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TRACK IT DOWN The only tunes need this March p.130

HOCUS OPUS The month’s most spellbinding p.152

COMPETITIVE COMPILATIONS Key comps and mixes reviewed p.156

LU C I D DREAM-POP Kelly Lee Owens breaks the mould with her stunning, self-titled debut ... p.152

djmag.com 129 HOUSE BEN ARNOLD [email protected] James Hadfield and Danny Linton. With its tribal howls, Soak skirts the right side of QUICKIES 'world music' without being Phil Weeks wanky — always a perilous Raw Instrumental Vol. 2 tightrope act. Instead, it's PW/Robsoul Recordings wonky and wonderful. Man 8.0 Power himself drops in a moody, Phil Weeks is clearly never visited with writer's acidic re-rub, while Axel Boman block. This eight-track EP being rather sturdy wallops yet another out evidence of this, a collection of weaponised into the bleachers, dropping to damage dancefloors. Bravo. the four-four in favour of a new genre, Balearic garage (which Justin Cudmore has just been coined here, this Forget It EP very moment). The Bunker New York 8.5 /Matthew Oh yes. This blisteringly acidic four-tracker for The Bunker New York had us at hello. 'New Jack MICHAEL ZAHNSCHIRM & THERESA LIPP ZAHNSCHIRM Pic: MICHAEL Herbert MONEY Lidell/Herbert The House' is a deeply classy slab, while 'Forget Moony Me SHOT! Accidental Jnr It' is machine music par excellence. Contemplatin' EP 9.0 Klamauk Lidell and Herbert have been 9.5 muckers for donkey's years, MIA LUCCI KINDISCH Thoroughly arresting house but this bootleg of the former's music here from German/ track 'When I Come Back Venezuelan/Austrian, Around' from his majestic 2005 Eduardo A. Arreaza, aka Finishing up, 'FUHP' (MORE album 'Multiply' is special. Moony Me, and Klamauk's CAPS! ARRRGH!!) is solid warm- Knocked up by Herbert in first salvo of the year. It sets up gear, to be underestimated 'laptop-in-a-hotel-room' style, the bar perilously high, mind at your peril. he's been dropping it in sets you. 'City Of Storms' busts to general hysteria for a while, out warming, slightly wonky Lost City Of Atlantis and now it’s being unleashed pads before Iron Curtis gets Melted Ice Exposed Treasures on Accidental Jnr, his spin-off his hands on it, delivering Slow Town Records imprint for club gear. And club 01. HOWL ENSEMBLE ‘’ Nila a scorching, peak-time 9.0 gear this most certainly is, “Perfect after-hours track, lined with loose drums that have a punchy kick, tear-up. Both deserve to be This mysterious release on heavy with tribal percussion, classic sounding hats, random FX and interesting organic sounds.”

classics. Meanwhile, Rhythm&Soul's eminent Slow dark rave pads and Lidell's 02. PETE BANDIT ‘Dirschauer’ Times Are Ruff 'Glass Jungle Chant' hurls Town imprint is reputedly from a soulful delivery. This is just “An intricately created after-hours track with a little more bounce.” out some delirious digital 'well-known Chicago producer' essential. 03. WEISS ‘Keep On Locking’ Weiss samba vibrations, among the under a nom de plume. Pared- “This track by UK house producer Weiss is a nice combination between brilliantly weird samples. down, dark, funky and slightly Patrick Conway looseness and a clean, straight-up rolling house track.” Just brilliant. weird, we reckon we might Sandy Lane 04. DAN SHAKE ‘Claudias Trip (Radio Slave Remix)’ Shake Rekids “Everyone knows the productions of Radio Slave are genius. This remix is just know who it is. And yes, another one of his trademark-sounding tracks laced with organic, gritty it's probably who you think it 8.5 elements.” Rich NxT is too. 'Secret Code Of 7' is a There's not much known 05. CASSY ‘Keep Trying (Radio Slave Feel Raw Remix)’ Aus Music NxT003 brooding workout, flecked with about this debut from Patrick “Another raw, loose, dirty, classic Radio Slave trip.” NxT Records burbling acid, while 'Microchip' Conway for Radio Slave's ever- 06. MARQUIS HAWKES ‘Sweet Temptation’ Aus Music 8.0 drops in gospel organs among impressive Rekids. Save to say “I’m a huge geek at heart. Every now and then I love playing with classic Despite making people flip the shuffling percussion and it comprises three tracks of vocals. Marquis Hawkes reworks a very classic-sounding vocal into a magical mess of modern house.” excessively between upper a mucky bassline. Last track heavyweight dancefloor gear. and lower case if they want to 'Four' is the one, though. A The title track is pinned down 07. HUXLEY ‘Weapon (Dub)’ Aus Music “Dirty, unassuming teased with a classic house vocal. These qualities document his progress or put freaky, robotic work of certified with bass enough to rattle together always feel right for me in a busy room.” his name on a flyer, there's still genius. Superb stuff. your fillings, a pulsing synth 08. MIA LUCCI ‘Chocolate Meister’ Kindisch enough goodwill left to doff squeezebox eventually giving “I love the loose and random FX I used in this track. The drum patterns also. one's cap to Fuse ressie James Hadfield feat. way to a girthsome break which This track for me works well at the beginning of a night or during an early afternoon set.” Rich NxT, this third release on Danny Linton will have you and yours reaching his NxT imprint providing ample Soak for the lasers. Over, 'Orbit' is 09. MIKE WITCOMBE ‘Almond Rough’ Kindisch Me Me Me “Mike is a favourite DJ and producer of mine from my home town. I love the bumpy thrills. '1=0' boasts beamed in from deep space, a way he uses old analogue drum kits and to produce.” dreamy pads amid the skippy 8.5 spooky, rave-indebted number, 10. MR. G ‘Grind’ Phoenix G percussion, while 'Trumadog' Magnificent curation here from with a heavily syncopated re-rub “I love everything about Mr. G and this track. Its rolling percussion, classic cleverly ploughs a narrow Man Power's Me Me Me imprint, from Hessle Audio co-founder use of drums, the recurring vox stab and how it all comes together makes it furrow without getting boring. bringing a masterstroke from Pangaea. Bosh. a favourite.”

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Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 12:03 TECHNO RICHARD BROPHY QUICKIES Marshall Applewhite Go Home YoSucka! [email protected] 7.5 Slowing down ghetto techno by 10-15bpm was an inspired idea on Applewhite’s part. It adds an undercurrent of menace and despair to the slamming rhythm and ‘bitch go home’ exhortation on the title track and the gloomy acid of ‘I Need A Job’.

MONEY Not Waving SHOT! Populist Ecstatic 7.5 Titonton Duvante Alessio Natalizia, aka Not Waving, could never Recapitulate Part 2 be accused of being a populist. ‘Vibe Killer’ Soul Research delivers on the skewed acid meets industrial he 9.0 is known for, and even the hillbilly screeches Titonton Duvante was one and EBM stomp on the title track or the of the most individualistic rumbling 'Control Myself' will do little to recruit techno producers during the the casual listener to his singular cause. '90s, and this release shows that the US producer has not Jacy lost his edge. The title track Somewhere In The Tapes revolves around staccato Kalahari Oyster Cult drums, a swung rhythm and 8.0 widescreen chords. and on ‘Twerp’, this manifests electro with its militant Jacy kick starts this label with a wonderfully It’s the most typical Duvante itself in the shape of a jerky, drums, but best of all is the deep release. ‘Parallel Trip’ has echoes of track here: ‘Get A Glimpse’ swung rhythm. Meanwhile, on dreamy soundscape of Ivna Ji’s Detroit ‘Network’ compilations and there’s sees him veer into tougher ‘Booyaah’, the pair infuse dark ‘Oscillating Universe’. a definite Ron Trent/Prescription vibe from territory, accompanied by minimalism with rolling snares, ‘Dreaming About Bebu’. Despite its unwieldy smart drops, pounding kicks while ‘Leave Your Body’ is old OL name, Kalahari Oyster Cult is a label to watch. and an acid-soaked bass that school techno encased in Lada Passenger Fit Sound has echoes of . titanium kicks. MARK AMBROSE CRAYON Keeping the listener guessing 8.0 ‘til the end, ‘Take Me Down’, GU In between putting out melodic with Rosina Kazi on vocals, Saviour Of Chicago techno by its owner and the is an atmospheric but Strictly Jaz Unit Music gnarly EBM of Stallone The nonetheless robust groove. 8.0 Reducer on sub-label Est. 83, With over 100 EPs to his credit, Fit Siegel's label also plays to Glenn Underground is one of the its established strengths. That Bill Converse most prolific Chicago producers, it comes from OL, a Russian 7 Of 9/Ahead but rarely if ever slips up. To artist, is a surprise. Nontheless, Texas Underground illustrate his consistency, this the title track here is decent, 8.0 release provides a Windy City mid-tempo fare, but on the Bill Converse was one of last masterclass. ‘Mr Heard’ is a flip, the author really earns his year’s most impressive emerging pretty if somewhat understated stripes. Both 'Sturdy Drum' and artists, unleashing an EP and deep house cut inspired by its 'Life Span' are the kind of hypo- album’s worth of freeform, namesake, but it’s all about the grooves you'd expect from the 01. ENDIAN ‘Global EP’ Secret Daze acid-tinged techno for Dark 303 here. ’Battery Acid’ features likes of OB Ignitt. Powered by “Solid, underground tracks, bass-driven with chords from London-based Entries. This release, on the pulsing acid lines sweeping spiky percussion and staccato producer Endian.” fledgling Texas Underground, their way over relentless claps drums, they feature dreamy 02. O’SULLIVAN & VILLALOBOS ‘Mosaic 37’ Mosaic Records hints at a different approach. '7 and kettle drums, while the — and undeniably infectious — “Two dubby long-players from Steve O’Sullivan and Ricardo Villalobos.” Of 9' could even be Converse’s dub version sees the incessant filters. 03. AUBREY ‘BAR013’ Barba Records attempt at making deep techno, warble of the Roland vie with “Underground rhythms from UK-based Aubrey. Four trax of future techno all deep and funky — all tracks for the nightclub.” as chord stabs unravel over crashing cymbals and trancey Unknown Artist steely drums. The highlight, hooks. Hardcore Edits 1 04. MIEKA DU FRANX & MARK AMBROSE ‘Dreaming Wake Me Going Good Up’ Crayon Records though, is ‘Ahead’. Featuring “EP written by Mark Ambrose and Mieka Du Franx from LA. Hypnotic techno the kind of rattling rhythm and Various 8.5 house with Mieka on the vocals.” dense drums that prevailed on The Glowing The modern wave of techno 05. PAUL MAC ‘Archives’ Downfall Theory his first two records, Converse Brokntoys artists are now riffing on “Four tracks ranging from deeper-style techno to acid club groovers.” unveils a melancholic melody 8.0 hardcore and rave's heritage. 06. VARIOUS ‘Beste Modus’ Beste Freude that burns with unstoppable Over the past few years, The best proponent of this “Deep Chicago-style bass-driven four-tracker featuring vocal snippets and nice intensity. Brokntoys has been the appropriation to date has strings from this Berlin-based label.”

UK’s most consistent electro been Fett Burger on 'Hands Of 07. ARNE WEINBERG ‘Integrity - Constraint Part 1’ aDepth Tinfoil label, and this 17th release Doom', but this release runs a “Intelligent techno with a superb mix from UK-based producer Kirk Degiorgio. A winner.” 5 showcases their refreshingly close second. Revolving around Tinfoil cavalier attitude. Morah’s ‘One crisp , it draws by 08. DELANO SMITH ‘An Odyssey’ Sushitech “Gatefold three-LP of smooth hypnotic groovers from Delano Smith from 8.0 Conversation With a Funny turns on bleep techno ('Track Detroit.” The fifth Tinfoil release sees Demon’ strays into off-beat 1' and 'Track 4'); blasts of 09. SPACE JAMMIN ‘EP’ Crayon Matt Flanagan and Sunil techno courtesy of a wonky pirate radio ('Track 2') and, this “Collaboration from me and Analog People from Madrid. With a bonus track Sharpe further bend the rules bass, and Vertical67’s track is writer's favourite, the spooky from techno artist D’ from Spain.” of dancefloor engagement. a dense, acid-fuelled affair. rave nightmare riffs of 'Track 3'. 10. V/A ‘Stealth Mission Vol.2’ Stealth Mission There’s an unpredictable, off- Solid Blake’s ‘Burns’ steers Here's hoping that there will be “Four tracks of slamming acid and grooves from Naked Eye People, Barrow Boy, beat sensibility on show here the listener back to utilitarian many more edits to come. Bobby Durst and Mike Storm on this new label run by Paul Mac and Ben Sims.”

