Profiles, mixes, interviews and reviews from across the UK underground scene.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: JAMIE HUSTLE - PLEASURE DOME

2013-05-18T12:11:00.002+01:00

Alongside solo endeavours for the likes of Butterz, Hyperdub and later on this year, Digital Soundboy, it's sometimes easy to forget that Champion fronts his own label too. Formula Records has been a consistent exponent of forward thinking, bass-heavy funky cuts since it's inception back in 2011 - mirroring the ethos Champion pursues within his own productions - but hasn't been afraid to introduce new talent along the way. The latest to step up to the plate is Jamie Hustle, whose 2-track 'Pleasure Dome' EP looks firmly to the dancefloor for inspiration.

Title-track Pleasure Dome is centered around a thumping 4x4 drum pattern, although only really starts to sing amidst the layers of dreamy, pitch-bent synths that combine to leave us with a weighty, genre-blurring club weapon. A great track. On the flip, 'One Objektive' incorporates vocals to get it's kicks alongside a slew of kicks and claps - it doesn't carry the same swagger as the EP's opener, but is still a great indicator as to Hustle's talents.

The verdict? A promising debut and one that continues to mark out Formula as a hub for great home-grown bass talent.

Out June 10th on 12'' / digital - you can preview 'Pleasure Dome' below:

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: GRIME 2.0 - INSPIRATIONS

2013-05-16T17:22:00.001+01:00

To commemorate the launch of Big Dada's 'Grime 2.0' compilation, I caught up with 10 producers and got their insight into the tracks that inspired them to start making music. From The Beatles to Waifer and from Dizzee Rascal to Dot Rotten, it's certainly an eye-opener - one of the most interesting features I've put together so far.

Read in full over at Clash Music here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/grime-20-inspirations

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE AT 140 #9

2013-05-09T18:31:00.001+01:00

The latest of my 'Life at 140' columns for Clash Music took a look at April's happenings in the world of grime. A slew of new singles, EPs and mixes made it one of the busiest months of 2013 so far..

Read in full over at Clash and check out my top 5 tunes of the month too:

http://www.clashmusic.com/features/life-at-140-9

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SERGIC & LYKA - BULLETPROOF

2013-05-06T18:04:00.001+01:00

Nottingham based imprint Tumble Audio have been consistent exponents of dance music's grimier side since their inception late last year. A strong debut EP offering from Killjoy set the pace last October and was followed in quick succession by hotly-tipped producer Majora, whose 'Boss Key' EP peaked at number 1 on the Juno Download bass charts.

Their third outing looks in-house for inspiration, with label heads Sergic & Lyka combining on the 3-track 'Bulletproof' EP, a genre-blurring exercise in dance floor rumbling. Title-track Bulletproof is certainly the grimiest of the 3; underpinned by snarling blasts of sub-bass, it works sporadic eski samples, heavy duty bass stabs and punchy drums to a frenzy - a little cluttered in parts but certainly good enough to get a floor jumping. 'Shame' on the other hand takes things firmly into bassline territory with serious swagger - in all honesty, it's a joy to hear that niche sound pushed with such enthusiasm after years of well-documented neglect. Final track 'Glod' is just as weighty too, if a touch less refined, but still more than earns 'club banger' status - big bass hits at house tempo exemplify the freedom in which the duo clearly revel in.

As a label, Tumble refuse to be bound by specificity in sound or style and Sergic & Lyka's effort is a testament to their refreshingly no frills, club-friendly outlook. Ones to watch for sure.

'Bulletproof' is out now and available from all good online outlets. Preview 'Shame' below:

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DJ EASTWOOD - U AIN'T READY

2013-04-30T16:51:00.003+01:00

I reviewed DJ Eastwood's 'U Ain't Ready' EP for Hyponik this week. The 2003 8-bar classic has been brought up to speed by No Hats No Hoods and remixed by Spooky and Hemlock's Untold - it makes for essential listening.

