ONE NIGHT AFFAIR - "EARL GREY" (IN FLAGRANTI MIX) - (8:00) 115 BPM
SUGOI (AIMES & PERDIDO KEY MIX) - (5:40) 120 BPM
Review: Rather unhelpfully, Nein are keeping quiet about the identity of those behind the Earl Grey project. Regardless of who's in the hot seat, it's an excellent EP. "One Night Affair" is particularly good, delivering a deliciously druggy and heavy blend of post-punk dancefloor rhythms, weirdo synth lines and mind-bending electronics. Naturally, In Flagranti takes these elements and runs with them, turning in a remix that's even darker, moodier and heavier. The EP also boasts two versions of "Sugoi": the Emperor Machine style, wonky analogue funk of Earl Grey's original version, and a deliciously spacey, synth-laden re-make from Aimes & Perdido.
Review: London based DJ and producer Earl Grey has tried his hand at numerous styles over the years, most notably house, techno and electronica, without finding his true calling. Here, he may have found his sound. Not Everyone's Cup of Tea is built around the sort of sharp, alien synths most frequently found in synthwave and leftfield electro-pop productions. Throughout, there are used to good effect on tracks that veer from ice-cold, slo-mo synthwave (see the delightful, vocoder-clad "Through The City") and drifting atmospherics ("Jus Clap"), to stylish nu-disco ("Pong") and skewed synth-funk (the mascara-boasting "Regent's Park"). Impressive stuff, all told.
Review: Earl Grey and PJU are both prolific produces on their ones and twos, but together they've formed a particularly effective duo on the mixing board, and this latest collaboration on the ever-fresh Muzik Box is literally music to our ears. The lead track "Drum Boxx" is a funky, old-school bassline banger that could fit in either a Chicago house set or any other Dj set for that matter, and "Computer Wars" is similarly crusty around the edges and accompanied by a magnificent Roland bassline that keeps on giving. "Muzik" is more stripped-down and focused on the percussion cowbells, but Earl Grey's own remix of the tune brings it back down to earth with a gorgeous, deep house swagger.
Nic TVG - "The Moth Is Compliant" (Dissident remix) - (5:05) 171 BPM
Review: Nic TVG's Pinecone Moonshine collective deliver a second EP package with three more delicious refixes. Early Grey's 2015 space-out stepper gets a thoroughbred drumfunk dreamboat flip from Dave Hoax while Tokyo's Shins-K takes us back to 2011 for a shattered rhythm twist of Relapse's Down The Sun. Finally Paluca's pretty harrowing experimental piece from 2016 gets a deft roll-up from Fushara. Authentic.
Review: Dutch breakbeat connoisseurs Next Phase hoist the jungle flag proudly once again with four ace blistering broken jams. Infest ignites the party with big dubby roller that's awash with big reverbed dub synths, Manchester's Earl Grey smothers the vibe with dense pressure before gradually allowing the dynamics to filter through the atmospheres with icy glee and OG DJ Trax nods towards his old mate Paradox with some incredible and ludicrously funky drum work. Enjoy calms us all down with a deep dub slice that drones so hard you'll think you've just fallen into a sinkhole. Sweet dreams.
Review: This time last year, Parisian imprint La Belle - run, at least in part, by Golden Bug and Herr Styler - slipped out their first release. 12 months on, they present an impressive resume of their output to date. Focusing on a stylish, knowing, basement-friendly take on nu-disco, with nods to house, acid, punk-funk and electro - La Belle Season One is a riotous collection of floor-friendly jams. From the acid-infused 4/4 funk of Freeform Five's remix of Golden Bug's "One Way" and the inspired Italo of Moon Runner's "Tlatohua", to the Balearic disco-goes-rave stylings of Pete Herbert's rework of Lou Teti's "Talk About It", there's much to admire. In fact, you'll struggle to find a stronger collection of contemporary disco-inspired business.
