Cutting-edge dance music, club culture & DJ technology http://www.djmag.com en-gb Copyright Thrust Media Ltd September 2012 ben.murphy@djmag.com james@djmag.com Wed, 05 Sep 2012 01:01:01 +0100 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 01:01:01 +0100 News djmag_rss_creator_1.0 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24133#24133Spearheading their very own surf rock revival direct from… err, the (not so) sunny shores of North-West Wales, Y Niwl (pronounced Uh Nule) are a strangely brilliant musical oxymoron. Drawing on the classic surf rock sound of bands like The Surfaris, The Ventures, The Shadows, The Tornados and Dick Dale, they claim to own no surf rock beyond an old cassette of The Shadows! Hard to believe, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt. reviewstory24133Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24134#24134Paying homage to two music greats, production mastermind Prince Fatty serves up a couple of tracks from his forthcoming star-studded album 'Prince Fatty Versus The Drunken Gambler'. ODB's chart-friendly, singalong classic 'Got Your Money' is first to receive Fatty's attentions, and it's job well done. But it's his revision of Max Romeo's 'Wet Dream' (featuring none other than Studio 1 legend Dennis Alcapone) that's the killer here. reviewstory24134Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24135#24135The king of cut and paste turntable tomfoolery returns with a new album project, and with it a slightly new approach to his production technique. Never straying too far from the foundations of hip-hop, '12 Bit Blues' is all about his homage to the SP-1200 sampler (the bedrock of early hip-hop production). The result is an intricately crafted exploration of blues music, using real-time samples, snippets, offcuts and of course all the usual turntable-inspired trickery. reviewstory24135Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24136#24136With Patrick Watson's 'Close To Paradise' LP sitting comfortably among my top 10 albums of the last few years, you might think the inclusion of this single was going to be a forgone conclusion… and you'd be right, as it's bloody lovely. With the usual sense of grace, subtlety, charm and beauty you'd expect from this man, it's has all the hallmarks of another timeless Watson gem. reviewstory24136Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24137#24137Not so sure about some of the remixes on offer here, but the original will no doubt be a sunrise set staple for many years to come. reviewstory24137Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24138#24138Taking its name from the surreal, music-hating characters in Yellow Submarine, fortunately there is nothing quite so sinister about this hotly-tipped trio from NZ. reviewstory24138Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24139#24139A new experimental folk project from Tunng co-founder Mike Lyndsay, this particular track was recorded with a host of Icelandic musicians - and it shows. reviewstory24139Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24140#24140Spot trivia: Wikipedia says Antalya is the third most visited city in the world, even (crazily) beating out NYC. Well overdue a musical tribute then, duly rectified by O&M here. They heat the synths to an appropriately Med-level, whilst adding a stout supporting backing. 'Tenerife' isn't your everyday source of trance inspiration, either. While its riff shares note-and-sound DNA with 'Antalya's, for some reason it sounds far more dynamic. Very good release.reviewstory24140Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24141#24141With its big 'n' ballsy sound set-up, 'Sky' ascends rapidly to a great harmonic midsection, paying out at the top of the drop with a bellicose tech finale. Content-wise, 'Palm Island' is busy as hell, with a euphoric opening giving way to a breakbeat/dubstep drop, further ceding to more vigorous tech-trance business. With so much going on, inevitably the polish suffers (the drums sounding especially loose), but proper fun nonetheless.reviewstory24141Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24142#24142If one track typifies the amphetamised sound currently entrancing LA, 'City Of Angels' is likely it. The 'Original' intros purposefully with concussive drums, hard struck percussion and express-train bass. Igniting spectacularly three minutes in, the modulation wheel sends its air-raid siren lead-line hurtling through the roof. Packed with sounds and FX intent on ripping themselves free of the speakers, this 'City' should come with a public health warning!reviewstory24142Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24143#24143'Curveball' and 'Monsoon' both share a mixtape mentality. Whilst hitting many a well-worn trope and mainstay of the melodic-to-euphoric sub-genre, critically you never get the impression that Metcalfe is simply pushing your buttons. Despite the familiarity of the thundering beats, synths and chord structures, they have an unmistakable wholehearted, right-minded-ness which shines through.reviewstory24143Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24144#24144With a bit more production time on his hands these days, Jules (ably assisted by Dale Corderoy) delivers a quick-heeled studio follow-up to 'The Attack'. 'Give Me' is a pumping mainline trancer with a very passable male chorus vocal in tow. During the mid-section, it plumps for a breakbeat/dubstep sequence that transposes slickly and efficiently back into euphoric trance territory. Decent gear.reviewstory24144Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24145#24145Third single from the 'Pure' album and one that's about as sun-kissed and spiritually Solarstone as you can get. Rubbing shoulders with latter day gems like '4Ever' and 'Touchstone' and back-in-the-day corkers ('Seven Cities'/'Solarcoaster'), it's a guitar 'n' piano soaked goosebump popper. In perceptibly reactionary fashion, Aly & Fila's remix is hard-driven by 303 throughout, and is hell-bent on being as full-force, in-yer-face and '5am' as possible.reviewstory24145Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24146#24146From its opening drums (which sound like someone banging a pair of breezeblocks together) on, 'The Machine' is an unstoppable, inexorable and visceral thrill. It marries relentless bottom end chug with gripping, ear-twitching sound fission up top. Slick and stylistically androgynous, it boasts not one, but two 'just-when-you-think-it-can't-get-any-bigger' moments. In this day and age you really can't say much better than that.reviewstory24146Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24147#24147'Caught' may be Schulz's most accomplished vocal outing in three years. Wildfire catchy and lent an unmistakably radio-friendly edge by Adina Butar's vocals, its thermally rising lead line and supporting minor melodies chime sublime. Remix-side, and notes are equally as good. Duderstadt give the mainline a refreshingly organic house-ish tweak, whilst Tritonal apply a punchy, very du jour US-sounding twist. Even the much-expanded 'Instrumental' kills. This is indeed the complete package.reviewstory24147Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24148#24148Originally appearing on Headstrong's 'Timeless' album, it's taken two years for 'Love Until It Hurts' to become a single. Well worth the wait it's been, too. That's down to a balance of Stine Grove's reflective, heartfelt vocals, which are dexterously handled by Aurosonic. They bookend it with a sonically powerful production that'll see it hold its own on the vast majority of trance floors.reviewstory24148Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24149#24149Taking a rest from his retirement, hard trance vet Shog's toe-back-in is an enjoyable, spirited uplift-er. Slightly throwback, sure, but well written and well produced.reviewstory24149Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24150#24150'Sundown's excellent intro sends anticipation levels high. The slightly worn sub-riff in the break issues a profit warning, before descending into a way-too-jerky, fitful stop/start mainline.reviewstory24150Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24151#24151'Orbitala' has a good trance-progressive groove working away behind it. With plenty of FX and a cheeky, whistle-ly little riff, it's among this month's most original.reviewstory24151Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24152#24152With the trance classics well seemingly run dry, we're now reviving some near misses. 