2010: A Retrospective

Admittedly there are more important things to be doing in December than making lists about what’s happened over the past 12 months. We're not the biggest fans of doing so over here plus someone has actually already done the hard work for everyone, creating the most essential list of occurrences in 2010 right here, but, well... here’s our tuppence worth, should you need to reaffirm your faith in our compliance with journalistic culture...

LPs of 2010:



fabric 55: Shackleton [fabric]

Less a mix, more a complete and perfect summation of Shackleton’s work to date, fabric 55 contains unreleased material, re-workings and edits from one of dance music’s true idealists. A bold and perfect vision captured impeccably.



Guido – Anidea [Punch Drunk]

Synths may have got weirder in 2010, but one person who absolutely owned his craft this year was Guido. Ever since we heard ‘Beautiful Complication’ at Rooted Records in Bristol, we knew Peverelist was onto a winner with the then untitled album project. What followed was a glimpse into the unique world of a deft musician on Anidea.



Actress – Splaszh [Werk Discs]

Darren Cunningham returned with sharpened nuances back in May for his debut on Honest Jons. Continuing to sound like the outside world listening in to club culture from a soapbox stuck outside of Barnet and wielding his EQs and filters in ways that seemed to filter out any kind of smiles or good intentions Splaszh became a dirty piece of history.



Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma [Warp]

Impossible to ignore, Flying Lotus’ second album for Warp Records trod a line between beat based genius and absolute freeform madness as the Californian producer went deep into his own universe. As far as crystalline productions go Cosmogramma was a space opera that ‘marks Ellison out as a true experimenalist’.



Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers [Hotflush]

If there’s one thing that unifies our picks for our albums of 2010 it’s the fact that each one presented a unique vision. Mount Kimbie’s offering was no different, with Crooks & Lovers veering almost awkwardly through some of the most melodically shattered beats of the year. A hit across the board it subverted a lot of dancefloor trends but still made appearances in sets from the best DJs out there.



Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner [Notown]

It feels a little terrifying to admit that sometimes the hype machine is completely on point and Gold Panda is a case in point. After various lowkey EPs on Various Prouction’s imprint, including the excellent ‘Back Home,’ the man known only as Derwin released Lucky Shiner - a sampledelic tapestry of up and down tempo music that mixes really well, at times, with UK funky.

Gold Panda also tops the SR ‘dreamboat of the year’ list pipping Drake, Reggie Yates and Zain from One Direction to the accolade. Congratulations to him.

Honourable mentions: Rudi Zygadlo, Liars, Ikonika, Darkstar, Deftones, Scuba and more.

::

Compilations of 2010:



V/A – Modeselektion Vol. 1 [Monkeytown]

Aligning the clubbing underground’s elite is no mean feat, but to obtain exclusives from each one of them and introduce artists like Robag Wruhme and Housemeister in the same breath is kind of game changing.



V/A – Astro:dynamics [Astro:dynamics]

In the absence of any Beat Dimensions style offerings this year, Rekordah offered up a great set of beats A&Red, packaged and released by himself. His Astro:dynamics compilation remains an accomplished arrangement after repeated listens.



Kode9 – DJ KiCKS [!K7]

Kode9’s brand of UK funky is different. He’s pretty much become the pioneer of bastard house in our eyes and his mix for !K7 caught his style perfectly. Gutter yet danceable, it’s the real sound of his London 6-8 months ago.



V/A – Elevator Music Vol. 1 [fabric]

Yep – one for the bias aware out there - this collection, released in February of this year, gave some of this year’s stand out troupe (Mosca, Hackman, Julio Bashmore, Hot City, Doc Daneeka, xxxy) their first outing to the world in emphatic and beautifully packaged style.



