Main Phase returns to Warehouse Rave with a four tracker 12" that shows the Copenhagen native take on both 2-step, grime and breaks. The release, Cool Down EP, sees the rising garagehead Main Phase explore the murky and dark areas of 2-step with direct nods to the grime scene generals as well as early rave sounds and euphoric breaks.
First cut on the 2-step dominated A-side, "Eski", sees Main Phase go dark with tight syncopated beats, heavy basslines and a little help from the godfather himself.
Staying in grime-ish areas, "Bluku" delivers clear nods to the grime-scene with icy synths and sirens while still maintaining the freshness of 2-step. Oh my gosh!
The B-side of the record opens up with the title track "Cool Down ('93 Mix)", an homage to big raves, hefty breaks and slashing reeses.
From slashing reeses to gully subs, the final track of the record, "All of the People" sees Main Phase make breaks workout side-by-side with playful synth melodies and mc-samples from way back when. Hold tight!
The second release on Raw Basics is a solo single from Basic Rhythm that brings a summery Techno vibe to your turntable.
The A side opens with a bright lush pad lowly panning from left to right, coupled with a bouncy kick drum and light percussive hits, before unleashing a heavyweight bass line designed to rattle your sub stacks and knock the air out of your chest. Cha is a stepper that draws from, and combines Dancehall and Detroit Techno with a deftness that only Basic Rhythm can bring to the dance floor.
The B side is a more subdued affair, invoking clear blue skies and a warm summer breeze. Opening with a lush chord and muted 4/4 kick drum, the layers of tape hiss obfuscate and add a little lo fi fuzziness, while gradually building layers of percussion in that unique Basic Rhythm style, adding hints of sub bass before finally opening up into a straight stepper around the half way mark, with a solid kick drum and warm bass line that compliments the lush airy chords. This is one for the summer!
FAVX005 is here! Chadlad x that handsome French nutter - What more could you want from a dubstep record? Both tunes supported by the big don Mala. Respect!
Young gun and badman producer Retina returns to Foundation Audio for his debut vinyl release and quite frankly it slaps!!!!
‘Dusted’ kicks things off with a hyper 4x4 beat and an eratic bassline – this one comes flying straight out of the gates! ‘Nameless and Nothing’ a meaner, beast with its eerie atmospheres and plodding bassline takes the A2 spot. Flip the record and we have ‘No Fear I’ a subby monster best described by the word SUB. ‘If Not The Orb’ closes proceedings with a 07-08 old skool antisocial kinda vibe wrapping up the ep perfectly. Dubstep goodness from front to back and solid proof that Americans can also do the dubstep.
An assemblage of production across labels such as DEXT, Fabric/Houndstooth, Sound Pellegrino and his own GUNNER imprint has seen Troy traverse a multitude of tempos and club conditions. Paving the way for his debut EP on Only Ruins, ONRU004 is a luminous four-track 12" that exercises a complex and heavy-duty sound design.
As premiered by Saoirse on BBC Radio 1's Residency, Croak inaugurates the EP of post-apocalyptic effects-chains, exploring a twisted warfare of dancehall mutations, channelling synthesis through the belly of the beast.
Swede Get Spun is a contorted-tool, pacily worm-burning with nose tingling bass that gallops to the pulse of horse lasagne.
Championed as an opening track in the sets of Batu, Knee Slap is a claustrophobic coalition of intricately cut kicks that combat a playful sub-low and hyperspeed snare stabs. Widely known for his collaborations with Joy Orbison as 'CO/R', Manchester's Herron (meandyou/Peder Mannerfelt Production), morphs 'Knee Slap' into a leviathan of scurrying dread and paranoid panic for darkened dancefloors. You'll want to keep your shinpads on for this one.
All profits are being donated to Anti-Racism charities.
Already crafting an exceptional body of musical works, over a trio of albums and numerous EPs, Bergsonist tees up a release for Hypercolour that melds meditative ambience and cosmic electro over four cuts.
