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MUSIC REVIEWS

208 WELCOME RETURN After a nine-year hiatus, Anja Schneider makes a very welcome return to the format with ‘SoMe’ for Sous Music... PATRICE BRYLLA Pic: PATRICE

188 OH, THE IRONY! 196 MONOCHROMATIC MADNESS 198 OF PECKHAM DJ Boring cuts loose with a top notch duo Black Girl / White Girl South MC, , drops his new three-tracker for E-Beamz... continue their rise with the ‘No Beef’ EP... mixtape to raucous applause (from us)...

201 ESCAPE FROM THE NORM 209 FADE TO BLACK 212 COMPILATION OF THE MONTH Sully is back on Keysound with his brill, Rødhåd’s debut album ‘Anxious’ is as bleak Moodymann and a host of fellow new genre-hopping album, ‘Escape’... and moody as we could hope for... leg-ends Funkadelic favourites...

DJMAG.COM 187 REVIEWS>HOUSE

Waajeed Through It All QUICKIES Dirt Tech Reck Cratebug 9.0 Melondrop Following the spectacular 'Shango Classic Music Company EP' from earlier in the summer, 8.0 journeyman and former Top dancefloor gear from Chi-Town's David Macias. hip-hop don , erstwhile of 'Melondrop' is a relentlesas, noisy, but ultimately fame, busts out scorchingly funky slab, whether it's the original more scorching vibrations via his Chicago Mix or Luke Solomon's proper mucky edit. Submerge-affiliated Dirt Tech Reck. 'Get Down' is thick with swirling Lazare Hoche & Traumer electric keys and enveloping organs, Seascape EP while 'Through It All' is almost Lazare Hoche Records operatic, its grand pianos juxtaposed 8.0 with a hollow, irresistibly funky Parisians Lazare Hoche and Traumer hook up for this . On the flip, 'Kingdom' holds unctuous, burbling three-tracker on the former's it down with hypnotic vocals and very own imprint. 'Compass' somehow makes its moody atmospherics. Proper, proper intricate layers feel wonderfully simple. business. Mac-Kee No More EP Dan Shake jacking number, but it's the imprint, featuring another two Soul Pattern Shake's On A Plane 'smooth mix' of Clarence, with its towering selections and some 8.0 Lumberjacks In Hell lilting piano chords, which is the mastering assistance from the Tough house music from Leipzig, seemingly via New 8.0 pick of this devastating bunch. equally revered Alex Gopher. Sun Jersey, with swing heavy vibes, courtesy of Mac- The only non-Detroit artist ever glistens, as it should, building to Kee. Seek out the scything, chopped up groove of to be signed to Moodymann's Austin Ato an earth-shattering climax to tear 'The Tune' for the win. Mahogani Music (surely worth a For Mr Lewis through soundsystems around the t-shirt slogan, or at the very least a Phonica White globe. On the flip, 'Glow', with SILICONE SOUL badge), London's Dan Shake doles 8.5 its rasping, epic, trance-inducing DARKROOM DUBS out some devastation with Austin Ato is the man formerly vibrations is another work of this three-tracker for Amsterdam's known as Drums of Death (and grand, towering genius from a essential Lumberjacks In Hell also known as Colin Bailey from man worthy of the terminology. imprint. 'Magic Marcel' loops up Oban, on the west coast of some deep, deep funk, before Scotland). This salvo for Phonica DJ Boring filtering the buggery out of it. 'The White pulls out soul-swelling Hidden Messages EP Bee Won' is a frisky, clatteringly strings and a bassline with some E-Beamz percussive workout, while 'Wake, serious gravitational pull to create 8.0 Bake and Shake' slows things a thing of beauty, not to mention Some have found themselves down for those late-night floors in its use of heartbreaking spoken with their knickers in a bit of a need of some soulful seduction. word from civil rights activist, bunch about the rash of wilfully Representative John Lewis. The (sometimes ridiculously) Butane dub version roughs things up a bit, underproduced 'lo-fi' house Sketch Factor EP but it's 'Morning', on the flip, with music doing the rounds, and Extrasketch its nods to Trent and Damier, which while this from DJ Boring — aka 8.0 wins the day. Gorgeous. Tristan Hallis, of 'Winona' fame Having closed up shop on his — may find itself jammed into Alphahouse label earlier this year, the aforementioned pigeonhole, 01. DINO LENNY ‘Chained To A Ladder’ Darkroom Dubs Ron & Manoo “The next 12” coming on Darkroom Dubs and Dino’s gone full on post-punk. Butane — aka Andrew Rasse — has The Sound 'Unspoken Presence', the opener Superb record.” launched Extrasketch, and if this is Vision on this EP from E-Beamz, is pure 02. THE DEADSTOCK 33S ‘The Music Is Madness (To Those Who the general plan for it, we're all in. 9.0 fire. As is the carved up - Cannot Hear It)’ Darkroom Dubs It's not for the faint of heart, mind How's this for a dream team — garage of 'Want U So'. Best not “It brightened up a grim Monday when this arrived in the inbox. Justin you. 'Don't Stop' throbs its way Manoo, the French don from to worry about sub-genres within Robertson has always been a class act.” to hypnotic glory, a rolling loop and Chicago mainstay Ron Trent sub-genres and just buy stuff if it's 03. DEMIAN ‘Declica’ Kompakt “Undoubtedly one of the tunes of the year. Demian always delivers, but pinning things down. Elsewhere, cosying up behind the mixing good. And this is. this is next level.” 'Go' is stark, dark, minimal and desk for this excursion into the 04. DANI BOOM ‘Champeta La Voladora’ Big In funky, while 'Ultramax' shakes, unknown on Prescription spin-off Lauer “Dani’s a bit of a legend in his hometown and this record encapsulates rattles and rolls with analogue Future Vision. God only knows Las Brisas EP everything that’s diverse and exciting about Bogotá’s music scene right bleeps dancing over a hip- why such personnel wouldn't Futureboogie now.” swivelling computer groove. afford this record 'buy ' 8.5 05. OCTA OCTA ‘Adrift’ Honey Soundsystem “This record really grabbed me when I first heard it, with a classic, timeless, status alone, but in case you're A firm DJ Mag house page fave, deep feel that you can’t help but love.” Brame & Hamo wavering, 'The Sound' builds with Frankfurt's Phillip Lauer, the Trants EP plucked strings, gongs, thunder luminary behind Tuff City Kids 06. YAK ‘Mido’ Version “Can’t beat a big tribal instrumental every now and then. Right in the spirit Brame & Hamo claps, tribal percussion, smooth, with Gerd Janson and Talamanca of ‘Samba One’ and those other great late ‘90s records.” 8.5 soul-soothing pads and a jazzy System with Mark Barrott, pulls 07. DC SALAS FEAT. JOY WELLBOY ‘Cala Falco (JMII’s 3AM Sligo's finest (well, these days wig-out over an epic 10-minutes. out his second release for 's Dub)’ Biologic they're residents of ) Brame Unsurprisingly, it's masterful. Futureboogie. 'Pile' is all about “Definitely a fan of this label and this track has stayed with us for a few & Hamo present the first release the moody arps and a snare months. Proper deep groover.” on their new, self-titled label Etienne De Crecy doused in reverb, giving it a murky 08. JAVI REDONDO ‘Heroin’ Correspondant “One of the standout cuts from Jennifer Cardini’s fantastic summer label following turns on the likes of After EP 2 EBM feel. By some contrast, the compilation. Cowbells at dawn.” Dirt Crew and Amsterdam's Heist. Pixadelic dirty machine music vibe is flipped 'Trants' opens the batting; a no- with 'Clipper', a shimmering 09. CANNIBAL INK ‘La Haine’ Ombra International 9.0 “I remember these guys in a previous alias, Voodoo Corporation, from the messing house stomper with wild, The inimitable Etienne de Crecy Balearic gem with some hidden Life Is parties in . Great vibe with a choice sample.” rattling 909 hats and some deep follows up his 'After EP 1' from acid, while 'Tyco' mashes up Kevin 10. DUSTY KID ‘Milk’ Systematic Recordings pads bringing the feelings. On the this summer with, logically, the Saunderson stabs with blissful “It’s just been re-released with , but the original still sounds as flip, 'Hurt You' is a girthsome, 'After EP 2' via his Pixadelic pads. fresh as it did 10 years ago. Beautiful melody.”

188 DJMAG.COM Send promos to BEN ARNOLD [email protected] Untitled-1 1 16/10/2017 14:00 REVIEWS>TECHNO

Peter Hoesen Nine At The Beginning QUICKIES Time To Express Steve Bicknell 9.0 Awakening The Past ‘Beginning’ is Van Hoesen’s third 6dimensions release on Time To Express this year, 9.0 and shows again that he excels The veteran techno DJ reissues tracks that at making both experimental and originally featured on the ‘Why? And For dancefloor techno. ‘Shapeshifting’ Whom?’ double-pack on Lost. Despite being 20 is a glistening, shimmering abstract years old, the material has not lost its lustre, piece, while ‘Concrete Variation’ with the snaking, powerful bass and wild sees the Belgian producer drop a filtering on ‘Physical Life’ impressing most. ticking, slow-motion percussive workout. Neither should The Hacker detract from his prowess at crafting Midnight Bliss club bombs — the bass-heavy, Bordello A Parigi rolling rhythm and mesmerising, 7.0 layered percussion on ‘Towards Veteran French producer The Hacker serves up Manifestation’ and the grainy, acid- a warm ’n’ squelchy electronic disco workout flecked stepper that is ‘Fox Tactics’ on the title track, but ‘Heavy Duty Disco’, which are among the finest contemporary centres on an insane Hoover bass and recalls his iterations of DJ-friendly techno. hardcore past, really impresses. Victor Hublot Radius New York veteran Joe Claussell central rhythm and dark waves Kess Kill 06 Obsolete Machines providing a remix of the jazzy of acid, while on the title track Kess Kill Echospace house grove and subtle guitar he opts for a militant four-four 7.5 8.0 of ‘Panamarama’. However, the rhythm, rolling snares and Rivet’s label delivers more left-of-centre Echospace marks its first release reason that this release discordant synth stabs. There’s sounds. Operating at the very fringes of of 2017 with a lost classic from on the techno page is on the no sign of musical elements on , the jittery rhythms, madcap Steve Hitchell’s Radius project. strenght of ‘Vyrgin Island’ the closing track either, with vocal samples and discordant noise on ‘On A Tue He had originally sent these itself. Warm bass licks, tight ‘Not Phased’ delivering rolling, No Pourcheau’ and ‘Piron Non Veut Non Dinser’ tracks to Rod Modell back in drums and cosmic keys combine robotic 808s and frosty synth are worthy of your attention. 2001 for possible use on the to take the listener back to a motifs. ‘Factory’ is as utilitarian label, but they were time in the early '90s when the as electro gets — don’t miss out CPSMITH never released and gathered line between on this dystopian trip. CPU dust in the vaults ever since. and from Chicago With tracks like the woozy was blurry and indistinct. The Anno Stamm ‘Ethersonic’ clocking in at over ambient ‘Flying Whales’ rounds Fragments B 16 minutes, the more stripped- off this classy release. All City back ‘Etherscapes’ resounding 8.0 to an ethereal sensibility and Blawan ‘B’ is Lars Stowe’s follow-up CV313’s evocative, wistful Nutrition to 2013’s ‘Fragments A’ on All takes on ‘Ethersonic’, this is an Ternsec City, and like its predecessor, is essential dub-techno record. 8.0 an unusual release. ‘La Viande’ ‘Nutrition’ is the latest release uses a deeply resonating bass Derek Carr on Blawan’s label and it rather as a backdrop for a mysterious Distant Systems effortlessly ties together synth that is looped through Firescope many of his influences. the arrangement. It’s a 8.5 First up is ‘Mayhem’, whose straightforward but nonetheless B12’s Firescope label yields subtle , ghostly highly distinctive track. On another great release, this time undercurrents and hypnotic 'Do Yoused To Go', he goes for from Derek Carr. The Irish artist chants showcase the effect the jugular as pounding kicks is enjoying a renewed surge in that hardcore has had on underpin psychedelic, dramatic popularity, and it’s not hard to the UK producer’s sound. stabs and a trapped-out vocal 01. JENSEN INTERCEPTOR ‘Carter’s Green Factory’ CPU understand why. ‘Artifice 2’ is ‘Trampelpfad’ is closely aligned sample, while ‘Pyramid Peach’ “Jensen Interceptor releases can always be found in my crate, this one a reflective piece of electronic to '90s techno, in particular the sees him shifting styles again to firmly joins them.” mood music, while ‘Terrahawk’ minimalism of Richie Hawtin, deliver a noisy, stepping track. 02. REEDALE RISE ‘Broken Land’ Where We Met and ‘3389’ are more playful, thanks to its skeletal rhythm. “Electro with added Amen break is always a winner.” resounding to warbling acid ‘Fawner’ sees Blawan opt for an R.Kitt 03. CCO ‘Space Colonization’ Photic Fields lines. Although ‘East Is East’ understated, minimal-house Jigsaw EP “Excellent acid throughout.” delivers a hypnotic groove track, led by a powerful low- Pear 04. SYNC 24 & PRIVACY ‘Hard To Tell’ Cultivated Electronics that revolves around a Juan end, while ‘Atlas’ and ‘Calcium 8.0 “Anything on Cultivated Electronics is an instabuy.” Atkins-inspired bass, there are Red’ are more conventional This is the debut release on a no obvious dancefloor tracks rolling techno grooves, the new label, Pear, and that’s one 05. RADIOACTIVE MAN ‘Luxury Sky Garden’ Asking For Trouble “Really strong album from the seasoned electro producer.” on ‘Systems’, but that’s not latter benefiting from crunchy of the reasons why it sounds so the point. As ‘Systems’ shows, drums and spooky bass sounds. wide-eyed and wonder-filled. 06. B12 ‘Electro Soma’ Carr inhabits a blissed-out The other factor is Robbie “One of my favourite , and an excuse to play it again.” dimension, free from such Jensen Interceptor Kitt’s ability to combine rickety 07. DATASSETTE ‘Metropolis Light Transport’ Rebel Intelligence earthly constraints. Carter’s Green Factory Chicago rhythms with melodies “Melodic electro from the very talented and consistent Datassette.” CPU that flit at the edge of the 08. AUTOMATIC TASTY ‘Magherabeg Beach’ Sleepers Panama Keys 7.5 easy-listening spectrum. This is “Favourite track from a superb EP of relaxed electronics.” Australian producer Jensen especially audible on the title Vyrgin Island EP 09. JOHN SHIMA ‘Contact’ Instruction Uzuri Interceptor follows up last track and ‘Dublin Is Bubblin’, “John can do no wrong at the moment.” 8.5 year’s debut on CPU with this where lo-fi keyboards chatter 10. THE EXALTICS ‘00045.00.2.6 (feat Rudolf Klorzeiger)’ Solar What a way for Panama Keys to no-nonsense release. ‘Glide frostily over a warm, Heard- One kick-start his catalogue, with Drexler’ is built around a steely style bass. Bodes well for Pear. “Cold, robotic electro, how it should be.”

