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Don't Be Afraid
Played by: Shadow Dancer
Review: Ever evolving as a producer with a sizable catalogue of charming electronica, Kel McKeown reaches out to a label he has no previous history with; Don't Be Afraid. It's a move that makes sense as the London label continues to establish itself as a reliable source of left-leaning but listenable machine music, and that's exactly what you get with "Monte Verita". The rhythmic function is loosely based around house, but as you would expect with Kelpe there are plentiful kinks and errors in the groove. The synths are the real stars here though, from warm fuzzy chords to Radiophonic bubbles in that heart-warming delivery that Kelpe has made his own. Kevin Reynolds meanwhile takes what he likes from the original and threads a whole new tapestry of more focused, not to mention decidedly pared-down, techno musings.
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DUB 002
19 Aug 13
Techno
19 Aug 13
Techno
Review: Something of an unearthed gem in the Detroit scene, Manuel Gonzalez has been touring with Underground Resistance and working with Kyle Hall before this appearance on London label Don't Be Afraid, but he's far from a familiar name. From the strength of this four track EP, it's highly likely we'll be hearing more from him in the future, as he glides between strung-out house ("Let Conversation Take Place") and decaying, virulent electro ("Gas Chamber") with ease. There's a healthy amount of homespun charm to these decidedly unpolished tracks, as the wobbly machines jerk to Gonzalez's whims and carve him an unpredictable space in the Motor City scene.
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DBA 009
05 Nov 12
Deep House
05 Nov 12
Deep House
Played by: Owain Kimber (Owain K)
Review: Azimuth sees the ever impressive Don't Be Afraid turn to Italo-Bulgarian Berlin transplant Alis for their latest release. Alis is the current nom de plume of Sabina Plamenova, who formerly recorded under the name Subeena, and she joins the Don't Be Afraid fray soon after releasing her debut album Hybrids In The Attic. Plamenova apparently established the Alis pseudonym as a means to reflect a more personal and vocal lead side to her production palette, "not just music about music" as she terms it. It's an approach she continues to develop with finesse on this EP, which slots nicely in the DBA canon of deep but danceable house and techno and comes backed with a superb remix from D'Marc Cantu!
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DBA 010
25 Feb 13
Techno
25 Feb 13
Techno
Played by: Owain Kimber (Owain K), Jeff Daniels, SCENERY RECORDS, Shadow Dancer, Mike O'Mara, Alkalino, Juno Recommends Minimal Tech, Moustache Mamas, Fred Everything, Satin Jackets, Mixmaster Morris, Wayward, Spettro
Review: The increasingly impressive Don't Be Afraid label drops perhaps their best EP to date - no mean feat given the recent Photonz killer - with London button caresser Mr Beatnick at the helm. The Sun Goddess EP is Beatnick's second outing for the DBA imprint, impressing further on our ears his undeniable talent for crafting housier tackle than the smudged out boogie he came to the fore with for labels like Burntprogress and Altered Vibes. It would take an uneducated ear to not bask in the glory of the title track, which positively reeks of glowering warmth and rhythmic intricacy that's reminiscent of Theo P in his more laidback moments. This approach to programming of subtly introducing track mutations - either melodically or rhythmically - seeps through the rest of the EP ensuring each track reveals all new moments of delight with each listen.
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DBA 008
26 Mar 12
Minimal/Tech House
26 Mar 12
Minimal/Tech House
Played by: Shadow Dancer
Review: In recent times Photonz have been on fire, establishing their own One Eyed Jacks imprint, which delivered the humongous chunk of Fulton style dancefloor terror known as Lamborghini Funk last year. They've already emerged with one of our favourite releases so far this year in the unhinged WEO for new Lisbon based label Principe, and here now they grace the Don't Be Afraid imprint with the equally excellent The Love Spectre EP. The curious chiming melodies and hallow percussion on opening jam "Spectre" contain just the slightest nod towards classic Chicago House yet retains a wholly singular - and immensely beguiling - feel throughout. "Wall" sounds like it was recorded in one take in a sweaty Lisbon basement and is all the better for it; this is followed by the brilliant spacey electro of "Dokos" and frankly mad "Prometheus" (we suggest pitching this down for sleazy/hypnotic results!). Highly recommended.
