Review: Jon Linskey aka Sectra delivers Counter Culture, his debt release for Tectonic. Bringing together seemingly disparate elements such as noise, underground techno and dubstep, all of these elements provide the basis for a mesmerising four-tracker. "A Demon In My View" kick starts the release with glitchy percussion and a swung rhythm, while "Ashes" sees Linskey conjure up gloomy textures over a dead-paced groove. On the title track, he ventures down a clubby path - powered by deep kick drums, "Culture" also resounds to hissing percussion and hypnotic sound scapes, while "Bedlam" provides a further surprise in the form of an evocative downtempo arrangement.
Review: Pinch welcomes Berlin duo Fjaak to his Tectonic label with a deathly assault of wayfaring basslines, annihilistic drums and future-retro acid. Leading with the title-track WH?T, Fjaak's approach to a Tectonic EP leaves no holes unbarred and at a swift three and half minutes long it's a no-nonsense ride to the top. Pinch's version adds a second wave of brutal hybrid form techno and dubstep to the EP with his remix - the kick drums are seriously massive - with acid techno tunneling through a textural abyss of atmospheres in "XoXp0rt" that's given a breakbeat makeover in the Cocktail Party Effect remix. Seriously heavy; approach with caution.
Review: Rare is it that we see a German producer successfully mimic sounds of the UK so well...but in Shed's case there's no questions asked as to the producer's ability to illicit knowledgeable and schooled approval from the likes of Pinch and other breakbeat, dub and bass heavyweights. Having flirted with the idea of breaks and dubstep in tracks and remixes under his WK7 and Head High alias, Shed dons his original cap here to dive head first into sovereign UK territory with the affirmably titled Tectonic EP. Calling on the ghosts of rave's past in a minimal and stripped back "Try", heavier industrialisms that hark the sounds of '80s EBM give way momentarily to fluorescent strands of dubby synths in "Box", with higher tempo grooves and bleeps the tonic in "Sweep". Shed. Tectonic EP. Should say it all really; three tracks, 5-stars.
Review: It's always a thrill to unearth a brand new selection from the Tectonic team, who here have got busy delivering a spicy new four track collection from the unstoppable Lamont, who most certainly doesn't disappoint us. We kick off with the title track 'Hold Dat', an industrial post-dubstep warbler, infused with unpredictable drum slaps and lush sub designs below to bring us a truly original intro. From here we take a more rhythmic route as 'Push' delivers an eerie combination of metallic percussion and haunted vocal sampling, before the post funky tom pushes of 'Brain' switches the vibe completely. Finally, the moody half-time drum slams of 'Open Letter' brings the EP to a close, having showcased an incredibly wide-range of electronic music themes. Awesome!
Review: At this point, whenever we see Pinch's name appear on a forthcoming list we buckle in for a long, explorative ride into the science of sound, with this latest album on Tectonic entitled 'Reality Tunnels' being exactly what the doctor ordered. Over the course of 10 stunning originals, we see Pinch flex his veteran production muscles with some of the most interesting and original creations we have heard this year, from the post-jungle designs of 'Entangled Particles' alongside Emika, to the space-age soundscaping of 'Back To Beyond' and post-dubstep marches of 'Returnity'. For us there are a pair of clear highlights, with the haunting vocals of 'Inezi' on 'Change Is A Must' sending shivers down our spines, alongside Killa P's war-ready vocal additions on 'Party'. Amazing work.
Review: Now there are few things we look forward to here at Juno Download more than a Tectonic drop. When we then see that Walton is involved, the rest of the day goes out the window as we leap with excitement. This four track selection is more than we could ever ask for, kicking off with the rampant LFO marches and stuttered drum structures of 'Scooped'. Next up, the dungeon ready percussive inputs of 'SBWYS' switches up the vibe, before the clap heavy rhythms and gnarly sub-moogs of 'Smashed Crabs' roll into play. Finally, another load potent LFO's move into formation as 'Abyss' unleashes one final array of bass-mastery.
Crossing The Line (feat Killa's Army) - (4:36) 142 BPM
Send Out - (4:33) 142 BPM
Crossing The Line (feat Killa's Army - radio edit) - (3:42) 142 BPM
Review: Wait wait wait, Pinch, Kahn, Tectonic AND Killa's Army? Just take my money. This is a fantastic link up from start to finish as two Bristol legends combine in style across two powerful originals. We firstly check out the deep, rolling sub tones and high energy vocal displays of Killa's Army on the hard hitting 'Crossing The Line'. You can hear this in a Kahn set of any kind, any day of the week. Things get even darker on the flip however as 'Send Out' lands with more gnarly sub tones, creating a seriously spooked out atmosphere through its use of space and choppy drum movements.
