RECOMMENDED: DJ Dom – Sunshowers/You Can’t See Me [Blunted Robots]

DJ Dom may have made his debut for the on form PTN label late last year, with four lush slices of flexible house music, but now he’s stepping out on Brackles and Shortstuff’s excellent Blunted Robots label. Joining the impressive roster of releases from the likes of Mickey Pearce, Martin Kemp and Night Slugs very own Bok Bok, Dom’s 12” may well be the smoothest Blunted release yet, taking queues from the deeper side of house and playing it off rawer UK vibes. It echoes the current sets from Rinse FM regular Brackles, who seems to be really enjoying exploring this side of things more and more of late.

It proper sounds like summer is on the way when the hazy good time vibes of ‘Sunshowers’ rolls in, all laid back warm chords, supple bumpy percussive kicks and snatched hits. First heard on Brackles' 'Songs For Endless Cities Mix' the screwed vocals give a woozy air to the track and the dubbed-out organ stabs and echoing bass squelches really bring that brightness alive, living up to the epiphany hinted at in the title. The drawn out heavy EQ sections where the track gets cut out into nothing but highs is pure vibes too, building expectation perfectly. The flip rolls out on a similar tip though ‘You Can’t See Me’ skips and builds with more urgency thanks to the dubby pads, twisted synth smears and fragments of 8-bit bleeps that shatter across the track. It’s the deep sub stabs, acid bubbles and flexible beats that root it to the floor while the synths take you up into those airy, blissed-out territories.

Sitting somewhere in the UK neverland where the likes of DJ Naughty and Martin Kemp can coexist without to much squabbling, Dom’s first outing on Blunted Robots can sit nicely next to the soulful side of Smoove Kriminal or T.Williams just as well as it does here.

Words: James Balf
Out: 7th Feb



Link:
www.bluntedrobots.com

RECOMMENDED: Bowly – Bleeps/Idee D’Un Tropique [Berkane Sol]

Despite the runaway dancefloor success of Martin Kemp’s brilliantly oddball releases on Blunted Robots, there has been comparatively little of the same sort of stuff appearing from other sources. It could well be because Kemp’s take on broken house is a delicate kind of alchemy, and one that’s difficult to replicate outside of optimum laboratory conditions. It’s certainly true that the tricky sense of swing and timing that makes ‘No Charisma’ and ‘What U Got’ so fiendishly addictive – and impossible to avoid dancing to – is a tough balancing act, and one that very few have managed to match. Cooly G’s new 12” for Hyperdub is one contender, though both ‘Phat Si’ and ‘Up In My Head’ are still tied to a far more traditional house template. DVA’s upcoming Hyperdub release again touches on similar territory, but so far this new release from Bowly is the closest anyone’s yet come to matching the unique tension between rigidity and flexibility that marks out Kemp’s tunes.

Bowly’s not entirely there, in the sense that both tracks still pivot around a recognisable house pulse, but they aim for something else entirely. With its slow pace and delicate conga rolls, ‘Bleeps’ is a slightly more contemplative take on the UK funky sounds Geiom’s recently been putting out, hitting similar humid notes as ‘Sugar Coated Lover’ or the best of Hackman’s music. ‘Idee D’un Tropique’ is the more interesting thing here though, and it’s a fantastically supple track, riding off a broken beat that seems to contort into a thousand different shapes over the course of its five-minute runtime. What’s most enjoyable about both these tracks though is how strongly they remain connected to the evolutionary lineage of UK bass music – you can hear grime’s heatshocked synths exploding in the backdrop of ‘Idee’, and the descending chords of ‘Bleeps’ are straight out of the first wave of funky. But alongside the likes of Cooly G, Kemp and Hackman they’re breezily unconcerned with where they end up along the way, and all the better for it.

Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Now

Links:
www.myspace.com/zorbowly

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Hotflush Podcast

Mr. Shortstuff emerges from the cold static of his recent radio silence with the latest edition of the Hotflush podcast. News of forthcoming projects from him should surface shortly but for now get this on the DL and keep an eye out for Martin Kemp's next 12" - 'Fix' b/w 'Wot U Got' - dropping soon on Shortuff's co-run Blunted Robots imprint... 'sabiggun.

