Drifting on oceans of thunderous stillness, carried away by endless currents, whipped up by waves of darkness devouring you until you see the light. The first album from Platoo, a collaboration between Michelle Samba and Phil Mills, has an unrelenting cadence that grabs you and refuses to let go. A distinctive combination of calming soundscapes and highly-charged energy fitting any occasion, from dancing like lost souls in the empty halls of ancient barracks to ecstatically tripping on a distant desert planet.
To Phil and Michelle creating Platoo was about being given a sense of freedom and exploration, at once shaking off habits and rediscovering forgotten values. Phil's love of the mesh of ''real'' sounds and electronics, and quest to establish a balance where both would feed off each other saw him abandon convention and standard structures, deviate from the beaten path and let things come to life. Michelle's quest to create, to inspire and be inspired, to draw her conclusions from serendipitous events allowed her to break things open and be at ease with letting herself go to create the breathing space needed for this new sound.
What makes their symbiosis fruitful is a common yearning for the unknown, a search for what works without exactly fathoming why it works. The result is something that indeed meets those needs, a strange and beautiful musical exploration.
a1. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Tap Into Jo
a2. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Changing Horses
a3. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Blauw
a4. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Human Beings Without Legs
b1. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Bete Noir
b2. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Department of the Environment
b3. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Victoria Edge
b4. Michelle Samba & Phil Mills - Watch Out Please
A future proofed masterpiece of hybrid rhythms, basslines and metallic funk created on a MPC3000 and recorded as live jams over many studio sessions in the Witness Rooms, Scotland.
The recipe is futuristic but the main ingredients come from the UK with subtle tastes of the West Coast and Detroit. This new LP holds off the retro rave appeal keeping this record placed well into the years ahead.
The Sell_By_Date LP, is undeniably Landstrumm laced with his signature sound and vibe.
Double Vinyl and Digital release with 3 bonus tracks.
A pair of tunes that sit at an interesting place in the history of dub reflective arts. Conceived and released in the post-Burial Mix vacuum, but prior to the modern alliance of Dub Techno with true Dubstep. In short, a record that would be seen as the moment of that sea change had it not been so underground.
Short lived collab between 6Blocc, LA’s reigning king of the Jungle, and U-Ome (Aka Eddie Funkster of Mo’Funk fame). Two cuts of fierce Roots-n-Riddim Dubstep.
South3rn opens the vault with “Fully Loaded": Spooky in an Upsetter vs. The Vampire way with a reverb drenched, echo heavy skank. `Muslim Dub` is pure string steppiness with lush, clean riffing & toasting.
A Long thought OOP tome in the LoDubs catalog is unearthed in an extremely limited quantity. A ragga vocal roller unlike any other backed with an equally runnin tribal workout.
Longtime Bass providers D-Operation Drop join Navy Cut for NC017. This 3-track EP from the Italian producers is packed with Bass, sub energy, detailed mids & crisp highs.
BONUS DIGITAL TRACK “Monojoe” for vinyl purchasers. Email: label@navycut.co.uk
Breaka’s come a long way since he first turned heads in 2018 with shivering bass anthem ‘Rory’s Theme’. After releasing further records on Holding Hands and other labels, he also kicked off his own eponymous label, and held down remix duties for Interplanetary Criminal and Kelly Lee Owens. Now, his musical curiosity gets the spotlight with self-released debut LP ‘We Move.’
Made on a laptop and midi keyboard during the winter of 20/21, the album clearly goes out to the club: singles ‘Mass Gathering’ and ‘Solaria’ earned attention from DJs like Anz, Call Super, and Om Unit, while also doing the rounds on NTS, Rinse FM, and the BBC, as well as featuring on BBC essential ‘Mix of the Year’ by Elkka. Tracks such as ‘Look Inside’ and ‘Solaria’ navigate themes of reflection and isolation, while numbers ‘We Move’, ‘Honeydrum’ and ‘Baile Steppa’ work genres like UK funky, trance, kuduro, and samba together into new forms. Whether considering the dance from a distance or toying with new ideas of what the dance can be, ‘We Move’ is a confident statement of intent, showcasing Breaka’s love for explorations across the electronic axis.
Artwork comes courtesy of Breaka and Jake Elwes, with featured photography from Sophie Jouvenaar.
Al Wootton presents the second part of a trilogy, following on from the Maenads EP, of sparse, percussive techno drawing influences from UK Garage and Dub. Heavily textured and weighty music for dancefloors and forest floors.
The follow-up compilation from the 10-year celebration back in 2017 continues along with the same energy that Smokin' Sessions are so well known for, offering floaty and uplifting productions with detailed beat work, along with that all-important heavy serving of lower frequencies.
