Nikki Nair is fast becoming one of the most diverse and forward-thinking artists in electronic music, flying the flag for increasingly hybridized methods and doing it your own way. His sound is inimitable and cannot be defined; readily bottling a multitude of emotions in a relatively short space of time.
Nikki’s meteoric rise has come in the form of eclectic releases like his ‘More is Different’ EP on Dirtybird to the downright filthy and party-starting ‘Trying To’ on Bristol’s Scuffed Recordings - Influenced by anything from Detroit techno, to lush ambient soundscapes and Florida breaks. The Knoxville born, Atlanta based producer continues his journey through shape shifting universes on his debut for Lobster Theremin, with five different but equally impressive tracks.
‘ Shufflin’ kick starts the EP in Nikki’s signature, unpredictable style; as squelchy bass-lines growl at heavily swung drums and low pitched vocal loops, before ‘WWC’ - an off-kilter minimal stepper, walks the tight-rope between entropy and synchronized dance.
‘ ‘I Can’t Stop’ meanders from kinky bass & breaks, to deconstructed dubstep and trap; causing more facial expressions in six minutes than ever thought possible. Nair’s hybridized methods continue to shine through in ‘Yoland And His Tortoise’ - a trippy and colourful dream told through nuance in sound. The EP then closes off with the laid-back grooves of ‘Urquoise’ - a hypnotising ritual best practiced in nature.
All rise for Skeleton King. The Bristol based producer lines up his Lobster Theremin debut with Deep Into The Night four tracks that highlight the emotional nuances of the skeletal sound.
Skeleton King has a knack for the large; be it lairy, UKG basslines or lo-fi alternative pop there’s a quiet confidence in his ability to jump between genres so effortlessly. ‘Anxiety’ begins as a half-time, bass-driven stepper and finishes on some sort of ragga-dub tip, and those horns! Clearly inspired by the producer's time in Bristol it’s an instant rave starter.
‘Deep Into The Night’ combines the producer's love for breaks and garage on a wubbed-out, atmospheric 2-step before ‘Of Course, All The Time’ pursues the cinematic on a marching, ancestral rhythm.
We finish on ‘There’s Something About You Boy’; wriggling synths, malfunctioning electronics and wifey riddim pitched vocals creating a pop-driven euphoria amongst the UK energy. A massive EP from a super exciting UK emerger.
Lobster mainstay and breakbeat wizard Coco Bryce follows up last year's Deep Into The Jungle EP and a wicked label-artist clothing collaboration with four varying cuts of 160 energy; spanning half-time chops, devastatingly beautiful jungle and lounge-bar breakbeat aesthetics.
Eagle-eared listeners will have listened to these already through the Dutch producers Balamii Radio show, where he has welcomed fellow label regular Amy Dabbs and footwork-jungle flag flyer Sherrelle recently. Through various aliases and musical projects Coco Bryce has always had an infatuation for bass-heavy sound, and the last couple of years have seen him settle quite nicely into one of jungles finest contemporaries alongside the likes of Sully and Tim Reaper.
‘D.L.P’ showcases this wicked ‘n’ rough energy brilliantly; old-school movie samples add a degree of depth and emotion to whiplash breaks and eerie pads before ‘Velocity Of Love’ takes us on a romance-induced trip through arcade-style keys and driving percussive beats. An explosion of love and lust in the club.
‘Twenty One Lies' swaps the club setting for a dimly lit bar in Peckham; jazz influence shines across this energetic yet home-listening ready cut of breaks, before ‘Wuthering Heights’ half-time identity transports us to the roof of the building, peering through the concrete jungle as dark turns to light.
Whether it’s turning in steamy UKG and house through his alias as M4A4 or shelling out peak-time jungle as DJ Jubilee 1997; the Irish based DJ & producer is known for championing a variation of sounds all with the same attention to detail and magnified personality. The artist's music is always continuous, hitchhiking through eras and parts unknown; now delivering a four-track EP fueled by warehouse raves, neon lights and celestial beauty.
‘Dubgan’ raises its ominous head with rattling kick-drums and sharp percussion as tension and momentum builds with the addition of a deep, bottomless bassline and frightening stabs. ‘Intelligence’ then opens with curious melodies and anomalous patterns, slowly changing gears before a cascade of ineffable energy.
