PRE-ORDER: Martyn - Great Lengths [3024]

Martyn has been making some of the most amazing music across numerous genres for some time but he really came to attention with his move to the dubstep tempo from his D’n’B roots with tracks like ‘Broken’ on Revolve:r, his sublime remix of TRG’s ‘Broken Heart’ on Hessle Audio and ‘Velvet,’ the debut 12” on his very own 3024 imprint. As a producer he’s carved an incredibly unique, rich sound of his own, that he’s been known to call ‘Martyn music’ on more than one occasion, and you really can see why when you listen to the stylistic textures and flow of this album.

On ‘Great Lengths’ Martyn spans many tempos and genres ranging from beat less atmospheric surges through to house and techno and within those areas it’s a little rare that you find a proper happy, ‘hands in the air’ style track at 140bpm but ‘Right?Star!’ could well be an underground summer anthem in the making with its uplifting chords, bubbling arpeggios, vocal snips and monstrous bass sounds. Even the slightly more acidic ‘Little Things’ has a similar catchy sunshine vibe to it.

Continuing the light theme the dBridge collaboration ‘These Words’ does it with a melancholic feel. It’s the first full vocal number on the album with fellow producer dBridge taking mic duties and really singing his falsetto heart out over moving chords, piano, deep bass and skippy drum patterns. The other vocal track included is the Spaceape laced ‘Is This Insanity?’ which also comes off glossy with his dub poetry adding a darkly paranoid depth to Martyn’s shiny productions.

Of course along with the light comes the dark, which comes in the form of ‘Vancouver.’ It sounds huge on the album and even though it’s been out for some time as a 12” it’s still as fresh as the day the master was cut. The darkside jacking techno beast that is ‘Elden St.’ and previously released ‘Natural Selection’ both have a very similar sound but with the latter being the more dubbed out, darker brother of the two with a massive dub bass, sublime chords and pitch shifted vocals.

‘Great Lengths’ is a cracking debut album and it shows where Martyn is at musically right now brilliantly. It really displays his skills and scope when it comes to production and in that sense it’s pretty much an immaculate listen. It may not win legions new fans from outside of the dance floor genres of techno, dubstep and d&b but it may well unite the ones that weren’t quite sure.

Words: James Balf

Links:
www.myspace.com/martyndnb
3024world.blogspot.com

::



Mid-week date night. Sountracked by Martyn and Benji B.

Truly irresistable.

Link:
www.myspace.com/deviationsessions

VIDEO: Pyramid of Boom

Link:
www.myspace.com/numbers12345678

DOWNLOAD: Dev79 - Gunk In Tha Trunk

Shout to Pacheko for the spot. Brand new mixtape from Starkey's buddy, Seclusiasis affiliate and offical Slit Jockey member Dev79 now online...

DOWNLOAD: Dev79 - Gunk In Tha Trunk

Tracklist:

Pacheko - Lockdown (6Blocc Refix)
Raffertie - Antisocial (B. Rich Remix)
Dev79 - In Ya Face (Pharaoh ft. Peach Remix)
Kotchy - Check Out My Keychain (Dev79 Remix)
D1 Vs. Playboy Tre & B.o.b - Ongie Nitelife (Dev79 Blend)
Starkey - Starkvillian
Dj Barletta - Panther (Sonic 86 Remix)
DZ - Regulate (Turnin' Tricks Remix)
Egyptrixx - Just Say Really (Bok Bok Remix)
Jelly Jams - Emotions
Eprom - Humanoid Dub
Dnae Beats - Razur Kut
Starkey - Dark Alley
Trill Bass - Fiya Dub
High Rankin - Escape From The Hood
BD1982 - Seeing Orange

Link:
www.myspace.com/dev79

DOWNLOAD: Powell - Beatnicks Tape

The Up My Alley camp have upped it again - in both senses; the raising of the bar and the uploading of a zip file. After fLako's 'First Spaceshit On The Moon' we get Powell's 'Beatnicks Tape'; another journey into clever sampling, off kilter drum bashing and more.

Fans of Lucky Me, Ramp Recordings et al take note.



DOWNLOAD: Powell - Beatnicks Tape

Links:
www.myspace.com/powellbeats
www.myspace.com/upmyalley

DOWNLOAD: COLONY_006

I'm a fan of mystery. Not your a-typical Ruth Rendell type shit but some of that annonimity that makes truly great things [sometimes] better is always welcome round these parts. So when you get sent a mix woven together by a character called 'CB' who'll only give you information on his upcoming jam, it just makes posting it a given.

"COLONY is a small, monthly east London clubnight put together to showcase the finest sounds in underground dance music, regardless of genre, popularity or hype. Each party will feature a handful of special guest DJs/live acts playing alongside residents MB, CB and co, plus some expertly crafted low-key visuals to fuck with your head. All welcome."

DOWNLOAD: COLONY_006

Tracklist

01. Ben Klock - Gold Rush [Ostgut Ton]
02. DJ Maxximus - Neo (Shackleton Rmx) [MG77]
03. Sigha - Expansions [Hotflush]
04. Shackleton - The Branch Is Weak (Geiom Rmx) [Skull Disco]
05. 2562 - Kontrol [Tectonic]
06. Ramadanman - Every Next Day [Soul Jazz]
07. Spatial - 90121 [Infrasonics]
08. Sigha - On The Strip [Hotflush]
09. Shackleton - Death Is Not Final (T++ Rmx) [Skull Disco]
10. Scuba - Bleach [~scape]
11. Sigha - Remembrance [Hotflush]
12. Andy Stott - Drippin [Modern Love]
13. F - Phantom [7even]
14. Breakage - Rain [Digital Soundboy]
15. Kontext - Plumes (Relocate Rmx) [Immerse]
16. Joe - Rut [Hessle Audio]
17. Spherix - Look Back feat. Kwality [Tube 10]
18. Pangaea - Mosaix [Hotflush]
19. Unknown - Submariner [HATE]

Link:
www.myspace.com/colonyparty

INTERVIEW: Shortstuff [Berkane Sol/Ramp/Pollen]

Shortstuff was one of the first people we spoke to about crafting an exclusive mix for us. I believe the first time we threw the idea around was back in mid February when we’d just launched, and he’s been teasing us with proposed tracklistings ever since. A close compatriot of Brackles, he’s been steadily crafting beats for labels like Pollen and Berkane Sol and he’s now lining up physical releases on some of our favourite labels.

It’s looking like ’09 will be a big year for the man himself so with that in mind we threw a few questions his way for your visual digestion.

Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?

Shortstuff: I’m a producer/DJ from Hertfordshire. My first release was a 12” on Berkane Sol that I shared with Brackles. I like real ale, children’s TV shows from the early ‘90s and watching Seinfeld.

Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?

I’m a journalist.

How did you get into recording music?

I’ve always played music. I used to play guitar in bands and would always be recording demos and stuff into a little 4 track I had. Then when I went to Uni, I met Brackles. He had a copy of Fruity Loops and we started making stuff on that.

What’s your production set up like?

Dusty. I use Nuendo and lots of VSTs – Battery and Massive especially – I also sample a lot.

What are some of your influences on your sound? How would you describe your music? Can you name check 3 artists who influence your production?

I draw influences from all over the place – my tastes are pretty broad. Today I’ve been listening to Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band – I wish I had a name like that. If I had to describe my music, I’d probably say its derivative nonsense a child could make.