Hot on the heels of her last album, ‘Middle Quest’, on the Optimo Music label, Bergsonist opens the release with a collaboration with Missouri based singer/songwriter, Tonina. Three other tracks cover a palette of unhurried and atmospheric head music.
Infernal Sounds show no sign of letting up during 2020 as they present their 5th release of the year, this time with a debutant to the label, SWR. The relatively unknown artist (formerly known as Widowmaker) has been making fluctuations since arriving on the scene - his release with Cocobolo Sound receiving high plaudits as he created two tracks which perfectly paid homage to the original '06 sound. As for his Square Soulja EP for IFS022, he's plated up four cuts that showcase his vast variety in skill and sound, taking influence from grime and lacing a future sound within his productions. Whether you prefer the more surreal sounds of 'Vertigo', the downplayed filth on 'Isshin's Theme', or the more in your face skankers in both 'Square Soulja' and Cypher Zero', this is a 12" you'll want to be packing.
Having already received heavy support from the likes of Truth, N-Type, and many other reputable artists in the scene, this is an insta-bag.
The return of our VA series is marked with the new chapter ‘Freaky Friends Volume 1’ featuring the likes of P.Leone, Nasty King Kurl, Sentient State, Ole Mic Odd, Dj Swagger, and Main Phase.
The Berlin-based label has been going strong since its founder - Australian DJ and producer Dj Whipr Snipr - launched it in 2016, with recent genre-spanning releases traversing acid, house, breaks, and electro from artists such as DJ Bowlcut, Low Tape, Soela, Subjoi, Interplanetary Criminal, J.Albert, DJ Safeword, Anthony Fade, and many more. Nerang now invites six quality artists for its most ambitious release yet to inaugurate the imprint’s ‘Freaky Friends’ series. E-Missions founder and Rekids regular P.Leone leads the way with a thudding breaks number called ‘Parting Currents’. A rumbling bassline is later joined by lush pads and a hammering piano melody destined to rocket listeners into new heights. Following appearances on 777 Recordings and Low Income Squad, Nasty King Kurl is next with a raw sounding ‘Lawless’ - a syncopated cut that blends acid and electro with Memphis rap and R&B.
In fine form off the back of releasing on Hilltown Disco and 99cts RCRDS, Nerang veteran Ole Mic Odd brings a sweaty Ghetto House stomper named ‘Hydro Anthem’ complete with a gritty acid bassline and Pointdexter-esque chopped vocals, making way for Sentient State’s ‘4 Tha Freaks’ which exhibits the New York-based artist’s softer side as he layers lush pads on top of a stripped back electro rhythm for pure euphoria.
With releases on Natural Sciences, Who’s Susan and E-Beamz, Germany-based producer Dj Swagger ups the energy, clocking in with the compilation’s fastest track in a bouncing Chicago House inspired cut entitled ‘The Phone Talky’. Tying it all together, Warehouse Raves and ec2a artist Main Phase’s ‘Get Higher’ is a punchy UK garage track complete with thudding 909 kicks, purring bass, fluttering vocals and rave stabs.
One of the UK’s most respected electronic artists, Al Wootton (formerly known as Deadboy) presents his first album under the Al Wootton name, Witness.
Since emerging in 2009, Wootton has been behind some of the biggest dance records of the last decade, releasing on labels like Numbers, Local Action and Aus Music. In 2019, he re-located from London to the seaside town of Ramsgate (following a period spent in Montreal) and re-branded under his birth name, building a home studio and honing a style of dance music that draws heavily from his long-term loves of garage and dub.
Wootton has enjoyed a rich run of form since going back to basics: he’s released five 12”s in two years through his Trule label, copies of which now swiftly sell out as standard, and has also expanded the label to house releases by Melbourne producer Pugilist and old foil Julio Bashmore. On Witness, he channels this focus and momentum into an 8-track album that explores techno, garage, jungle and more, all tied together by the dub-inspired effects and atmosphere that has characterised his Al Wootton records to date.
The tracks that became Witness flowed out within a couple of weeks during a period of real creative ease that I cannot remember having before or since”, explains Wootton.
