Friday, 30 October 2009
VIDEO: Margins Music Redux
Visual preview of Grievous Angel's redux version of Dusk & Blackdown's 'Margins Music' LP.
Out to Green Lanes. What you know about N4?
Link:
http://blog.grievousangel.net
PRE-ORDER: Untold - Gonna Work Out Fine EP [Hemlock]
In what has been a vintage year for dubstep and its closely related siblings, Untold’s rapid progression throughout 2009 has still been shocking in its sheer, raw consistency. Even as recently as January there were only the slightest hints of the heights Jack Dunning would reach ten months later. Organic seems an appropriate word to describe his evolution - as there has been no genetic fuckery, no strange laboratory modification to profoundly change his music’s base properties. With the benefit of hindsight, the clues were there all the time in the industrial moans of ‘Discipline,’ the Berlin-inspired melodicism of ‘Dante’ and ‘Can’t Stop This Feeling’'s hyperactive grime swing. Yet somehow nothing quite set the tone for his latest Hemlock release.
Like all great pieces of music, I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard the impact of Untold’s frustratingly brilliant ‘Stop What You’re Doing’ on Dusk & Blackdown’s Rinse FM show. With ‘Anaconda’ standing as the tracks only precedent – still a freakishly inventive anomaly in his production career at that point – it was still possible to immediately tell from the opening grind that it was the work of one Mr. Dunning. Even so, when it hit with all the force of a head-on motorway collision the reason for its title became pretty obvious. Less of a mere attention grabber and more a one-two punch in the gut, ‘Stop What You’re Doing’’s descending tonal bass and distinctive woodblocks have a shockingly physical effect, even on a pair of headphones.
The music on Dunning’s ‘Gonna Work Out Fine EP’ is so tightly wound it’s a wonder the vinyl it’s cut on doesn’t snap under the sheer pressure of its own tension. The EP’s swift gestation period – all the tracks were crafted over the course of a few weeks with a simple set of tools – has gifted it with a remarkable consistency and a sense of breathless excitement that remains long after EP closer ‘Never Went Away’ fades out of earshot. It also takes us closer to where Untold’s head is at right now: he’s trimmed off all the unnecessary excess to leave a set of sparse, skeletal instrumentals that successfully meld the muscular bass aggression of early grime to dubstep’s considered sense of atmosphere and sudden melodic breakdowns closer to the spirit of Chicago house.
The result is a Dr. Moreau-like hybrid, with useful parts of other creatures fused to its central chassis – unnatural perhaps, but strangely beautiful nonetheless. The title track is an aberration of elastic bass tones, airy chimes and the roar of a toy dinosaur, and despite the schizophrenic dynamics at play ‘Don’t Know, Don’t Care’ still manages to sound sultry, swinging its hips over a classic piano break like UK funky’s somewhat troubled cousin. Like his close contemporaries at Hessle Audio Dunning is rapidly re-configuring an entire genre, moving ever further from the generic half-step template into a blurred area that’s both dancefloor-ready and startlingly musically inventive. And as if there was any more evidence needed ‘Gonna Work Out Fine’’s centerpiece ‘Palamino’ provides it, a midnight waterfall of glassy bleeps that rushes from speaker to speaker, the rhythm catching in tiny eddies and sudden rips as it heads toward the sea.
Words: Rory Gibb
Out: 2nd November (digital out 16/11)
Link:
www.myspace.com/untolduk
Thursday, 29 October 2009
EVENT: Infrasonics Warehouse Rave w/ Untold
First birthdays are well worth celebrating, co-incidentally we’re just tying up the odd ends for ours at the moment, but there’s even more cause for a drunken stomp through East London when your also marking the release of a brand new 10”. Yep, Infrasonics boss Spatial is on the eve of dropping infra003 - from the previews (which you too can listen to here) we’ve been given it marks are more digital stomp over the garage template - and so he’s duly organised a party whose line up features 4 separate Sonic Router Mix contributors in Untold, Spatial himself, Highpoint Lowlife boss Sideb0ard and Ike Release...
Ike Release is a Berlin based Chicago born producer who hit wax on the split 12” Infrasonics released earlier this year, the other side being occupied by Hot City (read the SR penned RA review here). He’s generously put together the 26th instalment in our mix series to commemorate his appearance.
DOWNLOAD: Ike Release – Studio Mix
Learn more about Ike here:
www.myspace.com/ikerelease
http://soundcloud.com/ike_release
::
Infrasonics Rave Full Line Up:
UNTOLD
SPATIAL
IKE RELEASE
WIFEY DJs
SIDEBOARD
Sat 7th Nov, 9pm - 4am @ Warehouse venue on Hackney Rd, E2
£6 door, £4 concs/adv from www.wegottickets.com
More info:
http://bit.ly/facebook-infrasonics (Facebook Event)
http://infrasonics.net/propaganda
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
INTERVIEW: Elemental - Messages From The Void
Elemental's debut album 'Messages From The Void' is out in Novemeber on his own Runtime label, following the delightful 12" that emerged on the Reduction imprint recently. We caught up with him to get the lowdown on it...
Read the full interview here: http://www.kmag.co.uk/editorial/features/743
Link:
www.myspace.com/adamelemental
DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Super Super Mix
With a couple of projects well on the way for Ramp Recordings and a DJ schedule thats shaping up impeccably, Shortstuff is back, this time handling a mixtape for SuperSuper which you can read about and download at the convenient text link below.
DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Super Super Mix
Tracklist:
1. Playdoe - Freeze Step (Starkey remix)
2. Wedge & Shadz - Running Away (Guido remix)
3. Untold - Stop What You’re Doing (James Blake remix)
4. Crystal Fighters - I Love London (Brackles remix)
5. Shortstuff - Tweaked
6. Bubbz - Citizens Of The Cities (Bok Bok remix)
7. Terror Danjah - Zumpi Hunter (Swindle remix)
8. Menta - Sounds Of Da Future
9. Untold - Palamino
10. Geiom - Bubbles
11. J-Treole - The Loot (Sully remix)
12. Martin Kemp - After The Night
13. L-Vis 1990 - United Groove (TRG remix)
14. Brackles & Shortstuff - Pipey D
15. Emvee - Groove On
16. Bok Bok - Ripe Banana
17. Shortstuff & Hyetal - Don’t Sleep
18. Hem feat. Terrible Shock - On A Mission (Shortstuff remix)
19. Steve Poindexter - Computer Madness
www.myspace.com/djshortstuff
www.myspace.com/bluntedrobots
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
PRE-ORDER: 2562 - Unbalance [Tectonic]
Returning with an impeccable follow up to his debut LP, 'Aerial,' Dave Husimans aka 2562's new album, 'Unbalance,' is in stores now.