Three artists who have had an influence on my production are:

Dilla – his loops do something quite weird to me. I don’t think there’s anyone out there to match the knack he had for picking and crafting samples.

Zinc – I’ve always loved what he does with his music and his label.

Todd Edwards – His ‘he died on a cross’ vocals and mincey riffs used to put me off. But through the years my resolve weakened and now tunes like ‘Signs’ and his ‘Zoot Woman’ remix seem to have become a part of my musical being.

Why the name Shortstuff? Small man complex perhaps... Just how tall are you?

I chose that name years ago because, although I’m not an actual midget, I’m not tall. I wish I had chosen more wisely.

I know you are close with Brackles. How did you meet?

He lived opposite me in halls at Uni in Notts. We’ve been close ever since. A lot of his tunes are actually written especially for me, it’s the only way he can express those feelings.

Do you share a similar kind of musical vision? When you make music together how does it work? What do you like about working together?

Yeah, I think we do. We both like stuff with energy that can also hold your attention out of a club setting. There are similarities in the things we write individually, but when we make tunes together you get a kind of odd combination of the two, plus the older we get the sillier our stuff becomes. We’ll just get drunk and muck about and if something sounds crap we’ll let each other know.

Do you think the Notts scene was/is a big influence on your output?

Well, neither of us has lived in Notts for some time. ‘Broken Harp’ was the last thing we wrote up there, and for me the tune really captures that time. I love Nottingham though and people like Geiom, Spam Chop and the Futureproof crew have undoubtedly played a big part in shaping my output – I reckon Rob would say the same.



Your Broken Harp 12” is out now on Pollen along with your Berkane Sol release... What else have you got coming up worth shouting about?

I’ve got a 12” coming on Ramp in the next couple of months. Then there’s a 12” on Wigflex that I’m really hyped about. I have a three-track 12” coming out on Formant really soon and then a tune Brackles and me made called ‘Sutorito Faita’ is coming on Planet Mu with his ‘LHC’ tune on the A side.

Further in the future I’ve got stuff coming on secret projects that may or may not have anything to do with Ramp, remixes for a few people, collaborations with Hyetal and Geiom and then mine and Brackles’ new label. I’m not going to say too much until everything is in place, but both me and Rob are hyped about it. Look out for stuff from our two favourite new producers of the moment: Martin Kemp and Mickey Pearce. They’re going to be huge.

You’re pushing dubstep in a more extravagant mode incorporating more soca rhythms on your forthcoming Ramp release. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the new directions the scene is taking? Any tips for producers we should watching out for?

I love all new directions. Dubstep is where a lot of us came from and it’s great to have such an enormous community at the core of what we’re all doing, but I feel far more inspired by the music the scene has spawned these days. So long as people are prepared to evolve and welcome new ideas there’s nothing to feel overwhelmed about.

My favourite producers at the moment are Martin Kemp, Mickey Pearce, FaltyDL, Greena, Untold and Hyetal. Also, Spam Chop played me a load of new stuff from the Wigflex posse the other day and it was sick – look out for Hizatron and Metaphi in particular.

Any words of wisdom for the interweb?

I’m not wise.

::

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff – Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

1. Falty DL – To London (Forthcoming on Ramp Recordings)
2. Kode 9 – 2 Far Gone (Hyperdub)
3. Ghost – The Club (Tempa)
4. Geiom – Eyl Booty (Forthcoming on Berkane Sol)
5. Roska – Our Father (White)
6. Mickey P – Innami (Unreleased)
7. 2 Bad Mice – 2 Bad Mice (Moving Shadow)
8. Kode 9 & LD – 2 Bad (Hyperdub)
9. Horsepower – When You Hold Me (Tempa)
10. El B – Son De Cali (Forthcoming on Soul Motive)
11. Li’l Silva – Seasons (White)
12. Shortstuff & Mickey Pearce – Tripped Up (Unreleased)
13. HH Banton – Sirens (White)
14. Ramadanman – Revenue [Untold Remix] (Forthcoming on 2nd Drop)
15. LD – Wood Block (Hyperdub)
16. Brackles – Rawkus (Forthcoming on Planet Mu)
17. Peverelist – Clunk Click Every Trip (Punch Drunk)
18. Untold – Anaconda (Forthcoming on Hessle Audio)
19. DJ Zinc – Tonka [Menta remix] (Bingo)
20. Shortstuff – Stuff (Forthcoming on Ramp Recordings)
21. Mala – Forgive (Deep Medi)
22. Pangaea – Memories (White)
23. Joe – Grimelight (Hessle Audio)
24. Shortstuff – Progression (Forthcoming on Formant)

Link:
www.myspace.com/djshortstuff

PRE ORDER: Subeena – EP [Imminent Recordings]

Subeena has a melodic style that is somehow reminiscent of long lost SNES RPG soundtracks like Secret of Mana or something just as geeky and obscure, but she crosses it with deep dubbed out electronica, a little techno, the swing of UK funky and of course dubstep.

She is the owner of Imminent Recordings and here she brings a heavy set of tracks on this 12”, starting with her very own remix of Mexican IDM maestro Pepepe’s ‘Agosto Morado’, which twinkles and builds into a sublime melodic slab of meditation. You can almost see the stars in the night sky as this track plays, a very assuming highlight. ‘2080’ and ‘Boskd’ have similar late night melodic vibes that some how sit snugly between house, funky and dubstep in tempo. They almost have a garage feel in the slinky shimmer, but then it also sound detached and a thing all of its own.

Then out of the darkness comes a curve ball: ‘Znare (feat. Violet)’, like the evil cousin of the other tracks; with a Portuguese vocal electro dancehall sound ready to stomp on your face and get a little bit dirty. With Mary Anne Hobbs’ X Chromosome special this week proving that the female flag is flying in dubstep Subeena is definitely one of the leading lights.

::

Subeena has also put together the latest podcast for Dub War in NYC.



Tracklist:

Segal – Lake control (unreleased)
wAgAwAgA – Ambient 1 Sunday (unreleased)
Subeena – 2080 (Imminent recordings)
Shed – Another wedged chicken (Ostgut Ton)
F – 0907 (unreleased)
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip – Thou shalt always kill (Vaccine remix)(unreleased)
Si Begg – Are you a big boy Dj (DJ Hecq remix) (Noodles recordings)
Subeena – Lluvia (unreleased)
Boxcutter – Cosmic parent (Planet Mu)
Dabrye ft. Jay Dee & Phat Kat – Game Over (Dorian Concept Rmx)
Bullion – Funnybones (One handed music)
Computer Jay – Distance (Ramp recordings)
Pepepe – Dia soleado (unreleased)
Osborne – Bout ready to jak (Ryan Elliott remix) (Spectral)
Traject – 0718 (Creative space)
Capracara – King of witches (DFA)
Wireman – Armour (Prime numbers)
Monster X – Acid bullman (Murder channel)
Cane – T6 (Creative Space)

DOWNLOAD: Subeena - Dub War Podcast

Links:
www.myspace.com/subeena
www.myspace.com/imminentrecordings

EVENT: Medium w/ Ramadanman & Alix Perez

Links:
www.myspace.com/mediumbeats

::



Ramadanman has also just done the first in the series of Pipscasts - the podcast of Apple Pips Recordings.

DOWNLOAD: Ramadanman - Pipscast #1

STREAM: Sonic Router Radio - Session 002

Our 2nd show is now live on Radio Magnetic.

