MUSIC REVIEWS

128 ALL THE TOYS Bulgarian tech obsessive, KiNK, offers up genre-hopping club cuts on new album, ‘Playground’...

108 SULTA-N OF SOUND 114 PERFECT SCORE 120 TALK THE TALK Denis Sulta is back with his second ‘Sulta François K gets top marks remixing Mark Tumble Audio welcomes DJ Madd with Selects’ release and it’s fl ipping massive... Barrott’s ‘Cascades’ for International Feel... bass-heavy new single, ‘Badman Talkin’’...

121 GAME OF TONES 129 MAKE MUSIC, NOT WAR 132 WATER WAY TO CELEBRATE! Ever wondered what “medieval funky” Levon Vincent sends a message of peace Berlin’s revered Watergate club marks 15 sounds like? E.M.M.A has the answer... and positivity on new album ‘For Paris’... years with a 25-track compilation...

DJMAG.COM 107

DJ576.Intro-Music.indd 107 20/11/2017 16:12 REVIEWS>HOUSE

Bugsy Svegsy EP feat. QUICKIES Astroloop Dexter Kane Freerange Box Clever 9.0 Shadow Sanctuary Hailing from Milan, where 7. 5 Bugsy presides over the Firm firmness from Dexter Kane on his own Shadow persistently top-drawer Sanctuary, the pick of the ‘punch’ being the EP club-night Take It Easy, closer ‘Return Ticket’, though the pun-tastic this is a glorious hook-up ‘Schrödinger's Hat’ is no slouch either. with co-pilot Astroloop for Freerange. 'Svegsy' Lola Purple couples sluggish, dragging Drift Deeper EP percussion with dulled yet Ebb&Flow spine-tingling strings. 'New 7. 5 Vision' ups the definition, Manchester's Lola Purple drops soothing strings dropping in a positively atop a stuttering kick-drum in ‘Drift Deeper’, while flatulent bassline, but the earthy dub of ‘Taste Of 5’ is an unctuous affair, it's the majestic 'Ghost thick with atmosphere. Song' that's the killer, all stuttering percussion and DJ Octopus vocals you'll want to bathe House Crime Vol. 7 in. Unsurprisingly, Chicago House Crime don Boo Williams's mutedly 8.0 acidic mix is pretty special A veritable embarrassment of dancefloor too. weaponery here from DJ Octopus, with seven tracks and two 12-inches of murky, lo-fidelity house music. Fall over and roll around in it. Oliver Way an end-of-night anthem par rumbling bass to hold down the Music Is So Special excellence — a disco loop, a wispy top notes. 'Aur Wurld', EPM Music hefty clap and a feeling. 'Aglio more a rework than a remix, is a AUSTIN ATO 8.0 e Olio' drops a filthy bass loop touch less grand, but nonetheless PHONICA WHITE Oliver Way — aka Mr O, one half with acoustic drums for the captivating for that. Very exciting of the Detroit Grand Pubahs head-nodders and wall flowers, business indeed. — proffers this thunderous complete with a frisky, off-kilter slab of percussive, peak-time remix from Laurence Guy, who Mallard/J Deep madness, the first salvo from his injects some spooky space funk. Common Era forthcoming album. Ripping vocals Continuing the food references, International Black from the Larry Levan-produced 'Big Plate Chicken' rattles and 8.0 New York City Peech Boys' Paradise rolls with aplomb. All killer here, Bradley Zero's excellent Rhythm Garage classic ‘Life Is Something people. Section drops the third release on Special’, it grinds, pumps, thumps, its spin-off imprint International humps and writhes. On the flip, Florian Busse Black, drafting in Mallard, a the one and only Felix Da Housecat Jamieja EP 19-year-old jazz student, and J sticks his Aphrohead head on and Connected Deep for the vibrations. Mallard turns out a moody dub mix for dark 8.5 has a deft touch for the ethereal as corners. The clattering Afro-drums of the well as the jazzual, it seems, and towering ‘Jamieja’ are difficult the fragile 'Common Era' is a joy Luke Solomon enough to resist in this sterling to be around. On the flip, J Deep Light You Up feat. Queen effort from Berlin's Florian Busse fucks with some samples and then Rose & Amy Douglas on Stereo MCs and Terranova's humps in some dirty 707-type loop Classic Music Company Connected label. Once New York action to devastating effect. It's 8.0 percussionist and vocalist Lisette a game of two halves here, both No point denying this; 'Light You Santiago brings the fire, it's nigh- scintillating in their own way. Up' is an irrepressible anthem on impossible. The original is hot 01. AUSTIN ATO ‘Song For Mr Lewis’ Phonica White for the ages. The first original enough, but in case more building, Fantastic Man presents “From EP of the same name. Possibly the best full 12-inch I’ve ever made.” production from Luke Solomon simmering intensity is needed, P.M.T.C. 02. MIM SULEIMAN ‘Mwaitoma’ BubbleTease Communications on his and Derrick Carter's Classic employ the 'bouncy version'. On P.M.T.C. “Absolute jam! Fantastic vocal by Mim and production by Maurice Fulton. 808s!” imprint in three years, it's been the flip, 'Royalty' drops rasping, Superconscious worth the wait. Bringing in disorientating synths to admirable 8.5 03. GREYHOUSE ‘New Beats The House’ Dark Entries “Excellent Kraftwerk-sampling, cut & paste house reissue by the San Fran Queen Rose and Amy Douglas on effect, whipping the late-night/ Fantastic Man — aka Melbourne's label.” vocals, plus Andy Neal on bass and early morning floors to a frothing Mic Newman — busts out two 04. SOWETO ACES ‘I Need Some Money (Perdu Edit)’ AM Records Solomon's Powerdance project frenzy. sublimely dreamy tracks, both “Excellent tune given a pretty nice edit.” muchacho Moodymanc on disco embracing the emerging vogue drums duty, it's an abject lesson for trance-esque vibes. 'Cool 05. SLAVES OF NOTHING ‘Sake Of Nothing’ Jolly Jams Denis Sulta “One of Chicken Lips returns with a mate to make loose, drum machine, in deep funk layered liberally with Sulta Selects 2 Waters' chugs at a frisky clip, saxophone jams.” positive vibes. Pay attention at the Sulta Selects dropping emotive pad chords 06. AQUAPHRESCA ‘Smooth Track’ Soulsity back, class is in session. 8.0 around a burbling, relentless “It’s a loop. For 10 minutes. And it’s near perfection.” Trancey and tropical (in the bassline. 'Reality Change', with 07. MARK SEVEN ‘The Promised Land EP’ World Building Nebraska best senses of both), Glasgow's its B-movie-style sample, sounds “First two tunes on this 12-inch are ridiculous.” Metaphor To The Floor EP Denis Sulta drops some Balearic like something lifted directly from Heist Recordings rainforest action on his recently William Orbit's classic prog imprint 08. AUSTIN ATO ‘Restless Snare’ 2020 Vision “Me making dubby house that drops on 2020 Vision.” 8.5 minted Sulta Selects label, and Guerilla, like a Leftfield or Drum Solid and accomplished house vastly impressive it is too. 'Our Club production found lost and 09. TOBY TOBIAS ‘Aouta Gabon EP’ Resista “One Afro edit and one rework. Both excellent.” music from Alistair Gibbs, aka World' boasts tribal singing, wandering in a field since the early Nebraska, for Detroit Swindle's twittering birdsong, wonky synths, '90s. Superb. 10. OMAR-S ‘Nikademas’ FXHE Heist imprint. ‘Affirmation’ is life-affirming pianos and a dark, “It’s a B-side beat Omar released over 10 years ago but I love it.”

108 DJMAG.COM Send promos to BEN ARNOLD [email protected] Untitled-1 1 20/11/2017 17:27 Untitled-1 1 20/11/2017 12:33 REVIEWS>TECHNO Heinrich Dressel The Styx Swamp QUICKIES Barba Boneless One 8.5 6 Minimal Rome founder Heinrich Ride The Gyroscope Dressel follows 2015’s ‘Lurking 8.0 Underwater’ on Barba with this The sixth instalment on this Tabernacle sub-label mesmerising electro/techno starts with the mellow strings and piano of 'Cross- hybrid. The title-track brings Field', but quickly moves into tougher territory together mysterious synths with thanks to the tough drums on 'Whirlpool Of Acid' a lurching electronic rhythm that and the fuzzy groove on 'Pulsative Glow'. unravels against doubled-up claps and cavernous filters. It’s Dressel’s Veyg most dramatic but dancefloor- Mutual Romance EP friendly track. As its sub-aquatic Veyg Times title suggests, ‘Sailing The Nether 7. 5 Waterways’ takes its inspiration Tom Dicicco unveils a promising new project, from Drexciya, both in name and Veyg. The title track is a cavernous stepper, full of style, building to a climax with menacing chords, ‘Filling Pieces’ is a deep, Detroit mysterious synths and a booming groover, while on ‘Virgo Love Affair’ he shifts into bass. ‘Gray Slope’, which resounds warm, acidic techno. Nice work from an underrated to a menacing low-end, completes producer. this fine release. Neil Landstrumm Various Artists Alessandro Adriani A Death, A Mexican And A Mormon Real Sound 2 Enter The Fire CPU Real Sound Stroboscopic Artefacts 9.0 8.0 8.0 Neil Landstrumm has had a long association with bleep techno Killer tough techno release that moves from Fran Until recently, Adriani was best — going right back to 1997’s ‘Bedroom & Cities’ album — and he Hartnett’s distorted drums and brooding bleep- known as the brains behind the re-kindles this connection on ‘Tomorrow People’. Revolving around a heavy ‘Know What I Mean’ to Jon Hussey’s bleakly on-point Mannequin label, but he stuttering vocal, rolling drums and a woozy, tone-shifting bass, it’s evocative stepper, 'Motiv' and Rory St John’s woozy is increasingly gaining recognition a great tribute to Sheffield, the city that is home to CPU and which but relentless ‘Ex Battery’. Hard tracks full of soul. for his own productions. ‘Fire’ is a was instrumental in the development of the bleep scene. ‘Chrome case in point. ‘He Who Harnesses And Ferric’ is more steely, but shifts into a dreamy synth segue, while The Souls’ is a jacking techno ‘Sahara’ and ‘The Chemical Con’ see Landstrumm disappear deep into PHON.O affair, with the Italian producer hypnotic, tonal grooves. COLD focusing on a pulsating bass and sharp percussive bursts. Over two versions of 'Rituals', he a rare production for Glasgow obscure music. In this instance, shows his ebm influences, with label Nautilus Rising, proving it’s Smersh, an act that released grainy, at times queasy bass tones that his production skills aren’t a series of cassettes during the and lo-fi drums underpinning half bad either. The title track is '80s and early '90s. ’Sideways’ haunted vocals. 'Astronomy', the a dark, pulsating affair, centred revolves around jittery drums most understated track, closes on a moody bass, heavy kicks and and a skeletal rhythm, but what’s the release with a mysterious a searing acid line. However, a most remarkable about it is the undercurrent. more interesting side to Capello’s bleak acid line that wraps itself production is audible on the wide around the arrangement. The Orson Bramley screen, Carl Craig-esque ‘Time label has tapped JTC for the Then Again to Begin’, and ‘Rain’, a brittle, remix and the US producer opts Memory Box beautiful deep house track. for a totally different approach, 8.5 dropping billowing chords, rolling We haven’t heard much from Vin Sol breakbeats and even a melancholy Orson Bramley in recent years, Moonchild rave piano line for maximum but as ‘Then Again’ shows, the Honey Soundsystem impact. 01. SKEE MASK ‘Kappelberg Chant’ Ilian Tape “This whole EP is a really beautiful and groovy beast. ‘Kappelberg Chant’ Transparent Sound founder 7. 5 is my number one. It’s the best example that club tracks don’t need to be dumb.” is still adept at making great According to the label, Vin Sol DJ Aakmael underground music. The title-track faces a rigorous A&R process to Take It Back 02. HODGE ‘Swing For The Fences’ Hemlock Scissor & Thread “I love how Hodge blends techno and this UK groove for a really strong is a case in point; over the original, get his tracks released, but it track. It’s toolish but outstanding.” four-four and string versions, sounds like the approach paid 8.0 Bramley weaves together a heady off. The title-track has a mellow, This record feels like a breath of 03. PINCH ‘Water Bomb’ Cold Recordings “This is a ‘no mercy’ belter with a superb fresh kinda industrial beat that mixture of epic strings, swirling tripped-out San Fran feeling, but fresh air; in a world of dull deep drives you nuts.” synths and acid house bleeps, things take a turn for the darker house and cookie-cutter techno, 04. SHED ‘Turn 2 Turn’ Monkeytown with rhythms that sit somewhere on ‘Electrical Storms’, where Aakmael delivers the warm bass, “’Turn 2 Turn’ is a really lovely futuristic but in the same way nostalgic tune that I love to mix at later hours in a set.” between Transparent Sound’s moody chords, one-note bleeps clicking percussion and jazzy keys robust electro and Chicago jack. and dense percussion make for an of 'Take It Back'. There’s nothing 05. SIEREN ‘Tailored Mistakes’ Apollo It’s also good to hear that Robin intense combination. 'Patronize' overly complex involved, just some “This EP has a superb sound and it’s really well crafted. ‘Tailored Mistakes’ soaks you in and lets you blend out all the bad shit that’s been happening Ball is active again, dropping a is of a similarly dark persuasion, lovingly and expertly arranged at the moment.” great breakbeat version of ‘Then led this time by swirling chords, elements that call to mind Patrice 06. PEVERELIST ‘Roll With The Punches’ Punch Drunk Again’ under his Robin Beats alias. while closing track 'Bondage Scott and Keith Worthy’s music. “It’s one of my favourite dubstep classics and a great stoner song as well. Taped' sees the US producer drop a On the somewhat self-deprecating Unpretentious, heavy and deep kicks all over.” Domenic Capello dense, percussive workout. ‘What Iz Deep House?’, a 07. PINCH & MUMDANCE ‘Control’ Tectonic The Intruder EP ponderous vocal comes together “This one definitely comes from the dark side of the moon. A lethal belter Nautilus Rising that created the axis of Detroit — Bristol.” Smersh with a rolling bass and mysterious 8.0 Sideways synths, making for a hazy but 09. COOLY G ‘Hard’ Hyperdub Dark Entries “A dope blend of different genres and it’s damn groovy. It shows that UK As anyone who has ever heard him soulful track, while 'Sand' features funky has a future.” play will attest, Domenic Capello 8.0 a similar approach, full of breezy is one of the finest DJs in Europe. As always, Dark Entries does a keys and a powerful, rich bassline. 10. BRAINWALTZERA ‘carniblurr.lane 6’ Film “Absolutely great IDM that will make your synapses glow.” Now the Sub Club resident drops fine job in presenting long lost or

Send promos to RICHARD BROPHY [email protected] DJMAG.COM 111 DJ LABEL REVIEWS>PROGRESSIVE/BIG ROOM

Michael Mashkov & Leaman QUICKIES The Puzzle (PROFF Remix) Chad Bays Intricate Night Move 9.5 Intricate While the Mashkov and 9.0 Leaman original represents Even more excellence form the Intricate stable, progressive par excellence to ‘Night Move’ is about the best fusion of house and begin with, it’s the remix from trance you’re likely to hear. The extravagant melody Intricate boss PROFF that's that kicks in halfway through isn’t allowed to slow the real belter, illustrating just or distract from its dancefl oor drive in the slightest. how much of a studio maestro he truly is. It’s a masterstroke Audiofl y & Patrice Bäumel of thunderously heavy grooves Atacama coupled with intricately Crosstown Rebels woven percussion, meshing 7. 0 effortlessly and elegantly with An excellent collaboration that brings a melodic the lushness of the original. euphoria together with more introspective techno Fusing these elements has for a winning blend of the two producers’ signature become the PROFF calling sounds. card, yet there’s something particularly wonderful about Dosem the sombre melody introduced Mentality at the breakdown. Still, this is Houstrike the prelude for the stunning 7. 5 array of percussion unleashed The Spanish maestro keeps it coming with the high- after the drop, lifting this octane club records, and ‘Mentality’ is a melodic unassuming remix into “mind- techno powerhouse that just keeps turning it up blown” territory. Creative, over the course of its six minutes, peaking with a surprising and executed with siren howl that red-lines the intensity levels in its sheer confi dence. third act.

