Ovum welcomes Leftbank Records co-boss Dudley Strangeways: a UK house and techno DJ rooted with serious residency stripes at the legendary Back To The Future Parties and appearances at the likes of Boiler Room.
Hot off the back of releases on StarDub, Little Helpers and Made Of Concrete comes his Ovum debut; three tracks made constructed for one sole purpose… Melting minds in the darkest of rooms. 'Keep It Clean' is twistedly simple; a rump-busting roll in the drum department and paranormal pad leave space for a precision tuned tone that warps with the gravitas of a life support machine. Sinewy, cold and deliciously disconcerting, Dudley ensures funk and focus with delicately placed rhythmic elements and constant fluctuations. Next we find ourselves breaking into an early 90s warehouse as 'Transition' whisks us on an acid trip with flurries of jack and a lean lead line that slithers through the ever-mutating drums and occasional FX hailstorms. Devilishly futuristic and tailored for those deep long blends, the stripped back extensive nature of this guarantees mixing bliss.
Truly, tracks built by a DJ, for DJs. Don't let this one slip…
Ovum are more than proud to welcome the return of the might Gel Abril. Gel’s production career exploded with Ovum almost 10 years ago with the iconic aforementioned ‘Underground Bullshit’ EP. Since then he’s established relationships with some of Ovum’s most respected, progressive contemporaries - Defected, Mobilee, Get Physical, Be As One - but now the Israeli craftsman is back at his spiritual home with three of his biggest tracks in recent times. Get to know: Lean, stark, iced-out; ‘Raver’ was tailored for Ovum. Every element plays a key role; from the oak-trunk kicks to the bellowing subs to the demonic downpitched spoken sermon by way of the life-support machine rhythmic texture… Everything comprised to create a subtle, restrained but wholly dark tech groove that refuses to quit. With a refreshing sense of contrast, ‘Optical’ slaps hard from the off as a plucked riff springs from out of nowhere. A true drama-raiser that fluctuates back and forth, causing every other element from the kicks right the way up to the percussion to follow its tense pattern. Drop this and watch the panic unfold before your very eyes. Finally we hit ‘Akasa’. Tapping into the EP’s heritage theme with its timeless, almost bouncy acid line, Gel establishes a tangible sensation of physical funk with increasing percussive elements and a synth lick that gets decidedly trippy and unpredictable. The type of track that takes you to destinations without you even knowing you wanted to go there, it’s a fitting ending to an EP that’s been long overdue.
Marco Faraone makes his debut on Josh Wink’s legendary Ovum Recordings with an original 4 track EP. Entitled ‘Raw Jamsessions 001’, the EP is the first of a new concept series intended for vinyl lovers and those who appreciate the analogue sound. The entire EP was produced live, with Marco connecting his hardware, preparing the patterns and recording live to Tape, unedited. The result is four high quality dance floor tools, with a raw, dusty, old-school analogue edge. Whilst each track is untitled, they each have their own distinct feel; the first is a rolling journey of echoing synths and hefty drums, whilst the second is a long-player featuring a cascade of acid-tinged stabs. On the B-side ‘003’ makes for a laid-back yet gritty 6 minutes, whilst ‘004’ closes off the EP with layers of percussion over a thudding bassline. ‘Raw Jamsessions 001’ cements Marco Faraone’s status as a truly talented and diverse producer.