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Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 12:03 WHERE THE GLOBAL MUSIC COMMUNITY CONNECTS “This is the one time of the year when the entire global music gathers in one city…” Scotland Herald Learn More: sxsw.com/globalmusic

SXSW March 13−19, 2017 Austin, TX

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Untitled-1 1 16/01/2017 14:09 ELECTRO/PROGRESSIVE Set My Mind (Luttrell Remix) QUICKIES Anjunadeep Omnia 9.0 Ultra Luttrell is fresh from turning Armind heads with his beautiful ‘Need 7.0 You’ EP on Anjuandeep late last Ukranian young gun Omnia throws down an year, and he’s returned with a utterly perfect of classic progressive remix of this teaser record from trance that could have been lifted from Way Out West’s upcoming new the darker end of the 2000 Gatecrasher era, album. With some level irony though with a slower tempo and requisite house he’s managed to channel that grooves to give it that modern touch. very same lush transcendence the veteran duo manage in their Mangal Suvarnan feat. Dhanusha better moments, with Luttrell’s Gokul remix proving infinitely more Long Way From Home (Universal Solution Remix) striking than the original Colorize composition on which it’s based. Acoustic guitar strums

[email protected] THOMAS PATERSON ANGUS 7.0 Universal Solution pitches his sound at some blossom and bloom in the atmospheric junction between deep trance and breakdown, and it’s the kind of Halcyon-style progressive, and he works the mellow gem that’ll prove perfect string sections here into some long, lush and for lush dancefloor blowouts. indulgent breakdowns. He’s not afraid to take it epic as he dials up the ambience. 8Kays MONEY Night Driver Jon Bourne Intricate SHOT! Waterloo 8.0 Alter Ego Progressive Ukranian producer 8Kays is JX 7.0 positioning herself as one of the Son Of A Gun (Mat Zo Bootleg) One of those euphoric progressive records that star producers of the Intricate White gets things just right as it establishes a driving stable, which itself is one of side that he then flips with a 9.0 energy in the opening that’s fitted to smash the sleeper stars of the house flourish of icy melody after Mainroom rogue Mat through a brick wall. Euphoric progressive that and progressive underground the breakdown. Dezza showing Zo is always looking to starts hard with an explosion of chunky electro that continues to come up with again he’s sophisticated AF. channel new creative before softening into its melodies. those killer records time and possibilities via mashing time again. The label’s canny Joel Mull up the different sound SPINNIN’ knack for crossing over the Here We Are EP aesthetics, sometimes with different scenes is showcased Last Night On Earth mixed results; but here he’s here with a record that locks it 7.0 managed a spontaneously down quickly into a tight house It’s crystal clear why Swedish wonderful mash of vintage groove, working in some trance techno veteran Mull chose rave, mainroom trance and melodies in the breakdown the Last Night On Earth label modern tech. A direct rework before stripping it right back to release this collection of of the JX early ‘90s rave again after the drop, with 8Kays music, as it’s the sort of dark, classic, plucked from that properly nailing it with her melodic material that has long forgotten era before execution. been the bread and butter of hyper-commercialization label boss Sasha for as long as when these kind of euphoric & Ilan anyone can remember. ‘Glöden’ records where still crossing Bluestone deals in those seductive over to the radio, Zo’s rework Love On A Real Train ethereal harmonies, ‘Purple UV’ manages to repackage these 01. BART B MORE ‘Chu Want Dat’ Club Sweat “Bleepy vibes with that typical Bart swing that we love.” kick-starts the grooves while thrills in a fashion that 8.0 ‘Reversender’ pushes things genuinely captures that early 02. GREEN VELVET & PROK & FITCH ‘Sheeple’ Relief Cosmic Gate and Ilan Bluestone into the kind of techno territory hypercolour excitement, “This has been a Beatport No.1 for weeks now, and we understand why. When the beat kicks in you can’t resist. Hence the title, maybe?” entering into the studio that Mull is otherwise famous while still suitably buffing together was always going to for. and polishing it for the 03. INDIAN SUMMER ‘Love Like This feat. Lastlings (Auro be cause for excitement, the modern dancefloor. Remix)’ Sweat It Out “Auro did a great remix with a retro vibe, but it still sounds super-modern. former a veteran powerhouse Khen Lovely.” duo and the latter one of Baby Steps EP Bedrock 04. SOLARDO ‘Tribesmen’ Hot Creations the most powerful next-gen Noir & Olivier “Simple but catchy. Great stripped-down production, and love the use of this classic .” proponents of mainstage music 7.5 Giacomotto feat. whether you’re talking trance, Fresh from his rather excellent Hendrik Burkhard 05. TRAFFIC SIGNS ‘The Big Fake (Moksi Switch Up)’ White electro or EDM. Fittingly, its debut long-player on Guy J’s Blackrays “Great edit by our Dutch friends Moksi of this classic track.” dirty white-noise bassline is Lost & Found stable last year, Suara 06. BONOBO ‘Outlier’ about as heavy as anything Khen switches over to Digweed’s 7.5 “Beautiful textures and synths combined with off-grid drums. Amazing.” we’ve ever heard in peak-time camp for a particularly classy Noir and Giacomotto team 07. CHOCOLATE PUMA X PEP & RASH ‘The Stars Are Mine’ Spin- music for a while, ripping things affair featuring a three-shot up to create fire here with a nin’ “Our new record with Pep & Rash, which we hope you like as much as we do.” up before the inevitable shift dose of luxurious melodic versatile vocal progressive into predictable trance heroics. techno, where he indulges his record that would slot neatly 08. HIFI SEAN FEAT. CRYSTAL WATERS ‘Testify (Steve Mac talent for crafting records with into the peak-time of many a Mix)’ Plastique “This reminds us of these old DJ Duke or George Morel Records. Chunky organ Sam Davies the requisite driving grooves house DJ, laying sultry vocals bassline vibes.” Northern Lights (Dezza Remix) for function on the dancefloor, from Hendrik Burkhard over Silk while also embellishing them some lifted percussion and deep 09. TOM STAAR & DADDY’S GROOVE ‘Railgun’ Doorn “Robotic and mechanic stuff to take your set to another level. Add strobo- 8.0 with the kind of gorgeous bass growls, softened gently by scopes.” Dezza manages a remarkable that really makes them come the melodic elements. A remix 10.  FEAT. AUDIO BULLYS ‘This Is How It Will Feel (Ode rework of Sam Davies’ original, alive. All three records here from Kiko & Citizen Kain boosts To Jimmy)’ White twisting its silky house charms channel the Israeli’s distinct things into the stratosphere “Our cheeky edit of Wiwek’s ‘Jungle Terror Track’. Don’t forget to check his bonkers short movie ‘Still In The Cage’, which features the original version into something harsher, driving take on that chugging, Latin with a menacing electro of this track.” and more industrial, a rougher percussive-progressive sound. bassline.

djmag.com 135 TECH-HOUSE [email protected] LEON CLARKSON thrash of percussion, vox-licks and automated bass squelches. The flip (The Martinez Brothers QUICKIES and Martin Buttrich) has a Ray Okpara tougher low-end, shaking Satin Curtain percussion and is a few bpm Mobilee faster. Expertly produced, 8.0 and perfect for a twisted early Ray drops a trio of no-frills dancefloor-ready morning. tunes that each cater for very different moments. Darius Syrossian and Kevin Yost both Ben Pearce remix 'Satin Curtain' in their respective styles. Ascension EP PIAS Various Artists 8.5 ZNA001 Ben Pearce returns with his Lyssna Records first release of 2017 with an EP 9.0 that bridges the tech-house/ A laidback EP of minimalistic, deep but techy, techno divide and four-part beat-laden favourites from Sweden's Lyssna concept series. Opening with a Records. soft, synth-drenched 'Intro', matters shift gear on 'Transit' youANDme Cuartero MONEY and ascend maniacally before Tube Up To The Roof reaching 'The Middle', which Rotary Cocktail Recordings Repopulate Mars SHOT! pushes a fuller, punishing 8.5 9.5 prog-sound that'll demolish One tune and two — warehouse and basement The in-demand Spaniard dancefloors. The Mancunian dub mixes — very excitable versions come from dishes out a pair of thrilling ties up this intriguing series youANDme. Shindoe offers a raucous remix tech-house tracks, the acid- the bold roller, 'Magnetism', appetiser with 'Crescent', that's more warehouse than the warehouse mix engulfed 'Up On The Roof', building from brash and a track bearing dusty white and Timo Maas plants a firm groove down with and the trucking warehouse decisive percussive roots there's noise and high percussion his refix. sound in 'Cheer Up', both of room for a tense breakdown atop a melodious low synth which would be enough to before clamping back down progression and raucous Ben Rau make Money Shot on their into the groove once again. The arpeggiator. Work Hard own, but the label still assign dubby 'Symbols' pumps just as Inkal Music remixers POPOF and Julian hard and feels fiercer to begin Emanuel Satie 8.5 Jeweil to proceedings. The with, but a euphoric breakdown All The Time EP All about the groove on these from Berliner, former with an electronic, softens the overall feeling to Moon Harbour Ben Rau. Infectious keys on 'Quisky'. Buzzing growling, sonic-shifting great effect. Dubspeeka offers 7.5 bassline and clattering drums on 'Work Hard'. take on 'Up On The Roof', a dark and barren techno remix Emanuel Satie emerged and Julian mutating the of 'Symbols' to complete the through 2016's ever-shifting RONNIE SPITERI KENJA acid to slither between a onslaught. trends to be a big-room technoid construct. tech-house mainstay, ending Devastating sounds, and a The Golden Boy the year having notched up quality result from all three. Egyptian Lover (Saytek Remix) original releases and various Emerald City compilation inclusions on top 9.0 labels. He begins this year in Reset Robot The Golden Boy delivers the the same vain and makes his Attack Of The Denim Hand energy on 'Egyptian Lover', debut on tech-house giant Whistleblower out on Jamie Jones/Lee Foss' Moon Harbour. Three stylish, 8.5 imprint, Emerald City. The techy cuts; ' Matters' Reset Robot delivers a tough original is a lively, although keeping it zonal with bass and opening tracky tool on 'Try This orthodox, tech-house affair trippy vocal processing; 'Cat 01. DARIUS SYROSSIAN ‘Andranik (Markus Homm & Gorge ' that contains one synth and Latmun's remix pushes it Fight' draws on a funky sub- Remix)’ 8bit Records “I’m a big fan of all three of these artists, so to have them all on one track and a trippy processed vocal further into nu-skool tech- pattern and swung percussion works so well.” loop. This and the alarming house territory with a rise and that dances with the vocal loop. ‘Lolly Pop (4am Mix)’ fall much drop arrangement. Saytek, The seemingly endless roller, 02. ANJA SCHNEIDER ‘Sunny Side Up’ Mobilee Records “This track by Anja works really well at building the night to where you want closer to techno, but the final however, really takes hold of the 'Future', completes the trio in to take it.” two tracks give this EP a quality track and constructs something style. 03. RESET ROBOT ‘A Thousand Billion Photons’ Truesoul tech-house finish. 'Two Two' is all of his own. Looping, muted “Reset Robot is one of the most talented producers out there, and this track a broken after-party roller, and chord stabs lead this one along Nicolas Masseyeff shows you why!”

he finishes with the sumptuous into something that's hella' Invidia EP 04. KEVIN OVER ‘ODE’ Truesoul 'Attack Of The Denim Hand', trippy. Diversions Music “Love all of Kevin’s work, he always creates weird and wonderful sounds and is always on-point with his hi-hats.” which ebbs and flows elegantly 7.5 with a chiming minimal-esque The Martinez Brothers, Here we have a solid EP from 05. SANTE ‘Bring Back’ Avotre “Sante’s music is always in my sets as he make tracks purely for the melody straight from the mid- Martin Buttrich, Jerome burgeoning French talent dancefloor.” '00s atop a frantic sub-bass and Sydenham & Mathew Nicolas Masseyeff that drops 06. RONNIE SPITERI ‘Underwater’ Leena Music tight, electro drum-kit. A highly Jonson on his Diversions Music, whom “This is a stripped-back track from myself and really works well wherever I infectious and smooth ride to Joint Custody EP he runs with Oxia. A regular on have played it.” close this initially hard-hitting Cuttin' Headz both Systematic and Herzblut 07. SIDNEY CHARLES ‘Botafoch’ Intec release. 9.0 labels, Nicolas Masseyeff “Sidney Charles’ kick-drums are always beefy and always do damage in any This 10th Cuttin' Headz release unleashes three originals here, club.” Andre Salata sees label heads The Martinez the fluid and tentative 'Invidia' 08. CRISTOPH ‘Absent Mentor’ Knee Deep In Sound Magnetism EP Brothers collaborate with house stealing the show, followed “Cristoph has a unique sound and always delivers the goods. The bassline in this is wicked.” Get Physical Music and techno peerage in Martin by the electronic steel-pan 8.5 Buttrich, Jerome Sydenham and flavoured 'Unbalanced', and the 09. RHYMOS ‘Faction’ Kenja Records “’Faction’ is dope! It’s a cross between tech-house and techno and works well Thick techno-cum-tech-house Mathew Jonson for two tight, muted keys of 'Oblecto'. Only in a peak-time set.” from Andre Salata that'll get trippy and techy house cuts. 'No two releases in so far, but it'll 10. RONNIE SPITERI ‘Thin & Crispy’ Do Not Sleep your feet moving and body Pop' — minus Martin Buttrich — be worth keeping your eyes on “The percussion build in this track really works towards the main drop and shaking. The EP opens with is a twisted, alert, minimalistic the label if they keep this up. works for me every time I play it.”

136 djmag.com DISCO QUICKIES Entschuldigung Gina EP Word Up Records 8.0 Supermen Lover, Guillaume Atlan and Stephan Bejean from Mute Irregualrs, Christine forge an unbreakable, modern disco alliance.

Francis Inferno Orchestra Oasis & A Time Superconscious 7.5

JONATHAN BURNIP [email protected] Melbourne’s Francis Inferno Orchestra stirs up a quiet storm with an EP of new-age, Balearic mood and tribal disco energy.

Aimes Grandioses Visions Wonder Stories 8.0 Second release on Wonder Stories sees Aimes’ Hi-NRG get overhauled by Italian DJ, Rocca and the excellent The Beat Broker.