Tracklist:

1. Wollom - Cinnamon (CDR)
2. Paul White - Alien Nature (forthcoming on One Handed Music)
3. DOOM - Lightworks (LEX)
4. Jamie Vex’d - Saturn (Planet Mu)
5. Joker - Digidesign [Om Unit Remix] (CDR)
6. Rekordah - Mint Milano (Pollen)
7. Computer Jay - Distance (Ramp Recordings)
8. fLako - Failure (CDR)
9. Cooly G - Love Dub (Hyperdub)
10. Ramadanman - Humber (Apple Pips)
11. DFRNT - Wake Up (forthcoming on OTE)
12. spatial - 90121 (infrasonics)
13. Brackles & Shortstuff - Broken Harp [Geiomix] (Pollen)
14. Falty DL - Truth (forthcoming Planet Mu)
15. Boxcutter - S p a c e b a s s (Planet Mu)
16. Martyn - These Words ft. dBridge (3024)

STREAM: Sonic Router Radio - Session 002

PRE-ORDER: Jamie Vex'd - In System Travel EP [Planet Mu]

One of dubstep’s true pioneers from way back is here again and this time he’s doing it alone, tearing up the rulebook and making a sound all of his own. If you caught his remix of Scuba’s ‘Twitch’ with its lush off-kilter fuckery then you will know what Jamie Vex'd has in store on the ‘In System Travel EP.’

He has some how made an inspiring combination of sideways hip-hop, breakbeat, dubstep with really warm shinny production levels that don’t really sound to much like anything else out there right now. The title track is the most laid back and it’s slightly reminiscent of crate digger extraordinaire The Avalanches somehow with its sunny filtered melody samples and jazz bass. But Jamie adds a slice of pure dubstep bass with huge depth and a woozy organic feel to the free flowing ultra swung beats.

‘Radiant Industry’ and ‘Saturn’ both come out of the blocks like huge breakbeat monsters with a dose of funk and massive puddles of synthetic bass that get tweaked and smeared into some overly distorted shapes. ‘Radiant Industry’ does it like a long lost block party smashing anthem that just builds with tension and energy at every turn while ‘Saturn’ takes the vibes into outer space via some whining synth action - not unlike something Joker would cook up.

Undeniably essential.

Link:
www.myspace.com/jamievexd

DOWNLOAD: Oneman - April Showers Mix

Out to Very Butterz on this one. Oneman's put together a 40 minute grime mix for your delectation.

DOWNLOAD: Oneman - April Showers Mix

Tracklist:

Virgo - Monsta
Geeneus - Darkboy
Mr Snowman - Forward Riddim Refix
Plasticman - Sandstorm
DJ Oddz - Blade Runner
Sticky - Golly Gosh
JME - Baraka
Essentials - State Your Name
Youngstar - Pulse Xtra
DPM - ?? (b1-side to Slow VIP?)
Crayzee Bandit - 96 Bars of Veehappan
DJ Oddz - Bump Dis
Plasticman - Gotcha
Wiley - Eskimo
Zomby - Eski Flu
Davinche - Jamhot Remix
Starkey - Gutter Music ft Durrty Goodz
DJ Oddz vs Tempz - Strung Up Hype (Oneman Blend)

Link:
www.myspace.com/1mandj

VIDEO: Dubstep on Neighbours

Dan: "Whats the racket?"
Libby: "Its called dubstep..."

Never before has pirate radio been so glamourised on television.

DOWNLOAD: ITAL TEK - Flex Plexico

ITAL TEK is giving away a 320 kbps MP3 of his track 'Flex Plexico' perhaps in celebration his his forthcoming 'Massive Error' EP release on Planet Mu due out in a couple of weeks.

Whatever the reason is worth a duet of clicks.

DOWNLOAD: ITAL TEK - Flex Plexico

He's also playing at THEM on May 1st at Rhythm Factory in London alongside Rustie and a host of other DJs:




Links:
http://www.myspace.com/italtekmusic

DOWNLOAD: TVO - Et In Arcadia Ego

FACT magazine, in conjunction with Highpoint Lowlife, are giving away a free download of the first The Village Orchestra album 'Et In Arcadia Ego.'

They've kindly used the interview we did with Ruaridh a while back, giving our words more scope, impact and a new home. More info and a ZIP link after the jump.

DOWNLOAD: TVO - Et In Arcadia Ego

Links:
www.myspace.com/thevillageorchestra
www.factmagazine.com

PRE-ORDER: Spatial - 90121/90113 [Infrasonics]

Spatial's brand new 10" plate on Infrasonics is a true treat. It's out now in your local upfront records store and a free dub is available through the Infrasonics website (link below).

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6098

::

Spatial is playing alongside Ramadanman at the Runsounds vs Delete night this Saturday.

Vitals:

Runsounds vs Delete present:

Ramadanman (Hessle Audio/Apple Pips/Soul Jazz)
Dub Kult [live] (Living/Traum/Arcola)
spatial (infrasonics)
Chris Box (runsounds/rungrooves/Netaudio London)
Mr Smith (Delete/Alt Recordings)
Russ Skellon (runsounds/Motronic)
Tone Def (Delete/Alt Recordings)

Saturday 25/04/2009 - 10pm – 6am
@ The Red Rose, 129 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London N7 7QG
£10 Door tax

Link:
www.infrasonics.net

INTERVIEW: Appleblim

Laurie Osbourne aslo known as Appleblim, is possibly one of the best monikered producer/DJs in dubstep. Alongside his genre spanning sets he birthed one of the most fiercley exceptional record labels Skull Disco alongside Sam Shackleton, releasing 10 vinyl singles and 2 double CD compilations of uber percussive, techno flecked dubstep. Bringing this new wave of minimal production to dubstep’s mainstream conscious with the release of his Dubstep Allstars mix on Tempa its been non step for Mr. Osbourne ever since.

His new label Apple Pips is now on its 5th release with platters in your local shop from people like Martyn, Jus Wan, T++ and Ramadanman. Taking over the 2nd room of The Arches in London on Friday night gave us the perfect opportunity to corner ‘Blim and quiz him on a few things.

Sonic Router: Can you give those who may not know you a little bit of background info? What you do, releases etc?

Appleblim: The names Appleblim, I DJ house, dubstep, techno, whatever takes my fancy! I ran Skull Disco with Shackleton… now running Apple Pips!

What’s the ethos behind the Apple Pips label?

Simply to release great music…

What tasty 12” shaped Pips do you have lined up?

Ooooh loads - got stuff coming from Brackles, Will Saul & Mike Monday, Ramadanman, Greena and many more!

You have secured some tracks and remix from some of techno’s main men, from Brendon Moeller to T++ and the Sven Wiseman. How did they come about and what drew them into playing around with the dubstep sound?

They were all kinda cool coincidences from musical connections - T++ I met when I first went to Berlin and visited the legendary Hardwax record store. I’d been a fan since ‘97 and hadnt worked out T++ was Resilent, Various Artists, Erosion and all these other great records I loved from that era!

Brendon and Shackleton had been in touch, him and Francois K have been supporters of the Skull Disco sound for quite some time, so it was natural to ask him for a remix. Ramadanman had been in touch with Sven, and he'd delivered a great remix of ‘Humber,’ it all just slipped into place really!

I am very honoured to be releasing music by these people - a dream come true.



Have you got any more plans to work with Shackleton in the near future? How’s the elusive fella doing?

He’s very well, writing some amazing music, playing some amazing shows, and there will be some very interesting stuff from him in the not too distant future! There are no plans to work together yet but you never know!

