Jetson, Dirty Dike, Verb T, Sonnyjim, Mysdiggi, Klashnekoff, Fliptrix, Bill Shakes, Eric The Red, King Kashmere, Remus, Task Force & DJ Sammy B-Side — now THAT'S a posse cut! Great stuff from the soon-dropping 'Dyslexic Disciple' LP. Play loud.

MONEYSHOT!

QUICKIES

Never miss a beatBE-AT.TV brings you the best in electronic music events from around the globe,

HD streaming live and on demand, online and through our mobile app

Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 11:18

djmag.com 131

TRANCETI

M S

TARK

djm

agtr

ance

@gm

ail.c

om

LuminaryAmsterdam (Smith & Pledger Update)Anjunabeats

8.5 There are few more fan-cherished numbers in Anjunabeats’ repository than ‘Amsterdam’. Woes betide the remixer who arses this one up. In an attempt to ward off any such poisoned chalices perhaps, they’ve recalled Smith & Pledger for a 12-years-later remix spit ‘n’ polish. The result is a cooler, less urgently paced retell that nonetheless retains the spirit and most importantly structure of their original work. In short, just the job! EstivaBarba/TarmacStatement! Recordings

8.0 Both ‘Barba’ and ‘Tarmac’ notably change tack from the course set by Estiva’s latest productions. Coming down tougher, techier and punchier, they set aside much of ‘Star Walk’ and ‘Flares’ neo-euphoric feel. I don’t feel them as much, but that’s subjective taste. Every step of the way they still scream ingenuity, nuance and (above all) attention-to-detail. Mario PiuSweet Little GirlNeurals

8.0 Mario’s been threatening a comeback for a year or so now. ‘Sweet Little Girl’ represents the first outing for his new Neurals imprint, which in turn

(spiritually at least) hails the return of the much-missed Media Records label. Vigorously acerbic in production build, its mainline and (bigger hint) title subtly riff off a certain GNR track. Voolgarizm remixes up a storm, with their spin bleaching out the mainline for a more underground grift. Andrew RayelTacadumArmind, NL

8.0 ‘Tacadum’ kicks off with something that sounds like a trumpeting elephant run through a vocoder. If that doesn’t stand you up straight (especially at the levels I had my headphones set to), nothing will. Fuelled by agitating acid, looped, chanting vocals and backdropped by visceral tech pummel, it goes for a heads-down floor charge. If Andrew’s ‘Moments’ album has anything more ‘7am’ than this on it, I’d be amazed… and scared, in roughly equal proportions. Paul Oakenfold & Jordan SuckleyAmnesiaPerfecto Fluoro

8.0 The last time their production paths crossed was when Jordan reworked Paul’s ‘Ibiza’ single three or so years back. Now we have ‘Amnesia’ — their first full-blown collab together. Anyone else spotting a titular theme here? Anyway, ‘Amnesia’ works best in its unambiguousness. Collab shockers are all well and

good, but here you’ll hear both producers’ respective sounds as clear as day and in perfect accord. SolarstoneA State Of MindBlack Hole Recordings

8.5 ‘Epic’ is the adjective that’s uppermost in the mind on first listening to Solarstone’s lavish ‘A State Of Mind’. On finishing, it’ll mostly likely be ‘Where did the last 11-minutes go’? Despite its relatively languid, tranquil air, they speed by, as a throbbing, genuinely hypnotic trancer develops. There’s a faint air of Jean-Michel Jarre to a couple of sequences. By and large though, this is trance at its indeterminately timeless best.

Paul van DykTouched By HeavenVandit Records

8.0 The first instrumental outing from Paul in 18 or so months, ‘Touched By Heaven’ is strong, and at 10+ minutes, agreeably long. With an everyman feel to it, it’ll also make short work of cleaning up on the vast majority of trance floors.

Marco VColored GlassIn Charge

9.0 Marco’s another artist that, of late, seems to have that old production fire back in his belly. Combining a tech nature with vocals always comes with a tightrope element to it. Magnify that several times over when they’re of the cultured, affecting and (say it!) Suissa-esque nature as those on ‘Colored Glass’. Whether it’s an opposites-attracting alchemy or a next-level deftness of touch, this is nothing short of sensational.

MONEYSHOT!

01. ANDREW RAYEL FEAT. EMMA HEWITT ‘My Reflection’ Armind, NL “Emma Hewitt is an incredible talent with such a sweet harmonic voice, and she’s been someone who I’ve always wanted to collaborate with and she ended up doing a track for my album!”

02. ANDREW RAYEL & CHRISTINA NOVELLI ‘Lighthouse’ Armind, NL “Another collaboration form my album that I did with Christina, and our goal was that we wanted an energetic track but at the same time an emotional message behind it — and that’s how ‘Lighthouse’ came to life!”

03. GARETH EMERY & STANDERWICK FEAT. HALIENE ‘Saving Light’ Monstercat “Beautiful collaboration between Gareth and Standerwick. Been playing this non-stop in my sets.”

04. ANDREW RAYEL FEAT. ERIC LUMIERE ‘I’ll Be There’ Armind, NL “Eric is one of the most talented writers and vocalists I’ve ever worked with and he really nailed the lyrics here. It was the first single release from the album and simply goes off on the dancefloor! Really happy with the results.”

05. ARMIN VAN BUUREN ‘I Live For That Energy (Exis Remix)’ A State Of Trance “Dark, psy and dirty — a more perfect combination you can’t have. Exis did a great job on this remix!”

06. ANDREW RAYEL FEAT. ANGELIKA VEE ‘Never Let Me Go’ Armind, NL “A track inspired by the original Rayel sound, with an anthemic melody and the beautiful voice by Angelika Vee.”

07. COSMIC GATE ‘Fall Into You’ Wake Your Mind Records “The German duo are always on-point. Love everything about this track, from the piano start of the track to the beautiful angelic voice of JES!”

08. ARMIN VAN BUUREN ‘I Need You (Club Mix)’ Armind, NL “It makes me happy when I see people who inspired me to start my career — such as Armin — evolve and create something beautiful. He really nailed that summery melodic progressive vibe with this.”

