This long out of print classic from the LoDubs catalog finally resurfaces, thanks to an accidental time capsuling. Mensah (AKA New York Transit Authority) from this release went the direction of many LoDubs premier artists, and on to other storied labels in the sound, sharing a path to Deep Medi with Egoless and Compa for example. Throughout the years this plate has remained a timeless near-secret weapon, for those who know.
After we carried Ice Rave back in 2019, Sneaker Social picks up more coded sequences from Filter Dread’s outpost and transmutes them to wax for the good of the dance.
From obfuscated tapes of post-rave skits to slick and grimey bangers, there’s something slippery about the way Filter Dread operates, and it’s led to a highly individual discography that spans 10 years and labels like Ramp, Unknown To The Unknown, Fresh 86 and No Corner. His sound has a stark immediacy that revolves around sampling – just watch him work a live set on his Digitakt and you’ll understand everything. Through simple approaches comes the flexibility to glide between styles, displaying a virtuoso affinity for grime, jungle, dancehall and plenty more, with the means to put his own stamp on everything he touches.
On this new 12” we get six new slabs which slip between rave touchstones with poise, marrying up garish square wave womp with something akin to electro, slipping down into a more overtly grime-licked swerve, nodding to the early sublow days on ‘Asid 88’ and generally doing mad things with gargantuan bass and tuff, deadeye drums, It’s moody in a truly UK, spliff-friendly tradition, but it’s also plenty playful, with enough freakiness to get limbs loosened and a little heat up inside the place.
Zygos debuts on Infernal Sounds and dishes out a select choice of sliced delicacys to celebrate the return of the XXX vinyl-only series. The third instalment features a variety of different bootlegged beats, consisting of sneaky sampling and continues in the same vein as the series previous endevours, providing a jam-packed 12" of premium vibes and weight.
'Svensk Riddim' kicks off the release by sampling a light, playful mainframe, centred around a track of Swedish origin, it's the perfect dancefloor feeler to get the bodies moving. Whereas 'Ekte Dub' strips everything back, giving you the lower notes that you'll have come to expect from Zygos. Wrapping proceedings up is the grime-licked 'Waves', taking note from a classic sax piece and snapping it for the perfect slice and dice.
As with the previous XXX series, the release is vinyl-only (never to be released digitally) and will not be repressed.
Casting a self-reflexive lens over his roots via the medium of crushing, future-rushing soundsystem sonics, Low End Activist returns to Sneaker Social Club with a full-length of monumental proportions.
When the Low End Activism 12” ignited on Sneaker in 2019, it paid tribute to the Blackbird Leys estate in Oxford, UK, where LEA originates from. In the shadow of social inequality and strengthened by the unity of the multi-ethnic community, Blackbird Leys still imposes a powerful influence on LEA’s work, even as he’s stepped out onto Seagrave for last year’s Game Theory album and notched up the first couple of releases on his own self-titled label.
On this new album, Hostile Utopia sums up the conflicting emotions attached to memories of home – how it’s possible to feel nostalgic for the griminess of urban and suburban Britain, its ordinary tales of bitterness and frustration, but also its intrinsic passion and solidarity. At a time when social division is actively engineered by Machiavellian forces, real conviviality at street level feels like an impossible dream.
LEA communicates these tensions through a style which is becoming his signature – dynamic bass torsion and chiseled, fractalised rhythms slugging around the 130 mark. It’s moody like a UK-themed record ought to be, but it’s not morose. There’s fierceness in every snap and rumble, as the legacies of hardcore, jungle, dubstep and grime pour into the casing prior to the gunpowder lighting.
On previous LEA releases, the MC roll call has pointed to some of the most vital voices touching the mic in the present day. Flowdan, Sikka Rymes and Trim all had something different to impart over the riddims, and now Hostile Utopia expands on that with the most extensive show of lyrical strength yet. Mez lights up the woozy, abstract grime swerve of ‘Mercenary’ in a musical style. Emz brings a ruthlessly sharp verbal steez to ‘GetGet’, Killa P gets busy toasting over ‘DFRNT STYLE’ and ‘Superhighway’ carries the dexterous hip-hop flow of Cadence Weapon.
In between those standout tracks, LEA expresses just as much in the production. Tracks brimming with stories to impart, laden with symbols masquerading as samples and draped in aural garb that firmly places Hostile Utopia in a place, a mood, that could only belong to the UK. It’s a hybrid sound just like the society it sprang from, and therein lies its power.
