Space Hardware At Juno Download

Review: Space soul superstar Deft defies the assumption that all Croydon boys are gnarly dubstep champions with this startling exercise in genre defying. "Let's Hook Up" is a warped and weirded out love song with spooky processed vocals and a well textured, off-beat groove. "Lucid/Overline" is a dreamy, sludgy 4/4 slug-out while "Loqux & Past" rides roughshod on some very trippy drum works. Going through the motions? Then cheer yourself up and go through "The Motions".

Review: Released on Space Hardware, another new label from Hypercolour magnate Jamie Russell, American producer Placeholder impresses hugely on this debut. The whispy bass-house of "Brothers" makes for a gripping and minimal start to the EP, but "Don't U Know" is the real standout. Stocked to the brim with future-funk and neo-soul flavour, the expertly chopped and pitch-shifted vocals that drive it along are truly exceptional, with octaves layered on top of each other over a fresh 808 clap. Jacob Korn fleshes "Don't U Know" out with some tricked-out snares and hats on his remix (as well as his Todd Edwards-esque "NuGroove remix"), but that original really takes some beating. Highly recommended stuff!