09. DAVID GRAVELL ‘Energy’ A State Of Trance “A super-energetic track with an extraordinarily beautiful melody. David is truly one of the rising trance stars of the moment.”

10. JOCHEN MILLER ‘Time To Go Back’ High Contrast Recordings “Energy, emotions, melodic, driving, banging, you have it all in this track — Jochen killed it!”

ANDREW RAYEL ARMIND, NL

QUICKIESNadenSubmersionSaturate Audio

7.5 It’ll be t-shirt weather in space before I tire of Naden’s celestially-inspired fare. His fifth for Saturate Audio has the Norwegian at his chilled-to-the-point-of-frozen best.

ArnejThey Still Need Us/ I Will Always Remember YouBe The Change

7.5 More new label business here, as Arnej launches his Be The Change imprint. The chuggily atmospheric ‘They Still Need Us’ and deeper, cooler-still ‘I Will Always Remember You’ are a good start. Judging from his recent production session video though, there’s even better to come from the label.

djmag.com132

BASSOLI M

ARLOW info@

sonicrouter.com

Sim HutchinsEcology EPNo Pain In Pop

9.0 Over the six tracks on his 'Ecology EP', Sim Hutchins creates some masterfully unsettling soundscapes. Crackling with a slight bit-crushed texture, these fantastic ambient cuts pout in all the right places with the dulled spacing of his reverb playing as big a part as the way he toys with his scales. If it all sounds ‘kinda flat’ to you, trust me, it’s meant to be that way. Turn it up, close your eyes and centre your breath. Nan KoleMalumzBlack Acre

7.0 Tipping its collective attention toward the caterwauling world of South African house music, Black Acre’s latest 12” comes from Italian ex-pat Nan Kole (aka the guy who’s been piling in the work to tip the world to the sound of Durban with his Gqom Oh! label). And as you might expect from such a character, the music is freewheeling, supple and rhythmically-driven stuff. ‘Malumz’ feels like a soft synth

version of aciiid house that comes complete with whistle stabs. PeverelistTesselationsLivity Sound

9.0 It’s sad to admit but there are few things in life that make me perk up like the words ‘new Peverelist album’ do. Well… maybe a pair of box-fresh throwback Vans or a really swanging new Dickies overshirt would have a similar effect, but there’s simply something about the Bristol-based producer’s side-eye approach to techno that I’m always intrigued by. There is NO ONE out there that jams cymbals like he does — go listen to ‘Wireframes’ ASAP. Air Max '97VesselDecisions

8.0 The title track from Air Max ‘97’s latest release for the Decisions label is a piece of music I would’ve gone absolutely nuts for a few years back. That bassline is so rude and simplistic and it’s got a real tongue in cheek, thugged-up junglist aspect — sort of like something Pangaea would do — and that would’ve been all I needed to write 750 words all about it. LoneAmbievert Tools Vol.1R&S Records

9.0 When referring to this brand new three-track 12” from Lone (that focuses solely on the dancefloor), your initial reference points are more likely than not absolutely spot on: his bumping four-four rhythms pound on creatively while his trademark shimmering synth-work colours the space in between the outlines. Great.

New JacksonAnya's PianoAll City

7.0 If I were still doing a regular radio show (RIP Hivemind FM) then the latest three-tracker from New Jackson would’ve grown to be a bit of a godsend, considering that it fits in perfectly with a lot of things around it, but it uses loops that themselves stand out a mile. The double bass of ‘Anya’s Piano’ is a case in point — yes, it bumps on the house tempo nicely, but there’s also real substance to the arrangement. ForeverHymn EPCoyote Records

7.5 I’m sincerely into the way that beatmakers are now trying to include a cut on an EP that helps establish themselves as more of a vessel for emotion. We’re all human, after all, so why not serve up a cut that sounds like five separate, inter-connecting layers of panpipes to act as a palette-cleanser? Truthfully, Forever’s ‘Hymn’ EP is so much more than a means to a trend though, it delivers a lot of melodic potential. Gage2017 STAY PAROCrazylegs

8.0 This is either the best or the worst thing released all year. On it these weird, overheard conversations turn into abstract tracks and harshly EQ’d hoovers are deployed as melodic ideas alongside torrents of helium-powered vocal loops. Either the lad’s a Rainman-level audio genius or he’s a very confused person who someone should probably pop round and look in on. It’s bruising, inflated and exclusionary - and I can’t stop listening.

E.M.M.A.GlacéAstral Plane

9.0 ‘Glacé’ is something I can gladly get behind because I can actually hear the zero fucks that have been given in making it. And by that I don’t mean that E.M.M.A was careless in making it, I mean that it’s amazing because it’s this bizarre mixture of simplicity and synthesised pomp that hits somewhere between a Bullfrog game soundtrack and a Lynchian dream interlude. Have you ever been really stoned and realised you were looking directly into someone’s soul? That.

MONEYSHOT!

01. BLOOM ‘Gita’ Unreleased “Bloom’s a demon. I dunno what’s wrong with him.”

02. COUCOU CHLOE ‘Doom’ self-released “It continuously escalates until it hits the threshold and just disappears.”

03. SLACKK ‘Paper Santos’ R&S Records “Sits somewhere between aggression and vulnerability, which is a really poignant space.”

04. NEANA ‘Lilin’ self-released “Pure visceral energy.”

05. NATSO AS ‘S4U.2’ Unreleased “This track breaks up with you, then lets you soak in it for a couple of minutes.”

06. KLEIN ‘Come 2 Bed’ self-released “Like a slow motion car crash, but if the cars were soft and caring.”

07. SUDA ‘Idiopath’ Her Records “Essentially the classic combo of floating melody and banging drums but done to perfection.”

08. RYAN MACGUIRE ‘MoDernist’ self-released “The sound lost when encoding Suzanne Vega ‘Tom’s Diner’ to mp3 — haunting.”

09. SIERRA ‘Wrong Antidote’ Unreleased “Makes me think of gearing up for war, or a tragedy waiting to happen.”

10. DJ CHAP ‘Esc’ Discos Peligrosa “Rave stabs and energy = one of my favourite dancefloor tracks in a minute.”

GAGE CRAZYLEGS

QUICKIESBraidenV.O.L.A.TOff/Out

8.0 Clearly, Braiden has been spending more than a little time locked in his studio playing kick-drum loops to himself super-loud, because the latest two bits on his new 12” do come on very hard. This is serious, chiselled techno.

