Review: The Duke Ya Love To Hate might sound like a turntablist slash battle-scratcher from the late eighties, but he's actually a gaunt-looking dude from the-time-is-now. Real name Stefan Senf, this artist has enjoyed every stylistic meander from juke to noise since at least 1995, and he here marks his debut album in the vein of bristly potpourri prangout breaks; a golden crate of 7"s in the style has thus far also been procured for the Cold Diggin label. However, I Really Have No Idea What's Going On Here, But I Like It is the first continuous mix made for the moniker, limited to just 100 cassette tapes and continuing the beloved Cadillac tape series (whose original provenance we can't track down, but we'll take his word for it). A super-limited artist edition, made especially for the event Back In The Day, which took place in Dresden on August 24. Handmade, every tape is unique.
Review: Ill Communication, the Beastie Boys' fourth studio album, remains a hallmark of their creative versatility. Released in 1994, this groundbreaking record merges hip-hop with punk rock, jazz, and funk, marking a significant shift towards live instrumentationia progression from their previous album, Check Your Head. Co-produced by the Beasties and Mario C, the album showcases their talent for genre-blending, featuring iconic tracks like the explosive 'Sabotage,' the funky 'Get It Together' with Q-Tip, and the raw 'Do It' with Biz Markie. The album also includes jazzy breakbeat grooves such as 'Root Down' and 'The Scoop,' along with instrumental jazz-funk tracks like 'Ricky's Theme' and 'Sabrosa,' and even nods to their punk roots with 'Heart Attack Man.' With further contributions from Money Mark, Eric Bobo, and Amery 'AWOL' Smith, Ill Communication is a testament to the Beastie Boys' ability to innovate. Now available on cassette for the first time ever, it continues to resonate as one of the band's most diverse and celebrated works.
Review: The hotly anticipated new FKA Twigs album brings a muted, grizzled office sexuality to an already mercurial and glossy pop vanguard, contrasting to 2022's relatively tangy mixtape Caprisongs. Here also released on cassette, Twigs proves herself unafraid of multi-format and even vintage format releasing, despite the highly digital aesthetic. With over half the record already made public - title track 'Eusexua' brings a ratchet dance beat to a mood of authoritarian future rhapsody, and the body-confident hyper-garage tune 'Perfect Stranger' brings a similarly future-purist mood of drabness in gloss - diehard fans are the ones most likely to anticipate this exclusive tape edition.
I Swear It's A Bop (feat KAYY & ALLGIRLSALLOWED) (2:17)
Fitness By King Milo (2:07)
Review: After a recent release on CD following its first outing on Omar S's FXHE, Diners Club International now drops Hi Tech's self-titled album on cassette with some added bonus joints. It's a thrilling, pacey listen that whisks you off your feet and through a world of juke, footwork and ghetto beats that are all drenched in soul. The cuts are short and sweet, from the smudged and smeared r&b overtones of 'Funny Fuckits' (feat Nila & Stefan Xix) to the heavily filtered and trap-style 'Fitness By King Milo.' It's a futuristic sound steeped in fresh and inventive rhythms and heartfelt emotions.
WhyYouFuggMyOpps (feat Link Sinatra, Ciarah) (2:26)
Glitch N Ass (feat Cheapskate Skutta, Dastardly Kids) (3:12)
Birthday Pearls (feat QuikKash) (2:17)
Pocket Pussy (feat Milfie) (1:51)
TakeOffOnnaPorsche (1:59)
TeeTees Dispo (feat Sprng4evr) (2:31)
No Games (feat Nlghind, Dastardly Kids) (2:54)
Review: Diners Club International recently served up this Hi Tech album, Detwat, on CD, but now backs that up with a limited cassette version featuring some bonus cuts. It originally got released on Omar S's FHXE label and is a sleazy and high-speed ghetto workout with filthy low ends aimed well and truly at the rump. Juke, footwork and plenty of spin-off styles are all chewed up and spat out with plenty of top collars and guests adding colour. There are pumping beats and fractured vocals on 'Money Phone', Drake style trap vocoders on 'TakeOffOnnaPorsche' and bright, reflective, optimistic chords over hurried beats on 'Glitch N Ass' (feat Cheapskate Skutta, Dastardly Kids) amongst many more highlights.
Review: South London's Loefah has long been a pivotal figure in the UK's underground evolution, particularly on the bossier end of the spectrum. The cut figure is a master in the club too and this recording from the iconic Bloc Weekender in 2011 proves that as it now gets pressed up to a brand new cassette from the Never Sleep charity tape series. It showcases UK club futurism by blending hybrid transatlantic sounds with vibrant MC SP. Featuring soon-to-be Swamp81 classics, the set fuses Miami-style bass, hip-hop elements and UK hardcore into the darker, more melody-driven side of 2011 sounds. All proceeds benefit Lives Not Knives who support youth projects in South London.
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