Juno Recommends Bass: February 2022

Review: James Blake may have gone on to bigger and better things since CMYK was initially released in 2010, but it remains one of the most significant and consistently impressive EPs in his sprawling catalogue. Effectively the EP that made him one of the most hyped producers of the period, it still sounds great all these years on (and now looks better than ever thanks to a "splattered" vinyl pressing. Highlights include the title track, a wonderfully woozy, post-dubstep chunk of melodic bass music bliss, the jazzier, sub-heavy weight of 'Foot Notes', and the sparse, slow-motion sleaze of 'Postpone'. A classic EP that should be in everyone's record collection.

Review: Alien Invasion Welcome Rave.

Review: Formerly one half of the Beesmunt Soundsystem, Luigi BSS comes correct with his first solo EP for Dekmantel. As the title suggests, 'Suikerplein' takes reference and influence from Luigi's hometown Amsterdam, referencing various locations, places and people, all loosely themed with a positive socially minded agenda. Five tracks deep, it builds on his previous releases on the likes of Hivern Disc and Honey Soundsystem with heavy subs and leaden, slo-mo beats all weighted in emotion and atmospheres. Highlights include the industrial weight Kraftwerkian homage 'Domela', the well-oiled machine soul of 'Box' and the soothing Plaid-like acid shower finale 'Scanner'. Fijne dag.

Review: Lord a mercy! Adam Crawford, or the artist previously known as Monir if you want to be formal, follows up last year's 'Secrets' EP with this crucial Voitax debut - 'Recognise'. Once again applying the breaks throughout, there's a stunning sense of tension running throughout as Crawford flips and fuses between techno and some strange 23rd century slo-mo jungle. The opening title track is a devilish statement of intent that hits somewhere between a Denham Audio joint and a classic Tyrant piece before he hits his stride with the dub weight darkness and swinging kicks of 'Levitate', the spacious drama of 'Fade Away' and the straight up breakbeat diesel of 'Gateway FWD'. Witness the fitness.