William FlorelleTwo & ThreeWotNot Music

9.0 Pushing on through like the jazzy little engine that could, WotNot Music uncover yet another peach. William Florelle’s blunted beat music is delivered with a delightful and organic realness that comes to define it quickly. Keep an eye on this guy.

IsagenCheerioRoska Kicks & Snares

7.0 This is some The Den-grade UK funky that comes all the way from Tokyo. Admittedly it was made by a guy who is very smitten with the micro-scene that burned out brightly, but then so am I. The snares have it.

djmag.com 133

HARDDJ

KUT

SKI k

utsk

i@m

ac.c

om Bass ModulatorsMantraScantraxx

8.0 The modulators are back with another festival anthem! Mantra has a distinct eastern influence in the breakdown before the arrival of the more familiar Bass Modulators-style melody. The track builds and drops with the melody and pitched kick, which is actually a refreshing change in amongst all the anti-climax drops in the scene of recent years. A good solid peak-time, hands in the air affair.

RestrainedHow I RollNeophyte Records

8.5 Here’s one that is certainly not for the faint-hearted! Dark, sinister raps and minor melodies accompany the crunchy 909s in true Dutch hardcore style, but despite all this aggression the 3/4 time signature of the track keeps things bouncy, meaning it shouldn’t be too offensive on the dancefloors for the uninitiated. If you like your hardcore, don’t over look this one.

Outlaw BrothersFrequencyHard Progress

8.0 Keeping the subground sound very much alive, the Outlaw Brothers are back with another hard-pounding, sub-driven monster on Italian label High Progress, covering the lower bpm range of the harder styles with EDM-influenced detuned shuffled stabs, hard kick-drums and euphoric trance lead breakdowns, with an extra bouncy offbeat sub coming in at times to give it that extra lift. Great set opener, this one.

Dr RudeIts WarDirty Workz

9.0 Our favourite Doctor is back, delivering fresh freestyle beats in the style only he knows how with infectious catchy melodies, frantic builds and heavy, hard drops built around a very catchy and well put-together vocal rhyme. This, combined with the supreme melodies, gives you one of those ‘arm-hairs stand up’ moments in the breakdown before dropping with infinite power and the catchy melody all at once. Serious dancefloor fodder.

CooneMonster (Fanatics Remix)Dirty Workz

8.5 With the hardstyle scene growing to the next level now in Australia,

having recently sold out stadium-sized events there with local brands, it’s great to see so much local talent coming through the ranks. Fanatics are one such talent to keep an eye on for 2017, and this remix of Coone’s classic ‘Monster’ proves why. It boasts sinister raw beats, distorted stabs and a dark, synth-heavy 2017-updated melody driving this track through the main break.

AtmozfearsAge Of GodsScantraxx

9.0 Without a doubt the leader of the next generation of hardstyle artists. With impeccable production skills that are respected by the likes of Hardwell as well as his peers in the hardstyle scene, Atmozfears can turn his hand to any sound in hardstyle and this new release showcases this, with a melody reminiscent of early hardstyle sounds brought up to date, creating ground-breaking euphoric hardstyle that breaks the mould in a genre which can be a little too generic for its own good.

Steve Hill & Organ DonorsLose ControlRVS BSS

7.5 The Bournemouth brothers return with a more uptempo reverse bass stomper, collaborating with Aussie legend Steve Hill. Add in some old skool house pianos in the break and you have a real party track on your hands here.

Caine & John HarrisNo MercyTheracords

9.5 Sporting one of the finest beards in the whole of dance music, Scottish rawstyle producer Caine has been flying up the scene over the past 12 months with his trademark ‘kick rollin’ hard beats. Vocalist John Harris has previously featured on more euphoric tracks, so this title alone caught my attention. Bizarrely, these contrasting styles seem to bring the best out in both artists, as despite the kicks being as brutally hard as you would expect, there is a real anthemic quality to the track, whilst the darker theme gives John Harris the opportunity to export a darker side to his songwriting. Such an interesting track, but also most importantly a great one for the dancefloors.

MONEYSHOT!

01. THE SICKEST SQUAD ‘Zombie’ Brutale “Classic tune! This is one of the most emotional tracks I’ve ever played and heard in my career. Huge work on this one!”

02. ART OF FIGHTERS ‘Your Poison (United Hardcore Forces Anthem)’ Traxtorm “For me, he’s one of the best producers in this scene. ‘Your Poison’ is the true meltdown of his style, pure mainstream hardcore. I love it!”

03. THE MELODYST ‘Sky High’ Traxtorm “This duo know how to bring their new style to the next level. ‘Sky High’ is the result of that, goosebumps on the first play!”

04. ANDY THE CORE ‘Killsomebody’ Brutale “It’s one of the ‘slowest’ tracks I’ve ever produced, 185bpm, but the reaction of the crowd is always like, ‘Damn, I know this tune and I want to smash everything’. It’s track No.1 off my new album, and I really love it.”

05. BRUTALE ‘Brutale’ Brutale “This is the true anthem of the brutal side of hardcore music. 200bpm of unstoppable energy. Every time I drop this one, I already know what kind of reaction I will get — disorder on the dancefloor!”

06. THE SICKEST SQUAD VS TIEUM FEAT. KRAKEN ‘Swing-beat’ Brutale “The first notes of the piano catch you in two seconds, and it features one of the hardest drops in hardcore. Love to play this as much as I can.”

07. ANDY THE CORE ‘Brutal Intentions’ Brutale “One of my favourite tunes. I can really feel my vision of hardcore in it.”

08. REEVOID ‘The Rush’ Traxtorm “This is a modern tune with a touch of old school vibe. Reevoid is new on the scene but with this tune he really put his mark on his future style.”

