Review: FOXBAM INC is back to build on the momentum of their first EP with a second one that packs a mighty punch. This one kicks off with EBY, who this year has been cooking up acid for 40 years and here offers the warped low ends and garage-techno power of 'Goldtooth'. Foxtrot vs Ma Bla then mashes up old school samples with earth-shattering bass on 'Deep Down Inside' and bRz vs Stije is a double-time hard techno stomper with warped synths and twisted bass that is inspired by and named after ISCO, a concept from Einstein's general theory of relativity that makes predictions about the dynamics of black holes.
Review: Belgian DJ and producer FAiG has been making techno for decades under several different aliases for plenty of top labels. His latest on Planet Rhythm is another hefty slab of subversive sonics with 'South West' layering up streamlined drums and bass with rickety percussion that pans about the mix as distant synths flesh things out further without ever detracting from the rhythm. 'Logg' is more unhinged and urgent with manic synth loops and alarming sirens getting your hackles up as the drums bump on. 'Deep Within' is stylish 90s techno with funky claps skating over the pumping drums and silky bass. 'Taro' runs out with sub-aquatic and dubbed out loopy deepness. It's simple but done well and impossibly effective.
Review: Faut Section is Lewis Fautzi's own label its last trick of the year is another brilliant one. Fautzi's take on techno will be familiar to anyone who likes it deep and classy and that's just what you get from the opener 'Uncharted Realms'. The drums are punchy but the mood is stripped back and designed to make you move. 'Enlightenment' is an edgy one with synths dangled above the loopy beats in an unsettling fashion, then 'Time & Space' ups the ante with burrowing basslines and leaner drums for late night marching. 'Forging New Paths' shuts down with icy percussion snaking its way between rooted, rolling drums. Stripped back and stylish perfection.
Review: Is A Feeling ensures that their new 12" very much is with some classically inclined but not overly nostalgic deep house from Scott Featherstone. 'Plan B' is a bulky, wonky deep house cut for the pumping after party hours, then 'We Played House' taps into the early Chicago sound with Peach Boys style synths and dubbed-out vocals. 'Bad Mother Fucker's a raw, sleazy looper that DJ Sneak would love not least because of the rude-boy vocals and filtered synths, then 'Badass Breaks' spins out on just that. 'Journey' might be the best off the lot with its soulful xylophone melodies and smooth-cruising deep house beats. An eclectic and excellent EP.
Review: The connection between ZamZam and Feel Free Hi Fi was sparked by Bristolian Neek out in Portland and lead to an immediate bond forged over a shared sound and DIY ethos. Inspired by early digi-era dancehall and UK dub, the duo crafts a sound here that honours tradition while venturing into bold, idiosyncratic territory. It comes on their own Digital Sting label and opens with 'Voyageur' which is a mix of cinematic atmospherics with haunting synths that evoke wild and mythic landscapes. 'Underground' pays tribute to the spirit of DIY underground music and captures the struggle to preserve both nature and the essence of basement gigs in today's shifting cultural landscape.
Review: Fidelio and Luca Piermattei hook up here to explore worlds where acid, techno and electro all happily coexist. Fidelio's A-side offers three cuts that fuse 90s acid rawness with baroque drama that results in a unique mix of classical organ melodies and razor-sharp basslines. Punchy kicks and sizzling hi-hats drive the energy as you're happily lost on a neon-lit techno odyssey. On the flip, Piermattei's 'Gas' features a fluid bassline and glitching robotic vocals that are eerie yet inviting and 'Third Rec' (with Tascam 122) rounds out the release with pulse-driven electro and intricate percussion, perfect for late-night explorations.
Review: Hands up - this is one of our favourite ever jams and frankly we can't really understand anyone who doesn't rate it pretty highly. It is a classic of the early dance scene that got hammered everywhere from Warehouse to Paradise Garage and remains in a class of one decades on. Next to the brilliant original, which is from a time when proper songwriting and musicianship defined house and disco, you get a Ron Hardy edit that is more uptempo, with hissing hi hats cutting through the funky rhythms and loopy drums. Sublime.
Review: Fleur is a firm favourite with fans and now teases the new upcoming album with a new 7" single that is going to resonate well with fans of acts like The Kinks, Holly Golightly and The Remains. The A-side, 'Nous Continuerons a Marcher Ensemble' kicks off with a sharp guitar riff and builds into a catchy, powerful chorus. The B-side, an exclusive to this 7", is 'Tu M'as Mise a Genoux' a fast-paced punk track driven by fuzz bass. Both of them are superb retro indie-pop bangers and have been penned by Mark ten Hoor of The Kryng, and he also recorded the backing tracks for this release.