Double Exposure My Love Is Free (Def Mix ) Salsoul 9.5 Previously unreleased versions from the vaults with Def Mix heroes, Morales and Knuckles remixing this Salsoul classic to near perfection. MONEY

ROOSEVELT CITY SLANG SHOT! Cerrone Move Me (Remixes) Warner Music 9.5 Aroop Roy School Of Thought Underground mixes of the Talking About Life EP Drift Apart (inc. Mushrooms next single taken from House Of Disco Project & Ashley Beedle Remixes) Cerrone’s recent album, 8.0 Nine Lives ‘Red Lips’ — the album that Freestyle records regular, Aroop 8.5 rounded-up disco glitterati Roy brings some affirming A trippy, dubby prog house such as Chic’s Nile Rodgers disco energy in this latest for shuffle from ‘96, reissued on to contribute. Here, we have London label, House Of Disco. Nine Lives and brought up to new productions from the With some George Benson-style the present day with a brace of likes of Jacques Renault, who guitar licks and growling, Sly brand new remixes. Italian DJ/ offers a tougher version with

Pic: BRIAN VU Stone-style vocal loops, ‘Talking production team, Mushrooms punchier drums and high 01. HARVEY SUTHERLAND ‘Bermuda’ MCDE About Life’ brings in a positive Project, work a mix with velocity disco FX; but the “Loving everything that he is doing right now — this track also brings back mood. Japanese producer some deep disco flair; but the standout here, without any some Whitest Boy Alive memories for me!” Brisa brings a sharp-sounding highlight is the heavy-disco doubt, is Daniel Wang and co 02. JAGWAR MA ‘Give Me A Reason’ Mom+Pop/ Marathon jazz-funk rework and this chirpy fix from the original Ballistic working to the very heights “This won’t really find place in my DJ sets but it blew me away! After Pachanga Boys, another excellent Kompakt retouch for Jagwar Ma.” release bows out with smudgy, Brother, Ashley Beedle, who of camp and drama with their deep house coda, ‘We Together’. manages an intricate club totally convincing high-gloss 03. GLASS ANIMALS ‘Life Itself (Roosevelt Remix)’ Harvest Records “I had the pleasure to remix these guys for a second time. I haven’t had so groove, riding the filters to an mix. Fierce. much fun on a remix in a long time and I’m really happy with the result!” Ambiance close. Vol.1 04. ROSTAM ‘Gravity Don’t Pull Me’ XL Recordings “This is the solo project of Weekend’s guitar player — everything he Duro Daniele Baldelli & Dario Various puts out is amazing, the arpeggiator sounds on this one are fantastic.” 8.0 Piana West End Edits: Medlar West End 05. JOE GODDARD ‘Lose Your Love’ Greco-Roman Raised on freestyle from the Zero Gravity EP “The Emotions track the sample is from is an all-time favourite of mine. I just Leng love the way that he turned it into a love-wrenched club track.” Floridian glades, now LA- 9.0 based artist (and once touring 9.0 Legendary New York disco label, 06. KHRUANGBIN ‘The Man Who Took My Sunglasses (Session saxophone player for late jazz What a treat for Afro-cosmic recently revived with a new Victim Remix)’ BoogieFuturo “Khruangbin have become one of my new favourite bands and I saw them live legend, Maynard Ferguson), fans as pioneer, Daniele roster, looks back, deep into its a few weeks ago. This Session Victim remix can hold up to the original vibe but Ambiance serves up an EP that's Baldelli, comes home to the catalogue and picks a selection takes it softly into the night.” more for the feet, less the head, vanguard of the genre, Leng of gems for London-based 07. KING SO SO ‘Disco In The Sky’ Hippie Dance on reliable Mexican label, Duro. Records. Teaming up with studio producer, and Wolf Recordings “Probably one of my most played tracks in DJ sets last year and still never fails to amaze me when I play it out.” Five helpings of proto-house, muse Dario Piana, the pair regular, Medlar, to re-edit. new wave, slo-mo cosmic and reach through the cosmos and Features a killer, dub reworking 08. HNNY ‘Cheer Up, My Brother’ Omena “This has become my new official lazy Sunday soundtrack.” -inspired create these fitting, mid-tempo of Sweet Life’s classic ‘I electro with notable tracks electronic disco nuggets with Get Lifted’ alongside tidy edits 09. ROLAND TINGS ‘Pala’ Internasjonal being the direct drive of ‘Gotta elements of new-wave and of Kenix’s wonderful freakout, “What I love about Roland Tings is the naivity about his style — it never sounds too sophisticated, just like fun drum machine jams.” Dance At The Party’ and the ancestral dub. Killer release, ‘There’s Never Been (No One lush, Ralf und Florian indebted with the dazzling electro Like You)’ and Shirley Lites’ 10. COMA ‘Happiness’ Kompakt “The closing track of their new album is probably my favourite — and it was so sparkle of the outro, ‘Runners hoedown of ‘Air Vibes’ being the Hi-NRG essential ‘Heat You Up much fun to play drums at a few of their shows earlier this year!” In Wake’. standout cut. (Melt You Down)'.

djmag.com 137 DRUM & BASS WHISKY KICKS QUICKIES Lewis James

Judo [email protected] Lowriders 7.0 A well-blended mix between hip-hop and drum & bass, with jungly breaks, neuro features and sci-fi patterns. It’s dark and dystopian and sounds like the soundtrack to a comic book film remake.

Hidden Aspect Deleted Citrus 8.0 The level of depth in this track is unreal, it’s been crafted to such a high calibre it feels like a physical presence warping its way around you. It’s a moody, tech-stepper full of dark distortion and a serious amount of pent-up energy.

Itoa MONEY Strange Attractor SHOT! Beat Machine Records 8.5 Breakage Woah! This is grimey. It’s got a simplified Elmhurst Dub rawness about it, lots of empty space and an Index Dub amazing variety of influence from across the UK 9.0 bass music scene, full of familiar samples, and a It's the first one from reworked jungle-beat pattern. Breakage’s new label Index, much acclaim and respect warm, rumbling, understated so it’s bound to be a biggie from different areas of the bassline and the occasional LENZMAN THE NORTH QUARTER right? Right. The intro scene, largely down to the high twinkle. The track features relives a classic set of breaks craftsmanship and eclectic scene veteran but surprising before a ragga vocal adds the variety of his output. 'Invaders' Spearhead debutant MC Fats, throwback vibe. What makes is out and out dancefloor whose forever famous voice and this track really special, driven, with lots of layers of big, exquisite harmonising bring however, is the bassline! It brash twisting bass and cheesy another level of class. will tear the wall of any club old film samples, plus eerie down, it’s devastatingly atmospherics and elements Benny Page good! If you like things dark usually attributed to tech. Big! Champagne Bubbler and dirty, you’re going to Dub Shotta want to hear this, and by the Wosp feat. Auro Janks 8.0 way, the b-side's amazing Jack Thumb A staple name in the game, with too! Lost Recordings over a decade of experience, 7.0 Benny Page is hitting us 'Jack Thumb' is a glorious with a new imprint, and from Lenzman collision of rolling, gritty tech what we hear it’s a lot of fun. Bayview and smooth chord-driven liquid, ‘Champagne Bubbler’ is bright, 01. FD ‘This Is Now’ The North Quarter The North Quarter and a strong release from a bouncy and doesn’t take itself “For a while now think FD has undeservedly been flying under a lot of people’s 8.5 relatively new label. It would be too seriously, it’s a perfect radars. I’m really happy to have signed this one for my label. Real soul vibes.” The second chapter of great to hear an instrumental jump-up banger. We are highly 02. ULTERIOR MOTIVE ‘Hey Judas’ Dub Lenzman’s new label journey of this one, or a remix with rating this release, with its “This one has ‘anthem’ written all over it. It combines Ulterior Motive’s signa- ture tech-funk, urgent DRS vocals and a pinch of late ‘90s Renegade Hardware brings us to ‘Earth Tones’, less vocal, while there’s no mix of nostalgic influence and influence to devastating effect.” an EP with a mammoth eight doubting that Auro Janks has modern sounds, it’s an EP that’s 03. REDEYES ‘In My Life’ The North Quarter tracks plus an additional two an absolutely beautiful voice, got to be heard. The highlight is “Another criminally underrated producer who has been keeping the soul alive instrumentals. Distinct in style, there is just too much vocal ‘Kil Sound’. in the scene. He’s currently working on an EP for me and this one is a beauty.”

‘Bayview’ oozes the effortless on this track. Looking forward 04. SIGNAL & HYROGLIFICS ‘Make Me Feel’ Critical Music swag that enriches all this man to hearing the future work of Break “Tech and soul meet here in this roller by Signal & Hyroglifics. This one has a really ‘ill’ vibe to it, in the best possible way.” touches. Slight melancholic everyone involved on this one. Solvent chords dance lightly on a bed A R Records 05. JUBEI ‘Cold Heart’ Dub “Every set needs a Jubei roller in it, and this is one of the highest calibre, it of soft rolling drums, while Villem & McLeod feat. 8.5 just flows and flows.” the snippets of soulful vocal MC Fats Here Break is unleashing some 06. SUBMORPHICS ‘Don’t Be So Cold’ The North Quarter add even more emotion. The Perfect Solution almighty weaponry. It’s feels “I’ve been playing this track for a long time and I still love it. Extremely happy sub is melodic and warm, and Spearhead Records fast, brutally so; it’s that I managed to get it for the label.” brings the track through to its hard-hitting, infectious type of 8.0 07. MCLEOD & SYMPTOM ‘Cherry Hill’ Innerground uplifting finale. Oh Spearhead, Spearhead, tech that has the whole floor, “Marky just hooked me up with this one. It really grabbed me with the clean, crispy breaks and the room-filling bassline. It then adds a tonne of warm Spearhead, how do you do relentlessly bouncing into one musical layers to ensure the good vibes.” Turno it? Only a handful of labels hot, sweating mess. To the 08. BREAKAGE ‘Elmhurst Dub’ Index Invaders can boast the same continual barrage of beats this punchy “The first single on Breakage’s new label is a persy. It’s got that proper dutty Charge Recordings and consistent outpouring roller adds dashes of sci-fi, with sound that manages to do a whole lot with the bare essentials. I wish there 8.0 of stunning, soulful, truly only the tiniest of breakdowns was more of this sound around to be honest.” In recent years, Turno’s exceptional music. ‘Perfect to allow party-goers a swift 09. REDEYES ‘What She Wants (Lenzman Remix)’ Vandal Records “When Redeyes asked me if I wanted to remix something for his label, I knew I supporter base has grown Solution’ is a fine example of intake of oxygen. An absolute had to jump on this track. One of my favourites of 2016.” massively, and while his roots well-crafted liquid and has floor smasher and with is cross- remain firmly in jump-up's that classic and uplifting mix genre appeal, we’re sure you’ll 10. LENZMAN ‘In My Mind’ The North Quarter “This is the lead track off my brand new ‘Earth Tones’ EP, featuring Mancunian solid ground, he is now gaining of progressive piano chords, a be hearing this lot. Soul empress IAMDDB.”

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Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 14:22 䰀䤀一䔀唀倀 䄀䄀娀

䄀䘀刀伀䨀䄀䌀䬀 ⴀ 䄀一一䤀䔀 䴀䄀䌀 ⴀ 䈀䔀一一夀 䈀䔀一䄀匀匀䤀 ⴀ 䈀䤀䌀䔀倀 ⠀䐀䨀 匀䔀吀⤀ 䈀伀䈀 匀䤀一䌀䰀䄀刀 ⴀ 䌀䠀刀䤀匀 䰀䤀䔀䈀䤀一䜀 ⴀ 䐀䤀匀䌀䰀伀匀唀刀䔀 䐀䨀 䔀娀 ⴀ 䐀唀䈀䘀䤀刀䔀 ⴀ 䐀唀匀䬀夀 ⴀ 䔀䄀吀匀 䔀嘀䔀刀夀吀䠀䤀一䜀 ⴀ 䘀䔀䐀䔀刀 䘀䔀䐀䔀刀䤀䌀伀 匀䌀䄀嘀伀 ⴀ 䘀䰀䤀䜀䠀吀 䘀䄀䌀䤀䰀䤀吀䤀䔀匀 ⠀䐀䨀 匀䔀吀⤀ ⴀ 䜀唀夀 䜀䔀刀䈀䔀刀 ⴀ 䠀䄀一一䄀䠀 圀䄀一吀匀 䜀刀伀伀嘀䔀 䄀刀䴀䄀䐀䄀 䠀䔀䤀䐀䤀 ⴀ 䠀唀䐀匀伀一 䴀伀䠀䄀圀䬀䔀 ⴀ 䨀䄀䌀䬀䴀䄀匀吀䔀刀 䨀伀刀䤀匀 嘀伀伀刀一 ⴀ 䨀唀䰀䤀伀 䈀䄀匀䠀䴀伀刀䔀 ⴀ 䬀䄀吀夀 䈀 䨀伀刀䤀匀 嘀伀伀刀一 匀䄀一䐀夀 刀䤀嘀䔀刀䄀 ⴀ 䬀䰀䤀一䜀䄀一䐀䔀 ⴀ 䬀혀䰀匀䌀䠀 䴀䄀䴀䈀伀 䈀刀伀吀䠀䔀刀匀 ⴀ 䴀䄀刀䬀 刀伀一匀伀一 ⴀ 䴀䄀夀䄀 䨀䄀一䔀 䌀伀䰀䔀匀 一䤀䌀 䘀䄀一䌀䤀唀䰀䰀䤀 ⴀ 倀䄀吀刀䤀䌀䬀 吀伀倀倀䤀一䜀 ⴀ 倀䄀唀䰀 䬀䄀䰀䬀䈀刀䔀一一䔀刀 一䤀䌀 刀䤀䌀䠀夀 䄀䠀䴀䔀䐀 倀䔀吀䔀 吀伀一䜀 ⴀ 伀䰀䤀嘀䔀刀 䠀䔀䰀䐀䔀一匀 ⴀ 刀㌀䠀䄀䈀 ⴀ 刀伀䈀䤀一 匀䌀䠀唀䰀娀 ⴀ 刀伀䜀䔀刀 匀䄀一䌀䠀䔀娀 ⴀ 匀䔀吀䠀 吀刀伀堀䰀䔀刀 匀吀䔀嘀䔀 䰀䄀圀䰀䔀刀 匀䬀刀䔀䄀䴀 ⴀ 匀伀䰀伀䴀唀一 ⴀ 匀吀䔀嘀䔀 䄀伀䬀䤀 ⴀ 匀吀伀刀䴀娀夀 ⴀ 吀䠀䔀 䴀䄀刀吀䤀一䔀娀 䈀刀伀吀䠀䔀刀匀 ⴀ 吀䤀쬀匀吀伀 ⬀ 䴀䄀一夀 䴀伀刀䔀

吀䠀䔀 䠀伀䴀䔀 伀䘀 䴀䄀䰀吀䄀ᤠ匀 一䤀䜀䠀吀䰀䤀䘀䔀

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Untitled-1 1 16/01/2017 14:21 BREAKS & BASS Midnight Phulin Droppin Suttin QUICKIES Saucy Records Kasperg 9.0 Until U're Gone (Murder He Wrote Remix) UK bass newcomers Midnight Top Billin Phulin hammer out a muscular [email protected] 9.5 dose of rugged four-four, Roska’s right-hand man Murder He Wrote 'Droppin Suttin' coming perfectly combines silky smooth musicality with through with the heavy

