LANDO KAL Schallplatten & CDs

Review: One of the best things about contemporary bass music is the scene's willingness to draw on a wide variety of influences. This is perfectly illustrated by this EP from Lando Kal. "Let You In The Sky" and "Help Myself" are both warm and fluid, sitting somewhere between deep house, revivalist US garage and the scattergun flex of classic UKG. The remixes, though, are truly inspirational. Best of all is the rub of "Help Myself" by techno legend Anthony Shakir, whose robust version is a head-cracking mix of nasty bass and sweaty percussion. The remix of the title track from Grown Folk - analogue techno with deep house melodies - is almost as good.

Review: Rush Hour's flawless Direct Current imprint welcomes a new artist into the fold, as Lazer Sword's Lando Kal drops two neon-tinged house bombs in a similar vein to his excellent release for Hotflush earlier this year. "Maneuver" sounds as classic as it is contemporary, occupying the same retro-futuristic space of house music as Azari & III, building its energy with a series of stop-start pitch bent synths and a melody that pays homage to numerous 90s house classics. "Run It" meanwhile is a more bass heavy number on an 80s electro tip, combining a schizophrenic drum machine, and saccharine vocal samples to create something that whilst not quite as filled with colour saturated euphoria as its counterpart, is no less forward thinking in its approach.

Review: Lazer Sword don Lando Kal steps out for a solo endeavour on the always crucial Hot Flush imprint and it's a bit special. "Further" takes a US garage swing and twists it round a swathe of cavernous twilight hypnagogics coated in frosted atmospherics - ably assisted by the emotive twinge of the heavily diced titular vocal refrain. The distinctive melding of transatlantic references bodes well for future solo output from LK. Check the B Side for the more urgent juke throb of "Time Out", which swerves brilliantly through several different directions as it descends uneasily towards the run out groove. More please sir!