Review: Moving further away from the more direct techno sound he established as part of The Gods Planet, Claudio Prc has shaped out his 012 platform as an engrossing exploration of more experimental realms, even when strapped to snaking 4/4 rhythms. On this latest release, he's left percussion behind altogether in pursuit of an expansive two-part ambient suite which was originally performed at Up To Date festival in Poland last year. Clocking in at 25 minutes on each side, this is a meandering, engrossing journey which evokes the titular (Sardinian) waves Prc takes his inspiration from.
Review: Stormzy has risen up from being one of the baddest underground mic men on the streets of London to pretty much being a national treasure all before he is thirty. He is a grime pin-up who has helped establish the genre on the world stage but who has also moved on from it in recent times. He has proven himself to be as able to open his heart and sing tender tones as spit about spats with Wiley. His dazzling wordsmithery, unrestrained attacks on the British government and support from disadvantaged young Black people have made him the voice of a generation and we are lucky to have him. This new album finds him opening his heart and being more honest and vulnerable than ever.
Review: Whilst there's some justification to the criticism that acid house is one dimensional in the hands of most producers, there are still certain labels and artists who prove ingenuity is still possible to achieve when relying on the humble Roland 303. Andreas Tilliander's TM404 LP for Kontra earlier this year is an obvious example, whilst Absurd's Acid Test series has also provided a platform for Tin Man, Dozzy and Pepe Bradock to introduce some new ideas into the field. Dutch label 030303 has been pioneering this approach for some time and return here with a sequel to the compilation with which they launched in 2009. This second installment showcases artists both well-known artists and obscure, with the likes of DMX Krew, Lunar Disko regular Automatic Tasty, Jared Wilson and Dutch veterans Dexter and Drvg Cvltvre joined by Cosmic Force, Jonny 3 Snares and the amusingly monikered Roy Of The Ravers. The latter's "Acid Hors D'oeuvre" is one of many lysergic highlights on this double LP offering.
Krampfhaft - "Meanwhile At The Old Warehouse" (4:18)
Review: Throw your hands in the air and let out a throaty cheer: Dutch IDM and electro specialists 030303 have finally offered up another volume in their superb compilation series. Like its' three predecessors, "Various IV" is packed to the rafters with high-grade gear, from the cheery Italo disco/instrumental synth-pop goodness of Splitradix's "Navs' 202" and the hard-wired acid-meets-ambient techno sleaziness of Holovr's "Star Flip", to the acid-electro bustle of The Exaltics' "What If We Could", the pulsating intergalactic chug of Nacho M. Meyer's "Planeta" and the trippy chords and mind-altering brain-dance rhythms of Dirty Data's "Hairy Muff".
Caramel Chameleon - "To Create Is To Live Twice" (6:16)
Perseus Traxx - "Something More Than This" (7:03)
RAG - "ZAVONDJE 303" (7:06)
Raving Kid - "Edgware Acid" (3:56)
Mutex - "Road To Atlantis" (4:31)
Kreggo - "Hearthpulse" (4:29)
Steifl - "Omega Point" (5:33)
Korre - "Black Over Blue" (5:35)
Pitto - "Acid Rolo" (6:28)
Endfest - "Shari Vari" (7:07)
Dwaalgast De Beer Uit Allekmaar - "A Wave Goodbye" (4:22)
Review: Netherlands-based 030303 Records is back with a fifth installment in its various artists series. As with the previous four editions, this is high-class electronic music pure and simple. Caramel Chameleon kicks off with a good time mix of cheery melodies and chattery drums, then Perseus Traxx brings his signature analogue murkiness to the lo-fi house trudge that is 'Something More Than This.' Elsewhere you will find quietly optimistic cuts like Raving Kid' restless 'Edgware Acid' or the dream house reveries of Kreggo's 'Hearthpulse' amongst many other varied treasures.
Review: Rave Angst is an alias of German producer Alexander Potthof. He invites us deep into his soul here with a superb double pack of deeply atmospheric sonics that features food for the mind, body and soul. Plenty of these cuts will challenge you as a listener but then reward you in equal measure. They are deeply emotional even when rather apocalyptic sounding and there is plenty to love here for those who enjoy the sounds of Aphex Twin and early Plastikman as metallic rhythms suck you into Potthof's unique sound world.
Review: Walt Ever is Frankfurt based Phil Evans, who heads up the local Pager Records and good buddy Tiago Walter aka Bob Waltner. There certainly is something in the water in the Rhein-Main area which is resulting in a truckload of wicked underground house and techno at present - and these guys are no exception. 1-069-PAGE-ME is Evans' new sublabel and this album is the outcome of them reminiscing of good times - goofing off while roommates and 'living that Freizeit lifestyle.' Freizeit Amigos features eight killer jams which take their inspiration from classic house sounds of early '90s Chicago, Detroit and beyond. The funky minimalist grooves of "Brooklyn Bounce" or "True Skul" are the kind of jams you'd expect the local Traffic crew or likewise Berlin's Libertine mob to thrash out.
Review: The debut album from 1-800 Dinosaur sees a wealth of producers associated with the collective provide behind the buttons support for grime MC Trim. That means across the ten tracks, Trim spits over bars from James Blake, Airhead, Happa, Klaus, Bullion, Boothroyd and Dan Foat. Blake and Trim have plenty of form of course, with the producer delivering killer Harmonimixs of the MC back in 2012. A recent Trim 12" on 1-800 Dinosaur set the tone nicely for this album, and Happa's colourful bassline and shuddering drums on "Before I Lied" provides an early highlight as does "Man Like Me." This cut sees Trim trading blows with a super, stripped down production from Airhead, whilst Jim Blake's production on "RPG" recalls his dizzying early work for Hessle and Hemlock. Full marks to the whole crew!
Review: Kemetrix, it is fair to say, is a pretty demented artist in the best possible way. His weird and wonderful sounds are utterly unique and for 100 Limousines's third release he serves u a land more of it across eight begging tracks. Kemetrix has been part of hallowed Detroit collective Urban Tree with the likes of Kenny Dixon Jnr for years and that shines thorough here in the twisted electronics and leftfield techno. Tracks sound like they may collapse at any moment, drums and perc are pills dup loosely, rhythms reveal themselves over time and the mood remains inviting if not dystopian.
Review: Stone Foundation are among the few to offer some true-school Northern soul vibes these days (although the band are technically from the West Midlands!). The point is, however, that if you want to feel the spirit, the sounds and the emotions of 70s British funk then you've drawn the right record. Recorded at Paul Weller's (The Jam) studio down in Surrey, the album isn't all James Brown struttin' and hollerin'; many of the tracks on Everybody Anyone are bittersweet love songs for entirely different demographics to get stuck into. From the families, to young teens and lovers of soulful pop music, this is a joyous album with a positive energy and a cheerful charisma at its core.
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