It really is nothing short of breathtaking.
Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6716
Link:
www.myspace.com/2562dub
PRE-ORDER: V/A - Beat Dimensions Vol. 2
The most vital snapshot of beats, slump, wonk, or whatever the industry and his whore like companion are calling it this week, 'Beat Dimensions Vol. 2,' is out now on Rush Hour.
Go. Buy. It.
Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6666
Link:
www.myspace.com/beatdimensions
Monday, 19 October 2009
PRE-ORDER: HXDB - Prism/Macro Modular/Showdown At The Cinema [Mindset]
Canadian producer Hexadecibel, hereby shortened to 4 letters to represent each syllable of his full moniker, who first appeared on Echodub’s freebie compilation ‘Anechoic Chamber' is at the helm of Manchester’s Mindset label's newest plate; and over the course of the three tracks on offer, he really does manage to paint a perplexingly unique and distinctively old school style.
The A side ‘Prism’ feels like it owes a debt of gratitude to the Dutch school of production with crystal clean drum lines and a smattering of those fluent touches of synth colour a-la 2562, with HXDB letting the ethereal patches of jagged euphoria meld into the harsher bass stabs that dissolve after half a bar. Its swagger is simple, even a little minimal in terms of HXDB letting each sound breathe, but the charm of it really does lie in that snare that seems to bubble and pop as much as it snaps.
‘Macro Modular’ and its accompanying track on the flip, ‘Showdown At The Cinema,’ however display a penchant for a more twisted b-line (likened by Boomkat to the minimal patterns of dBridge) with the former letting the focus lie on the subtle panning on the tail end of the uplifting bass loop before the cut up drums of the halfway point signal something a little more danceable. Even when HXDB cuts loose he still keeps the restraint present and correct, mixing up the bass patterns and only cranking up the resonance a few times to get that liquid pursing “wow” sound.
‘Showdown At The Cinema’ is probably the stand out cut though, with the introduction of a heavily delayed vocal to what sounds like a reversed and processed guitar loop, monumental strings and a toy piano that squeals joyfully throughout its limited appearance. ‘Showdown…’’s real moment in the sun though is when all of the above elements come to pass layered atop the grumpy, distortion frayed bassline, as HXDB stutters out the groove with a few of those amen style hi hat shuffles.
Words: Oli Marlow
Out: Now
Link:
www.myspace.com/hxdb
DOWNLOAD: Lazer Sword - MiniMix
American duo Lazer Sword just released a minimix (along side an interview) to promote the fact that they're playing fabric this Friday. If you're a fan of that new Megasoid/SPKRBRZR incarnation of Sixtoo and that Turbo Crunk sound in general, then you should check it out.
Oh and they (both members under different names, Lando Kal and Low Limit) are absolutely owning the first release from the Numbers imprint...
DOWNLOAD: Lazer Sword - FABRICLIVE Promo MiniMix
Link:
www.myspace.com/lazersword
VIDEO: Illum Sphere - Chasing The Midnight Moth
Taken from the forthcoming 'Long Live The Plan' 12" dropping soon on Fat City.
Link:
www.myspace.com/theillumsphere
EVENT: The Del Monte Club w/ Pangaea & Martin Kemp
Kicks off 8pm on Saturday, 14th November
@ The Star of Bethnal Green, 359 Bethnal Green Rd, London.
Link:
The Del Monte Club (FB Event)
Sunday, 18 October 2009
PRE-ORDER: Wedge & Shadz - Running Away w/ Guido Remix & Gatekeeper - Blip/Appleblim - Vansan (Gatekeeper RMX) [If Systems Persist]
The Bristol scene has pretty much exploded into common consciousness over the past couple of years, but the majority of outside attention has been focused on Joker’s brightly coloured hip-hop motifs and the more commonly cited techno-fied hybrids from the likes of Peverelist, Appleblim and Pinch. Yet one of Bristol’s least recognized collectives outside of the city’s confines is also one of its most consistently active. The H.E.N.C.H crew, headed up by local legend Jakes, focus on some of the genre’s earliest and oft-neglected hallmarks – spaciousness, futurism and oppressive, cavernous bassweight. Stripped of the warmth and familiarity of DMZ’s dub sampling, sets from Komonazmuk, Gatekeeper and Wedge dwell on the same sense of distance and atmosphere but inhabit landscapes altogether more unsettling, more alien.
The first two plates on Wedge’s own label, If Symptoms Persist, both fit with this set precedent and strike out in new directions. Driven by soft bass pulses and drenched in guitar feedback, Wedge & Shadz’s ‘Running Away,’ released this week, is significantly warmer and more inviting than anything he’s yet put his name to. Less dancefloor-centric than considered and meditative, Shadz provides a slow-moving groove with calm vocal stanzas that builds then gradually disassembles, element by element.
Guido’s rework on the reverse, the first remix he’s yet released continues to cement his reputation as the most underrated of the purple trio. Always more concerned with conventional song forms than Gemmy and Joker, he keeps Shadz’s vocal almost entirely intact and cocoons it in lushly orchestrated synth cascades and mirror-image bass bleeps. As well as being one of the most convincing examples of the unlocked potential in applying a ‘proper’ song structure to dubstep’s primarily instrumental skeleton – moving through several distinct sections as opposed to a traditional build-drop dynamic – it’s fiendishly addictive, propelled by a delicious, broken beat that constantly teeters on the edge of collapse. When the crash finally comes everything retracts momentarily, sucking inward to a stable point for a fraction of a second before bursting outward in a supernova of noise, colour and energy. Considering how early into his production career he is it seems likely there’ll be even better to come from Guido, which is an incredibly exciting prospect.
