Love Love Records are honoured to present two interstellar remixes from the recent album from HENGE, ‘ExoKosm’ which was self-released last year by the band during the pandemic. Acid pioneers and Madchester legends 808 State rework the track ‘Exo’ in their signature ‘acid-house meets rave-hardcore’ big band sound that fits seamlessly amongst their own back catalogue. The second is a heavily clubbed up twist of ‘Goldilocks’ from Brain Rays & Quiet, a spacey slab of sub-slung broken power-house with a sleazy groove like an alien abduction straight to the engine room of the UFO.
Yosh is back on Dansu Discs with his ‘Skyline’ EP. Yosh is a household name in the scene and someone who continues to blow it out the park release after release. His Skyline EP provides all the vibes to get us into those dark and gloomy winter months. On the flip, we welcome Angel D’Lite with her delightful (no pun intended) remix of ‘Skyline’.
‘Free Your Mind’ is an iconic track made and released in 1991 by the Cowan brothers – Mark and Andy. They had previously put out a couple of records beforehand, but the release that got them forever known is the ‘Psychology’ EP, which the original version of ‘Free Your Mind’ appears on. It was also an all-time favourite tune for Amen Brother boss, Brent Aquasky. So much so, that when he started his repress label, Vinyl Fanatiks, he hunted down the brothers in order to re-release it.
But in 1990 Mark released an EP under the name of Dik Fozbee, inspired by the US house and techno scene. An EP that is highly collectable and was also sampled by 2 Bad Mice on ‘No Respect’. After that EP was released, Mark was tracked down by a young Ron Wells AKA Jack Smooth. Ron was about to make his musical debut as Smooth and Simmonds, but they needed someone who had an Akai 950 and knew how to use it. In steps Mark Fozbee, who lent them the bit of kit and gave them pointers on how to operate it. This is where this EP’s name originated from.
Forward time by 31 years to the buoyant world of the rave repress era. Remixes needed to be done of ‘Free Your Mind’ and both Fozbee & Cooz as well as Ron Wells were big inspirations for Brent Aquasky, so bringing them together for the first time was an idea that thankfully both parties were into. The outcome is this EP… two smoking remixes by Jack Smooth; one in his Ron Wells techno fused direction, the other in his Jack Smooth proper Jungle Techno vibe, which is hugely relevant as Jack Smooth was the creator of that sound in the early 1990’s.
But on top of that, the guys decided to write a brand new track together… ‘Redress’, taking things back to the 90’s London techno era.
These guys are the core of what would become rave in this country and in turn hardcore, then jungle. If you want to learn the history of drum and bass, these are the guys to research. Pioneers!
a1. Fozbee, Cooz & Smooth - Free Your Mind (Jack Smooth 3.0 Mix)
a2. Fozbee, Cooz & Smooth - Free Your Mind (Jack Smooth 2.0 Mix)
To Copy is the third release from Simpler Times and features 4 moody cuts of ambient breakbeat from Archie Gray. Limited run - Vinyl Only 180gram Vinyl No Repress
Love Love continues the new LOVLTD series with ‘A Mirror Touch’ by Klotang, a collaborative work by young producers Klahrk and Otang that dives deep into the hardcore continuum pulling out huge chunks of authentic euphoria. This is rugged and raw old skool hardcore with some truly iconic rave moments, crafted with a fresh perspective - a must have for DJs intent on keeping the vibe alive.
The EP kicks off with ‘Tritium’ a whistling old skool number opening with rumbling subs before the turbo kicks in about a third of the way through. The in-yer-face rave attack vibe gives way to dreamy pads as the track continues perfect for early morning sunrise in the dance. ’Hells Bells’ is a grimier affair hinting more towards modern influences before a 180 degree midpoint switch-up settles on a stomping ’91 era rave rhythm. The final track on the A side, ‘Hyperthruster’, is big sub mover, propelled by a skanking break and vocal chops throughout, laced with darkside ‘ardcore stabs.
As the tempos continue to increase through the EP, cheeky B-side opener ‘Pressure’ brings the old skool fun. A fast and furious dance workout complete with bass bonks and synth squirts. B2, ‘Funland To Dockland’, is a piano driven vintage happy hardcore anthem pulled straight from the early 90s, whilst Rognvald amps up the choppage and takes it up in tempo for the remix on B3. 6 crucial tracks of killer rave material coming complete with artwork by East London graffiti legends Check & Race from A.W.E. [All World Experts].
Coming hot on the heels of his debut on Distant Horizons, London breaks-master Yosh joins the core label family with a killer 4-tracker on Lobster Theremin.
As one of the most recognisable names from the emerging UKG re-rise (it never went away, y’know), Yosh has developed a reputation for dutty 2-steppers and screw-face breakbeats designed to delight and devastate the rave.
‘My Fire’ is a jungle-influenced cut of broken breaks - malfunctioning, soulful and electric - the perfect accompaniment as day turns to night, the atmosphere loosening as it does. A sun-setting stepper brimming with v i b e s.