The flip sees a change in mood as ‘Soul Shift’ takes us on a trip through the neon lights of the bustling city, a seductive tension between the allure and dangers that rest ahead. The record comes to a close with ‘Orbital Jazz’ a futuristic cut, Its transcendental nature nestled between the stars, re-charging feelings of endless possibilities.
Glaswegian producer Jai Dee follows up from his hard-hitting debut on 1Ø Pills Mate with a devastatingly beautiful and visceral blend of breaks, jungle and emotive leaning electronica. Opening track ‘Coming Up Again’ covers a range of responses over it’s seven minute duration; from it’s front-running introduction, radiating keys and its finale, featuring alien electronics futuristic enough to send you straight to space. ‘Tears In Your Voice’ is simply put, a stone-cold banger; with a hint of humour sprinkled on top for good measure. If you want to incite a riot and be at risk of being sued for whiplash, this will surely do the business.
The B side kicks off with ‘We Can Have It All’ an ultra-kinetic sound that mixes choppy breaks, soaring pads and Jai’s own signature keys, before the EP comes to a close with the unforgettable ‘Hold Love By The Hand’. Stuttering percussion and dense stabs float amongst cloud-like pads, moving effortlessly throughout a star-lit sky; a kaleidoscope of shifting emotions rushing back and forth bringing to close another deeply stirring record from a seriously talented producer.
Hot on the heels of his doom-electro release on CYBERDOME, Italian producer D3070 readies his Lobster Theremin debut with five lairy cuts of end-of-the-world techno and electro. ‘Orbital’ is a simple, no frills track; uncompromising in-your-face energy meets melting acidic basslines on a 4x4 rhythm, before the noise breaks on ‘Space Invader’ and a mutated electro-step emerges out from a dark alleyway covered in slime.
Dubstep/footwork blends increase the velocity on ‘You Got Me’; new territory for the emerging producer and one that we can’t wait to see him explore more - before we come crashing back into the horror with a cut of downright frightening sound design on ‘Darkness’, it’s dusty lo-fi rhythm marching on fourth and into the fiery gates. ‘Artemis’ provides room to breathe as we awaken from our nightmare, getting our head above water before floating towards a kaleidoscope of tangled emotion.
Complet label owner and Berlin based DJ and producer Ray Kandinski has been making serious moves over the last few years, both through his ear for curation and his rich, intricate sound design. Inspired by a pool of influences, including; jungle, footwork and house - Kandinski believes the beauty of dance music can be found in its subtlety and range; which can be heard deeply running throughout his debut EP for Lobster Theremin.
Title track ‘Garant’ takes place in a quasi-rainforest beckoned by nature's call. The type of good-natured music that sounds inspired by the evolving world around us; locking us in a groove that could happily last forever.
A ray of sunshine shines through sparse breakbeats in opening track ‘95’, before ‘No love’ follows with a slightly more clubier affair, while still maintaining it's blissful edge through the use of lush and dynamic synth work. ‘Healing’ then closes the A side with it’s minimal grooves, both hypnotic and understated; light refracting from one medium to another in a colourful display of blue and green.
The B side makes its entrance with ‘Zonin’ a choppy house cut with a point to prove, before demonstrating his artistic versatility in ‘The Mack’ blending his way into an electro mutation laced with ravey stabs and punchy drums, combining various influences from around the globe.
Chris Hanna has been at the forefront of Irish electronic music for over eight years, first through his work under Unknown with fellow Irish artist Gemma Dunleavy and now as the formidable Carlton Doom. The Belfast based producer has built a reputation as one of the most forward thinking, genre-merging artists on the island, combining his love for techno, breaks and garage into a growing palette of sonic decompression. Now the Belfast hit-man steps up with another exploration of deconstructed techno, screw-face bass and otherwise unknown substances not fit for human consumption.
Opener ‘Binmen Of The Apocalypse’ features a heavy drum-work perfect for peak-time and the type of bassline that lights a fire under any dance-floor; while ‘E-Machine’ adds swing with it’s killer low-end, bouncing between tenacious beats and choppy vocoder samples. Wrapping up the A-side is ‘I Am the Creator’ a signature Carlton Doom track with it’s weighty kick-drums and uncompromising structure, bulldozing it’s way through your speakers.