V/A - Tropical Heat Vol 1 & Vol 2 [Myor]

Released in two parts across two 12"s the Tropical Heat series has a homespun feel. Its obvious from speaking with its curator, Coco Bryce, that he's as much in love with the music as we are with the quality of this year's Sonic Router mixes, and he manages to straddle the divide between skweee simplicity and boom bap technology across these 12"s with beats from people like Slow Hand Motem, Slugabed, Niño and Mesak.

Honourable mentions: Brownswood Electric, FABRICLIVE 50: Autonomic, Scuba for Sub:stance, fabric 50: Martyn.

::

12”s/EPs/Tracks:

Ramadanman - Work Them/Fall Short [Swamp 81]
Deadboy – If You Want Me [Numbers]
Jeremiah – Birthday Sex (Hovatron Remix) [FREE DL]
Addison Groove – Footcrab [Swamp 81]
James Blake – CMYK [R&S]
Hizatron – HZA EP [Wigflex]
Elgato – Blue/Tonight [Hessle Audio]
Girl Unit – IRL [Night Slugs]
Braiden – The Alps [Doldrums]
Joe – Claptrap [Hessle Audio]
Blawan – Iddy/Fram [Hessle Audio]
Becoming Real ft. Trim – Spectre EP [Not Even]
T.Williams - Chop & Screw [Deep Teknologi]
Mosca – Square One EP [Night Slugs]
Martin Kemp – Wot U Got/Fix [Blunted Robots]
LV & Okmalumkoolkat – Boomslang [Hyperdub]
Kontext – Sattva [Immerse]
Sentel – Chapel 20 [Concrete Cut]
The Phantom – Nightgame (Zeppy Zep Remix) [Senseless]
Ill Blu – Bullion/Dragon Pop [Hyperdub]
Altered Natives – The Bitch/Crop Duster [3024]
Arp101 – Dead Leaf [Eglo]
Icicle – Anything [Tempa]
Fantastic Mr Fox – Evelyn [Black Acre]
Jackal Youth – Let Me Be [Reduction]
West Norwood Cassette Library – Blonde on Blonde [TEAL]
Hypno – Over The Top EP [PTN]
MJ Cole & Wiley – From The Drop [Prolific]
Randomer – Be Electric [Tru Thoughts]
Martyn – Left Hander [3024]
Ikonika & Optimum – Aqueous Cream [Hum & Buzz]
DVA – Natty/Ganja [Hyperdub]
Hyetal & Shortstuff – Ice Cream [Punch Drunk]
Spatial – INFRA004 [Infrasonics]
Jamie Grind – Baloon [Infrasonics]
Lone – Once In A While [Werk Discs]
Mr Mageeka - Different Lekstrix [Numbers]
Jam City – Ecstasy Refix [Night Slugs]
LHF – EP1: Enter In Silence… [Keysound]
Falty DL – Freqaflex [Planet Mu]
Breach – Fatherless [PTN]

This list is just a glimpse. There are so many more singles/EPs/tracks I’ve thought of since I even published this... I give up.

::

Please note: These lists are not definitive. Tomorrow it would most likely be very different...

DOWNLOAD: XI – Nitelite

XI is one of those cats that had us all hyper from the get go way back in January of this year. Releasing two plates - the debut release from the Orca label and bits on Immerse - in tandom he hit out with a deep kind of toughness. Tracks like ‘Ghost’ were a little reminiscent of the way Headhunter and Modeselektor hit, with all that warming darkness of the bassline mirroring the serious pressure of the drum work the Canadian producer was pouring in.

Since then though, he went quiet, reportedly holed up in his studio working on a lot of music. With a flurry of communication in the past week or two, its evident he’s aiming to go big in January of 2011 too with another single release imminent, again for the Orca stable, at the tail end of the month. ‘Gamma Rain’ and ‘Medicate’ both plot of decidedly more melodic route for XI, melding ideas and snatched sounds with a more stuttering fusion of drum patterns. They’re more colourful, both tracks blessed by a producer who seems to have found his feet somewhere different, combining his love for the slower more breathy climes of his hip hop tempoed work and that punishing snap he’s delivered so well previously.