‘Hold On’ sees Yosh venture towards his traditional garage territory - low-swung percussion, wubby stabs and ambient dreamscape aesthetics spraying contemplative thought patterns into the air as we sway from side-to-side, before ‘I Feel’ reignites the junglist inspiration with its rumbling bassline, bouncing breaks and underground energy.
We reach our climax with the most ‘heads down’ cut on the record; ‘Outa Sight’ maintains that light and dark sensibility that has become such a staple of Yosh’s productions, simultaneously taking us from moments of sweaty intenseness to moments of blissed-out ecstasy.
4 more quarters, 4 more contrasting expressions of global bass music culture: Barefoot sound originator and G-stone Afrofuturist Stereotyp teams-up powerfully with Malaysian rap legend Arabyrd on 'KEK', delivering a massive dose of Malay shudder trap that does not relent in either its growling bass attack or husky lyrical humour. Next up, the crisp and clean mid-90s DnB vibes of Bristolian producer K-65 ups the energy and tempo with the steadily rolling rinse-out of 'In My Mind', lightening the mood momentarily prior to the first cut on the B-side, with which we descend once more into the increasingly familiar Badman-isms of Low End Activist, who opts for a mutant strain of hardcore UKG on this outing, all scuffed swing and first light maneuvers. Finally though, it's all about the transparency of the groove, with the lush closing tune by Sentinel 793 emanating masses of UK Bruk style and charm, delivering another solid, low-slung workout from this hardworking and charismatic producer. Confined to quarters or not, get these 4 new sound pieces for the meantime, downtime, time being etc... as you like, want or need.
Following releases on 777 Recordings, Low Income Squad, as well as his own Nasty Enterprises imprint, Nasty King Kurl sets his sights to Queensland’s finest for the energetic and head-turning ‘Weak Lips’ EP.
Taking inspiration from Breaks, UK Garage, Electro and beyond, Nasty King Kurl combines this myriad of influences with a skill for crafting character-filled yet devastatingly effective dancefloor cuts, striking a careful balance between club functionality and enjoyable at-home listening.
A-side opener ‘All I Want’ sees chopped breaks and vocals permeating monstrous low end, leading into title cut ‘Weak Lips’, which lays soft Rhodes chords under G-funk whistles and crunchy percussion. On the flip, ‘Low Carb Bitches’ brings cheeky hip hop vocals under squelching bass and freestyle-esque scratches and chops, before closing track ‘Make Tech House Great Again’ carries warped samples, dense percussion and swirling FX to round out the release.
Field Maneuvers residents LMajor and Corporeal Face - who together make up Local Group - follow up a sold out Laser Domes EP, a Secret Race 4 appearance and an XL Recordings inspired release Fresh Rhythms with a rave and hardcore inspired 4-tracker for mysterious imprint 1Ø PILLS MATE. Heavily inspired by the UK sounds of garage, jungle and breakbeat, the duo's first outing on the label encapsulates everything you might hear in a Local Group set. ‘Rhythmic Trip’ is an emotional, breaksy number; meandering out of dark tones and patterns and into large vocal samples and uplifting odes to classic hardcore.
Netil Radio resident Angel D’lites Dolphins Have Sex For Pleasure release on Banoffee Pie Records last year has already gone down as something of a contemporary classic, and here she continues in typically high velocity fashion with a wicked 150bpm lovecore remix of the Local Group original.
‘Watch This Beat’ nods to the right side of happy hardcore - its chipmunk vocals, ravey piano stabs and snappy breakbeats providing plenty of gun-finger induced, rush-in-the-rave moments - before ‘Work That Thing’ closes the door with a scratch-sampled cut of electro that sounds like it was taken from the middle of a Jerome Hill set.
London artist, producer, DJ, label head and leader of a new generation high-speed ravers, Sherelle announces her eagerly-awaited debut EP, 160 Down The A406. Known for her work as a pioneering, high-octane DJ, the EP is the first time Sherelle has officially released her own productions.
Tired of the crazy pandemic lockdown time, we've got another Bourassa release.
Smolny, who recently debuted with the song 'Secret' on the PLUR vol.4 compilation for Lobster Theremin, returns to his label this time with the 'Magic Series' of 4 beautiful rave tracks from the 90s.
The A side offers two wonderful classic old school jungle sounds, which recall the crazy times of that golden era. Cheerful pianos and twisted well-known vocals take us into a magical world.
On the other side, 'Fantasy' and 'Euphoria' at a slightly faster pace of 140 bpm, brings us killin' happy hardcore vibes. Who doesn't remember the epic sample 'Can't beat the system'? Used again in the 'Fantasy' with the new arrangement will definitely destroy the dancefloor on more than one occasion.
Following his Red Pyramid EP, L.F.T. returns to Mechatronica with fearless visions, Nils Fock on vocals and a cold-blooded Dollkraut remix on the flip. Hand-numbered, hand-stamped, no repress.
![HENGE - Exo / Goldilocks (Club Mixes) Incl. 808 State Remix [10" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/lov_01_{width}x.jpg?v=1633686349)
![L.F.T. - Träume von Gabriel [Hand Stamped & Hand Number 12" Vinyl] - Unearthed Sounds](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/mtronw008_{width}x.jpg?v=1607621966)