Repress Due: 21st August 2020

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!

a1. Foul Play - Finest Illusion

a2. Foul Play - Survival

b1. Foul Play - Dubbing You

b2. Foul Play - The Alchemist

c1. Foul Play - Feel The Vibe

c2. Foul Play - Feel The Vibe (Again)

c3. Foul Play - Screwface

d1. Foul Play - Ricochet

d2. Foul Play - Ricochet (No Stopping The Remix)

d3. Foul Play - Ragatere

Release Date: 31st July 2020

Young gun and badman producer Retina returns to Foundation Audio for his debut vinyl release and quite frankly it slaps!!!! 

‘Dusted’ kicks things off with a hyper 4x4 beat and an eratic bassline – this one comes flying straight out of the gates! ‘Nameless and Nothing’ a meaner, beast with its eerie atmospheres and plodding bassline takes the A2 spot. Flip the record and we have ‘No Fear I’ a subby monster best described by the word SUB. ‘If Not The Orb’ closes proceedings with a 07-08 old skool antisocial kinda vibe wrapping up the ep perfectly. Dubstep goodness from front to back and solid proof that Americans can also do the dubstep.

a1. Retina - Dusted

a2. Retina - Nameless and Nothing

b1. Retina - No Fear I

b2. Retina - If Not The Orb

Release Date: 21st August 2020

Holy Tongue is a collaboration between percussionist Valentina Magaletti, best known for her work with Vanishing Twin, Tomaga, UUUU, Raime, Nicolas Jaar and Jandek among many others, and producer Al Wootton. 

This first EP is a product of an improvised session in East London. Heavily influenced by dub reggae, the two bring a mutual appreciation for the experimental dub of On-U-Sound, Muslimgauze, and post-punk bands such as Liquid Liquid and 23 Skidoo to the forefront of the sound. 

The result is an EP of psychedelic, free-form, high energy, spiritual dub-dance music. Amidah Records is an offshoot of TRULE Records, specialising in more experimental sounds.

a1. Holy Tongue - Misinai

b1. Holy Tongue - Emet

b2. Holy Tongue - Erev

Release Date: 18th September 2020

16v hatchback Breakbeat NRG kickin' it out of your Kenwood system.

a1. Denham Audio - Top Buzz

b1. Denham Audio - Rubadub

b2. Denham Audio - Pocari Sweat ft Borai

Available From: 2nd October 2020

a1. The Blackstones - Change of Plan

b1. The Officinalis - Santantonio Special

Release Date: 4th September 2020

Childsplay presents tasty treats 4 the kids vol. 2. bringing the sweet taste u crave back 2 the rave with 4 of the juiciest hits on the internet. a flavourful assortment of creamy breaks, bubbly breakneck jungle, and bubblegum ghettotek from the childsplay all-stars’, taking from the past 2 take u 2 the future. taste the NEW HARDCORE SOUND!

a1. Osc Kins & Speed Gonzales - s3x-E-b^k

a2. Comfort Zone - Never Felt [Regular miXXX]

b1. Stones Taro - You Are

b2. DNAONDNA - Well, Well, Well

Release Date: 21st August 2020

The first release on DJ Stryda’s Sufferah’s Choice label features two exclusives from the pen of the legendary Nick Manasseh. Side A opens with the deep and heavy ‘Babylon Outside’. A tightly-coiled bass line underpins energetic percussion and a siren that wails into the night. Followed by a dub in the traditional style, it’s raw, driving power and statue-toppling weight perfectly capture the frantic time we are living in. A straight-up soundsystem classic.

The b-side ‘Brexit Blues’ is topical in an entirely different way. Featuring reggae virtuoso Charlie Nightdoctor (famous for backing Little Roy and for the classic UK dub LP The Herb) on lead guitar, it’s a unique, mournful and meditative piece. Its haunting glockenspiel and organic instrumentation evoke late nights in smoke-filled rooms, and captures the melancholy of the UK establishment’s decision to cut itself off from Europe - a decision Manasseh campaigned tirelessly against. 

Mastered on 1/2” tape at Star Delta studios, with stylish label art by Joshua Hughes-Games, the first Sufferah’s Choice 12” is a landmark release.

a1. Nick Manasseh - Babylon Outside (part 1)

a2. Nick Manasseh - Babylon Outside (part 2)

b1. Nick Manasseh - Brexit Blues

Release Date: 25th September 2020

X-Coast returns to UTTU with 3 tracks of old school rave revivalism with his trademark hot-haus touch - backed with a remix from Anetha.

a1. X-Coast - Synthetic Dreams

a2. X-Coast - Synthetic Dreams (Anetha Remix)

b1. X-Coast - Bomba

b2. X-Coast - Narcotic Influence

Release Date: 11th September 2020

After a long hiatus on the label Karma returns with another system classic. Showing diversity as always Karma moves between more dubbed out vibes on side A, and back to sound system rudeboy with the B.

a1. Karma - Concentrate

b1. Karma - Orijahnalz

Release Date: 18th September 2020

Lightweights. This tune is not for you. This one is for those who can go hard. And go long. Otherwise you might not know what's hit you. An early 2000's anthem, the original version of Lightweight was a Total Science classic. Laced with TS trademarks, the track was a staple in every DJs set, rinsed in the clubs.

And now, it's been updated by the one and only Break. If you want to take an already big tune, and raise it to even another level, he's the man to go to; he's got form. And he's done it in style. Sticking faithfully to the original vibe, he brings this banger firmly into 2020, maintaining all the key elements and sonically updating it for the 21st century, but still keeping a class and subtlety to the proceedings. Hoovers, stabs, breaks and bass. It's all there. Hold tight for the four-four section in the breakdown though, you're not ready.

And to keep the vibe of the former CIA LTD releases from former years, the flip sees another remix paired alongside; coming from the newest wing of the Bristol Drum & Bass mafia, the Ill Truth boys are brought in to update a more modern-day CIA classic, Phaction and Leo Wood’s ‘I Have You’. Once again they show a maturity and class that belies their youthful and hairless visages, bringing the weight and the funk that Total Science always require.

a1. Total Science - Lightweight (Break Remix)

b1. Phaction - I Have You ft Leo Wood (Ill Truth Remix)