In anticipation there’s a generous gift floating around cyberspace as of now: a free download of XI’s ‘Nitelite’ – a seductive roller that keeps banging ever rising upwards – which you can as always, grab at the link below...

DOWNLOAD: XI – Nitelite



Links:
www.myspace.com/xidubs

Photo: Kelly Koehler

INTERVIEW: The Phantom [Senseless/Top Billin]

Another producer in the Polish contigent - whose hardcore, dancefloor aimed productions have breathed a little unexpected life into our ears on many occasions over the last few months - The Phantom, and his tunes have been rollocking around the globe in the record boxes of some of the most influential, tastemakers around. Sharing an affinity to the perplexingly infectious synthesized grooves of labels like Night Slugs and Hum + Buzz, The Phantom’s own rhythms centre around the 4x4 pulse, but come unique with a highly melodic slant.

Equipped with the rhythm and drive those shuffling, incessant snares provide his music hits heavy, but it’s the uplifting lean of his lead lines on tracks like ‘Girl’ and ‘Night Game’ that really stand out. With tracks and remixes for people like Jack Dixon and Supra1, popping up with ferocity and a debut EP for the Senseless imprint - out earlier this wee - we caught up with the producer to talk our way into grabbing the 63rd Sonic Router Mix…

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

The Phantom: Hi, Bartosz Kruczynski here. I'm a currently Warsaw, Poland based producer/DJ.

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

Studying the culture of early modern England! I'm writing my master's degree thesis on ritualistic laughter. Apart from that - sleeping a lot, watching obscure films, listening to weird experimental records.

How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do so?

I started putting together some ideas at the age of 15. All the tunes back then (made with a friend of mine) were sample-based, sort of early Coldcut or Big Apple Productions, despite being a fan of early XL Recordings rave records. At that time, I became influenced by the bootleg scene as well - Richard X/Girls On Top, Soulwax, Mark Vidler, Soundhog. All the early pioneers. Been making bootlegs for a couple of years now (I still produce them occasionally). Got back to writing my own music like a year ago.

What’s your production set up like? What’s your favourite bit of kit in the studio?

Just a laptop and a pair of ears really...

How would you describe your music? I mean it shares a kinship with UK stables like Night Slugs and Hum & Buzz... Are those guys an influence for you?

Yes, they definitely are! I mean, thanks to Supra1, I was lucky enough to DJ alongside Bok Bok in Cracow, Poland like two years ago! And I was already a Faggatronix fan back then, as well as a a regular reader of Lower End Spasm (RIP). Club experiences are definitely a very important influence to me. The same with Ikonika playing at Unsound last year or, let's say, seeing Dam-Funk live. As for my music. I'm trying to keep it very raw and simple sounding, almost dated. It's also about the melodies, or particular chords rather than beats.



Where do you take inspiration from when making music? I mean it’s easy to hear the influence of more tribal drum patterns but outside of that...

If I had to choose any particular tracks sharing a similar sound these would be perhaps 'Desire' by Robert Hood or 'Strings' by Da Posse or some South African house music. Pop esthetics are important as well - I'd name Madonna's 'The Look Of Love' as an influence behind my own track - 'Night Game'. Apart from that - I'm using quite a lot of jazz chords.

You’ve turned ears with your remixes of people like Supra1 and Jack Dixon. Do you approach remixes differently to your original productions?

Yeah, to some extent. It is rather unconscious, but I always try to experiment a bit more when remixing, later incorporating the ideas (like new presets) into the original tracks.

What’s the scene like in your native Poland? There seems to be some really good producers putting out records at the moment... I mean we asked Sentel the same thing, but is the club side of it blossoming and is that affecting your profile do you think?