BEN CHILD the rawest of dancehall attitude. This bruising vibes from an unknown MC on remix of Finnish artist Kasberg comes across like top of killa brass licks, sick a hybrid of UK funky and breakbeat, blending percussion payoffs and deep the offbeat rhythmic tendencies of the former sub. On remix duties, Barely with the funk and rolling bravado of the latter. Royal & Bunnie add class and epic splendour to their all-guns- Baytrilla feat. Flirta D blazing breakbeat reworking, Massive Irie (Spookz Remix) while Tru Concept add bovver MONEY Fine Dining boy ghetto house stylings. 8.0 SHOT! Grimey UK bass music reworking from London's Echoes & Knight feat. Nixon very own DJ Spookz. Frenetic scattershot kicks Cordless Somewhere Shadows EP and claps fire through the soundsystem as System Collapse Punks Music moody bass motifs scrap it out for space with Saucy Records 9.5 horror movie-esque synth-licks and Flirta's 9.0 Back in the dog-days of the irrepressible vocal. Spookz is on form. Rip-roaring ghetto bass 20th century there was a flavours topped off with a week-long festival down in Bromley rabbit punch of a ragga vocal, Plymouth to celebrate the Burn Down feat. Grove & Dread C (Archive Remix) this is a hugely impressive coming total eclipse of the Punks Music offering from London badman sun. So convinced were the 9.0 Ben McKnight, all fizzing mid- organisers that this much- Bristol's Archive adds a frenetic breakbeat range bass destruction, dubby 'Can't Get 'Em' and on to heralded solar event would backdrop to fellow SOBAD member Bromley's atmospherics and booming the stripped-back dystopian attract ravers in their tens superlative bass music modern classic from last low-end. On remix duties, four-four/breakbeat hybrid of thousands to pay witness year. This one's all about the rinsing meta- Bristol's Archive turns in a killer that is Echo Knight's 'Blade that they booked a seemingly jungle beats and deadly b-line firepower. carnival-esque beat while LiTek Runner', there's a uniformity neverending marathon of heads in a minimal tech-house of spaced-out frequencies here DJs lasting at least a week or direction. that's hugely pleasing to the more. By the fourth or fifth ear. Rounding things off are day, as the sun came up and BARELY ROYAL & BUNNIE SAUCY RECORDS Hypho Left/Right & Isenberg's own the soundsystems slowly Minzu feat. MC Pean 'Heat', a booming kick and clap coughed into life, the sleep- Second To None riddim with attitude in spades deprived assembled throngs 9.0 and a chord sequence on the could be seen swaying gently Darkling, twisted soundscapes breakdown that will have 'em on their feet, the last dregs and a moody, dubbed-out kick shaking on the dancefloor, and of ecstasy sliding through and percussion riddim are the the half-heard atmospheric their systems like quicksilver; order of the day on this latest garage lick that is Daze Prizm's the hazy, sunkissed beats journey into the brooding echo 'Dream'. the only thing keeping chamber of Manchester-based them from collapsing in rudeboy Louis Richardson's Jay Robinson a heap. Nixon's new EP is mind. Pean's malevolent vocal The Year Three Oh EP' music for that moment, big ups the energy levels and Night Bass soundsystem soul to revive elevates the whole track to 8.5 your corporeal bad self by peak-time relevance. "Hypho AC Slater's renowned Night gently re-attaching damaged 666 bring the devil in", he Bass imprint releases yet synapses and waking up spits, and this one definitely another shadowy venture into those dancing feet. Lead 01. TRU FONIX & CULPRATE ‘Solarised’ Saucy Records “Absolute banger from these Donny producers, such a crazy innovative idea.” brings the evil in full effect. the heart of 3am territory. Jay track 'Somewhere Shadows' Robinson has a wiry, sinuous is a vast open desert of 02. HYBRID THEORY ‘Repent’ Yosh “Probably one of the weirdest/sickest drop sounds we’ve heard, goes off!” Left/Right Presents sound that cuts through the deep, glistening breakbeats, In Shadows Sampler EP mix like a knife, here displayed 'Equipped Future' a 03. SKELECTA ‘Power’ Dub Punks Music impressively with the taut, rinsing, atmospheric slice “Skelecta has come through with an absolute screamer that hasn’t left our sets since we got it, love it.” 9.0 minimalistic drive of 'Heiss' of destructive proto-rave. The Stanton Warriors' Punks and the rugged ghetto house of 'God's Choir' sashays 4. INKLINE ‘Bluff’ Saucy Records “Lovely vibes from Inkline here, the piano part is just lush and combined with imprint has been slowly 'Hussle'. A quirk-fuelled, booty- between warm, light- the drop makes this one a certified banger.” reinventing the breakbeat shaking collaboration with refracted chords and the

05. HOT GOODS ‘1944’ Saucy Records rubric for the past two years, Dillon Nathaniel, 'SWYMGY', rudest of junglist b-line “Cheeky little number, this one. The quick percussive lead always sends with Texas maestro Left/ rounds off the package. energy, while the Morgan crowds mental.” Right right at the heart of this Freeman-sampling 'Beings 06. ECHOES & KNIGHT ‘System Collapse’ Saucy Records increasingly fresh and relevant Hybrid Theory feat. Below' dips into scattershot “This one has been getting rinsed by us for months now and it’s not looking to stop anytime soon.” take on a classic theme. And Trilla rudecore of the finest this five-track sampler for the VIP vintage. This is an utterly 07. SLY ONE ‘Air Punchin’ Dub Four40 Records “African drums and tight vocal chops really come together to make this one artist's debut 'In Shadows' sublime selection. an absolute belter.” compilation shows just why 8.0 the genre is no longer the ugly 'VIP' must be Brummie bass 08. BUSHBABY ‘I Will Never Die’ Dub “This one is just a relentless onslaught of bass, mad tune!” duckling of dance music. From titans Hybrid Theory's signature tip and Pelikann adds a healthy the rinsing, minimalistic meta- banger, and the remixes don't dose of his trademark synthy 09. PELIKANN ‘Badboy Sound’ Saucy Records “Another big one from our boy Pelikann, the obscure drum-beat makes this jungle of Obscene Frequency's disappoint. B Squared delivers silliness. An excellent excuse one perfect to spice up the rave.” 'Rollin'' to the carnival beats, a breakneck-paced, industrial to hear Trilla's killer vocal lick

10. SKETCHI ‘Spring Grove’ Second To None Music deep atmospherics and heavily strength reworking, 'Skepsis' all over again in the dance, as if “Love this one, it’s a complete buttery biscuit.” effected diva vox of Cellardore's goes in hard on a grime house you needed one.

djmag.com 141 GRIME [email protected] MARTIN FELICITY QUICKIES Ransom FA x Merky Ace Wishing Ransom Crew X TUIGSE 7.0 This new meeting of minds between Lewisham’s Merky Ace and Aberdeen’s Ransom FA is another string to Scottish grime’s bow. This playful cut has an R&B-infused beat that sounds like something might’ve been behind.

Armour War Talk Bluku Music 8.0 In the running for one of the most underrated (and best) grime tracks of the year so far, old school OG Armour (ex-Nasty Crew) is back with ‘War Talk’, bringing an iron-corrugated flow to a spartan beat. MONEY SHOT! Ezro No Worries Turtle Basement Money Haffi Mek (feat. Abra 6.0 Cadabra) Lewisham producer and Powers innovator Ezro XL Recordings brings out a deep-trodden, trappy instrumental, 9.5 with the promise of an album, ‘Ghost In The Despite some lazy labelling Blue’, dropping soon this year. of Stefflon Don as the UK’s co-production by Faze Miyake is seeing in the new year in the answer to Nikki Minaj, she’s on one cut. Catch this one on best way possible, dropping proving those people wrong repeat rotation at a grime set their second release of 2017 RU LISTENING by continuing to drop a string near you. (already!). Handling a regional of stand-alone, straight-fire roster of talent, ‘Lyrical Skengs’ releases. This latest, swiped x sees ’s Danny Dorito from the scene-defining Samantha and Eastbourne’s Stogey go ‘New Gen’ compilation that Dave over an Audio-Slugs produced draws together some of the 8.0 trap-hitter that advertises the most potent voices in grime Two young bloods from the UK as the fertile ground for new and UK music (Caroline SM’s underground join forces for a talent that it is. handiwork), ‘Money Haffi slow-burner of a single that sees Mek’ is a dancehall-inflected the pair go side by side over V/A ode to the hustler. While a Jae5 production, with Dave Weightless Volume 2 Abra’s ruffer-than-ruff vocals on keys. The Streatham MC — Different Circles are on form as ever. recently brought to the world’s 9.0 attention by being co-signed Obvious disclaimer: the by Champagne Papi — dishes sound design aesthetic that 01. DAVE FEAT. ‘Wanna Know’ OVO Sound/Warner Bros Scorcher out some twinkly keys and ‘Weightless Volume 2’ sweeps “This one took a lot of people by surprise, including me! Featuring the one Paranoid languid vocals on ‘Samantha’, together could hardly be and only.” RU Listening Hus swinging from soul-stirring classed as grime — but for 02.  ‘You Dun Know Already’ F**K Radio 8.0 melodies to spitting in his anyone interested in the “Ya dun kno already! For me it’s one of the biggest records of last year, so sick, Scorcher’s back with a bang signature hard-hitting flow. composite parts of the genre’s so dope! The way Ghetts got into the Megaman thing is crazy, it’s like he really got into his spirit.” in 2017. The grime OG, who instrumental arm, then this is a recently cropped up as a lead So Large must-listen. Highlights come in 03. BIG 6IX FEAT. TE DNESS ‘#AreYouMad’ Independent “I had this on repeat for four weeks straight in my headphones, in the car — role in hit movie The Intent, Sandwich Remix feat. Bossman from Innke’s ricocheting square everything. You’ve really got to take this one in.” returns for ‘Paranoid’, produced Birdie & wave ‘Pioneer’ and Mumdance’s Mike Murphy by the mighty Donae’O — who breathtakingly beautiful ‘Cafe 04. DONAE’O FEAT. & ‘Black’ “Big up my brother Donae’O, a mad producer that has been hitting out some contributes a sinister, creeping 9.0 Del Mar’. very big tunes lately — this one has a sick link-up!” trap beat. Scorcher brings his East London’s So Large (who deviant flow and some familiar recently popped up on President Davinche, Mic Ty, 05.  ‘Coordinate’ ad-libs to the instrumental, T’s ‘T On The Wing’ LP) links , Capo Lee “This is on heavy repeat. I loved Travis Scott’s whole album last year!” while also copping some tropes up with the man himself and Nah Blud 06. FEKKY & SECTION BOYS ‘Mad Ting, Sad Ting’ Island Records from across the pond. Bossman Birdie for a remix of #POWERS “One of the most gassed records to have come out of 2016, it’s got an instant ‘Sandwich’. Over a thunderous, 7.0 vibe and will still be big this year. Check out the remix, too.” Capo Lee & Sir Spyro ringing alarm of a beat ‘2 weeks — 1 producer — 32 07.  X SECTION BOYZ ‘Whippin’ Independent Stop Talk (produced by Filthy Gears), So artists’. So goes the tagline “It’s cold! This record is an unexpected collaboration and I love to see the international link-ups happening.” SighTracked Records Large drops bars about mixed for a new collaborative project 9.0 meats while Prez predictably between super-producer 08. SCORCHER FEAT. DONAE’O ‘Paranoid’ RU Listening At the first glimpse of Spyro’s inserts a hefty dose of his non- Davinche and music creative “It might be mine but I love it. It’s a darker vibe to the A-side ‘99 Riddim’ that I released last year and gives a more sinister feel. Shows people I really mean ‘sounds of the sir’ tag you sequiturs. This one might just Tasha Demi. ‘Nah Blud’ sees a business this year!” already tell it’s gonna be a big go stratospheric. trio of titans; Mic Ty, Jammz 09.  ‘Father Stretch My Hands’ G.O.O.D Music one. And this Capo Lee collab and Capo Lee reach for the mic “Kanye is the king of this business, so it’s only right he gets a mention. This is nothing less than that — the Stogey x Danny Dorito over a searing trap beat. It’s record is crazy, from the production to the lyrics. He has a standout way of putting tracks together.” single off new six-tracked Lyrical Skengs impressive enough on its own, E.B Records ‘Stop Talk’ EP that has the yet even more so when you 10. SNOWY DANGER ‘The Blue ft. , ROCKET & LITTLE DEE’ PAP pair delivering straight-up 6.5 realise that it’s one of 14 tracks “Snowy Danger is representing on this record, it’s going to be a big year for him.” grime weaponry, and with The newly unveiled E.B Records made over 14 days.