Read the full review over at Hyponik here: http://hyponik.com/2013/04/dj-eastwood-u-aint-ready-no-hats-no-hoods/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: BENIN CITY - MY LOVE

2013-04-24T17:52:00.002+01:00

Benin City are a band who have more than caught the eye over the last 12 months, releasing two singles with much-lauded imprint Audio Doughnuts and supporting Dan Le Sac on a 6-date tour. Fronted by Joshua Idehen, who has also collaborated with Hyperdub lynchpins LV on the 'Routes' LP for Keysound back in 2011, Benin City marry Skinner-esque story-telling with electro-charged instrumentals, the majority of which lean more towards the sombre, the melancholy and the straight up engrossing.

After featuring their last single 'Baby' on Uncle Albert last year, their latest effort, 'My Love', taken from the band's forthcoming debut album 'Fires in the Park' continues the good work, fusing Idehen's lyrical dexterity (the vocals are performed almost entirely in prose) with down-tempo rhythms carried by synths, horns and a glorious little brass melody - the visuals are fittingly dreamy too.

Whilst admittedly not everybody's proverbial cuppa tea, My Love forms another welcome urban tale from a band who are getting better and better at expressing themselves. Musically superb.

Out now and available to download for free here: http://www.wearebenincity.com/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: CHAMPION - HYRDA ISLAND / PRINCE JAMMY

2013-04-23T17:26:00.001+01:00

I reviewed Champion's forthcoming 2-track white label for in-house label Formula Records over at Hyponik. 'Hyrda Island' / 'Prince Jammy' is out on 12'' vinyl only from April 27th.

Read the review in full at Hyponik here: http://hyponik.com/2013/04/champion-prince-jammyhydra-island-formula/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: WALTER EGO - BABY BENZ

2013-04-18T18:51:00.001+01:00

Fresh from releasing vinyl-only EP 'Wavey' on Coyote last month, Walter Ego's latest work comes in the form of a glorious 3-track for Toddla T's 'Girls Music' stable. What's so refreshing about Walter is that you never really know what to expect; where he took grime firmly into party territory with 'Wavey' and 'Military Mind', he brings funky rhythm groove firmly up to 2013 speed with 'Baby Benz'.

The title-track is meticulously put together as you'd expect, complete with a brooding intro that echo's Joy Orbison classic 'Hyph Myngo', before upping the gears and opting for reassuringly potent blasts of bass, all underpinned by an irrepressible swing that'd get even the most stubborn of floors dancing. Second track 'Augment' deals more in the carnival spirit, working tribal drums and layered sampling in diligent, party-ready harmony whilst 'UK' is even livelier; big bass lines and an unrelenting pulse carry this into Champion / Lil Silva territory.

Party music with finely-tuned swagger. Excellent stuff.

Grab an exclusive first listen over at Hyponik, ahead of it's release on April 22nd:

http://hyponik.com/2013/04/first-listen-walter-ego-baby-benz-ep/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SLACKK - APRIL MIX

2013-04-16T17:08:00.002+01:00

I wrote a few words on Slackk's April Mix as part of a new weekly mix round-up feature over at Clash Music - it's a corker. Check the first installment of Jack Swift's 'History of House & Garage' series too - part 1 clocks in at just over 5 hours, chronicling the best cuts from 1991-2000.

Read in full here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/the-weekly-mix-round-up-april-12th

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: PINCH & ROSKA - 'SHOULDA ROLLA' / 'ASBESTOS'

2013-04-14T23:55:00.000+01:00

In my latest piece for Hyponik, I wrote a few words on Pinch & Roska's new collaborative EP for Tectonic. 'Shoulda Rolla / Asbestos' is out now.

Read the review in full at Hyponik here: http://hyponik.com/2013/04/pinch-roska-shoulda-rollaasbestos-tectonic/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE AT 140 #8

2013-04-08T17:16:00.001+01:00

In my latest 'Life at 140' column for Clash Music, I took a look back across the world of grime in March. From leaked albums, iconic reunions and two new club nights, it was a busy one as always - check the top 5 tracks of the month too.

