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 Kode 9 has today made a strictly garage and 2-step mix that he originally made for the amazingly eclectic Late Junction show on BBC Radio Lancashire available to download as a podcast through the XLR8R site.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

EVENT: Deviation w/ Zed Bias & DJ Zinc

Link:
http://deviationmusic.net/blog/

VIDEO: FaltyDL - PARTY

New clip from the one FaltyDL, which is in fact taken from a forthcoming project on Ramp Recordings, rather than from his imminent follow up to his 'Love Is A Liability' album, the excellent EP, 'Bravery' on Planet Mu.

Link:
www.myspace.com/faltydl

SUBSCRIBE: Sonic Router Podcast

Thanks to the clever and industrious people over at Radio Magnetic you can now subscribe to the Sonic Router Radio show, and get a fresh selection of essential music and more importantly, my voice, synced directly into your iPod.

SUBSCRIBE:

Via iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=323108407

Via RSS:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/sonicrouterradio

Biggup Tone.

PRE-ORDER: Brackles - LHC & Get A Job [Planet Mu/Applepips]

Brackles has two, yep count 'em... TWO, amazing 12"s out this week.

Combined review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6364

Link:
www.myspace.com/brackles

INTERVIEW: Reecha [Dirty Canvas]

Ahead of Dirty Canvas' Room 3 takeover at fabric this Friday we went direct to the source with one of the night's promoters, armed with a laptop, a copy of Ga(y)rage Band and an industriously inquisitive look splashed on our mug.

What happened next needs no introduction... well, it actually does, else you might be confused, but you dig the sentiment, right? Enclosed here is an interview and a completely live mix teased out in one take by Reecha.

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

Reccha: My name is Reecha. I co-run a night called Dirty Canvas and a label called No Hats No Hoods. We've just released our 7th record which is Tempa T's Next Hype - which has remixes by Brackles and Starkey amongst others.

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

I am me and I make Ps

People say you’re the Asian George Clooney… Why pick the Reecha moniker when Asian George has an equally impressive ring to it?

I think that would be disrespectful to the rest of my heritage - as I am nearly as Welsh as I am Asian. However I am planning a folk gabba side project underneath the Asian George appellation. Reecha is the only nickname I had at school, whereas my likeness to the sometime Nespresso spokesman is something that occurred in later life.

What’s your involvement with Dirty Canvas?

Check question one, fool.

What can we expect from the fabric takeover?

I hope the same you can expect from any Dirty Canvas night. For me the biggest challenge is the find the balance between throwing a good party and being progressive musically. Although we have originally been more associated with grime, I like to think that our real base is garage - its all its forms and offspring - whether that's grime, funky or dubstep etc. I guess on the night that's pretty well represented by what both Brackles and Mumdance do - who both come from completely different places but manage to be great club DJs while still satisfying those who want to stand in the corner and scratch their beards (note I have a beard and have nothing against them). That for me is the most exciting thing about music right now - well the exciting thing about underground UK dance music at least - people seem to be becoming more open and being less obsessed with labels.

I think Alex Nut is a great example of that too - I pretty much listen to his Rinse show religiously and he's one of those few people who you really do trust to just bring quality whatever he's dipping into and Silkie is making really great music at the moment so I feel particularly proud of the line up.

In short, it will be amazing.



Tell us a little about the mix you’ve made for us…

Its crap.

Probably could have been tighter but there you go - its just some music I like at the moment. Its got some new stuff, but also some pretty old tunes - but I personally find it quite interesting to 'recontextualise' (i.e. pitch up +8 ) a record by placing it with something it wasn't intended to relate to. Its got on the new Martin Kemp remix he's just done for us [No Hats No Hoods] which I don't think anyone would have heard - its not intended to fully represent what Friday will be like but its just a glimpse of what I might play at least.

Can we expect any original Reecha productions at any point soon?

I used to make some fairly generic UK hip hop - but I stopped drinking tea and lost my backpack. I also wrote about 4 hours worth of punk songs about girls not liking me whenIi was in my teens so it would only be right for me to attempt to subject the world to more. I gotta sort out some shit then I'm gonna get back at it - aided by some people who are infinitely more talented than me.

You got any wisdom for the interweb you’d care to share?