142 djmag.com HIP-HOP & TRAP QUICKIES Jam Baxter Dumb High Focus 8.5 Another tantalising glimpse into 'Mansion 38', surely one of the most hotly-anticipated albums [email protected] HF have ever given us. Here, Chemo cooks up a truly psychedelic swirl from what sounds like an 'In Morroco' offcut, while that basketcase MONEY Trellion dribbles his usual gospel. Essential. SHOT! NEIL KULKARNI Royce Da 5'9" Wait A Minute (Freestyle) Lil Simz N/A LMPD 8.0 Bandcamp Loving MOST of RD59's recent run of freestyles, 9.5 this one in particular cos the instrumental of ‘LMPD’ is a startling opener Phresher's 'Wait A Minute' is the kind of music to Simz's new masterpiece you just can't stop listening to. Great lines here 'Stillness In Wonderland' — throughout as you'd expect, hope he gives us a Camp Lo way back in 1996 but it’s she’s got a band together as follow-up to the massively underrated 'Layers' Coolie High Is Life remained entirely unreleased good as Badu on ‘Ankh’ but soon. Persia Records until now — unfathomable there’s something bleaker 8.0 given how Madlib’s profile has about what they create for Crystal Caines feat. A$AP Ferg Nigh-on 20 years since ‘Uptown grown so much since, but deeply Simz here, both lush as a Fuckery Saturday Night’ first blew our gratifying that Below System picture-postcard but shot N/A minds with Camp Lo’s unique are finally giving it the remaster through with the rainy 8.0 walk and talk — the 'On The and release it deserves. Yes, grit of this dirty auld isle. Gotta admit I listened to this cos of that title but Way Uptown' collection of this title-track is from deep in So even though the lyrics I'm glad I did, a weird mix of robo-dancehall, demos and rarities from their the phantom ‘golden age’ but seek spiritual connection Santogold-style sternness and a real great line early years impossibly manages truth be told it sounds anything with Nina Simone and Maya in femme-aggravation that I'm going to bump to build the intrigue about but dated. Kazi’s raw talent and Angelou there’s no faux- until spring finally comes. Diggit. this great lost zenith of '90s Madlib’s developing skills find Americanisms ever in Simz’ hip-hop. This is the highlight. themselves in perfect symbiosis music, there’s the charting of WILLIAM HUTSON CLIPPING Ski on the beats and loops and — the result is a track that’s a black British female space that remarkable singularity of dark, grainy, deeply funky and that’s uniquely Simz’ and sound is there from the off, could’ve been recorded last previously almost entirely Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede week. Get drenched. unmapped. Simz Music is the already discovering their utterly only genre this fits in. Must idiosyncratic way with fucked- Vic Spencer X Big Ghost be a star by the year's end or up syntax and word-wrangling. Ltd UK music's racism and sexism Alongside Das Efx, a reminder of The Ghost Of Living is confirmed for all time. a time when oddity of sound and Bandcamp 01. G-SIDE FEAT. MALI BOI ‘Mission Control’ Slow Motion Soundz vision was prized by B-Boys. 8.5 “We’re touring in support of our sci-fi rap album, ‘Splendor & Misery’. This particular song, ‘Mission Control’, was cut from the album for some reason, but Essential. The diametrical opposite to so many of the West Coast’s it’s one of the group’s spacier tracks.” Chief Keef presents another side noughties retronauts, ‘Slow

02.  ‘E.T. (Extraterrestrial)’ LaFace Infinito 2017 to Chi-town hip-hop: 'The Ghost Your Roll’ doesn’t just retrieve “Consider that the beat for ‘E.T.’ contains no drums, making Big Boi’s loose, A Protagonist Life: Unscrambling Of Living' is a collaboration old motifs (like say Ugly groovy flow feel untethered to anything in the track, and Andre 3000’s already stiff, articulate style seem even more robotic. It’s a perfect example of the Africa with Big Ghost Ltd, a producer Duckling and Jurassic 5 did), it duo’s unprecedented genius.” Bandcamp best known thus far for his work takes on the spirit of late '80s/ 03. DR OCTAGON ‘Halfsharkalligatorhalfman’ Mo’Wax 7.5 with Westside Gunn and Conway early '90s Native-Tongues hip- “One of Kool Keith’s many alter-egos re-imagines The Island of Dr Moreau.” While we’re in the Windy on the astonishing 'Griselda’s hop and finds its own supremely City, do try and tap into this Ghost' from last year. This wobbly way of walking forth. 04. THEESATISFACTION ‘EarthEE’ SubPop “The rap contingent of Records is uniquely dedicated to sci-fi. We feel nutter’s discography on is Spencer’s second drop in Boy howdy it immediately. quite at home there, and we feel honoured to be label-mates with these fine hip-hop visionaries.” Bandcamp. There’s over 150 two months after November’s drops on there but this, his startling 'St Gregory' mixtape. Oddissee 05. FUTURE ‘Space Cadets’ NA “Future inherited his sci-fi perspective growing up around Organized Noize latest, demonstrates a knack Great sonics from Big Ghost, The Iceberg and The Dungeon Family and has woven outer space themes throughout his for addictively monomaniacal crisp murkage shot through Mello Music Group catalogue. This track, produced by , comes from the strongest of his early mixtapes — ‘Astronaut Status’.” boombap production and with a real vintage jazzy tone 7.5 verbals that combine a Wu- and Vic spends much of his time Woah — if last year’s utterly 06. DJ QUIK & KURUPT ‘Jupiter’s Critic & The Mind Of Mars’ Mad Science style unstoppable surrealism infuriating any other rapper divine ‘Alwasta’ set was proof “This is definitely the weirdest moment on Quik and Kurupt’s ‘BlaQKout’. Quik with sporadic agit-prop within earshot. Cop it as soon as that Brooklyn’s Oddissee raps through a ring modulator that makes him sound like an even-further-out impersonation of Devin the Dude’s alien character Zeldar.” interrogations of orientalism, you can. was a lot less interested in colonialism and the endless underground appeal than he 07.  ‘Megaman’ Young Money Entertainment “This track — which samples the score to the sci-fi NES game MegaMan — is tendrils of racism’s growth and Time Machine was in taking conscious rap one of the more focused moments on ‘ IV’, proving he’s both still an spread. You don’t want to get Slow Your Roll overground again then ‘The incredible rapper, and authentically weird.” cornered by this guy, though — Time Machine Iceberg’ doesn’t just crossover, 08. FREESTYLE FELLOWSHIP ‘When The Sun Took A Day Off And you might want to subscribe to 7.5 it stakes out its own turf with The Moon Stood Still’ Project Blowed his newsletter. Make sure you Timely re-ish of a long- lines deep as oceans and beats “More fantasy than sci-fi, this track finds the Fellowship spitting mythology, full of creepy folkloric details.” know where the exits are. disappeared 2004 corker from so immediate you could almost this LA three-piece: think the call them radio-friendly. Hats 09. SNOOP DOGG ‘Batman & Robin’ Priority “This inexplicable track is actually about Batman and Robin. Snoop never gets Kazi & Madlib terpsichorean twistedness off to him, and MMG for crafting enough credit for the truly strange risks he takes.” Blackmarket Seminar of a Pharcyde combined with such exquisite pop without Below System 10. KEVIN GATES ‘Twilight’ N/A the thoughtful darkness the overthink that so often “’Splendor & Misery’ contains a lot of references to literary sci-fi, but none to of the criminally forgotten accompanies underground hip- the best-selling vampire novels of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. We left 9.0 that to Kevin Gates, who wrote this song from the perspective of a sparkly, Kazi and Madlib recorded the second Dream Warriors album, hop. This must be the year that undead casanova, and somehow made it sound really cool.” 'Blackmarket Seminar' album ‘Subliminal Simulation’. Unlike Oddissee becomes a star.

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Untitled-2 1 14/12/2015 11:44 BASS QUICKIES Synkro Memories Apollo [email protected] 7.0 Casting an eye back over his journey to date, Manchester associate Synkro is releasing a compilation of his formative work, suitably OLI MARLOW titled 'Memories'. Although he blossomed proper during ’s boom, this collection hints at the scope of his range and emotional depth.

Rimbaudan Letters Ten Thousand Yen MONEY 6.5 Ten Thousand Yen’s latest signing, Rimbaudan, Batu SHOT! laces the world with four cuts of serene and lush Murmur house music that come complete with elaborate Timedance titles like ‘I Said Goodbye To Dreams Of You At 9.0 The Shore’ and ‘She Taught Me ’. A weird and singular producer should be a well- C Powers celebrated thing and much All Right Blackdown to try new things and vary his like Shackleton was during Alliance Upholstery Rollage Vol. 2 output, and in that respect it’s dubstep’s boom period, Batu 8.0 Keysound an emphatic success. A bold and is very much treading water The latest bumpy knuckle from C Powers, ‘All 8.0 funk-driven exploration of some in his own ocean, leagues Right’ jacks exactly the right amount with its I’m all for setting boundaries impressive new steez. away from everyone else. little arpeggio ripples sitting all quaint and (because I’m a guy who actively His latest three-tracker on dainty behind the drum-work. Already including likes limitations), so this next Bambooman his own Timedance imprint hella (well, four) remixes, the 12” also comes experiment from Keysound Shudder is simply further proof of with a ‘Percapella’ version. boss Blackdown intrigues me. Accidental Jnr that: it’s lithe, skeletal and 'Rollage Vol. 2' is a plate that 8.0 minimal but yet it’s somehow essentially features four mixes A four-four focused EP from looming and quite oppressive SALUTE 37 ADVENTURES of Blackdown’s ‘Keysound the now London-based in places — particularly on Sessions Anthem’, which all Bambooman was always bound the EP’s peach, the seven- run at 130bpm and feed off to be a bit of an oddball — something-minute-long the same set of samples and his love of spatial crunches, ‘Whisper’. a textural field recording coarse sandpaper textures and from one of their club-nights. dissonant synthesizers alone The original and the feverish should have told you that. But Thundercat’s ‘Them Changes’ in weightless mix are the standout his forthcoming four-track EP between The Doobie Brothers’ approaches here. on Accidental Jnr really dives ‘What A Fool Believes’ and headlong into a bizzarely The Christians’ ‘Harvest for Syymstress detuned melodic idea, as well The World’, then the first drop Ryde Out as a tempo, which ensures that from Thundercat’s new album Tight Knit the whole thing feels very ‘him’. might well prove to be the 7.0 A natural continuation from a greatest thing ever (because Yeah, so I didn’t really research very talented kid. ‘Show Me The Way’ features why this guy loves his Ys so yacht rock veteran Michael much (ha) but what’s more than She’s Drunk McDonald himself alongside evident from just one single Anton his contemporary Kenny listen is that he can make a Files Rec Loggins). It's smoother than 01. HI TOM ‘Tablet’ NLV Records “Probably one of the best club tracks I’ve heard in the past couple of years.” pretty gutsy and raw-sounding 8.0 the smoothest silk pocket beat. If you’re me, ignore the My dog hates the sound of square that's ever been lovingly 02. DJ SLIINK, NADUS, MANOLO ROSE ‘Run Ricky Run’ OWSLA “This track screams energy. Relentlessly aggressive and driving.” vocal version and head straight strings. Most of the time he’s smoothened. for the dub for the kind of bleak- completely unresponsive to 03. FONO ‘Real Joy’ Relentless paletted, massively chunky work music; he kinda just sits there Desto “Hands-down the best club track to come out of 2015. Gamechanger!” Starkey was making when he side-eyeing me regardless of Immortality 04.  ‘Raptor’ was putting music out on Werk whatever weirdo thing I’ve got Signal Life “Ugh. Raptor frustrates me so much. I wish I’d written it. Such a damn wall of emotion.” Discs way back when. playing, but there’s something 9.0 about the timbre of string Returning with his first solo 05. G JONES ‘Helix’ Illusory Records “Tight, loud, bassy, clean. That lead melody is nothing but silly.” Swindle instruments he just can’t stand. material in over three years Purple Walls The first few bars of ‘Kacki Legs’ (he’s evidently been busy 06. KELELA ‘All Night (Neana Remix)’ Fade To Mind drove him flinching mental, so producing albums for Finnish “I do a little scream whenever the chorus hits. Drums rarely get any better than this.” 6.5 naturally I played it repeatedly. rap royalty Eevil Stöö in the 'Purple Walls' is the final piece The thing I realised doing it is meantime), Desto unleashes 07. QUIX ‘The Cut’ Nest HQ “This man makes really visceral music, I struggle not to screwface whenever of Monsieur Swindellio’s funk- that She’s Drunk is a very clever a torrent of crunked-up I listen.” voyage trilogy, a four-track EP tune writer. footwork on his six-track EP,

08.  ‘Thunder Bay’ Warp that features one original track ‘Immortality’. It’s a manic stew “HudMo at his very best. This one always has everyone singing along.” alongside collaborations with Thundercat of trickling percussion and Terri Walker, Daley and Cheatah Show Me The Way organised minor key menace, 09. GEOTHEORY ‘Futuristic Love’ SYZYGY “This is the epitome of an over-the-top synth killer.” Bay. The series was [most Brainfeeder first heard here when he played likely, I have no evidence of this 9.0 Room Three at Fabric in 2013. 10. GLACCI ‘Reflector’ Terrorhythm “All of his output works in whatever type of DJ set I’m playing. Reflector is whatsoever] manifested to push If you’ve ever made a well- Thankfully it really does still such a banger.” expectations and allow the lad worn playlist that sandwiched sound as revolutionary now.

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Untitled-2 1 14/12/2015 11:44 HARD QUICKIES Potato & Ransom feat. MC Creature Rebel MF POW! 8.5 A super-cool freestyle track from two of the pioneers of this sound. Tough yet not overly

DJ KUTSKI [email protected] hard kick-drum, old-skool ravey hoover synth- work and an abundance of energy to keep dancefloors moving!