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Hotflush Podcast

No tracklist given, sucker.

Link:
www.myspace.com/djshortstuff
http://bluntedrobots.com

RECOMMENDED: Brackles – 6am El Gordos [Brainmath]

This one sided super limited platter comes to the public from the mysterious Brainmath label who have been carving a ghostly niche of their own over the last year or so with music from a diverse bunch of producers. Zomby, SBTRKT, Spiders, Airhead & James Blake and Untold have all brought tracks to the table that sit with the Brainmath's other worldly aesthetic but never mark it down as just one sound; it's as if the label simply provides a service, an outlet for small nuggets of vinyl brilliance released with no fuss or hyperbole.

The latest release comes from Brackles who as a producer, DJ, Rinse.fm regular, and label curator with Shortstuff for the Blunted Robots imprint has been pushing the flexible broken garage meets UK funky sound, bringing bumpy beats and plenty of energy to the dance. The first Brackles 12” to drop was a quality number called ‘Glazed’ on Berkane Sol which somehow harnessed the grimy attitude of Dizzee Rascal’s ‘I Luv U’ in its bumping’ drum patterns as well as harnessing a deep dubbed out techno-like atmosphere. Well, ‘6am El Gordos’ – named after a Nottingham boozer that saw numerous after parties laced with frantic sets of new and weirdly interesting music which helped shape some of the now prevalent Notts explosion - feels like the tropical cousin of ‘Glazed’. Brackles layers shuffling soca laced kick drums, pulsing bass tones that shake the floor with skipping snares and hats getting quirky on top, with synths that sound like they’ve been made under high air pressure for maximum energy. In typical Brackles fashion he underpins it all with soulful, loved up vocal snatches that bring am exceedingly summery edge to the production.

Words: James Balf & Oli Marlow
Out: Now

Links:
www.myspace.com/brackles
www.myspace.com/brainmathbrainmath

DOWNLOAD: Martin Kemp - Accordant Mix

The younger brother of the Kemp clan, Martin, drops what I think is the third [?] (we were the first, but who's counting/gloating...?) in his line of mixes, ahead of the Accordant show on the 26th March at the Rhythm Factory, London.

The line up is pretty much flames with 4 Rootah favourites vying for your dollar bills... Ikonika, Martin Kemp, Hyetal and Greena (who duppied fabric when he played at the Apple Pips night) are all on the bill alongside ledge Sticky and local support.

DOWNLOAD: Martin Kemp - Accordant/Hyponik Mix

Tracklist:

01. Brackles and Martin Kemp - Untitled,
02. Donga and Blake - small hours (Geiomix)
03. Procedure - Sunshowers
04. Martin Kemp - Terr
05. Rishi Romaro - African Forest
06. Deep Teknologi - Anthem
07. Zinc ft Ms. Dynamite - Wile Out
08. Brackles - I Can’t Wait
09. United Sounds of London - Making Love
10. Martin Kemp - What You Got
11. Bok Bok - Citizens Dub feat. Bubbz



Facebook Event // £5 Tickets

Link:
www.myspace.com/themartinkemp

RECOMMENDED: Martin Kemp - After The Night/Aztec [Blunted Robots]

Martin Kemp holds down his first solo 12" on the Blunted Robots label in his own fiercely percussive style.