'Signet' was a beaut and this superb, starry-minded Wellenrausch re-rub should see it fly again.reviewstory24152Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24153#24153Not instant, for sure, but if your media player's 'random play' picks it up enough, Joseph's melodic ministrations will have it connect eventually.reviewstory24153Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24154#24154Alf Bamford a.k.a Technikal is without a doubt the most prolific producer on the hard dance scene. Constantly releasing big euphoric monsters on his Technikal Recordings label, as well as firing up the BPMs under his Technikore guise, working alongside the biggest names in the hardcore scene, including Hixxy & Sy, his production techniques are second-to-none and he is set to release a brand-new artist album, aptly titled 'Soldier Of Sound' to showcase his new sounds. This is my pick from the album 'Diablo', which fuses multiple genres together into one track. You can hear psy-trance and tech trance influences, as well as hard house, acid and sprinklings of hardcore-influenced madness, whilst those UK hard trance roots are embedded through the clever melodies and sprinklings of euphoria. Essential album for any lover of hard dance and creative ingenuity.reviewstory24154Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24155#24155One of the definitive hard house classics on Mohawk Records gets a re-release for 2012 on legendary label Tidy, with new mixes by the next generation of hard dance heroes, Adam M vs Ben Stevens and Technical. My pick is the Ben Stevens & Adam M remix, which keeps the true hard house sound of the original complete with some cheeky hoovers, sharp UK percussion and bags of energy fit for dancefloors in 2012.reviewstory24155Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24156#24156Lady Faith is the new female North American headliner, packing out raves around the USA and Canada week after week. Having made her debut at Defqon One this year, there is simply no stopping her. This is a kick-and-bass-heavy hardstyle release, influenced by the European hardstyle sound, but retaining her own unique production feel.reviewstory24156Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24157#24157The most prolific duo in hard trance, Luca Antolini & Andrea Montorsi, team up again, pushing forward those hard trance vibes. This track doesn't hold back on the euphoria and melodies, which these guys have become synonymous with, but keeps the arrangement very interesting and unexpected, with a heavy electro influence running throughout.reviewstory24157Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24158#24158Italian king of the raw sounds Zatox delivers the anthem to this year's Decibel Festival, with his trademark hard-as-nails kicks combined with powerful MC vocals throughout, giving this even more power and energy. This showcases why he is one of the most in-demand DJs on the scene right now.reviewstory24158Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24159#24159Great tech-influenced release from Riot, with superb use of the 'One Night A DJ Saved My Life' vocal, which works seamlessly with the electro bassline and key changes. The main breakdown features an epic trance riff, again working really well with this vocal. Expect big plays on this from the likes of Organ Donors, Alex Kidd, and of course, myself, at the remaining festivals over the summer.reviewstory24159Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24160#24160Dyewitness has had amazing success in the dance music scene under various guises for the past 20 years, but it was his bouncy hardcore beats I always loved the most. So it was with eager anticipation I opened this dubplate remix of his all-time great classic, by two of the leading acts in the European hardcore scene today. Keeping all the charm of the original, but with updated production, this is a guaranteed winner on any hardcore dancefloor. Keep your eyes peeled on Masters Of Hardcore to see if this amazing remix ever sees the full light of day...reviewstory24160Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24161#24161There is no worse feeling for a DJ than discovering �"the next big hit�", and realising it was released months ago. But never too proud to admit one I missed, if you didn't catch this on the release of Frontliner's 'Producers Mind' album, you have to check it out. A throwback to the early '90s Dutch happy sound, this is a guaranteed hit on dancefloors of the harder styles.reviewstory24161Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24162#24162Two legends of the hardcore scene collide on the latest release from the heavyweight hardcore imprint. Opting for the slightly slower end of the hardcore BPM scale, this track is all about the big kick and powerful MC rhymes to get the party rocking. Despite being the B-side of the EP, this was the track that caught my attention instantly, and has been a staple part of my sets.reviewstory24162Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24163#24163One of the truly gifted producers in the harder styles is back with a solo release, which, as always, breaks boundaries and delivers something different to the current trends. This track is all about the groove, with a kick and bass unlike anything I've heard in the hardstyle scene. It's distinct enough to stand out, without sounding out of place in any way. There is a reason this guy is one of the most respected producers in the scene.reviewstory24163Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24164#24164Male vocal-led hardstyle anthem, perfect for big festivals. One of those tracks you can instantly sing along to.reviewstory24164Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24165#24165Stripped-back techy vibes from Rodi & Audy's Tech Fu label. This is really early set material, but good to see labels spreading their wings and catering for all sounds on the tech front.reviewstory24165Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24166#24166Twisted rawstyle from the Fusion label, who are the leaders in the darker sounds of hardstyle. This is certainly one for the hard heads out there. Expect big support from the likes of Zany and Zatox on this one.reviewstory24166Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24167#24167One of Scotland's underground hardcore techno/gabber producers returns with a slab of tear-out terror beats. Not for the faint-hearted.reviewstory24167Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24188#24188No truer application for the phrase 'does what it says on the tin' in the title track, where a rabid Godzilla flattens skyscrapers like a three-year-old stomps sandcastles. There's some serious effects automation, where a growling, gnarled, bleached-tongue riff drifts in, initially sounding like it's playing next  door; then it flashes in front of your eyes and knocks you for six. Very reminiscent of Doc Scott's seminal 'Shadow Boxing' for sheer bloodthirsty appeal in the sliding riff. Shock-rocker.reviewstory24188Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24189#24189Crisp and shiny, a gleeful rave-inspired pulse pounder that fills floors and demonstrates a talent for slightly going against the grain within the arrangement to please connoisseurs, as well as those who just wanna let it all out. Expect a mood enlightening vocal as also featured in Todd Terry's 'House Is A Feeling', a 'lose yourself' vibe reminiscent of classics like Mr Fingers' 'Can U Feel It' and a jaw-locking riff that dares you not to dance. Electrostatic elasticity.reviewstory24189Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24190#24190A new Ukranian signing with four pieces that demand dangerous levels of energy expulsion. 