Oliver Smith character into his creation, though ‘Ghost Signal’ kicks things off deep MATT FAX Gemini he fl ips it cleverly with a softer with its heavily processed vocals, COLORIZE Anjunabeats vocal sample that adds just the steering into darker territory with 7. 0 right amount of sugar into the ‘Off The Grid’ before eventually UK veteran Oliver Smith shows mix. Powerful club music with climbing to the icy euphoric that when it comes to producing genuine smarts. peak of its titular record ‘North’. sumptuous progressive trance Yotto winds things down with the that balances deepness with Notaker emotive ‘Edge Of Affection’ that’s mainstage appeal, the well never Genesis EP been a mainstay in his sets the runs dry. ‘Gemini’ is a touch more Monstercat past year. straightforward than some of 9.0 his more adventurous material, Another release that sees an RNX energized by a brash electro accomplished club producer Utah bassline that blossoms at an early utilising the EP format to full Silk Music break into its core trance melody, effect. Notaker imbues his 8.5 which Smith embellishes like a brand of bubbly progressive RNX unleashes an old-school pro, drawing it out to nearly two with a certain cinematic fl air, deep progressive house bassline minutes before kicking the energy plus a genuine musicality with for the Silk crew here, which into overdrive again. his arrangements, and he propels ‘Utah’ forward into a pushes this to the next level on luxurious trance melody a few 01. MATT FAX ‘Everything feat. Tania Zygar’ Colorize “One of the highlights from my debut album ‘Contrast’ that’s out now on Alpha 9 Genesis. Ambience percolates minutes in that ascends to the sky Colorize. Some progressive chord work, along with those amazing vocals Burning Heart in the opening interlude, with angelic determination. An from Tania.“ Armind before it stomps into the gritty example of straightforward thrills 02. SPENCER BROWN ‘Downpour’ Anjunabeats “Some old-school trance vibes fused with a more modern sound from 8.0 electro energy of ‘Wake Up, executed with real emotion. Spencer Brown here.” A disarmingly lush slice of You’re Dreaming’. He delivers a progressive trance from Arty under triumphant vocal record with lead 03. FOUR TET ‘Lush’ Text HI-LO “A very relaxing and melancholic track, the quality of this is just unreal.” his Alpha 9 alias. Breathy female single ‘Who I Am’, while ‘Terra’ Men On Mars vocals and a powerful backdrop builds through an extended, Heldeep 04. ESTIVA ‘Raket’ Statement! “The Statement! label really excels when it comes to progressive trance, of ambient synths lead into an powerful build-up into its 7. 0 and this cut from Estiva is simple, yet so effective.” ethereal breakdown where he eventual peak. Further proof that Oliver Heldens just keeps 05. FARIUS ‘Echo Chamber’ ZeroThree really works the emotion. A proper Notaker counts among the best escalating things with the tech- “This is one of those records that really brings a nostalgic vibe.” indulgence for anyone seeking on the hyper-melodic end of the infused big-room bangers he’s those old-school Arty feels. progressive spectrum. dropping under his HI-LO alias, 06. MATT FAX ‘Synopia’ Colorize “Another from my new ‘Contrast’ album. Growling bass together with proving repeatedly he’s one of analog synths, it’ll turn your bedroom into a dancefl oor.” Dezza Yotto the most adventurous amongst 07. BT ‘Four’ Armind Her Eyes North EP the Dutch mafi a that dominates “The quality, depth and clarity of each of the sounds on this record is Colorize Anjunadeep the EDM mainstages. Grounded breathtaking.” 9.0 10 with a heavy warehouse stomp, 08. BUDD ‘Epique’ Mau5trap Dezza drops a marvellous peak- North showcases several of Yotto’s ‘Men On Mars’ is dominated by “The melody got itself stuck in my head since the fi rst time I heard it.” time record for Colorize that recent club stormers and packages an undulating synth that’s a 09. MATT FAX ‘Amnesiac’ Colorize boasts a gritty bassline to die for, them together into a mini-album throwback of sorts to ‘Exceeder’. “One more of my own from my new album — this one is about acid bass, a morphing, growling masterpiece of sorts, smoothly sequenced into There’s a tougher energy on evolving synth sequences and nice atmospheres.” that snorts and snarls like a wild one of the fi nest examples of pure display that’s perfect for the 10. KLLO ‘Walls To Builds’ Ghostly International animal. Dezza works plenty of peak-time we’ve heard this year. bigger crowds, however. “The vocal sounds so good that I could leave this on repeat all day long.”

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

DJ576.Music-Electro.indd 112 16/11/2017 15:54 Untitled-1 1 20/11/2017 12:17 REVIEWS>DISCO

Stephen Thrower Trouser Bar (Original Soundtrack) QUICKIES Abstract Raven Marcus Marr 10 High Times EP/mini-LP issue of the score to cult DFA gay porn film ‘Trouser Bar’ composed 8.5 by Coil-affiliate Stephen Thrower, who Marcus Marr exorcises the spectre of Chic that is also one half of experimental duo, has clearly haunted him. Wicked homage to Nile Cyclobe. Furthermore, Steve's the go-to Rodgers et al with choppy guitar licks and rousing on the subject of cult and exploitation production. cinema (the films of Jess Franco being his specialist subject). For this piece, Powerdance Thrower scores a pulsating and hypnotic Fantasy Light disco suite, comprised of shifting moods Powerdance that span an epic 20 minutes — imagine 8.5 the more inspired moments in the music The collective that features Al from Hot Chip, Luke of Bobby O, Cerrone or Patrick Cowley. Solomon, Jonny Rock and more drop their latest To accompany, Thrower has programmed trippy, post-punk offering, channeling the icy cool new commissions for two silent films vibe of '90s NYC. of the '70s by the "grandfather of gay porn", Peter de Rome. These tracks, in Odyssey/Dan Hartman contrast to the A-side, share the same Native New Yorker/Relight My Fire (Dimitri haunting and experimental tropes as From Paris Remixes) his work in Cyclobe and Coil. Essential Le Edits release. 9.0 Two absolute benchmark releases in the history of disco music get the “super disco mix” treatment Sare Havlicek format; tackling Italo-style disco, made over by Hifi Sean (who’s from the one and only Monsieur From Paris. Everybody Freak Out new wave, EBM and synth- currently enjoying success with Nang Records pop with aplomb. Polar Sun’s ‘Testify’, his collaboration with 8.5 release balances bold, Italo/ the one and only Crystal Waters) ROE DEERS Key to the Slovenian scene, Sare proto-house vibes with forward- and Pete Herbert, who dusts off LA BELLE Havlicek is back on Nang with thinking production touches that the tune with a dash of electronic more extended disco joy and a seem to be more and more the disco magic. host of remixers included. Ahead requirements of today’s clubs of his forthcoming fourth album, and systems. An electrofunk fix Fouk ‘Softmachine’, this EP offers an from Dutch nu-disco star, Aux Tha Butterfunk EP insight into what to expect and the Masterfader, adds a nice twist Outplay direction of where this producer is to the release, but jocks will find 7. 5 headed. The production is tight, themselves sticking to the lead Rubbery, disco-fied house and the mix is well executed, hooks track with its direct floor-filling boogie from Dutch production are littered throughout and ideas, formula. unit, Fouk. For a few years now, in general, are in abundance. Fouk have been running their Supporting remixes come from Mark Barrott Outplay imprint and, up until now, the likes of Kim & Buran and The Cascades (François K Remix) not released on the label, having Korvids, taking the tune to tech- International Feel only previously been occupied 01. MONOBLOK ‘Violence Assumee (Original Mix)’ Play Pal Music ier climes, but the slick original is 10 with singles for the likes of Kolour “French duo deliver a very strong EP again on Play Pal Music. ‘Violence Assumee’ is a killer A-side, with solid bass, dirty vocals and powerful 1/8 the standout by far. The dazzling kosmische of Ltd and Razor-N-Tape. Opening swinging rhythm.” last year’s ‘Cascades’ gets a with the bump ‘n' hustle of ‘Organ rather unexpected and utterly Freeman’ into the filtered disco 02. YUKSEK FEAT. FATNOTRONIC ‘Bateu’ Partyfine Various Artists “The French maestro and the Brazilian collaborate for a solid EP on Disco Jams EP2 enchanting overhaul from bounce of ‘Butterfunk’ — there’s Partyfine. Amazing percussion and crazy vocals on top. It’s really a fine line Gomma dance music legend, François plenty to get stuck into already — between pop and clash. Tested dancefloor killer.” 9.0 K. Beginning with an offer to with the bonus of the tracky, acid 03. NOW/ERIS ‘The Same (Sebastien Tex Remix)’ Blindetonation Gomma let loose some disco- remix it “in surround for his 2016 groove and ‘Wrongway’ and the “Tokyo-based record label Blindetonation releases an amazing EP by Lithuania’s Now/Eris. Dope originals and a really strong remix by Sebastien not-disco magic with these four show at the Ministry Of Sound”, slowjammin’ coda of ‘Winter’. Tex.” tracks from regulars Munk, LCD this version has evolved into a 04. MOSCOMAN ‘The Lady Of The Light’ Treisar Soundsystem’s Nancy Wang with lush, breezy Balearic daydream Private Agenda “Latest Moscoman release on Treisar with a surprising sound on ‘The Lady Of The Light’. Raw and chopped groove, perfectly fits an after-hours Etienne De Crecy, Pete Herbert with emphasis on Kervorkian’s Dusk & Dawn dance.” and one from The GBs. The varied signature tribal drums and key Nunorthern Soul styles do manage to make up one changes to die for. A stunning 05. GOLDEN BUG ‘Taste Of Love (Il Est Vilaine Remix)’ La Belle 8.0 “Golden Bug album remixes EP, packed full of great sounds on La Belle. My cohesive release, with each track version that will no doubt be noted The duo’s latest cosmic fantasy is favourite French killers, Il Est Vilaine, remix ‘Taste Of Love’. Twisted vocals, hitting the spot, but the standouts as one of the highlights in the projected via a label that insists dirty drums and dark bass.” are the rapidfire Hi-NRG of Munk’s more adventurous discos of 2017. it’s “not a soul music label, but 06. KONVEX THE SHADOW ‘9 (Timothy Heretic Clerkin ‘Down In LA’ (that comes off a Another essential. a label for music with soul”. Remix)’ OFF Recordings “Our fella Heretic brings a fresh remix for this Konvex The Shadow track, little like Shalamar’s ‘Right In Private Agenda’s hypnagogic ‘9’. Perfectly fits warm-up sets.” The Socket’) and the ‘Go Bang’- IPG vs Hot Toddy instrumentals have previously 07. LA MVERTE ‘The Box’ Her Majesty’s Ship sampling rabble-rouser ‘Lucky In Slow Motion Cowboy blessed the likes of Balearic “Her Majesty’s Ship is always key to a good sound. Witness this new EP by Vichy’ by that little-known crew, Night Noise Music authority International Feel, and La Mverte with slow dance hit, ‘The Box’.” The GBs. 8.0 this release finds them in their 08. KASPER BJORKE & COLDER ‘Real Slow’ Throne Of Blood Last year’s well received ‘Amuse most dream-pop state. Remixes “One of my favourite record labels, Throne Of Blood, and a great EP by Kasper Bjorke & Colder. ‘Real Slow’ reminds me of electroclash times — a Polar Sun Bouche’ compilation featured a from Ron Basejam and Ian Blevins fast, dirty vibe and dark synths.” Sounds Of The Heart host of talent from the nu-disco add remix weight to keep feet on Electronic Rumours sphere including the highlight the floor, but veterans Faze Action 09. PHIL KIERAN/SONNS ‘Castro Novo’ Hot Trax “Hypnotic grooves by Phil Kieran and Sonns on their last EP for Hot Trax. 8.5 ‘Slow Motion Cowboy’ — now steal the show with their essential, Deep pads and guitars groove perfectly — fits an opening set.” Now in their fifth year, Bristol- getting a stand-alone issue with tropical disco dub. 10. KUNDAN LAL ‘Driver’ YNFND based Electronic Rumours have the bonus of two extra remixes. “My favourite choice for the ending of a set. Strange, slow but really had a go at the revival music The choppy, Chic-style riffs get powerful Indian groove by Kundan Lal released on YNFND.”