190 DJMAG.COM Send promos to RICHARD BROPHY [email protected]

DJ575.Music-Techno.indd 190 12/10/2017 17:57 Untitled-1 1 21/08/2017 13:40 Untitled-1 1 16/10/2017 13:12 DJ LABEL REVIEWS>PROGRESSIVE/BIG ROOM Tuesday Maybe (Guy J QUICKIES Extended Remix) Sudhaus Anjunadeep

Raumklang EP 7. 0 WILTON Pic: DAN YONO ‘Tuesday Maybe’ is easily the most 8.0 emotional record on the new Way More polished excellence from the Sudhaus Out West album, and Guy J draws collaboration of and Moodfreak. It’s a on his unlimited well of excellence three-track affair that sees them loading up their for a remix that doesn’t pull its progressive with a hefty dose of techno. punches; proper old-school rolling progressive that rumbles properly & Teamworx for a good nine minutes, given Champion Sound extra grunt by a killer driving Protocol bassline that eventually storms 8.0 into the proceedings. Crowd-pleasing EDM that doesn’t overdo it in the cholesterol stakes. While it takes the predictable Highly Sedated route with its vocal sample, it kicks its goals with its Highly Sedated (Corey James stupendous percussive grooves. & Anckarstrom Remix) Size Records Bongbeck 7. 0 Winter (Monolink Remix) ’s Size label drops a Ton Töpferei remix that’s prepped sufficiently 9.0 for one of his mainstage sets, An emotive beauty from the German stable that while simultaneously drawing on slipped out over the summer and charmed its fair the thrills of driving progressive share of early morning dancefloors, this remix trance, given a little extra oomph doesn’t hesitate to turn its melodic appeal up to by the original’s vocal, which the max. shamelessly channels ’ Maxi in its monologue. DEZZA SPINNIN’ Denis Kenzo Somnambulist Armind 8.5 Gritty electro shrewdly packaged as mainroom trance, ‘Somnambulist’ is a tech-fuelled affair that will pack a devastating Square Miso Soup wallop when deployed amongst 17 Steps the fluffier material. Softening 8.5 things, the breakdown only serves It’s been already made abundantly clear that Dusky have what it to create a false sense of security takes to fashion a big, sweaty anthem for the peak of the party, and before Kenzo launches back into here unleash another of their straight-up rave records in the key the noise. A rare trance record of ‘Yoohoo’. The warehouse vibes are brought to the that turns heads with its electro forefront, with the duo channelling a slick rendition of early ‘90s chutzpah, the crowd definitely euphoria. All the elements are lined up neatly — swells of classic won’t see this one coming. synth strings, a diva vocal grab and most important of all, the arrival

01. DEZZA ‘Escapist’ ZeroThree of an Italo piano after the break. However, it’s all in the execution “Very happy with this one, probably my biggest release of 2017 so far. I & Alastor and Dusky show they’re got that nailed. have been trying to release a record with ZeroThree for over a year now. This one is on the ‘Unified 06’ EP!” Someday Black Hole 02. YOTTO ‘Edge Of Affection’ Anjunadeep “Have had this one on repeat since the last Anjunadeep compilation 9.0 inventive novelty record that progressive core. H3 does a great dropped, now it’s finally available on Yotto’s ‘North’ EP on Anjunadeep.” German stalwarts Cosmic Gate recalls the crossover house records job of drawing on the techier tone the trance theatrics down that cracked the radio in the late elements to create a formidably 03. ROLO GREEN ‘Napier’ “Huge fan of Rolo’s music, an amazing debut for him on Anjuna with for a moment on their new album, ‘90s. He’s also allowed the luxury huge sound. ‘Napier’ — top record!” with a record that channels a of calling upon an impressive cast 04. MARTIN EYERER AND PATRICK deeper progressive , in of young producers to offer their Tiger Stripes CHARDRONNET ‘Frequencies’ the process showing how much own take, with Arkham Knights Destroyer “Always good to have some techno heat in the record box!” raw energy they’re still able to offering a thundering percussion- Drumcode 05. DEZZA & LEE FRASERSPINNIN ‘Safari’ Spinnin’ Records summon in the studio. ‘Someday’ filled interpretation that holds 7. 5 “The first of a few collabs from us on Spinnin’. Keep your ears open for more from Lee and myself, and also some dope solo records from Lee too!” is surely the record that will back until the peak of the build- Drumcode continues its journeys stand head and shoulders above up, when its tribal thunder is outside the realm of purist techno, 06. KOLONIE ‘Torn Vision’ ZeroThree the cheesier fare. Tweaked for unleashed in full. a trend captured perfectly in this “Also on ZeroThree’s ‘Unified 06’ release, he killed it with this one. When I first heard it I was a bit worried that it would overshadow my own maximum dramatic impact, its standout from its recent ‘A-Sides ‘Escapist’! Can’t wait to hear more from these guys!” drop back into an electro drum H3 Vol. 6’ compilation, which boasts 07. SPENCER BROWN ‘Always Do You (Richard Knott break after the build-up delivers Black Hole brash stadium sounds that are Remix)’ Anjunabeats particular impact. Alter Ego/Freegrant impossible to ignore. Grounded “A tough job remixing the original, but Richard Knott makes it look easy!” 8.0 by a stomping kick, Tiger Stripes 08. DEZZA ‘DejaVu’ Silk A dark slice of big-room takes his vocal sample and shreds “My contribution to ‘Silk Music Showcase 06’. So excited for this compilation to drop on 6th November!” This Is A Test (Arkham progressive from Max Freegrant’s it beyond recognition, and to Knights Remix) label that takes a more brooding hypnotic effect. This leads towards 09. KAMIL ESTEN ‘Bloom’ Elliptical Sun Melodies path to its powerful sounds, an icy techno melody that arrives “I love the progression in this record. Top-quality production as well!” 9.0 leveraging deep and a in an early breakdown, before 10. DEZZA ‘Would U’ Colorize Armin taps his instantly tight rhythmic drive to create its he launches back with extra “When I met Jono Grant from Above & Beyond backstage at ABGT250 he specifically told me how much he liked this record. A very memorable recognisable momentum before unravelling momentum. moment!” voice actor Jack Roberts for an things to reveal its melodic

Send promos to ANGUS THOMAS PATERSON [email protected] DJMAG.COM 193

DJ575.Music-Electro.indd 193 12/10/2017 17:46 REVIEWS>DISCO

of lengthy, 10-minute-plus tracks, both ‘Higher Moment’ and ‘’ have a steady, QUICKIES almost improvised groove, over Burnin Beat feat. Olive Masinga which vocalist Richard Youngs It's Hot sets a melancholic mood. Afrosynth 10 Various Artists This gorgeous, to-die-for, mid-tempo disco Ombra INTL 004 heart-breaker that was originally released in Ombra International South Africa in 1979 finally gets a reissue! 7.5 /Curses' Luca Heatwave Venezia primes release number The Mike Maurro Remixes Vol. 2 four on his Ombra International Brookside label with a global selection of 8.0 artists contributing. Snarling Added production shine from MM on two EBM, death-disco, post-punk funk/disco classics from the legendary and minimal synth music from Heatwave 'The Groove Line' from 1977 and their Russia, UK, and evergreen slow-jam 'Always And forever'. served up icy cool on this & Love Of Life Orchestra promising new label. Bagarre Box Of Wolves Condo Perdue’s rough-edged punk Skyscraper Foom dub ‘Cowboy’ takes a cue from Electronic Rumours 9.5 Siouxsie Sioux and updates the 5.5 The brilliant Foom label focuses in again on rare material from Banshees sound, while Spain’s Oddly named electro-pop outfit aim high with no-wave troupe, Love of Life Orchestra, helmed by East Village Sutja Gutierrez works the this stadium-sized disco tune. Mighty Mouse avant-gardist, Peter Gordon. Following on from previously slower, psychedelic new-wave remixes a clean disco-trance version. unreleased gem ‘Winter’/’Summer’, issued in 2016 (featuring cut, ‘Great Chain of Being’. In Love of Life Orchestra’s David Van Tieghem), this expanded issue accompaniment, Mondowski’s of ‘Condo’ assembles tracks from a rare 12” release of 1982, deathrock/goth-disco number JORI HULKKONEN including three other unreleased tracks from sessions of that is a rousing addition next to the MY FAVORITE ROBOT time. Commendable archival sleuthing from a label that casts deadpan coldwave of ‘Wires Go a net wide enough to release material from the likes of Bruno Golden’ by Seven Wires. Pronsato and Oliver Coates, to Rhys Chatham and Peter Zummo — an essential purchase for any fans of the post-punk/art rock/ Ozo disco-not-disco scene of the early '80s. Anambra Isle Of Jura 8.5 Dub Oven release, however, is a mix from Dedicated archivists, Isle Of Skin ‘N’Bones Craig Bratley who gives the lead Jura, go deep and rediscover Music From Memory track a bit of extra bite with this cult Afro-trance gem from 9.5 some barbed acid bass. ‘76 that was a favourite of David Reliable and consistent reissue/ Mancuso’s at his legendary Loft new release team, Music From Roe Deers & Curses parties. During the mid '70s Memory, have dug a little Fade Away this UK ensemble experimented deeper than the rest of the La Belle with jazz, soul, reggae and pack over their four years of 8.0 later disco, but their mythical being. Abel Nagengast, Jamie Magic Feet, Omnidisc and Nein ‘Anambra’, with its Nyabinghi 01. STEP TIME ORCHESTRA ‘2am In Africa’ Fly By Night Music Tiller and Sombreo Galaxy’s Records regulars, Roe Deers, drums and Buddhist mantra, “One of my sideprojects with my friend Tuomas Salmela, it’s our first under Tako Reyenga have focused run an unusual collaborative created the legacy amongst this guise in 15 years. Deep jazzy house.” in on otherwordly music of a experiment in new wave and Balearic music enthusiasts 02. SPARKS ‘Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me) (Jori Hulkkonen forgotten era originating from post-punk music with Luca and ravers looking for a more Mixes)’ BMG the likes of Brazil, the Balearics, Venezia’s Curses project. Mixing spiritual experience on the “Two very different mixes of the legendary band’s stand-out track from their latest album ‘Hippopotamus’; one for the dancefloors, and the other the and beyond. up brittle Badalamenti-style dancefloor. This reissue is for the afterparty.” Their latest is an indispensable guitar strokes with hooks that complete with their later tune 03. MYTRON & OFOFO Si Jambo Multi Culti reissue of a completely obscure sounds like the Pop Group or The ‘Anambra River’, in which Studio “One of my favourite labels at the moment delivers again with another 12”, a “white boy funk"/tropical Slits. Of this style, Roe Deers One heads will recognise the bongo-filled deep journey.”

dub nugget from San Franciscan are making some of the more borrowed melody from The 04.  ‘Woke’ Turbo act Dub Oven interesting and ‘Fade Away’ is a Gaylads’ anthem, 'Africa’. “Something I co-wrote and produced with Tiga. Love the sax in , that’s the real payoff on this track.” (recorded in ‘83), who were strong release, aided by Curses’ affiliated with West Coast synth charismatic vocal. The brilliant Dan Shake 05. JORI HULKKONEN ‘Breen Fantasy’ (My Favorite Robot) “Perhaps my favourite track to play out currently from my forthcoming punk group, Voice Farm. Jonathan Kusuma remixes and Shake's On A Plane album ‘Don’t Believe In Happiness’; deep house with a hint of .” stretches out the titles tune into Lumberjacks In Hell 06. RED7 ‘Lost My Shoes On Acid’ White Label Max Essa a linear, hypnotic EBM version. 8.5 “This has been around for a while, but for some reason me and a bunch of Sekko Mekko/Aestival Dan Shake’s new filtered other people started playing this again this summer. And why not, it’s the Is It Balearic? Recordings AMOR disco juggernaut rolls in perfect party track.” 8.0 Higher Moment/Amnesia on Lumberjacks In Hell. 07. THE BEAT ESCAPE ‘Moon In Aquarius’ Bella Union Night School “Beautiful, melancholic synthpop from Montreal. Their forthcoming album Balearic ambassador Max Essa Compressed, catchy loops is quality all the way thru, this being one of the more instant tracks — finds an appropriate platform to 7.5 and clattering production is hence it will be a single. Oh, I did mix the album.” release these two mid-tempo, Glaswegian indie label Night reminiscent of early Sneak-style 08. WILLIE COLON ‘Set Fire To Me (Inferno Dub)’ A&M cosmic gems on. Working with School sets up a second release output. It may not have the “A record that hasn’t left my bag for some 20 years, but again this summer his usual palette of marimba for avant-disco/art-rock dizzying production savvy of Red it also got quite a few plays. Pure class.” and dreamy electronic strings, group, AMOR, who, since their Rack'em’s ‘ Bassline…’, 09. JAAKKO AUKUSTI ‘Moon Tower (Jori Hulkkonen Remix)’ Vild “Another track I remixed, and another track with ‘moon’ in the title. Essa fashions poolside disco spellbinding debut, have been but the simple approach of Lunacy!” music on ‘Aestival’ and classy drawing comparisons to Arthur ‘Shake's On A Plane’ captures sunrise/sunset business with Russell’s Dinosaur L project, that simple disco and house 10. TIGA & ZYNTHERIUS ‘Get Rich’ Keys Of Life “Surely the most bizarre record I’ve put out, not just this year, but perhaps the melodic ‘Sekko Mekko’. and even Kid essence. Solid party material. ever. We recorded this in 2010 but for some reason released it this year. Providing a little edge to the Creole. Sticking with a formula 7” vinyl only.”