'Arkan' is the stand-out, where a frantic beat propels an Arabic-sounding riff and various other musical elements that constantly up the ante and, while you skip on the spot, lead your mind's eye to project images of smoky harems, veiled belly-dancing beauties and scimitar-wielding swordsmen. Supremely catchy, captures the Eastern philosophy as well as the classic 'Ashram' by Klute. An anthem in the making.reviewstory24190Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24191#24191Big tings a gwarn! No surprise, considering the tsunami-sized waves that this MC has made since 'Hush Ya Gums'. A drawling reggae dub and half-speed malfunctioning bleep mix contained within, but the 'Rollers Mix' is the one. A junglist slice of perfection at a time where the sound is seeing a revival, there's all the elements you'd require for a big, bad and heavy romp, like buzzing bass, superb sing-jay performances from the lads and a stench of skunk vibes... Love it bad.reviewstory24191Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24192#24192Ram racks up yet another prize for a succession of destructive drops this issue. 'Bomber' is a little late through, missing last month's deadline by a gnat's whisker, and is therefore already out, but seriously, miss this at your peril. Continuing to blow up clubs worldwide, an offensive squelch followed by a poison-squirting stage of keyboard venom does damage to your insides, and admirably fulfils your addiction to uneasy rest followed by psychotic ruckus. Smack your pitch up!reviewstory24192Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24193#24193Labels like No-U-Turn or Renegade Hardware have, in the past, had their time as the places to go to be embroiled in worrisome d&b electro necromancy, but right now, it's Horizon's time to shine in the dark-light. Here is a perfect example: a tuneless bass plagues the nether regions of the composition at a sub-bass tone that induces anxiety, while a concoction of high frequency bleep alchemy provides contrast. A purposeful veering away from melody in favour of hypnotic, unsettling drawl.reviewstory24193Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24194#24194Long standing prolific US producer sees his latest single released through Hype & Pascal's low-frequency empire. And you can tell this is a production from a Stateside mind. There's just something within the forthright, future soldier vibes here - made up by vocal snatches mentioning the words "Government. Crisis. Cannot be stopped", frenetic bongos which bolster anticipation and a tasty, grilled steak bass - that remind you of the US. Neon lights on a rainy night in a sprawling metropolis.reviewstory24194Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24195#24195A series of abstract, subliminal musical rollers, where 'Hurt You', for instance, lulls you into an opiated, mesmerised state through a chemical slide bass, pitch antics on vocal snatches, and space-epic arpeggios.reviewstory24195Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24196#24196Backward strings, cavernous bass plods, future-bleak keyboards, a desolate, apocalyptic alarm siren and eerie echoes all serve to create a delicious sense of doom-mongering fear.reviewstory24196Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24207#24207The USP that gets you immediately addicted to this is a high-pitched then contrastingly low voice-box filtered vocal, along with a breezy, rushing, enthusiastic feel. A number of varying mixes cater for various tastes, from disco to d&b to grime to dub - all quality-ridden - where my favourite is the frantically zooming Enei version. A delicious half-pound slab of home-made beefburger topped with a generous powdering of bright red fizzy Space Dust.reviewstory24207Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24208#24208DJ Hype's 'Peace, Love & Unity' is one of my favourite all-time pieces, with a dynamite MC Fats' sing-jay vocal and high octane bass. So it was with much anticipation and an admittedly small amount of resulting disappointment when this new mix leading a four-track EP was played. A refreshingly different diversion from the original can be good, but, for me, this one is perceptibly much slower, and with its sparse beat and moody bass, is more brooding as opposed to pulse-pounding.reviewstory24208Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24209#24209All about the catchy vocals this ish... Go for the L-Plus remix, where a fairground organ-style keyboard energises and invigorates a cockney sung vocal. Sexy summer stunner.reviewstory24209Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24210#24210Like the Netsky single above? Then grab a baggy of this too, where an intricately produced vocal hook sits at the helm of a strobe-light skipper. Mirth 'n' merriment.reviewstory24210Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24211#24211Opiate-tinged, unswervingly addictive, looped robot vocals solder together polished iron girders of minimal beats and chilli-hot bleeps. Robo-tech.reviewstory24211Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24212#24212Has there ever been a track as well-named as '2 Tone Techno'? Not only does it mix up ravey riffs and ska-infused horns in a unique blend, that totally belongs to the middle of 2012 as much as it does to Asbo Kid, it also manages to quote Shakespeare and namecheck David Icke. An insanely brilliant megamash of pop-culture references and social commentary and exactly the kind of thing the UK scene needs right now. Bring on the album.reviewstory24212Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24213#24213B&I's 'Consign To Oblivion' rocked its way onto this page and into DJ sets a few months ago and here they are again, this time with their first outing on the consistently good Bad Life. 'F1' is another rolling monster, whilst second track 'Lights Over Phoenix' has something of the Oizo about it. BNR's Shadow Dancer glitches up 'F1' with funked up basslines and jittery hi-hats. It is, as they say, all good.reviewstory24213Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24214#24214Moonbootica's 'Battle No.1', with its rocking, ravey step-up groove, was a firm favourite with me, and to tell the truth, I'm gutted to hear it re-titled as 'I'm On Vacation' with Redman rapping over the top. It sounds like he recorded his stereotypical rubbish (even including a "Hey DJ! One Time" line) over a low bitrate mp3 played back through a cheap iPod knock-off and they released it. I couldn't bring myself to listen to the remixes.reviewstory24214Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24215#24215The first taste of Alex Ridha's third Boys Noize album arrives just as the mad noise of his debut seems to have infiltrated the mainstream to form the background for numerous chart hits, as well as being adopted as the standard for every EDM bandwagoneering genre jumper. 'XTC' moves further forward, kind of a distillation of the likes of 'Yeah' and 'Jeffer', with the result being warmer and more accessible, although perhaps lacking a standout hook.reviewstory24215Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24216#24216Although I'm a big fan of the tradition of artists and bands slagging each other off, Deadmaus isn't even any good when he tries that. Having a go at Madonna for mentioning that drugs might be connected with dance music? Slagging off all DJing in its entirety? Moaning about people doing collaborations? This collaboration... truly uninspiring, dreadfully insipid, exceptionally unoriginal. It's the first time I've given a release nothing, and it is worth less.reviewstory24216Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24217#24217Eyebrows were raised when Noel Gallagher had the electro money shot with an EP of remixes from James Lavelle earlier this year. Now it's Amorphous Androgynous reworking his self-declared 'dance' track. Anyone familiar with AA (especially their epic 22-minute version of Oasis' 'Falling Down') will know what to expect - 15 minutes of deconstructed Pink Floyd-isms with women wailing and seagulls gulling, or whatever those noises are. A hint of how great the long-promised album collaboration might