The Future Sound Of London - "Stolen Documents" (Jazz dub) (5:17)
Smart Systems - "Zip Code" (Stress Ball mix) (5:15)
The Future Sound Of London - "Innate" (W O W mix) (4:42)
Indo Tribe - "I've Become What You Were" (Insider mix) (4:21)
Review: The influential 90s IDM and techno act Future Sound of London continues to delve into their early career with the reissue of The Pulse EP Vol 2, originally released in 1991. This EP exemplifies the early techno sound, blending rave elements with the more intelligent and linear side of electronic dance music. Side-1 kicks off with 'Stolen Documents' (Jazz dub) by The Future Sound of London, a track that perfectly melds jazzy undertones with dub influences, creating a sophisticated and immersive experience. Following this is Smart Systems' 'Zip Code' (Stress Ball mix), a piece that balances high-energy beats with a stress-relieving ambiance. Side-2 begins with 'Innate' (W O W mix) by The Future Sound of London, a track that delves into deeper, more atmospheric realms, showcasing the group's innovative approach to soundscaping. Indo Tribe's 'I've Become What You Were' (Insider mix) closes the EP, with a pulsating techno rhythm that encapsulates the essence of the early '90s rave scene. Before their signature chill out sound was made, FSOL his some of their highest notes here with these early EPs.
Review: Will Hofbauer and Igaxx collaboratively expand the all-too-easily received palettes of electro, techno, garage all in between, and even more yonder, proving to us that the boundary edges of each genre may be blurred without worry. Sharing three groove-bays each on this latest 12", Hofbauer indulges an across-the-pond sojourn, guesting on Japan's Ladybug label, which is managed by the also eminent Igaxx, who occupies the B with equal grip. Hofbauer's 'Cricket', 'Clod' and 'Cocodrilo' bring three endocrine C's to a singly sanguine side, echoing a Hessle Audio-esque experimental dance sensibility while secreting all manner of vital sonic fluids from his ears unto ours; the last track is especially alarming; cursedly toothy, its growly lead zombifying the elsewise rapid mix by way of an enthralled grunt. Igaxx's contributions are relatively supportive and yet mad, moving from the squelches and pipey ascensions of '4 5 SL Trip' to the parabreaks flows of 'Liquefy' and the sloshing cosmo-funk astro-vista that is 'Ray In Space'.
Review: Ltd B's good recent run of form continues with another dive into lush deep house realms courtesy of ICTV. First off the mark is 'Hit The Floor' with its US garage-inspired drums and some old school hip-house vocals. 'Orange Mood' is a steamy one with romantic melodies soothing the soul and some smart vocals adding a tough of firey soul. 'Adrift' then picks up the pace with some high-speed jungle breakbeats and 'Dazzling' sinks back into loved-up late-night sounds with expressive vocal yelps. Last of all, 'Sunset Recall' takes things down into blissed out realms with dusty drums and wispy pads.
Review: Santiago-based Drumma label is back in full swing with its first release in a couple of years. Before the pandemic they had releases from scene heavy hitters such as Luciano, (iO) Mulen, Barac and Livio & Roby. For this one they've chosen Miami-based up-and-comer Idana who presents the immersive and multi-layered minimal techno experience of 'Cantan Los Pajaros Modulares' featuring an array of atonal blips and bleeps underpinned by clipped and hypnotic polyrhythms. Over on the flip, the mesmerising energy continues on the wonky breakbeat-driven roller 'Telepatic'.
Asymmetric Information (Homemade Weapons remix) (6:30)
Don't Crush The Acid (Viels remix) (6:43)
Don't Crush The Acid (Fred P remix) (6:28)
Inner Sunset (Soramimi & Rondec remix) (4:36)
Review: Just before it hits the double digits milestone, Dusk Notes revisit earlier suns with a new imagery remix EP. 'Asymmetric Information' (Homemade Weapons remix) opens up with a jungle techno assault that comes on in waves of irresistible physicality, and 'Don't Crush The Acid' (Viels remix) then gets deeper and darker and more paired back. 'Don't Crush The Acid' (Fred P remix) is one of the New York don's famously heady, spiritual and jazz inflected works and 'Inner Sunset' (Soramimi & Rondec remix) then slows it down to a dubby mutant crawl.
Review: Strap in for more rickety breakbeat workouts here from Imaginary Number on a limited edition heavyweight white label. Opener 'Push' is crunchy as you like with raw drum work and frayed edges to the synths. 'Grv' pairs a lively breakbeat drum loop with bleeping synths and the sort of pent up late night energy that gets any floor going. 'Somebody' is a more macho and texture techno wobbler built on ramshackle drums with wild vocals and last of all is another physical and prickly drum workout 'Fools' that is pure heat, especially with the pitched up and snatched vocal that cuts in.
Review: Maimi troupe Imbue continue their free-spirited sonic spree, this time on Re:Face. As always, it's a very fluid affair; washing our souls with their delicate fusion of live instrumentation, analogue wizardry and hypnotic groovemanship. Over four tracks we explore their full palette. Electro feels inform the opening track 'Boy With Apple' while the title track 'Overlook' bumps with more of an essence of funky house. Meanwhile on the B it's all-out funk affair. 'Model 29' is a party waiting to happen while 'Dawn' shrouds us in a big old cosmic cloak. Bottoms up.