Introducing Twelvez, a two track, 12 inch series from the ec2a camp. A subtle nod to the classic, club ready twelve. Expect one track per side, cut at 45 rpm for extra emphasis and bass weight. First up on the new imprint are two rising producers in UK Garage, Daffy & Dominus, combining for 'Warlord' - an ice-cold dubstep wobbler featuring London city warlord and OG Roll Deep general, Riko Dan, out today [6th May 2022] on Twelvez. Classic 140 arrangement and sub-lows setting the pace for the one of the most recognisable grime flows over the past two decades. On the flip comes an addictive speed garage remix by the ever illusive Yorkshire outfit, Soul Mass Transit System, out 3rd June 2022.
On ‘Warlord’, Riko Dan says,
“Dominus and Daffy hit me up to see if I wanted to collaborate on a project. I told them to send me the instrumental and we’ll take it from there. Fair to say as soon as I played it I knew instantly I would wanna vocal it. As for the lyrics - they’re all about catching a soundboy on the battlefield and killing him there and then without giving him a chance “fi walk home””
Dominus adds,
“Originally intended as a self-release 2 steppa, 'Warlord' has undergone about a year of alterations. Daffy quickly established the project's gloomy vibe, giving me a solid foundation for further drums, synth, and bass parts. At first, the rolling bassline I had made with the Korg Monologue was the main focus of the track but afer mixdown we decided a vocal was needed and Riko's fierce vocal lines were a game changer, instantly becoming the driving force of 'Warlord'. Editing Riko's vocals in-line with the instrumental was a lengthy but enjoyable process, with many little tweaks to get everything just right. It’s without a doubt one of my favourite projects I've ever worked on.”
Established in 2020, ec2a was born - a personal project referencing Yanis Koudjo’s inspirations and upbringing. Emerging during the height of the new UK Garage scene, Yanis’s debut as Dr Dubplate soon followed. ec2a references the postcode of Plastic People during its Curtain Road days, the former London clubbing institution and venue where the UK Bass scene famously cut its teeth and subsequently formed a hotbed for many of the early sounds that have since gone on to define eras of UK music.
Following suit after ec2a and OPM, expect the old school versus new school theme to continue. An exciting new offering from curator/DJ/label head Dr Dubplate, Twelvez is a powerhouse for darker, bass-heavy club sounds with the coldest onboard.
A1. Dominus, Daffy, Riko Dan - Warlord
B1. Dominus, Daffy, Riko Dan - Warlord (Soul Mass Transit System Remix)
The long-awaited project of the Green King Cuts Journey so far is the King of the Seas Lp featuring 5 producers from all around the world and 2 singers from the UK, all coming with an iconic track each, that all glue together for a complete sound system essential for the collection. This Lp represents the sound we want to push to the world and we are very proud of this work, which took over a year and a half to puzzle this together and we are thankful for this moment to release to the world on 12" 180-gram Black Vinyl press with Artwork sleeve.
a1. Blind Prophet ft Singer Tempa - Freedom (State of Mind)
For the second release on 777Hz, ‘Hiss is Bliss’ teams up with the legendary singer ‘Linval Thompson’ who delivers an amazing vocal cut with his unique voice. Recorded in the heart of Kingston Jamaica at Caveman Studios the A side track takes it back to the roots! While on the B side the Dub version will send you straight back to Detroit.
a1. Hiss is Bliss ft Linval Thompson - Free Jah People
East Man returns to HI TEK SOUNDS with something a little different… A foray into stompy mechanical Techno, as well as his own hybrid amalgamation of Grime and Techno, 8 Bar Techno, which he has honed over the last few years.
The titular track, Underground Software, opens with a burst of static noise before launching into a stomping kick drum and stab combo, gradually adding hi hats and snares as the track progresses, building into a funky mechanical groove.
The second track is something of a signature tune for East Man, bringing Techno and Grime together to create the hybrid genre of 8 Bar Techno. It fires out the gate from the off, doing exactly what the title implies. This is one for the Grime dances and the Techno raves.
The last track is Primary Source. A slower beat with a plodding thud that folds into a squelchy Techno groove. Full of funk and flavour this EP covers a wide range while maintaining a coherence that few others manage to pull off.
Throwing hi-def sounds into three-dimensional space and rendering bass in increasingly uncharted waters, Walton arrives on Sneaker Social Club with a future-leaning EP of dance wreckers for the tough crowd.
Even his earliest releases were pushing things forwards as the weightless grime thing gathered momentum, but Walton always swerved the rest of the pack and simply approached grime-rooted club music with his own experimental instincts. His mammoth body of work takes in totemic labels like Tectonic, Hyperdub and Ilian Tape, and as time has passed and music has moved on from micro scenes to a generically fluid individuality, so Walton has grown as an artist. Recent drops including his Maisie By The Sea album have started to embrace more experimental spaces alongside his familiar twist on grime, and this mini-LP for Sneaker continues that level of progression.