be.reviewstory24217Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24218#24218Having smashed out brain-curdling remixes themselves in the past, anyone taking on the task of re-rubbing the Beetroots has a daunting job. Shy Kidx goes very much for a Skrillex mode, and if you're a fan of that kind of baseball bat electrodubstep mosh-up, you might like it. I don't, I find it unsubtle and boorish in the way of bad heavy metal. Valentino Kahn's version is more interesting, going from Phillip Glass-like cinemascope to mutant disco.reviewstory24218Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24219#24219Lithuanian duo Evaldas Mikalauskas and Karolis Labanauskas have a track from their 'Splash' EP given three reworks on this EP. Alex Gopher gives it a refreshingly old skool Frankfurt-style houseytech makeover that bubbles along and Just Regular Guys pump it a little for the floor. It's the Turbo Turbo version that takes the plaudits, though, with an insistent, almost late Chemical Brothers affair that takes on a life of its own.reviewstory24219Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24220#24220The original mix of 'The Edge' is a sweet slice of poppy electro that combines that elusive French Touch quality with what could otherwise be something a little too saccharine. Of course, here it's all about the remixes, and Panteros666 kicks off with a 4/4-based bottom end beatbasher, whereas the Aeroplane version keeps the 4/4, but adds synths and swirls aplenty to make for a gloriously lush six minutes that outclass the original.reviewstory24220Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24221#24221Vitalic smashes back with a taster from forthcoming album 'Rave Age' and it's a bit of a storming party starter, bouncing around from techno flourishes to Ed Bangery elecro basslines.reviewstory24221Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24222#24222A bootytastic boomer that has picked up some Radio 1 plays and would sound at home on a Top Billin' release. Worthy remixes come from John The Baptist and Floyd.reviewstory24222Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24223#24223More solo Lo-Fidelity Allstar genius, this time from Martin Whiteman with his cohort Max Quirk. Intelligent, masterfully created electrotechhouse journeys into sound.reviewstory24223Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24224#24224A scuzzy noiseathon that takes the bounce of the original and bass-blasts it deep into the dancefloor with a buzzing chainsaw riff.reviewstory24224Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24235#24235Somewhere beautifully 'tween dub, hip-hop and psyche-pop, Chemo produces a febrile stew of bubbling mud-bath organ, skin-tight guitar, rolling neck-snapping beats over which Phoenix drops some of his finest bars from the astonishing £5 bargain-of-the-summer 'Quantum Leap' album and Generous croons a sweet chorus. Straight up bass-heavy rebel music.reviewstory24235Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24236#24236Beautifully jazzy, strung-out feel to this first salvo from VT's new EP 'More Dynamite', free and downloadable from all the usual suspects. Some wonderfully unsure lines here, reflective to the point of morose introspection, an artist looking back on the process itself. The soon-come album 'Morning Process' should elaborate further the uniquely thoughtful place Verb T's now operating in, hopefully with more of this suggestive, spacey JJ Malone production. Enjoy.reviewstory24236Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24237#24237Just when you're expecting the US to be serving some oozing summer warmth your way, here comes Doom & Reks ratcheting up the tension of a heatstruck city with this finger-twitching looped moment of storm and stress. Great lush piano loops belie the brute-simple bass-funk undertow, the rhymes piling up the anguished metaphors until your head's a steaming mess. Fantastic plastic you need in your day.reviewstory24237Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24238#24238You can bet yr arse that if a track appears and immediately a load of online comments about how various dimwits aren't 'feeling it' pop up you're on to a winner (hip-hop fans are some lazy-minded fuckers sometimes). A stunning, almost-beatless wending spiral of hippy-soul beauty over which Evidence runs through some mind-bending rhymes: the soon-come Alchemist album 'Russian Roulette' is gonna be something you're gonna wanna press close to your head as soon as it's out. Superb.reviewstory24238Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24239#24239LUV NY is Kurious, Dave Dar, Roc Marciano, Kool Keith, AG and OC all brought under the aegis of Ray West's production. Like most supergroups, the idea doesn't sustain beyond a few tracks on their album, but luckily, 'Extreme Status' is one of the highlights, particularly down to West's winning meld of melody, fractious old-skool electro beats and some of the most out-of-control delicious wibbling you'll hear this side of a Dillinja production. Lipsmackingly good.reviewstory24239Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24240#24240Stupendously good hooligan-hebraphrenia inna J-Zone stylee, what sounds like the folk-funk music of Azerbaijan combined with whiney idiot-savant vocals so hopelessly adrift in their own mentalism it makes Funkdoobiest sound like Movement Ex. On the flip Krash Battle joins in the jocularity for the high-larious, massively obscene and entirely innappropriate 'Chillin With The Kids'. I wouldn't let these sick fuckers anywhere near my postcode but I want more and more of this derangement please.reviewstory24240Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24241#24241One of the Gang Starr foundation's most unsung sons comes more than correct with a fantastic track featuring MOP & Fat Joe - can't seem to find out who the producer is, but it's a stunning loop of lounge-funk peppered with tasty scratch-licks and a woozy reversed-vocal that sinks its teeth into your brain pan like the most unshiftable earworm you've encountered since 'Popcorn'. Oops, sorry if that's in your head now. Get this to shift it. Essential.reviewstory24241Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24242#24242From the fabulous 'Blue Chips' mixtape comes this tasty little doozie, replete with the kind of fizzing, stealthy drums and gorgeous Aaron Neville cut-ups guaranteed to make this sound astonishing wherever you drop it this summer. Check out the hilarious video too - I hope and pray and pray and hope that AB NEVER makes that step over to the mainstream that so often accompanies a sudden drop in quality in new rappers' work. Keep giving us gold like this man. Wonderful.reviewstory24242Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24243#24243Tiny little interlaced elements make this a joy - the Steve Cropper guitar, Modeliste drums, Carol Kaye bass, Native Tongues sunny vibe and pulsating percussion blended together by producer Cadence with a subtlety that feels entirely natural. Even though you know this is an assemblage of found sounds, it still feels entirely organic, and consequently this reaches warm hands and hearts into your day way more than anything else coming out of US hip-hop right now. Love it.reviewstory24243Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24244#24244Great beat, good rhymes sabotaged by some hateful horrible sub-Coldplay loops so tediously uncommitted and vague you wanna punch them in the face. Cease, desist, the pair of youz.reviewstory24244Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24245#24245"Bust a move?" OK, this one's called the 'tedious wanker': you squat down as if about to defecate, then lazily pull on an imaginary plonker until it jizzes out this kinda sub-crunk tedium all over your shoes. Boycott this nonsense.reviewstory24245Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24246#24246Fiddy what the fuck is up with you? Always with the ace one-off mixtape tracks then utterly shit singles. Alicia & Dre deserve better, Fiddy can DO better. Nul points.reviewstory24246Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24247#24247Just letting you know that Elzhi's about to drop an album called 'The Weather Man' and this is the first thing you can hear from it. And the news is good, he ain't lost it. Can. Not. Wait.reviewstory24247Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24248#24248I prefer pineapple rings meself, sit better on a nice slice of gammon. Oh, the record? Like Barry White resorted to Rohypnol. Snoooze.reviewstory24248Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24249#24249Phil Asher needs no introduction whatsoever and this three-tracker for Italian imprint Archive is fabulously blunt in execution. Foreplay is jettisoned in favour of the main event on 'Vaporize', an acid-laden assault that builds and builds but somehow manages to stay tastefully understated. It's masterful. The same can be said for 'Deep Beat', a sturdy transition track which could flip a good party into a great one in the space of six glorious minutes. 