RECOMMENDED: LHF – EP2: The Line Path [Keysound]

LHF are a shadowy organisation at best and to be honest, that’s just the way we like it. Comprised of a production crew that’s about seven members strong, they keep it tight and have built a world of their own that seems both far-reaching and contained in itself all at once. Describe rather eloquently by Keysound boss Blackdown as sounding like “Sun Ra's hijacked Rinse FM and is using it to communicate with the heavens. Buried inside one corner of the LHF collective is a junglist fighting his way out: these guys have got drumz. Then there's another part of them that is lost in LA, their wonky beats falling off of the grid.” The Line Path EP is split between producers Amen Ra and Double Helix, two of the group’s core members.

Double Helix keeps the bumping rhythmic dubstep patterns going like on the previous EP, Enter In Silence. The horn samples give ‘Chamber of Light’ a Wu Tang shaped shadow when they hit, well Wu Tang if they also featured Mala on the buttons, plus the drums and the deployment of space are as infectious as ever. Double Helix has got a way with programming that really gets things bumping, tablas, woodblocks and all manner of percussive nuggets just keep rolling. On his second cut, ‘Bass 2 Dark,’ bursts of jabbering bass synths hit out of the rhythmic shuffle and gloriously.

Amen Ra’s track ‘Candy Rain’ sounds like it could be taken from the Brainfeeder stable, it’s got a similar de-tuned, warped and melted vibe that a lot of Samiyam’s work showcases. The unlikely coupling of what sounds like an accordion (or a synthesized version of it), steppy rhythms and the warm, lazy bass tones give the track a bright if lilting funk. It’s undoubtedly an EP highlight rounding the thing off with a techy dystopian vision on ‘Trifle;’ all dusty driving synths and gritty textures played like the soundtrack to a sci-fi race scene set in the ruins of Detroit.

Words: James Balf
Out: Now



Links:
www.myspace.com/raizms
www.myspace.com/helixier
Facebook Group

::

TOMORROW NIGHT: Keysound Recordings rush the Boiler Room:



Dusk & Blackdown ft Maxwell D
LV ft Joshua Idehen
Amen Ra (LHF) btb Vibezin

Watch it live here this Tuesday from 8-11pm.

http://boilerroom.tv/live

RECOMMENDED: LV & Okmulumkoolkat - Boomslang/Zharp [Hyperdub]

Since their earliest releases, which saw them travel through dubbed-out, post-Mystikz headspaces, London-based Hyperdubbers LV have stubbornly resisted pigeonholing at every turn. Revisiting the likes of 'Globetrotting' and 'Dream Cargo' now, the clues were always there as to their shifting identity - the former a rootsy stomp as comfortable played from midsummer speakers as headphones on a cold winter evening, the latter a more muscular take on Burial's melancholy images of London. After 'Turn Away', which brightened the opening segment of Hyperdub's 5 compilation with a shot of synthesised colour, the 38 EP earlier this year was a drastic departure. A concept album in miniature, it mapped the psychosocial spaces of a London bus journey, moving in and out of different personae like quicksilver. Sonically it saw the group experiment with form and tempo a little more, but unless you'd been paying attention to their interview and excellent Okzharp mix for Blackdown earlier this year their latest for Hyperdub would, I'd imagine, come as a real surprise.

In the wake of a trip to South Africa (his country of birth), LV's Gerv started to piece together a spring-loaded, London-soaked variant on the kwaito/house flavours he encountered there. The result is a formidable dancefloor double header: both 'Boomslang' - the most maddeningly catchy track this side of Mujava's 'Township Funk' - and 'Zharp' brim with a restless excess of nervous energy. There's so much pent-up tension in the skeletal beat of 'Zharp' that it sounds spring-loaded, liable to burst at any time - it's the kind of tune that could take someone's eye out. Fittingly for the African/reptilian implications of the title (and the glorious artwork), it's a snakelike riddim, slithering and shuddering to a sudden pinpoint stop. The A-side is likely to decimate dancefloors for the foreseeable future, and perhaps the only worry it's possible to hold onto for too long is that it'll burn itself out through overplay, in the manner of 'CMYK' or 'Footcrab'. Durban MC Okmalumkoolkat's semi-nonsense chatter drifts between tightly syncopated stabs of bass and snare, and its central bleep melody lasts for a tantalisingly short period of time before disappearing again. Both tracks are short, sharp shocks, far removed from LV's previous material, and point towards enjoyable new developments, even if this 12" proves more a one-off than a wholescale change in direction.

Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Monday 11th October



Links:
http://www.hyperdub.net

PRE-ORDER: LV & Quarta 330 - Hylo/Suzaran (LV & Q330 Remix) [Hyperdub]

Rootsy Londoners LV and Japanese circuit-fryer Quarta 330: perhaps not the most likely pairing, but then LV’s joint effort with Untold proved them to be ruthlessly efficient collaborators. That said, ‘Beacon’ still sounded like the product of LV plus Untold, the obvious tropes of each artist’s sound retained to create something that, whilst still excellent, never quite exceeded the sum of its parts. So it’s to their credit that this collaboration is so well integrated – rather than simply placing 330’s chiptune tendencies over a deep and dub-infused backline, both tracks on this latest Hyperdub 12” hint at new and hitherto unexplored directions. Perhaps it’s due to the project’s swift gestation - reportedly pieced together over a brief period of time when both were in London for last November’s Hyperdub fifth birthday bash - but these tracks crackle with an agitated spontaneity quite different from anything either party has yet recorded.

A-side ‘Hylo’ is a prime example. Rattling past at shocking tempo, its opening bars provide a decent approximation of a hard-drive losing the plot hard, before a caffeinated shuffle kicks it into restless life. Quarta 330’s mangled chip trademarks are downplayed throughout, emerging as mere glimpses through its jittery structure. On the flip, their remix of Dong’s ‘Suzaran’ offers slightly less of a curveball, 330’s heavily effected voice cutting across a backing that rises and falls as though infused with artificial life. Its slower speed and more overt melodic sensibility make for a more satisfying listen, but both sides showcase a progressive sensibility in tune with many of Hyperdub’s big-hitters. As it stands these still feel like worthy experiments, the primer for something fuller still, so here’s hoping that this is one group effort that lasts beyond a single release.

Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Now

Links:
www.myspace.com/q330
www.myspace.com/lvbass

COMPETITION: Win Hemlock Vinyl, Merchandise & Guestlist

Whilst North London resident and producer-du-jour, Untold, and his profile have risen up into the echelons of cultural notoriety of late, he's also managed to carve himself a neat little plateau to launch other artists, in his own Hemlock imprint. Stylistically, the label sleeve's uniformity - blessed with a dark all-over Hemlock crest screenprint and a stark flash of colour on the artist label - has become a signifier for quality, and somewhat of a collectors item given the print standard and limited run of the pressings.

Having released 3 x 12"s and a double pack EP of Untold material - he seemingly reserves some of his most ground breaking work (see 'Yukon' b/w 'Walk Through Walls' and 'Gonna Work Out Fine') for release on his own imprint - the label has also become a home to work by Fantastic Mr Fox & Rich Reason on a collaborative single as well the ever blossoming harmonies of James Blake; who appeared on his first full 12" and on his dancefloor challenging re-work of Untold's 'Stop What You're Doing.'

For us, Hemlock truly is up there with labels like Ramp Recordings, Hessle Audio and Hotflush in terms of being a no-brainer for on sight purchase, and - ever so kindly - to celebrate both the label's new 12", a collaboration between Untold & LV which features a Mount Kimbie refix on the flip, and their takeover of Room 2 at next Friday's Hyp!Hyp!Hyp! @ Plan B in Brixton, they're offering a few lucky Sonic Router readers the chance to scoop a shit load of bounty.

Top prize:
1x Hemlock Sweatshirt
1x Hemlock T-shirt
1x Full Hemlock vinyl catalogue*
2x Guest list for the Event

3 x Runner up prizes consisting of:
1x Hemlock T-shirt
1xGuest list for the event

O' happy day!

EDIT - This competion is now closed.

Q: Walking through walls is a feat attempted in which recently released film starring George Clooney?