The scene is definitely growing strong here. Apart from Supra1, Zeppy Zep, Sentel, Sekta (releasing a new EP on Shifting Peaks soon) there are a couple of yet to be discovered producers like Rhythm Baboon, Venice Calypso or MCQ and Vanatoski. There's obviously also the tech-side - Catz N Dogz or Czubala. Lots of events here as well - almost everyone from the scene played in Poland - NB Funky, HH Banton, Crazy Cousinz, Untold, Kode9, Ikonika, Jackmaster, Bok Bok & Lvis, Girl Unit, Guido etc. All thanks to promoters like Unsound, Supra1, Sorry Ghettoblaster, BBQ or Gangsteppaz. As I said earlier - all the gigs definitely influence my music.

Are there any producers you rate the world should know about? I'm really into what Glamfranklin is doing,

I think signed to Hum & Buzz actually! Also the likes of Salva, Tri-Funk, Akhluts. I'm a big fan of Jam City as well.

How did you link with Senseless for you forthcoming EP? Did you choose the remixers yourself?

Senseless approached me over a year ago proposing the EP, despite me being completely unknown at that time. At first two completely other tunes were meant to be released. Decided to scrap them eventually tho. The remixers were chosen deliberately - already had quite a good contact with both Brenmar and Hackman (and Zeppy Zep obviously), loved their work so we offered them remixes.


The Phantom – The Phantom EP [Senseless Records]

What other projects have you got in the pipeline?

Working on a couple of remixes now, including Voltron (Discobelle Records) and French Fries (together with Zeppy Zep). Releasing an EP on Pets Recordings (Catz N Dogz label) and a single track on a Top Billin compilation. All early next year.

Tell us a little bit about the mix you’ve put together for us…

The mix includes a couple of new releases I'm really enjoying - 'The Alps' or the Brenmar remix (I think they are out already at this point), a demo by JTRP (Deep Teknologi Records), an African house anthem by DJ Bongz and 'Shivers' by Skalpel off their second LP.

Any words of wisdom, for our readers?

Don't eat the yellow snow.

::

DOWNLOAD: The Phantom – Sonic Router Mix #63



Tracklist:

Robert Hood – Clash – M Plant
Bateman – Tephra Riddim (Grevious Angel Remix) – Unreleased
Brenmar – You Make Me Say (Ikonika + Optimum Remix) – Forthcoming Discobelle Records
Braiden – The Alps – Doldrums
DJ Bongz – Underground Ft. Kgomotso – Huge Entertainment
JTRP – Shady – Unreleased
The Phantom – Night Game (Hackman Remix) – Forthcoming Senseless
Storm Queen – Look Right Through (Dub) – Environ
Untold – Come Follow Me – Soul Jazz
DJ Orgasmic – How Clap Low Trap (Joe x Ludacris) – Unreleased
Girl Unit – IRL (Bok Bok Remix) – Night Slugs
Jack Dixon – I Let You (The Phantom Remix) – Silverback
Ikonika – Simulacrum – Hyperdub
Skalpel – Shivers – Ninja Tune

The Phantom EP is out now on Senseless Records.

Link:
www.myspace.com/phantomghostwhowalks

NEWSFLASH: Sonic Router x Bleep.com Podcast #003

The 3rd in the line of Sonic Router podcasts for Bleep.com went live yesterday...

Featuring our look back at the past month of releases it includes work from Pearson Sound, Scuba (and a troupe of remixers including FaltyDL and Joe), Joker, Mosca, Lukid, A Made Up Sound and so much more.