114 DJMAG.COM Send promos to JONATHAN BURNIP [email protected] X DECEMBER 2017

3F,ShoppingMall 339,chengdu,China

Untitled-1 1 20/11/2017 12:35 REVIEWS>TECH-HOUSE

Vibe Killers Violator EP QUICKIES Hottrax Andre Salmon 9.5 Da Thing EP Having recently graced Knee Deep Sagmen In Sound, Material and Kaluki, the 8.5 emerging UK duo hit the ground Ecuador’s Andre Salmon drops his ‘Da Thing’ EP on running with a powerful EP on the his and Aert Prog’s newly-formed Sagmen imprint, Hot Creations sub-label, Hottrax. with Hot Creations favourite Mark Jenkyns and Title track 'Violator' hits hard Leftroom’s Matt Tolfrey on remix duties. A lively, with a tightly-wound percussive balanced and thorough EP from all involved. loop, obscure spoken vocals and a jilted melody transforming Kevin Over into a buzzing hook. They Where To Begin EP counter-balance this with 'The Madhouse Situation'; a swung beat drives 9.0 the track forward, with a filtered Though he normally crafts a highly techy slant on loop emerging to send this one the house genre, here, Kevin Over goes in hard on into main room territory. An the sampling with a delightfully fun and jackin' unassuming dancefloor destroyer. EP on Madhouse, including an Art Alfie remix. Infectious, party-starting house.

Nex Tone animalistic ambience, a looped but here, launching their Jobe The Habit EP vocal and a driving pulsed bass Moonless Air label, they supply Changes EP Under No Illusion pattern. It's a top-drawer offering two high-grade cuts of melody- Chapter 24 Records 8.0 that's getting rinsed by all the infused tech-house. Up first, 9.0 The UNI camp champion a Mambo main players. 'Icy Earth' crafts an intriguing More fire from this label courtesy of Jobe, who gets Ibiza resident for their latest melody against a big-room his first full solo EP a little over a year on from his release. Nex Tone, aka Danny David Scuba & Dance tech-house beat construct. Title first appearance on the label. He doesn't disappoint O'Sullivan, supplies three lively Spirit track 'Swung Blind' is a mystical with four classy tracks of organic, musical and tech-house originals, with the title Dose EP slow-burner; a bass pulse drives thoughtful tech-house. track getting the remix treatment Superfreq forward, underneath low-octave from hot property producer, 8.0 piano stabs, vocal wailings and Sirus Hood. With the sultry vocal Superfreq label-head David incidental synth stabs that make CAMELPHAT tech-house title track, 'The Habit', Scuba links with Dance Spirit, for an unassuming cut. REPOPULATE MARS leading the way and Sirus turning who are known for their futurist in a punchy remix, you'd think the minimal and deep techno, for Michel De Hey job's a good'un, but flipside tracks an EP titled 'Dose'. It kicks Smugglers Pants 'Amadeus' and 'Cataphonique' off with a remix from No.19 HEY! are choice cuts that'll enhance co-founder Nitin, taking hold of 8.5 many a DJ set. 'Prophecy' who turns in a slick, Michel de Hey is back on his own rolling slice of solar-flared deep HEY! label after releases on King Franck Roger house. 'Apotheosis' goes even Street NYC and Ovum Recordings. Lottus EP deeper, coiling tension in a sparse He keeps it simple with 'Smugglers Home Invasion soundscape of minimalism for Pants', the single off his recent 8.5 seven-and-a-half minutes. The two-track EP of the same name, Franck drops three fantastic original 'Prophecy' then slams inspired by his favourite hang- originals on his Home Invasion home a more energetic but equally out — Thuishaven, Amsterdam. label. Leading out is the sluggish mystifying sound palette. The track name may conjure all and textured deepness of 'Lottus'. the wrong mental imagery but 01. RIVA STARR ‘Resiliance’ Truesoul The proto tech-house feelings of Dodi Palese its quick to form a fresh imprint; “We are huge fans of all this guy’s work, He’s unstoppable... This track is an 'Air' will do some real damage Colourful Space EP the bassline transports you to a absolute banger. Fully next level! New-wave disco.” on the dancefloor — this one will Ràkale sumptuous ethereal breakdown 02. CAMELPHAT ‘OMG’ Repopulate Mars “One of three tracks on our new EP. A lil’ self-promo never hurt anybody, roll on for days! 'Christal' takes 9.0 before kicking back into low-riding ha ha.” the direction back towards a deep The Italian producer and DJ bass business to finish. but enlightening daytime terrace debuts on his freshly launched 03. SOLARDO ‘Fall Down’ Hot Creations “This has featured heavily in our sets the past few weeks and works every vibe. Rounding off the EP is 'My label, Ràkale, with a varied Archie Hamilton time! We love these guys.” Name Is (Alexkid edit)' — a looped four-track EP titled 'Colourful Wild Thing EP ‘Reset The Preset’ Unknown Moscow Records 04. ANDREA OLIVA string section builds and holds Space'. 'Elephant' is a brooding, “Man is killing it! We dropped this track at every gig on our US tour last month and it went clean off every time. Synth stabs and piano loops. the tension throughout for this layered and shimmering houser; 8.5 Seriously infectious, you’ve been warned!” stimulating French house fancy. 'Funkaroots' hypnotises with The Fuse resident and Moscow multiple synthesised components Records owner delivers an elegant 05. MATADOR ‘Juniper’ Rukus “Part of the new Matador five-track EP, and this is our favourite. Really Various Artists and a rumbling sub-bass; solo EP on his label, which offers beautiful track actually. An epic journey through melody!” Repopulate Stars Pt.1 'Colourful Space' delights with a three subtly different moods Repopulate Mars 06. TIGA ‘Woke (Jamie Jones Remix)’ Turbo Recordings carefree feel, bright synths and with Archie's common signature “Jamie Jones destroys this mix... Funk & FIRE!” 8.0 lo-fi drums; and Dodi wraps up the of groove and sub-elements. EP 07. MAT.JOE & CAMELPHAT ‘Bang 2 Drum’ Elrow Music This V/A is a hefty selection selection with a script-flipping cut opener 'Confusion' is a composed, “Really happy with this track, we’ve had amazing reactions all summer. It of tech-house brilliance from of droning electronica and bloated teched-out, heads-down, arms-up was awesome working with Mat.Joe, they are both super talented.” DeMarzo, Mirko Di Florio, Pirupa, drums on 'Atlantis'. Incredible! roller. 'Dos Equis' is a laidback 08. LEE FOSS ‘Drifting (Waze & Odyssey Mix)’ Repopulate Mars and Eli Brown. Standout tracks funker with real bounce and a soft “Been a proper secret weapon for us this one. 303 ACIIIIIID at its finest. come from Andre Salmon, Sammy Piemont vocal, calling out “Exstasssyyyyy”. POWER.” W & Alex E's 'Tobuxx', a pacy six- Swung Blind EP The title track, 'Wild Thing' is a 09. SATORI ‘Umama (Riva Starr Mix)’ Crosstown Rebels Moonless Air “Another perfectly executed remix from the master, Riva Starr. This is so and-a-half-minute onslaught of dubbed-out roller, supplying rock- cool! One of those tracks that would make perfect sense at 11am on the rhythmic buzzing bass and hard- 7. 5 solid sub-bass and minimalistic Space Miami terrace after a marathon set.” hitting hat-work; and Raffa FL's This pair have long been turning percussion. A deliciously 10. ANOTR ‘Let Me Tell You’ Unknown 'Loco' is another energy-fuelled out underground hits on labels intelligent triplet from the Moscow “Classic diva sample with super heavyweight drums kicking you into next cut formed of tribalistic drums, like My Best Friend and Plumbum man. week. This is deadly!”

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

DJ576.Music-Tech House.indd 116 17/11/2017 14:06 RAM25 THE ALBUM COMING SOON

Untitled-1 1 13/10/2017 16:20 REVIEWS>DRUM & BASS

Dexta & Crypticz Together QUICKIES Diffrent Music Blu Mar Ten 8.5 Titans (Law & Wheeler Remix) There’s Jedi vibes aplenty Repertoire/Blu Mar Ten Music as the master (Diffrent 8.0 boss Dexta) and the Originally a free DL following a remix padawan (up-and-coming competition, this finally gets a proper master dub-head Crypticz) join and a vinyl pressing. Proper No U-Turn vibes on forces for this jittering this one — irresistible! Plus the tribal ‘Night dancefloor bomb. And, Forms’ on the flip really seals the deal. since we may as well take this analogy to its logical Homemade Weapons conclusion, Danny ‘Sith Heiress Lord’ Scrilla comes correct Samurai Music with a double-helping 7.5 of dark side action. The Continuing on from his 2016 LP, ‘Negative Munich madman’s 140bpm Space’, Seattle-based Homemade Weapons ‘Reflop’ presents a battle of returns to the label he’s called home for the the breakbeats, while his past four years with a quadruple helping, d&b ‘Reslice’ is a seismic packed full of his signature clusterbomb breaks. charge-dropping half-time Moody A.F. as per usual. cut that we’re pretty sure is the real reason we’ve Chromatic stopped getting Christmas Ravenator cards from Alderaan. Dope Plates 6.5 If not the most boundary-pushing record from Arkaik cerebral liquid, we’re happy. The while ‘Fracking Hell’ is techy the Lossless Music offshoot, duo Chromatic’s Timelapse ‘Problems’ EP offers just this festival fodder. However, it’s the first solo EP for the label still provides three Dispatch Recordings across four of its five cuts (one three half-time hip-hop inspired solid tools. Love the classic piano-led opening 7.0 is a digi bonus), the outfit’s efforts where the Aussie really to the title-track — take us back to ‘92! The Diffrent Music-affiliate expertly crafted atmospherics shines. makes another rare appearance somehow both canvernous on Dispatch to drop a new slice and comfortingly snug. But MISANTHROP Dead Man's Chest NEOSIGNAL of wax. Cliched as it may be, what’s this? ‘Problems’ itself is Darkness At Dawn this EP is built for systems — a roaring v10 steppa designed Western Lore sub-bass is a must, so bin those purely to induce screwface… 8.0 tinny little in-ears already! Not the first from Dawn Wall, Though one of liquid d&b’s most There’s a warm, old Skeppy feel but surprisingly moreish criminally underrated producers to the whole thing, but stripped nonetheless. before assuming his junglist right back to the bare essentials Dead Man’s Chest moniker, Alex so the sharp bursts of stuttering Fixate Eveson has really found his percussion have extra impact What Goes Around feet since, and his new Western amongst the gloom. Hoods up, Exit Records Lore label now allows further heads down, you know the drill. 9.0 freedoms. The imprint’s second At the start of 2017, DJ Mag release offers three more Various named Fixate as an artist to smoky excursions for jungle Classified 3 watch. Then he went silent soldiers — guerillas in the mist, CIA Records (aside from that killer Doctor anyone? Opening hard with the 7.5 Jeep remix). This is why; it’s deathblow stabs of ‘High Noon Total Science’s label turns 21 taken all year but finally his In Cotham’, the title track rolls this year and its output is still ‘mini-LP’ has arrived and out, before the half-time dub of as solid and varied as ever. it’s well worth the wait. The ‘Hangman Posse’ finally relieves Proving this point, the third EP Londoner’s signature brand of the pressure. in the ‘Classified’ series splits chunky, energetic half-time is 01. MISANTHROP ‘Blurred’ Neosignal four cut down the middle — more defined than ever. Pick of GLXY “Something like this does not happen that often in the studio. I love it. two boisterous, barbed wire the bunch — ‘The Rig Monkey’ Lucid #EgoOff.” Shogun Audio sluggers, and two silken rollers with Skeptical — has been doing 02. PHACE & MEFJUS ‘Decisions’ Neosignal to mop up the blood. The first the rounds and will continue to 8.0 “This one is just so fun to mix to, and a massive banger too.” pair are our faves, with Villem’s do so for a long time to come. Shogun Audio love an exclusive 03. DUNE ‘Synergy’ Neo Dubplate rework making ‘False Alarm’ signing, and with previous “A monster of a tune. These guys are unstoppable.” sound like 'Alien Girl' in a releases on Hospital, MTA Safire 04. MISANTHROP ‘The Lick’ Neosignal meat-grinder, and Jakes’ sultry Distant Light and Soulvent Records it’s no “You need just a bit of jazz now and again.” vox finding the perfect match in Plasma Audio surprise this rapidly rising 05. RIDO ‘Sexy Thing’ Blackout Critical Impact’s bass wubs on 6.5 duo were snapped up by the “I love how people react to this minimal techno-inspired track.” ‘Geeks And Geez’. It’s been a little while since imprint. ‘Lucid’ is a beautiful 06. MISANTHROP ‘Short Stop’ Neosignal we’ve heard from Plasma Audio track, built around shuffling “A classic neurofunk track in a 2017 outfit.” Dawn Wall boss, Safire (last spotted breaks and a fat, warm, melodic 07. CULPRATE & JOE FORD ‘Gaucho’ Open Outlets Problems remixing Cause4Concern back bassline. This is a glorious drop “What a killer combo these two producers are. So, so good.” Integral Records in May). A big collaborator, it’s of glistening liquid which is good to see him flexing solo perfect for solitary enjoyment, 08. MEFJUS ‘Blitz’ Neosignal 7.0 “Nearly a classic and yet it won’t leave my selection.” Dawn Wall could be a collab here, returning with a pick ‘n’ but will also tear down a floor. between Timmy Mallett, mix five-tracker. Opener ‘Voice It has a soft, emotive vocal at 09. MISANTHROP ‘Random’ Neosignal Skeletor and a ham sandwich Of Instinct’ is hypnotic but has its heart, adorned with soaring “It’s not as random as the title suggests.” for all we care — so long as a sense of urgency that lifts pads and glimmering touches 10. ENEI ‘Transition’ Critical Music they keep producing sublime, it above standard roller level, of light. “Clever hooks, sexy drums, great production — Enei!”