I’ve noticed you’ve been doing a lot of collaborations lately (Berkane Sol 12” with Geiom, remix with Komanazmuk) What do you like about working with others and how did they come about?

I like the vibe of bouncing ideas off people, it makes being in the studio exciting I think. When it all comes together and your grooving over a beat that came out of nowhere, thats the best feeling ever! I find that hard to get on my own...

When can we expect some of your own (solo) material to drop again?

Release wise keep your eyes and ears out for a remix of Brendon Moeller by myself and Komonazmuk, and 'Sous le Sable' a house tune by me and Ramadanman coming on Aus Music real soon!

Anything else you’d like to plug?

We also have our first Apple Pips showcase night in Bristol at Native on May 1st with Will Saul, Brackles, Greena and myself. Also gonna be a really cool night, loads of different music, funky, house, techno, dubstep, garage, an extra sound system in a nice little club - come down!

Link:
http://www.myspace.com/appleblim

::



We Fear Silence presents A Bunch of Cuts
Friday 17th April 2009
10pm - 6am

Room 1 - A Bunch of Cuts: Marcus Intalex, Calibre, D Bridge, Doc Scott, Klute plus guests, Break, Survival
MCs: SP:MC, Justyce, DRS
Room 2 – Apple Pips: Appleblim (2hrs), Peverelist, Geiom, Brackles, Greena

The Arches, 51-53, Southwark Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 1RU.
Tube Station: London Bridge

::



Apple Pips’ spanking new signee Greena recently put together a mix for our good buddies at FACT. An extreme mixture of tracks and styles it offers a little glimpse of the melting pot you might get to immerse yourself in at either of the Apple Pip nights.

DOWNLOAD: Greena – FACT mix 41

Tracklisting:

DJ Tameil - Body
Cybotron - Clear
Andrea Parker feat. DJ Assault & DJ Godfather - Freaky Bitches
>>Wonder - What (Geeneus Remix)
Trim - The Lowdown
Lil Silva - Funky Pulse
Crazy Cousinz feat. Kyla - Do You Mind
NB Funky - Riddim Box
Greena - Actual Pain (forthcoming Applepips)
>>>> Shackleton - Blood on my Hands
>> Geoim - Seventy Four
Rustie - Throw Some Ds
Hard House Banton - Siren
More Fire Crew - Oi
Drop The Lime - Hear Me (Buraka Som Sistema remix)
>> Shackle ton - New Dawn
The Bug feat. Flowdan - Jah War
Ikonika - Sahara Michael (forthcoming Hyperdub)
>> Timbaland - Ayo Techology
>>>> Clipse feat. Pharrell - Mr. Me Too
Greena - Vansan Remix
Joker - Digidesign
>> Kraftwerk - Boing Boom Tschak
Joe - Rut
Martyn - Suburbia
Wiley - I’m A Sinner
Zed Bias - Ring the Alarm
El-B - Serious
Pangaea - Memories
Burial - Unite

DOWNLOAD: 13/04 Naked Lunch Mix

Naked Lunch's boss man just got in touch waving a link to his latest mix square in my grill.

Impossible to resist, just peep the tracklist.

DOWNLOAD: 13/04 Naked Lunch Mix

Tracklist:

The Other People Place - Let Me Be
Instra:mental - Voyure - dub
Martyn - For Lost Relatives - aus music dub
Scuba - Hundreds & thousands - hotflush dub
Narcossist - countryman - dub
Radio Slave - Tantakatan (The Drunken Shed Mix)
Fresshu - Deep pool - dub
Untold - Dante - hotflush
F - Phase 2 - dub
Scuba - Klinik - hotflush dub
Efdemin - Acid Bells(Martyn Remix) - dub
Skream - Trapped In A Dark bubble - tectonic
Instra:mental - Vicodine - nakedlunch dub
Untold - Sweat - htoflush
Jason Fine - Puttin it out (A Made Up Sound remix) - dub
Kloak - Aquarius - dub
Untold - Reminder(Ranmadanman Remix) - non plus dub
Calibre - Stolen shadow - deep medi
Zomby - test Me For A Reason - hyperdub

Link:
www.myspace.com/thenakedspace

INTERVIEW: October [Caravan]

October is someone who came to our attention through Pinch; who has been pushing out the Caravan Records message through his publishing company for a while now. But the most engulfing thing about October's work is not the healthy rep of its recommender but the fact that the tracks are so heftily immeadiate and painstakingly arranged to give each sound maximum impact and direction.

A true producer in the craftman sense of the word we sat Julian Raymond Smith in front of his computer and asked him a few things...

Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?

October: These days I’m most well known as a producer, engineer and vinyl disc jockey of techno music. However, I’ve been involved with other genres of music since the mid 90’s, starting off doing the jungle thing which led me into the world of electronic music. I’m also known for my broken-beat/dub-step productions done for labels such as; Fluid Ounce and some remixes for Ninja Tune about 5/6 years back. There’s also a shady breakbeat past but I’m not too proud of those misguided years. It just wasn’t for me and struggled lots trying to make straight up mindless dancefloor shit.

Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?

Uh... Don’t know if I want to answer this one. Sometimes lots, sometimes little. I get up, have some breakfast then reply to about 10.000 emails and try and leave some feedback on a mountain of promos I get sent. Then I travel to various microcosms in the past and future, seeking out adventures in a plethora of galaxies and altered universes of variant dimensions in search of musical inspiration. Though, as one can imagine, the travelling takes up most of our human conception of time so when I actually fall back down and burn through our atmosphere; I generally need to relax before a gather my samples and nestle myself back in the comfort of my studio and all its toys.

How did you get into recording music?

Don’t really know, it’s just something I have to do whether I like it or not. I generally have a fear of making music but these small parasite’s living on me make me do it or else I suffer greatly at their evil demands... It wasn’t really a conscious decision – I just started making music. Playing guitar and splicing cassette tapes at about 12 years old. Before that I used to paint, draw and build model aeroplane’s whilst listening to Nirvana, Sonic Youth and lots of other noisy punk rock or weird Frank Zappa shit.

What’s your production set up like?

Mainly analogue based but of course use a computer running Logic. I’ve been through various synths both bought and borrowed like: Moog, Juno 106, DX7, MS20, Sequential Circuits, Yamaha FM7, Casio, Farfisa and some strange old drum-machines. I also use a big Tascam 16 channel analogue desk, some TLAudio valve stuff for processing plus I still use a Revox and Tascam reel to reel for tape processing. I also have an electric guitar collection which includes some nice vintage pedals and amps. Oh Yeah, and a drum kit and thousands of records. There’s more shit but we’ll be here for ages...

What are some of your influences on your sound? How would you describe your music? Can you name check 3 artists who influence your production?

Weird noises made by broken equipment, old movies and found sounds I guess. My sound can be obscure, un-nerving and very dark to some but I just like creating tension and keeping everything a bit subdued, sparse and giving it its own texture. I like to give each sound its own place so you could feel like you can reach out and touch it. It’s almost an impossible question to answer but my biggest influences are probably: Bernard Herrmann, King Tubby and Sonic Youth.

Why the seasonal moniker? Are you influenced by the world around and the changes it goes through in that particular month?

I am most definitely influenced by the world around but not just in the month of October. I’m influenced all year round. Why I’m called October is a question I get asked a lot and I’d like to think it’s because of some special reason but it’s just because I was born in October and it’s a cool looking word. It also means the month of dirt in Icelandic I believe and I guess my music sounds like a dark, windy and chilling autumnal afternoon.