Rebourne Right Now We R 8.0 A euphoric hardstyler, heavily influenced by the classic trance sound that will give an epic end to a trance set as much as it is currently blowing up hard dancefloors. MONEY SHOT! The Anunnaki feat. MC Braincase Hardcore Riot TNT Brutale Psylent Hill 7.5 Titanic A cool fusion between hardcore and drum & bass Crystal Mad set the track off. A bass-ripping 9.5 with original rap vocal for that classic rave feel. Nu Skool Bangs kick and naughty screech too, Psy-trance has had a huge If high tempos are your thing, check this one Nightbreed this one will certainly prick explosion over the past out for sure! 9.0 ears. few years — despite being There seems to be a real burst of huge for decades, the scene AUDIOFREQ AUDIOPHETAMINE hardstyle talent emerging from Phuture Noize was quite insulated. Those the UK at the moment. One of Fire who knew, knew, but more the country’s best kept secrets Anarchy recently the music has is south coast-based producer 8.5 had a further reach and Crystal Mad who bursts onto the Phuture Noize is known for naturally fused with other scene with his debut release on bringing a more melodic side styles. TNT have taken the the heavyweight Dutch rawstyle to the rawer end of hardstyle, bold step to write a 150bpm label Nightbreed. ‘Nu Skool and he certainly brings that psy-trancer with hardstyle Bangs’ is a high-energy club side out in the productions of quality production, but not banger with sinister melodies, this track. A haunting vocal a distorted kick in sight. The crunchy kicks and haunting sung with an electro/breakbeat dark and moody breakdown vocals. Without a doubt this guy complimenting it and following lends itself to both genres is one to watch with his cutting- into a catchy melody, which will before the epic build drops edge take on the sound, he is stick in the mind for sometime. into a triple psy rolling bass! sure to be one of the nu-skool I can certainly imagine this Rinse and repeat for a second leaders in the raw scene! track will be crossing between time with increased intensity the euphoric hardstyle sets and and you have one hell of a Adaro & Hard Driver raw-style sets as the track has unique club banger! 01. CODE BLACK & TONESHIFTERZ & AUDIOFREQ ‘Dragon- Smack the flexibility to move between blood’ Q Dance Roughstate them both. Great job for “A massive collaboration between myself and two of Australia’s biggest hard- style exports for the celebration of Australia’s biggest hardstyle party!” 8.5 pushing the boundaries. bass drums, euphoric melodies 2017 is going to be off to one and hypnotically repetitive 02. ZATOX ‘Sunlight’ Mainstage Music hell of a year if this track has set Minus Militia vocals. It’s always exciting to “The Italian stallion showcasing his versatility with an impressive bomb. Been a staple in my playlist for months, and huge support from EDM powerhouse the precedent for raw sounds. Obey & Arise see a clash of styles like this on W&W!” Rough and ready kick and Minus Is More paper, but even more exciting screech, with a mean groove when the track lives up to 03. AUDIOFREQ ‘The Grid’ Audiophetamine 9.0 “If I could mix up everything I love about in one pot, boil it throughout the track. Catchy This trio never ceases to impress expectations. and distill it into a concentrate, this track would be the result. Fusing genres while keeping it energetic and dancefloor-focused!” rap vocals punch throughout with their albums. And the intro the track, keeping the energy is a great introduction. A chord Sub Sonik & D-Fence 04. CRISIS ERA ‘Make It Pop’ We R flowing and rolling into a short progression which you no less Wazzup “The pumped up version of their no-nonsense dancefloor smasher from up- Neophyte Records and-coming Canadian duo. I love the way they keep things simple but fresh!” melody for the breakdown, into than expect from this trio, and a a crispy distorted lead to finish fresh-sounding drop which will 8.0 05. CHAIN REACTION ‘Oldschool Style’ Minus Is More off the track. Top work guys, get feet moving. Check this one Stepping up the tempo for the “A catchy, driving riff and strong vocal sample work as a perfect follow-up to his previous hit ‘The Record Breaking’, massive!” I'm sure this one will be filling out with the rest of the album, hot-raw talent comes a heavy dancefloors this year! you will not be disappointed! collaboration between the 07. SUB ZERO PROJECT & SUB SONIK ‘Headbanger’ DWX Anarchy raw and hardcore. The classic “Raw without sounding like nightmares! An aggressive dancefloor from two really exciting up-and-coming artists. Heavy!” Wild Motherfuckers Noisecontrollers & 'Wazzup' vocal has been given Alarma a raw makeover, which will 08. BIOWEAPON ‘The Lost Empire (Emporium 2016 Anthem)’ Au- We R RAW Just Won’t Get Enough certainly be appealing to those diophetamine “Code Black and I teamed up once again for an unforgettable anthem, 9.0 Q Dance who like the rougher end of the capturing that classic spooky hardstyle feeling from yesteryear making it an instant fan favourite!” The track title says it all for 9.0 rawer sounds. This vocal seems the theme of this track. These I certainly raised an eyebrow to be pushing a heavy metal- 09. JEBROER ‘Banaan (Ruthless Remix)’ Nouveau Riche guys come back with another when this one landed in my sounding essence, following “Not everything hard and raw needs to have over-the-top violent content! Who would imagine a jokey song about bananas (in Dutch no less!) would turn signature-sounding raw track, inbox. Hardstyle meets house as into a dirty-sounding drop. For into such a monster? Only freestyle legend Ruthless!” loving sample used these two legends collide, but all of you who are the last man throughout the first half of they meet very much in the land standing in the club, I'm sure 10. WARFACE ‘Mash-Up 6.0’ CD-r “If I could sum up this track with three words they would be: driving, heavy this track and dropped into a of hardstyle. 150bpm all the this one will be creeping its way and cheeky. Definitely a highlight of my sets since I first got it!” side-chain with a chunky beat to way with pounding, distorted into the end of your nights.

djmag.com 147 THE NR. 1 DJ/DANCE COUNTRY

DJ and dance platform of the and Flanders djmag.nl djmag.nl #20 - Amsterdam Dance Event 2015 - 20 jaar - ADE Pro - Soundlab - Harddance Event - ADE Next - ADE Green - #WIN djmag.nl #19 - Audient iD14 - Native Instruments Kontrol d2 - Reloop beatmix MK2 - Arturia MicroBrute SE White #18 - De Sluwe Vos - Gert van Veen & Release II - Dinant van Tongeren - Headliner Entertainment - DJ Korsakoff 10 jaar ground zero LIVInG & bREaTHInG DancE muSIc LIVING & BREATHING DANCE MUSIC LIVING & BREATHING DANCE MUSIC VooR nEDERLanD & VLaanDEREn VOOR NEDERLAND & VLAANDEREN VOOR NEDERLAND & VLAANDEREN 15x studio essentials behind the scenes herman Voor- en brood nadelen academy van Remixen living and breathing dance music living and breathing dance music living and breathing dance music

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wildstylez #18 - Interview Duncan - Backstage - Historie & Overzicht alle edities - Interviews artiesten Line-up 2015

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Jaargang 3, editie 18 2015, € 4,99 Special Jaargang 3, editie 20 2015, € 4,99 Jaargang 3, editie 19 2015, € 4,99 red bull music 40 pagina’S Jaargang 3, editie 18 2015, € 4,99 Jaargang 3, editie 20 2015, € 4,99 Jaargang 3, editie 19 2015, € 4,99 academy 53 53 @ Sónar BCN TRACKS TRacKS Reviewed Reviewed

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Untitled-1 1 15/04/2016 15:30 DJ Mag UK left.indd 79 15-04-16 15:30 TRANCE HP Source Planet/Spirals QUICKIES Techburst Gooty One 8.0 Speedlight Techburst serve two newies Graygoo Purple from Aussie pairing HP Source. 8.0 ‘Planet’ sounds less throwback, Nicolò Pilchard (one half of Voolgarizm) drops and more like it was time- this melodic charm offensive on his own capsuled 15-odd years ago. Graygoo Purple label. As reclined in tempo as it From its drums and percussion is chimingly irresistible in tone, for cooler floor up, every element screams [email protected] STARK moments ‘Speedlight’ is well worth seeking out. ‘Scot Project’, ‘Yves Deruyter’ and ‘Early Millennium’. Sneijder Undemanding, but masses of Polarize fun nonetheless. ‘Spirals’ has Afterdark more of Techburst’s stock-in- MONEY 7.5 trade linear techno attrition, If after ‘The Only Place’ and ‘Without You Near’, which nags, chivvies and SHOT! you thought Sneijder had gone a bit, well, soft, hypnotizes its way into your Estiva here comes the equaliser. Fast, brutal, siren affections. Star Walk and squelch-filled, this is a blunt force trancer if Statement! Recordings ever there was one. vs 10 Witness45 It was unlikely that Estiva was Protoculture Yangtze River going to better last year’s Asphalt Always Alive exceptional ‘Sun Goes Down’. Armind 7. 5 With ‘Flares’ however, he 8.5 Currently (and regrettably), did. By default, that made Protoculture’s latest comes with a pointedly ‘Yangtze River’ exists in a less beating the aforementioned dynamic title and one-hundred percent of the occupied department of trance. to say, if your tastes gather nigh-on impossible. The bar elements required to back it up. By turns acidic, It sports pace, bass and general around the JOOF, Pure Trance was simply too high. ‘Star melancholic, techy, tough and explosive, this is trance production vim aplenty, Progressive and Saturate nexus, Walk’ doesn’t beat it, but unlikely to leave any floor wanting. but is far less concerned with ‘#WhatWeDoAtNight' is where it does equal it and given supplying big statement it’s at. the attainment level, that’s COSMIC GATE WYM RECORDS moments (actual or producer- still astonishing. At once imagined). In their place M.I.K.E. Push instinctively written, original are longer, more developed Analogy/Lost & Found and nonchalantly delivered, harmonies, written to fashion a /Pure Trance Recordings it is also (somehow) better end-to-end experience. 8.5 ludicrously, chest-beatingly Clearly Daniel and Roman made Saying M.I.K.E.’s a busy boy is uplifting. If current-form this, not out of necessity, but a bit like saying water’s wet. Estiva represented the future desire… and kudos for that. Even by his own industrious of trance, we’d all be sleeping standards though, it’s been an safe in our beds tonight. Above & Beyond overdriving month. Alongside Balearic Balls his energetic reboot of Marcel Anjunabeats Woods’ ‘Tomorrow’ come these techno-trance era has 8.0 two. High Contrast’s ‘Analogy’ benefitted ‘Schöneberg’’s As its title meaning is is the marginally darker of this legacy no end. As has its ambiguous, might we suggest deuce, while ‘Lost’ on PTR is the relatively unrinsed remix status. that ‘Balearic Bells’ would more wistful and emotional. Pure NRG approach the mix have been a better (or more An album’s in the pipeline too with evident gusto and in their 01. COSMIC GATE & ‘Fall Into You (Extended Mix)’ WYM Records accurate) handle for Above & apparently, so expect output to hands, it’s straight-up putty. “This is the first single from our new album ‘Materia Chapter.One’. JES is one of our favorite singers to work with. Her voice gets us every time.” Beyond’s latest?! Its tolling be up even further in 2017. There are plenty of touchstones chimes are certainly amongst to the original (most notably 02.  ‘Valor (Original Mix)’ Anjunabeats “Tune! A fixed track in our sets for many a week now.” the most prominent elements feat. its percussion and chanty vocal on this darkly bassy, tech- Brooke Tomlinson loops), but Rich & Giuseppe 03. COSMIC GATE & ‘Dynamic (Extended bordering-on-techno affair. In The Night (Remixes) supplement their own mainline. Mix)’ WYM Records Coldharbour Recordings “We did it again! Second collab with our bro Ferry. It was a pleasure to work A&B haven’t gone full Robert Never overcooking the uplift, with him on ‘Event Horizon’, so a second track together was just its logical progression.” Armani, though. There’s just 8.0 it finds the perfect balance enough harmony shafting Ostensibly 4 Strings and Eddie between the classic and new. 04. SIMON DE JANO & MADWILL ‘Locomotive (Mitchell Niemey- through those top-end rafters Bitar are headlining this remix- er & Aaron Gill Mix)’ Free Music Recordings/Sony “Very energetic track — perfect choice for peak-er time moments in our sets.” to keep those of us so- release. Our advice, though, is Craig Connelly & Sue persuaded content. to dig deeper. Coincidentally McLaren 05.  ‘Wasting My Young Years (Maor Levi & both from Chicago, Dave Neven Home Kevin Wild Remix)’ Bootleg Higher Forces Records “We are major London Grammar fans and with this mix, we finally have a track Blank & Jones and Peter Kontor field markedly we can play at our shows.” COH/Seven Souls/Under The different approaches to Schulz’s 7.5 Stairs latest. Neven ports the track to ‘Home’ sees Craig’s new Higher 06. COSMIC GATE & ILAN BLUESTONE ‘Spectrum’ WYM Records “Premiered by Above & Beyond on their ABGT 250 show back in 2016, ‘Spec- Soundcolours prime-time, making excellent Forces Records imprint off to an trum’ is finally out! Another track from our ‘Materia Chapter.One’ album.” 8.0 use of Tomlinson’s vocal. Fuelled impressive start. Taken from his 07.  ‘Release ( Remix)’ Armada Blank & Jones haven’t released by stirring chord progressions ‘One Second Closer’ album, on “Fully in love with this one. That vocal and vibe fits together perfectly for us.” an even remotely club-angled in the drop, Kontor’s has more paper the track is a reasonably 08. COSMIC GATE & ALASTOR ‘Fight The Feeling (Extended album in many a long year. of a cruising prog-trance nature straight-shootin’ euphoric Mix)’ WYM Records ‘#WhatWeDoAtNight’ is to it. number. It is, though, one “Alastor is an up-and-coming DJ/producer from LA. We play a lot of his tracks in our sets, so for the new album, we knew we had to work with him essentially a halfway house that’s brilliantly mapped out, on a track.” between the B&J we once knew Marmion offering at least three genuinely and their 10-year-long chillout Schöneberg (Pure NRG Remix) catalytic moments throughout. 09. ORKIDEA ‘Nana (Jerome Isma-Ae Remix)’ Black Hole “Jerome did it again! The track has been out for a while, but it’s still a smasher oeuvre. ‘COH’, ’Seven Souls’ and Perfecto Fluoro Among them are Sue’s chorus, for us.” ’Under The Stairs’ form a fairly 8.5 the dramatic initiating of its 10. COSMIC GATE ‘am2pm (Extended Mix)’ WYM Records representative cross-section Belonging to the mainline and its dynamic filter “This tune was written in 2014, during our ‘Start To Feel’ album tour. No idea of their toe-back-in. Suffice unimpeachable pre-boom, release post-break.