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6958

Link:
www.myspace.com/themartinkemp

DOWNLOAD: Braiden - Mixing It Up for Discobelle

"I found this picture of an absurd technicolour utopia on a Jehova’s Witness pamphlet in a changing room in South London and it reflects this mix better than any picture of my face could. I’ve put together a varied mix of electro, techno, grime, and whatever you want to call this 130bpm uk bass music. Some old, some new, some unreleased, mixed with decks and Serato, clocking in at just over 35 minutes. It’s unlikely you’d see me play such a wide range of genres and tempos within half an hour in a club scenario, but that’s the beauty of studio mixes." - Steve Braiden

DOWNLOAD: Braiden - Mixing It Up for Discobelle

Tracklist:

Aphex Twin – Windowlicker [Run Jeremy edit]
Deadboy – Ifuwantme
Japanese Telecom – Japanese Animation
Little Jinder – Youth Blood [Bok Bok remix]
Mark Henning – Sick Note
Greena – Actual Pain
Alden Tyrell – Disco Lunar Module
Major Lazer – Pon De Floor
Housemeister – Rambo
Martin Kemp – No Charisma
L-Vis 1990 – Untitled
Pangaea – Sunset Yellow
Dizzee – Stop Dat
Crystal Fighters – I Love London [Brackles remix]
Ruff Sqwad – RSMD

Link:
www.myspace.com/djbraiden
www.stevebraiden.com

DOWNLOAD: Martin Kemp - XLR8R Podcast

DL on sight.

Martin Kemp's put together a mix for XLR8R, something you really should not miss out on. His debut solo 12", 'After The Night' b/w 'Aztec' should be out now at all good retailers on the Blunted Robots label - look out for the RA review coming shortly.

Kemp had a track on a split 12" with Mickey Pearce, also on Blunted Robots, earlier this year, he has remixed Royal T's grime anthem '1UP' - also out now - and his track 'Bowzer' is set to appear on the Hold Box Flat imprint early next year.

For more info on Martin Kemp why not revisit our interview with the man himself here:
http://sonicrouter.blogspot.com/2009/08/interview-martin-kemp-blunted-robots.html

DOWNLOAD: Martin Kemp - XLR8R Podcast

Tracklist:

01 Tuff Jam "Experience" (Casa Trax)
02 Ultymate feat Jacquee Bennett "Vybe (Todd Edwards remix)" (i)
03 DJ Lewi "Hold Me Tight" (Moist)
04 Martin Kemp "Aztec" (Blunted Robots)
05 Roska "Feeline (VIP mix)" (Roska Kicks and Snares)
06 Martin Kemp "Fix"
07 Mya "Free (Brackles Bootleg Remix)"
08 Brackles & Shortstuff "Pipey D" (Blunted Robots)
09 Mosca "Square One (Greena remix)" (Night Slugs)
10 Geiom "Sugar Coated Lover (Brackles & Shortstuff remix)" (Berkane Sol)
11 Hem and Terrible Shock "On a Mission (Shortstuff remix)" (Berkane Sol)
12 Ellie Goulding "Under the sheets (Brackles remix)"
13 Zinc feat. Slarta Jon "Flim (Horsepower remix)" (Bingo)
14 Martin Kemp "After The Night" (Blunted Robots)
15 Mickey Pearce & Shortstuff "Tripped Up" (Ramp)
16 Brackles "6am El Gordos" (Brainmath)

Link:
www.myspace.com/themartinkemp

EVENT: Trouble Vision vs. Dirty Canvas

Trouble Vision collide with Dirty Canvas next Friday for a Christ honouring shindig at Corsica Studios, featuring a stellar line up including Sinden, Heartless Crew, Terror Danjah and Newham Generals.

Facebook Event // Tickets

To celebrate we've been given a copy of the brand new No Hats No Hoods (Dirty Canvas' record label - yep, them that released 'Next Hype') 12" release from Royal T, his '1UP or Shatap EP,' which features a remix from the ultra suave Martin Kemp (audio of which is in his SR mix) alongside two extra tracks from Royal T and a refix of 'Beatfighter' from Night Slugs co-conspirator Bok Bok.

To scoop the vinyl simply email us the word thats missing from the statement below:

Q: The man like Tempa T definitely will not give you none of your ____ back?

A: CDs
B: DVDs
3: Bonsai Trees

The winner will be announced before Xmas.



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

EVENT: Blunted Robots present Robot Dance

In association with Dirty Canvas, Blunted Robots celebrate their 2nd vinyl release, Martin Kemp's highly anticipated 'Aztec' b/w 'After The Night,' with a launch party at Gramaphone in East London.