You use found sounds and loops along with all sorts of studio equipment how do you go about collecting these found sounds and what was the last sound that you found inspired you to make a track?

I mainly record things in my house but I’ve been doing it for more than a decade now so I still have sounds I’ve never used. Over the years I have built up such a huge library of samples I sometimes just dig into them. The best sound I found recently is the crackling of reel to reel tape and the recorded destruction of a cheap guitar I once had. Don’t think I’ll ever get bored of sampling that - so much texture.

When you play out do you use vinyl or CDRs or laptop and why? Where do you stand on the whole digital/vinyl debate?

I mainly use vinyl but sometimes CDR’s if a have something new and fresh to test out. I like to use 3 turntables as I like playing tools. I don’t understand how just using a laptop is considered live. It’s more live when you manually have to mix a record. However, I think using a laptop running Ableton in combination with decks, adds a great slant to a DJ set. Don’t get me started on the whole vinyl/digital thing – vinyl will always be superior in every way. The weirdest thing for me is people’s surprise that I still use vinyl. I can totally relate to DJ’s who just need to use CDR’s because of the weight restrictions on flights these days but just downloading nothing but low quality mp3’s – I’m sorry but that’s just plain weird and alien to me.

I see you were on the bill at Bloc this year how was that gig and did you get to see anyone else, who blew you away?

Yeah Bloc was great – I played 8am to 9am so you could imagine what that was like. Super-duper! All my close mates were there too so the fun was extra fun! I ashamedly slept through Scientist and the Upsetters but caught Robert Hood who was the best thing after Scientist my mates say. So for me it was Hood’s performance that really did it for me – uber sparse analogue sounds! I also really enjoyed Joe Hart filling in for Metro Area – really good electro. I have to say, Afrika Bambaata was atrocious and it was like being at a proper Butlins family disco. Tunes you’ve heard over and over and over and over and over again plus he took half an hour off Carl Craig’s set due to his late arrival. None of us we’re happy about that...

What was your inspiration behind starting Caravan? Was it simply to create a vehicle for your music?

Yeah fraid so... The idea has been there for years, it just took a while for it to grow.

Your latest project on the label is out shortly... What inspired the mix Recession Vol.1? Was it a label showcase type of thing?

It just seemed like the perfect time to do the album, plus I really wanted the world to hear all these great tracks I accumulated since the start of the label. There are a few special October bits from about 2004 in there that seemed to fit in with the ethos of the mix – see if you can guess which ones...

Who else is on the label?

Not many people. Emptyset, Jilt Van Moorst and myself are the main artists on the label but we’ve been lucky enough to have worked with artists like: Ripperton, Agnes, Markus Guentner, Etalon, Mathew Leutwyler and T.G. Also gonna be working with a member of Underground Resistance on a collaborative project and hopefully (when he has time) a Move D remix of an October track of his choice. Expect an album from Emptyset at some some point too!

What plans do you have for your music in the future? An artist album perhaps? What are you working on right now?

Without giving too much away – yes I’m planning to do an album for sure but when is another question… My next project is a cosmic disco EP I’m gonna be doing for Ewan Pearson’s amazing Miseriecord imprint. I’m most excited about this as I love my good disco and cosmic spacey stuff. I’m also working on some pretty sparse dubbed out, slight Detriot style pieces at the moment for a special project plus Emptyset and myself will be working on something with a founding UR (Underground Resistance) member – who? I cannot say at this moment. You’ll all just have to wait and find out.

Any words of wisdom you’d like to give to the users of the world wide interweb?

Don’t use facebook. Keep buying music and vinyl. Tickle a cop, hug your neighbour and kiss a homeless person.

::



'Recession Vol. 1' is out now on Caravan Recordings... and we've kindly been given two CD copies to give away to you, our adoring public.

TO WIN: Simply be the first to email sonicrouter(at)gmail.com with the words "recession you say?" in the subject line.

::

EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD: October - Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

1. October – Say Again (Perspectiv)
2. Blagger – Strange Behaviour [DJ Koze aka Swahimi Remix] (Perspectiv)
3. October – Control Room Interior (Caravan)
4. Unknown Artist – Last Flight To Colonge (Do Not Resist The Beat!)
5. Silent Servant – Violencia (Sandwell District)
6. Unknown Artist – Equalized 002 (White Label)
7. Unknown Artist – Wax 10001 (White Label)
8. Tyche – Annealled (Wandering)
9. October – My Left Tool (Perspectiv)

Link:
www.myspace.com/djoctober

DOWNLOAD: simon/off - Live Set

Some awesome pressure from Surface Tension signing simon/off is brought to you by the man himself with this 30 minute live set comprised completely of his own dubs.

Originally broadcasted on Myrkur´s Radical Radio show on SUB.fm the mix was originally recorded for a Dubsquare Records showcase on Austrian national radio.

Get to know.

DOWNLOAD: simon/off - Live Set

Tracklist:

Exit Space (Surface Tension forthcoming)
Reba (Surface Tension forthcoming)
Too Cold (unreleased)
Ark (unreleased)
Puppy Dub (unreleased)
Rainy Days feat. Flo'niel (unreleased)
That Night (Surface Tension forthcoming)

Link:
http://myspace.com/simonoff

DOWNLOAD: Skream - Forthcoming Disfigured Dubz Mix

A true Ronseal moment. This post does exactly as the title suggests... in that it holds a mix, done by Skream, of some forthcoming bits on his Disfigured Dubz label.

DOWNLOAD: Skream - Forthcoming Disfigured Dubz Mix

Tracklist:

1. Kito - Dont Wanna Lose You
2. Kryptic Mindz - Code 46
3. Kryptic Mindz - The Weeping
4. Kulture - Soften
5. Truth - Wednesday
6. Truth - Bubba Ho Step
7. Kulture - Liquid Sound
8. Truth - Stay

Link:
www.myspace.com/skreamuk
www.myspace.com/disfigureddubz

EVENT: Deviation @ fabric w/ Madlib & J Rocc

Links:
http://deviationmusic.net/blog
www.fabriclondon.com

DOWNLOAD: Patchwork Pirates - Hug-A-Thug Mixtape

To commemorate ^^^ this, Patchwork Pirates have put together another mix. An excercise in informed selection recent mixes have caused ripples resulting in a session on the revered Solid Steel Radio.

You'd seriously be a fool to miss Dante Fried Chicken. His mac & cheese is simply unstoppable.

DOWNLOAD: Patchwork Pirates - Hug-A-Thug Mixtape

Tracklist:

1. Hug-A-Thug Intro Beats
2. Young Jeezy – ‘Let’s Get It / Sky’s The Limit’
3. Mono/Poly – ‘MS14’
4. MOP – ‘Ante Up’ (Lunice Remix)
5. Cabin Bwoy – ‘Jam Hot’
6. T-Pain – ‘Fire’
7. Hermut Lobby – ‘Rock The Bells’
8. B-Real, Judge Dredd & Young Jeezy – ‘Get That Dough’
9. Resun – ‘Delorean Driver’ (Hovatron Remix) 10. Fabolous – ‘Round & Round’
11. Snoop Dogg – ‘Gangsta Like Me’
12. Nosaj Thing – ‘1685’
13. Alex B – ‘Pressure Cooker’
14. Nelly Ft. Too Short & E-40 – ‘Bay’
15. San Quinn Ft. Traxamillion – ‘Do Yo Thizzle’
16. Slugabed – ‘ODB’
17. I:Cube – ‘Fabu’
18. I:Cube Ft. RZA – ‘Can You Deal With That?’

