Review: Heavee, a Queer artist hailing from Chicago, unveils a captivating sonic odyssey with their latest offering, "Unleash," on the renowned Hyperdub label. While their previous "Audio Assault" EP showcased a synth-driven, melodic take on footwork, "Unleash" ventures deeper into a meticulously crafted auditory realm. The album's sound palette is a refreshing amalgamation of spongy textures and zesty citrus tones, interwoven with lush, radiant chord progressions. Heavee's artistry strikes a delicate balance between light and dark, seamlessly transitioning from breezy atmospheres to clinical precision. This duality is a testament to their ability to transcend boundaries, rebuilding footwork's framework and vibe according to their unique creative vision. Rhythmically, "Unleash" is a dance floor-ready masterpiece, utilizing footwork's 160 BPM template as a launchpad for crafting innovative drum sounds that express these intricate rhythms. Heavee draws inspiration from a diverse array of genres, including R&B, rap, jazz, and grime, while subtly incorporating the bittersweet essence of vintage Detroit techno.
Review: In her third album for Hyperdub Loraine James invites us into a captivating new chapter of her personal and sonic journey that takes inspiration from her past and present. She delivers a record that resonates with the musical inclinations of her teenage years, offering a nostalgically languid and delightfully eclectic collection of music inspired by odd genres like 'math rock' and 'emo-electronic sounds'. For some the album could evoke memoriesa of artists like DNTEL, Lusine, and Telefon Tel Aviv - with James's sonic palette skilfully woven into an unique sonic landscapes. Extracting sensitive and introspective tones through complex, deft and wild production, the album can drifts into serene ambience, as if searching for moments of everyday bliss ("2003"), to stripped backed wax poetics of "D?j? Vu ft. RiTchie" alongside a new wave & acoustic breakbeats sound in "I DM U". As gentle and deep as it gets. Quality.
Review: Whenever Proc Fiskal comes to town, we know we are in for a treat, especially when he is making himself at home with the Hyperdub family, one of the most respected and undeniably unpredictable sonic outfits the UK has ever produced. We are gifted four tracks of musical gold from Mr Fiskal, who first unloads a laser-like soundscape on 'Pub Utopic', an unorthodox showcasing of synthetic mastery, before the more mellow melodics and post-garage drums of 'Pic Of U'. On the flip, another luscious landscape of electronic beauty in 'Job Centre Cataclysm', fusing blippy melodic twitches with spicy vocal chops, before 'Global Lawn' sends us down one final prism of insanity, insighting unpredictable bubbly drum sounds for a sensational send off.
Review: Born in Mexico and raised in the Sierra, now based in Houston, Panch Briones aka Santa Muerte drops his debut EP on Hyperdub. His melodic electronic music is said to take inspiration from the mythology and religion of Mexican culture, merged with the bass heavy sound of his hometown's hip-hop scene. The Eslabon EP begins with the off-kilter and deeply emotional groove of "Tonantzin", followed by the deeply meditative bass frequencies of "Coahuiltecan", moving into the industrial tinged ambient epic "Emma" and ending with the complex and entrancing rhythm work on glassy-eyed number "Laberinto".
Review: There aren't many labels that can genuinely hold a candle to the electronic mastery that Hyperdub have been able to deliver over the last decade alone, seeing their catalogue now bulging at the seams with the most intuitive dance music innovation. This latest collection takes the title '10.4' and supplies us with a deep dive into the full spectrum of where Hyperdub are at, with legendary figures such as Ikonika, Cooly G, Scratch DVA, Martyn, Funkystepz and many more all making their return for a fabulous compilation display. From the high energy rave-inspired synth slinks of Ill Blu's 'Bellion' to the unorthodox percussive bubbles of 'Noyfb' from Laurel Halo & iconic glitchy melodies of Burial's 'Lambeth', this is a truly fabulous exploration into just how abstract electronic dance music can get. Another exceptional collection from a truly outstanding imprint!
Review: As always with Hyperdub, we planned to expect the unexpected with this monstrous new collection from OKZharp, exploring shimmering soundscapes and unusual production scenarios with this brand new 'Outside The Ride' LP collection. Opening up with the footwork-like drum pacing of 'Incline Disconnect', also wrapped up in synthetic beauty, next to the sandstrom of higher ended percussive inputs of 'Fall In Up In The CLK' and early 2000's crunk style synthetics of 'Fen's Touch'. From here, 'Tom Tom Ride Out' gives us a more minimal approach focussing on the space inbetween your typical footwork pockets, next to the chilling melodic designs and potent bass inclusions of 'Cut It Out', which again takes a more alternative route. Finally, 'Obsidian Root Power Up' conjures up a vocally grunted melody lead, next to a vibrant selection of drum inclusions, before the EP closes off with 'Glo Down Nite Trak', again jam-packed with unique percussive arrangements to see the project out in style.
