The Unearthed Sounds crew members have compiled their weekly picks containing collectively, in no particular order, our favourite tracks/releases of the week.
Here are the selections individually from the crew:
Well who would have bloody thought it. 20 releases on Holding Hands. That is bananas to be typing that out. It’s been a hell of a ride and I am over the moon to be able to confidently sit here and say that I still absolutely love every single release that has been put out since the first back in 2017. What a bunch of absolute slammers!
Keeping true to form number 20 comes from a new Harry Wills alias called Brazen and it does exactly what you expect when you turn on a Holding Hands release. Bendy wendy steam rollers that land somewhere between a rail of k and downing a crate of Red Bulls.
Obviously, I am a massive fan of Harrys. I run another label (Sock It To Me) with him and his previous release on HH is one of my all time favourites. When he came to me with a new alias and some fresh tunes it was a no brainers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!
OK enough of my blather. Go and listen to the damn things yourself and decide if you like them, rather than trying to work it out from reading a bloody press release you weirdos.
All four tracks are produced and sculpted for the club. They want big sound systems and dark rooms.
Close your eyes, hold hands and experience transcendental space flight...
Jim Coles once again turns the tide towards a new horizon and travels further into the echo chamber. Leading on from the much-lauded ‘Secret Location’ mini-album with Seekersinternational, one-offs such as ‘Open Palms dub’ (Dub Stuy) and other teasings, ‘Acid Dub Studies’ is the fully-fledged result of the merging of the calligraphic expression of the 303 Acid bassline with the stern sway of Dub Reggae and the hazier edges of Dub Techno and Ambient music.
For those who have been paying close attention, this project will come as a welcome return to the vulnerability and playfulness of early Om Unit records such as his sub-radar single from 2010 ‘Lightgrids/Lavender’ (All City Records) or the unearthed chugging ambience of ‘Friend of Day’ (Idle Hands) and indeed in some sense draws from similar wellsprings as moments on 2013’s Bass classic ‘Threads’.
Whilst sbeing perhaps an ‘interim project’ this is still a vital and important expression of exploration and playfulness. A study in the true sense and borne out of a subtle but pervasive frustration with the rigidity found in musical words he has up to now been cohabiting, Acid Dub Studies comes from the pressing need to break with perceived expectation and to explore an honest and natural space away from the genre labels and tags that had been often lazily applied to his sizeable catalogue of music.
With no desire to reinvent the wheel, rather to paint pictures in an honest framework, the LP was crafted using a medley of classic analogue mixing techniques inspired as much by the adventurous dubbing of Adrian Sherwood as by the inward- delving haze of Scott Monteith’s Deadbeat project. Created during a period of lonely introspective walks through his home town of Bristol, the cover art is a photograph of some of the iron kerbstones that are found almost exclusively in the characterful and hardy city which were installed in the late 1800’s to protect pavements from cart wheels. Something about the permanence of those iron slabs and cobblestones inspired a sense of comfort and determination.
Acid Dub Studies is due for release as yet another self-released label-free project leading on from recent EP titles ‘Violet’ and ‘Submerged’ both of which hinted at some of the shapes found in this full length album.
Once again Jim has shown a rare convincing adaptability that few electronic artists can embody. Another step on the journey of personal and creative curiosity that fans are sure to appreciate.
Since 2014 Stones Taro has been delivering his own take on the UK sound, heavily influenced by rave, jungle, garage and breakbeat. Now the Kyoto, Japan based artist makes his Cheeky Music Group debut with four intricately laced cuts on August 20th, continuing to break the mould and recontextualize his own sonic palette.
‘Again’ opens proceedings with deep wobbling bass that finds its way from your ears and down to your toes, coupled with dub style chords and vibey vocal loops, to help keep the steppers moving to the early hours. ‘Come Over Me’ picks up where ‘Again’ left off with glossy lipped vocals and oscillating snare drums, resulting in a track perfect for warming up the dance floor.
Glistening synths sparkle just above choppy breaks and spacious bass in ‘Yakusugi’ - as it’s ethereal sensibility adds a different dynamic altogether to Stones Taro’s ever evolving sonic armour. Every sound in closing track ‘Rare’ is carefully placed and nuanced; as one tone reflects off the next in auditory delight - suited for those late-night dwellers.
A1. Again
A2. Come Over Me
B1. Yakusugi
B2. Rare
3 Chairs (Theo Parrish, Kenny Dixon Jr., Rick Wilhite) - Three Chairs 2 (Repress)
Mom’s Spaghetti returns with the second instalment of club tracks for weak knees and sweaty palms! Once again curveball selections are mixed up and served out with a rich spoonful of techno sauce. Vol 2 breaks into a slightly different territory from the last EP by placing some southern rap classics onto the chopping board alongside some hand-picked cherries from the 80’s disco larder...
A1. Funkytown
A2. Cheated On You
B1. Frimmerang
B2. One For The Money
Metal Fingers pres. - Special Herbs Vol. 1-2 [2 x LP]