09. THE MELODYST & ANDY THE CORE ‘Partycrasher’ Traxtorm “Me and the Melodyst decided to work on this about three years ago and it was released in 2016. It’s a hit for the dancefloor, 190bpm of true vibes!”

10. TOMMYKNOCKER & ART OF FIGHTERS ‘Your Betrayal’ Traxtorm “The first time I heard this one, I was shocked. These two legends made something insane.”

ANDY THE CORE BRUTALE

QUICKIESAdrenalizeWherever The Light IsScantraxx

7.5 Singalong vocal hardstyle here from Adrenalize, combining a great well-sung male vocal with euphoric melodies for a peak-time anthem here, which isn't changing the rule-book but when the vocal is this good, its doesn't need to!

ActiDenderSubground

8.0 Great to see Acti continuing to push the boundaries of the subground sound after the mass exodus of producers from the scene over the past 12 months. This track is a dark and moody cut with heavy early techno and trance influences

Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 15:50

djmag.com 135

LEFTFIELDFO

UND

SOUN

DS fo

unds

ound

s@ho

tmai

l.com

Soundwalk CollectiveBefore Music There Is BloodApollo

8.5 It certainly is somewhat of a purple patch for Apollo at the moment. Flexing their muscle into more experimental waters, the label see the Soundwalk Collective record and re-imagine recordings made in the corridors of three musical conservatories in Shanghai, Napoli and St Petersburg. It’s literally an echo box of found sound, rehearsal snippets and procured ambience. If you’re a fan of GAS, Touch Records or Eno, you will love this.

Haramia TapesPFunkApollo

8.0 Apollo has been releasing some great downbeat tracks recently. Following in the same vein as Synoptiks ‘Voices In My Head’ EP, ‘PFunk’ trips through well-chosen vocal samples and Prunes-esque sample minimalism (check the opener ‘I am You’), all drenched with cinematic mystery and suspense. Coming from a techno producer, you can see the accents, especially on the sinister ‘Hall’, which all add to the intrigue.

C DuncanLike You DoFat Cat

8.0 The third single to be lifted from Glaswegian C Duncan’s second LP, ‘The Midnight Sun’, is an uplifting affair. With an instantly distinguishable opening drum break that acts as the bed for

his softly yearning vocals, it’s both delicate and demanding at the same time. Beautifully arranged with piano, bass and synth textures all having space to breathe. Luxurious.

Cut Chemist & Keb DargeDark Side SamplerBBE Records

8.0 These two vinyl heavyweights come together once again for another epic transatlantic musical slugfest. Picking up from where their 2007 compilation 'Lost & Found – Rockabilly & Jump Blues' left off, this sampler explores the multi-coloured (under)world of 1960s garage music. By now you probably know what to expect but for the uninitiated amongst you, expect a handpicked selection of left of centre rarities, oddities and general musical gems.

Bastien Keb22.02.85 SamplerFirst Word Records

7.0 An intriguing, multi-layered and suitably eclectic release from multi-instrumentalist Bastien Keb, who offers a welcome insight into his forthcoming long-player, ‘22.02.85’. File amongst Madlib, The Impressions and Bon Iver.

Sylvan EssoDie YoungLorna Vista

7.0 Nice to hear from Sylvan Esso again! Their track ‘Coffee’ still gets played regularly in my house. So far as beautifully produced melodic electronic soul goes, it’s

right up there. Not as convinced by this latest single though, it has to be said. The production is as sharp and refined as you’d expect, and it definitely has that super-credible pop sensibility, but it just lacks the edge, depth and presence of character to make it truly memorable.

Lee Fields & The ExpressionsSpecial NightBig Crown Records

8.0 This single comes off the back of a slew of brilliant releases from Big Crown, who seem to be on fire at the moment. This particular track finds the US soul statesman on typically wonderfully expressive and heartfelt form. It evokes memories of fellow soul legends like Bobby Womack, Syl Johnson and of course James Brown via these two beautifully arranged and expertly executed soul/funk cuts. Get involved, folks!

GonjasufiYour Maker (Daddy G Remix)Warp Records

8.5 A cheeky peek into the new collaborative album (‘The Mandela Effect’) from Gonjasfi, who has enlisted the help of a stellar cast of collaborators including Shabazz Palaces, Ras G and Afrobeat legend Tony Allen for this new project.Here he sets Massive Attack’s founding father Daddy G to work on 2016 track ‘Your Maker’. The result is a brilliant piece of Bristolian inflected hip-hop, brimming with low-slung, beat-driven paranoia and moody brilliance.

MONEYSHOT!

01. APHEX TWIN ‘Acrid Avid Jam Shred’ Warp Records “The opener for ‘I Care Because You Do’, and one of the tunes that inspired me to start making electronic music. You are transported to another place, which carries on for the rest of the record. It’s mesmerizing, sad, bloody weird and I love it.”

02. BLIGHT HAMDI ‘My Love Story’ Les Artistes Arabes Associés “It’s the instrumentation that gets me with this. It’s such an interesting and exotic piece of music, and it also reminds me of ‘Level 2 (Marble Zone)’ in Sonic as well!”

03. ASA CHANG & JUNRAY ‘Hana’ The Leaf Label “This is a beautiful number, it gets more original and similar the more I listen to it. It’s all about making a song for you, and no one else.”

04. CONNAN MOCKASIN ‘Forever Dolphin Love’ Warp “This track sums up Connan’s music to me; it feels totally free, as if it was the first-take or something. It also seems to have no desire to conform to the ‘normal’ song format.”

05. ZORA JONES ‘First Light’ Fractal Fantasy “I imagine this track would work just as well in a club as it does on head-phones. It’s a wild tune that is only matched by its bizarre video.”

06. HARMONIA ‘Watussi’ Brain “I love this band, for me they sum up the meaning of leftfield music. They also came out of the Krautrock scene crafting their own branch of the genre, which this track captures perfectly.”

07. BRIAN ENO ‘Becalmed’ Virgin “Could’ve picked a few off this album — they all sound as if they came from the same place, which is telling of any good album really.”