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DBA 007
13 Feb 12
Deep House
13 Feb 12
Deep House
Review: Speaking to Resident Advisor recently to accompany his podcast, veteran Detroit artist DJ Bone looked to clarify the distinction behind his new DIFF-ERENT project, stating it is "darker, more aggressive and straight to the point but still manages to remain beautiful in a very twisted way." This statement is fully qualified on the two track for Don't Be Afraid that make up this excellent debut 12" from the DIFF-ERENT project. "Differ-Ent (Hrall)" is the more musical of the two, with Bone teasing minor keys and acid squiggles over a stripped back, yet still quite forceful rhythm. "Differ-Ent (Ity)" is where that dark aggression is let loose and is the sort of ominous techno you crave to hear deep into the night.
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DBA 018
09 Feb 15
Techno
09 Feb 15
Techno
Review: Semtek's Don't Be Afraid imprint returns with a rather special little two-tracker for the Dubs series. Mystery producer Lily - who has quietly appeared on Spargel Trax, No Corner and Idle Hands in the past - drops "Memory Jacket, one of the strangest and most daring five minutes to emanate from the Bristol-based imprint. The tune is a stuttering, pseudo-house joint filled with flurries of FX and resembling something more like a post-punk B-side than a club number. Strangely enough, it's NY's Madteo who is the one to re-arrange the track back into some sort of regular shape and the Queens-based goes for a truly 'insider' house approach, where a stumbling 4/4 groove meets deadly, club-ready chords. Warmly recommended.
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DUB 004
09 Mar 15
Techno
09 Mar 15
Techno
Review: Sub Club resident Domenic Capello teams up with Lee Duncan for a release that lives up to its name. Ceol is the Gaelic word for music and this three-tracker has no shortage of musical moments. The title track is led by a ponderous bass and a rolling groove. It sounds like Octave One united with Prescription-style house as tripped out keys create a beautiful feeling. "D3" is harder and faster, with any semblance of melody stripped away and a focus on the brutal bass. However, Capello finds it hard to stray too far from his love of US dance music and "Third Thought" unravels with all the shimmering synth mystery of early Carl Craig productions.
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DBA 016
22 Sep 14
Techno
22 Sep 14
Techno
Review: Responsible for two killer releases on DVS1's Mistress label, Doubt now drops an excellent record for Semtek's imprint. The title track is a linear, pulsing groove, led by hypnotic pads and electronic squiggles, but featuring a rhythm that's tough enough for techno DJs. "When I Was Young" sees the US producer focus more on techno, with a droning sequence unravelling over a rolling, grainy groove. Doubt goes off the dance floor radar on "Dios", using broken beats and a buzzing bass to create a captivating alternative, but soon enough he's back with the Mr G-style filters and punishing subs of "Frosx."
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DBA 017
20 Oct 14
Techno
20 Oct 14
Techno
Played by: Shadow Dancer
Review: Although Don't Be Afraid have had a busy year in 2013, adding DBA Dubs and DBA Special Editions to its label family, and issuing an album from Mr Beatnick, label owner Semtek has still found time to uncover some new talent in the form of unheralded Finnish producer Halvtrak. Little is known about the producer aside from a fondness for Chicago house, but the music on his debut Dust Under Bridges EP for DBA more than speaks for itself; opener "Finding Yourself" combines rumbling bass, searching chords and acidic textures in a Legowelt vein, while the frantic pace of "A Thousand Years" sounds almost UK funky-inspired. The dark melody and bubbling acid of "Barracuda" sees a return to restless sci-fi inspired melodies while "Face Two" delves into hypnotic 303 territory.