On the A side, long time Walton fans will be more than happy with the intensity of ‘PJD’, which is as fierce as we’ve heard Walton go to date. As ever, his beats are never a simple matter, with every hit embellished with needlepoint sound design. The sound zips around the stereo field, but never at the expense of the track’s impact. Still, there’s space for other vibes too, as on the deep, sweeping pads and electronica twitch of ‘Quasar’.
By and large, Walton keeps the pressure up. ‘Rush’ is a bludgeoning instrument and ‘Dread’ teases with a jerky, stop-start demeanour which lands heavy blows when it kicks in. But shorter cuts ‘Detach’ and ‘Shots Fired’ also allow space for other aspects of Walton’s craft to come through. It’s these cuts which add to the overall listening experience and show just how much he ahs to offer as a producer.
DE-TÜ make their long awaited return to Infernal Sounds. Having previously released on IFS008, IFSXXX002 and also featuring on IFS018 alongside DRPTNDRP, this double header may be their highest calibre of dub-influenced 140 to grace the label. 'Roadblock' kicks off proceedings in the best way possible, hitting you deep in the belly with monumental amounts of weight on the drop, whilst layering a reverberating vocal lead and a daunting backdrop to bring you deeper inwards. The flip however, 'St. Paul's (City Road Dub)' takes things in a slightly different direction. Although it still provides that trademark DE-TÜ sound, it's certainly orientated more around the soundsystem, providing a perfect flex within the dubwise sound. It's the perfect example of progression as all the elements fold and merge, creating a track that will captivate you from start, to finish.
The release has already received heavy support from the likes of J:Kenzo, Truth, Leftlow, Kursk (Innamind Recordings) and a few other reputable DJs.
1985 Music presents the first part of its brand new V/A series - Codex. Celebrating the best in 140/dubstep this 4 track EP brings tracks from Hijinx, Epoch, Ebb, and label boss Alix Perez.
We are extremely happy to welcome another talented artist in the Moonshine Recordings family. EchoBoy previously known as Riddim Tuffa is a Czech based producer that is about to mashup the todays reggae dubstep scene in the upcoming months. His first moonshine release will drop on May the 6th on beautiful marbled hazy red vinyl.
A1 Echoboy feat. Danny Red & The Herb - Jahovah Remix
On the Edge records are proud to present the repressing of the stone cold classic ‘St Martin / Tension’ from one of the label’s most celebrated artists, Djrum. The original pressing was only Djrum’s second release, back in 2010 and he has since become one of the UK’s most influential producers and DJs.
Produced in 2009 entirely from samples, a wide range of influences are elegantly explored across the record. Dub, Techno, and garage tropes from the post-dubstep era meet more esoteric sounds from jazz, modern classical, and avantgarde music. ‘St Martin’ on the A Side is nothing short of an absolute masterpiece. Clocking almost 10 minutes, it’s a journey of sounds produced and arranged to the highest order. The sub bass is bursting through the low end, giving warmth and power to balance the delicate percussion and blissful melodics. On the flip is ‘Tension’: another classic Djrum track that runs over 8 and a half minutes of impressive production continuing a similar linage as ‘St Martin’, only with an eerier atmosphere and that all important Djrum trail of thought that is placed somewhere far from this earth.
Djrum’s music has since been released on a variety of prominent labels, ranging from R&S and Illian Tape to Samurai and Ninja Tune records.
This repress comes for the first time with a full artwork sleeve. Designed by Greek/Spanish artist Sofia Lambrou, the beautiful presentation elevates the record to the minimal psychedelic majesty it deserves.
![Low End Activist - Hostile Utopia [2x12" Vinyl LP w/ Sticker & Insert]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/snkrlp009_{width}x.jpg?v=1653304244)
![Various Artists - Kings Of The Seas LP [12" Vinyl LP]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/gkclp001_{width}x.jpg?v=1652273389)
![Unknown Artist - Naughty Discs #1 [10” Lathe Cut Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/naughty001_{width}x.jpg?v=1652092891)
![Hiss is Bliss ft Linval Thompson - Free Jah People / Dub Free [10" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/2_69722a4c-1db5-46ec-9b45-3d0ca1fc7d95_{width}x.jpg?v=1651767300)
![Koan Sound - Funk Blaster [inc. Poster]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/shin002_{width}x.jpg?v=1651224036)
![3WA - Cosmic March EP [Orange 12"]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/nxtlvl021_{width}x.jpg?v=1650894279)
![Kevin Gad - Solid Foundation [7" Vinyl]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/klgm7001_{width}x.jpg?v=1650553002)
![EchoBoy - Jahovah EP [Cloudy Red 12"]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/ms063_{width}x.jpg?v=1649925660)
![Djrum - St Martin / Tension [Repress]](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0488/8057/products/ote013_58284e9a-385b-43f7-b64d-d10208bc2132_{width}x.jpg?v=1649684395)