djmag.com 149 LEFTFIELD FOUND SOUNDS [email protected] FOUND entertain and inform with this exploration into the burgeoning emergence of QUICKIES edits, reworks and remixes Charlotte Day Wilson within early disco. Back in the Work mid ‘70s, DJs never stepped CDW foot in recording studios and 8.0 it wasn’t until innovative souls Lifted from her superb CDW EP from last year, like Walter Gibbons, Bobby it’s an appropriate response (and video to boot) ‘DJ’ Guttadaro and Jellybean to the recent Women’s Marches around the Benitez started extending, globe. Smooth. editing and generally tinkering with tracks that it became much Nubian Mindz more commonplace. These three Somebody Else (Remixes) MONEY soulful disco edits highlight Phuture Shock Musik SHOT! this shift and development 8.5 perfectly. Head for Sean O Hagan’s (of High Llamas fame) psychedelic Balearic mix. Warped Brazilica Thundercat Edith Peters meets ‘Pet Sounds’. Only trouble is it finishes The Way (feat. This Is The Moment too soon. Michael McDonald & Kenny Schema Loggins) 8.0 Dollkraut Brainfeeder Originally released as the B-side Valium 7.5 that pushes boundaries, takes of a rare 45 which goes for Dischi Autunno If you have followed chances or which has much of northwards of £150 nowadays, 7.5 Thundercat’s skyward an edge. It’s the same here as this brassy, sassy, soul-bomb Can’t work out whether I like the video to this trajectory over the last 18 they release this pleasant but from Edith Peters and the Sante more than the track itself. Either way this is months, then it will come as ultimately forgettable bit of Palumbo Orchestra is in the an interesting record exploring eerie, euro no surprise that he would end dubwise downbeat. same league as party-starting soundtracks and androgynous no-wave, alt-pop. up having yacht rock royalty classics like Ella Fitzgerald’s guesting on his latest opus. Liz Aku version of ‘Sunshine Of Your Sauce 81 Acting as the opener for his Seasons Change Love’ and Kathleen Emery’s Dance Tonight third long-player entitled Sonar Kollektiv version of ‘Sometimes I Feel Eglo ‘Drunk’, ’Show You The Way’ 7.5 Like A Motherless Child’. 7.0 fits McDonald’s vocal like a A tasty sneak preview On the flip, Gerardo Frisina Japanese, disco-boogie merchant N’gaho hand in a glove, although it of material from Aku’s gets busy with a solid rework Ta’quia comes up trumps once again for another doesn’t quite emulate the forthcoming ‘Ankhor’ LP comes extending the original with fine release, continuing to showcase the depth originality of ‘Them Changes’. in the shape of this first single, some additional beats and and breadth of the ever-dependable Eglo. Either way it drips in West ‘Seasons Change’. Using a bed breaks. Lovely stuff! Coast smooth vibes and is the of sumptuous pads and floating PAUL WHITE R&S / ONE-HANDED MUSIC perfect antidote to the winter chords, the track mixes up blues. broken beats and four-fours Familiar Things Disappear in shape-shifting fashion, all City Slang/Temporary Residence topped with the well-measured 8.0 Spoko & Aguayo soul appeal of Aku herself. With Taking a deliberate step away Dirty Dancing enough subtle twists and turns, from the more conventional Cómeme it keeps the electronic soul piano compositions that he 7.5 movement facing in very much a has become so well known for, Known as the producer behind forward position. Hauschka continues to explore the massive ‘Township Funk’, a more disrupted, challenging Spoko partners with another Mixhell & Joe Goddard sound with this track lifted from exponent of the modern feat. Mutado Pintado new album ‘What If’. Merging Afrobeat groove, Matias Aguayo, Crocodile Boots (Soulwax Remix) electronica, noise and a general 01. SOLANGE ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ Columbia Delayed “I love the vibe, feel and sonics in this song, and the arrangement is great. It for Comeme’s first bona fide sense of experimentalism, feels so different and unique, and strange, but in a beautiful way.” South African release. Lead 6.5 the usual attention to detail 02.  ‘Beverly Laurel’ Modular track ‘Dirty Dancing’ comes The original of ‘Crocodile Boots’, is here as is the delicate sense “One of my new favourite bands — love the rawness of this one, sounds like a off like a moody version of the released last year, showed there of composition, but it’s all demo but I like that.” aforementioned ‘Township was very much life outside the wrapped up in a slightly more 03. DAVID BOWIE ‘Lazarus’ Columbia Funk’, whilst a more organic, confines of more classifiable sinister and unnerving package. “David Bowie’s music was some of the first I ever studied and learnt on the guitar as a kid. A man always willing to be himself and different from everyone rolling percussive feel emirates ‘normal’ dance music. With its else.” in the mellow ‘Sm5’. It’s a poetic vocal reminiscent of Will Shobaleader One 04. KIMBRA ‘Sweet Relief’ Warners strong EP that will continue to Powers’ ‘Adventures In Success’ Journey To Reedham “My ears have been getting into a lot of new things that I never would have a expose the secrets of the SA and its sludgy, druggy rhythms, Warp couple of years ago. I love Kimbra, this track is great.” dance music scene. it was one of 2016’s best 6.0 05. ANDERSON .PAAK ‘The Bird’ Steel Wool releases. Soulwax add Iggy’s Shobaleader is the nom de “Love the chilling vibe in this song, what an opener for an album. Funky and Thievery Corporation ‘Nightclubbing’ beat under it for plume for ’s new soulful, and Paak doing his thing.” Let The Chalice Blaze an honourable remix but other band (consisting of Strobe 06. A TRIBE CALLED QUEST ‘Enough’ Epic ESL Recordings contributions merely move it Nazard, Company Laser and Arg “Those keys just make me cry, they’re so beautiful! Can’t quite put my finger on this track, and that’s why it’s one of my faves, it’s unique and different.” 4.5 closer to the rigorous structures Nution). The album ‘Elektra’, There are some bands which, the original so deftly avoids. from which this track is taken, 07. MAC MILLER ‘We’ Warner “Love the keys and guitar in this beat, and the tight high-pitched compressed try as you may, you just don’t features eleven refurbs of drums.” really get all the fuss about. Various Squarepusher classics. This 08. TRIM ‘Man Like Me’ 1-800 Dinosaur For me, Thievery Corporation The Men In The Glass Booth version of his 1997 offering “Trim’s my brother, and he smacked it this song! Raw, raw and more rawness.” are one such band. Their music Sampler (from the ‘’ EP)is a is always well produced and BBE 09.  ‘Burn The Witch’ XL case of business as unusual as “This track grabs me right from the start! Those strings and the way they’ve well executed, but beyond 7.0 they explore the concepts of been produced, then those electronic drums are so raw, them Thom comes in.” that it always just feels far Like the best in old school shapeshifting time-signatures, 10. DUNGEN ‘Peri Banu Vid Sjon’ Smalltown Supersound too lacklustre and safe. They public service broadcasting, intricate programming and “First track off their new album, which is amazing. Love the chilled start, the never seem to do anything BBE continue to educate, fidgety musical acrobatics. atmosphere is beautiful.”

150 djmag.com Untitled-1 1 20/04/2015 16:58 ALBUMS

THE KALEIDOSCOPIC It was an intriguing return sound of Nathan Fake’s from an artist who’s ‘The Sky Was Pink’ — said he’s spent the last famously remixed into one few years crippled with of the all-time anthems writer’s block, but little by James Holden — was a preparation for the album high watermark of British that’s rushed out now he’s techno on a par with cleared his brain. ‘Rush’ the Norfolk producer’s being the operative word, beloved Orbital and for from start to finish Aphex Twin. His first ‘Providence’ is like a surge three albums on Holden’s of serotonin. Even beatless Border Community label tracks such as album sounded like a radio-dial bookends ‘feelings1’ and wavering between a pirate ‘feelings2’ or ‘The Equator broadcast from a ‘90s rave, and I’ buzz with elation, and the hippy vibrations of a solo spins some ‘60s free festival. wildly in the background of But Fake’s transmissions ‘SmallCityLights’’ motorik have been scant since chug, and the album’s 2012’s ‘Steam Days’ LP, most downbeat moment with only a couple of ‘unen’ still sounds faintly singles on his own Cambria optimistic. And when he Instruments label, before turns up the tempo on the he announced his signing likes of ‘CONNECTIVITY’, to Ninja Tune with last the rhythms sometimes year’s ‘DEGREELESSNESS’, seem to warp like they’re featuring Prurient. If a straining to contain Nathan Fake melding of Prurient’s the excitement Fake is abrasive noise with Fake’s channelling into them. But Providence psychedelic euphoria then it’s not the beats that Ninja Tune seemed strange on paper, give this album its power, it was even more so on but the feeling of someone record, with Prurient’s surfing a flood of creativity 8.0 voice almost imperceptible to a new high. Making as it was over-washed ‘Providence’ a sweet Keeping it (un)real with fizzing bleeps and a release in more ways than twanging guitar line. one. Paul Clarke

9.0 8.0 7. 0 9.0

Kelly Lee Owens The Mekanism Marc Houle Baba Zula Kelly Lee Owens Breath Sinister Mind XX Smalltown Supersound Play It Say It Items & Things Glitterbeat Records Ethereal electronic bliss Straight-up club fare For your mind one time Istanbul psychedelia

Lucid, lucid, lucid. Get used to that word, Parisian producer, 20/20 Vision and Marc Houle is back with a vengeance — Istanbul’s legendary Baba Zula has because it’ll be swimming through your Needwant alumnus Damien Roussel, aka his first offering of 2017 comes in the been fusing psychedelic sounds with an head for days after hearing Kelly Lee The Mekanism, lets loose this mini-LP form of part one of a heavyweight album East-meets-West feel since they formed Owens’ melted, silky vocals repeating it. (one might also term it a very generous EP trilogy set for release on his own imprint, in 1996. The track of the same name (originally at eight tracks) for Seth Troxler’s sterling Items & Things. As an insight into the ‘XX’ serves as a retrospective of sorts; the from 2014, but still wholly enticing) is one Play It Say It imprint. Most pleasing it is inner dwellings of his subconscious, first disc is comprised of live and outtake of the many highlights on this hot-topic too. There’s no preamble, no intros, no ‘Sinister Mind’ takes a trip through recordings of the group’s catalogue while Londoner’s intoxicating debut full-length outros, no skits, no scats, no nowt. Just hypnotic twisting melodies and tortured the second disc focuses on dub remixes — a perfect marriage of glistening club-ready house music from the first techno designed to haunt all corners by artists including Mad Professor, Dr. Das electronica, considered synth-pop and kick-drum of ‘Breath’, a heady mix of of the dancefloor. The album reflects of Asian Dub Foundation, and Dirtmusic. subtle dance grooves. bubbling basslines and digital percussion. Marc’s “dark tendencies and tones of Throughout both sides, the distinct twang ‘Arthur’, a hazy-out ode to the genius of ‘Journey’ follows, with its rattling sound”, conjuring up hidden shades of of the saz (a Turkish stringed instrument) Arthur Russell, is another gem, washing drums, smooth pads and all-round good his production skills via varied glitchy forms the backbone to electronica, reggae over the listener and sounding like it was vibes. ‘Traverse’ is all slappy claps and soundscapes and full-throttle basslines. and rock grooves. plucked from Aphex’s ‘Selected Ambient cowbells, until a mucky bassline carves The most melodic of the bunch is the The group’s rousing vocals convey a sense Works 85-92’. Then there’s the punchy its way through. With its frazzled disco final track ‘Paligma’; a sublime synth-led of urgency and exploration. Laced with house vibe in ‘Evolution’ — and the attitude, ‘Get It’ recalls something of the number that still packs the Marc Houle alternative and revolutionary fervour, ghostly melodies and oddball rhythms dancefloor genius of Drop Music, and punch. The Canadian’s career has spanned Baba Zula’s music feels more relevant of ‘Anxi’ — and the heady dream- label’s curators, the Inland an impressive ten years and this album is than ever in these uncertain times. Zara of ‘Throwing Lines’… The list goes on, Knights. In fact, if that was your bag, then testament to his longevity, exhibiting a Wladawsky as will your appreciation of this fresh, fill thine boots. This owes much to the free maturity to his production skills that will otherworldly killer of a debut. Tristan party pioneers. Ben Arnold continue to galvanize. Bring on part two . Parker Anna Wall

152 djmag.com ALBUMS

9.0 7. 5 9.5 8.0 Kangding Ray Niko Marks Calibre Jacques Greene Hyper Opal Mantis Day Of Knowing Grow Feel Infinite Stroboscopic Artefacts Planet E The Nothing Special LuckyMe Polar opposites Detroit house standard Something special Lucky us

David Letellier (aka Kangding Ray) writes Niko Marks is one of the (many) lesser- For some years now, drum & bass legend Over a period of seven years, Jacques music of polarity. With an ethos forged known but equally vital talents to hail Calibre has been giving us an insight into Greene has appeared to favour the single from the tussle of technology and nature, from Detroit. Over the course of nearly his musical pedigree outside of the 170 and EP formats. ‘Feel Infinite’, it’s hard his signature style is a darkly cinematic 30 albums — 30! — he has proven his solar system, and his latest exploration to believe, is the New York-via-Montreal affair of brutal, beautiful futurism. versatility and now distills all those many sees his album ‘Grow’ released on Craig producer’s debut full-length, and on this Heralded as ‘a triptych on the three states influences into one wide-ranging LP. Richards’ famed label. It’s a calming, he continues in the same vein of many of of desire’, the inspirations behind ‘Hyper ‘Day Of Knowing’ tells of a man as able to meditative, Sunday morning-type his previous releases — repurposing R&B Opal Mantis’ seem, on first glance, a little programme a kicking drum-line as it does album drawing influence from grime and hip-hop vocals over the intersection complex for a dance album, and — as any someone who has real jazz-playing chops. and garage, techno and house, samba of house, disco and techno to create music writer will tell you — conceptually His sound is often crisp, metallic and and jazz. It’s a glorious melting pot something that hails the club as a place intriguing press releases are often de brittle, but each track is effortlessly which can gently simmer as background of worship. rigeur. Letellier, however, delivers on layered up with funky guitar riffs, well- ambience or easily serve as a main course, Inspired by his idols Masters At Work, who every word of his mantra of ‘Lust, Love swung claps or tinkling keys that bring captivating and entertaining your full injected vocals from their childhood into and Destruction’. His productions are real human moods to the mechanical attention. ‘Groove Seeker’ has a mature their productions, Greene has imbued his sleek and dangerous, the themes clearly grooves. vibe with a shuffling, body-commanding debut with such snippets — drawing for evident inside the machinations. There are deep and woozy numbers, beat and jazzy trumpets which summon that cashmere soft R&B/pop on the How Great care has been taken over these spaced out sci-fi house cuts and gospel- images of silhouettes of steeds galloping To Dress Well-featuring ‘True’, driving creations. Movement and layered tinged vocal jams, all effortlessly tied against a red Latin sunset. ‘A River Alone’ house on ‘’t Judge’ and a no- detailing echo throughout, kicking together by a future-retro aesthetic that takes us to ancient Asia with twinkling nonsense disco bassline on ‘Real Time’. off with the opening ‘Rubi’, a driving makes Detroit house the touchstone piano chords and shimmering chimes This is club music for people who are in jumpstarter to set the tone, and as the that it is for so many around the immersing you into a deep sense of love with the club. Felicity Martin LP progresses others manoeuvre to the world. Kristan J Caryl soul-searching. The album is a complete fore, including the reflective ‘Purple triumph and a glorious celebration of Phase’ and emotive ‘Outremer’. Bona fide music. Whisky Kicks experimental excellence. Morgan Jones