08. PAUL MCCARTNEY ‘Secret Friend’ Parlophone “This is a bonus track off his solo record ‘II’. I love this experimental phase of Paul’s career, he really had a lot of time and a lot of toys to play with.”

09. BURIAL ‘Ashtray Wasp’ Hyperdub “This is an epic, unlike any other music I’ve heard. The whole EP has a weight to it that drags you into its dark and yet beautiful space.”

10. CHUCK PERSON ‘Chuck Person’s Eccojams Vol.1 A3’ The Curatorial Club “This tune never ends; when I first heard it I thought I’d heard more to the track — like I imagined parts that weren’t there. But it’s literally just a loop, which plays with your head and after a while you have to give in and enjoy its weird moves (until you get to the ‘Castles In The Sky’ bit).”

JONA SUL SOUTHERN FRIED

QUICKIESConfidence ManBubblegum (Andrew Weatherall Remix)Heavenly

8.0 Skip straight to the Weatherall mix, who turns it from beast to beauty in an instant. NY block party acid vibes.

MoonchildCureBandcamp

7.0 Midnight soul from Moonchild, who hits that timeless spot with this ultra neo-soul outing. Fans of Scott, Badu and Omar form an orderly queue.

FyfeLove You MoreBBE

8.0 A well-produced, super-catchy, falsetto pop nugget from this English singer-songwriter and guitarist, which is anchored around an equally super-catchy piano hook. Electronic pop at its finest.

djmag.com136

ALBUMS

JlinBlack OrigamiPlanet Mu

8.0 Rhythmic odyssey

ORIGAMI is a challenging, incredibly precise pursuit. You need to really focus on that folding. But put in the legwork and you’re rewarded with something awesome. Think of it this way: you can’t do it when you’re drunk.The same is also true of ‘Black Origami’, the second album from hyper-progressive footwork producer Jlin. It’s not an easy listen, but give it the time it deserves and you’ll uncover a fantastic, fractured gem.

Although footwork may be where Jlin’s music is rooted sonically and geographically-ish (she’s based in Gary, Indiana, a stone’s throw from Chicago), it’s almost derivative to file ‘Black Origami’ as such, due to a vast sonic palette that takes in the myriad of musical ideas bubbling up in the producer’s brain.Most recognisable is the use of rhythms as a percussive tool, but this is explored so deeply that the manic percussive structures take on a life of their own, becoming the backbone of many tracks, such as the intense

‘Hatshepsut’ or the free-flowing ‘Carbon 7 (161)’.Much of the album was inspired by Jlin’s collaborations with dancer and performance artist Avril Stormy Unger — which makes a lot of sense. For all its abstract qualities, ‘Black Origami’ is an immensely physical album that begs for movement.

And if, on paper, that all sounds too highbrow to be enjoyable, on record it really isn’t. In fact, the record still bangs in its own unique, seismic way. Both ‘Enigma’ and ‘Never Created, Never Destroyed’ (the latter featuring the shredded vocals of Cape Town rapper Dope Saint Jude) use more traditional footwork paradigms, turning jitters into hard, rhythmically insistent grooves.Then there’s the fearsome ‘1%’, a collaboration with electronic experimentalist Holly Herndon. Layered with shards of bass, it’s urgent, intense and frenetic, yet somehow immensely satisfying — much like the whole of ‘Black Origami’, in fact. Tristan Parker

Octo Octa Where Are We Going Honey Soundsystem Sweet house music There is nothing particularly new or inventive about the melodic house music that Octo Octa makes, but it is always done so well as to standout. Across various EPs and an LP on 100% Silk the Brooklyn producer has proved that, and now she does so again with a sophomore album on San Francisco’s Honey Soundsystem. For the most part, her tracks feel more like songs, with lead synths that really resonant amongst the warm, rubbery drums of tracks like ‘Where Are We Going’. Steamier efforts like ‘On Your Lips’ recall the grace and elegance of Larry Heard and bristling old school efforts like ‘Move On (Let Go) (De-stress mix)’ have an infectious garage skip that will enliven any DJ set. Add into that deep space rollers like ‘Preparation Rituals’ and you have a fresh and well-informed house sound that is both timeless and universal. Kristan J Caryl

Shed The Final Experiment Monkeytown Tantalising techno Though he has voiced his disinterest in the techno scene for a while, Polish artist Shed is very much part of it. Rather than at the centre, though, he has always operated in the shadows, with a breakbeat-laced sound that is hi-fidelity and high class. Once more here he offers up a full-length exploration of the genre that marries visceral rhythms with exquisite sound design and luxurious ambience. Each one of the 11 beautiful tracks is loose and weightless, silvery and sombre, with a heavenly backlit ambient glow that makes them part retro-dreamy rave material and part gentle comedown tackle. Always loopy and wried up with buffed metal pads and frazzled synths, the focus on his core aesthetic has never been stronger than on ‘The Final Experiment’, and for that reason it is one of the most complete techno meditations you’ll hear all year. Kristan J Caryl

Hauschka What If City Slang Say what!? For his eighth studio album, Hauschka rides a difficult line between inventiveness and accessibility. Real name Volker Bertelmann, the German pianist has composed ballet scores and soundtracks in the time since 2014’s ‘Abandoned City’, and the influence on his work is clear. Crossing the generative ambience of Brian Eno and Steve Reich with noise-tinged elements and leftfield electronica, ‘What If’ is a series of expertly engineered cinematic compositions. Starting with the delicate ‘I Can’t Find Water’, the complex patterns of ‘Constant Growth Fails’ works into the more concerto-like ‘My Kids Live On Mars’ and ‘I Can’t Express My Deep Love’. The densely-layered ‘Nature Fights Back’ follows, one of the most dynamic moments on the record, before the haunting ‘Familiar Things Disappear’ draws things towards a close. The result is a masterfully executed cinematic album. Rob McCallum