On the flip ‘Insects and Jelly’ and ‘Scatterbrain’ share the same DNA; both seeping with personality and a total disregard for the rules; as the EP then comes to a close with a high-velocity ‘I Am The Creator’ remix by one of Manchester’s finest - Interplanetary Criminal.
A1. Binmen of the Apocalypse
A2. E Machine
A3. I Am The Creator
B1. Insects in the Jelly
B2. Scatterbrain
B3. I Am The Creator (Interplanetary Criminal Remix)
FFF always comes with the heat with his unique blend of choppy beats and dual sensibility. The perfect combination of light and dark culminating in a profusion of emotions and euphoric whiplash. Now the Rotterdam junglist makes the step up to heavyweight with his debut on Lobster Theremin, featuring four club-ready cuts.
Title track ‘One Tribe’ builds slowly in anticipation, teasing listeners before being thrown into a cascade of fire. Gnarling synths, nausinating drums and hypnotic vocals acting as the source to create a kinetic, chemical reaction. ‘So Special’ radiates joy as it moves through sound systems with a spring in it’s step; followed up by a magnetic acid switch during the track's second half.
FFF’s music finds the balance between classic sounds with a flare for the enigmatic. ‘It’s Official’ rides a steady 4x4 beat with one of the most ecstatic piano rolls and vocal cuts you’re likely to hear all summer; before being shown the door to an alternate world. The EP comes to a close with ‘Weak Capacity’ a caffeine-charged rhythm inspired by the rave.
Following the release of Twisted Heads comes Slacker’s most complete work to date. The artist's debut LP - What Would I Do With Saturn - arrives on Lobster Theremin and demonstrates Slacker’s killer ear for capturing the cross-sections that exist within UK sound; floating between the artist's drum & bass upbringing and introspective, world-building electronica.
Tom Jarmey serves up five weighty broken beat jams for the Lobster Theremin white label series.
Tom Jarmey is an artist whose been bubbling over the past few years with a string of eclectic discs for labels such as 13th Hour & Shadow City & more recently his acclaimed debut album ‘Amber Glass’ via Lobster Theremin’s sister imprint Distant Horizons. His latest outing sees him serve up five weighty broken beat, jungle infused cuts for the Lobster Theremin white label series, delving deep into all things UK rave related.
As sunny days reappear and bright flashes of optimism reverberate around the globe, along comes London based producer Kempston Hardwick with a killer five track garage-house release on Lobster Theremin that is crying out to be played in the park over some beers.
The early evening groove of ‘Mowbray Street’ bounces into the frame with its playful melodies and sunny aesthetic; bopping and swaying in the fading sunlight. The oxymoronic patterns of harsh and melodic clash on ‘Channel’ as day turns to night; jackin’ rhythms and repetitive pads that create a real sense of inner-groove.
Big breaks and carnival flavour are the orders of the day on ‘Provoke Iddy’ as Kempston flexes his versatility, before arriving at ‘Have You Stopped It’ - a wobbling melter that takes the very best of contemporary bassline and blends it with the fun energy of the transatlantic Vancouver and Montreal crews for some proper euphoric screwface moments.
Wrapping things up is the electro-laced 2-step of ‘Apologies to 25’ - a cut of distorted garage beamed from disco robots on a not-so-distant galaxy. Kempston Hardwick’s Mowbray Street EP might be the artist's most complete work yet, and it couldn’t be arriving at a better moment.
One of modern jungle’s most recognisable names, Tim Reaper, returns to Lobster Theremin for another high energy exploration of breakbeat manipulation. Aqueous roller Whirlpool opens up proceedings before LT family member Coco Bryce’s raucous remix of Give It 2 Me, the blistering Devnull collaboration previously released on Lobster Theremin. On the flip, title track Ecospheres provides a solid slab of jungle techno and closing track On Repeat rings true as an earworm with it’s hypnotic analog synth lines and sultry vocal.
Stepping back into the limelight, Berlin-based producer Amy Dabbs rolls out her second EP full of captivating jungle and drum & bass rhythms with soulful uplifting harmonies, as she puts out her second release with Lobster Theremin.