Review: There are few labels you can find the UK that always have as open a mind towards dance music as Tectonic, who here make their return alongside the breaks-heavy production stylings of Elmono. We kick this one off with a look at the title track 'Cooper's Dream', an atmospheric experience driven by crunchy breakbeat slices and spooky background feels. This is chased by the more lofi drum rolls of 'For The Future' before landing in the more tech inspired percussive arrangements of 'Endorfiend'. Finally, 'The Shermi Paradox' lightens the mood with some moogish bass orientation and yet more well designed drumfaces. Very enjoyable stuff!
Review: As one of the most creative production minds in underground electronic music period, the one thing you can always rely with Walton is to expect the unexpected. This release sees him return to Tectonic for a bombshell drop, putting together four absolute heaters. We see him begin the journey through the project with 'Bullet #2', which runs rampant through metallic bass stabs and sharp percussive switches, before landing on the iron carnival episode known as 'Inside'. Following this, we have 'More Cowbell', which is pretty self explanatory right? To finish up we mash it up with the moogish bass texture of 'Gunshot Clap', rounding off another solid project from Walton.
Review: As one of the real leading forces in Bristol's 140 scene, we were very excited when we heard tell of a new project dropping from Boofy, especially when we learnt that it was to be alongside now legendary Tectonic imprint. We kick off the party with title track 'in My Head' which is a creepy, old school roller, driven by spooky harmonics, along with the skippier drum stylings of 'Perfunktion' and the quite frankly incredible sub work that takes place across the triplet driven arrangement of 'Back In The Box'. We then sign the project off with 'Herbie', another haunting expanse of unpredictable soundscaping, driven by organic drums and persistent, grizzly drones.
Review: Following his inclusion on Tectonic's landmark 100th release - Riko Dan's 'Hard Food' EP, Sam Walton presents a full length for them. Of all the dubplates in label boss Pinch's record bag over the last few years, the ones that he has selected the most often have Walton's name scribbled on the sleeve apparently. A unique creative statement by the young Mancunian producer, Pinch is very proud to release Black Lotus: which is evident of the 26 year old's 'true talent.
Review: Current scene darling Hugo Massien is up next on Pinch's esteemed Tectonic imprint. The Berlin by away of Bristol DJ/producer is the rising star most commonly associated with the 'deep tech sound' with releases on hot imprints previously such as XL, E-Beamz and 17 Steps. Indeed the Advanced Aerial Threat EP features yet more modern rave perspectives, that are drenched in evocative and dramatic aesthetics. From the bittersweet post jungle deconstruction of "Ursa Minor", some artificial intelligence on the sleek electro of "Candy Flip" that would make even Gerald Hanson or Carl Finlow stand up and notice, while the fierce breakbeat drama of "Divisions From The Start" flaunt Massien's fine knack for rhythm.
Review: Bristol bass imprint Tectonic is run by dubstep legend Pinch and returns with more dark side, low-end extremities to truly push the threshold. It is mainly about the Young Echo affiliated Ishan Sound here, who on "C5" collaborates with local scene hero Hodge for a moody downbeat affair, featuring spooky horror movie synth textures over booming kicks and trap snares. He then joins forces with the affectionately known Alex Muttley - a rising star on the local scene who lends his studio talents to the equally compelling "Still Smoking". Featuring more grime elements this time around, for this wobby and splintered basement jam that's guaranteed to get some lighters up in the air.
Review: Across multiple genres of UK underground music, Riko Dan is already solidified as one of the vocal legends. He is also known to step outside the 140 box and work alongside unusual production to create some truly phenomenal work. His brand new EP has been released through Tectonic and is a homage to his vocal versatility, be it the rapid fire patois voicings upon 'Vibration', the slower more dancehall inspired lyrics on 'Slap It Up' or even the uber grimey flows on the title track 'Hard Food'. Along with these we are also blessed with the techy arrangement of 'Hungry', the 8bit melodies of 'Alright Then' and a fantastic remix of 'Big Slug' from the ever creative production fingers of Walton.
Review: The latest Tectonic missive sees Truss and Perc rework two of the tracks from Logos & Mumdance's 2015 album, Proto. The crossing point between bass and techno have become blurred, but there is no such ambivalence at play here. Indeed, the rework of "Move Your Body" is as visceral as it gets, with gargantuan drums rolling in as distorted, ear-shattering riffs pushes the listener well outside their comfort zone. The interpretation of "Hall of Mirrors" isn't quite as intense, but it does revolve around stomping kicks, splintered metallic riffs and the kind of heads-down, relentless approach that both producers are synonymous with.
