Embassy Recordings At Juno Download

Review: Clicks & Whistles are a duo (one a programmer, the other a classically trained whizz) from North Carolina and together they have carved a niche with a sound resulting from their idiosyncratic influences. Upon hearing tracks like "Serious Bidness", it's apparent that they have clearly absorbed a lot of local Southern hip-hop, while "Hundred Mil" goes further still: venturing into sinister Salem-style juke territory. Conversely, both "Moment Of Truth" and "Adventure Tune" are pure mid-80s synth-hop-pop workouts! A varied and unique release.

Review: An in demand producer from Leeds, Mak touches down with Embassy Recordings for two new fresh joints - the breezy digital jack of title-tune "Bhasa" which uses vocal acapella chops in a way that recalls greats like A Guy Called Gerald's "Voodoo Ray" and Mory Kante's "Yeke Yeke". On the (digital) flip, "About You" is a minimal spank of impressive 808 sequencing and R&B vocals, fused together with real flair.

Review: Londoner Jack Robertson, aka Thefft, has been causing a stir of late with a string of filthy singles that cleverly straddle the (rather gaping) divide between garage music and vintage R&B. Tempo is his weapon, and the slower the deadlier. "Name Shame" is like an old Jam and Lewis er, jam, on Rohypnol: warped and skewed with a positively tormented vocal sample. As the track progresses, the phasered hi-hats clever weave in a more garagey groove, taking the EP up a gear. "No Want That" takes over at this point, with glitchey twitches and stop start rhythms propelling an up and down pitched vocal. Thrilling stuff!