On the label’s second 12” Gatekeeper’s contributions are closer to his recent releases on Immerse and M4 in tone, pulling off a delicate balancing act between glacially sparse low-end and intricately meshing percussion that converges to form momentary weblike structures before dissociating again. ‘Blip’ strains through several impossibly dense nets of hi-hat before a wispy, barely tangible melody swells to full strength and recedes gracefully into the distance again. His remix of Appleblim’s ‘Vansan’ conjures up memories of Skull Disco in more than just track selection, as he builds up a busy, ever shifting background of diffuse noise through which the original’s distinctive melodic arcs tease and finally appear. The Berlin influence is clearly audible as well, shot through with implied techno propulsion courtesy of a decaying cymbal rush that flits past in an instant, like oncoming traffic down the autobahn.
What really impresses about these first two releases from If Symptoms Persist is how far they’re willing to push the ‘dubstep’ template in markedly different directions from the majority of current producers. As much as anything else there’s a sense of vibrancy that comes from considered composition. All these tracks are already fully formed listening experiences - a club system merely happens to be their most efficient means of delivery.
Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Now/Soon
Link:
www.myspace.com/ispmusic
Friday, 16 October 2009
PRE-ORDER: TVO – Afanc Remix/Dot and Hashes & The Starry Wisdom [Stuff/Highpoint Lowlife]
The Village Orchestra aka as Ruaridh Law, has been prolific this year dropping not one but two albums, the first being a techno digi-record called ‘The Dark Is Rising’ on Stuff and the second being an ambient piece ‘I Can Hear The Sirens Singing Again’ on Highpoint Lowlife. The Stuff 12” is again on the techno side of things with a re-rub of ‘The Dark Is Rising’ joint ‘Afanc’ and a newer track on the flip. It’s also one of the last 12”s to be released on Stuff before they merge with Dress 2 Sweat and Wireblock to form the mega label Numbers.
The ‘Afanc Remix’ is a hypnotic dubbed out joint that bubbles with subtle 303-like acid grooves and electro inspired drum sounds, filtered pads and dream like synths with orchestral flourishes that eek out a hazy melancholic atmosphere - not unlike his ambient excursions on ‘I Can Hear…’ - set to a techno pulse that feels built to zone out dance floors.
‘Dot and Hashes’ is another ‘zoner’ only with more of an electro feel, that sets skipping robotic grooves against reverberating bleep tones to a head nodding stagger led drum pattern as layers of hypnotic pads evolve and everything breaks into a locked groove, leaving behind the rigid robotic limp and pushing onward with grime-like bass pulses.
His latest turn for the Highpoint Lowlife label, ‘The Starry Wisdom,’ continues in his own very static drenched style, setting electrical currents swirling around constant kick drums whose impact seems to actually ripple on ‘Aklo Cut With Saffron.’ The delayed tom drum textures of ‘Arkham, Mass’ continue the disjointed feel, perplexing the ear with panning low end stabs before everything swells up into this kind of tortured kitchen appliance swamp that’s micro programmed to perfection.
Furthering the almost archaic and grand lineage in song titles, ‘The Esoteric Order of S’ is probably the most forthwith production on offer, as evident when the beat drops, replanning classic electro sounds into a new score in time with the muscular sawing b-line and ‘Non-euclidian’ concentrates its presence harder on the punch of the kick drum as Law splices in repeating claps and off beat plops of melody to the loop progressions.
Law’s distinctive electronic voice definitely sits somewhere between music for the head and tracks the dance floor; ending up not a million miles away from the resulting productions if the idiosyncratic experiments of Mordant Music collided with the hypnotic layered techno of GAS. Both of these releases are heady 12”s for the more adventurous heads out there, pushing an borderline psychedelic strain of no holds barred techno.
Word: James Balf & Oli Marlow
Out: Soon/Now (respectively)
To mark these releases Highpoint Lowlife have done us the sterling turn of giving us one of the digital only bundled tracks from ‘The Starry Wisdom’ to give to you at the cost of a couple of mouse clicks.
DOWNLOAD: TVO – The King in Yellow
Link:
www.myspace.com/thevillageorchestra
DOWNLOAD: Kode 9 - Bubble 'n' Squeak Mix
If you've spent any of your time on the internet lately, frequenting or even casually passing by pretty much any music portal or website you'll have no doubt heard that the Hyperdub label is 5 years old this year and the South London label, run by Kode 9, has released a 2CD compilation called '5' to mark the occasion (which you can read about in more depth here, before you go and buy it, which is definitely something you should do for no compilation to date has been able to so aplty summise the possible future textures of mutant bass in such glorious style).
Anyways... Kode 9 has today made a strictly garage and 2-step mix that he originally made for the amazingly eclectic Late Junction show on BBC Radio Lancashire available to download as a podcast through the XLR8R site.
DOWNLOAD: Kode 9 - Bubble 'n' Squeak Mix
Tracklist:
01 M Dubs feat. General Levy "Sweet Love" (Wildstar)
02. DJ Narrows "Dreams" (Resurrection)
03. Moreso "Take My Hand (Dem2 Over There Dub Mix)" (Locked On)
04. Horsepower "Classic Delux" (Tempa)
05. Ordinary People "Ghetto Lovin Dub" (Social Circles)
06. Monie Love "Slice of the Pie (El-B Dub)" (Relentless)
07. Lucy Pearl "Don't Mess With My Man (Wookie Dub)" (Beyond)
08. Bass Masters "Bass Bug" (black label)
09. Groove Chronicles "1999 The Remix" (Kinky Fox)
10. Mario Cee feat. Alexia "Negativiti (Chris Mack 2 step)" (Electric Melt)
11. Chris Mack "Baby Gonna Rock Dis" (First Class)
12. DJ Double G "Get Loose" (DFL)
13. Pay As U Go Crew "Know We" (Solid City)
Link:
www.myspace.com/kode9
DOWNLOAD: CRAZYLEGS 004.3: mixed by Julio Bashmore
This weekend see's Bristol's blossoming club night, CrazyLegs, turn 1 year old and they've been celebrating for the past couple of weeks with a 5 part 30 minute mixtape series from a few people whos names are on that flyer up ^^^ there plus a few people who are playing the shindig but aren't on this visual propaganda.