You look uncannily like Gary Lucy.

::

DOWNLOAD: Reecha - Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

1. Floating Points - J+W beat (Forthcoming Planet Mu)
2. Karizma - Groove Accordingly (R2)
3. Donaeo - Party Hard (My-Ish)
4. Kerri Chandler - Bar A Thym (Nite Grooves)
5. Royal T - 1 UP (Martin Kemp Remix) (Forthcoming No Hats No Hoods)
6. Roska - Elevated Levels (Roska Kicks and Snares)
7. MJ Cole - Funky Dub (Unreleased)
8. Menta feat Ms. Dynamite - Ramp (Bigger Beats)
9. Shortstuff and Mickey Pierce - Tripped Up (Unreleased)
10. Tempa T v Dj Oddz - Strung Up Hype (DJ Oneman Mash Up)
11. Hard House Banton – Sirens (White)
12. Tiger Flight - The Great Escape (unreleased)

Links:
www.myspace.com/reechamusic
www.myspace.com/dirtycanvas
www.myspace.com/nohatsnohoods

INTERVIEW: FaltyDL [Planet Mu/Ramp]

Andrew Lustman’s debut album under the FaltyDL moniker arrived in my possession with little fanfare. In fact I think it was around the same time as the latest Boxcutter album got sent out that I received it, so, in some foolish self deprecation type manoeuvre, I put it on the back burner, choosing to dive straight into the alt-skwee of Barry Lynn. But ‘Love Is A Liability’ is such a stringent work that revels in its simplicity and Lustman’s 2-step infused productions are so insistent and fiercely computerised that it’s hard to besmirch him any sort of positive praise.

Mr Lustman has got incessantly catch garage fuelled beats, which he fully proved with his ‘To London’ track which was released on the excellent Ramp Recordings, and it’s a billion times our pleasure to present you with the 15th exclusive Sonic Router mix and shed some light on the joy that is FaltyDL’s music.

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

FaltyDL: Shalom. I’ve been livin’ in NYC for some time now making beats, teaching kids and trying to be a good human being. Though its very difficult to do that here in New York. Yesterday I got in an argument with a stranger about something. I can’t remember what, but it was just dirty business.

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

I just try and improve everything. My organization, my desktop. I’ve started taking care of issues as they take form; almost foreseeing difficulties in the smoothness of it all. I’ll wake up and have five things on my mind that I need to take care of before lunch. I usually get about 2 done. I walk around a lot eating amazing food and smoking way too many cigarettes. That’s about as good as a day gets.



How did the name come about, do you have a lot of problems with downloading?

I think I wanted FaultyDL but couldn’t spell… so it was FaltyDL when I was about 12 years old. It just stuck.

I heard you were a sushi, chef before you starting hitting the buttons, what’s your signature dish and are you handy with a knife?

Yeah man I used to make this roll called the ‘Ebi Babba,’ Chef Bun Lai came up with this:

1. Skin a potato thinly, leaving a intact 15 inch or thereabouts curling peel.
2. Tempura fry a single large shrimp and let the potato peel soften in the smoking hot oil at the same time.
3. Remove both from oil, set aside
4. Slice 5 or 6 thin pieces of Havarti Cheese
5. Wrap cooled potato skin around shrimp with cupi mayonnaise (Japanese mayo, much more tasty)
6. Slice potato 6 or 8 times for sushi style pieces
7. Place Havarti on top of sushi with an extra drizzle of cupi, dill and chives.
8. Torch for 10 seconds till cheese melts.

That’s the recipe, I didn’t invent it, but I ate it about 10 times a week… Get into it.

How did you get into making music?

I was tired of playing bass in a jazz band…it was all very ‘jazz band’ and I needed a little more control. Now I have almost too much control. Theres no regiment anymore. Its nice.

What’s your production set up like? When did you start producing and what was your set up like then compared to now?

Its been the same since I started pretty much. The center piece being a 6 year old Mac G5 pillared by two massive JBL 4328ps. That’s it really. I mean two Technic 1200’s and a microKontrol help also… But theres lots of vinyl… lots of vinyl…

Coming from New York, which has its own rich garage history - all be it a very different sound to the UK 2-step garage - how did you become infatuated with the UK sound?