194 DJMAG.COM Send promos to JONATHAN BURNIP [email protected]

DJ575.Music-Disco.indd 194 16/10/2017 16:51 Untitled-1 1 16/10/2017 14:04 REVIEWS>TECH-HOUSE

Mundane Abandoned EP (Silky and QUICKIES Barber Remixes) Hermanez Faceless Recordings Fabel EP 10 Celesta Recordings Faceless Records' founders, 7. 5 Silky and Barber, remix a track Gracing AJ Christou's high-flying Celesta is the each from Mundane's latest Belgian producer, Hermanez. He delivers two EP. Barber's reworking of originals; the atmospheric and otherworldly mood the title track, 'Abandoned', of 'Fabel'; and the rolling, modulating vocal tech of is highly active on the 'TAO'. Joey Daniel and Caleb Calloway remix 'Fabel' production front with a killer respectively. Joey's is deep and rolling, and Caleb's synth line, beginning playful is a pacey, drum-focused trip. before emerging as a deadly breakdown component. The Dead Space & Dateless tight, sub-bass holds it all In The Mood EP together and will shatter New Violence Records dancefloors. Silky takes on 9.0 'Future Sensations' and deals New Violence Records turn in their 59th release, out a rolling groove masterclass. drafting the American pairing of Dead Space and Bubbling low-end supports, Dateless for a seriously heady, two-track EP, which pin-point accurate percussion includes remixes from DJ Frontier, and Fancy Inc & layers, while a muted siren-like Hippocoon. All four offerings are brilliant here. stab will send you tripping for... ever. Two ends of the spectrum, Mella Dee one amazing outcome. Techno Disco Tool EP Warehouse Music 9.5 Nandu Prog, remixed by Andre Salmon titled 'Tactics', it is, in fact, simply Disco-sampled house music at techno speed that The Lights (Echonomist and Jonny Cruz. Aert supplies a nod to a V/A release on Tact in takes no prisoners. This release from Mella Dee will remix) three off-kilter originals; the 2012. 'Avenoir' suits the club; tear down the (ware)house. He offers the high- Scatcity sci-fi trip of 'Elixir'; the haunting 'Granular Movements', the after- energy 'Techno Disco Tool', a slightly deeper but no 8.0 'Realm'; and chaotic, driving hours; and the break-beating less pounding 'Cloud One', and rounds off with the Having built up pedigree in the synth-tech of 'Time Machine'. 'Hexad' feels like it could warm a percussion assault of 'World Dance'. melodious end of deep and techy Andre Salmon deconstructs room up a treat. house, the promising Copenhagen 'Realm' to an even more sullen AUSTEN/SCOTT artist, Nandu, joins Berlin's version of itself, while Johnny Cruz Jhonsson DANSE CLUB Scatcity roster with his latest EP. gives a surprisingly big-room refix Moving On/Mantra Though here, it's the Echonomist of 'Time Machine' that plays up Kenja Records remix of the title-track which the weird FX, vox-murmurs, and 8.5 steals the show. Echonomist textured, reverberating percussion The latest Kenja signee, Jhonsson, manages to maintain all of the to gloriously dark effect. Just, proves why he's being talked original's broodiness but add wow! of so highly within the scene by much-needed energy, while dropping this double A-side slice injecting a technoid edge that Lehar of energising tech-house. 'Moving makes it both danceable and Picture On' is a heated exchange of excitingly tense. The EP as a whole Diynamic rhythmic low-end, FX, builds and is a delight, but this remix shines 8.5 drops; perfect for the peak hours. brightest and must be heard. Diynamic's new series presents 'Mantra' is a synth-stabbing roller, one artist per edition to showcase full of long transitioning pads and Ceri an “artist’s current creative output emerging atmospherics. A few Life Holstee EP in order to allow the listener to more like this under his belt and Find Your Own visualise and understand the artist he'll be the name on everyone's 8.5 at a certain moment”. PR fluff out lips. Go get it! Ceri launches her new label, Find of the way, it’s basically a long EP/ 01. AUSTEN/SCOTT ‘Somewhere In His Heart’ Danse Club Your Own, and sets the bar high short LP (six tracks), from Italian Black Girl/White Girl “This is the lead track from our debut album, coming soon!” supplying the first release — which producer, Lehar, who supplies a No Beef EP Roush 02. RØDHÅD ‘Glimmer Of Light’ Dystopian includes a Fred P reshape — a club- truly magnificent array of deeper, “That groove at one minute is outrageous. Just bumps.” ready offering of dark and rolling melodious house and techno. 8.5 tech-house. The title track is Opening track, 'Dreams' steals The Amsterdam-based duo’s 03. SEBASTIAN MULLAERT ‘Samunnati (Wa Wu Wu Simplifica- tion)’ Default Position inspired by the Holstee Manifesto, the show with its undulating, reputation is snowballing. With “Simplicity and groove at its best.” with elements of the inspirational arpeggiating synth pattern their latest EP they return to 04. A. BREHME ‘Tzotzil’ Form and Function text sliced up and woven into this and tear-jerker melody. This is Roush, though this time achieving “The distorted tom just doesn’t let you go until the track is over.” bass-heavy roller. Fred P reshapes definitely one to check out. a deserved solo EP of three tracks the original with a deeper sub but titled, ‘No Beef’. The lead track 05. LAUHAUS ‘Smoke Screen’ Danse Club “Lauhaus’ fifth EP on our label and it’s a vinyl-only heater.” adds ethereal chords that give an Yard One of the same name is a jaunty and altogether airy quality. All in all, Tactics Vol. 2 hypnotic club-focused cut. 06. WAREIKA & SONG ZHI QI ‘Watching The Stars’ The Flying Tactics Circus this is a superb debut release. Upping the energy on ‘Boo Boo’, “A deep, grooving, spaced-out trip.” 8.0 they opt for a no-nonsense groove This Tact Recordings sub-label with a driving, disco-tinged 07. ALDEN TYRELL ‘Vorm Varieties 2’ Clone Bassment Series Aert Prog “We love the vibe on this one.” Elixir takes aim with a debut effort from bassline. And with ‘Cosmic Rays’ Sagmen Yard One, comprised of three they round off the package in 08. STEFFI ‘Schools Of Thought’ Ostgut Ton “Deep and gnarly with a , perfect for a late-night closing set.” 9.5 minimalistic, stripped-back house style with a solid Aert Prog and Andre Salmon cuts, setting the required tone for construct, elevated by an acidic 09. DUPLEX ‘Voidfiller’ Dolly Deluxe launch new label, Sagmen, and this vinyl-only off-shoot. Although breakdown, and space-inspired “Straight-up energy and the main sound is insane!” absolutely nail their first release the release title may suggest this effects, transitions, rolls and fills. 10. EXOS ‘Hnjask’ X/OZ with an EP titled 'Elixir', from Aert is the second edition from a series “Deep chords, kick and a hat, what’s not to love?”

196 DJMAG.COM Send promos to LEON CLARKSON [email protected]

DJ575.Music-Tech House.indd 196 16/10/2017 15:16 Untitled-1 1 16/10/2017 14:33 REVIEWS>GRIME

their inclusion on Radar sets and the like. QUICKIES Krept & Konan Merky Ace Wo Wo Wo Personality Cult Virgin EMI Tizzy Gang 7.0 7. 5 Not content with just the one Merky Ace’s new eight-track project recruits mixtape, Krept & Konan are the production skills of , Kokane and putting in double the work and Southside JB, and has the Lewisham MC going in dropping two simultaneously with his signature raw style. — ‘7 DAYS’ and ‘7 NIGHTS’. Intended to reflect the different AJ Tracey sounds of Casyo Johnson and Secure The Bag! Karl Wilson (aka K&K), the icy AJ Tracey ‘Wo Wo Wo’ is a trap-inflected 9.0 slice of coldness that sees the We’ve sung AJ’s praises enough times on these rap don duo on their A-game. pages, but the eight-track ‘Secure The Bag’ is the work of an MC ready to take over. Showcasing his versatility, as well as a host of high-profile pals, Tell Me feat. & this’ll take him to the next level. Jahlani Polydor Dark0 7.0 Xenotype Wretch 32’s new one is all about Self-released the musical reference points. 7. 5 Sampling Whitney Houston's There’s traces of in this technicolour-as-ever Young Spray ‘It's Not Right’, Wretch eschews EP from Dark0, who absolutely leads the pack in Miss Me With That feat. Prez T a grime beat for an of-the- terms of rave-led, ambient sounds that burst at the RTM Records moment vibe, while seams with energy. 9.0 also quoting ’s UKG Road rap originator Young Spray springs back into action after a classic ‘Imagine’ and Chaka AVELINO quiet period, gearing up to release his ‘Invisible Tears’ project that Demus’ ‘Murder She Wrote’. It’s MORE MUSIC promises collabs with an array of grime's hardest, from the latest drop from his ‘F R 32’ through to Giggs. The veteran MC, who's been responsible for a LP, which sees the celebrated series of formative mixtapes, comes over all CASisDEAD with his flow, MCs flirt with a range of styles. alongside a very welcome cameo from fellow North Londoner Prez T ("Big in Stoke / Big in / So much bars / Never had a stroke"). Star.One And, wait — is that Gordon Ramsay in the video!? We Run The Show (Star.One x Asher D x ) 3 Beat Reece West from Charli XCX collaborator 6.0 3D EP Fred Gibson — ‘Lemme At Em’ “Take it back, late ‘90s ‘n’ all Ten West Group is unfortunately let down by its that,” Asher D fittingly starts 8.0 energetic but nonetheless basic this track with, harking back Hotly tipped by the likes of beat. to So Solid’s heyday and a Sian Anderson as the next time when they dominated the generation, North London’s RoxXxan charts. The veteran MC-turned- Reece West has been showing Crud actor spits alongside P Money, heaps of promise, shutting Backpack Gang over a garage beat cooked down radio left, right and 8.0 up by Star.One — complete centre. New EP ‘3D’ is his One of the (unfortunately) with plucked strings and siren mission statement — named so few female grime voices in a samples. While it’s hardly the as to show three dimensions crowd of male MCs, RoxXxan most innovative track to emerge to the MC. It includes standout has no problem standing out. this month, it’s something the single ‘Arsene Wenger’, which That said, the London-via- new gen as well as nostalgic lines up the stellar pack of MC delivers more oldies will surely lap up. 01. SKEPTA ‘Hypocrisy’ Discarda, Yizzy and more as energy than most of her peers “New vibes from the legend, Skepta.” guests, plus there’s a remix in the game, and brings rifle- Giggs 02. WRETCH 32 ‘Tell Me feat. Jahlani & Kojo Funds’ Polydor of Artan’s Afrobeats-leaning touting ferocity on ‘Crud’, where Wamp 2 Dem “This one’s feel-good, makes me want to enjoy myself.” ‘Opposite Interests’. Old guard, she demands “I want Ps, I want Island 03. PARTYNEXTDOOR ‘Damage’ OVO Sound make way. stacks” over a teeth-gritting 9.0 “From his new project ‘Seven Days’ — someone I would want to work with Mikey J production. If you were itching to know in the future.” what Giggs spitting at a ballet Abra Cadabra 04. KREPT & KONAN ‘Wo Wo Wo’ Virgin EMI Lemme At Em (feat. Burna Filthy Gears might sound like, the intro to “New one from the K&K album. I’m looking forward to it.” Boy, Jelani & Fred) Treason EP ‘Wamp 2 Dem’ samples ‘Dance 05. JHENÉ AIKO ‘Sativa feat. Swae Lee’ Def Jam Universal Slimzos Recordings Of The Sugar Plum Fairies’ from “This was a standout track for me from her new project, ‘Trip’.” 5.5 7.0 The Nutcracker. It’s good to see 06. SZA ‘Supermodel’ Top Dawg Entertainment Abra Cadabra’s work rate is Filthy Gears is a producer Hollowman make his return, “AMAZING!” insane at the minute, and his for whom the description following last year’s ‘Landlord’ 07. AJ TRACEY ‘Quarterback’ AJ Tracey numbers are starting to reflect ‘prolific’ doesn’t fully do justice (and some bars on ’s ‘More “I get AJ and his vibe. I’m feeling it.” that — his last drop earned (seriously, his body of work Life’). This mixtape features him a million views in just two is crazy). Latest EP ‘Treason’ a showstopping selection of 08.  ‘Fisherman feat. Mist & Mostack’ Black Butter “His waviest tune is called ‘Fisherman’. Makes sense.” weeks. For such a huge roll call arrives on Slimzee’s label and international guests (, of artists — the triple vocal is five straight-up cuts of the Young Thug) but it’s the South 09. PARTYNEXTDOOR ‘Bad Intentions’ OVO Sound attack of Abz No Problem, kind of hard-as-nails, dramatic London rapper who justifies his “A smooth listen.” Nigeria’s and Jelani instrumentals that will probably cult following on this confident 10. POST MALONE ‘Rockstar feat. 21 Savage’ Blackman, plus production have your ears pricking up for mixtape. Mmmm! “One of them melodies I wish I’d created (laughs).”

