Review: It must be challenging for a long-running label to come up with fresh ideas, but that is exactly what Planet Rhythm has achieved on its latest compilation. TWCOR's "How It Ends" revisits the glory days of Frankfurt Trax techno with its pounding kicks, Vinicius Honorio maps out a new direction for big room techno on the thundering filters and wild rave stabs of "Time & Space" and Two Sided Agency's "Controlled Cycle" is a synapse-melting acid track. There is also a more considered side to Planet Rhythm, and it's audible here on Tom Hades' "Felis", where the veteran producer pairs emotive synths with a rolling tribal groove.
Review: Quant is the label project of Chris Stanford, the London DJ who was one of the founders of the EarToGround parties. For the latest release, he has enlisted the services of Italian producer Kaiser. This release mirrors the sound and style of the EarToGround parties - tough and relentless, but with a musical undercurrent throughout. This is audible on the pumping, acidic title track, which progresses to reveal a spacey synth sequence, and on "Submersible". There, Kaiser opts for a dubbed-out approach that is nonetheless based on massive kicks and reverberating waves of dub. Keeping it in the EarToGround family, Stanford has commissioned remixes from Gareth Wild - who drops two broken beat takes on "Nautical" - while Diego Amura turns "Submersible" into a gritty minimal workout.
Review: 10 years of US/UK grime feedback: Slit Jockey celebrate a decade of dirt with this extensive collection of classics, currents and previously unheard cuts. There might be 10 years between some of the tracks but you'd never tell; such is the solid signature and high quality control of the label. Every track is a highlight but cuts like Lenkemz savage club shredder "Can't See U", Blak Twang & Conrank's midnight murker "Go Getter" and Mr Mitch's eerie moon-bouncing trapisms are essential staples for any grime and bass connoisseur's collection. Here's to another 10 years.
Review: Another slick release for the relatively new US imprint Slit Jockey, Kaiser delivers a though provoking seven track EP for his second release on the label. With four remixes plus the original mix, opening track "Tasty Lazers" conjours up images of the world being taken over by machines, with its repetitive drones and computerized arpeggiated melodies. Of the remixes, the Dev79 & Thrills remix certainly shines with its bumping garage beats, Rhodes keys and sublime pads. For the chin-stroking dubstep crew, the more glitchy leftfield Kozee, BD1982 and Halp remixes may appeal. Highlight track "Polyphonic Pressure" brings a slice of euphoric peak time dancefloor pressure, while the more ploddy dark and mechanical "Courtesan Riddim" provides some ammo for the afterparty.
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