Review: Hold tight Bryan Gee and the family. Now rolling 30 years deep! Naturally they're releasing some absolutely exceptional music to celebrate. Next up in this epic three decade gully marathon are three utter tear-ups. Voltage goes old testament on the jungle slap-about 'Lion Of Judah', Krust and Need For Mirrors' Cloud Lord go ultra trippy and cosmic on 'Ghost Train' while Command Strange and L-Side get pure filthy on 'Angry Tune'. Many happy returns V!
Review: Some three-way collaborative action here, as sometime Simma Black contributor The Checkup joins forces with DJ Merci and Mona Lee for the very first time. All involved seem to have got the best out of each other, with 'You Make Me Stronger' sounding like a dustier, extra-percussive take on some of label boss Kerri Chandler's best works of the mid-to-late 90s - all sweat-soaked deep house beats, heady acid bass, twinkling piano motifs and improvised female vocals. Simon Shaw remixes, turning it into a wobble bass-propelled slab of turn of the Millennium 4/4 UK garage revivalism with a 21st century twist.
Review: If you're worried about producers spending too long in their studios and not getting enough fresh air, or producers inappropriately dressing for an occasion, then save those thoughts for another artist as Agro is most definitely okay: he's currently out on the piste and he's most definitely wearing the correct gear as 'Ski Mask' will get those cheeks nice and warm with every slope-bound slap. Elsewhere 'Murk Nothing' wriggles and rants with the energy and mischief of a young Tyke, 'Porridge' will heat you up with its sludge, warm oaty vibes while 'Scum' closes on an ice cold vibe. Wrap up warm from face to foot.
Review: X-Ray Ted delivers a heavyweight slice of funk in the form of 'Dance With Me', offering a tantalising glimpse into what his forthcoming debut album has in store. The Bristol producer has once again deftly merged the timeless allure of vintage funk with the energy of modern production. Swaggering horn hooks combine with rolling beats, guitar licks and hip-hop refrains to create the perfect musical bed for the anthemic and soul-infused vocals of fellow Bristolian Carys Abigail. It's no surprise at all that this one already has the Craig Charles seal of approval by featuring in his prestigious BBC 6 Music 'future funk tracks of 2024' show.
XRT: 'Dance With Me' is an ode to the excitement of a new relationship; putting yourself at risk for the potential of incredible reward. Those driving horns scream of promise, and the big slappy drums represent confidence and solidity of intention. As a title, 'Dance With Me' is just as much an invitation as it is a mission statement for the lead-out single of my debut album.
Review: Whenever the 1Forty banner is raised we know we are in for a good time, with this latest dip into funky and garage being their 9th outing in the genre, delivering another four gems that are sure to cause many a dancefloor ruckus. First up, the ever-ready Logan joins forces with T!M for a sultry, sub-driven slide through broken beat garage themes and hard hitting subs on 'Run Dat', before the classic funky approaches of Murder He Wrote are unveiled on the party starting 'M808'. Next, 'Know Dis' lands from ODF, one of the new school garage leaders, this time focussing on subtle subs and tidy breaks work, before Richard Wright unleashes some serious speedyg flavours on 'Deja'. Awesome stuff!
Review: As always, the Time Is Now banner is riding high with this top quality six track collection from Nitework providing all the energy a dancefloor needs. We open up with the old school vocal & chord combinations of 'Desire', before the choppy vocal melodic grooves of 'Be There' and colliding percussive underbellies of 'This Ain't Love' take the lead role. Next, a more stripped back outing as 'Lose Control' gives us a moogy drift of a bassline to play with, with the glittering synth work of 'All Night' then arriving for an additional punch of nostalgia. Finally, 'Falling' gives us a killer closer, rounding off this top quality collection with more vocal chopping magic.
Review: Next up on Binary Cells is Klint with this hard-hitting release. The pounding, industrial rhythm of "Atlas" gets Son Heros off to an intense start. There is no let-up on "Mental 89", where Klint drops a dense, banging track. While the title track integrates trancey riffs with robust tribal drums, it is still primed for the dance floor. On "Supervision", Klint continues this approach as a surging bass ripples its way through a looped groove. There are some exceptions to the prevailing intensity: "Requiem RK" is a heads-down ebm workout, while "Cinq Sections" is a dub-influenced track, but one that still packs quite a punch.
Review: "Shut The Lights Out" is a funky throwback brimming with infectious energy, courtesy of Berlin production duo Lovebirds and vocalist NILE. Lovebirds channel their well-regarded love for 70s and 80s sounds into a groovy production. The foundation is an arresting funk beat, bolstered by classic disco instrumentation and dreamy synths. NILE's vocals are the perfect compliment, with a motivational spoken-word style that adds another layer of interest. The package is completed by a remix from disco aficionado Birdee, who takes the original's sparkling energy and adds their own signature touch. Birdee's remix is an upbeat and spacey take, perfect for extending the dancefloor journey.
Review: Back on Pick The lock for the first time in a long time, Kormz brings the storms with this almighty six-pack track attack. Taking off where he last left us with last year's 'Collusion' EP on Nemesis, it's an intense trip into the fieriest corners of his DAW and a place where some really grotty sound designs ooze out of the speakers. Vibes range from the bone-shakingly tearing and gnarly ('Stick') to greasy, deep and offkey ('Desolate') via strange other-worldly trippy funk ('Sh*t Connection') And that's only half of it. Shots fired!
Review: Dutch duo Fouk, comprised of Daniel Leseman and Hans Peeman, unveil their latest offering in the vibrant Mirage EP for Dam Swindle's Heist Recordings! Picking up from their Blue Steel EP of 2021, these four originals take in a blend of funk and disco influences while presenting a dynamic exploration of the pair's musical palette, leaning towards a club-centric vibe. The EP not only highlights Fouk's distinctive sound but also features a powerful remix of the lead track by the talented Hardgroove artist Elisa Bee, adding an extra layer of energy to the record!
Review: Just when the sound technician at the club thinks they've got an easy night ahead of them, along comes Kontakt with 'Redlines At Dawn'. Overdriving your mixer with every sharp kick and gnarly bass texture, the whole EP is an absolute steamroller of a session and includes a few familiar faces... Serial Killaz flip 'Start Barking' into a whole dog pound of ruffage while T>I appears on the final two cuts... 'Format' sees him joining Kontakt for a dark and stripped back cut in the form of 'Format' while the EP concludes with a T>I remix of Kontakt's 2022 Richter scale ruiner 'Tremors'. Shake it baby!
Review: Gee Labe won plenty of plaudits for his Toy Tonics label debut, 'Metamorphosis', when the EP dropped back in October 2023. Hopes are naturally high then for the Barcelona-based Venezuelan's speedy sequel. She hits the ground running with Mabreezee hook-up 'Monkeys', where squelchy synth-bass, dreamy chords and even more soulful vocals wrap around an extra-percussive mid-tempo house groove. New York combo Musclecars join forces with Kamaal to deliver vocal and instrumental takes that successfully re-cast the track as a slab of broken beat/Italian dream house fusion. Completing a fine package is bonus cut 'The Fourth', where Lane rushes off on a 1989 style piano-sporting, breakbeat-driven house tip.
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