Infatuated? Not sure if that’s the right word. Obsessed with? Maybe that’s better. Simply, my true love besides my girl friend… is Jungle. Jungle. Jungle. There’s shuffle in Jungle too. I don’t think a lot of kids know that. Maybe they do. But that’s the dark beauty I think about. Remarc is a bigger influence then the Artful Dodger though… haha! Although ‘Rewind’ is a good tune. Actually check Butler Kiev’s remix on Planet-Mu. Amazing… Speak and Spell action.

Is there a strong scene for 2-step out in the US?

I have no idea. I don’t think so, but maybe...?

“I am so isolated in my tower of undecipherable speech” - Being John Malkovich.

I’m not that good a writer. I tell you what tho, I’m incredibly grateful for a night like Dub War. DQ Joe Nice and Incyde put on an amazingly diverse night. It may be centered in Dubstep, but everyone has played there. I played after Ras G for Christ’s sake two months ago, followed by DJG and Clouds! So yeah, you’ll hear garage at Dub War.

Who from back in the day and from modern music inspires you? You got any records in the collection that might surprise a few people?

I just got Garcia’s ‘It’s A London Thing’ 10”. That’s getting a lot of play at the moment… plus my Luke Vibert collection has no holes in it.

Surprising? Let me go see… Oh, here I have ‘Henry Mancini’ complete with an amazing hairpiece on the cover of the LP.



Your album ‘Love Is A Liability’ is out on Planet Mu. Can you walk us through the concept behind it? How long did it take to put together? Do you believe the title to be true? If so why?

I believed it before I met someone that proved me wrong… But well, actually, yes, yes it is a liability, but one that makes life all the richer. I wrote some of the album shortly before I turned 25, and finished it shortly before I turned 26. Was a hell of a year. A crazy year. Working with Mu has been excellent, Mike P had an image in his head of the album that was at points gruelling for me to figure out how we could meet somewhere. But there is definitely a mutual respect which is awesome.

Although to be honest I’ve been respecting him a lot longer… but I’m very grateful to have had his ear during the process. Truth is, its gotten easier, the second release is already sorted before the album hits shelves.

You’ve got some 12”s out already on Ramp and a remix package on Planet Mu featuring mixes from Luke Vibert and Boxcutter, how did those all come about?

RAMP hit me up and wanted some tunes. I’ve formed a real friendship with Tom over at RAMP. Had a few beers with him in London last month actually. He’s also got a vision in his head. ‘To London’ is a funny tune. To me its so simple. Look at it. Drums, bass, vocals and synth. That’s it. No tricks. People dig it and that’s dope. I heard it at a club and said, “Oh Shit I know this one!”

The remix EP speaks for itself. That’s just a dream remix EP for me there. Mike and Luke have been on my stereo since I was a kid, and Barry helped hook me up with Mu in the first place. Its beautiful.


FaltyDL - Love Is A Liability (Album Preview)

Have you got any other projects dropping after the album?

Yes, there will be more 12”s and maybe something bigger on RAMP soon. Also there is an EP/mini album on Mu later this year. I’m actually more excited about those than anything I’ve done so far.

Are there any plans for UK dates in the coming months?

Yes. I’ll be touring Europe in August. Just setting it all up now; it looks like it’s going to be a real adventure. All over the place hopefully, we’ll see.

Can you tell us a little bit about the mix you’ve put together for us? Does it reflect a typical FaltyDL DJ set? Any exclusives etc etc.

Yeah theres exclusives in there. I’m all over the place with my tastes, I hope to at least cover about a 70 BPM range here. My sets depend on what time in the night I’m on tho. I really want to play at like 7 am. Just play Pink Floyd or something… I dunno.

Have you got any wisdom that you’d like to impose on the interweb?

Treat each other kindly. I’m working on that right now. Not a gem, but a good rule to live by.