Link:
www.myspace.com/patchworkpirates
www.myspace.com/thugsnhugsldn

DOWNLOAD: Headhunter - Clash Magazine Podcast

Watching Headhunter mix is one of the most satisfying things ever. The time we caught him at FWD>> we nearly shit a collective fist. Throwing everything in the mix from techy progressions, to straight wob and even crunk his set was practically flawless.

Clash Magazine managed to persuade him to put together a podcast for them which - despite being mixed 6 months ago - still includes some brand new Kryptic Minds bits and Jakes' rework of Mr. Luke Envoy's 'MUGEN.'

DOWNLOAD: Headhunter - Clash Magazine Podcast

Tracklist:

1. Cypher - Reverting
2. Brendan Moller and Spaceape - Strangers (Headhunter Remix)
3. XX XY - Reflections
4. Headhunter - Technopolis
5. XX XY - Rain (Jack Sparrow Remix)
6. DJunya - Moonwalker
7. Jack Sparrow - Sniven
8. F - 907
9. Luke Envoy - MUGEN (Jakes Remix)
10. Headhunter - Spaceshape
11. Luke Envoy - So
12. Headhunter - Rodent
13. Jakes - Part of Me
14. Wedge Feat. Shads - Eye on the Prize
15. Kryptic Minds and Leon Switch - Working Title
16. Kryptic Minds - Minor Nine (Headhunter Remix)
17. F - Dedale
18. Headhunter and Krytpic Minds - Replicator

Link:
www.myspace.com/dubstepheadhunter

DOWNLOAD: Smut - Badman Place

Taken from Skream's 'Watch The Ride' mix of last year 'Badman Place' by the production duo of Sam XL and Tech Itch aka as Smut has been given away for a free download (320 kbps no less) after the track was bootlegged.

In their own words:

"Some idiot bootlegged it and put it out....don't support it, don't buy it, download it for free!"

DOWNLOAD: Smut - Badman Place

Link:
www.myspace.com/purefilthdubstep

PRE-ORDER: Cooly G – Narst/Love Dub [Hyperdub]

UK funky is making heavy moves on the underground with its soca infused beats, house tempo, big bassed smooth grooves and that all important hint of dirt. It’s the juxtaposition of light and dark vibes that makes UK funky so absorbingly interesting; when added with the massively danceable beats of course. Singer and producer Cooly G - hailing from South London, a place where so much UK bass music has been pioneered before - drops her debut 12” for the forward pushing, genre spanners Hyperdub who always seem to uncover exciting musical hybrids.

The first track ‘Narst’ comes on like a dirty grime infused dance floor shaker reminiscent of recent instrumentals from Nocturnal fed via old school Chicago house. It kind of sounds like the most gritty of super hero’s theme tunes, but one with a bit of slinky class like the latex clad Cat Woman. The strings build and dub out before big house kicks propel and the other percussion funks it up into a big danceable beast as the chest beating bass throws down on you.

The flip which features ‘Love Dub’ and its stepped up refix is definitely the highlight. The intricate soca drum patterns flow, shake, bump and groove in every possible direction and make you want to wind your body in new and emphatically sexy ways. Cooly G sings snippets in her sweet and slinky way as silky chords get all warm and fuzzy above the bass punches below; its all so spaced out and mellow yet insanely danceable at the same time. This is the undoubtedly the smooth loved up end of UK funky; pure vibes.

DOWNLOAD: DFRNT - Metafiction Promo Mix

The debut album from DFRNT is almost upon us. From the listens we've been privvy too thanks to an early promo copy we can safely say its going to be well worth the late June wait, its all techno skip and super warm sine wave bass... some proper b-line business.

He's put together a 20 minute promo mix to showcase his style and give a little glimpse of what will follow this Summer on On The Edge Records.

Stay tuned for a full review.

DOWNLOAD: DFRNT - Metafiction Promo Mix

Link:
http://dfrnt.alex-c.com

PRE-ORDER: Computer Jay - Distance/Epiphany [Ramp]

From the first note of the instantly recognisable synthesizer waverings on ‘Distance’ its impossible not to mesmerised. This track is a bonafide smash; its got the intro that will draw everyone's disco pistols and its got that incessant beat to vibe to as the snares hit on the beats you expect the kick drum to. The bass is measured and strong to work the sternum, wobbling succinctly without ever pulling focus from the lead synthesizer's evolutions into hammer horror.

‘Epiphany’ sounds a bit more like Computer Jay is solely using ancient Atari prefixes to communicate with the outside world as his bit crushed keyboards traverse octaves and the drums turn themselves into a rolling gallop. On both tracks it’s the way the drums are used that really stands out. Whether its confusing convention on the A side or turning the idea of a straight beat on its head with a succession of high pressure kick drums on ‘Epiphany’ Jay seems to absolutely nail it.

Essential.

Links:
www.myspace.com/computerj

PRE-ORDER: LD - Traumatic Times/Woodblock [Hyperdub]

One of the major perils of office listening are the informative bleeps and wibbles of the various social networking programs kept constantly open to enable you to be forever contactable. No matter how you flip it, AIM’s sound of a creaking door closing never fits whatever music your playing; although sometimes, in more dub-techno situations the facebook IM blip, can sound almost harmonious... The reason I subject you to this mind wandering is that the whistling in ‘Traumatic Times’ had me alt-tabbing between pages, closing windows and cursing the small UPS Widget puppet that pops up every time you refresh sendspace trying to find the route of the occurrence, when it was quite obviously part of track and not some electronic come on from a dwarfed, uniformed Morph.

LD has a knack of infusing multitudes of sounds and styles into his own productions, and ‘Traumatic Times’ is the essence of that. Smooth lounge pianos, slicing ride cymbals, hyper delayed chord stabs and rolling percussion all meld succulently as he drives onward with his arrangement. ‘Woodblock’ is definitely the ying to ‘Traumatic Times’ yang though; from the off the swelling synth line is more aggressive, splurting out of the blocks rather than reclining across them before the rave synthesizers start arpeggiating across each other in the mid section.

Displaying a varied production bow and taking a leaf from the Kode 9 co-produced ‘Bad EP’ LD rolls out a constant driving rhythm on ‘Woodblock’ burying his percussion into your conscious with each patter of the congas and aptly displaying his ability to smash the dance as well as soundtrack a rainy London bound train journey.

Links:
www.myspace.com/transitionld

EVENT: Hessle Audio @ fabric

Links:
www.hessleaudio.com
www.fabriclondon.com

DOWNLOAD: Reecha - Trouble Vision Mega Mix #4

Dirty Canvas honcho Reecha has put together 'MegaMix #4' in aid of the next Trouble Vision Night @ Corsica Studios on April 24th.

Bits from Joker, Zomby, Starkey, that Message Is Love refix and some next level funky all in 10 minutes.

DOWNLOAD: Reecha - Trouble Vision Mega Mix #4

Links:
www.myspace.com/reechamusic
www.myspace.com/intothefraydj

INTERVIEW: DeVille [Senseless Records]

Senseless Records is a Leeds based label whose 7 vinyl singles to date have impacted on many a set, show and listening experience. Their most ambitious project to date is a duo of CDs entitled ‘Vocals & Versions’ that will be released a month apart as of May this year. The CDs, like the title so eloquently puts it, are tracks by the label’s roster of producers that have been vocalled by an array of singers and rappers along with a slew of remixes from producers of the caliber of Starkey, MRK 1 and King Cannibal.