The first mix came from Rinse.fm's Scratcha DVA, the second one was from Bristol producer Dub Boy and this 3rd one is from rising funky talent Julio Bashmore.
DOWNLOAD: CRAZYLEGS 004.3: mixed by Julio Bashmore
Tracklist:
1. Daniel Haaksman - Senta Senta (ZDS remix)
2. Julio Bashmore - Banda 2
3. Claude Von Stroke - Vocal Chords
4. Kenton Slash Demon - Singla
5. Lvis-1990 - Compass (Christian Martin Remix)
6. MJ Cole - AO
7. DJ Gregory, Gregor Salto - Con Alegria (Solo Remix)
8. Julio Bashmore - Batak Groove
9. Lvis-1990 - Hide
Link:
www.myspace.com/juliobashmore
DOWNLOAD: Jackmaster - Dress 2 Sweat '07-'09 Mix
Keen follows of us might have learnt already that Scotland was bracing itself for a super exciting business merger, but its been officially announced that Dress 2 Sweat, Stuff Records and Wireblock are unifying under the banner of Numbers.
To commemorate the passing of his Dress 2 Sweat label Jackmaster has put together a mix chronicalling most of their releases and a few that never made it.
DOWNLOAD: Jackmaster - Dress 2 Sweat '07-'09 Mix
Tracklist:
Rod Lee - Let Me See What You Workin' With Rustie Remix (DTS008)
Kazey + Bulldog - Ballin' (DTS010)
Rod Lee - Oh Yeah (DTS011)
Kazey + Bulldog - Big Truck (DTS004)
Kazey + Bulldog - Big Truck Pt. II (DTS010)
DJ Tameil - I Get Money (DTS003)
L-vis 1990 - Playing With Knives (We almost released this)
Kazey + Bulldog - Sweet Harmony (DTS004)
Bok Bok - Ripe Banana (DTS012)
L-vis 1990 - Hide (DTS012)
Dikulous - You Know What To Doo (DTS001)
Kazey + Bulldog - Snap Yo Balti (DTS004)
DJ Tameil - Back That Thang Up (DTS003)
Dazey + Bulldog - Fo Da Real G's DTS010)
Tactic - Can't Juke Without Me (DTS-XXX)
Rod Lee - Understand (DTS002)
MOVES!!! - Promise (We almost released this)
Bok Bok - NNTF (DTS012)
Piddy Py - Prickly Rose (DTS007)
Piddy Py - Giggle Riddim (DTS007)
MOVES!!! - All Skate VIP w/ DZ Remix (Original mix appears on DTS009)
Rustie - Throw Some D's (DTS001)
DJ Deeon - Like We Do (DTS006)
DJ Deeon - The Chase (Demo)
Pistol Pete - Knuck If You Buck (DTS001)
Rustie - Lean Wit It (DTS001)
DJ Deeon - Put It In Yo Mouth (DTS006)
Link:
http://nmbrs.net
Thursday, 15 October 2009
STREAM: Oneman - fabric 10th Birthday Mix on KISS FM
Oneman recently put together a mix to commemorate fabric's 10th birthday. It was broadcast last night on Sinden's show on KISS FM.
Stream it on KISS' site here: http://djs.totalkiss.com/dj/sinden
or bash it out on the player below.
Tracklist:
SoulTonic - The Flying Saucer
Trinity Skys - Put Em Up
Toasty Boy - Unconcious
Doc Daneeka - Bumble Bee Riddim
Roska - Hey Cutie
Geeneus - Yellowtail VIP
Jazzanova - I Can See (Doc Daneeka Remix)
Ghosts On Tape - Predator Mode (Roska Remix)
Deadboy - If U Want Me
Florence and the Machine - You've Got The Love (The XX Remix)
Link:
www.myspace.com/1mandj
PRE-ORDER: Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport [ATP]
2nd LP from the Bristol based noise duo Fuck Buttons.
Read the full review here: http://beardedmagazine.co.uk/wp/?p=1310
Link:
www.myspace.com/fuckbuttons
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
PRE-ORDER: Hyetal - Gold Or Soul/Neon Speech [Soul Motive]
Hyetal's latest 12" is out this week on Bristol's Soul Motive
Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6715
Link:
www.myspace.com/hyetalmusic
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
PRE-ORDER: King Cannibal – Let The Night Roar [Ninja Tune]
The debut album from Ninja Tune’s Dylan Richards, also known to the public as the black hearted King Cannibal, throws anything from dubstep and drum & bass to dancehall and industrial electronica into the blender. Basically... if its got bass and a rudeboy attitude it’ll be included and touched on somewhere across the breadth of ‘Let The Night Roar.’
The album starts in a cinematic fashion with the intro dropping into the monstrous ‘Aragami Style’ who’s harsh bass and cut up breaks harbour so much pent up energy and frightened angst, that its no surprise people like Amon Tobin have gone on record to register their passion for its tear out stance. ‘Murder Us’ with Jahcoozi, a dark growling horror sound track that wouldn’t have been out of place on the Bug’s dystopian long player ‘London Zoo’ proves to be another highlight; but, and its a subtle pacifier, where The Bug used a warm hazy atmosphere King Cannibal employs a crisp, sharp sensibility, pushing perfectly EQed perforated drum patterns through his dark cloak of blackness.
Richards does provide a little lightness though, piercing the foreboding mood with the bumping Face A Face vocalled ‘Virgo’ and the fantastically deep ‘So…Embrace The Minimum,’ which wouldn’t feel out of place if it was played deep in the belly of Berghain. The album really does rely on Richards crisp, lush level of production, creating some deeply twisted tracks that incorporate an obvious love for field recordings and mutilating film samples.
Sometimes the relentless aggression does get a bit too much, particularly on ‘Colder Still’ where the full on breaks and appearance of a ranting goblin seemingly sent from Lucifer himself, tips it just over the edge of listenable. Things do get back on track though with the mad industrial break beat swing of ‘A Shining Force’ and ‘The Untitled’ with its nervous skittish rattle that really does manage to spark a pang of paranoia before the scuzzy feedback drenched distortion of ‘Onward Vultures’ brings an eerie calm to the first full length King Cannibal experience.