198 DJMAG.COM Send promos to FELICITY MARTIN [email protected] REVIEWS>DRUM & BASS

The Vanguard QUICKIES Project North Base U MK ME FEEL I'm Forgiving Love Spearhead Records Technique 8.5 8.0 If you didn’t already Commercially accessible piano chord know The Vanguard progressions, horns and a repetitive, catchy Project is a collaboration vocal paired with an insanely high-energy between label boss BCee modulated sub, which twists and throws itself and label regular Villem, into the forefront. A perfect of how to and we can honestly we crossover without losing authenticity. say we’d loved everything they’ve produced so far. Tweakz ‘U MK ME FEEL’ is no dif- Curtains ferent. Infectious beats Syncopix Records and soulful melodies, 8.5 this is drum & bass at its Absolutely beautiful — soft shimmering best. The track is centred shakers laden with crispy highs and delicate around perfectly crisp, ethereal pads. Topped with haunting synths rolling amens and a and a stunning vocal, and finished with a warm warm, beckoning, under- barely-there sub. Fine new-age liquid. stated bass, but it's the gloriously uplifting piano Calibre feat. DRS chord progression and Sunrise soft echoing vocal which Signature bring this track to life. 9.0 An awesome pairing for a track about an afterparty. Calibre’s perfect understanding of Oddsoul various artist compilation ‘Raw and a gorgeous vocal sample music translates into the beautifully soft chords Take No More Cuts’. Tephra and Arkose head from the wonderful Angie and rolling shuffles, while DRS’s conscious Celsius Recordings up the release with a fast, dark Stone (‘I Wish I Didn’t Miss You singing makes for hands-in-the-air moments. 8.0 dancefloor roller, starting Anymore’), it’s an absolute If you were at school during the in the midst of a futuristic, stunner. After this beauty of early noughties, there is no way dystopian atmosphere with a debut, we’re excited to hear FD that you won't love this song. robotic glitches and devilishly release number two. THE NORTH QUARTER The vocal is taken from Ashanti’s scary breaths, before a mutated R&B classic 'Foolish'. The music twisting bassline and sharp Macky Gee itself is a combination of gritty breaks descend the mix. Sparkz Tour tech with metallic clicks and provides the near-continuous Elevate robotic beeps, and soft rolling vocal with all the swag and 7.5 liquid with atmospheric strings humour of a good Northern MC After the track spent the and melancholic pads. Matching — this one’s a killer. summer tearing down festivals the lyrical content beautifully, and floors, 360 kingpin Friction the track is a juxtaposition of G Dub has released one of jump-up's emotions with sub at its heart, Back In Business biggest tunes of the year on his moving from angry and sombre Playaz Elevate label. Staying true to to radiant and uplifting. 6.5 the sound of modern jump-up, 01. ANILE ‘Allergens (Bop Remix)’ Med School The wait is over, people! This 'Tour' is as loud, energetic “The original of this was a firm fave of mine, as you just know that whenever you play it, carnage will ensue. This update from Bop, although quite true Ethos track has been flying about for and ear-damaging as it needs to the original, does just what the original did — take the roof off.” Injustice years, and despite the fact that to be. However, the bass has a none60 02.  PROSE ‘Trick Of The Light’ Soul:R on his radio show Hype once floor-filling-type melody and “An absolute beauty. It perfectly encompasses what his music is about — a 8.0 said it would never be released, the addition of the odd pad and simple but exceedingly graceful and beautiful piano hook builds and builds, allowing you to take the listener away to another place. Never fails.” Although relatively new, this here it is rearing its dark and housey vocals allows this track Bristol duo are turning all the ugly head on his label. 'Back In to transfer easily to a more 03. MARK SYSTEM ‘Point Of Reference’ White Label “This guy is just a G. I’m not sure many other people can make a tune that right heads, staying true to the Business’ is fast, hard-hitting varied floor. basically doesn’t have a drop, it’s pretty much the opposite, and still if you rich musical culture of their city. and aggressive, with a classic place it right, the party goes off. Such a brilliant track.” Ethos’ music expertly blends jump-up drum pattern and Ed:it 04. FD ‘Ice Cream’ The North Quarter jungle heritage with future breaks; the shock for The Junction “It’s Tyler Daly on the vocals, and it was such a pleasure to work with him Shogun Audio — a consummate professional, and what a vocal! I was happy with the tune vibes. ‘Injustice’ is shrouded us is the use of the new school, before but the vocal just lifts it to another place.” in a blanket of crackling white pneumatic drill-esque jump-up 8.0 05. LSB ‘Tripped’ Soul:R noise and breathy echoes, but sound for the track's main Ed:it’s style gels so beautifully “Wicked track from LSB here — a long, brooding, building intro and forcing their way through are melody. with the Shogun ethos, so it’s stepped-out synthetic drums build and build. He then further levels it up midway through the track — pops off.” crashing jungle breaks with no surprise to us to see the the bass nestled deeply below. Phil:osophy lad’s third release 06. ULTERIOR MOTIVE & DLR ‘The Rungler’ Guidance “Pure analogue modular dirt from these boys. I can only imagine how nerdy Although there’s a lot going Dissipate on the imprint. Effortlessly this session must’ve got, but thank god it did! A total roller, and goes off!” on on the percussion side, the Integral Records fusing a glitchy techy vibe with track’s energy is calm with soft an emotive liquid roller to us, 07. TOTAL SCIENCE & MAKO ‘Simple Truth’ Utopia 8.0 “Simple but killer bassline that sounds huge in the club, alongside overly pads and lulling harps. We’re always up for new and ‘The Junction’ is a perfectly loud mentasms, effects and wicked vocals; proper deep roller.” interesting collabs, especially balanced track. At its heart are 08. FD ‘Stripped (Jubei Remix)’ Warm Communications Tephra & Arkoze feat ones so wittily named! Enter fast, sharp breaks, surrounded “Another really useful mixing tool, a great way to change the mood and transfer to another vibe. Love those kind of tunes — Jubei killed it on this.” Sparkz Phil:ospohy is the paring of by short, deep, modulated bass. Deep Fried Phil Tangent and Philth, two The layer of lulling liquid is 09. SATL ‘Dreamworld’ Integral Records Vandal Records of the scene's most highly made through a combination of “Satl is coming with more and more beautiful bangers, and this just really holds a groove for me and let’s you keep building a vibe.” 8.0 respected producers amongst softer pads and the beautifully Vandal always come with the peers. This debut release soulful and beguilingly 10. FD ‘Always Something feat. Fox’ The North Quarter “Fox absolutely killed it with these vocals, as soon as I heard the chorus I goods, returning with the doesn’t disappoint; soft pads, haunting manipulated vocal. knew he was onto something.” second instalment of their a collection of shuffling beats,

Send promos to WHISKY KICKS [email protected] DJMAG.COM 199 REVIEWS>BREAKS

bassline-vibed tip that makes full use of Benton's killer vocal. The drop will have 'em bouncing in QUICKIES the place, but there's a cultured Nathassia insouciance to this engineer + Light Of The World (Jay Robinson Dub) MC combo that suggests the pair Inter-Dimensional Recordings could stick around when many of 9.0 their peers have long since melted Here's a rare broken-beat number from the away. inimitable Jay Robinson, who reworks Nathassia's original into a typically minimalistic, sinewy Pressa workout that dispenses with most of the vocal and Metropolis EP instead plays up the raw b-line brutalism. Top Drawer Digital 9.5 Commission & Vanilla Ace Not sure if Londoner Pressa's Hard and Cruel feat. Asha (Francois & Louis glittering new EP is inspired Benton Remix) by the classic 1927 Fritz Lang Millennial Records sci-fi movie about a sexed-up 8.5 robot who goes on the rampage Brummie badboys Francois & Louis Benton take (Weimar Republic was the original's angelic vocal house themes and Tru Fonix an interesting place to say the rinse out a dose of devilish bassline bravado that's In The Corner feat. Stush least), but every track here is guaranteed to keep them moving in the dance. Punks Music machine-honed to within an inch Steamy beats for the 3am massive. 9.5 of its life. 'Back Bend' recalls the This is just on fire. Blending broken-beat mechanics with digital soulfulness of mid-'90s BREAKSMAFIA Stush's lively vocal stylings, 'In the Corner' has all the good drum & bass, while 'Perdu Dans SELECTA BREAKS stuff: clippy snares, rudist bass and an absolutely sick drop featuring ' is an exercise in cultured the most unexpected vocal -up. It even has time to throw in muscularity; a classy little rave-up an old skool cowbell loop and sirens for good measure. A booming, that showcases a spectacular instantly unforgettable blend of upfront and classic knack with programmed and vibes. sampled breakbeats. Completing the selection, 'Those Rollers' is a silky trip into surprising four-four North Pollard out. Title track 'Fiesta' throws territory; a Reese-fuelled tribute Start Again (Common in a firing kick and clap riddim, to the halcyon days of 1993 when Underground Mix) ultra-funky synth-work and even 140bpm first ruled the White some piano and organ trade-offs roost. 8.5 for good measure, while 'Give It Aussie duo Common Underground All' is a 2-steppy little number cut Tyler Clacey send down a lissom, heady slice through with diva vox, a full piano Vicious Cycle EP of cultured bass music with a progression and rowdy bass on Broken Records heavy techno influence. This one the drop. 'Playing' sends down 8.5 is all about the slow-building pitch-processed vocals, percussive Rowdy B-Boy bass music here from crescendos that rise and rise synths and moody low-end, while Leicester's Tyler Clacey, one half before crashing down into a wash 'Rain' opts for a tougher bassline of currently-hyped duo, Midnight of synthy goodness. Lovely stuff. approach on the drop, with intros Phulin, striking out on his own. and breakdowns centred on yet 'Dodgin Fedz' riffs off a looped Tony Quattro another flourish of keyboardwork rap vocal, then throws thunderous Metafour EP and vocal gorgeousness. This is kick patterns and brooding low- Main Course hugely classy stuff from a mad end into the mix for an effortless 9.5 talent. of ghetto cool. 'Hold Me' New York's Tony Quattro is all plumps for atmospheric vocals and 01. WES SMITH ‘Give It To Em (BreaksMafia Remix)’ Juice about the jazzy Latin attitude here Mikey B gnarly b-line menace over two- Recordings on opener 'Brookstown Bamba' — Evolution Album Sampler steppy breakbeats, while title track “Fun rhythms, groovy basslines, samples from old rave era. This is TOP, baby.” sax samples, whistles and rolling Second To None 'Vicious Cycle' sort of wanders off bass setting off some sick ghetto 9.0 a little into wigged-out weirdness. 02. D-WAYNE & CROSSNADERS ‘Drop It Low’ Wolv Records “What a song they have made, this duo — it has everything and is a very vocal samples. 'Igbese', featuring Two radically contrasting cuts Still, there's more than enough effective track for the dancefloor.” Nigerian MC Magugu, plumps for here from the man Mikey B's here to suggest that it will be 03. DJ FIXX ‘Roll It Up (BreaksMafia Remix)’ Illeven Eleven similarly percussive territory, new album. 'Firing Shots' is worth keeping an ear on Clacey's “Always a pleasure to work for our friends Fixx and Keith MacKenzie.” Quattro's synth licks and b-line grime-y, rudist bassline action, solo efforts. grooves sitting pretty over four- the producer hitting us with a 04. BREAKSMAFIA ‘Bass Trap’ Selecta Breaks “We like to think of our fans, we know they like it and that’s why we do four beats. 'The Boy Who Cried barrage of wonky wobble vibes, Bushbaby darker subjects. We love Spain.” Wolf' is a brooding, muscular Afro- while 'Love Me For Who I am' is Mitsuko ‘Remember feat. PSG’ Selecta Breaks Broken Records 05. BREAKSMAFIA tinged drum workout; while 'Tiger your standard 2-step vocal garage “Old and new vibes, accompanied by the voice of PSG, one of the best Paw', featuring ADY, adds trappy anthem, elevated to something 8.5 UKG MCs.” synth hits and half-heard vocal more interesting by B's intelligent Here's a darkling slice of 06. CHRIS ROYAL ‘Apex’ Klub Kids shouts into the mix. A bravura pitch-processing, killer breaks and ferociously curdled “Supporting other labels and artists is important to us. ‘Apex’ has it all and we love it.” exercise in eclectic, street-level classy string/key combos. On the from 's Bushbaby, tribalism. evidence here, the full LP should all fizzing b-line energy and 07. BREAKSMAFIA ‘Hit The Ground feat. Ivory’ Selecta Breaks “We’re working with loads of vocalists right now. This one sees Ivory create certainly be worth a listen. washed out, heavily-reverbed an anthem that’s getting loads of support.” Moony synthwork, half-heard snatches of 08. QUADRAT BEAT ‘Jump (BreaksMafia Remix)’ Selecta Breaks Fiesta EP Francois & Louis vocal and relentless drum work. “We like to work and contribute our vision to great works by our Four 40 Benton Brutal, intense and gloriously international friends.” Hype atmospheric, it's the soundtrack 9.5 09. REEBS ‘Back Again (Extended Mix)’ Klash Records It's the jazzy keyboard licks and Hot Cakes Bass to your freakishly disturbed “In our set we look for different music and changes of rhythms. We like knack for silky chord progressions 9.0 nightmares about bathing in a oddities, and this track we like a lot.” that make this latest EP from Midlands duo Francois & Louis pool full of writhing insects every 10. TOKYO MACHINE ‘Crazy’ South Coast producer Moony stand Benton get stupidly silly here on a night. “We love this new producer, his music is very original.”