Link:
http://bluntedrobots.com

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)

STREAM: Brackles - Dazed Digital Mix

Up now - to stream - is a new mix from Brackles on Dazed Digital.

You can check him going back to back with Reecha, just after the Patchwork Pirates at the Pull & Bear launch afterparty tomorrow night at the Bathhouse (nr. Liverpool St) in East London.

More details on that here: Facebook Event

STREAM: Brackles - Dazed Digital Mix

Tracklist:

1. The Hizatron - Von Glooperstein
2. Cooly G - Jus Wanna
3. Martin Kemp - After The Night
4. Dead Boy - If You Want Me
5. Brackles - 6am El Gordos
6. Brackles and Shortstuff - Pipey D
7. Hem and Terrible Shock - On A Mission (Shortstuff remix)
8. Untold - Stop What You're Doing (James Blake remix)
9. Untold - Palamino



Link:
www.myspace.com/brackles

INTERVIEW: Martin Kemp [Blunted Robots]

Martin Kemp has pedigree. Both as a name thanks to the Spandau Ballet link up and as a producer thanks to the fact that his brother, Brackles, has recently broken through into the ranks of those 'must buy' producers currently infiltrating the Boomkat wishlists of so many. With his first physical release occupying a side of the excellent first Blunted Robots release and after hearing his unique reworking of Royal T's Nintendo infused '1UP' we knew it would only be a matter of time till he broke out of his chrysalis and flapped off into the ether painted up like a tye dye daydream.

Yep, we're super chuffed to be able to bring you his contribution to our exclusive mix series and you're damn straight, it just so happens to be a blinder...

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

Martin Kemp: I have been DJing for 8 years and producing for 3 of those. I recently had a tune out on Blunted Robots…

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

I finished University a year ago and I’m doing random jobs. At the moment I install PCs which is a strange job for me considering my knowledge of computers is minimal.

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

I really liked Tuff Jam and Todd Edwards tracks and tried to make those shuffley four four drums on Reason. It didn’t really work out. Later on, I got into dubstep through Mala, Loefah, Skream, Benga etc. and the tracks were simpler and there was more experimentation, rather than trying to make a particular type of music, or searching for particular drum hits so that it fitted into a genre.

What aspects of it [dubstep] connect with you and spur you on to continue producing?

Weird noises and bongos.

What’s your production set up like? Has it changed a lot since day dot?

I started on Fruity loops, moved onto Reason and I’ve been using Nuendo with some VSTs for the last couple of years. I use a synth called Massive a lot and I’ve got a Dr-sample 202 that can be useful.

Oh and, you must get this a little bit, what’s the big idea behind the moniker? I get that it’s your name and all, but some might ask why you didn’t opt for an irrelevant production alias when it has such overt connotations to Spandau Ballet… and latterly Eastenders bastard Steve character?

I really got tired of choosing a name. It was wasting a lot of my time so I decided to go with Martin Kemp… for now.



Your first tune ‘No Charisma’ is out now on your brother’s label, Blunted Robots. Does it fully rep your style do you think? Like what can the adoring public expect from other Martin Kemp tracks?

I’m not sure. I think at the moment I’m still finding my style. The newer stuff that I have made is just as weird as ‘No Charisma’ but darker and maybe closer to dubstep.

Your myspace is incredibly bare, no info, no pictures etc... Is it intentional for people to not know you? Do you think it adds to your music’s mystique in a way?

I’m quite a lazy person. I created the myspace so that people could listen to my tunes, I’m not so interested in writing about myself. I think it’s better if people don’t know who you are and all they get from you is your music.

What else have you got coming up this year?

‘Bowser’ is coming out in the next couple of months on Hold Box Flat, a new label from The Bpm, I’ve got a remix of a track by Royal T called ‘1 Up’ coming out soon on No Hats No Hoods and the next Blunted Robots release is going to be ‘Aztec’ and ‘After The Night.’

I’m playing in Bristol in September and hopefully again in October.

