Mimm Recordings At Juno Download

Review: The Spam Chop EP on Mimm Recordings was an early 2012 highlight in the Juno office and the Nottingham based label returns with more genre defying material, this time from Bristolian producer Ooko. No stranger to Mimm, having contributed a track to the label's free compilation from last year, Ooko truly delivers on his cheekily titled full debut Sex Sells. Lead track "Downtown" sets the tone, chopping recycled jungle breaks up to fit a pitched down rhythmic swing that is ever present whilst the titular vocal loop and pressurized bass shift back and forth in stereo focus. Complementing this, the title track comes across as a more viscous slant on the current house vogue in Bristol, with the low end seemingly so thick it's stopping the drums from attaining their groove. Watch out for the fizzing synth line which belatedly arrives to crank up the heat, whilst fellow Bristolians My Nu Leng do a splendid job in shifting the track into broken techno territory. Don't know what you call it but this is good!

Review: Otherwise known as the man behind the excellent Nottingham based Wigflex label, Spam Chop is now making a name for himself as a producer, and if this excellent debut EP on Mimm Recordings is anything to go by, he has a very bright future ahead. Taking in elements of garage, funky, techno and house, his debut pulls you in many directions whilst maintaining an impressive hold on his own very singular, rhythmic sound. The title track for instance is propelled forward by an incisive 2-step drum pattern, with a bright percussive synth melody twisted and detuned out of recognisable shape, while "Blergz" sounds like caffeinated basement techno, with a convulsive rhythm and tough clattering drums reminiscent of Blawan, given density with a seismic bass rumble underneath, tunneling through the mix like a pneumatic drill. "Frames" is the darkest track of the bunch, as droning low end is offset by strobing, reverb heavy, almost verging on industrial rhythms. Highly recommended.