DOWNLOAD: Sonic Router x Bleep.com Podcast #003
SUBSCRIBE: Bleep.com Podcast

Tracklist:

1. Mosca - Tilt Shift [Fat City]
2. Leatherette - Ashtro [Ho Tep]
3. Nosaj Thing - Quest (Low Limit Remix) [Alpha Pup]
4. Shigeto - Escape From The Incubator [Ghostly International]
5. Lukid - Rags [Werk Discs]
6. Games - Shadows In Bloom [Hippos In Tanks]
7. Computer Jay - Phantom [All City]
8. Airhead - Paper Street [Brainmath]
9. Seams - Nachtmusik [Pictures]
10. Terror Danjah - Bruzin VIP [Hyperdub]
11. Joker - Holly Brook Park [Kapsize/Punch Drunk]
12. Pearson Sound - Blue Eyes [Hessle Audio]
13. Hypno - Sunkin [Ramp Recordings]
14. Scuba - On Deck (FaltyDL Remix) [Hotflush]
15. C.R.S.T. - Roulette [Ten Thousand Yen]
16. A Made Up Sound - Rear Window [Delsin]
17. DJ Dom - Computer Love [PTN]
18. Lone - Let The Music Play [Hoya Hoya]
19. Funkystepz - Malibu [Forever Live Young]
20. SCB - Hard Boiled VIP [Hotflush]
21. Scuba - So You Think You're Special (Joe Remix) [Hotflush]

Links:
http://bleep.com

INTERVIEW: Eliphino [somethinksounds]

Tom Wrankmore is a guy who feels blessed by his luck in music. If there is one thing you can say about Wrankmore, and his work under the Eliphino moniker, it’s that he’s worked hard to get to where he is today. After circulating beat tapes and self releasing his 2005 hip hop tempoed album Out of Phase, he’s now on the precipice of big things. With a record out through Brownswood and his first solo EP for somethinksounds in shops now his music has morphed pace but retains the sort of characteristic that made his early work, re-presented by First Word Recordings, so listenable.

I reach him by phone early on a Saturday morning Melbourne time, 8pm on a Friday night his time, at his current abode - a warehouse space in central London. He is amazingly modest considering he has been working in DJing and at music for the last ten years - since he was 15 years old. Having recently made the move from Manchester to London things are quite fresh for him right now.

"Both cities are quite vibrant but obviously there is a lot more stuff going on in London I think..."

I guess it makes sense for an artist to be close to things?

"When events that I love to go to are so close, and every weekend, I can just see whoever I need to see. But there is so much going on, you literally have to pick and choose what you can afford!" he laughs.

Starting his bedroom production experiments at 17 years old after buying an MPC, he followed with roughly two years of DJing at a big club night in his home town. "I grew up in Leeds and there was a night called Drum Major. I got to be the resident DJ before I was even supposed to be in the club, when I was under 18." He confesses, sounding slightly incredulous about his luck. "I managed to DJ with Madlib, Q Bert and all those sort of hip hop guys who were smashing it around that time in the early 2000s."

"So I was really kind of blessed in the early days and I got to DJ a lot. Then I got addicted to production when I got my first sampler."

How did it feel to be invited to DJ as a resident at Drum Major?

"It was dope man. I think it was basically because I started off with, and I was quite enamoured with, the scratch stuff - the DMC battles and the ITF and all of that. So I practised on that level quite a lot and got to know quite a few people around the city who were into that. There were a couple of guys called Matman and Mike L who have both been in the DMC finals and they took me under their wing. I guess they might have seen some potential and then I got to be the resident of that night as a result of DJing with those guys."

That type of mentoring is commonly a huge part of the hip hop scene but it extends through artistic channels worldwide. As much as there is competition, the leading lights always seem to shine through. "I thought, for a while, that the availability of software might have changed the amount of people who make music. But I don't think that will dilute the quality of music coming out because it's only going to be the good stuff that gets the attention in the end."


Eliphino - Let Me Love You Forever [Brownswood]

"Someone who has been really forthright in terms of helping me out is Martyn. I have never met him because that's the nature of things nowadays, being online. I really look up to him because his productions are super tight and he is really willing to give time to break down one of your tunes. He's very honest about what he does and doesn't like."

"Also there's a guy called Illum Sphere up in Manchester. When I was living up there it was top that he and Johnny Dub were running Hoya Hoya - it was always somewhere good to go. I don't think I would site him as a mentor," he laughs.