Review: Escapology is Kode9's soundtrack album to the 'sonic fiction' Astro-Darien, which will be released later in the year on Hyperdub's sub-label Flatlines. The project began in 2021 as a two week audiovisual installation at Corsica Studios in London, utilising a multi-channel installation of the 50 speaker Acousmonium, courtesy of Paris' INA-GRM, and incorporating "off-world atmospheres into slices of high definition, asymmetric club rhythms, woven through thrilling sound design and vertiginous sonics." From the intoxicating, polyrhythmic sound design of "The Break Up" to the deconstruction of club music on "Torus" being just some examples, the Hyperdub chief has finally brought forth his follow up long-player to 2015's Nothing - and it is certainly worth the wait.
Review: 700 Bliss is the experimental club project of Philadelphia-based DJ Haram and Moor Mother. This is their first full-length release for Hyperdub, where they incorporate noise rap, club music and hip hop with punk and jazz. Featuring guests such as Lafawndah on "Totally Spies", Orion Sun on "Nightflame", and Muqata'a on "Candace Parker". There is also Alli Logout appearing on "Capitol", M Tellez lending their talents to "More Victories" and Ase Manual contributing production on "Lead Level 15". Nothing To Declare is loud, playful, fun and quite possibly one of the best rap albums of 2022.
Review: It always feels few and far between a solo Kode9 release if we take into account the last drop under his name - and his name only - was the Xingfu Lu / Kan 12" before his 2015 long player, Nothing. Some collaborative LPs, remixes EPs and other left of field projects later, Kode9 opens Hyperdub's account for 2021 with a synth focused and sample heavy run through two juke joints of footwork inspirations of the Hyperdub bosses current sound and direction. Fresh off appearing in Lawrence Lek's most recent album as a ruthless label boss, Kode9 proves he's the goods for real with "The Jackpot" - harder and more ghoulish rave trip here, with "Rona City Blues" cut up by a fluctuating tremolo effect on its synth that's laced out by a sweet sequence of undeniable footwork drums.
Review: Keeping the UK vibes strong this December period is Burial's "Chemz", an epic 12-minute number taking in huge inspirations from R&B and two-step while remaining strong in a post-rave and dubstep aesthetic. With honeysuckle lyrics setting the tone of a love song, detuning and warping techniques play a key part in the track's originality while skimming the surface of Burial's muffled noise floors, foggy atmospheres and deep crackle and pop. Both euphoric, hopeful and melancholic it sees Burial deliver another futuristic number of newskool R&B that meets rave, jungle and dub.
Review: Following the artist's All The Time album (2020), her third on Hyperdub since 2013's breakout Pull My Hair Back, Hyperdub compiles a 'mixtape' of remixes from seven artists Lanza herself would love to rework her latest work. Two UK Hyperdub artists make the cut in Proc Fiskal's deconstructed breakdown of "Lick In Heaven" next to the finger clacks and stepping rhythms of Loraine James' version of "Face". Japan's Foodman arrives with a new age exotica remake of "Alexander" alongside the sweet '90s R&B references and themes of Kate NV's mix to "Baby Love". For the dancefloor, DJ Swisha delivers this EP its hit track with a set of well swung, banging hi hats in "All The Time" while something unique, futuristic and high definition comes from Invisible Cloaks. Rough and ready breakbeats from Martyn Bootyspoon too!
Review: AIDOL is the soundtrack to a work by London-based Chinese-Malay visual artist and musician Lawrence Lek. The film, featuring Hyperdub founder Kode9 as an 'unforgiving label boss,' plays on futuristic, neon pop and megacity themes of EDM superstardom alongside visions of China's global ascent, artificial intelligence and technology. Said to be a continuation of Lek's 'sinofuturist' universe, everything from Akira inspirations and Aldous Huxley references ("Welcome To SoMA") to the sonority of The Knife's music (in "Call Of Beauty (ESports Reprise))" can be felt here, with the added touch of the main character's voice, Diva, created with a vocaloid vocal synthesizer. With spoken word collaborations from Sophie Guo, Xiaoyi Nie, Xiaoran Wu and Joni Zhu adding to Lek's story of a 'fading superstar' who hires an AI songwriter for a comeback performance, tracks also feature Seth Scott who's worked with Lek in the past, of note 2017's Geomancer. More than a ghost in the machine. 5 stars.
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