::

DOWNLOAD: FaltyDL - Sonic Router Micks



Tracklist:

1. Luke Vibert - Swet (Planet-Mu)
2. Floating Points KG Beat (Planet-Mu)
3. FaltyDL - Human Meadow [Boxcutter remix] (Planet-Mu)
4. FaltyDL - Pressure (dub)
5. Horsepower Productions - Pimp Flavors (Tempa)
6. FaltyDL - Bravery (dub)
7. FaltyDL - Lifer (dub)
8. FaltyDL - Safe (dub)
9. Boxcutter - Foxy (Planet-Mu)
9.5 Krome and Time teaser...
10. Clark - Farewell Mining Town (Warp)
11. Wagon Christ - Spot Light (Rising High Records)
12. Nautilis - Nautilus (Planet-Mu)
13. El-P - Toj (Definitive Jux)
14. Jonny Greenwood - HW/Hope of New Fields (Nonesuch)

Links:
www.myspace.com/faltydl
www.planet-mu.com


Please note: Photogaphy by Sabine Mirlesse

EVENT: Dirty Canvas Room 3 Takeover @ fabric

From humble beginnings in the Whitechapel Art Gallery, the Dirty Canvas club night has succinctly and surgically carved its own niche into London’s nightlife. As the first club night to regularly feature grime music alongside dubstep, garage, bassline and hip hop, they stood as highly vocal pioneers throughout their shows at the heralded regal hollows of the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Since those days they’ve taken their hyper-wiggle formula to the dancefloors of London’s Cargo, Rhythm Factory and 93 Feet East before taking themselves further afield, cross promoting parties in Brighton and Bristol, with Plat Du Jour in Barcelona and taking over The Villa in Berlin back in April of this year.

Friday 10th July sees Dirty Canvas welcomed with open arms into the freshly tweaked soundsystem space of FABRICLIVE’s Room Three. Bringing the proprietor of one of 2009’s most anticipated ‘musical’ dubstep album’s, Silkie, residents Reecha and DJ Magic have irked out one of the most varied bass music lineups you’ll see all month. Alongside Silkie, the Applepips affiliated Brackles will be bringing his sleek, tech infused, super quick mixing to the platters, alongside the dancehall tempered bass pressure of Mumdance and the eclectic selection prowess of Rinse FM’s own Alexander Nut. With MC Badness hosting, the vibe is sure to be on par.

Expect the unexpected.

Link:
www.myspace.com/dirtycanvas

PRE-ORDER: Jus Wan - Submersive/Trifelin [Naked Lunch]

With a name sounding straight outta the pages of a Marvel comic, Justin Shields is San Francisco-based producer, Jus Wan. As North-California continues to establish itself as the home of Stateside dubstep, the Bay Area’s leading man serves up a three-course helping for Naked Lunch.

With a clear penchant for the up-tempo, Jus Wan’s previous releases for Applepips and Tube 10 have both been frenetic-steppers that many spinners taking the dub-tech route have found repeated use for. Still sticking with his half-step sensibilities, Shield’s has now chosen to drop the pace down for what’s aptly titled ‘Submersive.’ The result is a heavy, yet deeply emotive dive into sunken-bass, ideal for DJs looking for a new set-opener. Sounding like the lost file in Shackleton’s hard-drive, the following 'QB41’ continues the aquatic vibe, but propels the claustrophobia up a few the notches with its percussive intensity.

Over on the flip, Scuba characteristically plunges the title track several leagues deeper by sinking the bassline even futher and adding more echo to the reverb, before eventually emerging into a chugging 4/4 roll-out.

Overall, this is a well-rounded slab of atmospheric half-step, which also suggests Shields isn’t a producer desperately eager to jump out of the pack. However, with plenty of the newer kids on the block, making cack-handed attempts to desperately progress the dub-tech sound, an artist simply improving his solid work-to-date is no bad thing at all.

Words: James Lawrence
Out: Now

Link:
www.myspace.com/juswan

INTERVIEW: Octa Push [Iberian]

With the Portugese sound of Kuduro blowing up, with the scene's main exports, Buraka Som Sistema, going from strength to strength its currently a great time for Portugal's underground music network. Octa Push are a duo who fuse rolling drum breaks with sub bass in a particularly driving minimal style, eeking out a beautifully complex and forceful style all of their own.

Ahead of a couple of London dates and just after their performance in the Red Bull Music Academy tent at Sonar we tracked them down to an IP address to DL their exclusive Sonic Router mix and get the lowdown on what they do.

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

Octa Push: We're Dizzycutter and Mushug, two brothers from Portugal, we've been making tunes for a while. In 2008 we started this live project [Octa Push] that fuses Garage with Bashment, Afrobeat, Techno and Dub.