A drinking buddy maybe?

"Yeah!"

Wrankmore has also gained support from a stalwart of music, Gilles Petterson. "We actually hooked up through the antiquated method of Myspace! Alexander Stevenson, who works at Gilles' label Brownswood, was in charge of compiling Brownswood Electr*c for Gilles on the label. He got in touch with me and it ended up being one of the two tunes that got pressed [onto vinyl]. That was around the same time as I moved to London so it was the best welcome that I could possibly have!"

The new Eliphino EP on somethinksounds, Undivided Whole, is a wonderful collection of beats, rolling melodies and morphing synths. The A-side of the EP bursts forth with ‘You'll Know’ - a kind of post-Burial garage gem that rolls out the stepper vibes - and continues with ‘L.F. (I Know)’ which forms a perfect twin track. The B side opens with ‘Condensation,’ is a far more muted house/funky affair, with ‘I Just Can't’ finishing off proceedings with a minimal, shuffling beat that is soaked in a single, mutating, droning synth. All-in-all it's a fascinating snapshot of a very talented producer.

"It has only been recently that I would consider myself to have been making songs," he reflects. "A lot of that has been through using Pro Tools and cleaning it all up."

"I have known the guys at somethinksounds for quite a while actually. We've come up in music together, somewhat. They've had the idea to start the label for a while and they finally put their heads together and got it to fruition. They're planning to have me as the first release on the label."

And for Wrankmore there is an added bonus: "It is being pressed on vinyl which has always been a main aim for me. So it's been relatively successful for me so far but we'll see how it goes. It's been kind of a strange road, I guess. I have always been into music, and I have been trying to make music and play it since I was about fourteen or fifteen. Around that age I was just listening to hip hop, old school Jungle, and a bit of garage as well. So it has always been a big melting pot of genres if you know what I mean."

"Dilla was a big influence, as was Madlib, but recently I have increased the speed of my tracks quite a lot. That's just a result of there being a lot of energy around certain genres and I have been more inspired to make music in that field."

Agreeing that it's a nice place to be right now with a great supportive community around the world he continues: "Yeah definitely. No one is raising eyebrows right now if people skip genres for each different release. You don't have to be dead set on one thing because it's all amalgamating now and everything is feeding off each other. It's good for creativity because there are no rules about what you're allowed to do."

"I'm definitely looking forward to [putting out] more releases. I have promised the lads that I will do another EP on somethinksounds. I have just finished a remix for a guy called Duffstep which is going to be on a label called Join The Dots - FaltyDL and Young Montana are on the same 12" so that's great to be on there with them… There is some cool stuff in the pipeline for next year; some labels are asking me for music... I'm considering changing direction in terms of the sound. I'm not really sure what it's going to be yet but I need to freshen up a bit. I will just keep making as much music as I can."

It's about being true to the music you want to create, right?

"Yeah totally. I usually get a melody in my head or mess about on the synth. Then I will work on a tune until it sounds alright - I will usually do the percussion on my MPC because it's easier for me. But I won't finish it as a song. I leave it for a month and forget about it and then I will load it up. I will either realise that it's awful or I will be surprised and finish it off."

"There are days when you will make something and half an hour later it will be done,” he continues. “I'm lucky enough to not have to work full time right now. I am living in a warehouse with no rent, doing freelance web design and DJing. So I get to sit around and mess about with music ideas all day anyway. I have enough time to get as creative as I can."

Words: Simon Hampson

::

Eliphino’s Undivided Whole EP is out now on somethinksounds.

Photo: Benjamin Eagle

DOWNLOAD: 2562 - URB x fabric Mix

We're hyper aware of the amount of mixes that flood your eyes every time you look at the internet (I mean sheeeeeeeeeeit, we do it too) and in an attempt to distance ourselves from the tide a little, we quashed a lot of our own gumpf. But sometimes, there's an artist that does something special that's truly worth shouting about.

