Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Making a welcome return to Swamp 81 after the Mean Streets pair of releases, Falty DL is on superlative form as ever with a pair of direct cuts that play on different sides of his production personality. "Huff & Puff Bruk" takes the fundamentals of 2-step and infuses it with lazy jazz and ethereal tones for a crisply funking, whimsical cut that should get all soulful spinners in a lather. On the flip things get edgier as "Mo" takes sharply looped vocal samples and works them around clattering slices of breaks to whip up the kind of frenzy that Tessela and co. inspire with their own rum choppery.

Review: Berlin techno stalwart Fiedel serves up some more reissues of effective DJ tools on Fiedeltwo. This time around we have a 2021 Remaster of 'Doors To Manual' which was featured originally on Berghain (where he's resident) compilation Funf back in 2010. It's a typically wonky and off-kilter cut by him that showcases a truly singular approach to techno. Over on the flip, Kyiv's Espen Lauritzen contributed 'F/T/S' to Fiedel's very own mix for the esteemed Berlin club's mix series, the eighth to be precise, and it too gets a 2021 remaster. A pounding warehouse techno workout in the vein of classic Djax Up Beats, this one's serious.

Review: Freek Fabricius is at the buttons for the next one on Utrecht's vital Something Happening Somewhere. He is a school teacher, dedicated DJ, label boss and party organiser who also makes cyber rave tunes of the sort found on this EP, which makes his first full release. It's fill with glistening video-game electronics, metallic electro beats and edgy soundscapes that are so bright they almost make you wince. 'Melancholia (Future Is Cancelledit)' is a mix of bristling synths and more plaintive chords while 'Bai Bai Babi' is broken beat body music from a tribe on another planet.

Review: It's been at least a hot minute since the last heavyweight release from Swamp 81 dropped (and they don't get much heavier than a double pack of body music from Boddika). The wait has totally been worth it as Funkbias sees UKG legend Zed Bias team up with Rinse FM's excellently named Funk Butcher for two drops of typically forward thinking music. "Last Forever" burst uneasily out of the rumbling groove that opens the track into masterful concoction of vocal affectations, burning synth beams, snapping tribal drums and trademark Zed Bias bass. "Heaven Sent" does indeed begin like it was sent from above with gentle piano melodies lulling you in before being engulfed by a heavily pressurised flex of 808s and more crafty vocal dicing. The interplay between the soft and harsh elements is quite brilliant. Those who like a fine example of cover art will go weak at the knees over the Will Bankhead embossed design too.

Review: After a break of two long years, tech-house scene stalwart Sascha Funke has finally delivered a new EP of typically atmospheric, on-point music. It's his first outing for Running Back after years spent flitting between BPitch Control, Multi-Culti and Endless Flight. Interestingly, what's on offer is more retro-futurist in tone than much of his work, with audible nods to vintage electronic disco, early 2000s nu-disco (think Morgan Geist) and tactile '90s deep house. Our picks of a very strong bunch are rubbery, morse code-sporting nu-disco-goes-bleep house number 'QAM', moody analogue deep house treat 'SEZ', whose creepy chords and spacey sonics are undeniably alluring, and ultra-melodious, Italo-disco-influenced opener 'FEZ'.

Review: Emotional Rescue return to the music of cult British group Furniture, shining a light on this unique band's extended 12" mixes and alternate takes. In the 80s tradition, these versions shrug off commercial concerns for something more exciting - long run times and space to tease FX and processes that a radio-friendly single wouldn't allow. "I Can't Crack (Broken Mix)" is an epic crescendo, while the instrumental mix of "Throw Away The Script" locks into a scratchy percussive workout anchored by a moody bassline. The sprightly piano lines and cascading sax on "Dancing The Hard Bargain" are a delight to lose yourself in, while "Bullet" strikes a somber but stirring tone to close the EP out.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Original outer sleeve missing, otherwise in excellent condition***


The last Rhythm Section release came from Vancouver man Local Artist, but number 6 sees Peckham man Bradley Zero actually looking to local artists in the shape of FYI Chris. The production handle of Chris Watson and his namesake Coupe, this Peckham duo have already impressed with the No Hurry stealth drop on Church late last year, but it's clear they've learnt a few new tricks since then. Nestling snugly into the SE London beatdown sound Bradley has been cultivating through the label, Back In The Millenium is pleasantly hard to pin down with bits of house, hip hop and acid thrown into the mixer. We are quite impressed by "Jeru" which desiccates a famed '90s Primo sample with some dextrous MPC work, whilst MCDE fans will be all over "Need I Say More". A big 12" Nik!

Review: Given that Four Tet's recent 0181 LP was comprised of material from Kieran Hebden's archives, and last year's Pink was largely compiled of tracks from the previous 18 months of 12" releases, it seems fair to say that Beautiful Rewind is his first proper album since 2010's There Is Love In You, and as such, it arrives with some degree of expectation. The past few years have seen the producer engage increasingly with the dancefloor, and these rhythms are most definitely present across the LP, particularly in the jungle breaks of "Kool FM", pirate radio-influenced techno of "Buchla" and hesitant dubstep style rhythms of "Parallel Jalebi". For the most part however Beautiful Rewind is as varied as the likes of Rounds and There Is Love In You, with the minimalist kosmische of "Ba Teaches Yoga", analogue gurgles of "Crush" and dawn chorus sounds of closer "Your Body Feels" all as beautiful as his most enduring tracks.

Review: Frankie Goes To Hollywood - was there ever a group who created such a phenomenon and fell apart so soon afterwards? The seismic shockwave created by 'Relax' resounds eternally through pop culture, from the provocative video to the throbbing proto house production. Alas, the success dissolved the band before they could build on their undeniable talent, but there's still a rich trove of classic songs and more than enough alternative mixes to fill out this definitive three-disc collection. Alongside the hits there are tunes which will be enlightening even to long time devotees of the group.