Tell us a little about the mix you have done for us... what tracks just had to be in there?

It’s got a bit of funky, garage and some of my tunes on it. I just had to select a Horsepower tune for the mix and I really like the Roska remix of ‘Just For You’ by Untold as well as Brackles’ remix of MSTRKRFT ft. John Legend.

What is the thing that is most exciting you at the moment in the bass music scene?

Artists that are making tunes influenced by funky, garage and dubstep… I really like Greena’s music, obviously Mickey Pearce, Brackles, Shortstuff and Cooly G. I find that crossover area really interesting.

Have you got anything else you want to tell us, words of wisdom for our readers?

Levels, Jerry.

::

DOWNLOAD: Martin Kemp - Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker ft John Legend (Brackles Remix) (Free DL via Discobelle)
Cooly G – Narst (Hyperdub)
Scratcha – God Made Me Funky (Fantastic 4)
Martin Kemp – No Charisma (Blunted Robots)
Horsepower – When You Hold Me (Tempa)
Zed Bias – Neighbourhood [El- B Remix] (Tempa)
Perempay and Dee - Buss It (White)
Martin Kemp – Bowser (forthcoming on Hold Box Flat)
M Dubs – For Real (Babyshack)
Lee Perry vs. Kode 9 - Yellow Tongue ft. Samia Farah (On U Sound)
Mickey Pearce – Inammi (Blunted Robots)
Untold – Just For You [Roska Remix] (Hotflush)
Martin Kemp – Aztec (forthcoming on Blunted Robots)
Brackles – Air Pie (forthcoming on Planet Mu)
Brackles & Shortstuff – Sutorito Faita (Planet Mu)
Tuff Jam - Key Dub (i! Records)
Altered Natives – Rass Out (Fresh Minute Music)
Royal T – 1 Up [Martin Kemp Remix] (forthcoming No Hats No Hoods)
Brackles & Martin Kemp – Graffiti (unreleased)
Emvee – Glitch Dub (Wireblock)

Link:
www.myspace.com/themartinkemp

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Crazy Legs 003

FACT just broke news of Shortstuff collating the next in the series of Bristol clubnight Crazylegs mixtapes. They go on to say some very informative stuff about him and his label Blunted Robots, even hinting that the next 12" will come entirely from the hard drive of Martin Kemp.

Read that all here: http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3142&Itemid=105&limit=1&limitstart=0

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Crazy Legs 003
(direct download: right click/save as)

Tracklist:

Cortney Tidwell - Watusii (Daphni remix)
Mosca - Square One
D-Malice - Untitled
Roska -Without It
Fuzzy Logik - In the Morning
Smith & Mighty - U Dub
2 Bad Mice - Hold It Down
Zomby - Mescaline Cola
Agent-X - Turbulence
Shortstuff - A Rustling
Brackles - Air Pie
Pearson Sound - Wad
Untold - Gonna Work Out Fine
Roska - Boxed
Underground Solution - Get Happy
Hot City - Head Work
Shortstuff & Hyetal - Don't Sleep
Martin Kemp - After the Night
Greena - Tenzado
Shortstuff - See Ya
Stuff & Brax - Pipey D

Link:
www.myspace.com/djshortstuff

P.S. you can catch Shortstuff alongside my good self at fabric in Room 3 this Friday.

INTERVIEW: Brackles [Applepips/Planet Mu]

Rob Kemp, a superlative DJ and producer who goes under the moniker Brackles, has a name that’s been spoken by more or less everyone with some kind of passing interest in dubstep over the last 2 or 3 months. Whether it’s been to pass comment on his mixes for FACT, Mary Anne Hobbs or Sinden or his jaw dropping DJing technique and highly stylized synthesized production, the general consensus has been positive to say the least.

With his own label, Blunted Robots (co-run by sometime production partner and friend Shortstuff), just springing into action with its first release, a split 12” between Mickey Pearce and his brother Martin Kemp, we caught up with him for a *quick chit chat.

Sonic Router: Can you give us a short history of how you got into making tunes?