Dutch producer 2562 made a massive impact on us with his debut album for Pinch's Tectonic imprint, 'Aerial' and his follow up 'Unbalance' topped our 2009 retrospective chart with its characteristic colourful trajectories. Since then Dave Huismans has released countless gems under his A Made Up Sound guise, constantly bringing his hard edged, dancefloor punch in new and beasting ways.

Ahead of an appearance at fabric this very evening, he put together a mix for American site URB.com (what's good Mitch?) and it's simply total class. Anyone who's seen him play out can testify to his mechanistic poly-rhythm matching, and its here in full effect alongside a whole bunch of unreleased heat from SR family like FaltyDL, Blawan, Pinch and West Norwood Cassette Library.

DOWNLOAD: 2562 - URB x fabric Mix

Tracklist:

01 Reject Monkee – Sun Fever [unreleased]
02 Pinch – Get Out Of Here [unreleased]
03 Kowton – Never Liked Dancing [unreleased]
04 FaltyDL – Mean Streets Pt. 2 [unreleased]
05 Recloose – Us vs Us [Rush Hour]
06 Motorcitysoul – Ushuaia (Deetron Remix) [Simple]
07 T-Polar – The Ghost of Echerville [forthcoming NonPlus]
08 Seiji – Agua Riddim [Seijigoodies]
09 Blawan – Bohla [unreleased]
10 Knowing Looks – Abandoned Skip [forthcoming WNCL]
11 Boddika – Breezi’n [unreleased]
12 Pangaea – Won’t Hurt [forthcoming Hessle Audio]
13 Bio Method – Found In Translation [unreleased]
14 Skudge – Convolution (2562 Remix) [forthcoming Skudge]
15 Instra:mental – Tired Light [forthcoming Darkestral]
16 Morphosis – Androids Among Us (Just For One Day Remix) [M>O>S]
17 A Made Up Sound – Demons (Reprise) [A Made Up Sound]

Link:
www.myspace.com/2562dub

INTERVIEW: Mista Men [Greenmoney]

Standing as the only outfit to ever submit two seperate versions of a Sonic Router mix, the Doncaster affiliated trio Mista Men, have been lighting up radio playlists with their own take on UK club music of late. From hearing tracks on Rinse FM selector Braiden’s show at some point in the last few months, we all of a sudden found the slower realms of our radio show planning dominated by music with this particular crews heavy 4x4 pulse. With what seemed like a constant barrage of music, all centering around the same ballpark tempo with a similar clubwise lean, we learned of the releases on Car Crash Set and Bass Tourist and realised that it wasn’t just us becoming more and more reliant on these kind of textures to link between 2step led garage jams and more straight up house rhythms.

Given that tracks like ‘Watermelon’ and ‘Lengthy Riddim’ were early highlights and the fact that the trio’s simplistic moniker evoked memories of herbicidal cartoon watching in an attic room in Hanwell, West London, we followed our nose and got chatting. Ahead of the Greenmoney backed 12” – available on Juno from the 6th December and in shops the week after – we caught up with one of the group, Mella Dee, who is so beautifully on it, that he scrapped the first version of their Sonic Router mix at the 11th hour. Lovingly re-assembling a second take with a truck load of care, attention and style, he included some of the crew and their friend’s freshest material as he did it.

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

Mista Men: Well basically Mista Men is a trio of DJs and producers from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. We like to make music for the clubs; just whatever we’re feeling at the time. We've been doing the whole Mista Men thing for a year or so, but have all known each other since being younger. Woozee knows Kid Kosy from their school days, and I met through us all skateboarding together.

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

I work putting up shutters and doors and as, an apprentice sparky, henegral graft! Kid Cosy goes to college doing graphic design in Leeds and works at a pub on a part time flex. Woozee works at a restaurant as a barman in Doncaster.