EDINBURGH’S BENJAMIN John Power, one half of electronic outfit Fuck Buttons, is Blanck Mass. The reference of his name is apt, for the music is ominous too. On his previous record, 2015’s ‘Dumb Flesh’, he fused reversed vocal samples, sinister electro and soundtrack touches to create something unique. ‘World Eater’ is a step forward, intensifying the gloom but also exploring deeper emotional timbres. The album is a reaction to the political upheavals of 2016. On a planet some see slipping inexorably towards destruction, a world-eater could be lurking round the corner. That’s reflected in the apocalypse soundtrack of ‘Rhesus Negative’, with its industrial Nine Inch Nails edge, but there’s beauty in the vocal cut- ups, Aphex melody and IDM crunch of ‘Please’. ‘Silent Treatment’ is a tear-stained piece with crystalline synths that hurtle to an extreme denouement. Best of all, the triptych Blanck Mass ‘Minnesota/Eas Fors/Naked’ begins in an eerie, found sound chamber World Eater of fizzing, smashed computers, Sacred Bones before becoming a half-heard lullaby of 1980s synth-pop melancholy, submerged and echoing up from 8.0 beneath the waves — a glimmer of hope? It’s a record like nothing else Soundtrack of despair and hope that doesn’t need words to tell us the state we’re in. Ben Murphy

djmag.com 153 ALBUMS QUICKIES

9.0 8.0 Tin Man Sir Was Differ-ent Olivier Alary Daniel Brandt Dripping Acid Digging A Tunnel It’s Good To Be Differ- Fiction/Non-Fiction Eternal Something Global A Records City Slang Ent 130701 Erased Tapes Absorbing acid excellence Great escape Don’t Be Afraid 8.0 9.0 9.5 Camera obscura Orchestral dance Few artists today breathe as much life Sir Was, real name Joel Wästberg, delivers Switch-up into the trusty acid sound as California’s a deeply honest debut album that’s Unless you’re Mark Straddling the line Johannes Auvien, aka Tin Man. His near brimming with ideas and proudly wears Hard-edged for the Kermode, chances are between dance and decade-long devotion to the Roland 303 its influences on its sleeve. Inspired by most part, emotive and you haven’t seen many ‘real’ musicianship, has seen him put out a steady stream everyone from My Bloody Valentine to J delicate elsewhere, DJ — or indeed any — of Berlin-based Brandt (of of LPs just about every other year since Dilla, ‘Digging A Tunnel’ kicks off with the Bone returns to Semtek’s the arthouse films and the Brandt Brauer Frick 2010, and while many acid tracks are raw, dusty opener ‘In The Midst’ which features Bristol-based Don’t Be documentaries French Ensemble)’s debut album jacking affairs, his are much more deep chatty guitars, threadbare percussion and Afraid under his Differ-ent composer Olivier Alary is an evocative ray of and meditative. a breathtaking vocal. alias, for a chaotic and has soundtracked. This multi-instrumentalism. Ranging from zoned out and bleary-eyed Unifying his eclectic range of influences, furious LP. An incredible actually works well when Stacked guitars, classical to more paranoid and hurried, each one early on you’re treated to the skittery array of techno-scapes he’s cherrypicked them piano and brass licks hypnotises and pulls you deep down a jazz of ‘Bombing’ that sits perfectly from a Detroit pioneer: for this comp, as you can combine for a sense of raw rabbit hole. In Tin Man’s hands, the 303 alongside the pan-African rhythms of ‘A “Borderline predictable. let your mind’s eye project discovery and anticipation is variously made to sound taught and Minor Life’. Across the album’s 10 tracks, But it could go any your own images onto — stitched together with twangy or meandering and melancholic. Wästberg plays nearly every instrument which way at any given his allusive neo-classical cohesive tension. Morgan Kick-drums are often firmly rooted things with highlights including the jaunty pop time.” Leon Clarkson screen. Paul Clarke Jones that are more implicit than explicit, and of ‘Revoke’, which channels early Tame his smooth and radiant pads tend to bring Impala, while ‘Interconnected’ works a churchy atmosphere to the tracks that from a more esoteric palette. Taking you elevates them into mindful rather than through the emotional wringer, ‘Digging just visceral affairs. As such, whether in A Tunnel’ is a deeply personal album from headphones or through speaker stacks, the hugely talented Wästberg that gets ‘Dripping Acid’ is a masterful affair. better with each listen. Andrew Rafter Kristan J Caryl Boxwork Paxton Fettel Ibibio Sound Dive Left Nothing Stays The Machine Shades Recordings Same Uyai 8.0 Greta Cottage Workshop Merge Un-pigeonhole-able 9.0 8.5 Greta Cottage Gems Good machine A fascinating and full-on debut from a seriously This is a very proud Ibibio Sound Machine creative south London moment for the are an eight-piece that 8.0 7. 5 producer. Shards of Copenhagen stalwart, merge West African funk, everything from jungle Paxton Fettel. The album disco and electro with IMYRMIND Glow In The Dark to smokey dub to grubby is a magnificent example fiery modern post-punk, Uniwersum Luxus Future Bliss techno are weaved into of his exceptional talent headed up by London- Money $ex Sonar Kollektiv a delightfully weird and and it’s a journey from born Nigerian singer Eno Luxe soulful dance Night-time tripping brilliant collection of the word go. ‘As He Williams. ‘Uyai’ is the tracks. this is one for Fell…’ calls upon luscious band’s second album; Coming on the back of a string of EPs and It’s rare to be genuinely intrigued by an fans of Martyn, 2562 and vocals and dreamy notes, an incredibly joyous full- singles, Berlin-based David Wegner’s artist’s story, but such is the case here. anyone who likes their while ‘Lift Off’ is a future length that celebrates the debut etches out a crossover between Mainly because Harry Miller, aka Glow music and ace. anthem. A timeless ‘moment when food will mellow house, Los Angeles-era Flying In The Dark, keeps his close to his chest. Tristan Parker piece of music for the be ready soon’ (‘The Pot Is Lotus and popping electro, all bathed Forsaking social and digital hype in favour soul. Anna Wall On Fire’). Felicity Martin in synths that sit somewhere between of coming from seemingly nowhere Detroit and LA, with a fondness for to unveil this sublime debut album of filter-house effects. For all the familiar lackadaisical beats, tripped-out melodies REPEAT THE LPS WE CAN’T LEAVE ALONE... reference points, Wegner proves and THC-doused tunes, it’s enough to get completely self-assured at turning them your attention. into a carefully constructed, near- Calling into mind other futurist, seamless whole. Laid back in vibe but instrumental hip-hop and downbeat trimmed of all extraneous fat — nothing contemporaries such as Proviant Audio, runs longer than necessary; every every drum, sample, stab of harmony moment counts — even at its most stoned and vocal quip sounds as though it would (‘Milk Box Material’), there’s a fine level of struggle to fit anywhere else. In the same detail that makes for perfect headphone way, it’s difficult to imagine any label Yuksek Bonobo Tycho Nous Horizon Migration Epoch listening, without any loss in rhythmic other than the spectacularly open- Partyfine Ninja Tune finesse. From ‘Suite 3065’’s tough minded Sonar Kollektiv getting behind it, 8.0 8.5 9.0 jazz cymbals and ‘Earl Grey Smasher’’s meaning the only slight anomaly is the stuttering keys to ‘Kate Moss’’s bossa fact this was made for summer, yet the A free-flowing, intelligent Exquisitely produced Warmth and sadness nova and the quirky - current climate is anything but. Martin long-play that more and engineered to weave meet as the mellow, ish ‘Der Angeklagtenfresser’, without Guttridge-Hewitt than lives up to his sonically between dense upbeat harmonies mash ever lapsing into blandness, he nails the considerable talents. fog and clarity. seductively together. soulful dance spectrum . Sunil Chauhan

154 djmag.com madeupltd.com

HANNAH WANTS • PLAY • 2017 UK & IRELAND TOUR THE DARK RAW & AUTHENTIC TOUR PRODUCTION MANAGMENT • LOGISTICS • CREATIVE DESIGN 3D REALISATION • VISUAL CONTENT CREATION • SPECIAL EFFECTS INSTALLATIONS • LASERS • LED SCREENS • STAGE LIGHTING

Untitled-1 1 17/02/2017 11:58 COMPILATIONS QUICKIES

Various Various Various Jazzanova: The Soma25 Ron Trent presents Remixes 2006-16 Soma Prescription: Word, Various Sonar Kollektiv 8.0 Sound, Power A Decade Ilian Tape 9.0 Milestone worthy Rush Hour Ilian Tape Old meets new 8.0 25 years in club-land feels Time out 8.5 Chronicling the German more like a century, but One vision, one future electronic/nu-jazz Soma have kept pace. Considering how crucial collective’s best remixes They’ve done justice to Prescription Records has WORDS LIKE ‘CUTTING-EDGE’ and gruff, overdriven blur from the Zenker during the last decade their milestone with been to the house music ‘forefront’ get thrown around a lot in this Brothers collab ‘Haras’ and Marco’s solo — the third in a series this beautiful five-vinyl story, it almost seems biz — but, if everyone is the best then effort ‘Sumit’; lush, if respectively light to covet their 30-year boxset that features rude to summarise this equally no one is. Yet to describe siblings and shade, textures on ‘Seel’ by the existence — beautiful spectacular artwork retrospective collection in Dario and Marco Zenker’s Ilian Tape enigmatic Struction and Dario’s ‘Tilian’; melodies lie alongside from Scottish artist Kyle just three simple words, imprint as a beacon of forward-thinking unabashed electro workout ‘P-Zone’ by expertly woven grooves Irvine. Selection-wise, it’s and yet it’s the only techno feels not just appropriate, but regular Stenny; sublime, alien jungle and a mixture of vocal straightforward, but oh — appropriate approach: practically like a dictionary definition. from Skee Mask’s ‘Excess Signal’. Even textures. Greatest hits what a stunning A-league that Chicago stomp. Just look at the route the enlightened the more traditional straights like ‘KKid_ and the re-release format cast of Soma regulars Soulful, deep, punchy, techno scene is leaning towards now — V2’ from Shed under his Seelow alias, can tire, but this should they’ve assembled, and always focused on the days of road-to-nowhere rhythms, or Andrés Zacco’s ‘Shapes’ have a tribal seduce both old and new from Jeff Mills to Daft the floor, here be truly punctuated only by the odd reverb- touch or edgy synth to send them future- Jazzanova fans. Leon Punk. Angus Thomas timeless beasts. Martin soaked bleep are numbered. Hazy, bound. And even with so much variation, Clarkson Paterson Guttridge-Hewitt broken-beat, industrial psychedelia is the entire comp feels completely the new black. Of course, Ilian Tape has cohesive, a testament to the progressive, commanded respect since opening shop hive-mind mentality the Zenker Brothers 10 years ago, but this new celebratory have instilled in their camp. An essential compilation showcases just how ahead addition to any self-respecting techno of the curve the label really is. There’s head’s arsenal. Ben Hindle

Various Daymé Arocena Justin Robertson’s Electro — Compiled by Cubafonía Deadstock 33s Joey Negro Brownswood Everything is Z Records 7. 0 Turbulence – Remixed 8.0 Heavy duty Skint Electrifying 7. 5 Still under 25, Cuban star- Motion sickness 8.0 7. 5 ‘Electro by Joey Negro’ in-waiting Daymé Arocena sees the British selector has a mighty vocal The revered and Various Various shining a light on New presence, and if purists sartorially renowned Africa Gets Physical Balance presents Sudbeat — York’s under-appreciated might want more Afro- Justin Robertson pulls Get Physical mixed by Hernan Cattaneo electro-funk scene. Cuban influences, Arocena in some superb remixes Regional raving Balance Spotlighting tracks like is out to show she can take for his 2015 long-player. No excuse needed Tyrone Brunson’s ‘The on the likes of Alicia Keys Gerd Janson’s unctuous, The house and techno mega-brand Get Smurfs’, Dynamix II’s (‘Como’) and Cassandra vaguely acidic take on Physical begins 2017 with a compilation A few years back when Argentinian don ‘Just Give The DJ A Break’ Wilson (‘’), as well as ‘Metal Taste’ is a joy to solely focusing on South African artists. Hernan Cattaneo curated his entry into and Hashim’s perennial anything closer to home behold, while a certain This is a timely compilation, as South the Balance pantheon, his particular Latin ‘Al Naafiysh’, this is a (‘La Rumba Me Llamo Yo’). ’s African-originated music is at the style of deep progressive was undergoing must-own comp for any An album of justifiable languid and trippy re-rub forefront of the dance music global sound somewhat of a renaissance, with his own true electro fan. Andrew ambition, well worth of ‘For One Touch’ finds more than ever at the moment. ‘Africa Sudbeat label really hitting its stride. Rafter investigating. Sunil hidden, Balearic depths. Gets Physical’ is a snapshot of mostly Cattaneo himself is an auteur who hails Chauhan Bravo. Ben Arnold new and exclusive house tracks from 16 firmly from the old school of craftsmen producers, ranging from lesser-known DJs, and he’s made an unexpected return talent to the likes of Black Coffee. to the Balance fold for a collaborative THE PICK OF OUR LATEST Standout tracks like ‘BehrEllips feat. double-disc comp that puts the focus on ON THE POD PODCASTS & EXCLUSIVE MIXES Crazy White Boy’ mesh traditional African his own label; aptly described as ‘Global djmag.com | soundcloud.com/djmag sounds and rhythms with modern dance in ethos; South American in spirit’. It’s music production. The less exciting comprised exclusively of unreleased moments are lacking in these regional Sudbeat material, and the sounds are elements, and sound like they could be rich and alive with detail. The first mix from any of the label’s European roster. keeps the tempo low with an ethereal All in all though, it’s an essential spotlight assortment of melodies as Hernan moves on a vibrant, local scene that gets way less intently through the grooves, while international distribution and press than the second is a masterclass example of it deserves. Zara Wladawsky hold-and-release-style tension. No real surprises, but the standard is high across FRESH KICKS: DJ MAG PODCAST: FRESH KICKS: KLAX PHILTH KOKO the board. Angus Thomas Paterson

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