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DBA 013
28 Oct 13
Techno
28 Oct 13
Techno
Review: Don't Be Afraid round out what's been a landmark year for the label with the first of three excellent releases and a full debut for the legend that is Neville Watson! The UK house veteran has previously featured on DBA, providing a remix of "Lotus Eaters" by Semtek on the labels third release back in 2010 but here he adds a further element of heritage to the fledgling DBA Special Editions that launched with Disco Nihilist earlier this year. The Hot & Heavy EP is very much in line with the floor focused remit of the label, with A Side hogger "Crossing The I's" the sort of loose, gleeful slab of acid techno you'd find Funkineven banging out. Turn it over and "Wired" hits you deep with it's gnarly sub bass weight whilst the title track offers a lighter, insouciant saunter through groove heavy house.
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SPE 002
16 Dec 13
Techno
16 Dec 13
Techno
Review: Initially coming to prominence under the name Darling Farah, Kamau Baaqi delivered one of last year's most striking debut albums in the form of Body, a smoky collection of introspective techno that recalled Actress in his more straightforward moments. Here he drops the first half of his moniker to become simply known as Farah, and delivers an excellent EP for Don't Be Afraid. The honed sound design that has characterised the producer's work is still very much present on Metal Irene, but there's a newfound warmth and directness on display that make them feel like a step forward as well. "Cloudy Apple" and "Speak In The Spotlight" straddle the line between deep house and techno with finesse, but it's "Lockhead" and "Pieced Apart" which really impress, both revolving around stripped back rhythm constructions which play havoc with your perception due to their strobing sonics and heavy use of delay. For a label that is often so defined by its focus on house music, the Metal Irene EP was an interesting move into different sonic territory for Don't Be Afraid, and a fine development for a maturing producer.
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DBA 014
16 Dec 13
Techno
16 Dec 13
Techno
Review: Since his breakout solo debut as MGUN on Wild Oats with the psychedelically charged Harmnear back in early 2012, Detroit's Manuel Gonzales has found a place for himself among the current crop of talent from the Mid West's techno capital with a prolific production rate that's seemingly too much for labels to keep up with. Operating at the more abrasive end of the techno scale, Gonzales nonetheless has exhibited a keen understanding of Detroit's music heritage across a killer run of records for Semtek's increasingly influential Don't Be Afraid, The Trilogy Tapes, Berceuse Heroique and the Third Ear label. Having most recently rubbed shoulders with Jamal Moss on Pangaea's excellent mix CD for Fabric, MGUN now graces the Don't Be Afraid label for a third time with the Resin EP. Some six tracks deep, this EP sees Gonzales occasionally dip into the experimental style taken on his Savant side project - see opener "Assumptions" which could almost be from a Minimal Wave reissue - but there is still plenty of gritty techno here for the heads, "In The Road" is particularly apocalyptic.
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DBA 015
24 Mar 14
Techno
24 Mar 14
Techno
Review: Following two superb, floor-friendly EPs from Disco Nihilist and Neville Watson, Don't Be Afraid's occasional Special Editions series returns with a typically bombastic EP from British techno stalwart Colin "Mr. G" McBean. Predictably, McBean is in ruthless form, delivering a trio of sweaty, late night assaults in his distinctive no-nonsense style. "Tutonic" is particularly punchy, layering hazy after-party chords and occasional keys over a formidably restless groove (think five-note bass, thumping kicks, powerful handclaps and incessant cymbals). There's a dubbier, acid-flecked feel to the hypnotic "Last Chance Saloon (Mango Boy's Plantation Dub)", while the thrilling "Rum Trip Up" sounds like it was inspired by early bleep techno explorations by Juno, Ability 2, Ital Rockers and Xon.
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SPE 003
12 May 14
Techno
12 May 14
Techno
Review: Since his emergence on Wild Oats collaborating with Kyle Hall as NSNT PRJCT, Manuel Gonzales has impressed under the MGUN moniker across a string of releases for the likes of Don't Be Afraid and Will Bankhead's The Trilogy Tapes. His return to the former with Are You Reading This is a hefty six tracks deep, and allows him the space for an expansive portrayal of the MGUN production palette with excellent results. Demented moments such as the rickety rhythms of opening track "Hand Over Fifth" and the unpronounceable exercise in tape screeching boom bap that is "Jijijijij$ijijijiji" sit next to clubbier arrangements like "Proxy" and the almost Berghain-like "Funnel Vision", but it's "Tritan" and "Bean Chirp", tracks with similarities to his aforementioned Kyle Hall collaboration, albeit moistened with wet reverb, dribbling acid and washy synths, that evoke a more classic Detroit style, albeit in his own unique way. Highly recommended stuff all round.