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

Dizzycutter is Leo a Web/graphic designer. Mushug is Bruno and he studies sound.



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

We both started making tracks around 1997/1998. Dizzycutter used to play drums at a Metal and Hip-Hop band. The band split, and then he started building jungle tracks at home with some material from a friend. Mushug was younger, he eventually ditched his Sega Master System to make beats aswell.

What’s the big idea behind the Octa Push moniker?

It's about pushing octaves, not really underwater hockey unlike most people think.

How did you get into making music?

Last year we were talking about how it was stupid that we were both making music for a long time but we werent collaborating or taking it seriously. Then Conspira - one of the first portuguese crews pushing bass music - asked us if we could play a show at one of their nights.
We accepted and started making loads of tracks and found a really silly name. From that point it was on!

Whats you production set up like? Has it changed a lot since day dot?

We're using mainly Cubase, loads of VSTs and midi controllers, pretty basic and simple but we plan to extend it at some point with some hardware! Individually we started making tracks with a small keyboard and a 2 deck tape recorder. After that came Acid and Rebirth using a wack Hi Fi music system's speakers.

How did you first get into the dubstep sound? What was it that sucked you in?

There was this DJ ThinKing mix from 2004 that was really fresh. The music had lot's of space and bass. It's funny because we knew a bit of UK Garage and names like Zed Bias, DJ Zinc, Ed Case, The Streets before but took a while to see a relation between them and the particular sound from that mix.

Whats the scene like out in Portugal? Is it going strong?

Loads of wicked music coming from here, things are really taking off. It's great to see that there's actually a new portuguese sound shaping up, drinking from all the influences of different cultures that this country has/had!

What can we expect from you guys in 2009?

We've just finished a couple of official remixes, one for DJ Znobia and other for Debruit. There's also an original 12" coming out on Iberian Records, it features panamanian badman MC Zulu and cape verdean talent Toni Clean.

As for gigs, we just played Sonar and we're at fabric on June 26th. In July we've got gigs lined up at Cable and Glade Festival.

We're really happy how things are moving...



Your mix represents your live sets quite nicely… what are you using to mix your sounds together live?

We're using laptops, Ableton and MPD samplers. This mix was recorded only by one of us, so live we have an extra couple of arms and more things happening. More dynamic in general!

What can people expect when they come to see you?

Expect two guys pushing buttons while dancing like cavemen.

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

Always take care of your back if you dance like a caveman...

::

DOWNLOAD: Octa Push - MPDTAPE for Sonic Router



Tracklist:

Octa Push - Quebu Sabe
Octa Push - Kolokani
Octa Push - Sasquatch
Octa Push - Laika Likes It
Monkey Steak - Voodoo is Everywhere (Octa Push RMX)
DJ Znobia - Me Batem (Octa Push RMX)
Octa Push - Dubshh
Debruit - I'm Going With You (Octa Push RMX)
Octa Push ft MC Zulu - Baila Mundo

Catch Octa Push at fabric this Friday (26th June) alongside El-B and Hot City.

Link:
www.myspace.com/octapush

INTERVIEW: s p a t i a l

Steeped in 2-step rhythm s p a t i a l's productions across his two 10" releases on his own Infrasonics imprint have earned him two Boomkat 'Single of The Week' acolades and a hell of a lot of interest. Choosing to stick closer to the shadows the fact that the anonymous musical craftsman chooses to name his tracks with purely numerical titles only adds to the cloak of mystery surrounding a producer and label about to blow.

With the first Infrasonics 12", a split release between American producer Ike Release and all around rave smasher Hot City, set for a release later this month we caught up with s p a t i a l, quizzing him in exchange for the 10th installment in our exclusive mix series.

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

s p a t i a l: I produce music as s p a t i a l and run the Infrasonics imprint. The first two releases were my own material in a hybrid format that encompassed 10" vinyl and some freely downloadable/distributable creative commons tracks.

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

Usual story I guess: raves -> decks -> samplers/synths. I've been messing around with sound for quite a while now but largely for my own amusement. I find it quite therapeutic actually, there's a reflection of my state of mind through engagement in the creative process which can be helpful as well as painful!