I have struggled and failed to make ‘dance’ albums many times over the years. I’ve tried to avoid making something thats just a collection of club tracks or noodley electronic self indulgence. What I realised is that the only albums I really love and repeat listen to are drum and bass albums. Albums like Photek’s Modus Operandi, Goldie’s Timeless and Roni Size’s New Forms perfectly capture that raw club energy and yet are intricate and textured enough that they still sound fresh to this day and still bear repeat listens.
I allowed tracks to develop and mutate as I introduced new sounds and textures with a much greater sense of freedom than when I am focusing on making tracks work solely in a club context, but I don’t feel like that dampened the energy of any of the tracks. The creation of Witness was for me one of those rare times when the practical and technical conditions are just right and creativity flows from some unknown source beyond yourself and all you have to do is get out of your own way.
For their second release of the year, Josiah Hartley’s Phuture Shock label welcome up-and-coming Manchester producer Szajna to the ranks; armed with his debut solo 12” ‘M41’ EP.
Already bubbling under the surface of Manchester’s diverse music scene for some time, Szajna has been carving out a name for himself far beyond the city of late - as a producer and DJ with a certain penchant for the broken beat genre. In recent years his productions – largely in the form of unreleased dubs and re-edits - have been making waves on the underground; garnering support from DJ’s across the board, including bruk forefather IG Culture and various members of the Selectors Assemble crew. While last summer saw the Manc resident score a V/A appearance on EVM 128 and James Rudie’s Dance Regular imprint.
Picking up from where he left off in 2019, here Szajna steps aboard the Phuture Shock mothership for his maiden voyage flying solo. Titled after the district postcode of Urmston, where the producer was living at the time he wrote the material herein, ‘M41’ EP renders a snapshot of Szajna’s off-kilter production style within three original tracks; merging the funky rhythmic structures of broken beat and 2-step garage, coupled with a cheeky dose of avant-pop melodicism and altogether outlined by the heavy bass lineage of the UK underground to create a somewhat quirky, genre-bending sound. Alongside the trio of originals, the 12” also includes a remix of the title cut by Barcelona’s finest bruk export Karmasound, who returns to the Bristol label hot off the back of his highly praised debut album ‘La Búsqueda’.
Opening up the set is ‘M41’, a melodic, percussion-laced romp, that bounces along to a descending bassline and bruk beats with a playful charm; before a kaleidoscopic wave of cosmic synth hooks and quivering SFX come to the fore, flaunting the chirpy kind of synth interplay that’s far more in tune with the Scandi disco stylings of Todd Terje, than the jazzier flair of the classic West London sound, yet works wonders. Nestled on the A2 is the dubwise skank of ‘Crunchy Landing’, in constrast a more stripped-down iteration of UKG for the darkest-lit club corners. Marked with an understated use of delay and space, it allows room for a deep, dubby bassline to furrow its way in between slick organ stab riffs typical of the old skool house’n’garage sound, whilst crisp hi-hats and galloping snares drive the rhythm forward, in a way that recalls the frenetic, snare patterns of UK Funky.
Maintaining a slight dub aesthetic, B side opener ‘Spooky’ connects the dots between broken beat, grime and dark garage, in turn revealing a much darker side of Szajna’s sound palette. Built around rugged, syncopated beats, and interjected with ice-cold synth motifs and dysphoric pads, the underside boasts a menacing b-line that channels the legacy of Drum’n’Bass and nods to the early works of UKG innovators like Groove Chronicles and Zed Bias. Finally the EP is brought to a vibrant close with Karmasound’s rework of ‘M41’, who puts a more Latin-flavoured twist on the original; retaining much of the percussive ingredients, whilst spicing things up a notch by adding shimmering boogie synths, jazzy keys and even a catchy vocal refrain of his own, all gliding over a decidedly wonky rhythm, that doffs a cap to L.A’s beat scene.
