Review: K7's DJ Kicks compilation series is given a new makeover with their latest juggernaut from London-based electronic deviant, Actress, who gives one of his rare appearances out of the live format and onto the decks. As expected, the techno shape-shifter puts through a diverse mix of 20-plus tracks spanning old-school Chicago house to more contemporary experimental techno and ambient-filtered dance music. This continuous DJ mix includes vintage Detroit techno from Reel By Real, distorted outsider disco from the Shit & Shine crew, Gherkin Jerk's "Red Planet" and a new cut from the man himself, "Bird Matrix". It's safe to say that this mix is comprehensive of the current state of affairs in the techno world: cuts ranging from the distorted house of Breaker 1 2, golden era electronica from Autechre, TTT's Zennor, Germany's STL and even PPU affiliate Moon B! An essential collection of music from 2015, highly recommended, of course!
Review: London-based, Australian-born sonic alchemist HAAi is called up for her instalment of DJ-Kicks. At 17 tracks large, including three exclusive numbers from the artist herself, it's a mix taking inspiration from techno through electronic pop and the intense sound design of acts like Pan Sonic. Meticulously woven into a euphoric narrative that makes its way through unexpected BPM shifts, dramatic accelerations, and liminal transitions - it's tracklist alone should be enough to pique your interest with rare cuts from the likes of The Blessed Madonna, Agoria and Perc, to John Selway, Manny Dee and Cocktail Party Effect. And fun fact, it follows HAAi's 2022 album, "Baby, We're Ascending".
Review: MELMAK's new EP is entitled All Stars: The Rave Years which gives you an idea of what to expect. These are high-tempo, dense and rave ready sounds from the drum & bass vanguard. There is plenty of space out cosmic energy to the exploratory leads of X Termal's 'Tragnal Kozze' then 'What If' (The Doulo Klan edit) is a tightly coiled stepper. Bugger lays down a hyper speed rhythm with drilling bass and slapping hits on 'No Silence Now' and Umbra's 'The Big Dumb' is a real slow-motion churner with textural synths and alien sound designs. All four are ready to get the party going in different ways.
Review: Rolling deep with Paris's subversive M-Town Clew, French grime beat carver Lil Crack unleashes his generous (Re)Sources debut. Resonating with the Spookys and Sh?ms of the scene, there's a crisp iciness while still retaining a level of groove and funk: "Inner Fight"'s eerie insistency and steel yard clangs on the rhythm, the wavy barbed dream of "Path To Ecstatic Life" or the paranoid, twisted rises and peaks of "Clausevitz Abstraction". Lil Crack...Moorish.
Review: LMajor and Corporeal Face aka Local Group follow separate and collective releases on Furthur Electronix and Human Concrete Block with this EP for Lobster Theremin offshoot 10 Pills Mate. Steeped in the sounds of 90s hardcore, Big Beats... brings the listener through an array of sounds and moods. There's the raw break beat and chipmunk vocals of "Watch This Beat", while the release veers into a melange of hip-house vocals and sample-heavy elector on "Work That Thang". Most impressive however is "Rhythmic Trip", where the pair combine mysterious synths with evocative vocals over rolling breaks. Lastly Angel D'lite's remix of "Trip" pushes it towards the intersection of pop and happy hardcore.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.