Clark Death Peak Warp Records Nature calls Christopher Clark’s last album, ‘Clark’, was a masterclass in bringing the outside in; through his intricate sampling and crushing techno workouts, the Warp producer splintered fragments of the icy weather into a full-length. Three years later and ‘Death Peak’ is similarly informed by nature — but aimed at Spring. There’s all of Clark’s signature heavy processing of sounds, erratic techno lines that zip about, and glitched out synths that blindside you out of nowhere before disappearing instantly, but on ‘Death Peak’ he’s using vocals more to shape and manipulate as an instrument. There’s moments of sheer beauty (the harpsichord line on ‘Aftermath’) as well as monolithic drums (which sit next to a cheesy, distorted EDM synth on ‘Hoova’). You can always expect the unexpected with Clark, and, when it’s all done this beautifully, what more could you possibly want? Felicity Martin

9.5 9.0 9.0 9.0

djmag.com 137

ALBUMS

THE music on ‘Versus’ was originally premiered in 2008 with a unique live debut at La Cité de La Musique, Paris, where Carl Craig was joined by ‘Les Siècles’ orchestra of Paris, the techno mastermind Moritz von Oswald and the piano prodigy Francesco Tristano. So far, so worrying, and the ‘Versus’ title suggests an adversarial battle between competing sound worlds, the kind of stitched up soundclash that leaves both sides defeated. When orchestration gets involved, pomposity and indulgence are usually never far away. No worries needed — and you should trust Craig more. What’s so ravishing about much of ‘Versus’ is how entirely natural it sounds, almost making you forget the originals — there’s a fluidity between Carl’s electronics and the gorgeous, sensitive sounds of the orchestra that renders tracks like ‘Sandstorm’ and ‘The Melody’ somehow bigger, more widescreen and yet more intimate than you’ve ever heard them before. What you’re reminded of is the kind of funky orchestration of a Quincy Jones, Nuyorican Soul or Lalo Schifrin, applied to the fevered chill of Craig’s Detroit sound — the highlights here like the exquisite dreaminess of ‘Domina’ and the glacial funk of ‘Desire’ actually amplify and surpass the originals. Forget your doubts and dive deep into ‘Versus’ immediately. Essential. Neil Kulkarni

InsideInfo InsideInfo Viper Recordings Loud and proud Understatement is not InsideInfo’s strong suit: the London producer’s d&b bangers like ‘Skyhook’ generally having all the subtlety of someone trying to bellow ‘Do you want any pills?’ into your ear at a rave. Which, to be fair, is the environment in which most of his debut album is best appreciated. The likes of ‘Creepy’ and ‘Mania’ show his knack for big-room rollers, if not imaginative titles, although there’s more diversity — on paper at least — in his choice of collaborators. These range from metal vocalist Scott Kennedy on the abominable ‘Revenants’, to MC Miss Trouble on ‘Revolution’ through to tabla player Aref Durvesh on ‘Num Num’, the intro of which briefly recalls the sound of Talvin Singh’s ‘Anokha’ compilations. Until, that is, he shares the fate of every other guest here, their contributions all pulverised by InsideInfo’s rhythmic pile-drives that make Noisia sound quieter in comparison. Paul Clarke

Red Axes The Beach Goths Garzen Psychedelia meets futurism A ‘guitars and synths’ duo who’ve risen from the psychedelic underground of Tel-Aviv, Red Axes are a unique entity formed from a clashing of styles. While they’ve authored plenty of straightforward house and techno over the past five years, it’s largely sidelined on their sophomore album for the sake of diving headfirst into grungy blues and psychedelia that’s broadly mixed in with an experimental aesthetic. This deliberate clash of electronic, organic and the psychedelic makes for very interesting contrasts indeed, with Dori Sadovnik and Niv Arzi confident enough in their shared vision to alternate wildly between full-blown tie-dyed nuttiness to late-night dancefloor mayhem. From this perspective, it’s a masterstroke. For the listener though, ‘The Beach Goths’ is equal parts considered and incoherent — for an effort that’s truly thematically mesmerising, we might have to wait for Red Axes album number three. Angus Thomas Paterson

Jimpster Silent Stars Freerange Records Late-night lullabies Following the finest fundamentals of his last studio album ‘Porchlights And Rocking Chairs’, Jimpster takes us on another admirably artistic journey. For the latest LP ‘Silent Stars’ his inspirations are rooted in the night-time and nocturnal hours; his productions laced with hazy melodies and jazz infusions. During his 20 years of releasing music, we’ve been naturally drawn to his tastes through countless A&R successes on his globally applauded labels Freerange Records and Delusions Of Grandeur. Every record has the stamp of organic soul-inspired house music that we’ve come to know and love and can vehemently be heard in Jamie Odell’s own creations. The album features an array of newfound stars including up-and-coming South London singer Florence Rawlings and Jindau, best known as the lead vocalist in Kirk Degiorgio’s band The Beauty Room. This album is an approval that sophisticated house music is alive and kicking, well into the daylight hours. Anna Wall

Arca Arca XL Recordings Very 2017 Arca’s third album is by far his most personal work to date; the London-based, Venezuela-born artist steps out from the layers of processing and production that have characterized his previous work, and gets up close and vulnerable on this magnificent, eponymous LP. ‘Arca’ also marks the first time the musician sings in his native Spanish, and the tender honesty of these vocals feel as if they’ve been influenced by the time he’s spent working with Björk. Long-time visual collaborator Jesse Kanda returns with a striking cover and video for ‘Anoche’, which portrays violence meshing with sexuality in a sharp relief compared to their previous works together. Musically, the same fragile purity carries through all of the mostly digital instrumentation and singing; the tracks feel as if they’ve been recorded in single takes as if to capture the emotional snapshots they’re trying to portray. A masterpiece of avant-garde electronic music that encapsulates 2017. Zara Wladawsky

5.0 7.5 8.0 7.5

Carl Craig Versus Planet E/Infinite

8.0 Slamming soundclash

REPEAT THE LPS WE CAN’T LEAVE ALONE...

djmag.com138

ALBUMS

Greg Gow Lost Days Social Experiment Records

9.0 Centurion As a figurehead of the electronic music scene in Toronto, and his Restructured Recordings ten shy of the 100 mark, it’s surprising to learn that ‘Lost Days’ is Greg Gow’s debut LP. It’s a blend of thundering, radiating, technoid dance music — lashings of engrossing synth arps and a very galactic undertone — that’s very, very good! Leon Clarkson

