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: BREAKA002 Mat: UVB76-016 Albert: ER029 Morgan: ONEF025 Rich: ACJ129 Jonny: RAREBLK5 Georgia: SOFT012 Dean: NQ016 Jon: DNO002 Rob: SNKRG001 Chris: VIOLET01
From the slamming science of “Ricochet,” through the jittery ghost-rave of “Survival” and the outer-space lover’s rock of “Dubbing You,” to the manic magic of “Finest Illusion,” this collection of early EPs by rave legends Foul Play tracks an astonishing evolution across barely more than a year. Some of the top tunes to come out of the hardcore > jungle > drum & bass journey? Yes, but also some of the most thrilling and gorgeous music of the entire ‘90s.
Simon Reynolds, author of Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture.
Re-mastered by Beau Thomas of Ten Eight Seven Mastering and re-issued for your aural pleasure. Don't sleep on this one!
Proudly presenting the 3rd instalment in our 'Edition' series - Edition 3 (Various artists LP). It includes tracks from Alix Perez, Machinedrum, Lordel, Deft, Visages, Monty, Ternion Sound, Drone, Cesco, and Bredren. In keeping with our ethos as a platform for multiple styles of music, this release spans tempos from 85-140-170 bpm. The artwork is a continuation of our previous releases, made by Sineater. This release will be available as a 3 piece vinyl set, and as digital.
Clarity’s first solo release on UVB-76 Music arrives in the form of a highly polished, firm footed quartet. Four grounded, heavyweight churners that sit proudly at the core of relevant Drum & Bass: Torsion, Stateless and Taking Effect.Across the three original compositions Clarity commands the frequencies of the contemporary breakbeat form. Completing the circle is Clarity’s remix of label mate Overlook’s All of Them Witches, an interpretive reimaging of an already bona- fide modern classic; poise, precision and execution.
a1. Clarity - Torsion
a2. Clarity - Stateless
b1. Clarity - Taking Effect
b2. Overlook - All of Them Witches (Clarity Remix)
Om Unit ‘returns’ with Violet (EP) a standalone double 10” pack “VIOLET01” featuring four 160bpm excursions that recall elements of his earlier work. Equal parts headphones and sound system; slivers of late night nostalgia and dream-like ambience with ‘Righteousness’ doing damage in the club on dubplate.
2x10” Reverse board 5mm spine package with art by Cosmic Bridge’s Oliver Yorke.
Though citizens the world over are trapped inside under lockdown measures, freshly minted Brighton label, DNO Records, continues traversing the globe to highlight rising talents from the international bass community.
Release number two — the ‘Kiswahili’ EP — comes from CITY1, himself something of a wandering spirit. He hails from the Okinawa islands in Japan’s tropical southern tip, a place of teeming coral reefs and long golden sands, where inhabitants are known for living long lives. Having moved to the bustling capital of Tokyo, CITY1 has since joined Goth-Trad’s Back To Chill crew.
The sound of the ‘Kiswahili’ EP is the sound of CITY1’s two worlds combined — the Pacific island’s mystical soul binding with the digital roar of the hyper-modern metropolis. A-side ‘Sifa’ draws on the polyrhythmic interplay between ramshackle percussive constructions and a gruff, oscillating low-end, built to push sound systems to their limit. Over on the B-side, beat work takes a step back, allowing thunderous atmospherics to take the fore. ‘Funza’ is a sparse futurescape, where blacksmith-hammer strikes puncture the swell of murderous subs, as swarms of acidic bleeps fire off like overactive synapses. On ‘Vitu’, flabby drum skins reverberate beneath the dominating undulation of bass and mournful Middle Eastern wails — a ritualistic death march for the dawn of a new decade. Last but not least comes the digital bonus track, ‘Cheka’. Though the most traditional dubstep offering here in terms of arrangement, CITY1 infuses the track with a coarse, Doppler effect dynamism to ensure it remains a cut above your average dancefloor weapon.
Another essential release from a label determined to make its mark, CITY1’s ‘Kiswahili’ EP arrives on 12” vinyl and digital on the 19th of June 2020.
Rhythms of postmodern realism at the very bottom of the DNO
a1. CITY1 - Sifa
b1. CITY1 - Funza
b2. CITY1 - Vitu
Digital Bonus: CITY1 - Cheka
Cyberdine Systems Corp. (Alex Jann & DJ Haus) - Cyber Attack EP [transparent vinyl]
Cyberdine Systems Corp. present a 4 track infomercial consisting of four 'sci-fi-driven-electro-robotic-house grooves' written & produced by DJ Haus and Censor Music's Alex Jann. Backed with a remix from Perko & Solid Blake on UTTU sub label Soft Computing - Tip!
London-born producer FD returns to The North Quarter with his new “Lanta Nights EP”, to be released on June 12th. After his masterful debut album “Better Days” which transcended genres through a richly detailed palette - he now returns with a morecompact piece: all killers, no fillers. Drawing influences from Dub, Hip Hop and Soul and mixing them with his London club roots, his growth as an artist and technician is clearly shown on this diverse but signature sounding 5 track EP. Lanta Nights kicks off with two vocal tracks: the first - Lie To You - is a delicate soulful track featuring Akemi Fox,with thesecond - The Feeling - a 90’s Hip Hop inspired jam featuring KinKai. The EP then dips intorolling Dub inspired science fiction mayhem for the final three tracks. Essential listening.
“There isn’t a theme here really, because as an artist I find it important to express myself in a wide range of styles" FD explains. “It’s just me trying to put my own spin on what forme are ‘classic’ Drum & Bass fundamentals, expressing them in a contemporary way. Iwant to try and retain depth and honesty in my music, something that has been importantto me in music since I first got into it.”
Off the back of the response to my first self-release, I’m very excited to present to you Breaka002. We start off with ‘Liquid Gold’, a fairly explosive sunny day groover. I hope to hear this one sound-tracking many a small gathering over the next few months. ‘Ease Up’ draws you in with a melancholic Rhodes riff, building slowly back to a more euphoric head high in the second half. ‘Steeze Flex’ combines Brazilian percussion, a dubby bassline and dreamy trumpet lines delivered by Ethan Landin.