Read in full over at Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/life-at-140-8

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DULLAH BEATZ - DULLAH REFIX

2013-04-01T17:36:00.000+01:00

At a time of fevered activity in and around the 140bpm mark and with producers churning out weird and wonderful new grime cuts at a considerable rate of knots, it's sometimes easy to forget the brutal effectiveness of the ancestral styles that made grime such an extraordinary sound in the first place. Dullah Beatz is probably the perfect example of this, a producer with a bullish outlook and barbarous sound that echos hit-makers of the past without borrowing too heavily.

His new EP, simply entitled 'Dullah Refix', chronicles his take on 3 grime classics and also includes a rework of JME's latest single, 'If You Don't Know' to rampant effect. Whether it be the near minute and a half demonic orchestral intro to 'If You Don't Know' or the sheer aggression of 'Dullahclapz', a remix of Thunderclaps' 'Put 'Em In Their Place', Dullah Beatz is as no holds barred as they come. The best of all though rests in his remix of Ruff Sqwad's seminal riddim 'Pied Piper', a track you'd expect to only suffer through a remix lens; a touch brazen but unashamedly tough, the results are lethal. Thoroughly good grime music from a producer who has to be earmarked as one of the genre's best new talents.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DEBIAN BLAK X AALIYAH

2013-03-30T12:07:00.001Z

Having first interviewed the exceptionally talented Debian Blak back in 2011, his recent signing to ever-pioneering imprint Audio Doughnuts serves as no surprise. Diverse, sonically unique and remarkably deft on the buttons, Blak's forthcoming EP 'Six Months From Mars' is one that is expected to provide a platform for him to solidify himself as one of the year's standout new producers.

Ahead of it's release, Blak has prepped a free 3-track bootleg EP dedicated to fallen songstress Aaliyah. Thoughtful, sombre in parts but superbly contextualized, each rework is a testament to the subtle complexities of his sound. In fact, think of it more generally as a juxtaposition of complexity and simplicity - Blak's work really sings because he manages to transcend them both. An inspiring listen.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SR x UA MIX 018 | OH91

2013-03-28T17:05:00.001Z

For the 18th installment of the Sonic Router x Uncle Albert mix series, young Bristolian OH91 steps up to the plate with a 30-minute mix of contemporary grime cuts and exclusive dubs. A signee to my Coyote imprint and hotly-tipped to make waves this year after his extraordinary remix of Kahn & Neek's 'Percy', i caught up with him for Sonic Router too.

Read up and stream / download his mix over at SR here: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/03/oh91-sonic-router-x-uncle-albert-mix/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: TERROR DANJAH - HARDWIRED

2013-03-21T17:52:00.001Z

Ahead of the release of essential new grime compilation 'Hardwired', I caught up with Terror Danjah at Rough Trade East to get some insight into it's curation and talked leaving a legacy,,.

Read in full over at Clash: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/hardwired-terror-danjah

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: BOXED

2013-03-19T16:43:00.001Z

Ahead of it's debut at Peckham Palais this coming Saturday, I wrote a few words on South London's new instrumental grime driven night, 'Boxed', and caught up with originators Mr Mitch, Slackk, Logos and Oil Gang to grab some insight and note their favourite tracks of the moment for Sonic Router.

Read over in full over at SR here: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/03/playlist-mr-mitch-slackk-oil-gang-logos-boxed-residents/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: MOONY - SOUL SESSION

2013-03-18T17:18:00.001Z

Having garnered plenty of support on Uncle Albert over the past two years, Moony is a name more familiar to these pages than most. An unsung hero on the airwaves, his heavily garage-leaning brand of grime still continues to impress, although his first offering of 2013 sees him wander into 130 territory for the first time.

The 4-track 'Soul Session' EP is almost a nostalgic salute to his 4x4 roots, with each track working classic rhythm and groove in a style similar to that of fellow garage connoisseurs Mista Men and marks a welcome musical excursion. The verdict? Fresh, clean-cut and thoroughly enjoyable - highly recommended.

Soul Session by Moony

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE AT 140 #7

2013-03-12T17:25:00.000Z

My latest 'Life at 140' column for Clash looks back at the world of grime in February, featuring a slew of releases from the likes of Swifta Beater, Spooky and JME plus my top 5 tracks of the month, including Slackk's monstrous 8-bar stomper 'Shogun Assassin'.

