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QUICKIES Cadien
A Million Little Pieces Jalapeno Records 3.5
Very little of interest here, a slice of MOR electronica that’s trying to be crossover but fails at the first hurdle, and the ‘underground’ remix by Futurizm is bland.
Walking Def
Love To Give EP Midication Recordings 2.0
Each month I’m usually struck by at least one release that leaves me feeling as cold and hollow as an igloo. Congratulations to Walking Def, the winner of July’s bucket of slush award. The lead track is a (supposedly) French electro tune with all the worst traits of brostep stapled to it. ‘Love To Give’ is a nightmarish
DUBSTEPREVIEWS
(happy) hardcore pastiche which uses none of its good idiosyncrasies.
Ramon Judah & Conscious Sound
Only Wicked People Reggae Roast 7.0
Glasgow’s Riddim Tuffa nail the remix here, a swirling digital rub that lets Ramon’s righteous vocals shine through.
Viers
0002 Church 7.0
The second release for the young bucks of Church club night fame is from Viers, who produces a fistful of DJ tools, the highlight of which is Squarehead’s bumping garage remix of ‘Your Body’.
Various Artists SUB:STANCE 072008/
072013 SUB:STANCE
8.0
After five years of breaking and then pushing ‘dubstep’ and ‘bass music’ in Berlin’s legendary techno stronghold, Berghain, Paul Rose and Paul Fowler bring their seminal club-night to a close (at its peak) and wave goodbye with a seven-track box- set featuring key artists Appleblim, Addison Groove, Trevino, John Osborn and Martyn. The latter provides the biggest joint on there, rounding off a compilation that’s less swansong and more calling card for their next venture.
E.M.M.A.
Jahovia feat Rebel MC Keysound 6.5
PEDESTRIANDROP DEM
01. OWINY SIGOMA BAND ‘Nyiduonge Drums’ Brownswood “Owiny really showcase their group make-up of Anglo-African members here.
Naughty London-esque bassline, infused with African vocals and rhythms.”
02. DETBOI ‘I Can’t Take It’ Cheap Thrills “A rough-edged garage bubbler, guaranteed to bring out the shuffler in
us all.”
03. MOUNT KIMBIE ‘Sullen Ground’ Warp “Imagine you’re sketching out in a grimey South London club at 5am, happy
but scared at the same time. This is that feeling.”
04. DAUWD ‘Aqueous’ Ghostly International “Dauwd’s typically excellent attention to detail, mood and structure makes
this something very special.”
05. IRON GALAXY ‘Dragging Your Feet’ Born Electric “Forthcoming on Born Electric, beautiful blend of atmospheres, walking acid
lines and a healthy slice of distorted bass.”
06. WILL WARD ‘Violiner’ Deadplate “An enchanting track forthcoming on Deadplate Records. A truly
mesmerizing slow burner from Will Ward with a great flip too.”
07. DJRUM ‘Dam’ 2nd Drop “One of the many highlights from his recent LP ‘Seven Lies’, starting off
at 90bpm and transforming seamlessly into a pulsing 130bpm groove with typical style and ease.”
08. KRY WOLF ‘The Flood’ Food Music “This one thoroughly destroys dancefloors. Enough said.”
09. FATBOY SLIM ‘Praise You (Maribou State Remix)’ Skint “A lesson in how to turn a classic original on its head and really make it your
own. Another great track from the Maribou camp.”
10. PEDESTRIAN & JASPERDRUM ‘Kalakuta’ 2nd Drop “A new one from myself and Jasperdrum, forthcoming on 2nd Drop. Think
Afrobeat/dub/bass.”
First appearing on the ‘This Is How We Roll’ compilation earlier this year, the acronymic producer drops her first solo single with the notable vocal contribution of Rebel MC. I had hoped that this would be something a little more alternative, but as the strangled interpolation of Kunte Kinte strains through, the deejay style delivery is safe and familiar. However, that’s not to say it doesn’t work, and the stilted production keeps things feeling fresh with the right amount of nostalgia.
H-Sik
Sonic Rage Black Acre 7.0
Debut single from the Dutch producer H-Sik is a one-stop shop of jungle juke naughtiness. I was expecting something a little more extreme with a title like ‘Sonic Rage’, but the energy is driven by the Xanax-infused melodies, which are shunted about by the counterpoint rifling percussion and boombox bassline. The flip follows a similar pattern, but double drops the chill pills and chugs off into a Vangelis-spiced
netherworld. A nicely assembled and assured 12”.
Kamikaze Space Programme
Leyland Daf 45 WNCL Recordings 7.5
Aside from the brilliant new nom de plume from Raiden, aka Chris Jarman, which I hoped would be a real space initiative to counter Richard Branson’s own space offerings, this is a cracking four- track EP. Busy building a range of found sounds and field recordings, KSP uses batteries, coins and busy road traffic to construct the ephemeral character of his technoid offerings with tracks ‘Leyland Daf 45’ and ‘Battery’ particular highlights.
Lewis Badwan
A Season For Strangers EP Studio Rockers 6.5
The debut five-track EP from Kingston-upon-Thames resident composer, Lewis Badwan (yes, I think that is his real name ) is an intriguing blend of floating, mellifluous melodies and pokey dance beats taking in a range of patterns and syncopation, which doesn’t trap itself in one box, but also leaves itself a little astray. ‘A Perfect Yellow’ is a good example of a track that is a bit lost. So stick with the future tribalism of ‘Watch Yourself’, that gets it just right.
Lone
Airglow Fires R&S 7.5
A welcome return to Lone after a period of quiet since his ‘Galaxy Gardens’ LP dropped in 2012. This new 12” sees Mr Cutler draw
for the big, bold and bright melodic brushes. With more than a glancing nod to hip-house, ‘Airglow’ is a sparkling feelgood track that seems just happy to be out in the ether brightening up your day. Why stop it? ‘Begin To Begin’ drops down a gear, but continues the unabashed foray into charming the pants off you with positive vibes. Its lack of edge and danger is certainly made up for by its abundant charisma.
Lrusse & Bleecker
Dot Product Applepips 6.0
It seems Bristol is a veritable swingers’ playground at the moment, rife with partner- swapping and concealed identities. That saucy chap Mr Behling, usually with Mr Simpson, dons a new pseudonym as Lrusse for a fittingly dutty fling with another naughty soul, this time dubstep/techno chap Wedge, for a fumble with a few minor chords, melancholic pads and, well, just a less happy vibe. However, it feels more post-coital, rather than steamy wham-bam thank you mam.
Tony Anthem & Axl Ender
Nightfall Rottun Recordings 2.0
Lord above, if there ever was a reason to give up music and go and live in a small frozen hole in the arse end of Siberia, this would be the soundtrack that decided it for you. It’s like a hard house idiot was crossbred with an emo dubstep fool and then sat in a studio with a chainsaw. There was a glimpse of hope on ‘Bring It On’, only for the dodgy guitars and cheesy synth work to completely undermine it.
djmag.com 073
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