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: Lee: BREAK-R1 Max: LODUBS-20001-1 Mat: HHANDS011 Albert: BLKG046 Morgan: WNCL034 Dean: DROOGS005 Georgia: INTGRD005 Jon: PLANTPOWER006 Rob: ZAMZAM76 Chris: OSMUK060EP
Okayama’s Tsuyoshi Hamada, better known as Dayzero, launches the new decade’s next wave of ZamZam releases with two sides of 140 sound system wreckers we couldn’t be happier to unleash. Wicked releases on Sentry, Heavy Traffic, Vomitspit, and FKOF have set the stage for this 7” stormer. Deftly amalgamating influences from reggae, hip hop, and old school dubstep wobblers, Dayzero is a master of momentum and swagger, captured here in dubwise style & fashion.
"Orbit Dub" is a cascade of dirty drums- smashing snares & rusty hats, deep-anchor sub and mid-range wub movement, all of it drenched in reverb, with a snippet of sound tape and siren looping in the distance for contrast.
"Theory Dub" clears the air for a wary view of a dystopian world torn by war and environmental collapse. With an intro cut from lacerating hi hats and test tones, kick and bass double in a pounding minimalist trudge, stopping only to blare distorted horns over an empty, forgotten battlefield. These are rare tunes that manage to be both destructively heavy and intoxicatingly elated at the same time. Full points in the dance!!
a1. Dayzero - Orbit Dub
b1. Dayzero - Theory Dub
Clubroot - Surface Tension: I [Sand Coloured Vinyl]
Unveiled near the close of the first decade of the new millennium, Clubroot entered the canon of the Dub-reflective-arts at a time when the genre had just begun its eventual shift from underground to overground music in terms of character, influence, and intention, which for a time signaled the curtain call on depth, musicality, and subtlety in the genre.
Nevertheless, Clubroot made its mark. A trilogy of purpose-built, pulse driving (yet deep listening) full-lengths and a handful of ep's followed, and in their wake came affectionate recognition, from pitchfork with a “best new music” rating and review, to a series of exclusive mixes on Mary Anne Hobbs' bbc1 radio program. In the succession of as many years, the three Trilogy albums marked the time period, and continue to be fan favourites to this day, outperforming many of the largest names in dubstep by many analytic metrics.
With the trilogy at a close, Clubroot set his sights on other areas of illumination, from photography to travel, with the occasional exclusive DJ gig in places such as Scotland, Poland, and Russia. New compositions would be a regular feature of these rare appearances, and for Clubroot's more fervent fans these events became a once in a lifetime experience.
As such, and near the close of the second decade, influences, inspiration, and cause have all once again converged, and from that will follow the Surface Tension series of ep's. Seasoned listeners will notice the signature sound of an artist they know and love, but with a pace that is somehow more immediate in its delivery and percussive elements, yet more based in the founding roots of classic UK garage. New listeners will find a perfectly form-filled sound which seems to inform all eras of the hardcore continuum, from its 90's roots to the future, all expressed with a signature which cannot be directly compared outside of perhaps the use of extensive multi-genre analogs.
Canadian duo Gremlinz & Jesta, team up with DC resident, Kalu to open the latest release from UVB-76 Music sister label Droogs. Monolith adheres to absolutely core dance floor fundamentals, built breakbeats chopping across weighty low end vibration. Relentless in its assault Monolith evokes the best of drum & bass past and present while keenly remaining future bound.
2020 sees the debut of DNB veteran Friske to the label. A long time friend & associate of the crew, Friske brings heavy doses of funk, vibes and atmosphere with ‘City Lights’ Nodding to golden-era greats of the past while staunchly maintaining his sights on the future. Essential.
a1. Gremlinz, Jesta & Kalu - Monolith
b1. Friske - City Limits
Cell Out & Sleeper Cell - Where Love Lives / Good Life
'Break The House' is a brand new label from the crew who brought us the highly successful 'Rave 2 The Grave' series. This time, fusing rare & classic influential house hooks with a modern & highly original breaks house vibe.
To mark Osiris's 60th release, label head Simon Shreeve dons his Mønic guise for a richly saturated three-track EP that pays homage to the label's Drum & Bass origins and Shreeve's own past as Kryptic Minds. From the screaming call-to-action horns of 'Regeneration' on the A-side, to the creeping menace of 'Research Methods' and the Jazz in fuelled beats of 'Always for Tomorrow' on the B-side, a return to the rhythms and textures of D'n'B contrasts Shreeve's recent outings as CUB with Karl O'Connor, solidifies Mønic as his most experimental, genre-defying, and preconception breaking alias.
LMAJOR marks his return to WNCL Recordings with another set of blistering originals, accompanied by in-house remixes from Boxwork and West Norwood Cassette Library
a1. LMajor - The Power (Original Mix)
a2. LMajor - The Power (Boxwork Remix)
b1. LMajor - Engineer (Original Mix)
b2. LMajor - Engineer (West Norwood Cassette Library Remix)
It’s been a little while since I’ve put an EP out on Holding Hands. It’s been super fun working with On Loop, Touch From A Distance and Futureboogie but it definitely feels great to be back at home on my own label.
For my first release of the new decade I have whipped up four club focussed bangers with a nice bit of variety. A smattering of electro, breaks, 2-step and dark UK funky. They are all relatively fast paced but you should hopefully be able to find at least one track for a set at any time, early, middle or late.
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 Delight...