118 DJMAG.COM Send promos to WHISKY KICKS [email protected] REVIEWS>GRIME

YGG QUICKIES World Domination Faze Miyake KeepinItGrimy Evo 9.0 Woofer Music YGG will go down as one 7.5 of 2017’s breakout acts. Faze veers away from no-frills bass An explosive tour de force instrumentals in favour of more wide-reaching, comprised of PK, Saint P vocalled sounds on this EP, kicking things off and Lyrical Strally, each with a smoother-than-caramel R’n’G blend MC has a distinct lyrical before dipping into Afrobeats and video game personality, but as a unit sonics. they’re indestructible. The name says it all with this EP Cardinal Sound — a ricocheting statement Different Style of intent, each member has More Time Records a standalone track to shine 8.0 on (Strally’s orchestral Arriving on the consistently exciting More Time smash-and-bash ‘Ratings’ Records, Cardinal Sound drafts in Killa P of is a highlight), but the ‘Skeng’ fame for some deep, dark and dangerous sinogrime-referencing sonics, while the flip opts for a more Carnival- ‘Genjutsu’ shows off what ready flavour — firing out steel pan melodies. they can really do as a (terrible) trio. JEVON BLACK NOISE Bossman Birdie bangers. Dropping bars up a little something to keep All That Talk referencing his Air Max-encased the wolf from the door. He’s Self-released feet, he’s even gone for some drafted in Blay Vision for a gold 6.5 Travis Scott-esque ad-libs and standard beat, complete with After dropping one of the best tongue-twisting triplet bars creeping flute line, over which grime videos of all time for to strike fear into the heart of Prez shows off that idiosyncratic the explosive ‘Walk The Walk’, even the fastest of MCs. nature that’s served him well Bossman Birdie dishes out some over the years. Expect lines like advice to younger MCs on ‘All Skepta “I'll hold my business, please That Talk’, suggesting they stop Vicious mind yours/Mum's like ‘Prez, stunting online and spend their Boy Better Know remember your chores’”. time more wisely. There’s some 6.5 strong bars in the mix here but There’s no doubt that Skepta’s GRANDMIXXER it doesn’t quite match up to trajectory has been impressive, SLSA the ferocity of some of Birdie’s and completely inspirational. South London Space Agency earlier cuts, with the Odda Fittingly, the roll call on his 7.0 Beats-produced instrumental latest EP is strong — Lil B, A$AP Grandmixxer kicks off his new failing to incite much of a Nast, Rocky, plus Section Boyz. South London Space Agency reaction. Where Lil B’s track is inventive imprint, or S.L.S.A, complete and a sure-to-be hit, the with sharp new logo that nods Ghetts Section-featuring ‘Worst’ relies to NASA. It’s intended to Slumdog Millionaire too hard on those Skeppy synths provide a home for the iconic GIIG Records 01. DAVE ‘How I Met My Ex’ Self-released we’ve come to recognise him grime DJ/producer’s circle of “Incredible storytelling from Dave. The song was very honest from him. He for, sounding not too dissimilar friends who he’s worked with paints an incredible picture with his wordplay.” 6.0 Another day, yet another to the preceding track, ‘No over the years, reaching for 02. YXNG BANE ‘Froze’ Disturbing London Records grime album: Ghetts has just Security’. The main question, the sky in the process. The “Bane has always had a great ear for a melody. ‘Froze’ wasn’t what I was expecting, but he delivers every time!” announced the release of really, is this: does anyone inaugural EP is made up of ‘Ghetto Gospel: New Testament’, really need 15 iPhones? ‘SLSA’, a mercilessly crunching, 03. KOJEY RADICAL ‘After Winter’ Self-released “My good friend Kojey Radical is one of our country’s treasures. A true which’ll be arriving early next 808-heavy instrumental, poet and wordsmith. KZ on the production too, these two are a force to be year. The first taste of the LP Wiley plus two contributions from reckoned with.” sees the veteran MC linking up I Call The Shots feat. Jme Nottingham’s Mez and YGG’s PK 04. J HUS ‘Good Luck Chale feat. Tiggs Da Author’ Black Butter with Stefflon Don, who provides CTA Records who vocal a version each. “Love this song. From an incredible album, every song has so much replay value. Hus shows his cheeky side with this one. Love the hook from Tiggs an addictive hook with her 8.5 and the production from Jae5.” Jamaica-via-London lilt. The Cleverly timed to coincide with Slowthai

05. BIG ZUU ‘Builders’ Self-released desi sample lining the beat the launch of his autobiography, I Wish I Knew “Zuu is one of my favourite grime MCs. So charismatic and will mash up any provides a fairly nice fusion the grime Godfather plays an BONE SODA ノノ set you put him on. True microphone controller!” sound, but Ghetts could’ve ace with surprise drop ‘I Call 8.5 06. AJ TRACEY ‘Blackout’ AJ Tracey come up with stronger lines The Shots’. Long-time co- We’re seeing a handful of new “AJ always delivers consistently! Haven’t heard a weak AJ verse ever. Always has the tightest delivery no matter what riddim he’s on!” than “Hot like an Indian curry”. worker Z Dot is on production vocalists who’re fusing the with a characteristically rawness of punk energy with rap 07. BERNA ‘All Of It’ Self-released “Berna is the future of UK rap for me. A young 18-year-old from the ends Izzie Gibbs snapping beat, while fellow and grime, and Northampton- who can out-rap most rappers. His delivery is always tight, with punchlines Obviously BBK member Jme is on guest bred MC Slowthai is one of this to match!” Dice Recordings duties, namechecking education crop. Having taken to the stage 08. A2 ‘Trade Places’ Disturbing London Records 8.5 inspectors Ofsted in his bars. when BBK recently hijacked the “A2 the sauce king. He really is in his own lane. A2 makes music you listen to when you’re driving.” Northampton’s very own Izzie O2, and collaborated with JD. Gibbs has made his stamp President T Reid on the essential ‘Interior’, 09. E.MAK & BIG ZEEKS ‘Yo Remix feat. Stylo G, Frisco & on this year, unleashing the Mind Your Business his latest offering has been TE dness’ Polydor 3 Beat Productions “I remember hearing this song and stopping what I was doing to start eagerly-received ‘Yin Yang’ produced by R&S alumni Kwes dancing. Bouncy vibes and some quotables for days.” EP. ‘Obviously’ is more of the 8.0 Darko, and it’s an experimental, same fare, although that’s a While we’re still out here 22 minutes of teeth-gritting 10. JAMMZ ‘Who’s That Girl?’ I Am Grime “Another favourite MC of mine. Always vibes with Jammz and on this one plus point when your fare’s awaiting hallowed LP ‘Stranger flexing that’s as full of dread as he’s clean with it. Gives me some old school Channel U vibes.” addictive, wild-as-fuck trap Returns’, President T knocks it is a vibe.

Send promos to FELICITY MARTIN [email protected] DJMAG.COM 119 REVIEWS>BREAKS

DJ Madd Badman Talkin QUICKIES Tumble Audio Hybrid Theory 9.5 Lust US-based soundbwoy Four40 Records DJ Madd unleashes the 9.0 soundsystem bass with this Bassline-meets-garage fl ex courtesy of UK booming, low-slung slice of Midlands bass dons Hybrid Theory, who blend dubby futurism. A sampled jackhammer bass, classy beats and one of those ragga fl ow — "Listen to the indie meets R&B vocals that are so current right badman talking" — sets off now. the vibes, while scattershot percussion and snares Kouncilhouse & Amber Angell underpin the riddim and Feels Like atmospheric brass hits bring Dirty Lemon the fyah. On remix duties, 9.5 the ever-reliable Murder Here's a blast of ravey goodness from London's He Wrote sends down a Kouncilhouse, combining Amber Angell's epic reverb-heavy club-centric vocal with effervescent synth and piano work, UK funky rerub, New York's powerhouse sampled breaks and garagey b-line Tony Quattro adds trademark cool. The defi nition of peak-time. Latin tribalism, and Bristol's Archive plumps for a cracked- Tuff Culture out half-time throb-out. Anyone Else feat. Sophia Lee Four 40 8.0 Tik&Borrow some clown-steppy rhythms bursts into the rave like a rhino Tuff Culture is the beauty and the beast of UK Neurality EP and b-line silliness on 'Gettuh', with a bad temper, fl inging killa bass music. 'Anyone Else' sees the UK Midlands Infl ux Audio while Jay's team-up with sampled breaks, industrial- maestro blending cultured synthwork with 7.0 Finland's NIQW — 'Right Back' strength low-end, ravey chords Sophia Lee's dusky, lovelorn vocal, itself a thing Sheffi eld duo Tik&Borrow offer — turns out to be all about and a sick little "turn it up of soulful wonder, before hitting us with a drop up two tracks of atmospheric, the rudist vocal bass house. engineer"sample into the so beefy it could fl oor a T-Rex. string-fuelled bass music on 'Oblivious', a collab with Leeds' mix for a track that takes no this sampler for their new Gawp, rocks a gnarly four-four prisoners from the moment it full-length album. Both 'First vibe, while the Vanilla Ace- drops. On the fl ip, Phlegmatic TIK&BORROW Child' and 'Intake' plough featuring 'For The Night' is pure Dogs send down a lush yet INFLUX AUDIO a fearsome noisenik furrow, 3am stompout territory. sandpaper-tongued four-four scattershot snares and rumbling revamp, while Isenberg delivers low-end interspersing with Donkong a hybrid breaks/house rerub orchestral synthwork and the Animals that's heavy on the hyped-up odd smattering of MC hype. Punks Music bassline attitude. 9.0 Left/Right This is pure class. Germany's Womba Fall Donkong deliver a gloriously Come In M11-2 In/Rotation slinky slice of bass music, all Broken 9.5 atmospheric chords, lissom 9.0 01. TIK&BORROW ‘Come Selectah feat. Tengu’ Infl ux Audio Texas' Left/Right has been keys and pitch-processed Taking everything that's good “The lead track off our debut album has been absolutely causing havoc this called the 'King of the Deep', vocal hits over a shiny kick and about the classic early 1990s summer in our sets. Tengu are top lads and we had a great time collabing with them on this one.” but in truth it's impossible clap riddim. The melodies are rave era and wrapping it up to classify this most cerebral stratospheric, and guaranteed in a muscular package of dark 02. CASPA & RUSKO ‘Fruity Loops’ Sub Soldiers “An absolute party anthem — the fi rst time we heard it was mind-blowing. of producers because he to get the seratonin fl owing like breakbeat energy, Londoner Went off at festivals all summer for us and is a mainstay in our sets.” increasingly has a cultured a 1998 pink callie. Womba blasts onto the scene 03. TUFF CULTURE ‘Feels’ Four40 Records and heartfelt sound that's with a track that should have “This is the best of an amazing three-tune selection. Crowd destroyer.” all his own. Released on US Plump DJs everyone's ears pricking up. big beast Insomniac's In/ 'Come In M11-2' combines lush 04. SAMPLE JUNKIE ‘Yes Jah’ Infl ux Audio Keep A Focus “Sample Junkie is one of the best producers we get the chance to work with Rotation imprint, 'Fall' is a wall Punks Music Bukem-esque padwork with on a regular basis, and this is one of many tunes we could’ve picked. The of dystopian sonics, melodies 9.0 blistering 'Think' breaks, half- second breakdown is next level.” twisting and turning as if Combining 808 bass with a huge heard snatches of diva vocal 05. TC4 ‘Marimba Riddim’ free download “When we heard this on a night out, it absolutely made us stop in our fi ltered via a wormhole through kick-and-clap breakbeat and and fearsome, fi zzing b-line tracks and ask the DJ what it was. An absolute belter of a tune, and another space, breakbeats glistening cultured synthwork, the Plumps bravado. If all "breaks" music mainstay in our sets.” with the energy of a thousand remind us of their enduring sounded like this, the world 06. TIK&BORROW ‘Wastelands’ Infl ux Audio suns. So pretty decent, then. appeal. 'Keep A Focus' boasts might just start listening to us “Another track from our forthcoming album, this one has a grimier edge to a classic rap-sample loop, the once again. it but it gets people pulling the full-on bass face in the crowd.” Jay Robinson coolest of atmospherics and 07. SAID WHO X PELIKANN ‘Cardiac’ Gully even a snatch of slap-bass “Pelikann is another talented producer that we’re lucky to work with Jay Robinson vs The World EP Ghstghstghst regularly, and when we saw that he’d teamed up with badman Said Who, we Night Bass guitar to remind us of the duo's Buss The Dance were excited. The tune is a banger!” 9.0 classic noughties-era beats. 1Forty 08. KANJI KINETIC ‘MDMA’ SWB Records You know what you're going to Rarely (in the last decade) have 7.0 “A set closer for us, this tune is an absolute stone-cold killer. There’s not a person who we’ve met who doesn’t love this tune from Kanji — beautiful get with a Jay Robinson track: they sounded so on-point. In the right club space, ‘Buss and disgusting in equal measures.” supreme production skills, Da Dance’ should cause those meaty beats and bowel-shaking Rico Tubbs bodies to fl y around the room. 09. ARCHIVE (UK) ‘Ghana Police’ Tumble Audio “The EP that this tune comes from is one of the best selling in the scene for low-end. But throw a series Chemistry MC Serious’s vocal is tight and good reason. Every track is a banger and we still rinse all of them today. Broken ‘Ghana Police’ is our favourite from the release and it completely showcases of collaborators from across hype-ready and the beats are what an amazingly unique producer Archive is.” the globe into the mix, and 9.0 solid, even if the brutal mid- the template's in for some Mighty junglist devastation range bass motifs are relentless 10. MR VEGAS ‘Under Mi Sensei (Tik&Borrow Bootleg)’ White Label satisfying twists. Robinson and here from Finland's nuttiest to say the least. “A summer smasher that gets people singing along and grooving at the UK badman Pelikann throw in studio badman. 'Chemistry' same time. Coming soon!”

120 DJMAG.COM Send promos to BEN CHILD [email protected] REVIEWS>BASS Henry Wu & Earl Jeffers Projections QUICKIES MCDE Obsequies 7.0 Organn Stepping out on Motor City KNIVES Drum Ensemble’s label, South 8.0 London’s Henry Wu and the Scratchy, scattershot found sounds, VHS static and Welsh wizard, Earl Jeffers, sweeping waves of aggression characterise the collaborate on two cuts that debut 12” from the Belgian producer Obsequies for explore the marriage of jazz Kuedo’s KNIVES imprint. A record of real duality, and house. Yeah, I know what it’s sweetheart piano one second and atom bomb you might be thinking, I’m the whoosh the next. guy who bemoans house a lot of the time and then writes about something overtly house-y Neil Landstrumm solely because Henry Wu’s on A Death, A Mexican And A Mormon it. You’re not wrong. But you’re Central Processing Unit not right either. I’m cultivating 7. 0 enigma. And these cuts are The Scottish legend Landstrumm drops a new four- smooth as shit. track EP on Central Processing Unit that bears all the trademarks of what makes his music so unique. Low End Activist His brew of chiming, nagging arpeggios, primitive Park End feat. Trim drums and raw electronics coalesce into madness. Bobby Donny 7.0 NxWorries In spite of my love for Yes Lawd! Remixes everything Trim does, ‘Park Stones Throw End’ feels, at first, like a bit of 8.0 a forgettable feature. Sure, his E.M.M.A. Knxwledge remixes an entire album he made with lyrics land like the glittering Mindmaze bona fide superstar Anderson.Paak in a move that daggers we’ve come to expect Coyote Records channels a Madlibian flair for self-deconstruction. from the emcee but the original 9.0 Cue more faultless, swinging drum-work and beat feels a little stock. His Back in school, were you ever forced to watch that version of referential sampling of Paak’s vocal lines. iconic delivery warrants more Macbeth, where The Bard’s play was transported into a gritty urban Knxwledge is a master. than a clipped four-four garage environment? The tortured protagonists skulking round some jiggle and thankfully that's brutalist estate in Birmingham while tripping over the awkward what Bobby Donny owner Frits archaic prose and supping from cans of Carling. Ray Winstone was GRANDMIXXER Wentink delivers on his remix, in it. I think? Anyway, E.M.M.A’s ‘Mindmaze’ should’ve been that SOUTH LONDON SPACE AGENCY matching the slow measure of production’s title theme. It’s a splashy, snare-driven waltz through Trim’s flow with woozy, spatial baroque melodies — a perfect, bastardized ‘Greensleeves’. suitcase piano.