'All I Want' is a thunderous jazz garage jam delivered with a flourish. Young house upstarts take note. This is how it's done.reviewstory24249Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24250#24250Mash is the nom de plume of Martyn Henderson, Capital FM's exponent of underground house music. So there's a forensic idea of what makes house music tick at work here. A deep groove is augmented by Charles Bukowski's famous treatise on the meaning of style, delivered by a man who sounds like he's been gargling with hot gravel. Mia Dora turn in a broken, bass-heavy version, while Dominic Martin builds and breaks down. The 'A Deeper Groove' remix is indeed that. A most stylish package.reviewstory24250Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24251#24251Leeds producer Last Magpie gets classic for this release on Hypercolour, following his last outing for its sister imprint Losing Suki. Not necessarily just classic house, though. There's a hazy, unmistakably Balearic vibe front and centre here, too. Oddly, each track contains a layer of bubbling crowd noise adding space, an added dimension. The title track, sodden with bass and pianos, is quite beautiful. 'Don't Know Why', too, once it introduces dark rave stabs, is immense. And that's without mentioning the Mr Fingers-meets-Masters at Work of 'Pilau Rice'. Essential.reviewstory24251Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24252#24252This is a bit of an epic deep disco odyssey from Diynamic's H.O.S.H. and the whipper snapper HearThuG, just 19-years-old and producing house music of this most impressive magnitude. Full of cosmic synths wigging out like it's Rimini in 1981, and a sleazy, slurring vocal, 'Technicolour' is stuffed full of funk and punctuated with a mind-melting solar jazz breakdown which stops very much the right side of self-indulgent. This is a party tune as reliable as Quartz and absolutely no mistake about it. Lovely.reviewstory24252Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24253#24253A veteran dream team assemble for Jamie Jones' Hot Creations in the form of Classic Records muckers Luke Solomon and Justin Harris under their legendary Freaks guise. Their original mix is a dirty disco anthem, rattling its tambourines over its bendy bassline, wonky vocals and moody piano chords. Darius Syrossian goes deeper with a tough NYC loop, but it's the Cajmere mix that wallops, a pared down Chi-town jam par excellence. Yep, it's just us and Mr Jones locked in for the duration.reviewstory24253Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24254#24254A mesmerising EP from the peerless Danish imprint Tartelet, trumpeting three of its top-drawer producers in one place; O.P.T., Muff Deep and Samuel Andre Madsen. O.P.T.'s jazzual 'Street' filters down a Rhodes wig out, layering it with pounding percussion. Muff Deep's 'Lost Soul' grows into an undulating, space disco anthem, all off-beat stabs and twinkling synths. Madsen's 'Synthony' ditches the deep ecstasy fuzz of the other tracks with crisp hats and gently arpeggiating synths. Each, impossibly, is better than the last.reviewstory24254Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24255#24255A party track of gargantuan proportions from Swiss producer Michel Cleis, who may claim to be Swiss, but appears in fact to be Latin to the marrow. 'Mir a Nero' builds and builds and builds until it bursts from its glut of percussion into joyous piano madness. At which point any dancefloor worth bothering with should dissolve into a quivering, yelping mass of flesh. 'Amaranthus', on the flip, is almost the dub version, but very much a track in its own right, deep and moody with flecks of piano. Superb.reviewstory24255Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24256#24256Hand Plant is one half of Disco Bloodbath, Ben Pistor, and Maxxi Soundsystem, aka Sam Watts. It's a lovely thing. It is, according to the men themselves, all about "old and new synths, samples, Berlin, aircraft, what happens in the early hours, ecstasy, pads that make you rush". That fits the bill rather well. Jamie Bianco's 'Acid Rework' of 'Gone Ghost' is utterly essential, as is the b-side here, 'Arpy', an unapologetically filthy anthem.reviewstory24256Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24257#24257Italian stallion DJ Tennis, aka Manfredi Romano, gets the once over from Metro Area main man Morgan Geist, and the results are predictably ace. Invest.reviewstory24257Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24258#24258A re-release of Linus's 1997 track gets two superb re-workings, one brutal and minimal from Analogue Cops, and another, the pick of the bunch, from Kris Wadsworth, an exercise in restraint.reviewstory24258Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24259#24259Far too much to talk about here, but this huge double-pack features solid brilliance from Tom Budden, Alexis Raphael, Rebel, Michael Jansons, Lee Brinx and Subsonik.reviewstory24259Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24260#24260Some superior disco spattered grooves from Jozif on LA's Culprit. 'Benny Benjamin' is the deeper of the selection, while 'Standard Rising' and 'The Guitar Player' go unashamedly for the jugular.reviewstory24260Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24271#24271As Airhead's second release on R&S, 'Pyramid Lake' is pleasingly amorphous; hovering around a shifting beat pattern, disturbing samples and deploying snatched vocals snippets wantonly, the effect is as enticing as ever. 'Black Ink' is an altogether different beast, ratcheting up the tempo but maintaining the oddness. Comparisons with Objekt only last a fraction of a second as the shapes are pulled and contorted beyond acceptability, bordering on unlistenable, and defiantly undanceable. reviewstory24271Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24272#24272This is the type of track that insults you, not because it is awful or made badly, but because it nags away in your head so bloody cheerily, it's offensive. But I like it. Really like it. It's one of those melodies that flicks the pleasure-switch in your head, tweaking the receptors with wanton glee. This is mobile phone advertising music if ever there was. I also like the Rick Ross-sampling Kidkanevil remix, utilising the odd �"Ugh�" with amusing effect.reviewstory24272Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24273#24273This Bristol seven-piece band have been on the tour circuit for just two years playing festivals, clubs and shows far and wide pushing their brand of live drum & bass and dubstep. Bottling this live show here has culminated in 'Under The Radar', a kinetic piece of drum & bass abounding with rocky guitar riffs, grotty synths and a sweet little vocal from Eva Lazarus. But it just sounds so painfully middle of the road, it makes Norah Jones look like Aphex Twin on crack. reviewstory24273Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24274#24274Shuttle is the drummer of synth rockers Passion Pit, who uses this pseudonym to realise his solo electronic urges. This is his second release for Ninja Tune and sees the American updating his sound with a quartet of sonic revelry. Engorged with ravey overtones, the UK influences weave throughout the whole EP, most overt through the hardcore breaks on 'Halo' and the UK funky drums on 'Whip', which are infused with a pugnacious energy and spirit. 