200 DJMAG.COM Send promos to BEN CHILD [email protected] REVIEWS>BASS Darkhouse Family The Offering QUICKIES First Word Records Godha 8.0 BTG003 The are so many moments Bun The Grid splattered all across Darkhouse 7. 0 Family’s album where the I respect the name of the label, Bun The Grid. I drumming is so awe-inspiring avidly believe in setting fire to the past and moving that you truly do get desensitised on. I also like this weird hip-hop and hybrid to the genius of the sticksman, production running at such a slowed boom-bap Daf Davies. And it’s not like the tempo. lad’s showboating, it's just that his little flourishes embellish the Heralds of Change live aspect of the instrumentation Puzzle giving this new, looser, jazzier All City incarnation of the Darkhouse 9.5 Family some serious chops. 'The After 10 years and Mike Slott’s Offering' takes them further into Heralds of Change project still sounds very vital the realm of the acts they used to and thankfully the dons at All City are reissuing the sample. vinyl to mark the milestone. It has a song called ‘Ass Wank’ on it. Sully Escape Sharp Veins Keysound Recordings Murlo Bleeds Colors And Puddles 8.0 Wind Me Up UNO NYC If we were to isolate just one 7. 0 moment from Sully’s second 9.0 Over six tracks of harsh and sometimes quite testing LP for Keysound — let’s say, Post all of this T.Q.D UKG business, Murlo and Butterz feels like a music, Sharp Veins gets a bunch of things very the track ‘Assembly 2’ — it match made in heaven and the three tracks on his debut EP for the right, namely the endless crescendo of ‘Wave_Cut’, would certainly be possible label rather emphatically join the dots. ‘Wind Me Up’ is a pitched up the stuttering patterns on ‘Learn Boxing ’ and to hypothesize a lot about his frenzy of squeals, trumpets and two step, ‘At The End (Die For the contrast of his elements on ‘Empty’. current position. But with this Me)’ is the heavyweight, bass-strong banger in the middle and ‘Haze’ album you’d be selling yourself is the arpeggiated oddball on an EP that deftly displays Murlo’s knack MINA far too short to take such a for the colourful. MORE TIME RECORDS blinkered view. Sure it’s superbly heavy and lurching and it’s kinda intentionally sparse, but sampling Persian music. What you like his accent’s getting dialed elsewhere there’s ragga two-step, get are these tough, fascinating down. Just don’t go full Donna Air rollocking drum & bass and drum patterns, organic-sounding on me, bro. sweeping Vangelis-inspired mood hooks and riffs, and a selection pieces. Sully’s a master of styles. of rather weighty synthesized rAHHH b-lines. Ones EP Sam Binga & Rider Gobstopper Shafique Ploy 9.0 Champion EP Unruly A little distance might indeed be Critical Music Hemlock Recordings a man’s best friend; but my own 7. 0 8.5 failure at a prolonged abstention It’s long been known that Sam Hemlock’s recent operational from meant that I Binga’s a genial top-knotted surge has undoubtedly been kept seeing the ‘right people’ chap who can turn his production welcomed by many people but saying a lot of ‘good things’ about hand to a lot of different styles; frankly it’s always been an outlet rAHHH’s debut for Gobstopper from breaks, to drum & bass, for artists to postulate ideas and before I’d even heard the title post-dubstep and beyond into present their material in a now track. And they’re all totally right; purist digi-dancehall territory on highly respected uniform jacket. it’s an odd collection of lusciously his latest collaborative EP with For me Ploy’s three tracker peaks melodic, playful tracks that do 01. DJ POLO ‘Signet’ Roska Kicks & Snares Bristolian emcee, Rider Shafique. even before the drop on ‘Garys’, all the better for not fitting in “Great club track from a talented upcoming producer.” What’s really lovely about the EP where those wurly laser panpipes with whatever weightless grime 02. HOOD CELEBRITYY ‘Sit Down’ Self-released is how complete the commitment started phasing and droning. expectation one might have for “Banger from a sick New York MC.” to the cause is. Everything That shit, in a club, with the right Gobstopper.

03. MHD ‘Afrotrap Pt. 9’ Faut Les Wets is interwoven perfectly and, amount of water in me on a full “MHD’s Afrotrap series is so sick and innovative, the video is great too.” from mood to mode, it has the stomach would mean another Joe requisite space and the most zenith in my anxiety levels. Tail Lift/MPH 04. LOTTO BOYZZ ‘Birmingham’ Anthem “Great production and so catchy.” insistent of bounces. Hessle Audio O'Flynn 9.5 05. BRYTE X GAFACCI ‘I Like Your Girlfriend’ Ransom Note “A brilliant track that’s been bubbling for years from Ghana’s most Kxngs Pluto’s Beating Heart Me and my buddy once exciting MC and production duo.” Air Sign EP pooled some money together to Tru Thoughts 06. TARQUIN, TSVI & LURU FEAT. ‘Come To The 7. 0 make some ‘CLAP TRAP’ badges Dance’ Nervous Horizon 7. 5 ‘Aloha Ice Jam’ was the tits. And, in the style of the RUN DMC logo; “A great track with hilariously on-point lyrics.” Whoever's handling the A&R over yes, I’m grown enough to know you know big, bold white print 07. ALICAI HARLEY ‘Gold’ Bruk Out at Brighton’s Tru Thoughts label you can’t (or at least shouldn’t) sandwiched between white lines? “I always start my sets with my personal of this tune!” is absolutely pooling some unique judge a producer’s music by a In was in a period of IRL trolling

08. 45DIBOSS ‘Day One’ Dise Records people right about now. Kxngs single isolated yardstick that is people because, well, a lot of “A great dancehall vocalist who’s been working with some exciting and new EP, 'Air Sign', doesn’t even obviously a country mile away time spent in an office can make forward thinking producers.” know how to do a shade of their from what they’re doing now, but, you do things like that. Someone 09. OMO FRENCHIE ‘Betise’ Cotch International fabled ‘nu-jazz’ thing because it’s as much as I dig the percussive told me that when Joe saw the “A very talented multi-lingual rapper and producer from Peckham.” essentially just a collection of big ticks and technoid rippling badges he just smiled. His new 10. CHAMPION & RIKO DAN ‘Landslide’ Lobster Boy and bolshy, tribal dubstep tunes shuffle of this new O’Flynn 12” on 12” is absolutely stunning and “A peak time banger. It always gets reloads.” that have a decided hankering for Ninja Tune, I can’t help but feel completely perfect.

Send promos to OLI MARLOW [email protected] Send promos to OLI MARLOW [email protected] DJMAG.COM 201

DJ575.Music-Bass.indd 201 12/10/2017 17:41 REVIEWS>HARD

new vocal track defining this sound. Featuring a commercial male-sung vocal, uplifting QUICKIES melodies and euphoric drops. If Dave Dee any release has a good Coming Out chance of mainstream radio United Styles play then surely this has! The 8.0 purists may groan but its always Superb triplets -led release featuring chopped-up good to have some commercial vocals, creating a unique groove and intertwoven appeal to help the genre grow with acid stabs. This has an early sound even more! to it with modern-day production! & Dr Phunk Jambalaya Bros Here Once Again Cambodia Revealed United Styles 9.0 8.0 No your eyes don’t deceive you, A tough and techy, dancefloor stomper fusing a brand new Hardwell track influences from techno and psy into hard dance. on the hard reviews page! It’s Very much the 2017 evolution of the ‘sub ground’ not unusual to see hardstyle sound! artists collabing with EDM/ house artists these days but it’s DJ Mad Dog certainly more uncommon for Why Me the track to be 100% hardstyle. Dog Fight 150bpm from start to finish, 8.0 reverse bass, pitched kicks and High-energy hardcore beats from the infamous even a ‘raw’ section before the Italian producer, my personal favourite from his outro. The melody has a classic brand new album. Dark vocal, moody melody and Hardwell vibe, and the vocal brutal beats! is borrowed from a hard house classic of yesteryear, both complimenting the high energy Q DANCE beats! Darren Styles Diss Reaction Us Against The World (Da Tweekaz Remix) Jiiieehhaaaa (DJ Ruffnecks Monstercat Freely Styled Remix) 9.5 Ruffneck Here we have one of the biggest UK hardcore hits of recent 8.0 memory, from one of the true legends of the happier hardcore One of the all-time Dutch sound, Darren Styles, remixed with a hardstyle twist. This hardcore classics, and a is far from the first time Darren Styles and Da Tweekaz have personal paper round anthem crossed paths in the studio, and every encounter has provided of my own, this track gets a a dancefloor destroyer, so no pressure guys! Of course there is remix over 20 years after the no disappointment here; all the elements of the original are release of the original! This intact: emotional vocal break that builds to an melody EP features three remixes of and drops to pitched kicks. One of the most epic-sounding increasing BPMs. For me, the tracks I’ve heard in a long time. No matter what your musical most interesting is the slower of preference, I can’t imagine anyone listening to this track and the bunch, still clocking in at a

not being able to acknowledge that it is a masterpiece of dance steady 150bpm, and featuring 01. HEADHUNTERZ ‘Destiny’ Q-Dance Records music! all the elements of the original, “The track that defines a big turning point in my career and personal life.” what it lacks in tempo, the 02. PROJECT ONE ‘Luminosity’ Unreleased switch to triplets throughout “The revival of Project One, and this is just the beginning.” Chain Reaction album. These boys are hitting the track makes up for it with 03. ARMIN VAN BUUREN VS VINI VICI FEAT. HILIGHT Abandon the studio hard to increase buckets of energy! This may be a TRIBE ‘Great Spirit ( Remix)’ Armind Minus Is More their output and push on with little cheesy for some, but sure “One of the best tracks of the year by my best friend Wildstylez.” 8.5 a unique hard dance sound. to be a hit amongst the jump 04. COONE & WILDSTYLEZ ‘Here I Come’ Unreleased Hard raw beats on Luna’s This new release taken from and freestyle selectors. “Feel-good track that is a joy to play for every crowd in every corner of Minus Is More label from their 'Ultrasound' album, the world.”

Dutch pioneer Chain Reaction fuses elements of hard trance, DJ Isaac & Sound Rush 05. D-STURB ‘High Power’ Unreleased featuring hectic fast sinister subground and hard house all Find Me “A newcomer that completely hit me in the feels with this track. I’m in love with this one.” melodies with moderately together with a bouncy offbeat Dirty Workz uplifting key changes, brutal drop, keeping things fresh and 9.0 06.  ‘You Know I Like It’ Spirit of Hardstyle “Unequalled production skills by Noisecontrollers and I love the ‘90s vibe heavy kick drums and a forward thinking for 2017. Cant A collaboration between one of in the intro.” distorted male-spoken vocal wait to hear more from these the pioneers of the hardstyle 07. B-FRONT ‘EVP’ Roughstate with some screeches and guys! sound and one of the hottest “This one makes you want to turn over to the darkness (laughs). What an nasty stabs added in for good new acts rising speedily through ambience.” measure! This is crossover Audiotricz the ranks in the scene, this 08. D-BLOCK & S-TE-FAN ‘Fired Up’ accessible rawstyle at its best! Ready To Dream track encompasses everything I “These are the kind of tracks that balance out my sets perfectly and I will Scantraxx love about hardstyle — euphoric always love the reverse bass.” Organ Donors 9.0 melody, spine-tingling vocals 09. CLOCKARTZ ‘Delirium’ Delirium Recordings This duo have been making and, of course, high-energy “Most original track of the moment if you ask me. Clockartz dares to bring Virus Energiser back the gated kick. Who’s next?” Audio Surgery some serious waves across hard beats. Expect to hear this 8.5 the global hardstyle scene in one for months to come across 10. CHOCOLATE PUMA VS TIGA VS PHRANTIC VS Bournemouth siblings The the past two years, with their hardstyle shows all over the SPLITTA ‘Step Back Mind Dimension (Sub Zero Project Mashup)’ Unreleased Organ Donors are back in the unique uplifting hardstyle world. This is a hit! “Sub Zero Project are taking over the scene by storm and every track is game having just announced sounds taking them into a spot on. This mash-up has some amazing kicks and is one of my favorites to play.” their forthcoming artist crossover direction, with this

202 DJMAG.COM Send promos to DJ KUTSKI [email protected] DJ LABEL REVIEWS>TRANCE

Paul Oakenfold QUICKIES Deep Space Arctic Quest Perfecto Nomoto 9.0 Expedition Music ‘Deep Space’ is Oakenfold’s stab 7. 5 at pooling touchstones from From the recently reactivated Arctic Quest, the various genres he’s been something of a progressive slant to the trance on associated with into one track. offer. Doomy sub-bass, chanty Africanisms and a Frankly, I doubt even he thought contagiously effective mainline all play their part in it’d turn out this good. There’s making ‘Nomoto’ work. plenty of trance, natch, but it’s the other elements that make it Gonzalo Bam & A-Tomy-k stand apart. Moog-ish synths and Ordon Hammond-y organs transmit the Price Trance Recordings Balearic, while minor melodies 7. 5 and truncated note sequences ‘Ordon’ is doing more than its fair share to pitch swirl prog into its proceedings. trance a curve ball this month. The two Spaniards Pinned together by an infectiously weigh out just enough pad and chord pathos, and housey groove, cease wondering rafter blasting synths to balance out its sit-up- how this all works so well and just and-take-notice (read: bonkers) electric ‘geetar’ enjoy that it does! refrains.