Space•lab records launches its interstellar mission to bring wigglers and warpers from all corners of the galaxy with a V/A made in Birmingham. Adam Pits kicks things off with Real Taste Of Gravity, a rising, trancey journey with a wonderful proggy bassline and synths-a-twinkling. Desert Sound Colony & Dr. Baird combine for the warpy, acid-flecked bassy roller Space Bass Express before Breaka and Adam Pits join for a classy breaks track with bubbling EFX called The Show Must Go On, named after Nic reversed a van into a parked car after setting up the space•lab party where they all met. Inner Zone (Rupert Worthington, Alex Anderson and label head Nic Baird) round things off with their debut release Niaaru - a sunrise weeper for those who like breakbeats with their coco pops.
a1. Adam Pits - Real Taste Of Gravity
a2. Desert Sound Colony & Dr. Baird - Space Bass Express
Astrophonica maintain pace in 2020 as Philip D Kick returns to the label with the 6 track “As We Continue”. Following 2018’s “Pathways” Jim Coles aka Om Unit aka Philip D Kick adds some shine and sparkle to his already near perfect and persistent formula. Coles remains dedicated to blurring the lines and joining the dots. As we continue . . .
‘Drips’ sets the pace and opens the flood gates with a flowing groove and lingering bass womps like condensation off a low ceiling. ‘160909313’ steamrolls through with a constant Turbo drum machine drive accelerated by a non stop rolling bass riff. The doors are well and truly blown off in ‘Funk 160’ as a planet rocking breakbeat and infectious chord stabs set the pace with confidence and class. Balmy pads caress a lazy groove in ‘Summer Moods’ and conjure feelings of long evenings and ever lasting sunsets. The Riviera is all bit crushed pads and elite level breakbeat science while you enjoy the passing vistas. ’Clouds’ brings this episode to a close with a smooth glide through the stratosphere and beyond with 4/4 kicks and luscious bass arp.
‘This record for me reflects the ongoing conversation between cultures and styles where jungle meets footwork meets techno, 3 cultures that share more in common than per- haps people realise, and for me this is more of a in-depth exploration for example of sonic tropes more prevalent in the world of detroit techno than other previous records. ‘Clouds’ and ‘160909313’ for example being somewhat of an homage to Detroit, the birthplace of techno, yet another black music that changed the world.’ - Philip D Kick / Om Unit
The record "Ghosts & Galaxies" tells the tale of Two Rangers and their epic adventures in the Next Level system. Listen close and you'll hear them travel through harsh landscapes while battling foes from this world and the next. Some legends say they were treasure hunters others say they were intergalactic outlaws. The only thing we know is that these guys are tough as nails and never look away in the face of danger.
Release Date: 3rd July 2020Italian DJ and producer Lynch Kingsley returns to Inperspective Records with new album Death Cycles, out 5th June.
An eleven-track release, Death Cycles is a slow-burning journey that sees Kingsley craft rich, atmospheric soundscapes informed by his D&B background. The first half of the record is characterised by downbeat, ambient breakbeat exploration, with tracks like ‘Rites of Passage’ and ‘Distance Between Soundwaves’ expertly setting the scene. In the second half, both the tempo and intensity rise gradually, most notably with the pounding, rapid-fire breaks of ‘Acid Dream’, before things are closed out with the sophisticated liquid D&B sounds of ‘Reach Through Meditation Pt. 2’.
Hailing from Rome, Kingsley has built a reputation around his complex, cerebral brand of electronic music, which is equal parts emotional, raw and intimate. Making his debut on Beat Machine in 2014, he has since released a brace of records on Inperspective, ‘Eden’ in 2016 and a Void’ in 2018. Closely associated with the ‘Dreamers’ crew in Milan, alongside the likes of Neve, he established himself as a frontrunner in the underground italian breakbeat circuit.