Awanto 3 Gargamel Dekmantel

7.0 Freaky fun The second album from the Amsterdam producer is a highly enjoyable mix of slow-burning house and brilliantly wonky jams. As you might guess, it’s the weird stuff that really shines through, with tracks like ‘Hooli Goose’ and ‘This Is When We Met’ delivering all kinds of hypnotic, brain-poking goodness. Seek, and you shall find. Tristan Parker

Sophia Kennedy Sophia Kennedy Pampa Records

8.0 Pampa does pop Baltimore-born, Berlin-based Kennedy is certainly worthy of Pampa’s first pop excursion. Her songs are electronic — looped, sampled, and layered to develop an expansive timbre. Yet ultimately this debut sounds organic, with lyrics often everyday in subject matter, making for an uncomplicated pleasure, despite the complexity. Martin Guttridge-Hewitt

Talaboman The Night Land R&S 9.0 All the songs take root in familiar sonic territory, further conveying the duo’s open, unpretentious relationship.

Art Alfie Reveries of Art Alfie Studio Barnhus 9.0 This is homely house music for the head, heart and soul as much as for the heel.

Teengirl Fantasy 8AM Planet Mu 9.0 Largely a downtempo affair, this is a new ambient work you’ve got to hear.

Valgeir Sigurðsson Dissonance Bedroom Community

7.0 Cognitive dissonance Icelandic composer Sigurðsson’s first solo album since 2012 is a beautiful mix of shifting textures, drone and lush soundscapes reminiscent of Luc Ferrari and Bartok’s most moving moments. Abscond from reality for an hour with this in the headphones, and you won’t regret it. It’s sublime. Neil Kulkarni

T.Raumschmiere Heimat Kompakt

8.5 Off the chain Marco Haas returns to Kompakt with his latest LP. It’s a weird and wonderful selection of off-kilter electro-cum-techno with a nod to the reimagined Schaffel sound, which bore this particular label-and-artist love affair in the first place. ‘Wacker’ is divine, ‘Le Fux’ is comically haunting, and the whole thing is unmissable. Leon Clarkson

Orchestra Baobab Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng World Circuit

8.5 Senegalese serenity After a decade hiatus, this pivotal dance-band from Senegal return with their new album, titled in honour of former member, Ndiouga Dieng. Ten tracks of warming, Afro-Cuban-style jazzy-funk, packed full of Issy Sissoko and Thierno Koite’s sax-playing, Balla Sidibe’s rhythms and Balla and Rudy Gomis’ partnering vocals. Leon Clarkson

DJ Jayhood KING Local Action Party mix Jersey club is a local dance scene from the American state of New Jersey, and DJ Jayhood is among its most respected proponents. Initially a response to the more famous Baltimore club sound (B-more), it’s become its own distinct genre, combining hip-hop samples and raps, sub-bass and snippets from house classics. An exhilarating party sound, it’s designed for dancing (check the videos on YouTube), and Jayhood has secured his rep with massive remixes of Robin S and Beyonce, plus plenty of his own original bangers. The latter are collected on an album for the first time here. The shimmering house chords and martial drum patterns of ‘Ass On The Floor’ are an invigorating mix, while ‘Can’t Be Friends’ with its plaintive vocal and breakbeats, is an A-grade club killer. Fans of garage, grime and bass music will lap this up. Ben Murphy

Krafty Kuts & Dynamite MC All 4 Corners Central Station Records Grin inducer This album is a smile-raiser. Okay, it lives right on the edge of commercialism in parts, and is a far cry away from the melancholic intricacy of most British rap-based projects, but there’s an enthusiasm in the polished funk that’s hard to fabricate, in both Krafty’s slick, genre-hopping productions and Dynamite’s signature flows. Those in the d&b world know Dyna is a skilled live MC — vibey, accessible and an originator to boot — and plenty of what he’s known for is on show here, packaged up with a host of killer features such as Charlie 2na, Riya, Harry Shotta, Example, and Pavan. Standouts include the reggae rap fusion of ‘Canvas’ with Rodney P, and the old-skool/nu-skool breakbeat of ‘The Master’. This LP is stacked with hooks and payback lines. It’s genuinely a lot of fun. Yes, fun. And what’s wrong with that? Morgan Jones

Actress AZD Ninja Tune To the left The return of an enigma, Actress’ career has been defined by leftfield cuts in opposition to antiquated ideas like genre. This latest long-player continues that quandary — what are these sounds? Everything on ‘AZD’ sits within a hinterland, but tracks are not without structure, or a sense of purpose. The textured atmospheres and heavy, lugging fours of ‘X22RME’ are a case in point — otherworldly, yet accessible. Same with the pseudo-techno of ‘Blue Window’, ‘Detroitisms On Runner’, or ‘Fantasynth’, which sounds like a DJ Cam collab with Kyle Hall. That said, standout moments are often the most challenging — tense tones, broken drums and jarring Wurlitzer on ‘Dancing In The Smoke’; lo-fi shuffles and ambience dominating ‘There’s An Angel In The Shower’; and upbeat string stabs in ‘Visa’. Still no wiser, then, unique is again the only appropriate word. Martin Guttridge-Hewitt

8.0

8.0

7.5

Forest Swords Compassion Ninja Tune Eerie epic Merseyside producer Matthew Barnes made a giant impact with his 2013 debut album ‘Engravings’ through the adventurous Tri Angle label. Combining R&B and hip-hop sampling and beats, dub bass and melancholy guitar, he captured a singular avant-garde vibe, and with it generated a cult following. Since, a soundtrack to one of the most popular video games of all-time, ‘Assassin’s Creed’, has followed. With this second album and first for Ninja, Barnes has gone panoramic, bringing in live strings and brass to augment his heady, eldritch electronics. The tumbling drums and sinister vocals and bells of ‘Panic’ are like something from a fearful opium dream. ‘Raw Language’, meanwhile, is a stunning vision of cut-up vocals, huge strings and trap beats. Though the mood is doleful throughout, it’s also completely hypnotic. You never know what’s synthetic or organic, which adds to the eerie atmosphere. Ben Murphy