Sonic Router grabbed one third of the team behind the label, DeVille, to give us the low down on his style and a bit of information on the upcoming projects.

Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?

I started DJing really young in the early nineties and going to raves like Helter Skeltah, Dreamscape, Fusion and totally caught the bug. Started promoting little nights round Reading when I was like 15 and played mostly jungle until late nineties, then moved away from that and played 2-step/speed garage for a while, moving in to a wider mix of electro, techno, broken beat and early dubstep when I was living in Leeds. Got much more in to promoting there, first with a crew called Most Wanted doing all kind of stuff (Guests ranging from Derrick May to Photek) then a night called The Fix Up playing bass music from round the world (Guests like Plastician, Virus Syndicate, Oris J, El-B, Chase & Status, Boy Better Know etc) also played on pirate radio a bit. Got really in to grime in like 2004 and then followed that through to new dubstep stuff and where we are today.

Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?

There is no outside of music! I work for a UK independent label doing bookings, events and PR stuff as well as bits and pieces for music journalism, it’s all music 24/7 basically! When I'm not doing that I'm out listening to music or breaking my eyes finding new stuff online… eating also features and recently a bit of Street Fighter IV too.

How did you get into recording music?

For me it was when we got a gig supporting Ratpack in the late 90s, me and my mate wanted to make a bootleg of Champion Sound, the old jungle tune, so we sat down with Cubase and had a go. That was about ten years ago, I've been in a couple of bands since then and produced mostly bass music of different kinds on and off.

What’s your production set up like?

I've been through various bits of hardware including some stuff I really miss like a 909 and a Space Echo, but now it’s all on a computer running Ableton, Reason and Cubase. Most of the stuff gets done in Ableton, I've been using it since version one, and it was the first piece of software I actually paid for.

What are some of your influences on your sound? How would you describe your music? Can you name check 3 artists who influence your production?

Hard to pick just three...

Number one would be jungle and hardcore, to many to list but only really 1993-1996, Ibiza, Congo Natty, Moving Shadow, Suburban Base, Formation, Metalheadz etc.

Number two would be international stuff like Dancehall, Funk Carioca, Kuduro, Soca, I'm trying more and more to incorporate the rhythms from those in to my own tunes, and I was really pleased to work with someone from Lisbon and someone from Sao Paolo on this album.

Original 2-step and 4x4 garage from 98-02 kind of time I still check all the time from Todd Edwards, Catch Records, Tuff Jam and El-B/Groove Chronicles through to cheesier stuff like Monster Boy and even a bit of Wideboys, Sambuca anyone?

I have to just check hip-hop as well for sonic influence and production techniques (Madlib, MFDoom, Dilla, Neptunes, DJ Screw, Outkast, Lil Jon, Darkchild, Timbaland etc)

I know you’ve played in the US a lot. We’ve got a mix and interview coming from Shiva. What’s it like playing on foreign shores rather than in the UK? How do you think the scenes compare?

The scene in the USA is amazing right now shouts to all the people I've played for out there, I've been out three times and people just love it there’s a lot less cynicism and a little less politics involved, people really know how to party there. Of course we still remember how to do that here from time to time. Travelling to play is what it’s all about for me, we've got Senseless gigs coming up in Poland and Italy and we're hoping to get out to Australia later in the year.



How did Senseless Records begin? What’s been your goal?

The label started in Leeds in 2004 with a self funded white label from Sarantis featuring a Leeds MC called Taurus. It got played on 1xtra and Channel U and those kind of places and it went from there. The three people who run the label are Sarantis, Sasquatch and myself, now spread between Leeds, London and Brighton. The whole thing grew out of soundsystem culture, there's a lot of it in Leeds from inspirations like Iration to systems like High Pressure who Senseless cut their first tunes for. Things kicked off with the Warrior Queen track which got played all over the place, Skream, Mary Anne Hobbs, Appleblim can't remember but lots of peeps were on that one and we got distribution on the back of it. Seven vinyl releases later and we're putting out out first full length albums, onwards and upwards. The idea was always music from other people as well but there’s a lot of music from the three of us to put out too. We're really focusing on vocals a lot from now on as well, and full length albums.

What’s been the most successful release so far and whats been your favourite and why?

My most successful release commercially was actually a house bootleg of Busta Rhymes in like 2002 that got played by Basement Jaxx, Black Strobe, Freq Nasty, Tom Middleton and loads of people which was very exciting at the time. Recently my first proper dubstep release in 2008 Rumble/Stamina probably, having people all over the world message me about it and some of my heroes like RSD and Warlock play one of my tunes is what I'm in it for!

Can you give us a bit of backstory as to the growth of the 'Vocals & Versions' project? What are you hoping to achieve with the release?

It’s a few things really, most of out tracks so far have been instrumental but all three of us work with vocalists all the time live at gigs and recording, so we planned a four track vocal EP and then it became a double 12" and then we got a few remixes and then a few more and it became a double CD, and then two CDs. Basically we kept finding more people to work with and more producers for remixes. On the remix tip there were a couple of people that we didn't get in time but it was almost our wishlist of people we love the most so that’s really cool.

I'm very proud of the results and the fact that there's no filler over 30 tracks, I like to think because thery are vocal led a lot of them could be for the club or the Ipod as well. The albums really colourful and interesting but with a dark edge and that's what we want to label to be like. I'm also really pleased with all the design and artwork, originally done by a graf guy in Bristol called Song and then designed up by a designer down here in Brighton called Amo, the posters look really nice!

How much of your life/time/sanity has been swallowed by the V&V project? Is there anything else due on the label this year?

It has been a huge effort from us at the label and all the other producers and vocalists involved so much respect to all of them. It’s the most expensive thing we've done so obviously money was really tight, now I'm excited to see it go out in to the world. We've got lots planned for later in the year and early next year already. Our man Ghosttown who has done a lot of beats for Foreign Beggars and a few other heads is making us an all vocal bashy-future-crunk monster of an LP, with Warrior Queen, Killa P from Roll Deep, Saian Supa Crew, K-Swift and loads of others. We've got some dancefloor bangers from Sarantis, a new EP from me on an international tip and a couple of new signings we're keeping under wraps!

The mix you’ve done up for us, is it a good point of reference for anyone interested in the CD projects?

It is yeah, I mean they are half tracks from there but there are also half totally new dubs, most of which no one has heard which pull it a bit more in to being a club set. It’s definitely a good representation of the sound of the label, which hopefully people will see is pretty varied. I also did it in one take so theres a few little mistakes in there but I don't mind that in a DJ set, if you're mixing fast and trying stuff then allow a couple of cheeky drops, there’s no 'trainers in a tumble dryer' moments though.

Any dates/things/people you’d like to big up?

I'd like to big up Sonic Router of course... big things have been achieved in a short time!

Shout to all the Senseless family too. We have two amazing launches lined up: Friday 24th April at DMZ/Exodus with Urban Vox, Bunnington Judah, Honey Brown, Asher Don and Dialect (massive respect to Simon Scott) and Saturday 25th at Urban Nerds Warehouse Party with Warrior Queen, Sick Sense Crew, Bunnington Judah and Dialect (shouts to Urban Nerds Crew).