I'd actually tuned out of a lot of dance music for a while, but a few years back I found some material in Smallfish that rekindled my interest and had similar themes to ideas I'd been thinking about. That was the first Hyperdub 10" and The Bug thing on Rephlex, and a Tempa 12". I was keen to try an enforce some more clearly defined boundaries within which to produce and I could relate to the common threads in those records.

I'm pretty fascinated with sound at its most fundamental level and the psychological/visceral impact that it can have on us. There's an innate connection that's more obvious to me than with any other artistic medium. Bearing that in mind I guess it was a fairly obvious step to become immersed in production.

What’s your production set up like? Do you use software most of the time while producing or do you have a nice stash of synths and all that to play with?

I just use a laptop with soft synths, a sequencer and a sample library that I've collected. I have a couple of midi controllers, actually one is a Yamaha An1x but I never use it's sound banks. I had a full hardware studio a few years back I decided to streamline my setup. Now I've got a few bits of redundant kit hanging around.

Your music has heavy garage rhythms, how did you get into 2-step?

A mate of mine used to run a speed garage night a few years back, a lot of it was too glossy but some of the tracks had a nice 'grimey,' ravey element to them. I never really paid much attention to track details mind and I certainly wasn't buying that kinda material. When I started the s p a t i a l project, I wanted to have a sound that was very clearly repping the UK, but take in other sounds that influenced me along the way.

I've never really been interested in working with breakbeat loops (despite finding the results effective) and I find there's quite a lot of room to play with rhythm in a 2-step groove. You can play around the meter a little to get things sounding less regimented. I quite like the space to have implied or extra swung embellishments around the more accented half time beats.

Your productions are all titled in numerics. Is that a conscious decision to enamour people to take the music properly, without any hype or judgement clouding? Or is it something entirely different?

I really just wanted to keep the names neutral to fit with the minimal aesthetic of the design. Track names seldom mean much outside of the artist naming them. There's also a small dose lethargy and impertinence involved.

Ha!



So after 2 solo releases from you on your Infrasonics imprint we're expecting a split 12" from Hot City and Ike Release. Firstly, why the split single format? and Secondly what was it about their beats that appealed to you?

I'm keen to challenge the stylistic boundaries to some extent and I think it's more interesting to offer variety in a climate where it's increasingly difficult to justify physical releases, but not so much in an economic sense - more in terms of exposure. Actually, despite the relative cost ineffectiveness of nice design on short vinyl runs it's still something the I hold as a pretty core value, I want the releases to be desirable objects.

Hot City produces relentless, unselfconscious dance-floor bangers that neatly triangulate Hardcore, UK garage and jacking Todd Edward's style New York House. His material neatly encapsulates Occams Razor, and simplicity is something that always seems more easily obtainable when looking with hindsight at an elegant solution.

Ike creates an energetic hybrid of deep, glacial synthetic textures underpinned by solid subs and UK influenced grooves that I found very appealing. The British rave continuum is clear and present across both tracks but re-contextualised amidst a discerning European sonic palette. It's a very warm and optimistic sound.

What else have you got coming up - on the label and otherwise - that you can talk about?

I've done a remix for Badawi which should be coming out on a new label called The Index run by Raz and Dave Q (Dubwar NYC), it looks like an interesting series - the other mixes are by Shackleton, Headhunter and Cardopusher.

I've also completed another remix of a False Prophet track for a label that's being formed now. Both tracks are in the mix.

And I'm currently working on the next 10" of my material.

Can you tell us a bit - walk us through - some of your choices for the mix? Your production style seems to be very heavily detroited 2-step, yet your mix is incredibly varied. Does this represent a normal DJ set for you?

Yeah, if I've got enough time in a set then I like to mix it up. I enjoy playing with the energy levels and although you can do that within one tempo I much prefer to morph things stylistically if I can. The first track by Brassica is just killer, he's a very talented producer of various styles. His "Microvictories" album is very lush, organic electronica where's this track is just vibing!