Read in full over at Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/life-at-140-7

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: MIK vs KAHN

2013-03-06T17:48:00.000Z

MIK has been one of grime's more dominant voices over the last 18 months and has continued to look to push boundaries in 2013, having already worked with a tasteful mix of producers. With this in mind, I was lucky enough to get hold of an exclusive mix of MIK vocal tracks put together by Bristol's Kahn; the pair have collaborated on numerous tracks since first joining forces back in 2010. There's also a short interview to get your teeth into..

You can listen / read up exclusively via Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/mik-vs-kahn-the-mix

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: STUFF - GUN HO

2013-03-03T13:55:00.000Z

Crystal Culture, a stellar new London-based imprint co-ordinated by rising star Pedro 123 and Get Some's Bobby Pecotic, today celebrates it's debut release in the form of a 4-track monster from Bristol's 'Stuff'. Entitled 'Gun Ho', the EP features remixes from Liminal Sounds' Elsewhere and label head Pedro as well as 'Spider', a jump-up, synth heavy club joint full of dance floor swagger.

Title-track 'Gun Ho' is where Stuff really sings though. Rugged, thugged-out bass carries relentless momentum and energy, with classic vocal chops and whistles bringing the track firmly into 'club banger' territory; reminiscent of some of AC Slater's party joints, it is unashamedly good fun.

Pedro's remix is further evidence of his undoubted talent on the buttons, taking the original down less raucous routes, working a refined and intricate 2-step groove to good effect whilst Elsewhere explores a more stripped back, guttural approach that packs plenty of punch.

The verdict? A great start to life as a label.

'Gun Ho' is out today on Crystal Culture and available from all good online outlets.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DANNY SCRILLA - CLAIRVOYANT

2013-02-25T17:09:00.000Z

Was given the chance to choose another track of the day over at Clash Music and opted for Danny Scrilla's 'Clairvoyant', an excellent bonus cut from his forthcoming Fluxus EP on Civil Music - it's free to download too!

Stream / download and read up over at Clash: http://www.clashmusic.com/news/track-of-the-day-252-danny-scrilla

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: WILEY EXCLUSIVE

2013-02-22T14:56:00.001Z

Ahead of the release of his new album in April, Wiley speaks candidly about the music, his influences and those who have helped him along the way in an exclusive podcast that I premiered with Clash. Fascinating stuff.

Read / Stream over at Clash Music here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/the-ascent-wiley

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SR x UA MIX 017 - BLACKWAX

2013-02-22T13:40:00.002Z

In the latest installment of the Sonic Router x Uncle Albert mix series, hotly-tipped production duo Blackwax step up to the plate to provide an exclusive interview and mix. Fresh from remixing Youngstar's seminal grime anthem Pulse X, the pair are looking forward to a busy 2013.

Read in full and stream / download over at SR: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2013/02/blackwax-sonic-router-x-uncle-albert-mix/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: BUTTERZ IS 3

2013-02-21T18:19:00.003Z

As we look ahead to Butterz' 3rd birthday celebrations at Cable this coming Saturday, I managed to catch up with label mainstay Elijah to get his thoughts on a remarkable few years.

Read in full over at Clash: http://www.clashmusic.com/news/preview-butterz-is-3

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: BASSLACED PRESENT DAVID RODIGAN / SHY FX / MS DYNAMITE & MORE

2013-02-21T12:48:00.003Z

Following a successful run of parties last autumn, club night staple 'Basslaced' are to host a one-off night at South London's 'Fire' tomorrow night. With the focus this time very much placed on exploring the roots of original bass culture, they've enlisted recent MBE and revered DJ David Rogidan, legendary D&B pioneer and Digital Soundboy head Shy FX and iconic UK songstress Ms Dynamite, with support coming from Basslaced residents DJ Take and Jack Swift.

Full info on the night here:

DJs:

David Rodigan

Shy FX

Ms Dynamite

DJ EZ

DJ Take

Jack Swift

MCs:

Majestic

Inja

Location: Fire, South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall, London, SW8 1UQ

Doors: 10pm - 6am

Price: £5 - £15

Ticket Link: http://bit.ly/Ukwbby

More info: www.basslaced.com