'Wake Up' channels a wonky bent, whilst 'Apple' wanders off into deeper, esoteric territory. reviewstory24274Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24275#24275A rather surprising EP here from Biome, as despite it being very rooted in the classic dubstep sound of the likes of Distance and Cyrus it feels very current, urgent and even forward thinking. I can't really explain it. Tracks like 'Reality' and 'Charged' are classic half-step numbers adrift in cold, alien spaces. But 'Two Way' charges off into techno crossover territory and 'Inner Mind' drops a couple of valium and sets off for chillosphere with plenty of kudos. It's great to hear the classic dubstep sound done well. reviewstory24275Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24276#24276Two deeper rolling numbers from the Dutch producer, and sadly pretty unremarkable. But you could imagine Mala or Cyrus opening a set with these, though. Meditational. reviewstory24276Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24277#24277VC-118A is about to release an album for Lunar Disko, but in the meantime, there's this brooding four-tracker to contend with. While the title track and 'Protocol' are fine interpetations of dreamy electro, it's the flipside cuts that impress. Straddling bassy electro and deep techno '+/-' and 'Eha' are powered by menacing sub bass, doubled-up claps and hissing, insistent hats. Both tracks have an untamed energy that sounds out of kilter with contemporary techno - it's precisely this outsider status that makes 'System' so essential.reviewstory24277Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24278#24278Karl O'Connor goes back to the '80s for this collection of left-of-centre post-punk-meets-electronica. Deathday and The KVB's contributions are full of theatrics, lo-fi production aesthetics and muffled vocals, like Ian Curtis fronting Bauhaus, while O'Connor's own Sandra Electronics project splutters forth grungy drones. It could be argued that 'Heels' is merely an excuse for techno producers to get in touch with their inner goth, were it not for O'Connor's other contribution - the spell-bindingly pretty indie of Six Six Seconds' 'Tearing Down Heaven'.reviewstory24278Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24279#24279The first Powell EP recruited Regis as remixer, but the follow-up goes further off the radar. Inspired by the wiry rumble of post-punk as much as the murderous bass of Throbbing Gristle, 'Body Music' is exactly what its title suggests, a collection of primal, at times oppressive arrangements that connect on a physical level. In the struggle for supremacy, the fuzzy guitars and sparse but metronomic rhythm of the title track just about shade it.reviewstory24279Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24280#24280Dutch producer Mooy impresses with a dense industrial techno release for Perc. Although this sound has been rinsed by countless second-rate acts, Mooy shows that when done properly - as is the case on 'Fasad' - fractured rhythms, eerie atmospheres and haunting vocal samples still sound powerful. Mooy also shows his dancefloor prowess with the pulsing groove of 'Kneel' and the clanging rhythms of 'Loaded', but his abstract approach, evident on the turbulent textures of 'Pose', really impresses.reviewstory24280Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24281#24281Techno would be a far poorer place if Cortex did not produce music. On this release, his usual outsider approach is audible; 'Future Acid' drags 303 lines kicking and screaming over gated drums, while 'R-Byte' is even more aggressive, consisting solely of an all-encompassing wave of analogue noise that dwarfs the backing jack track. Cortex confounds his audience once again on 'Mem', with its glassy minimalism.reviewstory24281Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24282#24282Tr-One made their name as house producers, but 'Living' is a proper techno record. Rasping hats and an insistent stabbing riff support layers of bleeding acid on 'Herd Of Trains', while the title track is more reduced, as a drum track underpins a repetitive vocal sample. Techno influences are never far from the surface and the clattering percussion and menacing bass of 'Love Letter' invoke Detroit's darker alleys.reviewstory24282Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24283#24283The US producer steps from Traxx and James T Cotton's shadows to release one of his most rounded works so far. From the atmospheric synths of 'Genetic Script' and 'Good' to the more abrasive, doubled-up drums and bleeding acid of 'Mobile Communications', Cantu covers a lot of ground. Despite this, he sounds most competent when making menacing, underground grooves like 'First Planet' and 'The Other Side Of House'.reviewstory24283Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24284#24284Sinna's recent Prime Numbers release gets the remix treatment from two of techno's most respected producers. Conforce's take sees him strip the track back and fuse an acidic bass with a DBX-style looped vocal. The highlight, though, is James T Cotton's version. Focusing on a Hood-style minimal techno track, the atmospheric, eerie synths and spooky vocal samples cast the Jak Beat specialist in a brand new light.reviewstory24284Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24285#24285There is so much droney/tunnel techno in circulation that it sounds like the norm rather than the exception. Despite this, a producer like Bradley can still throw adventurous shapes. He achieves this with the help of dreamy textures and acidic bass licks on 'Trapped In Eternity', while the Milan Kundera-referencing 'The Unbearable Lightness' sees Bradley distinguish himself with phased claps and bursts of jarring percussion. The menacing soundtrack on the title track completes the package.reviewstory24285Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24286#24286This idiosyncratic label could have a pop hit on its hands, as the dreamy techno of 'Drops' is home to Rey's soul-drenched, heartfelt vocals. Meanwhile, the remixes will appeal to underground techno fans, with Roger 23 and Break SL dropping bass and clap-heavy workouts.reviewstory24286Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24287#24287Detroit meets Germany as Vaz drops a sassy, jazzy groove, replete with sax solos - and Marks delivers a plaintive but sexy vocal. It's refreshing to hear the label trying something different.reviewstory24287Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24288#24288Ike Release unites woozy chords with steely drums on 'Phazzled', but Hakim Murphy impresses most. Working under his Innerspace Halflife guise, 'Wind' features eerie synths and a wobbling acid line over a visceral, robotic rhythm.reviewstory24288Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24289#24289Developer's label goes from strength-to-strength with this release. The US producer drops 'Heated', a functional driving groove, and the heavy drums of 'Dirty Drive', while Shifted weighs in with a stomping, big-room take on 'Drive'.reviewstory24289Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24300#24300Connery or Moore? The Bond conundrum that we'll never agree on; but one we all can agree on is that the John Barry-penned 'Space March (Capsule In Space)' tune from 1967's 'You Only Live Twice' is one of the finest compositions in film history. From the isolated coldness of outer space to a jostling, heated dancefloor, Andy 'Ceephax' Jenkinson has worked a brilliant Italo-disco inspired homage to Bond culture and to the late, great John Barry himself. It maintains all the drama of the original, but given an irresistible, fun makeover. Changing the mood on the B-side, 'Mediterrenean Acid' employs synths that are bouncier than Judith Chalmers on a jet ski and a sinuous 303 sequence set to a middle-eastern scale. Essential.reviewstory24300Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24301#24301Keeping up the momentum caused by the first