An expansive, complex collection of tracks, Death Cycles sees Lynch Kingsley kick off the new decade in scintillating form.
a1. Lynch Kingsley - Estranger (Sequence 1)
a2. Lynch Kingsley - Heart of Thorns
a3. Lynch Kingsley - Inner Vision
b1. Lynch Kingsley - Rites of Passage
b2. Lynch Kingsley - Distance Between Soundwaves
b3. Lynch Kingsley - Kigoku ft K4LL4X
c1. Lynch Kingsley - The Blind Ronin
c2. Lynch Kingsley - Aqtiquity (ft. Resound)
c3. Lynch Kingsley - Acid Dream
d1. Lynch Kingsley - Reach Through Meditation pt.1
d2. Lynch Kingsley - Reach Through Meditation pt.2
This 12 track album is truly beautiful. Drawing influences from jungle and liquid as well as low-fi hip hop, with flecks of soul and RnB, all washed over with cool, ethereal touches. Facing Jinx has worked with his friends, people he met along the way for this record resulting in every track featuring a different collaborative vocal.
a1. Facing Jinx - Dragonfly ft Conduct
a2. Facing Jinx - Black Valentine ft Sense MC & Khost
a3. Facing Jinx - Come Back To Me ft Ewan J Phillips
b1. Facing Jinx - My Soul ft Farz & Miriella
b2. Facing Jinx - Fear Of Losing You ft Philth & Formik
b3. Facing Jinx - Ignorance ft Macc & Lavahi
c1. Facing Jinx - For The Good Of It All ft Future Bliss & Just Some Guy
c2. Facing Jinx - Talking Sense ft Dexta & Becca Jane Grey
c3. Facing Jinx - Save Your Life ft Khost
d1. Facing Jinx - Remember To Breathe ft Tom James
d2. Facing Jinx - Here With You ft Wreckless & Alexsia Dee
d3. Facing Jinx - Give You The World ft Georgia Blackwell
Danish duo Lyra Valenza (aka Hjalte and Jens Konrad) operates on the outskirts of contemporary electronic dance music. Armed with a playful approach and a patchwork of digital and analogue equipment, Lyra Valenza carved their own space in the Copenhagen scene by genre-blending Jungle, UK Garage, and Footwork into a mix of forward-facing and euphoric dance music for 2020 and beyond. A testament to the duo's unique approach to sound design, they were selected for this year's SHAPE - a platform for innovative music and audiovisual art from Europe.
Lyra Valenza's latest EP, Nightshade Edition, is a package of sweet and dangerous cuts to the taste of dystopian romance. The prime dance floor material hits with metallic percussion and bursts of fluttering synths tuned with just the right amount of trance. From stepping UKG, to lush digital soundscapes, the four breaks heavy tracks are hyper-modern sonic experiments processed through a retrospective haze.
The Nightshade Edition EP is released on Lyra Valenza's own Petrola 80 label. It follows their 2018 debut EP "Scan Deliver" on UK imprint Opal Tapes and an appearance on this year's Kulør 006 compilation.
![Chad Dubz & Quasar - Fantomatique / Vox Dub [10" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/FAVX005_{width}x.jpg?v=1594120414)
![Las - IMRV030 [2x12" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/imrv030_{width}x.jpg?v=1593609115)
![Al Wootton - Witness [12" Vinyl LP]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/trule008_{width}x.jpg?v=1593421675)
![Philip D Kick - As We Continue [Limited 12" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/apha022_{width}x.jpg?v=1592298098)
![Two Rangers - Ghosts & Galaxies [full colour sleeve / 180g 12" orange marbled vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/nxtlvl011a_{width}x.jpg?v=1592233530)
![Lynch Kingsley - Death Cycles [2x12" Clear Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/inp029_{width}x.jpg?v=1591882113)
![Facing Jinx - For the Good of it All [2x12" LP]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/pprvlp001_{width}x.jpg?v=1591006878)
![Clubroot - Clubroot I [2x12" LP]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/lodubs00902lp_{width}x.jpg?v=1588602558)
![Clubroot - S/T (II - MMX) [2x12" LP & CD Included]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/lodubs10001_{width}x.jpg?v=1588151353)
![Swarms - Old Raves End [2x12" LP & CD]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/lodubs11001_{width}x.jpg?v=1587634689)