8.0

QUICKIES

Untitled-1 1 13/04/2017 15:26

djmag.com140

COMPILATIONS

Various Rebirth 10 Remixed Rebirth Records 7.0 Happy Rebirth-day The label has worked with some truly seminal artists over its 11-year lifespan; from the legendary Larry Heard to the extraordinary pianist Bocca Grande. This remix package celebrates some of the finest, with fresh reworks for 2017. Ron Trent’s stunning reprise of Tevo Howard and Tracey Thorn’s ‘Without Me’ is a highlight. Happy birthday, Rebirth — keep bringing the goodness. Anna Wall

Various Skryptöm - 10 Years LP Skryptöm 8.5 Infinity and beyond A release to celebrate its 10-year milestone, the Parisian imprint delivers here courtesy of a congregation of techno superheroes. Beautifully curated throughout, the likes of Skrypt artists Electric Rescue, Maxime Dangles and Roman Poncet team up with some paramount guests such as Laurent Garnier, Truncate, Zadig and more. Cape on, let’s fly. Morgan Jones

Various Brownswood 10 Versions Brownswood Recordings 9.0 Browns-good! Gilles Peterson’s forward-thinking and eclectic label celebrates its 10th anniversary by releasing this similarly diverse and adventurous, vinyl-only set of 10 cover versions. Classic songs like Can’s ‘Vitamin C’, Gillian Welch’s ‘Elvis Presley Blues’ and Sun Ra’s ‘Love In Outer Space’ get expertly reworked by a selection of artists who’ve released on Brownswood over the years. Zara Wladawsky

Various Get Physical Presents: Miami 2017 Get Physical Music 7.0 WMC excellence Label compilations timed with WMC are a dime-a-dozen, but Get Physical has proved itself a model of consistency through its history. Eleven upfront cuts curated by Daniel Dubb and M.O.N.R.O.E, plus a continuous mix, the fact there’s few surprises detracts little from the appeal of the silky house and techno grooves. Angus Thomas Paterson

Various Northern Disco Lights Soundtrack Paper Recordings 8.0 Norway past & present The new Northern Disco Lights doc offers a great look at the history of Norwegian disco, arguably one of the most nationally distinct sounds to emerge out of dance culture, and the soundtrack chronicles its history in full — from the recent Lindstrøm smash ‘Closing Shot’, through to veteran pioneers like Biosphere. Angus Thomas Paterson

Soul Clap Fabric 93 Fabric Records 8.0 Stretching their legs The Boston duo take a leisurely stroll through the sort of deep house and disco you might expect after hearing their albums, while also taking time for some roots reggae and jazz. But the laid-back pace doesn’t stop them scratching the dancefloor’s itch, making ‘Fabric 93’ a dose of the Clap you’ll be glad you got. Paul Clarke

TO CELEBRATE Ed Banger’s 100th release, Busy P has assembled his entire roster for a new compilation that proves that the Parisian label is still a force to be reckoned with. Mr Oizo kicks the comp off in bustling fashion with a skit that introduces the label’s roster over contorting, mechanical beats. The compilation wastes no time in grabbing your attention with a brand-new track from SebastiAn (his first in some six years) and it’s, err, a bit weird. ‘Huge V’ (which is sung Huge Vagina) sounds like a creepy R&B track that could easily be a leftover from his work with Frank Ocean — an electro

banger it is not.Elsewhere, Breakbot delivers a sumptuous cut of disco with ‘Mystery’, Justice appear via the medium of a Boys Noize remix for a thumping disco electro remix of their track ‘Randy’, and Cassius despatch an oh-so-chic slice of Balearic bliss in the form of the free-flowing ‘Fame’. It’s an incredible show of force from a label that’s found its mojo once again, and we’ve not even mentioned the stellar efforts from Borussia, Krazy Baldhead, Pone, Para One, Riton and the rest of the crew. Andrew Rafter

ON THE PODdjmag.com | soundcloud.com/djmag

Various MOVES R.E.M.I Recordings Bless beats The streets of the UK’s inner cities are currently trembling with a new sound. Afrobeats (entirely separate from Afrobeat) are a meeting of cultures — largely African and Caribbean, which fuses elements of dancehall, bashment and grime to birth something melodic, joyful and utterly addictive. With artists like Kojo Funds, J Hus and MoStack now gripping the charts — taking the movement global from very humble beginnings — it only seemed fair for a compilation to highlight some of the biggest movers in the scene. Curated by kingpin Afro B, ‘MOVES’ draws together highlights such as NSG’s anthemic ‘We Dey’, Belly Squad’s gloriously unsubtle ‘Banana (Remix)’, IQ’s ‘Tell A Paigon Try’ and Afro B’s own ‘Lover’ that borrows from Sister Nancy’s ‘Bam Bam’. If you want to know who’s going to be making moves this year, this compilation can certainly point you in the right direction. Felicity Martin

Various: Three Years of Decay Mixed By Pezzner Decay Records Captain hooks Truly accomplished mixes don’t need huge moments. The trick to maintaining energy and interest lies not in finding the most unforgettable, but instead tracking down the best hooks to keep ears and feet locked in, feeding hypnosis without resorting to fillers. From this perspective, Pezzner’s effort to celebrate the third anniversary of Decay is a strong addition to anyone’s collection. Beginning with epic soundscapes, eventually exploding into a warehouse-y bomb of echoed prog horns and atmospheres before the collection approaches its last, between those two punctuation marks this is tech and techno for the heads-down crew, who should know what to do — losing themselves in 80 seamless, well-orchestrated minutes, rather than dividing the experience into ‘this tune’ or ‘that track’. Consider the running order irrelevant, then — a real dancefloor experience. Martin Guttridge-Hewitt

9.07.0

DJ MAG PODCAST: FD

FRESH KICKS: LEWIS JAMES

DJ MAG PODCAST: ASCION, D. CARBONE, SHAPEDNOISE

VariousEd Rec 100Ed Banger

9.0 Crew love

THE PICK OF OUR LATEST PODCASTS & EXCLUSIVE MIXES

QUICKIES

Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 14:05