Probably slightly confusingly, I prefer Dave H's A Made Up Sound moniker to the 2562 stuff. I do like the 2562 material but there's a rawness to the production with AMUS that just gets me. The Omar Funkyman track - hmm, that could cause trouble! In general, there's a lot of interesting Funky tracks around and that soca-esc rhythm is very danceable so that's why there's a healthy dose of that included. The Emvee track is sick! It's funny actually as I was in South America a few years back and started thinking about trying a take on the Reggaeton / Calypso when I returned. Missed a trick there!

I'd been into Disrupt's stuff from when Jahtari was a pure netlabel, before the Werk release, I love it and was glad to see the CD come out. Then there's a couple is more overtly Ravey tracks: a while back I was listening to some old mixes and I was really struck by the energy of that music. After that we're probably into the more expected 140bpm stuff. I really love that Kloke track, the James Blake bit is super addictive and a nice new slant on things and Untold is doing great work also.

I could rant on about all of the tracks really - that's why they're on there! Some of the older stuff is there because I've rediscovered it again recently and still find it so appealing, 2 Bad Mice makes me wanna dance around the room and Phylyps Track has an sonic intensity that parallels the intensity of FWD>> when it's firing.

You got any wisdom you'd like to impart on the internet?

Make your own damn media!



DOWNLOAD: s p a t i a l - Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

1. Brassica feat. Lakey - dumdadumdum (forthcoming on Highpoint Lowlife)
2. A Made Up Sound - Next (Subsolo)
3. Hot City - Setting me free (forthcoming on Infrasonics)
4. Omar Funkyman - Jani (Unknown)
5. Emvee - Glitch Dub (Wireblock)
6. D-Malice - Bad Habbits [Roska Mix] (Visions)
7. Drop the Lime - Hear Me [Buraka Som Sistema Remix (Unknown)
8. Disrupt - Riddim Grid (Werk Discs)
9. La Roux - In For The Kill [Skream's Let's Get Ravey Remix] (CDR)
10. 2 Bad Mice - Hold it Down (Moving Shadow)
11. Kontext - Plumes [Relocate Remix] (Immerse)
12. LAZARUS PROJECT - Aftermath Booty (Cease & Desist)
13. Hatti Vatti feat. Sara Brylewska - Different Music (forthcoming on Mindset)
14. False Prophet - Wake Up [spatial Rework] (forthcoming on Take Records)
15. Kloke - Aquarius (Entrada)
16. RSD - Green Hill (Punch Drunk)
17. Taz Buckfaster - Quack [Original Mix] (Ramp Recordings)
18. Quarta 330 – Sabacco (Hyperdub)
19. ERDBEERSCHNITZEL - Drehundangelpunk [spatial Rework] (forthcoming on Alt Recordings)
20. Ike Release - Jenova (forthcoming on Infrasonics)
21. Badawi - More Of The Same [spatial Dimension Intrusion] (forthcoming on The Index)
22. Clouds - Timekeeper (Ramp Recordings)
23. James Blake - Air and Lack Thereof (Hemlock Recordings)
24. Sully - Duke St Dub (Mata-Syn)
25. Basic Channel - Phylyps Trak (Basic Channel)
26. Untold - Dante (Hotflush Two)

Links:
www.myspace.com/spatialdubs
www.infrasonics.net

DOWNLOAD: FaltyDL - To New York

FaltyDL's 'Love Is A Liability' album, due soon on Planet Mu, is incredible. It truly is one of those sheer loose yourself in the reams of energy long players and to celebrate those loveable rogues at RCRDLBL have nabbed an mpFREE from him.

DOWNLOAD: FaltyDL - To New York

Keep your eyes locked to your Sonic Router bookmarks for an exclusive mix and interview coming from Mr. DL shortly.

Link:
www.myspace.com/faltydl

EVENT: Colony w/ Untold

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

VIDEO: Oneman - In Your Bass TV

Oneman interview - IYB TV - Stainage 14/11/08 from IYB TV on Vimeo.

Links:
www.myspace.com/1mandj

DOWNLOAD: Martyn - Numbers Set from Bloc Weekender

Martyn has upped the correct version of his set from the recent BLOC Weekender after a few technical difficulties prevented the correct version being broadcast on Rob Da Bank's show.

Full story and links here: http://3024world.blogspot.com/2009/03/numbers-bloc-weekend.html

DOWNLOAD: Martyn - Numbers Set from Bloc Weekend

Link:
www.myspace.com/martyndnb