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DBA 012
10 Jun 13
Techno
10 Jun 13
Techno
Played by: Shadow Dancer
Review: Not content with two conceptual sub labels to keep themselves occupied inbetween releases on main operation Don't Be Afraid, Semtek and co launch another theme specific offshoot in the shape of DBA Special Editions. Described as "a series of classic dancefloor cuts from the most sought after producers on the underground house circuit" the Special Editions label has been primed as an outlet for label boss Semtek to release dancefloor specific one-off releases from artists not so closely tied to the DBA roster and the upcoming debut release from Disco Nihilist sets a high standard. Four tracks deep, Journey To The End Of The Night sees the Maine-based producer continue to plunder his raw take on house music made using analogue sequencers and hardware, all recorded straight to tape with the slightly deranged jackbeat of "Midnight To St. John" a particular highlight.
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SPE 001V
05 Aug 13
Techno
05 Aug 13
Techno
Various
Played by: Juno Recommends Minimal Tech
Review: Don't Be Afraid return with the second chapter in a double compilation, celebrating a decade at the cutting edge of electronic music in the UK and beyond. '10.02' sees Semtek's label delving deeper into a fertile underground, further connecting the sense of musical curiosity and willingness to experiment that's been implicit in DBA's namesake from the beginning. Highlights come from Motor City legend Scott Ferguson (Ferrispark) with the knackered mood music of "This Is What I Love to Do", legend Mr G goes back to the Metalbox days on the tough, steely and funked-up house of "Birthday Jam", through to moments of sublime and life-affirming deepness as heard on Pablo R. Ruiz's "El Sol Se Acerca" or Minos's dubby "Laminar Flow" respectively.
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DBA 1002
04 Dec 20
Minimal/Tech House
04 Dec 20
Minimal/Tech House
Review: Still revelling in their release of Ikonika's Bodies EP, Don't Be Afraidenlists a fresh set of remixers, and an Ikonika VIP dub, for its first roll out of 2021. The Swamp81 affiliate and Illaman producer Sumgii takes on "What Kinda Pain Are We Talking About?" with a heavy hitting remix of hybrid techno drums and interjecting dubstep/rave. Impressing also is the 91-92 hardcore inspired sonds of Semtek and Iona's Midnight Snacc project, sending in something spacey and sweetly atmospheric, with its lo-fi breakbeats a ++. This EP's second wildcard artist, Quest?onmarq, brings a Jersey club / techno sound to DBA with a number that goes large on its bassline next to a fanfare of drums and synths in Ikonika's Jeff Mills-esque VIP dub. Whose afraid of Detroit.
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DBA 045X
16 Apr 21
Bass
16 Apr 21
Bass
Review: It's two years since Nick 'Mr Beatnick' Wilson released the final part of his brilliant Synthetes Trilogy on Don't Be Afraid, and a year since his similarly impressive Marshmallows 12" on Tief. As usual, he's in fine form, kicking things off with the spacey but melancholic synthesizer chords, sun-kissed electronic melodies and rolling, Italo-influenced bottom end of "Stutter". His renowned beat programming skills come to the fore on the Detroit futurism-goes-broken beat brilliance of "Jellyfish", before "Formed In The Stance" offers up a deeper, marginally darker and certainly moodier take on broken techno. Finally, he's back to his sunny, melodious best with the sparkling brilliance of "Obsidian Morning". Stellar stuff, as always.
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DBA 021
24 Jul 15
Techno
24 Jul 15
Techno
Review: Don't Be Afraid sub-label DBA Dubs pulls out an intriguing single, pitching tastings of Bristol bass, middle-eastern themes and watery tabla rhythms of D-Malice with Canada's house faithful Basic Soul Unit. This D-Malice release, somewhat of a surprise inclusion to the label, follows music by Claws For?, beat fusionist Kelpe, Adjowa and No Corner and Idle Hands artist Lily. Both tracks fit a house tempo and it's the percussion of the original that's the real hook, while BSU's thumping remixing delivers a menacing Vermona kick drum with swathes of heavy, dub techno-spheres. A versatile release.