Kyau & Albert With Hello Machines Bigtopo & Omar Diaz & Lab 4 positively breezy compared to ‘The Changes Amélie Mae Ascension Keymaster’ though, which serves Euphonic Visions Pull Through Hard Trance Europe ominous pads, scudding drums 8.0 Amsterdam Trance 7. 0 and a sinister looping organ synth It’s taken 20 years of Euphonic for a track to warrant 8.0 Something of an influence on that modulates upwards for three release on a subsidiary label, but finally here it is. There’s been an ever-stronger buzz many a Class of ’98 producer, the strangely gripping minutes. Appropriately Vision’s ‘Changes’ charts a deeper about trance emanating from the perennially underground Lab prog-trance course and has all the instrumental Spanish quarter throughout the 4 have been going, if not since Marco V vs. charm and vocal charisma to carry it off. year, with Omar & Bigtopo having the dawn of trance, then as near Lost World Anthem 2017 a fair hand in that. ‘Pull Through’ as dammit. H.T.E. are the latest Who's Afraid Of 138?! ALY & FILA — their latest — is big, energetic imprint to lure Adam & Les out of 7. 5 FUTURE SOUND OF and late-night savvy. Amélie Mae’s retirement. ‘Ascension’, the result, Marco and Ronald go head-to- chorus ensures it retains some real bristles with the same acid squall, head on this tech-tipped missile, heart though. bracing pace, hyperactive riffs and that packs a more than decent scant interest in breakdowns that midrange punch. Frontend, Mario Piu & Voolgarizm typified their relentless Escape ‘Lost World Anthem 2017’ has an Red Moon From Samara sets back in the day. above-average degree of linearism Outburst Records to it. However it makes up for 8.0 & John 00 that elemental dearth with clever Following some strong remix Fleming rotation and mutations of the overtures, alongside patron Hemispheres (Expanded parts it is fielding. Its fleeting Mario Piu this is the first piece of Mix) uplifting aspects are consigned to full-blown production Voolgarity Pure Trance Recordings the breakdown, and are more, you 01. ALY & FILA FEAT SUE MCLAREN ‘Surrender (Album from the Italian duo. The former’s 8.0 feel, a cursory nod to its ‘Anthem’ Mix)’ Future Sound Of Egypt presence can be firmly sensed in Can this really be the first tag. “Once again we teamed up with the amazing vocalist Sue McLaren. ‘Surrender’ is on our new artist album, ‘Beyond The Lights’.” the BXR-ish reverberation of ‘Red in-studio contact between two Moon’’s bass. There’s far more such seemingly compatible Misja Helsloot 02. COLD BLUE ‘Bliss’ FSOE to the track than that though. trance minds? I rather think it Fluid “Our good friend Tobias has always impressed with his productions and we are very happy to have him on FSOE with his latest track.” Godlike use of piano, edgy, nifty can. ‘Hemispheres’ expectation Rielism Records sub-riffs and a real sense of x achievement axis is alleviated 8.0 03. ALY & FILA WITH FERRY TAYLE ‘Concorde’ FSOE “Ferry Tayle’s melodies are among the best in the business. We’ve been measure and anticipation to its by the Expanded mix’s runtime. ‘Always leave ‘em hungry’ seems playing this track out, with many asking what it is. Now the world knows!” build all mark this out as a cut At 11-plus minutes, Rich & John to be Misja’s modus operandi,

04. LOSTLY ‘Came Here To Forget’ FSOE above. certainly give themselves plenty accounting, perhaps, for why we “Lostly is such a talented producer. Now we are happy to announce that his of time to deliver. What evolves hear less from him these days. That newest track will be a part of our label. Melodic and banging at its best!” is an FX-nuanced number, flush said, following his pre-summer 05. ALY & FILA VS ‘Camellia (Extended Shine (Jorn van Deynhoven with murksome Gregorian chants ‘Urgent’, this is at least his second Mix)’ FSOE Extended Remix) and expertly timed and applied for Rielism in 2017. Tempo-wise “For many years we wanted to team up with Ferry. He’s a legend, who has his own unique style.” Who's Afraid Of 138?! key changes. There’s an abridged ‘Fluid’ clearly has its sights set 7. 5 version too, but really, where’s the on primetime. It’s in its calmer, 06. STONEFACE & TERMINAL ‘So What’ FSOE “Stoneface & Terminal are the A&Rs of our new label FSOE Clandestine. This Seasoned trance watchers will fun in that!? break-side regions, most notably track has been a big part of our sets for the last few months.” recognise this as a remix of the subtle keynotes, measured

07. ARCTIC MOON & PURPLE STORIES ‘Shadow Particles’ FSOE ‘Shine’ within its first four bars. Tim Penner strings, tempered piano and male “Arctic Moon consistently puts out a lot of quality music. On ‘Shadow Which is another way of saying The Gatekeeper/The harmonies that it enjoys its best Particles’ he teams up with Purple Stories for a brilliant trance record.” it doesn’t skimp on the track’s Keymaster moments though. 08. ALY & FILA VS. SCOTT BOND & CHARLIE key features. Intro cleared, van JOOF AURA WALKER ‘Shadow’ FSOE Deynhoven bangs proceedings 8.0 Myon “This track is very driven and powerful, causing serious damage on dancefloors wherever we spin it.” up considerably, with rocketing Ghostbusting refs remain purely Albion (Estiva Remixes) pitch bends, Scot Project-esque titular (so far as we can fathom) Ride Recordings 09. SEAN MATHEWS ‘Rise Again’ FSOE “Sean Mathews is a regular on FSOE and this track has been in the works for acid belch and mercenary bass. on Penner’s latest JOOF deuce. 8.0 some time. We are all very proud with how it turned out.” Plenty of ear service gets paid to ‘The Gatekeeper’ is a sleek, Throughout 2017 Estiva’s ‘Shine’’s vocal in the break, before cruising piece of prog-trance continued his determined push for 10. PABLO ARTIGAS ‘Patterns Like These (Extended Mix)’ FSOE UV it doubles down for a euphorically that’s glacier cool in feel and isn’t a second chance at a breakout. The “Pablo Artigas is an artist we have had our eye on for some time. It is a true progressive vibe that fits comfortably on our newest sub-label FSOE UV.” aerated conclusion. averse to pipetting some techno quality’s been so high, if it doesn’t gene into its genre pool. It’s happen, frankly it’ll be a crime.

Send promos to TIM STARK [email protected] DJMAG.COM 203

DJ575.Music-Trance.indd 203 12/10/2017 17:56 REVIEWS>HIP HOP/TRAP

has a great video. But all those pre-pubescent badbwoys telling me he's the greatest at the QUICKIES moment... c'mon. I'm not as PhybaOptikz x Giallo Point fucking stupid as I look. You will Frank Underwood lose absolutely nothing by not Crate Divizion hearing this. 7. 5 Go hence immediately and find this track — a Billy Woods leak from a new LP by PsybaOptrix, with stunning Groundhog Day production from Giallo Point that could be shaping up to be one of the unheard masterpieces of 2017. 8.0 Guests onboard also include Farma G, Recognize Ali, You might have missed Billy Sonnyjim, Daniel Son and SmooVth. Woods' brain-jangling collabo with Blockhead from 2013, 'Dour Kristol Bethell Candy' — Blockhead and Aesop Villains On The Rise Rock man the boards on BW's Ghost Town Entertainment new opus 'Known Unknowns', 7. 0 Ill Move Sporadic & Big Toast which sees this NYC Always tickles me to see my hometown of Coventry Bumpy Town take a more melodic accessible rendered as the gnarly backdrop to a hip-hop video Starch Records trajectory. On 'Groundhog Day' — here KB leaks his first new material in two years 8.0 you can instantly detect this slight from his new mixtape 'Apocryphal Origins' with Ill Move Sporadic continue their consistent run of brilliance, hooking shift in direction but the rhymes some great old-skool Gunshot-style production up with Big Toast for the ‘You Are Not Special’ set, a verbal showdown remain defiantly underground, courtesy of Plazid. Check out Mugun, Azzkazaam, with the forces of gentrification and corporatisation stuffed with spontaneous, whacked-out and Legion and the whole Track Records stable too. angry, hysterical rhymes and the kind of off-kilter, weird, raw beat- utterly compelling about the matrices you might associate with a Hus Kingpin or Westside Gunn. weed-toking fuzzy repetition Upfront ‘Bumpy Town’ is a highlight and has been lifted as a single — diggit of all our days. Pick up 'Known Ugaly for BT’s rhymes of fury (“Must be a poor-joke surely? Never will get Unknowns' immediately if you're Split Prophets/Bandcamp why the poor vote Tory”) and the way IMS latch some funereal 8-bit in any way still interested in 7. 5 fuzzy loops to a thumping undertow. Get the album and go slap a hip-hop with something to say The third release from Upfront's up-and-coming hipster today. lyrically, and a space to explore second solo album 'Lettermorphosis’, a sweetly musically. Superb. mournful slice of Rhodes-laced trippy hip-hop from the ever-reliable Bristol-based Split Prophets Babylon Dead Whirlwind D L'Orange stable, with incisive and speedy rhymes from A.C.A.B Falling Look Around Upfront himself. Strung-out yet sharp as a blade. Real Life Drama Records B-Line Recordings Mello Music Group 8.5 8.0 8.0 Those of you of a certain vintage Utterly superb three-tracker Although mainly instrumental, WHIRLWIND D might remember a particular from the ever-engrossing L'Orange's third solo album 'The B-LINE RECORDINGS moment in the ‘90s when B-Line, Miracle, Sir Beans OBE, Ordinary Man' also has cameos dancehall and grimey hip-hop Jabbathakut and Tones on the from , crossed over with each other cuts, production from Specifik, Blu, and , as well — I’m thinking Louie Rankin’s Crease and Mr Fantastic, and some as rising artists like Koreatown ‘Typewriter’, Supercat ‘Ghetto Red startlingly on-point rhymes from Oddity, Chuuwee and Solemn Hot’ and the work of Don Jagwarr. WD himself — touching on the ups, Brigham. Conceptually, the album Babylon Dead, who are about to downs and the struggle to survive. follows a magician from being an drop perhaps one of this year’s The laid-back yet fearsomely unknown to the biggest star in most awaited albums in ‘2000 phat beats give D's rhymes space the world. Performing impossible BD’, are probably too young to to achieve maximum impact — feats for thousands of people, recall this stuff but my god does there's not a lyrical moment here the magician eventually becomes ‘A.C.A.B’ recall that fertile period; that's wasted or that doesn't disillusioned and bitter, blaming 01. JEHST ‘Billy Green Is Dead’ YNR Productions “Always on-point, this LP is no exception... perfect blend of heartfelt sharp cop-baiting rhymes crushed feel essential in painting the fully the world for not understanding rhymes and hard-edged beats.” against Illinformed’s bristlingly personal, political and fearlessly his greatness. 'Look Around' 02. VARIOUS ARTISTS ‘B-Line EP Volume 4’ B-Line Recordings brutal production. A hole in the brave picture that D presents sees Oddissee welcome us into “The latest in the brilliant ‘B-Line EP’ series, featuring a heavyweight head devoutly to be wished. of himself. A new name to me a typically engrossing narrative roster of UK heads.” (pardon my ignorance) but one I over one of L'Orange's slickest 03. DJ FORMAT & ABDOMINAL ‘We’re Back’ AAF Records The Menagerie hope to hear more from soon. productions yet, gorgeous “Format is the king of the funk in my opinion... this track off the new EP Walking With Canes beats and vocal loops framing gets every party going!” Tea Sea Records Ski Mask The Slump God the verbals with punch-perfect 04. CARPETFACE ‘Take It Back’ B-Line Recordings precision. “Latest signing to B-Line Recordings, with a unique, incredibly fresh take 7. 0 Babywipe on the genre.” I'm greedily seeking out anything Republic Records I can find with Tom Caruana on it 6.0 LDZ 05. CUT BEETLES ‘Dropping’ Needles’ No Label/Self Released “Having collaborated recently with Oxygen of Soundsci, I’m always excited because his backroom work on the I'm... underwhelmed, to be Switcheroo by anything new from the UK/US super-crew. This is no exception.” Son Of Sam album is so fucking honest. I’m assured by quite Potentfunk Records 06. NILLA ‘The Illness’ Droppin’ Science Productions great — here he's reunited with literally dozens of arseholes that 7. 5 “The ‘Valkryie’ LP has been on my turntable constantly since it dropped... long-time compadres Elemental, the whole Ski Mask/XXXtentacion 'Switcheroo' is a great return for The new Queen of MC?” Dr Syntax and Nick Maxwell 'Members Only' stable is where LDZ, Sumgii yet again revealing 07. THE RAMPAGERS ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet’ Fresh Pressings to craft a hilarious 90-second my ears should be pinned, but that he simply CAN'T produce “The funk is strong here... Killer combination of MCs from DWG’s Fresh track that forms the intro to the seriously? XXX is a mysoginist, something that sounds straight Pressings imprint.” Menagerie's newest opus, 'Odd Trump-supporting dickhead who I or normal. Here the bass oozes 08. HOLLY FLO LIGHTLY ‘Day Dreamz’ Sektion Red “Having rocked the mic with this incredible MC recently, I know she is going Beast'. Also featuring guest spots have no desire to hear again. Ski's and glistens like an obese termite to be a huge force in hip-hop.” from Dizraeli, Teej, Longusto, tape ('You Will Regret') has its larvae burrowing through your Baba, Elemental, Syntax, Koaste moments ('Rambo' is awesome), floorboards, the beats ripple and 09. HEAVY LINKS ‘Still The Same Crew’ Muj “Big shout to my Heavy Links bredren — essential single from their brand and others, the album has been but also has its passages of echo across the stereoscape and new LP.” brewing since 2011 and if this mediocrity that his fans seem a strange little guqin-riff splits 10. MICALL PARKNSUN & MR THING ‘The Raw’ Boot Records track is anything to go by, should oblivious to, or deliberately ignore the low-end hum. Welcome back, “Boot Records always coming with the raw... Mr Thing & Parky... you know prove well worth the wait. to shore up the hype. 'Babywipe' nutters. it’s gonna be amazing.”