release, the Bloodbath boys reveal release number two, this time by Ben Pistor (of the club/label) and Sam Watts (Maxxi Soundsystem) who have mastered the heady sound of house music and growling electronic disco in two of the three tracks on offer here, 'Gone Ghost' and 'Arpy'. Between these is a Jamie Blanco remix of the title tune in a Larry Heard/Gherkin Jerks-style acid version.reviewstory24301Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24302#24302Smart follow-up on Bokhari, a label by the Siafu lads themselves. Keeping the tempo just under 100bpm, 'Slunk Dub' builds upon snappy drums, acid licks and spiralling Don Carlos-style leads; breaking at the three-minute mark, blooming into something quite lovely indeed. Accompanying is Neville Watson's superb remix, notching up the tempo control somewhat whilst giving his 303 an optimum flex. Elsewhere is a dubbier, more ethereal contribution from Disrupted Project, rounded off nicely with a Siafu remix. Top stuff.reviewstory24302Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24303#24303Second outing for Andrew Weatherall's vinyl-only Bird Scarer label and a feather-in-the-cap for Scott Fraser, who has recently scored production and remix successes for the likes of Rush Hour, Relish, Don't Be Afraid and World Unknown. Over its epic 10 minutes, the mid-tempo 'A Life Of Silence' leaves a trail of modulating synths weaving through spiralling melody - nodding to the likes of Klaus Schulze and Manuel Göttsching's proto-techno classic, 'E2-E4' on the way. A familiar to the label (by means of a cracking debut), Tim Fairplay appears on remix detail, adding jangley guitar phrases and dub tones to give the original a thoroughly opiated makeover.reviewstory24303Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24304#24304Body Work has certainly claimed the first half of 2012 and may well continue their conquest through to the end of the year. I conclude that this is the case via Aaston & Swift's rather dazzling effort, 'Holy House' and another Waze & Odyssey bomb that promises to follow. 'Holy House' sharpens an insatiable appetite for these label releases with its breathy vocal hooks and tropical, melodic sequences; given extra ballast by a flickering disco fix from Tronik Youth. My favourite, however, is the dubby house cut, 'Covenant' that's on an early Italian house/Morales 'Red Zone'-style tip.reviewstory24304Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24305#24305This second release on his Diagonal label has Powell ploughing a deeper furrow into his modern take on the sound of no wave, EBM/metal dance and other ancestral, primitive machine music forms, maintaining an icy cool aesthetic akin to that of his debut release. Loosely arranged, these five tracks hold an off-kilter charm that evokes the rugged intensity of pre-sequencing era post-punk. All fans of 23 Skidoo, Mark Stewart And The Mafia or new-beat/EBM pioneers, Liasons Dangereuses - this will have you salivating.reviewstory24305Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24336#24336The rating is just for the original version. I want to check out the remixes every time I've gone to listen to Bloom's debut track on Mr Mitch's Gobstopper label, but I end up just replaying the original. Using the hollow synths of the eskibeat era, gun cocking as percussion and one of the most perfect stuttering beats heard in ages, Bloom makes 'Quartz' an absolute pinnacle of that Wiley tribute sound. Astonishingly playable.reviewstory24336Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24337#24337Kelpe's partnership with Svetlana Industries continues on 'Bags Of Time', his second EP for the label, and on it he's really starting to show his sack. The progression is there; like y'know when someone whose music you really dig starts doing new stuff, you either move with it or hate on it? Well Kelpe's thickly produced stew seems to work over whatever template he drapes it on. Plus Neon Jung's remix of the eponymous track is actually brilliant.reviewstory24337Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24316#24316Big, big disco moment on International Feel! A classic disco tune reworked in tasteful fashion by the mysterious Music Lovers…reviewstory24316Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24317#24317'80s style power-ballad tune that nods to 'Purple Rain'-era Prince. Enhanced by remixes from the likes of Bobby Tank, Kutz, Karlsson & Winnberg and Clock Opera.reviewstory24317Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24318#24318A fashion faux-pas is the subject of this mutant disco offering from the Freaks boys. Chicago house legend, Cajmere, lends a hand with an even darker version.reviewstory24318Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24319#24319Tokyo's Cos/Mes step up with this dreamy selection of deep boogie, fusion and disco edits for your listening pleasure.reviewstory24319Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24356#24356We've got a real soft spot for the vocal stylings of John Turrell. One might even be bold enough to suggest that he's our lower range retort to CeeLo Green, and indeed on this outing with Featurecast he certainly doesn't disappoint. Hence it's all about the mid-tempo electronic funk, and who better to take it into the stratosphere than the mysterious (yet prolific) Psychemagik. Adding necessary phase and drive, it's their mix that should have the sun-kissed crowds baying at their feet.reviewstory24356Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24355#24355Another gem gets lifted from the 'Beams' long-player, once again showing how Dear can negotiate the club/daytime playlist divide. Coming off like an updated version of something that The The might have recorded in the 21st century, it's a smooth groove that vocally matches our very own George Demure. The 'Poolside Mix' is our choice cut here for the (non) summer, although Tornado Wallace gives it a certain analogue grit that should sate the cosmic heads.reviewstory24355Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24330#24330Gavin Russom and Viva Ruiz release this primer to their self-titled album out later this year. 'We Came To' is another crafty brace of proggy synth tracks that touch on new beat and early techno styles, infused with staccato vocal mantras, provided by Ruiz. The B-side dub version composes the mood, switching rough analogue techno into a spiky, new-wave-esque variant.reviewstory24330Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24331#24331Cult NY label partner up with Southern Fried to boast this latest from cuddly duo, The 2 Bears. Fans of the Balearic Beat have a generous amount of Leo Zero remixes to peruse through; his slow, dreamy disco versions appear in vocal, dub and instrumental form. Southern Fried's Jack Fell Down weighs in a techy, dub rhythm to twist Joe and Raf's vocal around, but it's Leo's mixes and the original version that are the highlights here.reviewstory24331Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24332#24332If Drew Lustman had his wicked way with you sexually, you'd probably end up tired, severely bruised, maybe mumbling a little incoherently, but essentially, still up for more. It's the same with his music. It's got an endless array of likeable attributes and his latest, more 4/4-focused 12�" for Ninja Tune batters that sentiment home using heavy punt kicks on 'Hardcourage' and hyper stabs on the aptly-named 'Our House Stab.' Sexy.reviewstory24332Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24333#24333Techno is the new funky. There, I said it; you can quote me if you want. It seems that kids these days are rallying around the heavy kicks, brittle percussion and attention warping riffs like they used to skittering snare drums and synth glide, but thankfully there are guys like Bobby Champs showing you exactly why the combo is a pretty palatable new focus. 'Drag Queen' and 'Charlie' are the ones, though.reviewstory24333Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24334#24334I'd really be hard pushed to single out a producer who's making funky-influenced music that's still as direct and unabashed as Funkystepz are. 