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DUB 005
07 Aug 15
Funky/Club House
07 Aug 15
Funky/Club House
Played by: Paul Mac
Review: Having been impressed by Ben Cohen's contribution to Don't Be Afraid's 19.5 label sampler 12", Semtek has decided to give the relative newcomer a full EP on which to showcase his talents. The Purple Moon EP is an intriguingly atmospheric affair, with Cohen delivering a trio of dancefloor workouts - plus the pleasing ambient weirdness of "Slowness" - variously influenced by classic Detroit techno, the creepiness of '80s industrial, and the snappy beats of Chicago house. The spooky throb and spacey synths of "Black Oddyssey" [sic] arguably standout, though most DJs will instinctively reach for the title track, whose cracking military percussion, clandestine textures and barely audible vocal samples make it something of a banger. Spacey techno opener "Kanem Bu Warriors" is pretty darn tasty, too.
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DBA 022
25 Sep 15
Techno
25 Sep 15
Techno
Played by: J Khobb
Review: London-based electronic artist Karen Gwyer has kept on impressing us over the last four years. With releases for labels like No Pain In Pop, Kaleidoscope, and Nous, Semtek's Don't Be Afraid seems like a natural fit to her improvisational take on techno. "Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase" is a stunner, a nine minutes' techno journey that's spans the whole length over nine minutes with its loose, aqueous groove barely held in place by raw, analog drum programming. "And Again Those Eyes" sees the artist return to more familiar territories thanks to a broken sway of beats and melodics, whereas "Meiosis Gametes" is a harsh, menacing techno swing with an electrifying buzz running through its groove. Solid, as per usual. This material comes hotly recommended. She's one to watch out for in 2016 and beyond.
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DBA 026
23 Sep 16
Techno
23 Sep 16
Techno
Played by: Honey Soundsystem
Review: Bristol's Don't Be Afraid, proudly helmed by the experienced DJ Semtek, is fast becoming one of our go-to imprints, and is arguably in the running for label of the year. Each new release is more finessed and mature than the next, and Semtek is quickly introducing us to a whole new selection of artists. This time, it's the Dyad duo that make an appearance on the label, and their cold, steely strain of techno is a perfect way to bring in the Autumnal months. Ben Gibson and Fundamental Interaction are the two producers behind this project, and this is the first time that they branch out from their self-titled DYAD imprint. "Illumine" is a fast, kick-driven techno missile with a spiralling set of sonics at its core, while "Oblique" takes a darker, more barren approach to its thumping 4/4; it's one which instantly calls to the warehouse, and the sort of material one drops as the clock hits 5am. Sick.
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DBA 027
21 Oct 16
Techno
21 Oct 16
Techno
Review: Given Don't Be Afraid's long relationship with Manuel 'M Gun' Gonzales, it's pleasing to see Semtek's label releasing the Detroit producer's long-awaited debut album. Predictably, it's a fine set, containing a mix of far-out techno throbbers - the hypnotic, piano-laden alien funk of "Half Past 3", fuzzy "Past Due", and classic Derrick May revivalism of "Bed & Breakfast" - dusty electro jams (the brilliant "NVR"), and more experimental downtempo fare (see the bass-heavy, dubbed-out "Nobs" and jazzy opener "Pok"). While it arguably takes mutiple listens to really peel back the layers and get your head round Gonzalez's impressive use of textures, it's more than worth the effort. Put simply, Gentium more than delivers on its' promise.
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DBALP 001
22 Apr 16
Techno
22 Apr 16
Techno
Review: Part of the Special Editions series from Semtek's label, this four-tracker takes inspiration from 90s techno. The title track is an old school, minimal techno workout, its repetitive tonal rhythm given some modern relevance thanks to the snappy, Dettmann-style percussion. There are no such concessions on "Sse" or "Nik" - the former rides a buzzing, spine-tingling bass to reach a ravey climax, while the latter is a noisy analogue track. Reminiscent of DBX, its yelping riffs and primal rhythm sound vital and energetic. Finally, there's "Can". A rolling, loopy affair just shy of the 130bpm mark, it may not be the most imaginative composition, but it's certainly an effective one.