Ténèbre with a triplet of quick-stepping carbonated fruit drink and Territory III EP cuts named things like ‘Saturday listening to a bunch of Sun WNCL Recordings Job At Laser Quest’ and ‘Dog Ra. Evidently I’m not the only 8.0 In The Fight’, trying things like one as the Italian producer Ténèbre’s style slots so stomping four-four, jungle and Marcello Napoletano, here effortlessly into the archivalist tear-out grime. operating as Ra Toth & The sound world that West Norwood Brigantes Orchestra, channels Cassette Library inhabits. His GRANDMIXXER the legendary astral jazz of Ra music is full of the same kind SLSA into five squalling and bizzare-o of rough-shot scuffed snares, South London Space Agency tracks for New Interplanetary sampled static and rollocking 7.0 Melodies. Surfing through big beat drum patterns, mixed Having first experienced what octane acid, hard groove and down with the same sense of Grandmixxer does live in the the cataclysmic skronk of 01. GRANDMIXXER ‘SLSA’ South London Space Agency “8-bar grime at its rawest. A staple in my sets for the last two years.” built-in atmospheric fug that flesh, with a couple of lagers ‘System Disease’. makes someone like Joe stand and a chicken shish inside me, 02. JEB1 ‘Year 8’ South London Space Agency “Half bassline, half space, all totally unique. A personal favourite of mine.” so far above the parapet. when he was DJing at Boxed Simo Cell ‘Density’ and ‘Axe Nord-Sud’ way back when, I’ve always had Pour Le Club! 03. DULLAH BEATZ ‘Dub Vendor’ Unreleased Livity Sound “8-bar madness. An integral part of the MC’s performance on radio sets would definitely be my tips a soft spot for his work. His and stage shows.” from the four greyscale tracks set was unafraid to clash and 8.5 on offer, but it’s all incredibly clatter, but his selections were I’ve said it numerous times 04. GENERAL COURTS ‘Bongo Dub’ Unreleased “The most explosive dub in my box right now. Pure fire, pure vibes!” impressive. brick-hard and I enjoyed myself already in print but Livity thoroughly. His first single on Sound’s whole output, the 05. BOYLAN, TRENDS & RIKO ‘Dutty Harry’ Meanstreets “A massive collaboration from these guys. Monster music.” Loom his new label is similarly as stripped-down heavy bass, London Ambient brutal — just thick pulsing bass rolling drum-driven curveball 06. GRANDMIXXER & JEB1 ‘African Navy Seals’ South London Gobstopper stabs, 808 cowbells and tricksy techno thing, is fucking Space Agency “All the magic that me and Jeb1 could muster in one dub.” 8.0 hand-claps. awesome. They’ve really forged Showing the breadth of a unified something out of 07. DULLAH BEATZ ‘Oppz’ Unreleased “For me, this is the craziest-sounding grime tune since Wonder’s ‘What’!” his ability with astounding Ra Toth & The Brigantes their machines and Simo Cell’s panache, Loom’s new EP for Orchestra latest four-tracker for the label 08. GRANDMIXXER ‘Screaming’ South London Space Agency “A tune so horrible it could only exist in grime. Gaining cult status every Gobstopper veers all over the Acid Sea continues to flesh out the world time I play it.” place. It nods to the ‘London New Interplanetary Melodies they created with killer cuts Ambient’ of the title on its like ‘How Do U Turn This On’ — 09. SIR SPYRO ‘Tekkerz’ Unreleased 7.0 “The essence.” opening and closing beatless Y’all know me. Still the same which booms loud with absolute pieces but it's the meat in the O.G. But I’ve been low-key. bombast — and the uptempo 10. POLONIS ‘Cotton Mouth (Wig Power Remix)’ Unreleased “The orginal was a banger, the remix takes the whole thing to another middle of the five-tracker that's Probably sitting quietly junglist nuances of ‘Feel Di level.” more striking. He goes hard somewhere, drinking a low Kouala Vibes’.

Send promos to OLI MARLOW [email protected] Send promos to OLI MARLOW [email protected] DJMAG.COM 121 REVIEWS>HARD

Activator Greta is Great (Adaro QUICKIES Remix) Crystal Mad Activa Outta Control 9.0 Nightbreed Brutality was the word 8.5 that came to mind This rising talent from the UK scene is when listening to this causing all kinds of waves out in Europe with for the first time. I’m a consistently high-quality productions like this. fan of experimentation Rough and raw hardstyle with unique melodic and cross-genre elements and pristine production. pollination, but you also have to respect Klubfiller music that is this pure. Ain’t No Stopping Us Now Adaro is known as one Klubbed UP of the harder acts in 7.5 the hardstyle scene, a UK hardcore vocal smash hit here from Stevie leader of the rawstyle Klubfiller, featuring the classic offbeat kick and movement, but this bass, plus soaring UK hardcore melodies, which remix for Activator complement the vocal well before dropping into exceeded even my a European hardcore-led section in the main expectations. The drop for a break from the norm! original track's sinister melodies and creepy Crypsis horror vocals lend Back Again themselves perfectly to Minus Is More this concept, and Adaro 8.0 takes things to the Rawstyle master Crypsis is back again for next level. This track another smasher on Luna’s Minus Is More label, doesn’t exist to gain featuring up-tempo beats and short breaks for mass appeal, it exists a full-on heads-down thrasher made to destroy for the underground dancefloors. and that alone needs commending in 2017. Sublimely produced ear KELTEK destruction! SCANTRAXX

E Force & Sun Zero Envine & Hypnose Koozah Project Story Of Secrets Two Worlds Here Comes The Boom Scantraxx Traxtorm X Bone Records 8.0 8.0 8.5 We can always rely on Scantraxx One of my favourite new Huge release from the X Bone to break new artists onto the producers in the hardcore label, which is usually reserved hardstyle scene, with their high scene, this rising Italian star is for up-and-coming rawstyle quality A&R having an open back with an uptempo hardcore artists, picking two of the ethos to pushing new artists. banger. No melodies in sight, hottest acts on the raw scene This new uplifting hardstyle this is all about pounding for this mighty collaboration. anthem ticks all the boxes distorted kick drums, ravey As you would expect this is a with the emotive female vocal bleeps and evil screeches. brutally hard track focused sample, soaring hard trance Certainly not one for the faint around the ‘Here Comes The melodies, powerful drops and of heart but if you can handle 01. KELTEK Down To Earth Scantraxx Recordz Boom’ vocal sample with that feel-good factor running your beats hard and fast, don’t “There is not really a track which is the absolute number one for me.” distorted kicks, a simplistic throughout. This formula has sleep on this one. melody and heavy, dirty drops! been rinsed out a lot but it 02. NOISECONTROLLERS ‘Spirit of Hardstyle’ Spirit Of Hardstyle “The mid/intro, especially, gives me that super old school underground Certainly not one for the faint always works on the dancefloor! Code Black & Crisis Era dance feel.” hearted! Beat Cannon We R 03. WILDSTYLEZ & HARD DRIVER ‘Get Wild Go Hard’ Lose Control Crude Intentions “On Lose Control Music. Absolute dancefloor killer!” Warface & D Sturb Get Down 9.0 Foolish 04. PSYKO PUNKZ ‘Psyko Foundation (The Prophet Remix)’ Dirty Open Your Eyes An awesome collaboration Workz End Of Line Recordings 9.0 between these Aussie and “Still one of my favorite tracks we did when I was still part of Psyko Punkz. 9.0 One of my favourite freestyle Canadian acts. This is a unique Best remix of all time!” Warface is without a doubt producers delivers a brand hardstyle stomper; the first 05. DEVIN WILD & RVAGE ‘Just Me’ Unleashed the hottest act to come new EP of bangers on Foolish, drop is a deep, dark kick and “These guys are the faces of the future.” through on the raw scene in and as always he throws away rolling bass section in the Crisis 06. AUDIOTRICZ ‘Inception’ Q-Dance the past 12 months, bringing the rulebook in true freestyle Era style, before dropping “A silky and very powerful sound throughout. Great melody and cinematic build-up. A perfect example of pure hardstyle nowadays.” more accessible, commercial fashion, fusing elements of to the second break where sounds with him. This new hardstyle, rawstyle and tech- Code Black's influence takes 07. ANDY SVAGE ‘Gravity’ Q-Dance release alongside D Sturb trance all together. This has all over. Code Black is known for “Love the atmosphere in this one!” features a beautiful female the elements of a club banger: big melodies and this is no 08. SUB ZERO ‘The Project’ Dirty Workz vocal, reminiscent of '90s UK a huge catchy melody and exception. The beat drops “Creativity opens new doors, and sets hardstyle in a new direction.” happy hardcore, combined ferocious fast-paced bassline again, this time with a much 09. NOISECONTROLLERS ‘Down Down’ Q-Dance with uplifting melodies in the in the intro, a main drop more ‘raw’ edge, and pitched “The chord progression and build-up together with this whole crispy sound design does it for me. The ‘Down’ version of this track is especially worth breakdown before dropping that delivers a true uplifting to follow the melody. A great, a listen.” with serious, heavily distorted hardstyle section, and a raw- creative track that's awesome 10. RAN-D ‘Zombie’ Roughstate kicks and vocal snippets! influenced outro! Epic! on the dancefloor. “I don’t say this very often but it beats the original, for me. I can tell there’s a lot of work, time and perfection in this track.”

122 DJMAG.COM Send promos to DJ KUTSKI [email protected] DJ LABEL REVIEWS>TRANCE Bryan Kearney pres. Karney QUICKIES Smiler Jase Thirlwall Kearnage Recordings Animal 7. 5 AERYS Channelling the one-note bass 8.0 ‘n’ thud of Picotto’s ‘Lizard’ to Thirlwall’s second of note in almost as many issues a completest degree, Brian’s is an uptick again from ‘Lucent’, and better yet is latest is a brutalist exercise in the starting to show some real stylistic/artistic range. stripped-down and minimal. Its ‘Animal’ is a far more complex beast, buoyed by FX-freaked “Gotta get up/gotta nuance and, at its centre-point, featuring that feel good” vocal refrain gives it classic Dutch organ sound (something that rarely a frenetic edge, only adding to goes amiss). the abiding sense of mania. If you’re waiting for some cop-out, Ahmed Romel pressure-release elements, best Kairos forget about it. They never arrive FSOE Excelsior — and nor should they. 7. 5 Cool opening harmonies and a pitch-perfect Purple Stories gradient-rise to its production do much to rally Manuscript ‘Kairos’’ cause. What retains the ear strongest is its Create Music whispered vocal ploy. Always elusively just out of 8.5 distinct range, its intrigue invites repeat spins. Reducing the release tap to 8 Wonders the merest trickle over the last Tribal Affair Sneijder four years only seems to have A State Of Trance Neutralize increased the general thirst for 9.0 Afterdark Purple Stories material. The Polish ‘Tribal Affair’ is a paradox in several ways. It’s produced under Arnej’s 7. 5 twosome's debut for Create (and 8 Wonders alias — a moniker many had down as permanently retired. With a foreboding tech underlay and inharmonious, their first since last January’s It’s also out on the somewhat musically preordained ASOT, yet has a discordantly crawling intro-riff, ‘Neutralize’ is doing ‘Slammer’) has been more than cavalier attitude to the covenant. Its central tribal angle is no half- whatever it can to put the frighteners on you. Later worth the wait. ‘Manuscript’ measure and isn’t afraid to go full cowbell or Batacada when required. in, occasional lighter tones make themselves felt, conjures a high-tension build, The mainline meanwhile is an absolute spanker, while not necessarily allowing some degree of counterbalance. backdropped by all manner of sounding very ‘ASOT’. You do wonder what the floor will make of it, arcane swirling FX. All of which but I, for one, can’t get enough. prefaces a mainline cyclone that ARKHAM KNIGHTS should whip any clubfloor with a COLDHARBOUR RECORDINGS pulse to quick order. Minimal in profile, maximal in Lemon8 (remember him!?)’s effect — subsequent producer cooler spin on ‘Inevitable’ is more Allende generations could, I suspect, than worth putting an ear to too. EP learn much from this ‘less is more’ Pure Trance Recordings approach. Arkham Knights 8.0 Gravity Finland’s Anssi Hohti nearly HP Source Coldharbour Recordings has his running order priorities Synapse/Guerrilla 8.0 right on this EP. To say that ’10 Outburst Records If you happened to skip between Minutes To Infinity’ is more like 8.0 ‘Gravity’’s intro and its mid-to-late eight minutes of banality would HP Source’s stats make for sections, you’d be forgiven for be too harsh. So we won’t. It is, impressive reading. Release- wondering how A became B. Its 01. ARKHAM KNIGHTS ‘Gravity’ Coldharbour Recordings though, the least interesting active for just 18 months, they’ve intro percussion and drums have “We wrote the melody around a year ago, long before we’d built the actual track. Some ideas take longer to initiate, but we are very happy with the on offer. Outwardly the lead already notched up 10 outings, an almost innocuous '90s house outcome and support!” item, ‘Time & Again’ is the most strategically spread over seven feel, only enhanced by the mild floor-forthright, and never misses hard trance labels, and with zero tribally edge to the bass. Three 02. CLINT STEWART ‘Breath (Timmo Remix)’ Terminal M “The atmosphere in the breakdown is right on point. One of our personal the opportunity to weaken the deadwood. Outburst and Kearnage minutes later, and through super- favourites at the moment.” knees with a melodic moment or are the latest beneficiaries, slick and efficient key changes, it’s 03. PAUL ANTHONEE, HAZE-M & INNER REBELS FEAT. HAP- three. ‘Lost My Way’ will grab you with the former landing itself warped into rat-tat-tat snares and TIC ‘The Love Is Over’ Suara the second its bass engages. In the aggressing psy (and cheeky synth fire. ‘Gravity’’s gravities are “We love the vocals in this one! Goosebumps all the way.” the break it jettisons what you’d ‘Professional Widow’ sampling?) doubtless strong. 04. CHRISTIAN SMITH & VICTOR RUIZ ‘Utopia’ Tronic happily imagine to be its excellent ‘Synapse’. Leaner, ‘Guerrilla’ is also “Another driving banger from the Smith & Ruiz camp, which fits nicely in our live sets.” mainline, before confidently more bullish and testosterone- Markus Schulz replacing it with an even stronger trance-like in nature. Luce Prima 05. MARKUS SCHULZ PRES DAKOTA ‘Moto-Mota (Arkham one. Coldharbour Recordings Knights Remix)’ Coldharbour Recordings “This one is right up our street. Awesome vibes from Markus & Koen!” Misja Helsloot 8.0 Marco V Labeorphilists/Indecent Weighing in at 14 minutes, 06. ARMIN VAN BUUREN ‘This Is A Test (Arkham Knights TiTiT Exposure/Inevitable Schulz’s latest has a runtime Remix)’ Armind In Charge Recordings Rielism Records “It was nothing short of an honour when we got the call for an Armin that’d dwarf even the theatrical remix. We had so much fun making this track and it’s already seen action lengths of Airwave. All isn’t quite at Tomorrowland, Untold Festival, Ultra Brazil and World Club Dome Korea.” 8.5 8.0 Titter-ye-not, Marco ably After noting in the last issue as it seems, though. ‘Luce Prima’ 07. SAM SHARP ‘Roundabout (Purple Haze Remix)’ Doorn Records demonstrates on ‘TiTiT’ that good Misja’s ‘economic’ approach to (or ‘First Light’) is the united title “We had the original on vinyl way back when, so we had to check this remix out and loved it! Great to see the return of Purple Haze.” old-fashioned understanding of production and release of late, for the two productions Markus sound is more than a match for the trance page’s inbox received bookended his Tomorrowland 08. CIREZ D ‘In The Reds’ Pryda Recordings “This one has been a staple in our live sets for quite some time. Pure gold lofty riffs, cutting-edge synths or a Netflix-style five-track drop daybreak sets with. As such, its from Prydz… as always.” elemental gimmickry. The track’s this month. That’s us told then. first half is assiduously dark and level definition and clarity alone Several high-quality items among scene-setting before — well into 09. THOMAS SCHUMACHER ‘Unconfused’ Noir Music “Perfect for the small hours of the set. Down the rabbit hole we go.” is enough to slacken the jaw, them too. ‘Labeorphilists’ (nope, the latter — the synths are finally as Marco continually quickens no idea either) and ‘Indecent allowed to rise. If you can spot 10. ACCADIA ‘Into The Dawn (James Holden Remix)’ Lost Language “One of our favourite tracks of all time, we felt this classic more than the pulse with the deftest of Exposure’ duke it out for the most the join between the two though, deserves a place in our Top 10. A must-have for music fans.” production tweaks and upticks. primetime conscious number. you’re doing better than I.