Incognito - "Freedom To Love" (Atjazz Astro remix) (5:25)
MRMILKDEE & Jill Rock Jones - "2 Positions" (Sean McCabe Cosmos dub) (5:22)
Harold Matthews Jr & Sean McCabe - "Metronome" (Turbojazz remix) (6:16)
KV5 & Kaidi Tatham - "Shook Up" (5:03)
Review: Reel People Music breaks new ground, in more ways than one, with the launch of fresh compilation series Broken, Deep & Dope. A spin-off from acclaimed compilation brand Soulful, Deep & Dope - introduced back in 2015 - this new series sees the much-loved independent imprint pushing further at the boundaries of soulful music. All with that customary Reel People feeling. Broken, Deep & Dope 2024, the series' first instalment, unleashes 20 superlative examples of the soulful 'bruk' (broken beat), nu beat and nu jazz sound that has so innovatively informed contemporary dancefloors around the world since its inception back in late '90s West London.
Review: The Incredible Bongo Band were a loose studio collective interpreting classics of the day in their own inimitable percussive fashion .They are of course most famous for their ultimate b-boy classic version of "Apache". This particular 7" however features two Incredible Bongo Band cuts that have not previously featured on any albums. "The Riot" is a frenetic drum workout and has been championed by the likes of the Chemical Brothers. "Ohkey Dokey (Part 2)" takes on a somewhat more subdued hue in comparison, but has some dope funky clavinet in the mix. Well worth checking.
Review: It's spinbacks, rave stabs and "can't you see"s galore on Injectionz' debut tenth hardcore dubplate, released on their eponymous imprint. Faithful to the form, this is a debut that won't fail to impress even the more seasoned veterans of the scene either; intro track 'Gotta Believe' seems to make light of its debutante's ambition by way of slapstick scat samples and even an "oh my god, I'm a DJ" interjection, then spraying the 'phones with scratches, cutups and repitchings at a blasphemous rate of fire. B-sider 'Rockin' The House' demonstrates a laxer tendency, proving that many different auditory vaccinations are indeed on offer to the would-be fan.
B-STOCK: Torn sleeve, otherwise in excellent working condition
Qeta - "Idream"
Qeta - "Revved Orb"
Qeta - "Redawn"
Inkipak - "Plex"
Inkipak - "Schedule"
Inkipak - "Wetlands"
Review: ***B-STOCK: Torn sleeve, otherwise in excellent working condition***
Qeta and Inkipak show off their respective skills on this fine split EP on Sound Synthesis's Wave Function label. Qeta takes care of the a-side with a serene opener in the form of 'Idream' which pairs lush ambient designs with pristine breakbeats. 'Revved Orb' is a more dubbed-out and trippy post-jungle rhythm with 'Redawn' bringing soulful Detroit techno style to the floor. With his trio of tunes, Inkipak offers stripped-back breaks and celestial chords, heavenly moods on 'Schedule' and a cosmic comedown soundtrack with 'Wetlands.'
Review: Bitterfeld continues to blaze its own electro trail with a seventh outing that again its top draw. This one is a various artistic collection under the title For A Bitter Tomorrow: Band 2 and opens up with Salomo's 'Bodytalk', a crisp and ice cold electro rhythm before Interviews bathe you in gloriously deft sci-fi melodies on 'Let Go' and Qwerty's 'Kisela Neman' then brings some madness with crashing hits and molten acid lines. Jonbjorn's 'Chica' closes with similarly high impact electro sounds and raw textures.
Review: Canadian-born, German-based producer Ash Luk is best known for his work in Minimal Violence, a band that used electronics to create raucous, vivid punk-rock style live experiences, as well as his role as one half of 'doom electronic' duo S.A.T.I.N. alongside Ireen Amnes. Under the Infinity Division moniker he's created more impressively dystopian sonic adventures that channel a suitably wide array of extreme music styles, from isolationist ambience at the start of 'No Reason' - which then twists into industrial junglist madness - to breakbeaty Sisters of Mercy-style coldwave on 'Weather Prophets'. Fans of Alec Empire's notorious Digital Hardcore Recordings label and its output should find this entertainingly terrifying and twisted up musical vision very much up their street.
Review: Simon Huxtable's alias Inhmost returns to Tonight's Dream Records with a new album, Breaks & Dreams, a continuation of his 2022 release Space & Awareness. Playing on the trend of atmospheric breaks that has risen in popularity over the last decade or so, Huxtable nonetheless pushes the boundaries of the sound, his latest eight offerings providing ample glimpses into the complex structures behind our fascination with this beatified genre. Opener 'Light Haze' is a hypnagogic one, its oceanic feeling marred by a decided swing pattern in the break line itself, suggesting an essential imperfection even in the amniotic returns to oneness so suggested in this kind of music heard elsewhere. The albums steers itself in an ever-more immersive direction by the time it reaches the B-side too, with 'Signs From The East' treating its great washy ambiences like against-the-wind zephyrs against which we cannot fight and to which we must give ourselves over.
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