Words: James Balf
Out: Now
Link:
www.myspace.com/kingcannibal
Monday, 12 October 2009
DOWNLOAD: SBTRKT - Kaoss
SBTRKT is giving away his 'Kaoss' track for the price of a couple of mouse clicks over at the fabric blog. In the accomanying interview the masked producer reveals a little information on his live performances and upcoming projects too.
DOWNLOAD: SBTRKT - Kaoss
Link:
www.myspace.com/subtractone
DOWNLOAD: Starkey - FACT mix
Starkey is latest in the line of top notch producers to handle a mix for the uber awesome FACT magazine and you simply cannot fault his selection.
Special mention for the inclusion of the mlr produced 'Serenade' in the tracklist...
DOWNLOAD: Starkey - FACT mix
Tracklist:
01- Starkey 'Fourth Dimension'
02 - Starkey 'Multidial'
03 - Nasty Nasty 'The Reef'
04 - Starkey 'Knob Twiddler'
05 - Wale 'Ice & Rain' (Skrewed by Starkey)
06 - Humble Dinosaur 'D-Communication Dungeon'
07 - Dev79 'Live N Die 4 Tha Street Bass'
08 - Merciless 'Time Machine'
09 - Starkey ft. Badness 'OK Luv'
10 - BD1982 'Space Boots' (Slugabed remix)
11 - Misk 'Subterranean Crawlspace'
12 - Monkey & Stagga 'Moog Lightning'
13 - Kid Simple 'Fresh Like'
14 - Wollom 'Serenade'
15 - SRC 'Halloucinatin'
16 - Subeena ft. Jamie Woon & Om'Mas Keith 'Solidify'
17 - Ebola 'Alpha Paw'
18 - Pacheko 'Lockdown' (6Blocc remix)
19 - Starkey ft. Cerebral Vortex & Buddy Leezle 'Club Games'
20 - PANTyRAID 'Beba'
21 - Rx 'Torture'
22 - Drake ft. Travis McCoy & Mickey Factz 'Overdose'
23 - Starkey 'Rain City'
24 - Kano 'Rock N Roller' (Starkey remix)
25 - Starkey 'Lenses'
26 - Shortstuff & Hyetal 'Don't Sleep'
27 - Monkey 'Cygnas X1'
28 - Ital Tek 'Chemical Temple'
29 - Bon Iver 'Woods' (Starkey remix)
Link:
www.myspace.com/starkey
Friday, 9 October 2009
PRE-ORDER: Brackles - Rawkus/Air Pie [Planet Mu]
Planet Mu’s release schedule has been burning up the ether this year – it seems like hardly any time has passed since they put out Blunted Robots honcho Brackles’ last twelve. Considering what came before, it was less an evolution and more a wholescale shock to the natural order of things – ‘LHC’ felt like a total genetic modification of dubstep’s DNA, as he married a fidgety melodic line to hard-and-fast futurist garage beats. The same could be said of his and Shortstuff’s ‘Sutorito Faita,’ a cavernous plunge through grating subs and warped vocal samples.
So it’s surprising given its title that ‘Rawkus’ is probably the most graceful thing he’s ever produced, awash in spiraling synth patterns, fragmented vocals and a strange sense of contemplation. Its thoughtful aura and minor key moves tie in closely with the recent explosion of half-remembered garage beats and post-rave atmospherics, a trend making its presence felt through everyone from Zomby and Flying Lotus to Scuba and 2562. All of this having been said, it was never going to be Brackles without a bit of cheeky humour and an essential sense of dancefloor dynamic; after all, the man’s a next level DJ. His sense of timing and ear for the drop is as keen as ever, most strongly felt in razor-edged snares and a cartoonish instruction: “Shut up already! Dance!” It seems pretty foolish to disobey.
‘Air Pie’ on the flip is in much the same vein, a slower and more considered number pivoting around a central sample which drifts through the mix to reach the forefront before the kick suddenly trips over the high end into a heavily skanking drop. The overall effect is slightly disorienting – sudden glitches and rhythmic stumbles hardly make for well-balanced dancing – but pleasurably so. After the manic, technicolour party bursts of Brackles’ last twelve, the two cuts here are a slightly different but no less effective experience, and coming out of a massive pair of speakers his thrusting sub lines are transformative.
Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Now
Link:
www.myspace.com/brackles
Thursday, 8 October 2009
DOWNLOAD: Greena - Ballers Mix
Here is the latest in a long line of Baller 5ocial Club mixes... this time from the Applepips affiliated, Greena.
You can catch Greena playing in Glasgow @ Ballers on Oct 22nd w/ Terror Danjah.
DOWNLOAD: Greena - Ballers Mix
Tracklist:
kraftwerk - metropolis
drexciya - wavejumper
untold - its gonna work out fine
mosca - squareone
martin kemp - after the night
lvis-1990 - zahonda (greena rmx)
shortstuff & hyetal - don't sleep
brodinski - peanuts club (bok bok and greena rmx)
kingdom - mind reader (bok bok rmx)
joy orbison - BRKLN CLLN
crystal fighters - i love london (brackles rmx)
martyn - hear me
greena - maracay (hard house banton rmx)
shackleton - tin foil sky
erro johannes - we could be ikons (ikonika rmx)
andrea parker ft dj godfather - bounce that ass
the other people place - running from love...
Link:
www.myspace.com/ukgreena
PRE-ORDER: Ikonika - Smuck/We Could Be Ikons [Planet Mu]
Both the furious release schedule and gradual sonic re-shuffling of Planet Mu continues with Ikonika - one of the seemingly never ending list of artists dubbed as 'rising stars' - being coaxed away from Kode9's Hyperdub camp to deliver her latest 12".
'Smuck' essentially picks up where the brace of Hyperdub releases left off: Ikonika's somewhat melancholy sweeping synths are overlaiden by bleepy smatterings and then coupled with big beefy marching band kick drums and off-kilter snares that maintain a the common underlay whilst the foreground does much the opposite; continuously switching between competing synth lines. One can end up feeling a little woozy; as if travel sick from the brace of outer worldy visions and the battle to lock onto the awkward groove, but Ikonika's progression comes across as masterful, even though sometimes the pulsating under synths jar with the minor key riffs; if anything there are almost too many ideas explored here. Consequently the overall feel to 'Smuck' is slightly awkward; it often sounds out of key, yet it manages to snatch those momentary pulses of inspiration, uplifting the listen and sounding positively intergalactic.