We hear some absolute classics from names such as Djrum, Geode, Versa & Rowl, Escapism Refuge, Occult, Mercy, and some newcomers to the label in the form of Marenn Sukie & Synpal. There are 5 exclusive, unreleased tracks in total. 2 stunners from Synkro, 1 from Biome, and another 2 from Synpal. Some seriously impressive productions throughout.
The lineage takes us right back to early works, right up until the present day, and showcases some phenomenal music. Its unmistakably Smokin' Sessions and the tracks selected are some of the finest offerings the label has released over its extensive history.
For this incredible Vinyl sampler we hear the 2 exclusive tracks from Synkro ‘Intersection’ & ‘Movere’, Biome’s track ‘Tired’ and a previous gem titled ‘Reiki’ from Synpal.
One of the all-time great hubs of soundsystem culture and musical free-thinking, it was only a matter of time before Bristol had DNO Records in its grasp. A quadruple threat from the city’s Young Echo collective members, rappers Manonmars and Bogues join forces with revered producers Ishan Sound and Neek on the ‘Burning Paper’ EP, broadening the expansive horizons of DNO further still.
This time, the dish of the day is experimental rap four ways. Opener ‘Cool Runnings’ finds Ishan Sound and Neek on an upfront tip, strapping titanium beats to unruly 808 low-end that leans towards the signature slides of drill. With the battleground set, Manonmars flexes cut-throat bars, switching up to double time for the final coup de grâce.
On ‘Nuke The Threat’, Ishan Sound slows the pace, bringing in eerie chimes that tumble forth behind Manonmars methodical slur, while ‘Skinhead Chick’ — a four-way bout — continues to drop the tempo, descending from weed-induce fuzz into full codeine blur. Here, both MCs’ pitched-down vocals form a layer of sludge around sparse, creeping hats — it’s uncomfortably dark and evil but oh-so addictive.
Final masterpiece cut ‘Burning Paper’ is not so much chopped and screwed as plunged and drowned. An Ishan Sound & Neek beat gurgles below the surface as Bogues and Manomars deliver lyrical craftsmanship and precise bars on smoking, the grind and girls amidst a haze of bong rips and horrorcore weirdness. The first DNO release that primed for home-listening release as well as doing damage over a system, the ‘Burning Paper’ EP is out on the 25th of February 2022.
Rhythms of postmodern realism at the very bottom of the DNO.
a1. Manonmars x Ishan Sound & Neek - Cool Runnings
WRDubs return afresh in 2022 with a transatlantic twofer.
Up on side A is Brighton (UK) based bassbin botherer MISFIT known to many in his hometown for his tireless efforts supporting underground music on local radio and in local club The Volks. 'Katana' impressed us with a mystical melody that floats like fragrant smoke over a steely chassis of weighty growling bass and militant half-step drums. Strict and sharp but still sounding soulful. This one skanks AND slaps.
Flip to the AA where we are proud to reveal the addition of LA-based low-key legend OXOSSI to our humble catalogue. Following a thought-provoking voice discussing creative struggles and strategies, 'Frantic''s punchy restless riddim will have soundboys & gals bouncing through the ceiling. With an urgent energy, super-sharp production, lush layers and foreground frequencies few can touch, you'll be left gasping for air.
After vocal-led 12”s featuring the likes of Razor and Sikka Rymes, Low End Activist pivots back towards purely instrumental territory for further explorations in the hybridised hardcore sphere. There’s an over-arching air of introspection to the five tracks assembled here, as LEA’s signature bass ructions and jagged, roughly-hewn drums offset with a widescreen line in melancholia.
From tweaked out hi-vis synth wobbles to dust-encrusted soundtrack loops, crushing percussive textures to the finest slithers of rhythm, this is densely packed, sample heavy tackle pulling in multiple directions in any one bar. The craft behind each piece is tangible, yet for all the studio flex it’s the ambiguous nature of the melodic and atmospheric material which deepens the impact of the music. Continuing an approach displayed on the earlier Engineers Origins 12”, LEA ignores formalised structure to instead explore the lie of each track in a non-linear fashion as though they were a planetoid pockmarked with bass craters and lit by irregular solar flares. Consider LEA004 an astral package holiday to five distinct destinations without an itinerary stifling the experience.
The second in the so far very popular series of vinyl-only white labels on YUKU that feature artists releasing under different aliases. This time, exploratory and impactful 160 with a slice of low-slung halftime from two artists - Ikawa & Kliptown.