Brackles: I never really set out to be a producer, I just downloaded a demo of fruity loops out of curiosity because that was what people at school were saying you needed to make tunes, so I thought I'd have a go.

It wasn't until I got Reason that I started to take it seriously.

What got you into dubstep?

I was buying garage from the Big Apple Website and bought all the early Big Apple release like Artwork and Benga coz they were garage records really… When I went to uni it was quite hard to keep up with (not being near London) but J da Flex's show on 1Xtra was really good for hearing new bits. I guess I properly got into it after hearing Paul Rose's Hotflush mix CD from 2005 which had Kode 9's ‘Sign of the Times’ on it. I used to play that to mates and they'd say I was listening to nightmare music!


Brackles – Get A Job [Applepips]

What do you enjoy more, producing or DJing?

DJing without a doubt… You're in a club, everyone is dancing and by the end of a set you know if you've done a good job. Sometimes I can sit and spend a few hours on the beats and then listen to what I've done and think "this is shit" and then not bother saving it. That's really depressing.

Where the fuck did you learn to mix like that?

Haha… I thought I was pretty good at mixing when I was at school but then I saw DJ EZ and I had to eat humble pie. I'd never even thought it was possible to beatmatch something in a couple seconds! It's all in the pitch fader - you shouldn't need to touch the record.

You've got a bit of a Notts connection going on, through University, and there’s a lot of music bubbling through from the NG postcodes of late. What is it about the area that seems to make it so prolific of late?

I think Geiom and Spamchop are responsible for a lot of it. Geiom brought me and Shortstuff through by releasing our first tunes and Spamchop running Wigflex and releasing all his crew like Hizatron and Metaphi really helps give Notts a bit of an identity. Anyone in Notts who is coming through now will definitely have been sending there stuff to one of those two and they'll always listen, give advice and let you know if they're feeling.

What else is coming up for you in the future?

My ‘Next Hype' Remix is gonna be dropping very soon and I've got another 12" on Planet Mu dropping in September with ‘Rawkus’ and ‘Air Pie’ on it. I've done a remix of MSTRKRFT and John Legend which is gonna be on the official release and me and Shortstuff are looking to put some more of our collabs out on Blunted Robots.

Oh and I'm doing a b2b set with Ramadanman at the Big Chill [Festival] which I'm well excited about!

Links:
www.myspace.com/brackles
www.myspace.com/bluntedrobots


*Please note: this interview was originally conducted for use on our July Quietus column. You can read the whole thing here:
http://thequietus.com/articles/02241-sonic-router-004-a-dubstep-column-for-july

PRE-ORDER: Mickey Pearce – Innami/Martin Kemp – No Charisma [Blunted Robots]

Blunted Robots is a brand new label run by two young upstarts, Brackles and Shortstuff. Whilst both enjoying success with their own releases, Brackles on Planet Mu and Applepips and Shortstuff on Ramp, they’ve combined their passion for future sounds and skwee melodies with a want to own and release records that overlap the fringes of funky, garage and dubstep; and this first release reflects this perfectly.

‘Innami’ is a rough and ready bashment style house track with broken riddims and full on vocals. It’s full of energy brought on by the freaked out bass pulses and deranged synth lines that twist into warped waves and bleeped out shapes. Mickey Pearce has here constructed a rudeboy hybrid of mutant funky and computer bashment that would undoubtedly make his Nan the proudest grandmother in all the land.

The flip ‘No Charisma’ by Martin Kemp has been making a lot of noise and getting plays from everyone from Cooly G to his sibling Brackles and beyond. It’s a futuristic take on funky with dub wise sensibilities; the broken beats skip and bump with a chunky, punchy precision whilst the synth lines shimmer and evolve from meek pads into sheets of pure Detroit dancefloors. The main hook is erratic, squalling round its pitches like a petulant bulldog with mad energy, but it’s the main combo of deep space bass and succulent percussion that makes it such an essential purchase.

Words: James Balf/Oli Marlow
Out: Now

Link:
www.myspace.com/bluntedrobots