The Unearthed Sounds crew members have compiled their weekly picks containing collectively, in no particular order, our favourite tracks/releases of the week.
Here's the selections individually from the crew: Max: VITD001 Mat: RAREBLK5 Albert: BFWHITE002 Morgan: ILL004 Rich: HOTSHIT031 Jonny: LODUBS-20001-2 Georgia: DANCETRAX027 Dean: NQ015 Jon: KZN007 Rob: 3024-PUG1 Chris: NMN012
Biome returns to Madam X’s Kaizen imprint with 5 heavy hitting, warehouse-ready club tools.
Serving up his signature style of big drops, frenetic growls and mutated bass, the A- side sees leading tracks Garvey and They Know marry his legendary origins in Dubstep with the carefully crafted, UK techno assaults of his recent work.
Early support from Mall Grab, Darwin, and Loefah puts the tracks firmly in the UK techno scene’s ‘gully-130’ danger-zone.
The B-side sees Biome exploring his sound further. Equinox’s dense textures perfectly accommodate its dub-heavy moments as it subtly creeps into the listener’s brain, whilst Stagger’s laser-sharp groove explodes in bursts of energy as it scales the heights of its 81-style soundscape.
The aptly-named Conquer brings the They Know EP to its gut-wrenching climax, starting with suspense-building hi-hats and ending with an aggressive breach of tech- out rollage: dark, bassline-driven UKG at its finest designed for dark spaces and big soundsystems.
As witnessed in the preceding decades of electronic music fragmentation, it is a bit of a phenomenon that entire threads of sound exist elusively between the tempos and syncopation of rhythm and percussion of each respective genre. just as dubstep was evolved into & somewhat stumbled upon it is somewhat certain that many more areas of illumination lurk in the echoes & shadows of sound.
As has been hinted on sonically with Surface Tension I, Clubroot's previous release & first foray into the second decade of the new millennium, the elusive aforementioned producer from St. Albans has managed to alloy a new sound with the swing and BPM of uk garage, space, air and atmosphere of true dubstep, and with all the unparalleled virtuosity and unmistakable aural DNA of Clubroot, which we dare say is rarely equaled. in doing so, clubroot illuminates the realm of uk garage and electronic music in general towards a currently unforeseen future.
Surface Tension: II further explores these discoveries and further reinvents them in the process. starting with the expansive 'Infatuated'; with its gradual, intensifying movements towards the ultimate reveal, and supported by the equally singular 'Explorer' and 'For You', Surface Tension: II is as much an additional high watermark in clubroot's overall discography as it is a companion piece to Surface Tension: I in both its genre-straddling style and overall ethos, with the vinyl release being pressed on one-time 'solar flare' color vinyl featuring moving original art which stylistically continues the narrative through the as of yet not fully revealed tetraptych.
Melbourne producer Pugilist hitting hard with a four track EP for these dark days.. As you may be used to by now on 3024, the artist showcases his wide ranging pallette of styles and flavors, and "Blue Planet" is no different. The title track is a slinky UKG informed dub roller reminiscent of early Shed. Acid Flange is a menacing 8am (or later) track for the deeper dancefloor or headphones. Pugilist's collab with Tamen is on a uplifting dnb tip and as a digi only extra we have "Quick Fix", a slinky Detroit electro piece.
With Quarter To Quarter, Amsterdam-based record label The North Quarter delivers its first compilation album: a manifesto and its most ambitious project to date.
The 14 track project features prominent vocalists IAMDDB and Azekel, Bass Music legends Total Science and Break and all the core artists that have made Lenzman’s boutique label the breath of fresh air it is today.
The North Quarter is a collective of artists from around the globe, brought together through a shared love for the authentic. The imprint has become a household name in just a short space of time through ambitious and highly detailed artist projects. With Quarter to Quarter, a compilation of cutting edge Drum & Bass music, the label further solidifies its reputation and unique vision.
Never doing things the fast and easy way, the album was put together and nurtured by A&R and founder Lenzman over the course of 18 months.
Lenzman explains: “Way back when I first got into music, I wanted to share that magic with others. Today that same urge still endures within me. With this album I've tried to bring together a group of artists with whom I have shared values, who have never been brought together in this way, and create a timeless statement of intent.
a1. Azekel - Don't Wake The Babies (Lenzman Remix)
a2. Atlantic Connection feat. Steo - Night & Day
b1. Tokyo Prose - Rescue
b2. Satl - Just Thinkin'
c1. Submorphics feat. Pola & Bryson - Albion Road
c2. LSB - Destine
d1. Lenzman feat. IAMDDB - In My Mind (Break Remix)
Following on from last release's b-boy junglist outings, this time the ill behaviour comes in the form of two reggae-tinged Amen rollers, bringing new meaning to the word "delicious".
Bristol native Wilfy D makes his debut release on the new Vitamin D imprint. Since working behind the counter at Idle Hands record shop at seventeen he has since been behind releases on Idle Hands, Peach Discs, Apron, Dr Banana and a remix on Conch. VITD001 is 3 tracks of no-nonsense UK Garage with a heavy R&B influence and 90’s flavours. An undeniably playable release that's tried and tested on the dancefloor.
Alex Jann returns to Dance Trax after last year’s intense electro workout alongside Assembler Code. Here he fly’s solo showcasing his broad style of electro futurism - inspired by authentic machine funk, Jann re-imagines classic sounds for modern times. Marco Bernadi on flight deck reporting for remix duties - Stay alert!
a1. Alex Jann - Cybernetik Memory
a2. Alex Jann - CMD CNTR
a3. Alex Jann - Cybernetik Memory (Marco Bernardi Electric Bunker Mix)
b1. Alex Jann - Klep Klap
b2. Alex Jann - Don't Come Around
b3. Alex Jann - Inward Energy
Paris Brightledge & Marlon Hoffstadt - Forgive You
Hot Haus is coming into 2017 all guns blazing!! Straight off the back of Mall Grab’s Pool Party EP comes a collab from Paranoids London’s Paris Brightledge & Germany’s Marlon Hoffstadt - Forgive You - a lush soulful chicago house anthem to put it mildly. PLUS for the DJs we had to include a techno rub from San Fransisco’s powerhouse Vin Sol. Additional acapella included!
a1. Paris Brightledge & Marlon Hoffstadt - Forgive You (Original Mix)
b1. Paris Brightledge & Marlon Hoffstadt - Forgive You (Vin Sol Remix)
b2. Paris Brightledge & Marlon Hoffstadt - Forgive You (Acapella)