50 Weapons At Juno Download

Review: 50 Weapons indulge Tony Williams's expansive take on current dance culture as Addison Groove. Musically, Transistor Rhythm explores the same areas of crisp, finely sculpted rhythms that have graced Swamp 81 and 3024 in recent times, with the smart sample usage on tracks such as "Night To Remember" complemented by a clutch of guest spots. Naeem Spank Rock features twice and instantly reminds you how good his voice sounds over a club beat, whilst there's also a battle beat with Mark Pritchard in the shape of "Dance Of The Woman".

Review: Coming on like boogie for the apocalypse, Anstam isn't pulling any punches on this new EP on 50 Weapons. There's a definite funk to the industrial beat and hooky lead synth that propels "Intuit". It just so happens that it's placed in the hands of a madman who sets the pitch off on tangents while flinging borderline disharmonious diversions into the mix as well. "Feed The Pigs" is no less easy on your senses, with a rapidly disassembling beat and erratic synth washes. "Whiskey" makes sounds like it was maybe an attempt to make a sweet-natured track. Instead the brilliant horror of Anstam's musical vision gets woven into the core, much to our delight.

Review: Romanian Cosmin Nicolae continues to defy expectations with his latest release for 50 Weapons, a tasty precursor to his debut album out in August. The title track is one of his darkest, most techno-centric productions so far as jarring riffs sear their way through a relentlessly slamming arrangement. You could be easily listening to the latest release by Ruskin or Shifted. There is no solace to be found on "De Dans" either. Favouring a similarly upfront approach, it sounds fresh thanks to its woozy chords and bursts of rolling snare drums that sound inspired by those used so famously by Plastikman on "Spastik". Even when he's banging the box, Cosmin still plays the musical magpie card with aplomb.

Review: After truly impressing with his swerve in sonic direction across some of our favourite labels this year in Hessle, Rush Hour and 50 Weapons, the excellent Cosmin TRG deemed to grace the latter imprint with this much awaited debut album. And for anyone who dipped into the Romanian's recent output, Simulat will delight on many levels. The opening dusty strains of "Amor Y Otros" sets the standard, cleverly layering sounds and thumping rhythms in a fashion that is expansive yet cohesive, even straying down some thrilling pitch shifted dynamics. Previous 50 Weapons single "Fizic" features and its hazy melodic treatment of chords and synths is an obvious highlight, but there's plenty more on offer. "Ritmat" seemingly succeeds in marrying the rough drum skeleton of dubstep with ascendant house rhythms whilst "Want You To Be" immerses your senses in a deep fog of crackling ethereality, embellished with haunting vocals and militant kicks. Brief moments of calm are interspersed with more familiar Cosmin TRG tackle on a twelve track album that might not contain the immediate gratification of A Universal Crush, instead its real charms reveal after repeat listens.

Review: Modeselektor's label has been doing a mighty fine job of snapping up talent that fits into their vision of bass music, as with the excellent Phon.o EP recently. London crew Dark Sky are on board this time around and once again the vibe fits perfectly, as luscious, warm synths ride atop crisp 4/4 in a UK funky vein. Fortunately the production values ride far above much of the UKF genre, owing more to Detroit electro than the sound palette of garage. Just scope the dark tones of EP closer "Be Myself" for further proof of that.

Review: The latest instalment of Modeselektor's peerless 50 Weapons project sees two US producers going head to head on this seventh single. LA's Elan lays down some sparkling instrumental hip-hop, in the vein of his previous Mdslktr-approved "Pussy Posse" track, but this time the beats are slower and raw, while the melodies come via some brilliantly wonky chords and gorgeous floating pads. FaltyDL however continues his recent run of NYC-meets-LDN future garage, with "Large Flash" boasting some seriously impressive snares and heavy subs a la SBTRKT or Bok Bok. Two more highly essential tunes.

Review: Next up on Modeselektor's perennially on-point 50 Weapons label is Berlin producer Phon O with the ABAW723 EP. Offering a uniquely German take on the sounds of UK garage, "ABAW723" brings classic influences to the fore with clipped 2-step drums and funky inspired vocal snippets, However, there is an undisputed techno influence forming the backbone of his productions, as the delayed stabs and soaring pads display, obviously taking the sounds of his more gentle early work on Cytrax and his punchier productions for Shitkatapult and combining them into some of his strongest work to date. "Sad Happiness" offers a more cavernous and driving take on the sound, as gentle melodies float over a rib-shattering bassline.

Review: Returning with his third album, German producer Phon O continues his excursions into dubby/UKF territory on "Black Boulder", released on Modeselektor's 50 Weapons label. Giving a superior tech sheen to some hyped funky rhythms and drum patterns, tunes like the astral flex of "Nightshifts", the acapella chop of "Die Maschinistin" and the bubbly yet spooked 2-step of "ABAW 723" will sit well with fans of Scuba's recent and similar mergers of UKF and teutonic tech.

Review: Whatever anyone was expecting from Shed's 50Weapons debut, it seems fairly likely that nobody thought it was going to be quite like this. While some may have expected it to be similar to the floor ready sounds of his Equalized or Wax releases, he's created something completely unique; rather than boom, the rhythm of "The Praetorian" pulsates, taking a metronomic, sand-dry snare and combining it with an undulating pad melody with a distinctly dreamy quality. "RQ-170" meanwhile ticks along with the head-nodding rhythm of dubstep, utilising bass frequencies almost below the range of hearing, while a snarling rasp burrows through the track's centre. If you were ever in any doubt that Shed was one of techno's best producers, these mind-bending productions provide no greater proof that the man has ideas far beyond what most of his peers think the genre should be.