'Bizzaro' and 'Star 9' from their new 'Dirty Fluxx EP' are a real case in point - they're purposefully constructed with that slink to make your shoulders pop on the dancefloor - but it's 'Belter' that properly sucks you in. Much like 'Radar', it's harder, more Lil Silva in its direction, and it bangs real gnarly, like.reviewstory24334Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24335#24335I really hope that whomever Iron Galaxy is, they're named after the Cannibal Ox song of the same name - a touchstone like that would really make me happy. The single-sided 'Attention Seeker' on Audio Culture doesn't hark back to the grit and astral urban poetics of Can Ox though - it's one of those floaty, heavy pinned vocal house numbers that you'd hold a girl and sway to on the deck of a cruise liner if you could.reviewstory24335Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24338#24338Young producer Buzzin10 was raised on garage; it's a trait you'd be able to notice on your very first listen, considering how much his productions bleed bolshy two-step. 'Dubbed Out' is the second release he's put out through the Frijsfo label and it's three tracks of tuff, no-nonsense mix-ready fodder, all chunky snares, clipped swing, interesting samples and bass that just booms through. The title track is the real heater.reviewstory24338Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24339#24339The Finnish production team of Clouds have been quiet for a while after their releases on Ramp, Deep Medi and Channel Zero, but the Old Space project reassures you immediately that they're just as vital as back then. Released on cassette, the mini LP is suited to the distress of the format, being an eight-track exploration of crackle with an extra helping of rhythmic gloop and texture thrown in. An emphatic work.reviewstory24339Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24340#24340Yes, it sounds like a certain anonymity hungry producer contributed something to the production somewhere along the line on 'High Road' (that's what the extra + in the artist stands for), but more importantly, it's the prefix 12�" to a new LP from Dusk and his running buddy. 'Ex Swing' is probably the more relevant cut, built out of tumbling vocal snippets and a constant groove that drives a bit harder than that collaboration does.reviewstory24340Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24341#24341Mella Dee, one half of Doncaster duo Mista Men, has slowed up and his tunes are getting regular play from Blackdown on Rinse. 'Gassed' is chunky, gritty and slow house, 'Fazed' ups the swing and 'In The Bits' sits pretty in that middle ground.reviewstory24341Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24342#24342'Aciiiiiiiid' is probably the best way to describe the first split release on Cardopusher's new label. Him and Nehuen explore bass squelches and compressed machinery on their respective sides and despite the limited palette, shit bangs good in places.reviewstory24342Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24343#24343Atmospherically there aren't a lot of people fusing what Kid Simpl is: sheet noise, field recordings, aching reverb tails and hints of two-step. Allow the obvious Burial comparisons; 'Escape Pod' is Simpl's own four-track exploration of those overcast moods.reviewstory24343Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24344#24344The way Mala uses rhythm to provide the gallop and skip on 'Cuba Electronica' is just as infectious as any two-step formula and 'Calle F' has a serenity to it that any amount of hyperchopped female vocals couldn't convey. Masterful.reviewstory24344Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24357#24357The double drumming four-piece continue on a path already well trodden by label-mate Bonobo (in fact they have been his support act on numerous occasions). This time sees the heady yet moody mix of drums, strings and samples cross into almost neo early Portishead territory, although with a more optimistic spring in the step. With a UK audience that never seems to tire of the downbeat-cum-soundtrack sonic, they should go far.reviewstory24357Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24358#24358Just past their half-century mark of releases, one of the original labels that started to bring us the cosmiche sound dig deep for another disco-fried release from Belgian domicile, King DJ. 'The Other Side Of The Galaxy' rocks the glitterball instruments of choice (cowbells and congas) with consummate ease, adding synths, a bouncing bassline, horns and, well, just about anything synonymous with the nu-disco sound into the mix. Full fat, and definitely good for your health. Keep 'em coming Bearfunk!reviewstory24358Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24359#24359The mighty fine Resonators follow the lovers-inspired dub reggae of 'Surrender' with another example of crisp production and attention to studio detail. Seemingly able to pen an infectious ditty with the minimum of ease, it's almost a finely-tuned jam, but with purpose. If you're a fan of the bass, then head straight for the low-end theory of Dabien Blak's remix that is as guttural as you get in the world of sub frequencies. reviewstory24359Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24360#24360A deep drum-led four-tracker from the man who is better known in drum & bass circles. Could have easily passed for a Kirk DeGiorgio release from yesteryear. reviewstory24360Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24361#24361Cultural name-checking soundscapery from the almost gone but not forgotten Nubian Minds. Swirling pad-like synths, cool vocal delivery and tech broken beats. Tight.reviewstory24361Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24382#24382Domgue's day job is playing sax for the Detroit Grand Pubahs, but has graciously saved some of his clearly immense and overflowing musical talent to offer us this wonderful cover of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons' '60s classic 'Beggin' in a unique and inspired dubstep meets sax instrumental stylee. A winning combination I'm sure you'll agree, forthcoming on the highly in demand 'Hot Dubstep Classics' CD compilation for sale in all good outlets in Iran, Syria and Siberia very soon. reviewstory24382Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24383#24383This is the first in a trilogy of EPs being written and produced by individual members of the OA collective, with the acronym-esque LTO steppin up with the inaugural fistful. 'Chicago' is an arpeggio-fuelled whirlwind of keys and rain-sodden atmospherics. 'Found' is a scratchy syncopated roller with a whiff of autonomica, but it is the decaying crunch and electronic maelstrom of 'Realise' and 'Holding' that truly delight; two shifting, widescreen pieces that deserve due reverence.reviewstory24383Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24384#24384A fresh collaboration between Manchester's Chimpo and Fox delivers a surprisingly dope two-tracker, and since I've never been a big fan of his dubstep output he has outdone himself here. 'Harder' is a lilting, melancholic cut channelling rootsy reggae vibes inna acoustic stylee - think Natty or Damien Marley at their best. 'Come Again' feat Strategy on the flip is S-X's 'Woo Riddim' beamed though a future dancehall prism. Stone cold killer.reviewstory24384Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24385#24385A big anthemic EP from Leeds producer Last Magpie here, giant keys, humongous vocal samples and gigantic Balearic beats. A large combination. reviewstory24385Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24386#24386Wicked digital dancehall made with style and charisma that even Prince Jammy would be pleased with. The FBR remix is d&b fire. Find and purchase!reviewstory24386Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.djmag.com/music/reviews?id=24387#24387Administered CPR in 2012 by Mungo's Hifi, Woz and GOLD remixes, the mouth to mouth wines medal goes to Woz for a slipping bit of dutty future dancehall tongue.reviewstory24387Wed, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000