Review: Rita Maia is currently a busy woman, presenting radio (including a weekly Resonance FM show also called Sine Of The Times), DJing everywhere (aside from holding down a residency at the Notting Hill Arts Club) and now releasing albums too! This 11-song collection isn't a mix album per se, although the tracks do cleverly flow together. The overall vibe is gentle, almost brittle, micro-house-meets broken beat: perfect for hazy post-club mornings. Highlights include the teardrop beats of Dfranklin's "Whole", the melancholic rain-soaked 2-step of VVV's "Lost & Found" and the tropical comedown of BD1982's "The Wave Chamber".
Review: Well, what a collection of original creations we have on our hands here as 3024-FYE3 gather up four of the most creative names for a percussive extravaganza. We kick of this fabulous adventure with the tribalistic triplets and intense drum designs of Djoser's 'Wera', followed up by the legendary Jacques Greene, who brings out the lo-fi mastery across the rolling time-dance of 'Say Nothing'. Next up, Martyn gets very busy with his well structured amazonian expanse of 'Recon', before we finish up in style as NKC gets seriously experimental with the minimalistic drum melodies of 'Honest Drums'.
Review: This time last year, London-based producer NKC caused a bit of a fuss with his debut 12", the impressive 8-bit/tropical soundclash "Marie". Here he returns with another EP of on-point goodness that's every bit as booming as that notable debut - better still, it's seeing release on Awkward Movements, one of our favourite little labels. "Fading Floor" fixes acid house era rave riffs (think "This Is Acid") and spiraling vocal samples to a shuffling tropical rhythm, while "Shockout" nags away with darkroom stabs and clandestine percussion. Dave Jones dons his Maddslinky guise to remix the latter, offering more left-of-centre bass pressure. There's also a fine Raimo refix of "Fading Floor" that tames the rave elements in favour of a vintage techno flex.
Review: Even The Strong have gone out of their way to explore the unknown with this one as they invite the combined powers of both Scratcha DVA & NKC onboard for a pair of fabulously creative originals. We begin with the shuffling kick drum rolls and techno inspired arrangements of 'Hardbody 999', in which Scratcha DVA once again displays his incredible ability to deliver the unexpected, as the track descends into a more UK funky inspired combination of rhythm and distorted basslines the further on it travels. On the flip, NKC gives us something just as impressive as the industrial drum designs and choppy arrangements of 'Shuvvin Match' give us a gnarly, system ready smasher. What a combo!