If 'Smuck' was the journey through space, Ikonika's remix of Eero Johannes' beautifully named'We Could Be Skweeeroes' is the planetary landing and initial greeting of a bouncing, quirky intergalactic race (with a penchant for aquatic wind instruments and an overly enthusiatic variation of the morris dance). What it has over the A side is that retention of a main theme as she builds upon the riffs gradually and subtly, squeezing more squeak out the melody, over the taught steppy drums. 'We Could Be Ikons' somehow retains a unique, borderline cutesy property that makes the track feel like a Joker penned soundtrack to an 8 bit, roll play romp through bubblegum fields and pixelated lands.
Words: Murray Gray
Out: 26th October
Link:
www.myspace.com/ikonika
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
INTERVIEW: DJ Madd [Boka]
After first hearing a DJ Madd production on Rob Booth’s Electronic Explorations show an air of expectance ensued around his following releases, and for me his merger of talk box vocals, rolling hi hats and piano melodies on ‘Reasonz’ (released earlier this year on Boka Records) perfectly fused his stuttering drum patterns with pure ‘air moving’ bass weight and 8 bit medodics; his simplistic drum patterns all the while sharing a kinship with the current Bristol fraternity.
Hailing from Budapest Madd, is sitting on a stack of forthcoming releases so, being the knowledge hungry suckers we are, we figured it was about time the Madd shared some of them with you, the Sonic Router faithful.
Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?
DJ Madd: My name is Peter, I’ve been writing tunes as DJ Madd for a few years now. I was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary and have lived there all my life. I recently moved to England to be a bit closer to all the happenings and to have a bit of change in my lifestyle.
Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?
Music is pretty much all I do. I am far from making a living out of it but in my free time I usually work on some tuness, sounds or just sampling stuff. In the last 6-7 months I was working for an IT company to save up cash for the big move. Apart from that I really like old videogames. I have an old xbox at home which I bought just to setup all emulators I could find and fill it with old classic games. At one point I want to start buying older computers but that project is on the hold for now.
How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do produce?
I was always interested in making music so it was natural for me to get into production. I started making tunes in tracker programs such as Digi Tracker and Fast Tracker and then tried a couple of software programs and ended up with the ones I am happy with. For the first few years I didn’t even use EQs just focused on the arrangement, the final mix down just started to get important in the last 2-3 years.
What’s your production set up like?
I am using Cubase with Kontakt and a couple of basic plugins and software synths. I don’t have any hardware unfortunately, just a midi keyboard and Behringer Truth monitors. This setup works for me so I doubt I will change it any time soon. Knowing your gear can make things so much easier.
Where do you take inspiration from while making music? How did you get into dubstep?
I was always a drum & bass head so that has to be one of the main inspirations. The Valve and the Full Cycle camp had a lot of impact on me and I still listen to those artists almost every week. I keep exploring dub/reggae as well and always find something that blows me away.
Where did the name DJ Madd come from?
When I went through my graffiti phase I needed a catchy name. We had a lot of graffiti groups with 3 letter names, so I didn’t want to use ‘mad’ and went for ‘madd’ instead. After that it kinda stuck and I used it for playing games, production and everything that needed a nickname. I wish it would have a more fun story behind it... haha..
Yeah I was hoping you were borderline mental... Tell us a little bit about Hungary and Budapest, what’s the dubstep scene like out there?
It’s small but the people are very into it. There is group of people who would go to every single dubstep happening and that’s what we need really. Unfortunately you still get the standard “too slow” comments but I can’t blame them because the sound systems are not always up for the job. At the moment we have 2 nights running: Dub Phase which is the only monthly gig and Test which is not regular and not strictly dubstep. Though in the last few months you can really see how it’s begun to grow rapidly, so I am hoping for the best!
I hear that you’re moving to Bristol soon, which we all know is a hub for dubstep talent… Who do you hope to run into?
Moving to Bristol was a very, very old dream of mine. In fact my very first DJ set was at a night called ‘Tribute to Bristol’ where the idea was to play music that came from there! I was known to go a bit overboard on the Dopedragon, Full Cycle records... It seems like the Bristol thing stayed with me in dubstep as well. Many people who I rate high live here, such as RSD or Joker just to name the most known ones.
Who else are you feeling musically at the moment?
Too many to list! Apart from the obvious top names my favourite producers at the moment include Von D, Kito, RSD, Zomby, Synkro, Ikonika and the list could really go on.
Tell us a little bit about your mix? What songs just had to go on there/exclusive tracks etc...
The mix is a selection of tunes I been listening to at home with a couple of my own added, so not a "club selection" I guess. It's always a bit difficult to cram in a few different styles but in the end I think It's better than going for one sound over and over.
Which one of your releases means the most to you and why?
At the moment it has to be the ‘Better with You EP’ on Boka. All of those tunes are exactly how I wanted them to turn out and I am especially happy that ‘Flex’d’ got onto vinyl. It had a very good feedback on myspace and I had no idea if it will ever get a release or not. I am also looking forward for ‘Someone’ and the Breakage remix on the flipside!
What else have you got coming up? (releases/dates etc etc)
I learned the best is not to say any exact dates for releases but the following tunes are confirmed for the next couple of months:
Someone/Breakage Rmx (Black Box)
Different Tingz/In You’re Eyes Dub (War)
Babylon (Subway)
Got me dancin' (Subway)
It’s Over/ U with Von D (Boka)
Why/Sound System with Matt-U (Tube 10)
Homeland/Koopa (3.5 Records)
Stranger (Boka)
Flex’d Rmx/Detroit Skank (Boka)
I Know It's You/Better With You Akira Kiteshi Rmx (Boka)
At the moment I am accepting gigs around England, peep my myspace for future gigs!
What is the thing that is most exciting you at the moment in the bass music scene?