Review: Sometimes a tune comes along that is so good it stands up on its own on a single bit of wax. Flipsight's 'The Lizard King' is one such tune. It's got everything needed to both appeal to the heads but also hook in those who like a characterful and accessible tune to get them going. The drums are Paradise Garage-style house grooves with a great sense of shuffle and swing. Keys up top are jazzy and echo Herbie Hancock, with chord stabs, scratching and odd vocals all meaning this one has huge anthem potential. Move fast!
Review: The limited edition Florence Funk sub-label returns with a ninth volume of steamy sounds, this time with a pair of rare gems pressed up to wax. 'Hey Mama' opens up with some psyched 60s guitar bringing a great lead to some raw instrumental funk beats while a guttural male vocal finishes it off up top. Flip it over and you'll find 'Gimme', a more celebratory sound with some big horn leads and plenty of percussion detailing the percolating drums. Both of these are sure to heat up any floor this winter and beyond.
Review: Fly T is back on the Japanese label Ninjapan Music with a beguiling two-tracker on 7". 'JapaNepal' brings a world mix of sounds including dub and sun continental rhythms, exotic flutes and some unique take on ragga vocals. It's a colourful and playful cut with a hefty low end that will be a standout cut in any set. '567' (Tengaku dub mix) is a psyched-out and deep dub with an Indian twist and bottomless bass. Two brilliantly original cuts for sure.
Review: Swirl People revisit their roots with a nostalgic four track EP from their early days as Fortune Cookie. This collection - which is their third release on L.I.T.S. - features carefully selected tracks from their original 1996 releases on Marguerite, a small label run by a friend. Nearly three decades later, these still much sought-after tracks are finally being reissued. The EP opens with 'Glitter Girls,' which is characterised by a catchy bassline, followed by the deep groove of 'Um Bongo.' On the B-side, 'Galactic Snackbar' offers a retro-futuristic feel, while 'Frisko Heaven' wraps up the EP with classic disco-filtered house energy. Timeless tackle, for sure.
Review: The cultured ESHU label has pulled other some more tasteful talents for this four track 'Conrexture' EP. It opens up with Julien Fuentes's 'Jah Justice' (Klaridub Ambient mix) which is a nice atmospheric opener with some conscious dub mutterings and sci-fi pads. Jocelyn & Yasin Engwer then kick on with some watery, sub-aquatic minimal dub tech bliss in the form of 'Sticks & Stones', Voal gets even more dark and dirty with some grubby dub basslines on 'Eight Ball' and Ivano Tetelepta/Christine Benz layer up watery droplets, melodic whistles, static electricity and rubbery rhythms to mind-melting perfection on 'Supreme.'
Review: Funkyjaws is the Belarusian DJ and producer Sergey Abramov, who has been dropping his funky disco heat on the likes of Kolour LTD and Shadeleaf Music before now, as well as his own fledgling self-titled imprint. This one kicks off with 'WME' which has some big horn action and stomping disco drums to liven up any party. 'Snapshot' has a raw vocal and atmospheric energy that is sure to uplift and 'Dancin' then brings some sweet hip-swinging claps. It's a string-laced disco affair to close with the majestic 'You'.
Freddie McGregor & Jah Berry - "Step It All Over" (3:54)
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - "Rock It" (3:36)
Review: Top tier reggae vocalist Freddie McGregor worked often with thereat producer Joe Gibbs back in their heyday. Once such occasion was when they took on a version of Bob Marley's 'Rock My Boat' and originally released it in 1981. Produced by The Mighty Two aka Joe Gibbs & Errol Thompson, it's got a fat low end and nice guitar chords that are lazy and inviting while a stylised vocal up top. On the flip, Gibbs and The Professional dubs things out.
Daryl System & Mr Fantasy - "Sequential Love" (4:37)
Review: Barcelona-based Italian label Dance Conmigo makes a bold debut with a four-track release that is fully aimed at igniting dance floors. The opener from Lukinsky sets the tone with a dreamy, nostalgic journey you won't want to let go of while Elgo Blanco raises the tempo, perfectly bridging day-to-night vibes. On the B-side, Flavio Folco's signature style shines on a track featuring a dynamic live bassline and energetic arrangement. Last but not least, the EP closes with a collaboration from Daryl System & Mr. Fantasy that delivers a warm 80s-inspired groove and cosmic harmonies that transport you to another dimension.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Fletcher and Steve O'Sullivan have often worked or appeared together in the past so it makes sense that the former now invites the latter to be the first person to release on his newly minted and always sure to be worth checking Social Currency imprint. They take the reins together across floor-focussed cuts that are marbled with deep pads and introspective sounds. 'Cold Calling Blues' is warm and airy with smoky vocal sounds and precision dub techno drum loops, 'Midnight At 1:30' hits a little harder but is still zoned out and serene and 'Shatner's Groove' takes on subtle deep space moods with deft pads and spoken word additions.