Banoffee Pies Records 19th release in the Original Series lands with a very special solo EP entitled "Static" from Melbourne based Producer/DJ, Pugilist. Alex has been making incredible selections of bass infused, UK and Dub tinged music for many years. A fitting welcome on BPR as the label hits it's 8 year anniversary since its inception in 2014. The platform continues to evolve with an ever growing number of releases representing different sounds across its sublabels and many blossoming side projects alongside.
To honour the frequent mood changes and feelings of relative isolation experienced in the last 2 years, the A side aims to reconnect those lost moments with "Déjà Vu" & "Future Retro" - both tracks channeling a UK centric sound for the dancefloor and a further proof of the depth and quality found across Pugilist's back catalogue. The B side flaunts a completely parallelled sound palette with "Static", a down tempo dubby track partnered by the beautifully stylish "Sky Blue". A combination of anthems and cloud hopping ballads for the record collectors. Much love, BPR. X
Mr. Ho shows again why he is a favourite producer for so many! A double album full of bleepy breakbeat tunes and robotic electro, all with a strong focus on the dancefloor. His debut album 'Michaelsoft' is a perfect and sophisticated summation of the talented producers skill at making sonically slick groove-led music, ranging wide in genres and moods. The album is a journey of sorts, kicking off with the dreamy breaks of '000Baby' and the slightly broken beats of the spine-tingling 'Ngomee' before venturing into hectic and threatening electro with 'Quit Startin' and ghetto-funk stylings of '14me'. After listening to 'Michaelsoft' the listener is reminded once again of the subject of time, specifically the time the producer has spent silently honing and calmly perfecting his craft whilst the rest of the world seems to descend into chaos. Recommended!
Those in charge of opening this vinyl saga are "Fat & Blind" these two artists from Cádiz better known as "Deibeat & Shemma" with their track "Mother F .... Breakbeat" published by the label "Weekend Breaks" in 2000 , a track that became an anthem and continues to resonate at every party, now remastered for this occasion.
Secondly, we have "Sekret Chadow" this Huelva artist who in such a short time has set off all the alarms and who is already a benchmark in our scene. He presents us with the VIP version of "Electrophonia". This track was released in its original version last 2020 by the label "13Monkeys Records" reaching the best positions of Beatport's TOP100 Breakbeat.
On side B we recover another of the old jewels of the Cádiz artist "Pablo Weinx" his track "California Project" released in 2002 under the "Fish Records" label. Close your eyes, we are going to travel to the past with this great track full of melodies and a lot of feeling. It is another great album from the golden age of Breakbeat in Andalusia that cannot be missing from our collection.
Finally and not for being the smallest of the meeting we present "Adam Vyt" with his track "Summer Rhythm" which was created in an intro version in 2015 for one of his first performances on the island of Tenerife with the promoter "The Beat". A quite fun track, this mix between Cádiz and the Canary Islands, loaded with piano melodies and a powerful base in the purest "Old School" style.
Dj octopus presenting his new label devoted to rough edged electronic music. Monthly releases both digital and cassette tape.
First issue by Matteo Stella aka Broken Audio sharing a complete journey through unexpected bass visions and underwater break scenarios.
Mastered by Lucretio with NeverEngineLabs' ZDF Filters for Symbolic Sound Kyma and a G SSL 4k compressor. Dedicated to Baio. Artwork by Vittorio Valigi.
Monty presents his debut album 'Hit The Lights' on 1985 Music. Flowing between sub-genres, this 16 track long-player showcases his variety and meticulous attention to detail. Featuring heavyweight collaborations with PAV4N, Strategy, Chimpo, Redeyes, and fellow label comrades Visages.
“If you deep listen to the album and take the time, you'll notice that every track is connected to each other, I really enjoy albums like this, tells more of a story as if the transitions are like turning a page in a book, or chapters. It was a challenge to do but worth it in the end.
The album was built from everything I love and learned in the last 10 years about bass music.” Monty
a1. Monty - ON
a2. Monty & Visages - Vibin’
a3. Monty - Cargo
a4. Monty & Alix Perez - Dreamer
b1. Monty - Walking Home
b2. Monty - Meet You There ft Chimpo
b3. Monty & Trail - Cinnamon
b4. Monty & Redeyes - Birdland
c1. Monty - Hit The Lights
c2. Monty - Ancient
c3. Monty & Visages - Hardware ft PAV4N & Strategy
The next drop on Livity Sound is the first collaboration from long-time label mainstays Hodge and Simo Cell. True to the styles the artists have individually marked out since first appearing on Livity Sound circa 2014-15, LIVITY050 presents fiercely imaginative, upfront club music across a spectrum of tempos.
The supple, fluid approach to electronic music the two producers are separately known for feeds into a cohesive partnership, whether they’re turning their hand to dancehall-inspired, sub-100BPM heavy hitters or jagged, technicolour half-step tapestries.
Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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