There is good music everywhere at the moment so I can't really pick one thing. Dubstep is on the roll and drum & bass seems to be back on track both on the jungle and the minimal sounds!
Have you got any words of wisdom for us?
Appreciating both Rusko and Martyn at the same time is not a crime.
::
DOWNLOAD: DJ Madd – Sonic Router Mix
Tracklist:
DJ Madd - So Far Away (Unsigned)
DJ Madd - Someone (Breakage remix) (forthcoming Black Box)
Kode 9 - 2 Far Gone (Hyperdub)
Hyetal - Gold or Soul (forthcoming Soul Motive)
Dj Madd - Blue Soul (Unsigned)
Ikonika - Space Ugly (Dub)
Headhunter & Matt U - The Chosen One – (Dub)
Phaeleh - Tachi – (Dub)
Gemmy - Rainbow Rd. (Planet Mu)
Von D - Chacha's Leggings (forthcoming Subbalcious)
Dj Madd - Got Me Dancin' (forthcoming Subway)
Simian Mobile Disco - Cruel Intensions [Joker Remix] (FREE DL via FADER)
Vaccine - Fever (Kito remix) (Dub)
DJ Madd - Better With You (Boka)
Skream – 0800 (Tempa)
Dj Madd - Flex'd [Ikonika remix] (forthcoming Boka)
RSD - Loving It (Dub)
Von D & Dj Madd – U (forthcoming Boka)
Link:
www.myspace.com/djmaddbeats
DOWNLOAD: Lukid - Everybody Make Happy
Lukid has quietly unleashed a free track (via twitter and his myspace blog) called 'Everybody Make Happy,' which is reportedly pre 'Onandon,' his rapturous debut album for Werk Discs; which partly inspired me to write this artist profile a while back.
DOWNLOAD: Lukid - Everybody Make Happy
Link:
www.myspace.com/lukid
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Monday, 5 October 2009
EVENT: Tapes EP Launch @ Gramaphone
"To celebrate the release of his longingly anticipated Jahtari vinyl debut, Tapes is throwing a Monday night bass bash with D.J. and Live performances from a host of eclectic friends and family of the label. Expect a barrage of 8-bit Danchall, Disco Obscurities, Synth Charged Hip-hop and Full Rave Assault!!!"
Set Times:
8.00: International Observer (Live)
9.00: Tapes (Cassette DJ Set)
10.00: Rekordah
11.00: Clause Four
12.00: Clench
Link:
hwww.myspace.com/tapeshifi
www.jahtari.org
PRE-ORDER: Unknown - Idle Hands001 [Idle Hands]
Two tracks of iconic dancefloor music from a brand new label run out of Rooted Records in Bristol, Idle Hands. The true tune spotters amongst you may have spied the B side in 2562's recent FACT mix...
Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6636
Link:
www.myspace.com/idlehandsbristol
DOWNLOAD: Geiom - Flic En Flac
Geiom's label, Berkane Sol, has consistently provided on point music from the Nottingham scene's bubbling underbelly (further reading on this is available over at The Quietus) and this Friday, alongside some of his most prominent proteges and contemporaries - Brackles, Shortstuff, Martin Kemp and Spam Chop - he takes over Room Three at fabric.
Ahead of the event he's kindly passed out this FREE download of 'Flic En Flac' for your hard drive's pleasure.
DOWNLOAD: Geiom - Flic En Flac
Link:
www.myspace.com/geiom
DOWNLOAD: Loops Haunt - Baller 11% Meat Mix
Ballers Social Club hit out AGAIN, with another GMB* mix this time from producer Loops Haunt, who spews that hyper compressed hip hop beat shit that makes me whyle out the gunfingering in silence because Monday morning office politics means thats the way it has to be...
DOWNLOAD: Loops Haunt - Baller 11% Meat Mix
Tracklist:
bass city rollers + sounds of the cosmos - loop rework
lady smith black mambazo - induku zethu
Anstam (cree) - 2
rossi b feat luca- gully gang - Music Money (78RPM mix)
milanese - the end
the end - loop rework
mike oldfield tubular bells - loop.
rubber sun grenade - loops haunt
spare beat 1 - loops haunt
slugabed - gritsalt
record i found in estonia
offshore - beef strong enough
loops haunt- impact omnihammer
impact omnihammer-- loop rework
loops haunt - spare beat 2
coco bryce -suite 101.
Link:
www.myspace.com/loopshaunt
VIDEO: Breakage ft. Newham Generals & David Rodigan - Hard
Update:
You can also download Breakage's collabo with Skream, insightfully titled 'Skreakage' over at FACT. Its live for a week or so... so go nab it.
Link:
www.myspace.com/breakagedsb
Thursday, 1 October 2009
INTERVIEW: Architeq [Tirk]
Architeq's music came into our world in drips and drabs. Admittedly, it was through TAKE's remix of his 'Sleeping Bear Lament' track that we first saw the name, but upon receipt of his debut album, 'Gold + Green,' we realised we'd been caught napping. Its a rich mix of vocalists, beats and mutant styles and its beauty is the fact that its a real creeper.
So... in true Sonic Router style we thought we'd nab the man behind the project for a quizzicle email exchange and let him vent on us a touch...
Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?
Architeq: I’m Sam Annand, I’m 23, from Dundee/Fife Scotland and I make and release records on Tirk as Architeq…
Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?
I work as recording engineer at a little studio in Hackney. I’ve met hundreds of weird and wonderful musicians and bands through that job… I love it. Apart from that I’m very fond of food, driving, digging, science fiction and dabble with a bit of stop motion…
How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to produce?
I was mad into guitar from pretty early. I wanted to be Jimi Hendrix when I was wee… I mucked about in some bands as a teenager and became really fixated on the demos and recording and eventually became more interested in engineering, and producing electronic music with synthesizers and that sort of thing…
What does your studio consist of? How do you go about writing and recording the ideas in your head?
I have quite a minimal setup… A laptop/reel-to-reel for multi-tracking and apart from that a couple tape echo boxes, spring reverbs, modulation boxes, guitar pedals, a homemade compressor and about 7 different analogue synths. I like to keep it pretty simple so I don’t get lost in possibilities with samples, virtual MIDI instruments and all that shit. I hate MIDI…
Tracks normally start with recording hours of Jerome or Scott (drummers) playing in my downtime at the studio. Then I take that away to my studio and mix it and if a certain bit we recorded stands out I’ll begin layering stuff over it and see where it goes… There’s not a set process I use every time I make a track but usually it will start with the beat and when I have that everything starts to fall into place.
