Faces Vol. 1 - The Many Faces of Killer Smile is available both digitally and on limited edition blue and white marbled vinyl with hand stamped label.
The mixed artist EP begins with none other than Manix of Reinforced Recs fame with 'The Feeling', a golden era style 92/93 Jungle Tekno roller with mesmerising stab notes, deep, funky subs, gliding amen breaks and soulful vox just like the good old days.
Next, Skeleton Army remixes Foul Plays' 'Black Sun' in a contemporary Breakbeat Rave style fusing crisp, authentic 'Oldskool' breaks, bleeps and warehouse synths in a melodic drift to the dark side of the Jungle where cavernous riffs create a sense of defiant danger, the kind once found in journeys down the M1.
Denham Audio put on a 4min 58sec masterclass in Breakbeat science full of sweeping, atmospheric riffs that call back to early Detroit Techno and Bukem esque Jungle on 'Mercury Tint', a sonic sojourn around the rings of Saturn with mind-expanding soundscapes wrapped tightly round rolling breaks.
Mani Festo brings a progressive slant to the broken beat ensemble. The Far-Eastern influenced keys float gracefully around a crunchy oldskool hardcore break and booming bass vibrations on the aptly named 'Spiral', a bubbling cauldron of Breaks, Jungle & Techno as if created in a smoke-filled bedroom somewhere in a high rise London tower block.
Killer Smile return with four fresh mutations of the "Catchy Schisms EP" by Skeleton Army (John Morrow), including a drum and bass mix of the Foul Play influenced "Touch" reworked by Dutch jungle Don Coco Bryce.
Coco's version of "Touch" builds on John's legendary work in the 90s drum and bass scene as a member of Foul Play. The gentle piano keys and soft vocal samples shine over a backdrop of tight amen chops and uplifting Reese bass fit for any early morning rave epiphany.
Etch delivers a heavyweight slice of breakbeat science with his take on "Catchy Schisms", mixing up the tempos, dismantling then reconstructing drums and adding plummeting deep bass in a dark sci-fi voyage.
Lowering the tempo Army Of Ghosts craft their own unique version of "Bedlam Jennie" with their twisted techno mix, using multiple layers of abstract samples, thuggish four-fours and swirling FX designed to disorientate and surprise.
The final track on the EP is a breakbeat driven mix of "Bedlam Jennie", revisited by Skeleton Army himself. Maintaining the themes of the original EP, this version is melodic yet firmly rooted in leftfield territory, a fresh excursion into an abstract vision of house music.
a1. Skeleton Army - Touch (Coco Bryce Rewerk)
a2. Skeleton Army - Catchy Schisms (Etch Slow-Fast Remix)
b1. Skeleton Army - Bedlam Jennie (Army of Ghosts Remix)
b2. Skeleton Army - Bedlam Jennie (Skeleton Army Remix)
Killer Smile is an independent multi-genre record label, created by UK-based producer John Morrow (Foul Play, 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Johnny Halo, Skeleton Army) and lifelong friend and electronic music veteran Darran Juzyk.
The first release on label Killer Smile comes from its founder and ex Foul Play member John Morrow aka Skeleton Army.
The "Catchy Schisms EP" features four eclectic tracks firmly rooted in leftfield territory. Vague pads, swarming electronics, deep bass tones and off kilter drum tracks mark a distinct change in style from previous house based Skeleton Army releases. This is John back in experimental mode, not afraid to take a few risks and avoiding traditional dance floor constraints.
Texture and balance is key with fine details like static on sampled drum kicks adding a rich layer to the EP where sound palettes take centre stage. Arrangements are amorphous and organic drifting along without sounding stifled or robotic. Tracks are coherent and soulful yet fuzzy and edgy resulting in an interesting mixture of house and UK bass. The EP also features "Touch", an uplifting house take on the classic Foul Play sound that revolutionised drum and bass in the early nineties.
The "Catchy Schisms EP" is available both digitally and on limited edition sand coloured translucent vinyl complete with black marbled effect and hand stamped label.