And finally: www.senselessrecords.co.uk and www.bassraiders.net




'Vocals & Versions' Volume 1 is out May 4th, Volume 2 follows on 1st June.


DOWNLOAD: DJ DeVille - Senseless Showcase Mix - Spring 2009



Tracklist:

1. Sarantis ft Sick Sense Crew - Focus (Vocals and Versions)
2. Sasquatch ft Oova - Indian Rain Man (Vocals and Versions)
3. Sarantis - Going Home (Dub)
4. Sasquatch ft Yt - Hidden Agenda (Vocals and Versions)
5. Sasquatch - Escapist (Dub)
6. Sarantis - Miami Cowboy (Dub)
7. DeVille ft Violet - Click (Vocals and Versions)
8. Octapush - Quebu Sabe [DeVille RMX] (Dub)
9. Sasquatch - Pieces Of Me (Dub)
10. Randomer - Scapegoat (Dub)
11. Sasquatch ft Foreign Beggars - Stay Seated (Vocals and Versions)
12. Sarantis ft Dialact & Asher Don - Nitroglycerin [MRK1 RMX Instrumental] (Vocals and Versions)
13. DeVille - Inj3ct (Dub)
14. Sasquatch - Shallow [Jack Sparrow RMX] (Vocals and Versions)
15. Sarantis ft Honey Brown - Fall in Love (Vocals and Versions)
16. DeVille - Racer (Dub)
17. Sarantis - Noisette (Dub)
18. DeVille & Sarantis - Boom (Vocals and Versions)
19. Sarantis - Whatagwaan (Dub)
20. Sarantis ft Warrior Queen - More Than Money [Starkey RMX] (Vocals and Versions)
21. DeVille - Chase (Dub)
22. DeVille ft Jimmy Luv - Quente Demais [Kanji Kinetic RMX] (Vocals and Versions)
23. Sasquatch - Money (Dub) blend with Lil Wayne – Yes
24. Sarantis - Focus [Instrumental RMX]
25. Sarantis ft Bunnington Judah - Warzone (Vocals and Versions)
26. Sasquatch ft Oova - Funeral (Dub)
27. Sarantis - Double Dragon (Dub)
28. Sarantis ft Urban Vox - Justice Dub (Vocals and Versions)

Links:
www.myspace.com/devilledj
www.senselessrecords.co.uk
www.myspace.com/senselessrecordz

EVENT: Floating Points

Floating Points (Eglo/R2/Planet Mu)
Alex Chase (One Handed)
Goodhand (Stuff)
Clause Four (Jahtari)
Offshore (Stuff)

Peruvian food upstairs.
Big sound system downstairs.
Doors will be locked once it's full so arrive early...

El Aguagal
578 Kingsland Road, E8

EVENT: Colony w/ Untold

Link:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29264104109

PRE-ORDER: Joker – Do It/Psychedelic Runway [Kapsize]

Kapsize is the label, Joker is the producer. His style is imitable, instantly recognisable and intrinsically his. The self proclaimed ‘Purple Prince’ has been much hyped of late, remixing Little Boots, Djing all over the world and releasing beats on Hyperdub, with another forthcoming on Tectonic. This plate is the third release on Kapsize so far - following on from the collaboration with Glasgow’s hip-hop badman, Rustie on KAP002 – and it features the heavily BBC Radio 1 supported ‘Do It.’

Still managing to sound as catchy and as fresh as the day you first heard it, ‘Do It’ makes for a wicked peak time floor shaker harnessing the southern boom bap kicks and snare snap-click that drive the dirty chugging, snaggle-toothed grime synths in making a dark backdrop to the ascending string samples and filtered Dr. Dre-esque talk box lead lines and the oft repeated “do it” vocal sample.

If Silkie played more Sonic The Hedgehog and less jazz at home he may well have channelled his soulful funk vibes through some whining 8-bit synths like Joker has on ‘Psychedelic Runway.’ Using jagged bass synthesizers Joker propels his straight dubstep drum pattern swabbing the edges with punishing pads and leads that take the track into a more melodic grime territory, swapping the aggression of the genre for a guide book on key Moog manipulations.

This platter shows that both Kapsize and Joker are growing. With these tune he shows that he can turn himself to the deep side as well as the darkside fusing the upfront melodies of grime with some spatial meditation.

Links:

www.myspace.com/thejokerproductions
www.myspace.com/kapsize1

INTERVIEW: The Giallos Flame - Top 5 Soundtracks

When a project is "dedicated to the sounds of 70's Italian horror soundtracks,from Goblin horror funk to Morricone psyched out giallo jazz", you know the drums will be heavy in the mix and the funk groove will be the driving focus. The Giallos Flame takes those influences and spews them out in a heady swamp of driving instrumentals that convey that tense anxiety thats so essential when sound tracking either the bludgeoning of a young svelt lead actress or a manic car chase complete with flapping moustaches.

Sonic Router asked him to collate his top 5 soundtracks in the hope that we might learn a little something musically and hopefully obtain some slept on sample resources.

1. Zombie 2 - Fabio Frizzi



The classic gut muncher theme, the tune that inspired me to create Italian style soundtrack music. Amazing analogue nastiness in all its glory, although the main theme is the only real track on there, what a tune it is. Classic yamaha CS-80 and Arp 2600 action in one of the most memorable theme tunes ever made and it was all played live!


2. Profondo Rosso - Goblin



This debut recording rocked cinema theatre's everywhere and changed the sound of film scores forever, not to mention getting to no 1 on the Italian charts and kicking off the phenomena that would be GOBLIN. The main theme is a killer and 34 years later is still popping up in various remixes and cover versions. Lovely drum work by the incredible Agostino Marangolo keeps this album rocking along and the fact they where in there teens makes it even more impressive.


3. Phantasm - Fred Myrow & Malcom Seagrave



Those who grew up in the age of VHS and betamax will have had this theme tune stuck in there heads for weeks on end. An absolutely beautiful main theme motif that just cant be beat, the classic horror theme done to perfection. Lots of different versions keep it fresh with some nice drum work kicking it along and the sounds of that gothic beauty, the mellotron providing those haunting choirs. Stick with the 1st phantasm score unless you dig those 80's sounding power chord soundtracks!


4. The Beyond - Fabio Frizzi



One of many scores Frizzi did for Lucio Fulci, this one captures the mood & dread of the film perfectly. A haunting main theme with a beautiful melancholic piano motif runs along side some great examples of prog style scoring with fusion drumming under some seriously tasty analogue synths and also featuring the sounds of the mellotron. This is one dark but funky soundtrack.


5. Roma Violenta - Guido and Maurizio De Angelis



The brothers had to be in here somewhere and here is a classic example of there funky polizzioteschi style scoring. Uptempo chase sequences alongside slow, moody interludes makes this a winner with great drums and heavy fuzzed out guitars. The brothers turn out yet another score that rocks the world of cops, criminals and kipper ties!

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The Giallos Flame has a brand new 7" - 'The Euro Slash EP' - available for purchase on Norwich based 2600 Recordings.



2 sides of wax inside a screen printed sleeve the release also comes with an 8 track CDR.
More info here: http://www.kudosrecords.co.uk/2600recordings/detail/TSH004

He's also put together a podcast of prog funk rock to celebrate the release.
Downloadable here : http://www.2600recordings.com/music/progmix.mp3

Links:
www.myspace.com/thegiallosflame
www.2600recordings.com