Funkystepz At Juno Download

Review: The first release of the year from this shady London team (who also answer to the names Renay & Stimpy) certainly packs a punch. Their signature sharp UKF production gets stretched and twisted over the course of these nine tracks (surely a mini-album?). Things start (stop) with the bouncy party riddims of "XTC" before we encounter 8-bit bleeps and tropical bass on "Swarm" and "Fizzy", "Jumanji" is voodoo moombahton and "Transformer" ends things and a melodic, synthy high.

Review: Mysterious London production duo Funkystepz, aka Renay & Stimpy, return with a new blistering four track EP. "Belter" is a synthy hybrid of urban beats, merging UK bass, 2 step and even a bit of old wobble thrown in for good measure. "Radar" recalls early Diplo and, with it's rolling snares and organ stabs, "Star 9" is tropical electro-house at it's finest. However the standout track is "Bizzaro" - a deep, tense excursion into tropical beats - perfect voodoo rave music.

Review: Four-headed UKF dons Funkystepz are simply unstoppable right now. After tunes like "Pastor Lucas" and "Fuller" on Hyperdub, the boys drop this excellent new set on the Forever Live Young label and yet again, they smash it big time. "Caution" is riddled with retro-futuristic clicks, pops and bleeps but at heart is a driving UKF winner that contains some of the coolest and most eerie atmospheric pads you'll hear in a long time. "Shocker" might be even better - built straight for the floor, it sports rich, live-sounding percussion loaded in the chamber and an Arabic melody floating over the top to keep you whistling. With "Loca Moca" and the wild keys of "Piano Storm" also part of the set, this is yet another essential release from the 'Stepz crew.

Review: Four-headed UKF groove-merchants Funkystepz return with two new tunes on Hyperdub, both excellent and both giving off wildly different vibes. Title-tune "Fuller" is the colder of the two, with a minimal soca-step beat with echoed claps supporting a gnarly lead. "Hurricane Rhythm" on the other hand is overflowing with warm strings and pianos, with a huge arrangement that keeps the tune naturally bubbly and funky. Two different sides of UKF, but one great release none the less - Funkystepz keep their unblemished rep strong on this Hyperdub essential.

Review: After their massive single on Hyperdub earlier this year, Funkystepz return to the label for the Trouble EP. If you're familiar with their razor sharp UKF formula, then there won't be any surprises, but with production this tight there's no need for any kind of deviation from the norm. "Trouble" is the most stripped back, utilising tight drum rolls and rave whistles in combination with deep subs, while "Dirty Dutch" takes a less rhythm based approach, and fills its space with bleeps and squelching bass, with heady melodies brought into check with its inbuilt rewinds. Finally, "John Wayne" offers the most atmospheric track on the EP, taking a deeper techno bassline and melding it with a synth stab, elastic melody and emotive strings, whilst still retaining their insistent rhythmic power.