What’s your production set up like? How does it work with the 3 of you producing? Do you all just make your own shit and then merge it under the Mista Men name... ?

We utilise drop box; start things on our own then pass then on for the next man to have a bang at normally. Because of the fact that Cosy lives in Leeds, it makes it harder for us all to link at once, but myself and Woozee tend to try and get together as often as possible

How would you describe your sound?

I guess it's hard, we like to make all sorts of different stuff. Personally I think it’s all just UK Bass. It’s easier to say that than trying to describe what we make really. I guess a lot of what we do falls under the garage category of things; even our take on house tends be heavily garage influenced.


Mista Men – What You Do To Me/Hold On/C.R.S.T. Remix Preview (forthcoming Greenmoney)

What is an inspiration for you?
With there being 3 of us, you get a large amount of different influences, as I said before though, I think garage plays a large part in things. I'm very influenced by hip hop and RnB as well but there's also techno, jungle, drum & bass and house influences to our sound. It’s just a big mix of what we all like basically.

Where do you see your sound developing?

We’ll just keep doing what we do, making music we like, not being tied down to one tempo or sound. We just love music and want to make good music in general. Getting some hardware is one step we really want to take; I feel there’s a lot of potential in using it to push our sound further.

What’s the scene like in Doncaster? Any recommended jams? As it goes not really, it's a bit waste here. You could go to the Warehouse and get serious to some bouncy hard house if that’s your thing like…

Are there any producers you rate that the world should know about? Any peeps not getting the props you think they deserve?

Well 2 lads I run tropical in Leeds with are doing some big beats right now Jera & Jangle. Also there’s a new guy coming from Leeds called Tessera, whose got some serious bits. Didz from Cardiff has a nice sound… Hodge from Bristol… there's sooo much good music being made right now, this whole sound has so much freedom.

Your Greenmoney release is imminent... What else have you got forthcoming?

Well aside from the Greenmoney release of ‘What U Do To Me,’ therse ‘Ashanting Cub’ and ‘Rvrse’ set to drop on NSA dubs. There’s a couple of remixes, and hopefully we’ll be lining some other bits up soon!

Tell us a little bit about the mix you’ve put together for us…

The Tessera bit near the end is doing it for me right now, Jera’s ‘Another One’ is such a big track, we’re just working on our remix of that. The Jay Weed track is seriously big to. My personal fave has to be the new Martin Kemp one though, it’s too big! It was hard doing the mix; I had so many bits I wanted to get in there, I could of done about three mixes…. Haha.

::

DOWNLOAD: Mista Men – Sonic Router Mix #62



Tracklist:

1. Hackman - Made Up My Mind (Hodge Undecided Mix) (Dub)
2. GuGu - Rocka Bye Baby (Forthcoming DVA)
3. J:Kenzo - Ruckus (Mr Tickle V.I.P Remix) (Dub)
4. Jay Weed - Prism (Forthcoming 502)
5. The Bug ft Warrior Queen - Poison Dart (Scratcha Remix) (Ninja Tune)
6. Martelo & Canblaster - Cannibal (Club Mix) (Dub)
7. Jangle - Egyptian Turkey Cat (Dub)
8. Mista Men - Pantha (Dub)
9. Mista Men - Redemption (Dub)
10. Martin Kemp - Know We Can (Dub)
11. James Fox - New Jack Swing (Dub)
12. Mista Men - What You Do To Me (Forthcoming Greenmoney)
13. Mr Tickle - Higher Stakes (Dub)
14. Jera - Another One (Dub)
15. Mista Men - Sure Footed (Dub)
16. Tessela - You Give Me Something
17. Gucci Mane Ft Pharell & Nicki Minaj - Haterade (Mista Men ReRub) (Dub)
18. Mista Men Ft Robert Green - Drawn (Dub)

Link:
http://soundcloud.com/mistamen