204 DJMAG.COM Send promos to NEIL KULKARNI [email protected]

DJ575.Music-HipHop.indd 204 16/10/2017 15:15 Untitled-1 1 16/10/2017 13:46 REVIEWS>LEFTFIELD

Andrew Weatherall QUICKIES Spreads A Haze (And James Holden And The Animal A Glory) Spirits Haga Nord DAN MEDHURSTPic: DAN Each Moment Like The First 9.5 Border Community There’s not much to 9.5 say about this guy that Back with a new expanded line-up, James Holden hasn’t already been shows yet again what can be done with some drums, said. Suffice to say, if some synths and a ton of creative sonic endeavour. you’re a fan of his tireless productivity and general Golden Teacher god-like brilliance then Sauchiehall Withdrawal you will love this. Lifted Golden Teacher Records from new LP ‘Qualia’ this 8.5 track is like the perfect The PR blurb says Golden Teacher have made their distillation of the last 10 mark over the last four years “mixing raw-edged years; borrowing sonic house, leftfield disco, syncopated percussion, and references from LPs like odd-ball experimentalism with a serious party ‘Double Gone Chapel’, attitude”. Think that pretty much covers it! ‘Pox On The Pioneers’, ‘Convenanza’ and The ANDREW HUNG ‘Phoenix Suburb (And FUCK BUTTONS / LEX RECORDS Other Stories)’ to create this vibrant, dynamic, visceral track. Weatherall. Still on top of his game!

The Haggis Horns and throw in a melee of Steinski/ from the English countryside World Gone Crazy DJ Food-inspired chops and and various desolate buildings Haggis Records changes at psychedelic warp speed around the UK, the album itself is 8.0 and you have a finished article. a mixture of haunting solo piano As you would think, there’s a Curated (as it’s a race through works and emotive, ethereal certain quality threshold that you the sample bank) by New Yorkers . Beautiful! would expect from the Haggis Nick Forte and Peter Negroponte, Horns, who have been more than it acts as the opener for their ’The German Oak the regulatory one time around Star Is Your Future’ LP. Hunt it The Bear Song the block. This time it’s the tender down, as ever embossed with the Now Again side of the Horns that comes DFA of approval. 9.0 through with Lucinda Slim adding I’ve got to confess I’ve not the vocal sass, although this is Funkadelic - Reworked come across this LP before, but with a brief tempered fuzz By Detroiters one or two Google searches guitar interlude. The remixers Cosmic Slop/Lets Make It later and it seems this is/ add shades of differences but Last was an album shrouded in ultimately like Adidas, go original. Westbound Records mystery, misrepresentation and 9.0 misunderstanding. Re-mastered As remix projects go, this is a bit here, with the bands approval, The End Of Industry if a monster! First of all this is thankfully this tough and funky Funkadelic we are talking about piece of psychedelic Kraut — which 8.5 and secondly, badly curated was by all accounts recorded on 01. COCTEAU TWINS ‘Cherry Coloured Funk’ 4AD Crikey, three albums in already. remix projects of this kind can a bunker — is now available for “Really gorgeous ambience from these guys; they had their own sound and How time flies. ‘Forgetting And have a tendency to fall flat on the likes of you and I, at a price it was (and still is) untouchable.” Learning Again’ still resonates as their face… after all, if it ain’t that’s not going to require a re- 02.  ‘Junco Partner’ a 2012 classic, with the Lapalux broke... Given the names involved mortgage. Thanks Now Again. We “Love the ‘tude of this band; made their own rules.” canon busting with other quality here though we are all good and love you. 03. COLLEEN ‘Summer Water’ The Leaf Label moments. ‘The End Of Industry’ if this single — which features “Track from one of my favourite albums. Gorgeous to fall asleep to, conjures is no exception. A simple concept brilliant reworks by Moodymann Souleance imagery of vast spaces to explore.” belies the project; Human Vs and Underground Resistance — is Bamboule 04. KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH ‘First Flight’ Western Vinyl Machine whereby TONTO-esque anything to go by, the album is set First Word Records “Gert lush track, pastoral in its quality.”

self modulating patches create to be an f’ing triumph. 7. 0 05.  ‘This Woman’s Works’ Noble and Brite a hypnotic and at times raging Like a succinct and well-delivered “Sad music is my favourite innit and what can beat this for heart-wrench- ing?” beast. ‘Holding On’ is one five-track advertisement for First such beast that deserves your Phantom Brickworks III Word’s A&R department, this 06. JENNY HVAL ‘That Battle is Over’ Sacred Bones attention. ‘Alpha Plus’, on the Warp Records latest release from long-standing “Really love Jenny Hval. This song is beautiful, like a warm hug.” other hand, offers the melancholic 8.0 label contributors and Parisian 07. BOARDS OF ‘Dawn Chorus’ Warp Records “I used to listen to Boards religiously and this track is possibly my favourite antidote. Brilliant. He has the deftest, most subtle of production duo Fulgeance and of theirs. Feels wondrous and childlike, I guess like all their music. It feels touches does Bibio! He certainly DJ Soulist finds them in good like a stadium of joy.” Dawn People keeps you on your toes too. No form. Fuelled by their love of 08. BANANARAMA ‘Cruel Summer’ London Records Be Cool Tonight two releases are ever quite the digging and taking that familiar “I keep, keep going back to this song! I have no fucking idea why. It’s got DFA Records this lolloping striving-for-something-better feel to it which never tires same. This latest single taken sample-based MPC construction for me.” 8.5 from accompanying LP ‘Phantom as their starting point, they build Yes DFA! A retro-active Brickworks’ clearly finds him confidently through moody, 09. PJ HARVEY ‘This is Love’ Universal “This came on in the car the other day after years of not hearing it and it '90s-inspired throwback for the in a pensive, reflective mood. low-slung hip-hop, soulful disco- blew me away again. The power in this song is intoxicating.” madding crowds. Take what is Composed over a 10-year period , smooth, jazz-sampling 10. WAXAHATCHEE ‘Never Been Wrong’ Merge Records effectively a live boom-bap loop and including field recordings downbeat and broken Afrobeats. “Pixies-ish vibe; kind of a summer don’t care feel. Good for listening to while running through fields of wheat.”

206 DJMAG.COM Send promos to FOUND SOUNDS [email protected]

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Extrawelt MANIK Fear of An Extra Planet Undergroundknowledge Cocoon Ovum 7.0 7.0 Twisted techno Slick nostalgia Extrawelt are one of Cocoon’s most With dance culture constantly reliable artists. ‘Fear of An Extra revisiting its ‘90s roots, it feels Planet’ is their third full-length natural for MANIK to explore his for the techno behemoth, and one own with a deeply personal album. that betrays their skills as a live duo ‘Undergroundknowledge’ is a because there is a looseness and conceptual journey on a New York invention to the synths, basslines subway travelling to Queens, plus a and percussion that feels alive and journey into MANIK’s own background dynamic rather than programmed in with the city’s crate-digging culture, the box. Though techno at its core, as well as US house music in general. the album explores outside the usual While there’s moments of hip-hop, lines and draws on EBM, industrial, MANIK is working mostly with rich, minimal and house for its influences. vintage US house here. He deftly hits It is a largely monochromatic nostalgic targets, executing them affair with shadowy, dead of night with super-slick modern production, atmospheres, but the variation in no less. Drawing on DJ mythology, tempos and textures make it a varied there are interludes featuring listen. From gothic synth lines to NYC characters orating on , icy hi-hats, corrugated basslines to gentrification and more. Yet it’s the ghoulish tech, every track shows concept that’s most interesting. off some serious studio skill and Musically it tends to meander without provides plenty of tackle for DJs and properly transcending the throwback dancers to get stuck into. touch points it explores. KRISTAN J CARYL ANGUS PATERSON Anja Schneider SoMe Sous Music 9.0 Welcome return Nic Fanciulli CID RIM My Heart Material Nine years is a long gap in any genre, Mobilee days, the label she called My Heart LuckyMe not least the current-obsessed world home before founding this imprint. 8.0 6.5 of electronic music. A lot can change Opener ‘The Sun’ is a heads-down Heartfelt Oddball outing in that time, but the benchmarks gem, looping its vocal hook to within Despite dozens of singles (including Viennese curveball composer CID RIM of quality production always hold an inch of indecipherability, before a Grammy-nominated remix) and can’t help catch you off-guard with steady, even as tastes and trends loose percussion and dubby lows add not far off 20 years in the business, this manic collection of electronic shift. Schneider’s first LP in as welcome drive. ‘Sanctuary’, on the Nic Fanciulli has skirted making an adventures. They’re probably not long is an example that proves that other hand, is a trippier, stepping album. Or so we thought. In fact, this for everyone, but then accessibility theory. workout intelligently combining first long-player from Maidstone's clearly isn’t the priority. As detailed as it is stripped to the es- soothing lyrics, acid stabs and Saved Records boss has been perhaps ‘Furnace’ delivers with its intelligent sential elements that make floors go the odd piano flurry — as close as a decade in the making. Hundreds use of percussive layers and frantic forward, ‘SoMe’ wears variety on its anything else gets to the closing of sketches, demos and loops have key stabs. 'Genesung’ is sumptuous sleeve without sounding conflicted, number, ‘Shadows’, which is a bro- coalesced to form ‘My Heart’, a deeply neo-classical ambience, and the divided, or contrived. Even the ken, album swan song personal record (the opening track title number’s bizarre broken beats futurist d&b workout ‘WMF’ avoids laden with atmosphere, straddling samples his son's heartbeat). It's and pitched harmonies recall the falling into any ‘now for something dark menace and inviting warmth in littered with references, including likes of Bullion. ‘Repeat’, the only completely different’ cliches, conjur- a way only those special tracks man- the scrap of vocal from True Faith's vocal outing (Samantha Urbani), ing images of sun-kissed beach or age. Definitely not a party starter, rave-era classic ‘Come With Me’ in is big as they come — a chaotic poolside sessions, littered with nevertheless it’s perhaps the most the track ‘Twisted or Saying’, which intro exploding into an electro-pop lackadaisical brass and waves of lush accomplished of the lot, speaking scored vocals from Blur's Damon anthem that comes close to EDM, synth ideally suited to the morning volumes about the artist’s musical Albarn, a band which formed his albeit far more refined than those after most of the rest of this record. pedigree, especially considering musical outlook growing up. ‘After letters suggest. ‘Surge’ may be the For the majority, though, we’re stick- elsewhere we have refined techno Time’ is a deep, chugging affair, real genius moment, though, a synth ing in four-four territories, with the stomp (‘Got Me With A Bang’) and indebted to Sasha/Digweed, while arpeggio that absorbs the ears over esteemed producer and DJ showing a real lesson in rolling tech (‘Night the disorientating ‘Resistance’, with its almost-endless four-minute spiral. she’s every bit as sharp in this new Out’). MARTIN GUTTRIDGE HEWIT as Audion, speaks to Accomplished stuff, although others Sous era as she was during her where he is now. Worth the wait. have achieved more with similar BEN ARNOLD parts. MARTIN GUTTRIDGE HEWITT

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Hyetal Oliver Huntemann Rødhåd Youth & Power Propaganda Anxious Lune Rouge Other/other Senso Sounds Dystopian Young Art Records 7.5 9.0 9.0 6.5 Personalised pop Audiophile advert New world techno Half-great Bristol's David Corney has always 'Propaganda' is Oliver Huntemann's The last couple of years have seen Hearing Cali-based producer TOKiMO- used different guises, but we hope fifth LP, an incredible feat for a solo Rødhåd transition from cult Berlin NSTA’s third full-length, it’s obvious this incarnation will be an ongoing artist or band, let alone an electronic selector to globe-trotting headliner. why it’s been four years since ‘Half one. Picking up from where last year’s music producer, and the result is In that time, the German’s dark, Shadows’ first bewitched us — this ‘Run From the Light’ left off, ‘Youth thoroughly satisfying for anyone absorbing, loopy sets of techno have is artfully constructed, beautifully & Power’ focuses on that EP’s secret with ears. He crafts a spell-binding remained utterly compelling, while arranged music clearly informed by weapon: Corney’s vocals and his gift mixture of emotionally charged his own productions have grown ever- TOKi’s classical piano training, laced for pretty melody, now placed more techno with his signature feel woven more cinematic. This debut album with carefully constructed beats and firmly in service of the . Pitched throughout. Clocking in at over one- from the famous redhead is a full a host of intriguing collaborators. with an ‘80s sense of sincerity that’s hour-15, the 12-track album doesn't realisation of that across 10 dramatic ‘Rouge’ bumps with hip-hop phat- often treated or masked, ‘Youth waste time settling into a mood and tracks. ness, TOKi layering up vocals until & Power’ doesn’t ditch Corney’s it fluctuates wonderfully between The world it depicts is beautifully we’re at an almost Telepathe-like level background — ‘Saint’ even features light and dark, and rough and smooth bleak and eerie. It’s a place largely of close-up melody and colour. Malay- early Darkstar-style synth work. sonic textures. ‘Taktik’ opens the devoid of human life, where the sian singer- Yuna weaves But those early dubstep beginnings album with a crisp, motor-esque sounds of machines and distant her spectral soulfulness through a are most evident in the ambience electro beat before the album heads throng of factories unfold with collage of glitchy beats and building and sonics — ‘Youth & Power’ is along varying degrees of spaced-out menace and tension. At the same sampladelia. The highlights — like spacious, metallic and haunting. A progressive electro. 'Rotlicht' is time, despite its name, ‘Anxious’ is in the thumping trap of ‘No Way’ and the little like producing Shura, the highlight, exhibiting an intense fact an antidote to stress and worry: weird avant-pop of ‘Bibimbap’ — are it finds its climax in ‘Hold’, where control-and-release dynamic that it’s a relatively peaceful, sparse strong enough to overshadow weaker sugary sadness meets Princely has the ability to actually melt your soundscape with optimism built into tracks like ‘Thief’ and the coffee- drum machines, and the Depeche brain (in a good way) and destroy all the long-tailed pads and soothing tablesque ‘Rose’s Thorn’, but aren’t Mode broodiness of ‘Permanence’. dancefloors. A seriously entertaining hypnosis a result of many of the numerous enough to stop you think- Personalised pop that presents an icy record that should be heard from grooves. Few albums will be better in ing this is a great EP that goes on a kind of comfort. SUNIL CHAUHAN start to finish.LEON CLARKSON 2017. KRISTAN J CARYL little too long. NEIL KULKARNI