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SPE 006
04 Mar 16
Techno
04 Mar 16
Techno
Review: This release is reminiscent of the very best of 90s deep house. Luke Harney has brought together a heavyweight collaborative team here, which includes Lewis Wright on vibraphone and the seminal guitar player Miles James. It's this dynamic interplay which makes "Right" such a stand out track, as James' strutting guitar plays out over a powerful bass and jazzy key tinkling leads the listener to a spine chill-inducing break down. US producer Jason Fine has been tasked with the remix and he does a fine job, making the drums slightly heavier and adding in some eerie synths, but it's hard to beat the beautiful original track.
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DUB 006
05 Feb 16
Techno
05 Feb 16
Techno
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DBA 024
04 Dec 15
Techno
04 Dec 15
Techno
Played by: Giampi Spinelli
Review: Now, Damon Bell is an interesting signing, indeed. This is especially true for this latest EP on Bristol's Don't Be Afraid, both because he acts as an interesting and refreshing addition to the label's catalogue, but also because he has pretty much only released on Deepblak until now. "Ankh Boogie" is everything you'd expect from Damon Bell: a kinetic, dusty percussion that has been processed significantly, and an airy collection of circulating atmospherics. "Aural Afrek" is deeper, more mysterious and techno-minded, while "Time For Change" breaks out the dubbiness and goes for a Basic Channel kind of approach that is layered smoothly over a more delicate house framework. Effective and impressive - shouts to Semtek.
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DBA 025
19 Aug 16
Techno
19 Aug 16
Techno
Review: Karen Gwyer's third album, Rembo was one of 2017's best long players. It saw the US artist consolidate her reputation as a purveyor of raw, hardware-driven electronic music and was one of the many highlights in Don't Be Afraid's stellar release schedule. Now Gwyer's material from the album gets reworked by an impressive group of artists. First up is Via App, who drops a grating, abstract take on "The Workers Are On Strike", while Ron Morelli takes time out from running L.I.E.S. to drops a skewed, stripped back techno version of 'He's Been Teaching Me to Drive'. It's hard to choose a highlight, but that honour belongs here to E.Myers, who uses sublime keys and a funk bass to turn 'It's Not Worth the Bother' into a gloriously soulful affair.
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DBALP 003R
02 Feb 18
Techno
02 Feb 18
Techno
Review: Irish twosome TR One has drifted between labels over the years, variously delivering quietly impressive house and techno EPs for some fine imprints. Here they make their first appearance on Semtek's formidable Don't Be Afraid imprint. Hints of their techno heritage can be found on wonderfully tactile opener "A Month Has Passed", a pitched-up deep house shuffler rich in Steve Reich style marimba melodies, Motor City techno chords and bubbling electronic percussion. The gentle positivity continues via the swirling Italo-disco/deep house fusion of "The Boutique of Neverending Dreams", before they reach for the New Jersey organs on the sumptuous and sensual "The Printer (That Stole My Time)". Hypnotic late night headiness is provided by spacey dub techno-influenced closer "Road to the Sea".
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DBA 036
01 Dec 17
Deep House
01 Dec 17
Deep House
Review: Soundspecies member Henry Keen returns to the warm bosom of Don't Be Afraid following a two-year absence. The London producer is on-point from the word go, with opener "On The Roads" brilliantly joining the dots between Kaidi Tatham style jazz-funk/broken beat fusion and dusty, Detroit style deep house. You'll find similar organic warmth and jazzy instrumentation at the heart of the altogether deeper "Icy", while "Ants In Amber" sees Keen smother a rock solid, kick-drum dominated beat in gentle acid lines, galactic electronics and bleeping melody lines. Finally, he pushes up the tempo and looks towards South America on the fizzing, broken house highlight that is "Black Cast", where simple marimba melodies rise above a booming, bass-heavy rhythm track.
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DBA 033
22 Sep 17
Deep House
22 Sep 17
Deep House