Following on from her debut with the highly acclaimed, housier Girl Like Me EP on Distant Horizons, Amy Dabbs further explores the ‘classic’ aesthetics that are associated with the very foundations of modern dance music. Allure EP comes in at around 160BPM, allowing Amy Dabbs’ tracks to ebb and flow, such that the beats have space to breathe and that the melodies can transcend beyond the music.
Opening track Allure glides around deep chord progressions and seductive vocal touches, while Second Thoughts takes on a more liquid feel, channelling a deeper emotive aura. Take It pulses with a darker intensity as the rhythms become more compact and complex, eliciting a spiritual chill and hypnotic energy. The EP concludes with a remix by 6 Figure Gang’s rave expert, Yazzus, who switches the uplifting vibes of the title track into a warped, pulsing bass-heavy juggernaut of a remix.
Berlin-based producer Palms Trax offers up the inaugural release for new imprint Lobster Theremin with three slices of Detroit and Chicago-inspired house.
Cheeky, groove-heavy "Late Jam", referencing the randier sides of Miami boogie and glitter funk, "Equation", an original Detroit cut, and "Houses In Motion", a percussive, balearic-tinged jam nodding to early Drumpoet Community, comprise the EP's three original tracks. Willie Burns turns in a spacey remix of the EP's opener that hits like an early 80's drum jam, flipping between off-kilter, warped synths and stripped-down, hammering Chicago house.
Repress of this special four-track white label of emotive dreamscape house and heady techno. Expanding on the ideas and themes he explored on last years' Dry Thoughts EP, Route 8 slides fresh out of his New Age synth shell for 2015, adding crystalline electro and tool-room clattering house to his emotionally charged sound palette.
Budapest producer Route 8 follows up his exceptional debut EP for Nous with an excursion into the depths of his private production world on ‘Dry Thoughts EP’. Hazy summer pads drift over tight, rhythmic drum patterns and crystal synth lines with skittering rhythms and jacking interludes providing a further study into his analogue, machine-led style. A proper trip into the unknown!
Sheffield breakbeat champions & Club Glow collective members Denham Audio make an appearance on Lobster Theremin with Transcendence.
Club Culture is a heady tribute to UK rave culture, combining classic breaks with a monologue from generations past. Denham Audio speed things up on Retort, fusing their love of breakbeats with a sound palette ubiquitous with acid house. On the flip, patois bars punctuate the bleeps-and-breaks of Run Da Ting, while the vocal layered between Top Boy’s whirling bass and digitally distorted drum programming may be recognisable to some. Closing track Transcendence is an ethereal jungle roller with guest vocals from 7ip703, that rings true to its name.
Saturday Night Rush make their Lobster Theremin debut with a heavy and unique four-tracker of sub-heavy breakbeat and deep house, following up their acclaimed 2019 ‘Open’ EP for There Is Love In You.
‘Relief’ EP draws influence on a spectrum of classic house sounds along with a ton of UK influence, with bass-driven breaks meeting rave ready piano stabs, garage drums, and luscious deep synth patterns all colliding on one killer 12”. Title track ‘Relief’ is full bassline wobble riding under ravey breakbeat house; Unite is ethereal, classic house music from the dreamworld of deep house past; ‘Wicked Dub’ rides the proto-garage vibes across an off-kilter UK house template; lastly, ‘Real Headz’ is proper house music flavours. Steeped in Detroit and New York influence with a hefty dose of London for good measure. A suitably classic closer to the EP.
Tim Reaper returns to Lobster Theremin with a weighty masterclass of all things old school jungle, rave and D&B.
2020 has been a massive year for the rising London-based DJ/producer Tim Reaper, with an impressive output of twelves on labels such as 7th Storey Projects, Repertoire, Beyond Electronix & his own imprint Future Retro. On top of this, Reaper was also nominated in the ‘Best Producer’ category at this years DJ Mag awards, as well as the ‘Best Remix/Edit’ category. 2020 has paved the way for what is set to be a massive future from the versatile producer, his infectious brand of high energy jungle & D&B is making him the producer on everyones lips.