*Hemlock Catalogue to be won:

HEK001 12" Untold - Yukon / Walk through walls
HEK001R 10" Untold - Yukon (Fantastic mr fox remix) / Walk through walls (LV remix)
HEK002 12" Untold - Discipline / Bones
HEK003 12" Fantastic Mr Fox & Rich Reason - Plimsoul / Bleep show
HEK004 12" James Blake - Air and Lack Thereof / Sparing the Horses
HEK005 2x12" Untold - Gonna work out fine e.p
HEK006 10" Untold - Stop what you're doing (James Blake remix) Untold - I can't stop this feeling (Pangaea remix)
HEK007 LV & Untold - Beacon / LV & Untold - Beacon (Mount Kimbie remix) (Unreleased advance copy)

Guestlist to be won:



Hemlock Room:

Untold
James Blake (DJ set)
LV
Fantastic Mr Fox b2b Rich Reason

Doors: 2200-0500
Tickets: £7 advance / £12 on the door

Facebook Event // Tickets

For full event info go here.

Link:
www.myspace.com/hemlocklondon

DOWNLOAD: LV - Aural Winter Blanket

Production trio LV today submitted a new mix to the Rhythm Incursions site, aiming to wrap up your ears and offer comfort in this icy turmoil textured time.

DOWNLOAD: LV - Aural Winter Blanket

Tracklist:

Biosphere – From a solid to a liquid
Pole – Taxi
Hieronymus – Honeydrops
Conjoint – Earprints
Oskar Sala – Klangfarben Caprice [V]
Burnt Friedman and the New Dub Players – Cassock Attack
Klaus Roeder – Kristalisation 9 (LV mix)
Sigha – Prayer
Asusu – Taurean
Untold – Yukon (FMF remix)
Flying Lotus – Auntie’s Lock/Infinitum
Zomby – Digital Flora
FaltyDL – To London

Link:
www.myspace.com/lvbass

PRE-ORDER: Pinch Ft. Yolanda – Get Up [Tectonic]

It’s pretty safe to say that ‘Get Up’ is a dubstep classic. The vocal version with sometime Massive Attack collaborator Yolanda first featured on the CD release of Pinch’s debut album ‘Underwater Dancehall,’ but it never reached vinyl much to the disappointment of many. But proving that good things do come to those who wait, two years later the world gets a vinyl release with the original vocal alongside a dub version as well as a splattering of quality remixes from: RSD, Guido, Jack Sparrow and LV.

The original vocal and dub by Pinch uses smooth and rolling drum patterns, pulsing bass and dancehall dub accents to play off the soulful vocals that makes it sound as fresh today as it was 2 years ago, with the timeless melancholy of the house diva vocals, here updated for the dubstep generation, shift along seamlessly with the emotive strings.

The remixes are on point too though the highlight of the bunch has to be from Bristol legend RSD. Rob Smith, one half of the production duo Smith & Mighty, brings his own wonderfully deep and warm soundsystem shaking bass lines, piano flourishes and a beat that simply makes you want to wiggle. Guido also provides a brilliant refix that somehow echoes house music’s hay-day and the new slinky, soul-infused instrumental funk of Bristol dubstep. The subtle boom-bap drums build a smooth groove before deep house chords take over and play off the vocals to make what sounds like a long lost 90s house hit that’s been left to mutate in Dr. Dre’s refrigerator.

Jack Sparrow takes his version deep into dubstep territory, designing it for big dark rooms with weighty systems, lacing it with huge bass pulses and a half-stepping beat that still has a bump to it. LV is the one that comes from a very different angle; his dub heavy disco version has plenty of rootsy vibes and the slinkiest smooth bass around and as always with LV productions, it grows on you in a subtle fashion.

Word: James Balf
Out: Now



Link:
www.myspace.com/tectonicrecordings

VIDEO: Pinch ft. Yolanda - Get Up

Pinch's vocal anthem 'Get Up' which features the vocal stylings of sometime Massive Attack vocalist, Yolanda, is finally getting a single release with a super deluxe remix package. The track, taken from his debut artist album 'Underwater Dancehall,' gets the refix treatment from Guido, Jack Sparrow, L.V. and Bristol luminary RSD alondsige an extended instrumental dub.

Look out for it in shops around about the 30th November.

Link:
www.myspace.com/tectonicrecordings