Review: Following some great releases by Kamiokande and Rawtrachs, Manchester-based imprint Torre returns this week with a solid various artists compilation. Attack / Decay / Sustain Volume. 02 features proper UK underground flava, such as by old-school hardcore legend Justice who opens up with the previously unreleased track "Rude Boy Movements", West Norwood Cassette Library also appears with the stomping house workout of "Wanna Rock, Amaretto's classic jungle deconstruction "Itch" had us impressed, as did Denham Audio's emotive drum 'n' bass roller "Sound Boy Shut Up".
Review: Breaking through the surface last year with a sweet run of releases via the likes of E-Beamz, Sneaker Social Club and Lobster Theremin, the Sheffield three-piece Denham Audio return to the latter with another five-track missive: Transcendence. Taking in the slightest of bleep references atop a jungle groove and soundboy lyrics is "Run Da Ting", get a second bite out of something similar (only graced by rave) in "Retort". Its lead track "Transcendence (feat 7ip7o3)" sees a lo-fi, trippy and drum and bass sound flirt with vocals and textures that evoke imagery from the film Lost in Translation, while for something retro, housier and garage tipped its all about "Top Boy" and "Club Culture".
Review: What a compilation we have here as the wonderful Killer Smile invite some of the most exciting faces in new school breaks together for a sumptuous four-tracker to launch the new 'Faces' series. This first volume opens up with Manix supplying the party flavour on 'The Feeling', a breathy throwback to the nineties with nostalgic chord progressions and chunky breakbeat design, before Foul Play mellows the mood with his more melancholic design within 'Black Sun', remixed exclusives for us here by Skeleton Army. Next up, the party takes a lively twist as Denham Audio arrives with 'Mercury Tint', a groovy entanglement of clean drum processing and big room subs, before the high tempo snare rolls and euphoric synth melodies of Mani Festo's 'Spiral' see us out in style. What a drop!
Review: 18 months have passed since Bristol beatcamp Durkle Disco last compiled a "Definitions" EP. Once again the quality and levels of talent are high as Boycott busses up the best dynamics of trap, grime and dubstep for a lean, mean slaying machine they call "HK '87", Daffy & Gundam's "Bio Schematics" continues the stripped back prangish tones Durkle have made their signature with the equally alarming "Bio Schematics". Deeper into the EP we hit purring 808 soul from Denham Audio before getting the chop from Unkey on the icy stepper "Karate Club". Black belt business.
Review: Tessier Ashpool is label mainstay Liar's "boutique label, focusing on technical rigour & precision, synergistic structure, and a sci-fi heritage". And according to their own PR "we are proud to showcase four new rising stars that have wisely aligned themselves under the Tessier-Ashpool banner". Starting out with the lush ambience of TryTryDieDown's "Romance Guise" they're then straight into the tough stuff with Rejig's absolutely brutal "Agility Test" an expedition in future-bass-industrial crossover. Sheffield trio Denham Audio deliver some dusty breaks that sound like early 90's UK hardcore on the wrong vinyl speed; this one's wicked! Finally "Ricochet" by Malaysian bass exorcist Moslem Priest is another tough as nails experiment in low-end therapy that will throw you against the wall with its intensity.
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