Review: Pruvan follow 2021's Pozor on Tectonic with this fine, expansive affair. The title track revolves around a dense, knotted rhythm and swathes of psychedelic synths. On "Grift", the trio lower the tempo to deliver a moody, rolling groove. On this occasion, the chords are darker and more ominous. "Lowkey Betrayal" is based on a similar approach - this time, off beats support woozy chords. "Flagrant Vagrant" sees Pruvan venture into abstract territory, where vocal samples and drums are shredded to pieces and then shoot out through the speakers. In contrast, "Overstep" is a more dance floor-focused track, led by an insistent, looped chord sequence and a rolling groove. "Dumpster Fire" is understated, with Pruvan focused on a stepping rhythm and bursts of noisy bass.
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: 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.
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: 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: 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: 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.
Review: Rapidly ripping it up with a mission to bring some proper dread back to the convoluted hinterland around what used to be dubstep, Beneath has been showing some deadly skill on No Symbols and Keysound, and now he gets snapped up by Pinch to bring it on home to the perfect label for such deadly accuracy, Tectonic. "Duty" wastes no time in whipping into a low slung 4/4 roll defined by a gut-wrenching bottom end while all manner of panic-inducing industrial textures come slamming in around it. Far from the monochrome results so many achieve with such a sound palette, there is a serious dynamism in the rhythm Beneath creates, only built upon with "Texers" as dystopian whiffs of melody try to enter the fray in a more whip-cracking broken beat template.
Review: Unveiling a new moniker, DJG steps up with a smart two-tracker which continues Tectonic's careful steering towards a potential future for dubstep. "Uncertain" already received an airing on label boss Pinch's recent Fabric mix, and it sounds pristine in its solitary form, as mammoth chord stabs follow an equally hefty bassline. The vibe starts off darkside and blossoms into rich textures, positively sunnier in its outlook than first impressions may have suggested. "Vendetta" lives up to the sinister promise of its opening tones, riding a similar bumping groove but keeping the melodics to a minimum so that the edgy rhythm section can do its thing.
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