Send promos to TIM STARK [email protected] DJMAG.COM 123

DJ576.Music-Trance.indd 123 16/11/2017 15:56 REVIEWS>HIP HOP/TRAP

some splendidly insane rhymes. Hip-hop can still be unadulterated adult FUN, y'see? Dig in deep. QUICKIES Run the Jewels A Cat Called Fritz Mean Demeanour Everybody feat. Venomous RTJ Music 2000 7. 0 Bandcamp A track that sounds just the right side of rushed, 7. 0 humming with spontaneous life and a great big A little heads-up that a French loon dirty bassline that will bounce you like flubber all who calls himself A Cat Called Fritz the way down the street. Get it. has just put out an ear-popping set called 'Vertical Iris' which contains DA FLYY HOOLIGAN this natty little banger alongside Velvet Cake tracks featuring Audessey, Black Gourmet Deluxxx Josh, Sach (Of The Nonce), 7. 5 Buy Muy Drugs Glad2mecha, Pseudo Slang, A cacophonous blast of brass and old soul samples American Robot LayFullStop and Pete Flux. It's lashed with tongue-twisting wordplay and punchy Bandcamp kinda, no scratch that, hella NUTS rhymes you need several rewinds to get your head 9.0 but if you dig frabjous old-skool around. With guest spots from Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Christ and Yasiin Bey, beats, jazzy loops and musical the new album from hip-hop duo Buy Muy Drugs (rapper Denmark chaos it'll be right up your rue — Slaine vs Termanology Vessey — who you'll have heard on albums by Slum Village, Danny vive la difference! Land Of The Lost Brown, Guilty Simpson — and producer Azarias) is one of the most Brick Records startling things I've heard all year. This track's a great intro to its Son Of Sam 7. 5 strange dystopic drive and addictively bleak visions. What makes BMD Come A Long Way (Extra P Love Statik Selektah's production on this — giving so fascinating is the rhythmic complexity, more redolent of the likes Remix) an already agitated beat exactly the kind of of J-Lin or Alem than anyone currently involved in hip-hop — helps Tea Sea Records needling, nagging, paranoid loops it demands that Vessey's a great rapper too. It also features the inestimably great 8.0 — perfect for the combination of Slaine's snarly OME spitting some customarily brilliant lines over Buy Muy’s heavily One of the many highlights of backchat and Term's more assured flow. reverbed Gqom/Brazilia mash-up sounds. Brain-janglingly brilliant. Son Of Sam's dated-yet-addictive 'Cinder Hill' set gets a rerub courtesy of the man Extra P. The BIG TOAST Amy True of creating a suggestive, grainy, original is a beautiful reflective REVORG RECORDS Concentrate cinematic sound in the same look back on hip-hop history True Music ballpark as Knxxxledge, Alchemist and the journey to where we 8.0 and Gaslamp Killer. Superb. are, augmented with a delicious Great to hear Amy hook up with string-arrangement courtesy of Chemo on this heavy-manners, Ded Tebiase feat. Veks Tom Carauna. On the remix Large P compellingly intelligent, Nine Six Shit jacks even more horns and a more engrossingly honest track. It's a Village Live Records upbeat feel (very reminiscent of shocking indictment of how far/ 7. 0 Main Source's lighter moments) short we've travelled that hearing Very much digging pretty much into the soundscape and ends up conscious lyrics seems to almost everything I'm hearing from crafting an even more divinely instantaneously date things Village Live at the moment — this boombap moment — more dated — Chemo nips such bad habits is from DT's new 'Landspeed' set perhaps than the original, but no in the bud with a dubbed-out, and as with much of VL's output less delicious for it. Masta Ace, like 01. CODE NAME THEORY ‘Stone Folk’ Revorg Records “Always been a fan of Manage. This new CNT stuff with Blitz is great. Been ravishingly unique production as is utterly unashamed about its all the MCs on 'Cinder Hill', sounds lucky enough to have a sneak preview of the upcoming project which I’m wide-screen as it is puckered with disinterest in current trap motifs somehow even happier than a pig expecting to make quite a bit of noise when it drops!” gorgeous detail. Amy is about to of sound and lyrics — this has a in shit. Glorious. 02. DED TEBIASE & ASH THE AUTHOR ‘Yeah’ Village Live Records drop an album called 'Concentrate great 'Temperature's Rising'-vibe “First heard Ash at Holding Court in Reading a few years back. He was OK (Learning Don't Stop)' that is to it, snappy, harsh beats and MAIDM then. He’s really very good now. Production on this is real nice too.” bound to be totally unmissable. jazzy textures coalescing around Tun Up Di Heat (Party 03. MAYHEM LAUREN & DJ MUGGS FEAT ROC MAR- Start getting hits from the a determinedly nostalgic lyrical Banger)/B-Boy Shit CIANO ‘Street Religion’ Soul Assassins Records/Kobalt Music Atic Records “Mayhem & Roc have both got the character and personality that elevate knowledge-bong soon as. vibe. Everything I've heard from this way beyond the sum of its parts. Pwopah decent track!” 'Landspeed' thus far suggests 8.0 04. HUS KINGPIN & BIG GHOST ‘Coke Casa’ Daupe! Cohenbeats feat. Quelle it's a corker (there's a plethora I'm salivating like a Pavlov-dog at “Big Ghost is as good at making beats as he is at reviewing Drake albums, Chris of vids on YouTube) and this is no the gorgeous grapejuice-coloured which is quite a high bar. Also, Hus Kingpin has got real presence on the Daily Affirmations exception — make yourself aware. vinyl on this 10" banger that unites mic. I like this a lot!” Stones Throw Cold Water Music's AIM with Krispy 05. CON SENSUS FEAT SHUMBA YOUTH ‘Taking Advan- L'Orange 3's Mikey Don to unleash a two- tage’ Soundcloud 8.5 “Was gonna include one of the tracks from the ‘Concerned’ album which I Tel Aviv meets LA — I admit that Blame The Author track assault on the dancefloor. really enjoyed but while I was checking the name of the track, I found this. it was the sight of QC's name that Mello Music Group Crucial to the effectiveness of Not heard it before but it’s dope, so I went for this one instead!” drew me to this (and, my god, if 8.5 'Tun Up Di Heat' is getting it on 06. WU TANG CLAN ‘People Say’ 36 Chambers there's a better hip-hop LP in 2017 Bloody LOVING L'Orange's 'The the kind of system that's not just “New Wu Tang that sounds like Wu Tang! That’s enough for it to make the list.” this side of QC's one I wanna know Ordinary Man' set, not just because loud but so loud it distorts — the about it) but thank god I did get he's really coming into what feels fuzzy horn lick and the slowly 07. MUST VOLKOFF ‘Raining In The Hood’ Pang Productions “Normally think of Mongo as just pure aggy rap but this is about as smooth drawn like a moth to QC's flame like his OWN soundworld, his OWN building bass coalesce with tons of as it comes. UK hip-hop doesn’t always tend to be the most musical, so it’s cos this is a corker. Cohenbeats, aesthetic at some remove from his space over the rippling old-skool nice to hear some proper songwriting an’ that!”

aka Michael Cohen, is a prominent peers, but also cos the MC talent beats to tremendous effect. Utter 08. DATKID & BAILEYS BROWN ‘It’s Real’ Sektion Red producer in the Tel Aviv rap scene he's got in on this ruckus is without dancefloor carnage (and MD's “Datkid is one of them annoyingly consistent rappers who never seems to spit a weak verse. Production here is on-point too.” who hooked up with Stones Throw fail utterly brilliant. On this latest rhymes are typically on-point). On while living in LA and is now back single Del The Funkee Homosapien the flip 'B-Boy Shit' is even better, 09. ILL MOVE SPORADIC & BIG TOAST ‘Cult Of The Individu- in Israel crafting some superb finds impossibly narrow apertures a moody OC-style beat-bass matrix al’ Starch Records “Had to plug one of my own tracks! From the album ‘You Are Not Special’ music for his debut Stones Throw between Orange's lunatic beats that clamps down tight on your with Ill Move Sporadic. It isn’t chirpy, inspiration-meme music.” set. QC is typically on-point but and loops (I swear down at one collars, pushes you against the wall 10. VERBZ & MR SLIPZ ‘Gutter Tales’ Radio Juicy what you'll really dig here is point this sounds like an outtake and rabbit-punches your kidneys “Dope track from the ‘Lessons Of Adolescence’ album, which is well worth a Cohen's unerringly brilliant sense from Sparks 'Indiscreet') to spill until you can't help but cut a rug. listen. Verbz is definitely one to watch!”

