Review: Washington DC-based label Future Times operate on electronic music's more leftfield fringes - previous compilations have, for instance, featured early appearances by the likes of Hunee and Shanti Celeste - and here, for their landmark 50th release, they serve up a 23-track compilation that will appeal to the musically adventurous and sonically broad-minded. For deep house lovers, Martyn & Dolo Percussion's dubby 'Misfit City Rolling', Baronhawk's jazzy 'Phickle Pickle' and the (very) off-kilter disco of Garies' 'Don Bongo' would be good places to start; the space-age footwork/electro of Greg Beato's 'Peste' is interesting too, even if some of more out-there cuts may prove a tad too experimental for some...
Review: Two years have passed since Jaw Jam man Will Dimaggio made his first appearance on Future Times with "Fusion (Broadcast Mix)", a single-track EP on vinyl, rich in kaleidoscopic jazz-funk synths, rubbery electric bass and the kind of sweaty, off-kilter drum machine programming that's always been a trademark of the Washington, D.C-based label. On this fine debut album, Dimaggio continues in a similar vein, mixing polyrhythmic, intergalactic jazz-funk workouts with deeper and even more loved-up house cuts, almost all of electronics which also come blessed with the producer's trademark synthesizer solos, colourful and playful, glassy-eyed chords. While there are few genuine surprises, there's no denying the vivid attractiveness of Dimaggio's aural world, making At Ease an album you'll want to revisit time and time again.
Edy Alta - "First Sign Of Artifice" - (6:17) 136 BPM
Review: Originally released in 2015 on wax but now finally available on digital, Future Times expanded the sound and vision of the label with part three in their compilation series. It's an all star cast on here, with the compilation opening with the dynamic killer "Junk Funk" by DC newcomer OV then Israel's finest Juju & Jordash with "Soggy Bottom" next where they get their hypnotic piano throb on. Label boss Max D's "Octopus" follows with an improvised, kinetic bang. Elsewhere label stalwarts Beautiful Swimmers serve up "Primo", a thick chunk of industrial pop for the freaks and of course BRSTL boss Shanti Celeste and her monster cut "Strung Up", a savage tune for the deejays that mixes a bit of her home town with classic electro.
Review: Boost is Future Times boss man Andrew Field-Pickering's third solo album under his familiar Max D alias and the seven tracks stand up as a fine example of the musical freedom currently running through the DC-based artist's veins. Like us, you've probably played the crushing, freeform 808 cruncher "Rhythm Operator" to death on the FT SoundCloud but we are happy to report the other six tracks are just as daring! As impressive as previous long players for RAMP and RVNG were, Boost feels bolder, a fuller expression of Field-Pickering's undoubted musical talent and less beholden to any particular dancefloor trope. Mood Hutter Jack J, Jordan GCZ, Motion Graphics and Benedek all contribute to Boost, but what really shines through is Max D's beaming smile behind those drum machines. Ps we hope this album is named after our favourite chocolate bars!
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