Quite the polymath, Joe Seaton trained as a painter before turning to music, yet there’s also something writerly about his approach. He’s created a string of characters such as Ondo Fudd, Elmo Crumb and Suzi Ecto for his aliases and album titles. His DJ sets — as showcased on his stunning ‘ 92’ mix — are masterclasses in crafting suspenseful narratives from jazz, techno and electronica. His 12”s such as ‘Nervous Sex Traffic’ are like the finest short stories: tightly crafted but with enough twists to keep you guessing until the very end. It’s his Call Super albums where Seaton really displays his prowess, though. Freed from the dancefloor structures of his singles, 2014’s ambient ‘Suzi Ecto’ LP had an almost novelistic sense of detail, creating a unique world where he could explore complex ideas around both hope and paranoia. ‘Arpo’ is even better, and also clearly demonstrates why sound is his chosen medium: the emotions he evokes being too ambiguous to be Call Super nailed down with anything as solid as images or words. Clarinets waft over Arpo beats that rustle like grasshoppers Houndstooth and electronic melodies that glisten 9.0. like dew, but such descriptions Literally brilliant often sound like clichés that do no justice to an artist whose constantly morphing music so completely avoids them. PAUL CLARKE

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DJ575.Music-Albums.indd 209 16/10/2017 14:34 REVIEWS>ALBUMS QUICKIES

Amp Fiddler Honey Dijon François X Cubenx Amp Dog Knights The Best Of Both Worlds I Need The Night Irregular Passion Fractal City Mahogani Classic Music Company Ram Records Dement3d Infine Music 8.0 9.0 6.0 8.0 7.0 Doing it for Detroit Future classic Easy pleaser Aural voyage Driving music The life of singer songwriter Amp Derrick Carter and Luke Solomon’s Peak-time d&b is at The underground Fractal City doesn’t Fiddler is interwoven with the musical Classic Music gives Chicago-born the core of ‘I Need the Parisian techno lack gliding, gleaming history of Detroit. Born Joseph Honey Dijon a platform with her debut Night’. This second producer gives us his textures or melancholy- Fiddler, he’s absorbed the Motor album, ‘The Best Of Both Worlds’. album from Loadstar debut set — and what and-proud poignancy. City’s remarkable sonic heritage, Following her single ‘Personal Slave’ shows a duo capable of a journey in sound it You expect it from a from the P-funk and psychedelic rock alongside Charles McCloud earlier this sustaining a melodic is. Not quite ever just producer who named of Parliament-Funkadelic through to year, the album sees her collaborate rush from the opening one genre, ‘Irregular his last album ‘Elegiac’. the hip-hop of and the jazzy with an impressive array of artists title track down to the Passion’ has a coolness Ugly, glitching snares house of . His sound from NYC to Berlin and further Sam Smith-ish ‘Walking and control that’s that spin like rotor is a beguiling compound of these afield including Sam Sparro, Tim K, on Water’ but space deeply cinematic and is blades appear tastefully influences, and this latest album, , Alinka and Shaun J. also gets made for dark able to flit from almost but this is an album landing on Moodymann’s Mahogani Wright. Tracks like ‘’ hint rollers (‘Feelings’), Orphyx-like industrial made for driving rather label, marks a return to recording to inspirations from the Pacific State -style quirkiness harshness to sublime than dancing ­— sleek after a hiatus due to a family tragedy. classic synth sounds, and ‘Why’ (‘Give Yourself’) and the night-time gliding soundtracks for urban Amp’s never sounded so good as on with Nomi Ruiz is a fashionably new gonzo (‘Spinning Out’). grooves in a heartbeat. cityscapes. SUNIL this vividly realised record. His fine re-vocalled version of Carly Simon’s SUNIL CHAUHAN NEIL KULKARNI CHAUHAN soul voice brings the greasy funk ‘82 original. Her 2015 single ‘Burn’ groove and psyche guitar of ‘Put Me gets a remaster that will surely make In Your Pocket’ to life, the two J Dilla its way back into many DJ sets, ever productions (collaborations the two memorable with its classic Robert had done years ago) are sublime, and Owens-style hook. Overall this is an there’s a smidgeon of boogie-licked incredibly well-crafted body of work house on ‘Good Vibes’. Neo-soul gold. set to propel Honey further into BEN MURPHY iconic status. ANNA WALL Rocks FOE 30/70 Fight The Good? Fight Elevate Black Acre Rhythm Section International 7.0 8.0 9.0 Get darker New tricks Zero to hero A trip into the often Tricky’s 13th album On-point with his A&R dark recesses of self- is perhaps his most selections, Bradley producing MC Rocks spacious, reflective one Zero’s new signing from FOE’s consciousness. yet. Both in its sonics have enough Amongst the sharp and self-exploration, musical expertise to delivery of rhymes — it’s laced with an gain them worldwide Visionist touching on everything overarching sense recognition. The Value from romance to of acceptance that’s 11-piece experiment Warp Britain’s everything- rather new for him. with hip-hop, neo- 8.0 9.5 must-go firesale — Instead of battling his soul through to jazz. Definitely worth it Deconstructed debut you’ll find R&B, hip-hop ghosts and demons in Incredibly well-versed, Where described his struggle Kelela Mizanekristos grew up in breaks, grimy bits, and his music, he embraces it blends spoken-word with depression in confessional Maryland listening to jazz, R&B the odd jazz-tinged them via vocal collabs poetry, soulful hooks lyrics, Louis Carnell aka Visionist and Björk, and ‘Take Me Apart’, interlude. Message, that melt into his own and freeform percussion made instrumental music specifically magically, sounds like the intersec- indeed. MARTIN lyrics and productions. with finesse.ANNA intended to simulate a panic attack tion of all three. Debuting in 2013 GUTTRIDGE HEWITT ZARA WLADAWSKY WALL on 2015’s debut ‘Anxiety’ album. with mixtape ‘Cut 4 Me’, she firmly The follow-up finds him venturing established herself as a vocalist with into similarly complex terrain with star potential — linking up with Fade REPEAT THE LPS WE CAN’T LEAVE ALONE... an album that explores conflicting To Mind and Night Slugs, she allowed internal identities. Indeed, it often her Brandy-esque vocals to elevate feels like angels wrestling with their crystalline productions to the demons, as heavenly choirs and next level. pianos appear in danger of getting Luckily, her debut album on Warp is sucked into a violent maelstrom of more of the same fare; Kelela’s sultry beats on the title track. However, vocals that are as much a throwback rather than channelling the concept to confessional, retro R&B as they are solely through the music as on future-facing, driven by new angles of Juju & Jordash Special Request NHK yx Koyxen ‘Anxiety’, here Visionist bares his soul club music. But make no mistake; her Sis-boom-bah Belief System Entrance on wounded ballad ‘Your Approval’, vocal is always the driving force. ‘Take Dekmantel Houndstooth DFA using his own voice rather than the Me Apart’ is going to place Kelela 9.5 9.0 8.5 processed sampled vocals of his within the very same halls of fame of Real jazz, on-the-fly Even after 23 tracks, It proves that simplicity earlier work. It’s not what you’d call her formative musical loves. If this evolution and artistic you’re still left wanting — when done right — easy listening, but then that’s exactly is the , we should be very expression that you more. can be everything. the point. PAUL CLARKE excited. FELICITY MARTIN simply cannot fake.

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Untitled-2 1 18/09/2017 14:14 REVIEWS>COMPILATIONS QUICKIES

Roman Flügel Milk & Sugar Various Fabric 95: Roman 20 Years Of Milk & Future Bubblers 1.0 Funkadelic: Flügel Sugar Brownswood Recordings Fabric Records Milk & Sugar Recordings 8.5 Reworked By Detroiters 7.5 7.5 Bubbling up! Westbound Records Weird and warm Anthology done Gilles Peterson’s 8.0. More than a decade right mentor-based, new after he first appeared An artist album marking artist development Make your funk the P-funk at the club, Roman 20 years, Milk & Sugar programme already Flügel helms ‘Fabric admirably focus on has some pretty 95’. Designed as “a updating their sound great alumni from its little as opposed to just first year, and this What do the luminaries of Detroit’s pioneers of techno in the 1980s and adventure”, according classics. New offerings compilation is bursting techno scene have to do with the beyond. Derrick May said techno was to the German veteran like 'Music is Moving' with fresh sounds psychedelic rock and galactic funk of “ and George Clinton stuck himself, the mix slots stand up alongside and talent spanning the city’s famous sons, Funkadelic? in an elevator”, after all. together eccentric yet updated old favourites woozy R&B, jazz-tinged Quite a lot, actually. Funkadelic, As such, this comp has been crafted emotive cuts, ranging like ‘’. hip-hop, broken-beat and its more groove-laden offshoot, with care. Marcellus Pittman subtly from fractured jungle to New material aside, the and other underground Parliament, helped spawn electronic rolls out and loops up ‘Get Off Your reverb-heavy dubstep, Milk & Sugar legacy is soulful (the good kind) with Ass and Jam’, adding subtle pads. UR all tied together by well-represented here sounds. The future feels tunes such as 1978 synth bass killer reconstruct ‘Music 4 My Mother’ into a feeling of warmth. and it’s a legacy worth pretty bright after this! ‘Flashlight’, while their live shows a slow electroid stomp with funky acid FELICITY MARTIN celebrating. ANGUS ZARA WLADAWSKY — triumphant spectacles featuring blips, BMG bathes the disconsolate PATERSON elaborate costumes, oodles of loopy of ‘Maggot Brain’ in synth humour and cosmic props such as plasma, and local garage rockers Dirt- a mother-ship spacecraft descend- bombs turn in a grotty, great ‘Super ing from the heavens — envisaged Stupid’. Just a handful of treasures on an Afro-futurism that sonically and this respectful and hugely enjoyable intellectually influenced the black collection. BEN MURPHY Various Various Kerri Chandler Yousef Presents Deep Love 2017 DJ-Kicks mixed by Circus 15 Dirt Crew Recordings Kerri Chandler Circus Recordings 8.0 !K7 9.0 Fresh selections 9.0 Birthday beats ‘Deep Love 2017’ is a At home with a A year in the making, fairly standard affair as legend 15 of the world's far as annual unmixed House legend Kerri most prolific DJs are label showcases Chandler takes us on a handpicked by Yousef go; though such a walk through his locale Various himself to celebrate description neglects and journey through ANDINA: The Sound Of The Anthology: 10 Years of SMD — aptly — 15 years the unusually high- his record collection in Peruvian Andes 1968 - 1978 Wichita of Circus Recordings. quality nature of the what is an archetypal Strut 8.5 Highlights come house, funk, disco home-listening 9.0 Sustained sounds from Kerri Chandler, and breaks that have mixtape. It’s soul- Ande up! A decade on from and Jas Bontan’s ‘You Don’t been assembled here, infused and personal, This wonderful retrospective Shaw's acclaimed debut album ‘Attack Know’, and ’s with the musicality touching on jazz, funk, focuses on a decade of music found Decay Sustain Release’, Ford has gone ‘Pure Mix’ of his own and live jazz vibes of deep house and hip- throughout the mountainous Andes on to shape the sounds of bands like ‘Dark Alleys’ but the compilation’s 11 hop, and comes knitted region, featuring a very specific , Foals and earlier in truth it's pretty cuts giving them a together with Kerri’s Peruvian cumbia sound which this year produced 's faultless. Bravo Yousef timeless quality. ANGUS own keys and spoken- brings together regional rhythms 14th studio album, ‘Spirit’. But this and happy birthday PATERSON word musings. Perfect. and Latin stylings with electric selection of rarities and B-sides from Circus. LEON CLARKSON KRISTAN J CARYL keyboards and/or guitars that SMD's releases on Wichita brings sound very of that era. Almost every together why such folk went nuts for piece on this compilation hasn’t them in the first place. There's inimi- been re-released since its original table bangers like ‘Hustler’ and ‘Tits & ON THE POD THE PICK OF OUR LATEST pressing, and each is a delight to Acid’ from ‘Attack...’, and dark, rasp- .com/djmag PODCASTS & EXCLUSIVE MIXES listen to. The groovier, sparse sounds ing techno like album opener ‘Aspic’ running through offerings from Los from ‘Delicacies’. But things get very Walker’s de Huánuco and Los Bilbao interesting indeed in the latter part of are infectiously danceable. More this 21-track behemoth; notably the traditional offerings conjure up the subtle bleeping delights of ‘Hachino- isolated, alpine landscapes, plus ko’, a collab with Roman Flügel, and there’s big band productions hailing ‘Sacrifice’, a tough angular workout, from Lima. For those familiar with punctuated with atonal off-beat stabs this type of music, it will be a treat. and Detroit-style rhythms (with a bit Newcomers to this sound and era will of trance thrown in too), crafted with PODCAST: FRESH KICKS: PODCAST: MR.G ELISA BEE ORBITAL equally enjoy it. ZARA WLADAWSKY Bicep. BEN ARNOLD

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Sam Gellaitry @ BME 2017. Photography by Thomas Jackson for TyneSight Photographic

CLUBS • BARS • EVENTS • TOURING • FESTIVALS • MOBILE DJ • BRAND EXPOSURE FIND OUT MORELITECONSOLE.CO.UK

Untitled-1 1 16/06/2017 15:46