124 DJMAG.COM Send promos to NEIL KULKARNI [email protected] Untitled-1 1 20/11/2017 12:10 REVIEWS>LEFTFIELD

could well be the last single to feature on this page. Taken from the forthcoming QUICKIES album ‘Soul Of A Woman’ — her Pinch final studio album, that she Brain Scan was apparently working on Aquatic Lab right up to her death — this is 8.5 classic Jones; glorious, gutsy, Intense bass exploration from Pinch. The title track conscientious vocal and the punches with some heavyweight stabs, while ’Street usual super-tight, super-funky Light’ offers some respite with ethereal pads. musicianship from arguably one It’s economical in its delivery, and lets the space of the USA’s finest house bands, between the sounds do the talking. Not for the the Dap Kings. faint-hearted. The Go! Team Colleen The Semi Circle Song Winter Dawn Memphis Industries Thrill Jockey 7.0 8.5 I have always had a bit of a If you’re after a bit of respite from the dark nights love/hate relationship with The and cold mornings, may we suggest you bathe Go! Team. To be honest, it’s yourself in the beautiful analogue warmth and probably been more hate than mesmerizing oscillating synth waves of Colleen's love. Sometimes that relentless, new offering ‘Winter Dawn’. Stunning! Zara McFarlane unbridled childish happiness Peace Begins Within can wear a bit thin, especially Escape-Ism Brownswood Recordings after an entire album’s worth. Iron Curtain 9.0 Parking the miserable killjoy in Merge Records Another product of the Brownswood stable, and blessed with one of me for a second though, they do 7. 0 the sweetest jazz vocals currently on the circuit. This limited seven have a unique sense of freedom A dark, weird, unusual sonic oddity from Merge is actually a cover of a Nora Dean lovers rock tune, and on the flip and joyousness to their music Records here that speaks to the memory of post- you’ll find McFarlane covering it in that genre. However, the money which is kind of infectious, as punk, no-wave wierdo-isms of Bush Tetra’s, Human shot here is the jazzed-up version that takes the original to another is this uplifting piece of brass League and Lizzy Mercer Descloux. It's art dahling, dimension. With beautiful musicianship and McFarlane’s vocal band-fuelled, all-American, art I tell you! working in perfect unison, this is a timeless classic. feel-good pop. J Walk SOULEANCE Romare while now. This latest recording Limelight Nights FIRST WORD RECORDS All Night (Live Session 1) shows his stature has grown Wonderful Sound Ninja Tune somewhat as an artist. The 6.5 9.0 edges are smoother, the Yep, you saw right! That’s the The Romare star is definitely concept more complete and J-Walk. Some 10 years on from in ascendance. Clocking in at overall a maturity has evolved. the release of his debut LP and nearly 10 minutes, this slo-mo ‘Lou’ requires a mention for its Martin Brew — the producer cosmic disco jam shows why euphoric splendour, while the behind classic downbeat gems he is being name-checked in rest of the album explores more like ‘Soul Vibration’ and ‘The the same circles as Four Tet gentile tones and textures. Star Wasp’ — is back for 2017. and Floating Points. Splicing turns come in the form of Saul While this particular cut may arrangements together from Williams and The National’s not touch on the majesty of material produced in the studio Bryce Dessner and Kazu Makino. the aforementioned tracks, it’s and on the road, it very much still a timely reminder of his has an LCD ‘45:33’ vibe to it. Matt Berry much-loved trademarked sound; Night Terrors (Clark Remix) needless to say this is classic Acid Jazz 01. PHOTAY ‘Screens’ Astro Nautico Sly5thave J-Walk with hints of Morcheeba, “Amazing intro from his new album, probably my favourite electronic artist Shiznit feat. Jesse Fischer 8.0 Zero 7, Little People thrown in from the past three years!” Tru Thoughts Matt Berry may be better known for good measure. 02. TWINKIE CLARK ‘Awake O Zion’ Mr Bongo 9.0 as his C4 TV alter ego Stephen “This is the most beautiful and epic disco track!” Lifted from his forthcoming Toast — the man who puts the Various Artists 03. DAPHNI ‘Face To Face’ Jiaolong long-player, this is all about smarm in charm — but he also The Library Archive – “Hard to find the perfect and simple bass/drum combination. He just did it. the liquid soul. Involving the has a few other strings to his Cavendish Music Simple, fresh and so catchy!” BBE Records collective resources of top-line bow, including music producer. 04. MIGOS ‘T Shirt’ Quality Control Music players like Mark De Clive Lowe This is the title track from his “Because we try to stay young! No seriously, this track is an anthem. Not 9.5 sure whether we support the lyrics though...” and Will Holland, and with an second outing on Acid Jazz and Another edutaining lesson in orchestra and brass section follow-up to ’The Small Hours’. digging from BBE! This time it’s 05. PATRICE RUSHEN ‘Haven’t You Heard’ Elektra “We just killed the needles with this track, sampled by Daddy’s Favorite in along for the ride, it’s about Clark adds the warp factor by Mr Thing and Chris Read who the nineties. This is my dancing ‘Madeleine de Proust’!” as live as it gets. Based on a Dr twisting it into a tropically- unearth just some of the killer 06. STEVE WATSON ‘Born To Boogie’ Rush Hour Dre/Parliament beat, it has all charged bass fest, however amid gems hidden away in the vaults “A delightful and cheerful laid-back boogie track that makes you feel the hallmarks of a block party the hyper-speed programming of the Cavendish Music library. good.” jam, but with precision and there lies some interesting Mind you, such was the prolific 07. OEIL CUBE ‘Disk Two’ Versatile Records super-tight production. In an rhythmic counterpoints. and incredible output of UK “A massive electronic track with a huge bassline that makes me crazy. Such age where compression is king, libraries like KPM, De Wolfe & a great energy.” this is a timely antidote. Sharon Jones & The Bruton during the '60s and '70s 08. NINA SIMONE ‘African Mailman’ The Restoration Project “An incredible percussive instrumental jazz track that we rediscovered Dap-Kings that given the keys, you would recently. The intro on the piano is so good as a loop on its own.” Rone Matter Of Time be hard pushed not to have at Mirapolis Daptone Records least a couple of albums-worth 09. KH ‘Question’ Text Records “An infectious loop on Kieran Hebden’s Text Records, an outrageous Infine Records 8.5 of breaks, beats and general dynamic that makes you want to dance straight away...” 7. 5 With the sad passing of the sonic goodies at your fingertips 10. SOCIAL LOVERS ‘Your Heart To Me’ Potions Music NYC We’ve been tracking Rone’s marvellous soulstress Sharon too. “Soft and mellow with a touch of pop. Love the simplicity and mood of progress on these pages for a Jones last year, chances are this this track.”

126 DJMAG.COM Send promos to FOUND SOUNDS [email protected] Untitled-1 1 20/11/2017 12:28 REVIEWS>ALBUMS

Ziúr L-Vis 1990 U Feel Anything? 12 Thousand Nights Planet Mu Self-released 9.0 8.5 Ex-Ziúr-tion Scene it Berlin’s Ziúr releases her debut With technology bringing us closer LP just a year after two EPs which together, it’s becoming a challenge boldly delved into sonic extremes, to uncover distinct, localised scenes. intimate feelings and deconstructed Night Slugs co-founder L-Vis 1990 club soundscapes that elicited a flits between New York, London and dizzying range of emotions. Here, LA, and his ‘12 Thousand Nights’ Ziúr continues to tussle between mixtape is the story of him, vocalists tenderness and confrontation and producers hooking up in different throughout twelve diverse tracks, cities to create some *fire emoji*. while further pushing the boundaries With added production from Sinjin of an already shadowy fringe sub- Hawke, Jimmy Edgar and NA, L-Vis genre that’s ripe with creativity pushes the underground sounds at the moment. From the ethereal that have made Night Slugs such opening of ‘Human Life Is Not A a looked-to label. London’s Tali Commodity’ to the caustic percussion Whoah-featuring ‘Flexin’ is a metal- and wind instruments closing coated R&B jam, while the Gaika and ‘Fractal’, there is a constant ebb and Mista Silva-featuring ‘Sunlight’ has flow of tension that’s as hypnotic a sunkissed, just-stepped-off-the- as it is challenging. On one of the plane vibe. The more London-centric album’s best tracks, Ziúr manipulates ‘Yeah Yeah’ flirts with grime, ‘My Ting’ Aïsha Devi’s vocals to sound gruff with dancehall, and ‘121’, synth-pop. and scary in parts yet eerily beautiful It’s an interesting meeting of cultures in others, while haunting sonics swirl and minds — but more importantly, it around. ZARA WLADAWSKY really, really bangs. FELICITY MARTIN

KiNK Playground Running Back 8.0 Genre-hopping is fun James Holden And The Daphni Animal Spirits Joli Mai The Animal Spirits Jiaolong Purists, be damned. Sofia, Bulgaria’s sunny — a sample-heavy house beat Border Community 9.0 Strahil Velchev clearly loves the full that could have hit big in the French 6.0 Snaith's completed sketches spectrum of dance music. As KiNK, disco days. ‘Teo Techno’, on the A psychedelic wig-out For those who were swept up in he’s produced an impressive array other hand, demonstrates KiNK’s In describing his new album project Dan Snaith's scorching ‘Fabriclive of singles since 2005, touching on ability to craft steelier moods, and earlier this year as a collection of 93’ mix, here he takes many of the everything from Chicago house (‘Ra- ‘Five’, while it begins with hard-as- “synth-led folk-trance standards”, snippets and sketches of tracks he chel’), to euphoric hardcore (‘Pocket nails bleeps, gradually morphs into James Holden made it clear that made specifically for that — some he Piano (Breakbeat Mix)’) to lush disco melodic soulful bliss — and back. It’s a zeitgeist-straddling marketing even made on the fly as he was mixing (‘Valentine’s Groove’). clear that this producer can turn his strategy wasn't at the forefront of his it — and finishes the job. Though it Whereas KiNK’s first album ‘Under hand to any style, but he’s not just mind. That said, it's a pretty accurate feels an oddly around-the-houses Destruction’ was a diversion into going through the motions. Passion description. His first LP since 2013's kind of way to arrive at a second conceptual electronics, for his is here too. ‘The Inheritors’, it's a psychedelic album under his Daphni guise, it's second, ‘Playground’, Velchev’s There are several slower cuts, but journey into the unknown, all nonetheless appreciated. ‘Vulture’ decided to consolidate his influences the dancefloor tunes impress the recorded live and in single takes, with (which didn't appear on the comp, into a set of laser-guided club cuts. most. KiNK’s live set is among the no re-edits or overdubs. But while but did on Midland's ‘Fabriclive 94’), It’s an approach that suits him. best around at the moment, with his such endeavours have their merits, throbs ominously, before bursting ‘Suncatcher’ is a breakbeat cut with interactions with the crowd, creating a heavy Reese bass undertow and tracks and loops on the fly with each track feels like it culminates in into full-on dementedly ecstatic bliss. fun old school samples, whereas an array of gadgets, and general a cacophonous, unruly morass, the ‘Tin’, the Jersey-esque garage-houser ‘Yom Thorke’ (can you see what sequencing skill. It’s this sequencing takeaway being a recurring feeling (which did), is a joy in its full form, he did there?) is a huge house and spontaneity that comes across of mild exhaustion. Perhaps that's a chugging dancefloor menace, as is tune with a steadily intensifying on ‘Playground’. Though some might the point. There are glimpses of ‘The Truth’, a hail of stabbing synths bassline that surges into a tangle of grumble that it’s not “an album” for greatness on epic, pulsating wig-out which bursts into UKG vibes with little barely-contained energy. ‘Russian’ home listening, DJs and dance fans ‘Each Moment Like The First’, ‘The warning. ‘Hey Drum’ now sprawls over is an ingenious four-four piece that will find many gems to pick from Neverending’ and ‘So Gladly Into seven psychedelic minutes, deploying bolts together soulful Detroit pads here. BEN MURPHY The Earth’, but if you've alighted for its rave credentials with a deft and strings, and ‘Perth’ is suitably bleeps and kick drums, you will leave flourish. How it's come about matters empty-handed. BEN ARNOLD not. This is a delight. BEN ARNOLD

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DJ Pierre Damiano von Erckert Tomas Barfod Ben Frost Wild Pitch: The Story In Case You Don't Know What To Paloma The Centre Cannot Hold Get Physical Play Friends Of Friends Mute 7.0 AVA. 5.5 8.0 Evolve or be extinct 8.0 Half-hearted Cold comfort There have been many chapters in Varied and vital collection Easy to admire, difficult to love, Though coming from a similar angle the career of DJ Pierre. Though now For his third album, Damiano von ‘Paloma’ is immaculately appointed to electronic composers such as Tim based – and running a club – in Erckert lays down a selection of on- music that rarely actually engages Hecker or Blanck Mass, Australian Atlanta, his impact on Chicago house point études that prove his Cologne the listener. There is deliciousness in musician Ben Frost’s intricately cannot be overstated. This first ever hometown is about much more than the radiophonic oddity of ‘Grandiose’ sculpted sound design is considerably album proves that, bringing together the smooth techno of Kompakt. A and the dubby splendour of ‘Rhodes’, angrier. His fifth album is an exercise his many different sounds across 15 vinyl hoarder who loves soul, Afrobeat but far too often Barfod makes the in unease that aims to capture the tracks. There is plenty of the acid and disco as much as house music, all mistake of being happy with whatever fearful political climate that has house he invented as Phuture, as that shows in the tracks he conjures hook he arrives at, without pushing engulfed much of the world today. well as an overview of the Wild Pitch here. They are all immediately aged the songwriting to the level it needs Frost is based in Reykjavik, and ‘The remix, DJ and production style he sounding things, with dust crackle to lift this overly-polite drek above Centre Cannot Hold’ sounds just as became synonymous with. and warm analogue textures, and the coffee table and into your heart. changeable as the Icelandic climate, It’s a frenzied, multi-layered take range from woozy hip-hop joints This half-finished feel shows itself up though it was made in Chicago with on house that will amp up any main like ‘From The Sun’ to serene Detroit particularly where the vocalists aren’t famed punk producer Steve Albini. room, and sits next to 2017 updates techno like ‘In Case You Don't Know in themselves intriguing enough to Performed live by Frost and recorded of classics tracks ‘Master Blaster’ and What To Play [TECHNO]’. convince you they care. Only Jonas by Albini, the latter employs his ‘Love and Happiness’. Add in an epic It’s an album that does what it Smith on the pristine ‘Family’ sounds expertise at capturing extremity. remix of Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ says on the tin and covers plenty of like he has a stake in the words and Made by machines, but influenced by and you have an album that tells of ground with equal élan. Perfect for vision — the remaining singers seem industrial and ambient metal, there house music’s evolution, even if it dipping into as a DJ or as a roller dazzled by the studio-sorcery but are moments of beauty that emerge falls short of signposting where the coaster pre-party home listen, this is disconnected with the emotional from the darkness of ‘Trauma Theory’, genre might be going next. KRISTAN an album that sounds like randomly centre of the tracks they inhabit. An while ‘Ionia’ glimmers with gothic J CARYL flicking through von Erckert’s record elaborate tour of Barfod’s undeniable melody. This is a massive sounding collection and always pulling out capabilities, but a strangely record — lovers of the leftfield should gold. KRISTAN J CARYL unmoving one. NEIL KULKARNI investigate. BEN MURPHY

Berlin-based Levon Vincent’s productions have become a landmark sound for the city over the years, effortlessly transgressing between techno and house — Berghain and Panorama Bar, respectively. He released his debut self-titled LP back in 2015 and in a surprise move gave the whole album away for free online the day before the vinyl dropped in the stores. As an artist that’s known for being outspoken, his second album might come to some as a public apology; but the concept is strong and clear. It kicks off with ‘Kissing’; a highly strung number, emotionally charged with layers of reverbed strings. ‘If We Chose War’ is a dark, gruelling observation much like its title suggests, grenade explosion samples providing a gritty soundscape. Stormy moods unfold into ‘If We Chose Peace’, a welcome answer to the latter with evolving melodies, soft synths, 808 drums, and an ever-changing bpm to keep DJs on their toes. Final track ‘Dancing Levon Vincent With Machiavelli’ recalls his earlier work, a trademark piano piece with For Paris freestyle melodies and underlying Novel Sound stabs. The LP is a statement and one 9.0. thing’s for certain: we should all Faire la paix take heed of the power of sending messages through music, especially those of positive action against war. Listen to Levon. ANNA WALL