Review: Fighter V returns with their highly anticipated new record which serves up one of their signature blends of melodic rock that will get your heart racing. With five accomplished musicians at the helm, the band delivers infectious riffs, memorable melodies and unique vocals on every tune and always manages to distil the essence of true passion and rock into each one. Every brings energy and emotion that reflects the band's evolution and growth since their last out, which helps to make Heart of the Young a must-listen for anyone who loves classic rock legends like Bon Jovi and Whitesnake.
Review: Heart Dance Recordings is a genuinely unique proposition: a new age, ambient and spiritual music label run by, and for, women, offering up decidedly calming music from an ever-growing roster of artists. The Phoenix-based imprint's latest full-length excursion was created by a trio of musicians: flautist Sherry Finzer, percussionist and vocalist Karasvana (real name Ella Hunt) and synthesizer enthusiast-come-guitarist City of Dawn (Damian Duque). There's much to admire about The Journeying Sun, from the daybreak beauty of 'Memory of Awakening' and the immersive, enveloping bliss of 'On Seashores of Endless Worlds', with its haunting chimes and drifting vocal refrains, to wide-eyed aural wonder of 'Resident Wandering' and the simultaneously pastoral and ethereal 'Indefiniteness'.
Review: Adedemola is the new self-titled album from Fireboy DML and one that marks a new chapter in his artistic journey. It continues to be shaped by years of self-discovery and more than just music, the record reflects his experiences of love, loss and self-realisation. The album was born from navigating life's struggles including the heartbreak of losing close friends which ultimately guided him to clarity and purpose. Adedemola dives into love in all its forms here from self-love to family love and romance and in doing so urges us to embrace what truly matters. There is great honesty throughout this album as Fireboy DML calls for unity and positivity across a compelling suite of sunny pop tunes.
Review: Hypnotism I is a new album from Foundation that the artist himself says has been a cherished part of his work since shortly after his previous work Mountain Ambient IV. We're told that its creation was a slow, immersive process that unfolded over months, with each layer evolving patiently. By composing intuitively, the album emerged naturally to reflect a glacial depth and subconscious growth. Its four pieces are all richly layered soundscapes with wispy melodies and dusty drones that sink you in deep and free your mind of all woes.
Review: Following a pair of well-received albums on Juicebox Recordings (not to be confused with A Guy Called Gerald's 1990s label of the same name), self-styled "nu-funk" duo Franc Moody have transferred to Night Time Stories for the release of new album Chewing The Fat. Like its predecessors, it blends a left-of-centre, Hot Chip style sensibility with colourful and nostalgic synth sounds, disco strings, good grooves and nods aplenty to both 21st century electronica and the Halcyon days of synth-funk in the 1980s. The results are frequently superb, with highlights including the throbbing-but-sparse 'Square Pegs In Round Holes', jaunty opener 'Driving On The Wrong Side of the Road' and the blissful, tactile and string-laden nu-disco bounce of 'Bloodlines'.
Review: Astonishingly, seven years have now passed since the release of Franz Ferdinand's most recent studio album, the dancefloor-fired colour of Always Ascending. Reuniting the Glaswegian post-punk rockers with former mixer/engineer Mark Ralph (who this time steps up to produce), The Human Fear has been trailed as a kind of extended lyrical meditation on prejudice and fear. It's a notably grown up and musically varied affair, with opener 'Audacity' joining the dots between the jagged guitars and energy of the band's earliest recordings and the inventive, try-different-things arrangements made famous by the Beatles in their golden 1966-67 period. Compare and contrast this with Night Or Day', where fuzzy 70s synths and jangling piano riffs squabble for sonic space with metronomic drums and bass, and the fizzing nu-rave/indie dance revivalism of 'Hooked'.
Review: Certain Path is a serene, piano-driven album by collaborators zake (aka label head Zach Frizzell), From Overseas which is Kevin Sery and City of Dawn aka Damien Duque. This reflective collection of seven pieces invites deep contemplation with tender piano motifs and subtle drones creating a meditative atmosphere. Opening with 'Where Time Slows Down,' the album blends delicate melodies with layered guitar textures. Inspired by Frizzell's wife, the title track offers heartfelt emotion, while 'Avec l'aide de Vincent' honours a close mentor. Throughout, the artists employ nocturnal recording sessions, field recordings and analogue treatments to craft an introspective, evocative listening experience.
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