His latest outing ‘Teletext’ EP for London based record label Lobster Theremin explores deep all things bass driven, head high rave breaks sit on top of euphoric vocals and synth patterns, creating a feel good masterpiece. Tim joins forces with long time friend & collaborator Devnull on two tracks, blending both of the producers individual sounds into a hybrid mash up, which works oh so good.
Dutch DJ and producer Coco Bryce makes his anticipated return to Lobster Theremin with another stellar EP of breakbeat-heavy jungle goodness.
Hailing from Breda, Netherlands Coco Bryce is an artist who cemented his way into every vinyl lovers bag over the past few years, time and time again delivering killer records with his own unique take on jungle and breakbeat. Bryce’s sound blends classic jungle breaks with dreamy synth patterns and clever sampling creating a truly original signature take on the genre. At once old school yet so achingly fresh and exciting.
Sheffield production // DJ trio Denham Audio , make their Lobster Theremin debut with an incredible 5 tracker of breaks and bass, backed with a club fuelled remix from Lobster family regular Maruwa. EP opener ‘Feel The Panic’ sets the pace, crunchy drums with scorching acid basslines and old rave esque vocal hooks, merging into a dancefloor driven weapon.
‘Volt’ injects a punch, chopped up drum sequences with floating vocals and pulsating synth lines, one for the early hours of the dance. On the flip side Denham Audio leads with a drum driven roller ‘Bobby Wobbler’, breaks and beats soar and transform into a weighty number.
‘Check 1’ blends classic rave esque sound pallets with punchy kick drums and clean, crisp synth lines. Maruwa’s remix of ‘Check 1’ showcases her incredible ability to create productions destined to do the business in the clubs, hands in the air pads play gracefully with the drum elements from the original production. This one is for the ravers.
Tim Reaper makes his Lobster Theremin main label debut with a killer EP of jungle, DNB, and fast-paced soulful 4/4 techno. London-based DJ/producer Tim Reaper is an artist whose output over the last few years has been nothing but spectacular, releasing record after record of huge jungle and breakbeat for labels such as 7th Storey Projects, Repertoire, Meditator Music and Parallax Recordings, as well as his own standout Globex Corp and Future Retro imprints. His latest outing ‘Cityscapes’ on Lobster Theremin delves deep into his core sound and influences, with head high jungle breaks alongside chest rattling bass and 2-step laden grooves. The A-side glides from the classic glacial synths and breaks on title track Cityscapes’ to the euphoric pitched up techno-hardcore of ‘Sequence 2’. Flipping over and straight into the minor scale 80’s soundtrack arpeggiations of ‘Make It Real’, loaded up with a whole ton of rave tropes, fills and melodic flourishes. Rounding out the EP is the 4/4 jungle of ‘(I Can) Feel It’, a light drifting groove layered over with undulating kicks and ethereal 90’s synth. A low-key liquid ending to this tour de force four-tracker of UK jungle.
Firing straight outta the heart of Belgium comes a long awaited batch of euphoric, internet-curdled club missiles from Supreems.
Having been sat marinating on Youtube channels and Soundcloud streams alike for a good 24 months, al three tracks have taken on even more pertinence and depth, coming at the end of a fractured and startled year of world events.
Diving straight in, Untitled is a siren-sounded race into the heavily shadowed inner sanctum of a dark, skyscraper plagued city. All crushed drum work and soaring, burned-out Juno lines.
Flipping over, PGesus wraps stepped 'n' skittering electro drums around a dusty, processed core of punctured acid and cascading glacial synth melodies. Like slowly melting ice on a pulsating warm body.
And lastly an ode to the love we lost. A slow-building euphoric house excursion in the shape of Us Together. An ever-lasting memory, or a dream, or maybe both, tied together by a forever nostalgia and retained in the mind and heart until the embers and the lights have gently gone out.
A slow burning showcase of slowly evolving sonic substances and memories; a dense fog on a barren land steadily revealing the artefacts and objects hidden behind rocks and beneath the shadows; a static art piece hanging for months in a gallery rarely visited, allowed to decay into a beautiful immersive, solitary existence.
This release is mastered and cut by Rashad Becker in two parts, pressed onto heavy 180g wax with an LSS logo hand-stamped centre, encased in a black matte silver screen-printed sleeve, including a B&W matte A6 postcard insert.
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