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DJ Seinfeld Paul van Dyk Rabit Spectrasoul Keeno Time Spent Away From U From Then On Les Fleurs Du Mal How We Live All The Shimmering Lobster Fury Vandit Records Halcyon Veil Ish Chat Things 9.0 7.0 7.0 8.0 Med School Beautiful, raw club tracks Love letter to the #trancefamily Engrossing More Rolls than a 8.0 It’s not easy to transform heartbreak Paul van Dyk has been forthcoming experiments Royce Melodic DnB with into hard-wearing grooves, but about seeing the world differently A defiantly odd, Spectrasoul’s third something extra that’s exactly what producer Armand since an accident while DJing last compellingly wayward full-length is perhaps Keeno certainly draws Jakobsson has done. As with the year nearly cost him his life. ‘From 12-track odyssey their best yet — all on his classically blissful, YouTube-rinsed track ‘U’, Then On’ draws from deeply personal through noise, drone, sublime liquid grooves trained, multi- his debut full-length is an album of experiences relating to his physical folk and acousmatic and haunting, hugely instrumentalist rugged house fed through an emotive recovery, and eventual return to composition that suggestive loops, the background here, and filter, written by Jakobsson to deal touring and public life. His elation refuses to let you settle, appearance of LSB there’s an unmistakable with a doomed relationship. is best captured in its euphoric lead jarring you along each testament to the kind instinct for melody, Melancholy as that sounds, there are single ‘I Am Alive,’ the first track avenue with disturbing of quality on display. arrangements and plenty of bangers present (the rolling written following the accident. textures and a blurred Everything here rolls musicality. However, acid punch of ‘How U Make Me Feel’ is Interesting, while PVD doggedly sense of authorship — is with grace and guile. it doesn’t come at a big highlight), and even the soulful insisted for most of his career that Rabit making this music Late-night, neon- the expense of raw numbers are clearly, unashamedly he wasn’t a trance DJ, these days or merely its cipher? smeared driving music dancefloor euphoria. rooted in upfront, Chicago sounds he’s comfortable in the warm, loving Engrossing throughout. par excellence. NEIL ANGUS PATERSON (such as the crunchy, euphoric ‘Time embrace of the global #trancefamily. NEIL KULKARNI KULKARNI Spent Away From U’) and ’90s house While the album publicity emphasised jams (‘Too Late for U And M1’). its futurism, in truth ‘From Then On’ Though the subject matter may be channels classic euphoria more than heartbreak, this isn’t music to brood any of his previous full-length efforts. over, unpick or even analyse too As such, it’ll hold limited appeal much. It’s music for the dancefloor outside the trance scene, though it’s — nothing more, nothing less. And it deftly executed and will offer certain works sublimely. TRISTAN PARKER bliss for fans. ANGUS PATERSON Jonti Sebo K Not Waving Tokorats Patience Good Luck Stones Throw Rekids Diagonal Records 7.0 9.0 8.5 Psychedelic A virtue Future sounds experiments of Fifteen years in the Clinical yet punk-y Moebius game and Scenario electro-tech might Peanut Butter Wolf’s founder Sebo K drops push the tolerable label has always been his debut LP on Rekids, description limit, a flowing source aptly titled, ‘Patience’. but what else can we for quality music, A seven-track LP say? Edgy, punchy, Altered Natives PBR Streetgang pioneering some of citing all corners of mechanical, stomping The Black Album Late Night Party Line California’s finest hip- dance music, it’s an and, at times, oddly Eye4Eye Recordings Skint hop. Its latest LP comes exceptional collection euphoric, ‘Good Luck’ 9.0 7.0 from NY’s Jonti and of historically forges a staggeringly Dark side DJ Vu it’s an experimental influenced electronica, original path through Formerly prolific London producer “It goes round in circles,” sings Mattie masterpiece; think which feels balanced futurist acid, New Beat, Danny Native has been relatively Safer on ‘Everything Changes’, “I organic instrumentals and respectful rather proto-rave, EBM, and quiet since 2015’s ‘In The Place Where feel it coming again”. Listening to and dreamlike hooks than over-cooked anything with the word Love Once Lived’ album. The reason, Leeds duo PBR Streetgang’s debut featuring Sampa The and obvious. LEON clash in it. MARTIN he recently revealed, being that he album, you can see what he means. Great and Midnight CLARKSON GUTTRIDGE-HEWITT has been battling health scares and Much of ‘Late Night Party Line’ is Mutants. ANNA WALL the loss of his sight. His eighth album going to seem pretty familiar to would be a stunning achievement not just anyone who’s heard their REPEAT THE LPS WE CAN’T LEAVE ALONE... in any context, though — the sound earlier singles, but anyone who of a producer with all guns blazing. went clubbing around the turn of Like its predecessors, such as the the century. We’re talking groovy ‘Tenement Yard’ series, the beats here deep house with starburst synths, are nominally house and techno, yet flecks of disco and funky piano, stutter like a paranoid version of UK and the occasional vocal from the funky, while the atmosphere has the aforementioned Rapture singer or weed-curdled dread of early dubstep. Danielle Moore from Crazy P. They’re Yet there’s both tenderness in the hardly bursting with new ideas but Anja Schneider Call Super Honey Dijon mournful melodies and tentative hope they do old ones damn well, and as SoMe Arpo The Best Of Both in the jazz chords too. Apart from ‘Everything Changes’ points out: Sous Music Houndstooth Worlds Special Request, there are few other “Everyone thinks that music peaked 9.0 9.0 Classic Music Company producers in recent times who have when they were 18”. Plenty to excite Anja marks her Trying to describe this 9.0 bound together the many different those discovering proper house for departure from Mobilee impeccable follow-up to Quality house that’s sounds of the UK underground past, the first time, and just enough for the with this fine body of 2014’s ‘Suzi Ecto’ is propelling Honey up present and future into such a unique more seasoned listener to remember work on her new label. futile. Just get it. from the underground. and epic whole. PAUL CLARKE that first thrill.PAUL CLARKE

130 DJMAG.COM THANKS FOR COMING DJS 4B / AAZAR / AC SLATER / ADRIANA LOPEZ / ADDISON GROOVE / ALANPAK / ALLEN / ALVITA / ANDERSON K / ANIL AHUJA / ANTI GENERAL / ANTONIA / ARIUS / ARKAIK / ASUKA / AUDIOHELL / B3RNHADER / BAAUER / BARELY ALIVE / BASS PANDA / BB DENG / BBNO$ / BEAR GRILLZ / BEN CHEUNG / BISH / BITING EYE / BLACKIE / BLOOD DUNZA / BOOMBOX CARTEL / BREATHE CAROLINA / CAVIA / CONRANK / COOKIEMONSTA / CONRO / COONE / COSMO / CRANKDAT / DANNY WHEELER / 仮 面 男 / DANTE / DATSIK / DAD TWEEKAZ / DEHOUSY / DEXTOR KING / D-FIGHTER / DOCTOR P / DROELOE / EKKI / ELLBECHAN / EPTIC / ERICLEE / ETAPPKYLE FABIO / FAYE / FELGUK / FLAVA D / FRANKIE LAM / FU / FUNKIE / FUNTCASE / GOTH-TRAD / GRANT / HEADHUNTERZ / HELIUM / HEROBUST / HUCCI / HOLLY / IMMUNO / IVAN SOTO / JAMES TRYSTAN / JASMINE LI / JEREMY CHEUNG / JOE NICE / JOHNNY OSBOURNE / JON1ST / KATZE / KAY C / KAYZO / KID FRESH / KOROSTYLE / KROME / KRUZE / L / LA ANTONIA / LAXX / LEO CHIODAROLI / LIBEN / LIZZY / LNY TNZ / LOOKAS / LOVETRON / LUCE / LYNDON JARR / MADAM X / MAFIO / MAGNETIC SOUL / MALYAROV / MANTIS / MARII / MARTIN JENSEN / MAKOTO / MICKEY ZHANG / MIIIA / MIKE PERRY / MOKSI / MOVENCHY / MUST D!E MOKSIMO / N1D / NORA / OCEAN LAM / OOKAY / O.S.H.I / OZZIE / PANDALYN / PANTAQ / PASCAL DIOR / PASSENGER JAMIE / PAX / PSYKE / PUNX / PUZZYSTACK / QUIX / RAYRAY / RCJIANG / ROY GREEN & PROTONE / ROYZAY / RYOJI TAKAHASHI / SAIYAN / SAM LAI / SAN HOLO / SAYMYNAME / SCHELLA / SHADY MONKEY / SIESTA / SLANDER / SLUMBERJACK / SNAILS / SOLAII / SOULSTEREO / SPYFI / STARKEY / STRAY / SUBCOAT / SWEI / TAK / TAKU HIRAYAMA / TAYTA / TERROR BASS / THOMAS NEWSON / TOM SWOON / TOO MUCH / TROPKILLAZ / TRUS’ME / TSUNANO / UNITY / UZ / VIRTUAL RIOT / WARZ / WHYBEATZ / WORDY / YOSHIKI / ZUCKERMANN

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Untitled-1 1 20/11/2017 15:49 REVIEWS>COMPILATIONS QUICKIES

Various Momentum Various Habibi Funk Watergate XV 10 Years of Token Mr Bongo Record Club, An Eclectic Selection Westgate Token Volume Two Of Music From The 8.0 8.0 Mr Bongo Arab World Tech flexing 9.0 Habibi Funk Sounds of the club Celebrating a decade of Extreme crate- 8.5 With a mammoth 25 tracks couldn’t ask for a more Watergate Kr!z’s Belgian techno digging Labour of love included in this 15th anniversary compilation. Up against many Berlin imprint, Momentum London-born Brighton- Habibi Funk returns compilation, it’s hard to know where institutions the venue occupies a raises a glass in based record store Mr with an impeccably to start, and difficult to complain. musical middle ground — defining the way of cross- Bongo has long been a curated selection of What some tracks lack in oomf, itself as neither full-throttle techno collaborations from purveyor of hard-to- funk reissues from others, such as Marco Resmann’s nor unashamedly house, and that’s producers including find world-influenced North Africa and the excellent heads down chugger, what’s offered here. A genuine Rødhåd, Sigha, Ø sounds, using their Middle East picked ‘Beehive’, provide in precision- reflection of a club in an album isn’t [Phase], Antigone imprint to re-release by crate-digging produced spades. Where you might easy, or commonplace, so while and Inigo Kennedy. hand selected works. master and label boss, think this tune is too simplistic those looking for nosebleeds and Doubling down on But with their Mr Bongo Jannis Stürtz. Roughly and functional, elsewhere there brute force will come up short — strongarm pulses, Record Club they make spanning from the are patient, detailed, and trippy Ellen Allien’s meaty driver ‘Lost intricate programming our lives even easier, ‘60s-’80s, each song outings — for example ‘Nyepi’, from In Paradise’ is perhaps the closest and spacey motifs, packing their favourites was directly licensed Osunlade, or Kollektiv Turmstrasse’s we come to here — anyone with an Momentum hits its into one package. A from the artists (or beautiful closer, ‘Kisses In The Dark’. ear for the four-four spectrum that barrelling stride early sublime combination of their families.) What’s With big guns likes Solomun, Henrik stops just before militants take on and barely eases up. world disco, soul and not to love!? ZARA Schwarz, Matthias Meyer, Alex control should find more than a SUNIL CHAUHAN fusion. ROB MCCALLUM WLADAWSKY Niggemann, Tiefschwarz, Steve Bug, few worthy of attention. MARTIN Butch, Cinthie, Sebo K and Anja GUTTRIDGE-HEWITT Schneider also representing, you

Various Erol Alkan Joy Orbison AEON Lost Tapes Vol. 2 Reworks Vol. 1 Dekmantel Selectors AEON Phantasy Sound Dekmantel 6.0 7.0 7.0 Deliriously dark Spit and shine UK massive! Peaking with Bastinov’s Erol Alkan’s remixes Following Motor City pounding ‘Chamal’, the of Franz Ferdinand, Drum Ensemble, Young latest from Berliner Scissor Sisters and New Marco and Marcel Various Various Alex Niggemann’s label Order into everything Dettmann, Joy Orbison The Underground Sound Of Diggin In The Carts: A Collection is a sequence of tense, from punky stompers handles Dekmantel’s Glasgow 2017 Of Pioneering Japanese Video brooding techno, with to spaced-out odysseys latest ‘Selectors’ Glasgow Underground Game Music melodic touches like have made him directly outing. Covering jungle 9.0 Hyperdub the drifting, abstracted responsible for some of with Oblivion’s superb, Aye pal! 8.0 guitar on Rafjius’s the greatest crossover correctly titled ‘Lush’, Curated by Kevin McKay, this Next level sounds ‘In Wonderland’ moments between Beatrice Dillon’s avant- celebratory release marks the iconic Put down the PS4 Pro controller or the sinewy riff dance and guitar/pop primitive ‘Curl’ and the label's 20th year in the game. His and step back to a time when video on Radeckt aka music, and indirectly squelches and dubby favourite Glaswegian producers games had less pixels and more Thomas Dieckmann’s responsible for some ricochets of Bitstream’s offer up tracks inspired by and bleeps. Based on Nick Dwyer’s RBMA ‘Mannequin’, and atrocious dancing at Hessle Audio-friendly designed for the Glasgow crowd. The documentary series, this fascinating bookended by beatless indie discos — this ‘Vic Twenty’, it’s a 15-tracker sees names like Jasper collection unearths a universe of pieces to ease you remix collection makes wildly varied UK-centric James, Hammer, JD Twitch, Illyus vintage game tunes, compiled by in and out. SUNIL it easy to forgive him. miscellany, but worth a & Barrientos, and Mateo & Matos Dwyer and Hyperdub boss, Kode9. CHAUHAN PAUL CLARKE look. SUNIL CHAUHAN deliver a wide spectrum of sounds. Tracks are taken from games on It's a sumptuous mix of electronic truly old school systems, such as music drawing upon italo-disco, Nintendo’s Super Famicom and the balearic beats, ‘80s and ‘90s-slanting MSX, and it’s not hard to see their ON THE POD THE PICK OF OUR LATEST house and rave, tech-house, techno influence on modern electronica. soundcloud.com/djmag PODCASTS & EXCLUSIVE MIXES and blissed out electronica. “You From the diverse cuts of Konami can really hear what Glasgow Kukeiha Club (the sound team of Underground, and the city itself, developer Konami), to Michiharu is all about right now," says Kevin Hasuya’s beautiful ‘Solomon’s Key’ McKay. He's not wrong. Highlights excerpt, and Soshi Hosoi’s Philip run throughout, though it's worth Glass/Reich-influenced ‘Mister mentioning Ceol's dark, haunted Diviner’, everything has a story to houser, 'Give Yourself To Me', and tell. Appreciating 8-bit and chiptune Auntie Flo's tropical-textured, will help, but you don’t have to be 'Desert Island'. A very happy a gaming geek to fall for this weird FRESH KICKS: WAX ON: PODCAST: GANESA BRIAN NOT BRIAN BREAKAGE birthday indeed! LEON CLARKSON treasure trove. TRISTAN PARKER

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