Review: His first Tectonic tear-ups since last year's incendiary album Depatterning, Ipman returns with two beautifully brutal pieces of sub-tech drama. "Constrict" hits like and old Plus-8 record, relentless rolling with its analogue texture fluctuating with grainy menace. "Running Man" is darker again - effectively kickless, the whole focus is around the suspense, unknowing and unease created in the slow-smouldering rise that eventually breaks down to naked heartbeats and eerie chimes. Bonafide futurism.
Review: When it comes to dubstep and its pioneers, people always drop the same names: Mala, Skream, Youngsta etc etc. But, there's another name that has been around since the FWD golden days. That name is Distance. Like many others who were involved in the scene's foundations, Distance has preferred to remain in the shadows, away from DJ booths, and firmly on his mixing board in the studio. If we're talking labels, he'd done 'em all - Hotflush, Planet Mu...the list goes on. Pinch's Tectonic feels like the perfect place to drop his new LP, especially because it strays way beyond the usual confinements of dubstep, and into whole new categories. From juke to bassline, and even techno, Dynamis is an album for lovers of the bass form. If that's your kink, this piece of work has got all the ingredients to satisfy your every need. Twisted basslines, haphazard beat flexes, and even some mashup lyricism. Sink your teeth, innit.
Review: An instigator returns: Tectonic bossman lays down a sweet-shuffling garage-minded drum arrangement with more than enough space for Rico Dan to do his damage. Wait for the bass to really rip mid-way. As Rico says himself "original badboy business". "No Justice" brings up the rear. A scratchy, spatially dizzying stepper coded with all manner of spooked out designs, it's clear Pinch is in his element right now... Long may this continue.
Review: Commonly seen sharing space with Killawat, Ipman has links to Pinch having committed one of the earliest releases on his techno-focused Cold Recordings label back in 2013 as well as contributing a production to the Pinch B2B Mumdance mix CD from last year. This Regicide release formalises links between Ipman and Tectonic and arrives ahead of a mooted debut album from the producer for the label later this year. The title track is a rugged ode to hardcore jungle badness that fits the current direction of Tectonic to a tee whilst the flips sees a new version of "Ghostrunner", Ipman's high pressure contribution to that Pinch B2B Mumdance mix.
Review: Boof! The Pinch man himself returns to his own Tectonic stable and he's joined by Mumdance and Logos. All three bass heads have collaborated on Tectonic before, all with stunning results, so it's a pleasure to see them back in action. Up first is "Double Barrelled Mitzi", a dark and cavernous pseudo house bullet of a refix of Pinch and Mumdance killer "Turbo Mitzi" boasting a flurry of deranged sonics and deep, sweltering shots of low-end - a true hybrid tune in the label's familiar style. Pinch himself turns in a VIP mix of the Mumdance & Logos cut "Legion", a tribal war dance powered by broken shreds of percussion and deep waves of bass. Heavy duty stuff.
Review: After an impressive run of form on labels such as Osiris Music and Pressed, the UK's Ipman lands on Pinch's mighty Tectonic imprint with a vicious two-tracker in pure Bristol mode. "Regicide" is a mid-tempo jungle swinger backed by perfectly detuned chords and swamped raga vocals, while "Ghostrunner" calls all station to grimesville with its grizzly bit of wobble low-end and furious percussion shots. Thee two tunes are bound to destroy just about any dancefloor, splitting the subwoofers wide open in the process. Recommended for the bass corner-dwelling, bass heads.
Review: After spending much time linking up on the likes of Keysound and Tectonic, two of the sprightliest minds in the contemporary grime-infected bass swells of the UK scene consummate their partnership with this heavyweight long player. With that unclassifiable flair that has marked out so many worthy producers in recent times, the spirits of rave, techno, dubstep and much more all equally feed into the tracks, from the Beltram-baiting heat of "Dance Energy (89 Mix)" to the nail-biting pressure of "Chaos Engine". If you want to test the temperature of where the most upfront club music is headed, then Mumdance and Logos are more than qualified to give you the lowdown.
Review: Roska releasing dark music is not a new phenomenon, but this belated return to Tectonic - his first solo material for Pinch's lauded label for three years - is particularly bleak and paranoid. Lead cut "Hyperion" is particularly dark, with dubstep style effects and cymbal hits riding a pulsating and sub-rattling, if stripped down, 120 BPM techno groove. In contrast, the moody but sprightly shuffler "Off" is positively cheery in comparison, with more of the UK funky influence Roska made his name with. The EP's two dominant approaches - funky and techno - come together on closer "Only Human", which fixes a surging, head-cracking electronic bassline to an expertly-programmed broken techno rhythm.
