Review: A top-tier mangler of bass and electro beats, Zodiac Cartel drops two new newies for U&A. Creating a very smart flip of Bessie Smith's acapella blues song "Sometimes", ZC let's the rich vocals sit perfectly over a deep-set jacking groove. On a more post-midnight vibe, the accompanying "Revol" combines a spooked synth lead with a building orchestral density that makes it a moody yet powerful 126bpm winner.
Review: A top-tier mangler of bass and electro beats, Zodiac Cartel drops two new newies for U&A. Creating a very smart flip of Bessie Smith's acapella blues song "Sometimes", ZC let's the rich vocals sit perfectly over a deep-set jacking groove. On a more post-midnight vibe, the accompanying "Revol" combines a spooked synth lead with a building orchestral density that makes it a moody yet powerful 126bpm winner.
Loops Of Fury - Rack Em (Zodiac Cartel remix) - (6:59) 126 BPM
Loops Of Fury - Rack Em (Maelstrom Fr remix) - (5:22) 126 BPM
Loops Of Fury - Rack Em (Bambounou mix) - (5:34) 130 BPM
Loops Of Fury - Pump Up (Vandal remix) - (6:09) 130 BPM
Review: Finally seeing a release after months of attention and a summer of being rinsed by Sacha and others, Brisbane's LOF drop the mighty electro-tech of "Rack 'Em". After a kaleidoscopic arpeggio build, it drops beautifully into a charging Boyz Noize-esque beat and keeps the momentum peaking the whole way home. With the equally mental "Pump Up" also included, and featuring one of the most devastating synth-rises since SonicC's "Stickin'", this is an essential buy for all electro-heads.
Review: House veteran and one of the leading proponents of tech-funk, Simon Shackleton might be better known to some under his pseudonym Elite Force. Bringing back the minimal vibes with his first release on Stereophoenix, Shackleton mixes up his usual deep minimal sounds with glitteringly bright melodies in "Ten10", sounding out the glory days of Underworld, Crystal Method and Chemical Brothers while retaining that cool, collected aura of the modern tech house age. "Your Life" blends bleak techno breakdowns with addictive key hooks and nightmarish minor synth stings. A release of total opposites.
I Can't Take It Anymore (Autokratz Bad Life remix) - (5:50) 128 BPM
I Can't Take It Anymore (VovKING remix) - (4:42) 129 BPM
Review: Released earlier this year, Rektchordz electro-tech bomb gets two new facelifts from the Autokratz and vovKING, both of which take the bona fide dancefloor damager into completely new exciting territories. Bad Life maestros Autokratz go heavy on the big room techno vibes a la Dubfire and the distinctive rolling Sci+Tec sound. Rising and whooshing with a synapse-snapping riff, you can save this one for very late nights. Meanwhile emerging artist vovKING takes thing down a dirtier track, exploiting the filth that Rektchordz had already paved the path and adding his own crafty glitches, synth twists and bass croaks along the way. Oh, and watch out for the drop - deadly.
Review: From a label that specialises in thrillingly blurring the lines between breaks and electro, U&A's fourth collection is a true standout. Peo De Pitte's "Grey Tape" has a wicked line in sub-punishing bass anchored to a smart set of beats, while Hedflux's mix of Elite Force's "No Turning Back" is a straight-line builder of the highest order. Dylan Rhymes sets a match underneath Loops of Fury's "SOAP" while Rektchordz uses breaks sounds in club-pumping patterns on "Speaker Bump".
Review: The ever reliable sub frequency merchant Peo De Pitte follows up his previous release on Elite Force's U&A label "Who Do You Love" with this new-meets-old school romp that flies out of the speaker with the grunting grace. With a bumpy, bass-fuelled riff and a heavenly synth-soaked drop, it's two parts Dirtybird silliness and one part Meat Beat Manifesto retro flavour... And a billion parts guaranteed chaos causer.
Review: The third in U&A's series of EPs to celebrate five years of existence sees four more exclusive originals and remixes hit the shelf. The Loops of Fury keep going from strength to strength, and new tune "Don't Stop" is hardcore electro madness at its best. London's Zodiac Cartel drops the jazz-jack of "Madtown" here for the first time too, while Rektchordz takes Elite Force and Meat Katie's huge single "Believe" into an even bigger dimension whilst retaining the original's commanding preacher vocals in tact.
Review: Finally seeing a release after months of attention and a summer of being rinsed by Sacha and others, Brisbane's LOF drop the mighty electro-tech of "Rack 'Em". After a kaleidoscopic arpeggio build, it drops beautifully into a charging Boyz Noize-esque beat and keeps the momentum peaking the whole way home. With the equally mental "Pump Up" also included, and featuring one of the most devastating synth-rises since SonicC's "Stickin'", this is an essential buy for all electro-heads.
Review: Already proving to be a staple in sets from big name electro heads such as Herve, AVH, 2ManyDJs, Zinc and the Bloody Beetroots, "I Need" is a triumph from Aussie-born, London-dwelling duo The Loops Of Fury. Anyone who heard the enormous "Rack 'Em" from last year will get the gist straight away - slowly rising electro leads jiggle between huge drums and Sebastian-styled funk bass shots, while a sly and pitched-up Motown vocal sample ushers in a breakdown of astral pads and even a brief drop of the Amen break as well. It's got it all, and it's no surprise that so many heavyweight DJs are rinsing this one hard at the moment.
Review: If David Icke is right, shapeshifting electro housers The Lizard Kings will soon overthrow democracy and rule Britain with a scaly fist or iron. Given these circumstances, it might be unwise to upset them for fear of getting a forked tongue-lashing if and when they do dispose of David Cameron and co. "Oviparous" is certainly a monster, all head-slapping twisted electro riffs, bowel-destroying bottom-end and pulverizing beats. Elite Force does his trademark "tech-funk" (i.e breakbeat house) thing on his remix, while Mike Hulme reaches for the lazers on his anthemic big room version.
Game Changer (Zodiac Cartel remix) - (6:30) 128 BPM
Review: With such a lofty title, "Game Changer" really needs to live to up its mighty name. Coming from one the tech funk scene's most progressive, forward thinking artists however, that really isn't a worry: Elite Force puts real thought into every production he conjures, and this is no exception. Slick, funky but demonically dark, it rolls with precision and dastardly flare. Elsewhere we see him don his Zodiac Cartel guise for a more tech-based version complete with Beltram-level stabs and Meat Beat Manifesto style breakbeats. Change your game, now up it with this.
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