Your debut album ‘Gold + Green’ is out now on Tirk. What was the inspiration behind the music?
Dub music is a big inspiration on the album… I’m really interested in experimenting with the recording of the instrumentation and manipulating it to give the record a sound. Most of the tracks were improvised recordings that were edited into something with a beginning, middle and end. I wanted the tracks to sound somewhere between a live band and a production, sort of like a band that couldn’t exist…
The album has some quality vocal contributions from Junior Williams, Angele David Gillou and Ilija Rudman. How did those collaborations come about? Do you prefer working solo editing or working with vocalists?
I enjoy both ways of working. Each of them brought something completely different. Junior was in a friend’s band I’d done some mixing for and had really stood out to me. His voice has a great texture to it, really unique. I’d met Angéle through Jerome (drummer), he had produced her first Klima album on Peacefrog and she’d rehearse with him at the studio I work at regularly. After a while we started to talk about working on a track. She was really fun to work with and a great songwriter. As for Ilija Rudman, my flatmate got hold of his ’Blast From The Past’ 12 when we first moved to London and I fell head over heels in love with it. Amazing production and the vocals were wicked. Not long after that he released that ’Easy’ track on my friend Barry’s label Deep Freeze and I got in touch with him from there. Ilija was really enthusiastic and we built the track over about 3 months of sending parts back and forth between UK and Croatia.
What with TAKE’s remix of your ‘Sleeping Bear Lament’ track being released on MAH’s new compilation; do you feel connected to the beats renaissance that’s occurring?
I guess so. I have a lot of good friends within the beats thing but don’t consider myself a ‘beatmaker’, I don’t have an MPC and don’t sample… I like to think what I do is more like dub than beats, but hiphop is as big an influence on my music as anything and I think that’s where I connect with it…
Is there something in the water in Scotland that makes people want to make screwed up funk grooves? I mean what with the LuckyMe crew, Rustie, Hudson Mohawke etc… Scotland is becoming quite prolific... has their output had an influence on you?
Maybe. We have pretty damn good water. Scotland is a really creative place; I’m surprised there aren’t more Scottish artists getting noticed to be honest… We’ve had some pretty influential electronic music in the past; Boards of Canada, Mogwai etc.
The LuckyMe guys have been pretty prolific lately and they’ve done a great job to get so much attention but I wouldn’t say they’ve been an influence. I think what we do maybe has some similar influences in places but is fairly far apart musically…
I miss making music there in a lot of ways, I made ’Birds of Prey’ and ’Fox Tails’ there and I can still hear Fife and Dundee in those tracks…
You have a dubbed out disco, funk sound going on that has a nice loose live feel... Do you play the instruments yourself?
Yeah, like Phil Collins or something… I played all of the synthesizer parts, electric guitar, bass and upright/rhodes. Jerome Tcherneyan and Scott Donald played drums and percussion on the record; they really contribute a great deal to the overall sound. They’re both stylistically really different, which is great for me. Jerome has this kind of jazzy, loose, tone-based, hypnotic style and Scott is a robotically tight player with a really snappy ‘break’ like sound. Etmo played all of the Saxophone and Clarinet parts and was an absolute inspiration to work with. I’ve never heard anyone improvise like he can. The string quartet from Sunharbour played on ’Krakatoa’ too. Everything on the record was played.
Whats the rest of ’09 got in store for you? Any plans to tour with a live band? More releases? Remixes etc...
A few remixes coming, I did one of 70’s French disco group Space’s ’Carry On Turn Me On’ which will be out on Tirk soon, a remix for Wax Stag, a remix for The Phenomenal Handclap Band and a remake of a John Carpenter soundtrack in the works. As far as shows go we’re planning on doing a few shows between myself, Jerome or Scott on drums and Etmo on Sax/Clarinet as a sort of band setup and I’m doing a one off show at the BFI with the Sunharbour string quartet for the Virgin short film awards. We hope to expand the live setup out over time too…
Have you got any words of wisdom for our readers or anything you would like to get off your chest?
Nope. That’s all.
'Gold + Green' is out now on Tirk Records.
Link:
www.myspace.com/architeq
PRE-ORDER: Kryptic Minds – 768/Pinch & Moving Ninja – False Flags (Kryptic Minds Remix) [Tectonic]
Pinch is really brining the darkness with his label’s most recent releases and this 12” seems to be no exception, with the production duo Kryptic Minds making their Tectonic debut. After the very well received 12” and their album, ‘One Of Us,’ for Loefah’s Swamp 81 label the former drum & bass producers are really making a name for themselves with their apocalyptic half step material.
The A-Side comes in the form of ‘768’ a new and original track and just like their other dubstep material it has that dark and spacious half stepping bass mediation vibe going on. These guys really know how to make the low end subs sing and it really shows here; you get the full bass spectrum from subterranean rumbles to a little added mid range growl, you know, using it occasionally to keep things that little bit evil and the string sections really give the track a forbidden, almost emotional pull.
On the flip Kryptic Minds show us their take on Pinch & Moving Ninja’s deeply disturbing ‘False Flag,' which first featured on the fantastic ‘Tectonic Plates Vol.2’ compilation earlier this year. This remix takes that foreboding pent up atmosphere and makes it even more cinematic as the low end bubbles and drives the track down into the underworld. The percussive elements on show are something else too, as they prove their 10 year production pedigree showing that they really know how to get a sound down; the drums are warm, phat and woody. It’s a killer re-interpretation of an already killer track.
Words: James Balf
Out: Now
Link:
www.myspace.com/krypticminds1
www.myspace.com/tectonicrecordings
PRE-ORDER: Scuba - Speak/Negative [Nakedlunch]
New 10" from the Hotflush Recordings bossman, Scuba, on [Nakedlunch]... dropping before the 'Aesaunic EP,' which is forthcoming on his own label.
Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6669
Link:
www.myspace.com/paulhotflush
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