UK Funky / Garage Recommendations November 2010

Review: It's been rinsed on, erm, Rinse, talked about vociferously across the forums, hailed as one of the singles of the year and now it's finally arrived in the shops. It is of course, Girl Unit's "Wut" - the long-awaited follow up to the London based producer's "IRL" 12" on Night Slugs. The title track brings uplifting trance-like synths together with swathes of hazy atmospherics and shimmering, shrieking vocals calling out the hypnotic riff, which reminds us of those scenes in Human Traffic where they trip out after getting back from the club. Next up "Every Time" is all whinnying vocals, a more recognisably dubstep rooted swinging beat and jarring stabs. Finishing with the aptly named "Showstoppa", Girl Unit pulls out all the stops, as slushy instrumentals wade across a luscious soundscape with crushing percussion and a sinuous bassline, punctuated by urbane lyrics calling 'hey!' and the blowing of a shrill whistle. Outstanding.

Review: Lone - Once In A While [ inc. Sinden & Midland remixes ] / Raptured Werk Discs
12 £3.49 WERK020 25/10 UK 5055300320742
Lone's 'Once In A While' has been one of the most in-demand tunes of the past six months, and now finally it's going to hit the racks courtesy of Werk Discs. Previewed on Kode9's DJ Kicks mix, and positively drooled over by countless other top-line selectors, 'Once In A While' is a luxuriant rush through glowing synth clouds and sun-dappled deep house of an early 90s vintage, that instantly captures the imagination as much as it rapidly raises the spirits, providing a classic Lone atmosphere, with a rudely funky bassline to keep feet moving as the heart-melting melodies overlap. Sinden's version places a snaking soca rhythm at the centre of the mix to draw out increased levels of dancefloor energy, while newcomer Midland heads in the opposite direction to spin a delicate web of floating, pulsing grace from Lone's original silken threads. A glorious 12" that's sure to chart high on many best-of lists come the close of the year.

Review: A sparkling UK funky refix of a Japanese jazz act could only appear on one label, right? Gilles Peterson's reliably diverse Brownswood imprint comes through with the sonic goods once again with Doc Daneeka and Wafa remixing "Pop Korn" by the Soil & Pimp Sessions. Doc Daneeka offers a playful rejig full of odd squiggles, samba percussion and bouncy synth hits, while Juno favourite Wafa goes in for the kill on his version. The producer, who came to the world's attention with a killer debut on Sinden's Grizzly imprint earlier this year, lays down a raw and funky peak time offering with low end sub bass, squealing brass and pan pot percussion.

Review: Wiley spares some time from amusing all and sundry on Twitter to collaborate with the equally legendary MJ Cole. Released on the latter's Prolific label, "From The Drop" is purported to be the first of many collaborations and bodes well if this is the case, with Wiley on lyrical form, riding a skeletal beat from MJ Cole. Equally impressive is the accompanying remix from L Vis 1990 which sees the Night Slugs don deliver yet another unique remix. A cavernous, almost Basic Channel rhythmic thrust is complemented by rough round the edges beats and liberal spurts of acid. The MJ Drop Dubb on the flip will please those craving a preponderance of bass.

Review: Velour - The Velvet Connection EP Night Slugs
12 £4.15 NS007 27/09 UK NO BARCODE
The latest Night Slugs signing is steeped in mystery - a new project from two big producers (from the house and dubstep scenes respectively) known only as Velour. 'The Velvet Collection' is a concept EP of four subtle variations on a distinct theme: sleazy, luminescent, synth-soaked cosmic boogie infused with functionalist 808s. The EP is as much futuristic dance/sex music as it is an homage to iconic Roland hardware of the 80s. Opening track 'Booty Slammer' announces Velour's intentions right from the intro, before its longing chords give way to cavernously low booming 808 sub bass. Bittersweet as it is seductive, the track rolls in half-time, punctuated by a sensual vocal refrain. 'The Scent Of Romance' and 'Kick It Till It Breaks' both adapt the kind of jackin' drums favoured by the Dirty Bird crew while Velour's distinctive vintage synth work elevates them to the celestial realm. Both tracks work as spectacular tech-house centerpieces, but with enough low-end pressure to dominate any UK soundsystem. The EP is closed by 'She Wore Velour', a theme song for the project, which refigures the record's sound palette into something more direct, driving and up-front. Arpeggiated twinkles pitch-bent beams of synth atop a massive diving sub are eventually consumed by an unforgettable chorus of keys. From the dancefloor to the boudoir, Velour is a pornographic synth odyssey.

Review: Soul Jazz's love affair with UK bass music continues on the second 12" volume of the Riddim Box compilation. Following their lauded Future Bass opus, this collection features the best of the UK funky underground, with Lil' Silva, LV, DVA and Crazy Cousinz among the artists featured. The beat driven genre has been a fertile ground for a slew of young British producers (and a few older heads too), who have positioned themselves at the forefront of the scene, exploring new musical tastes that touch on house, garage, R&B and more besides. This compilation perfectly captures the sound of these early pioneers.