Beats News

After numerous live performances around Europe and the release of his A Music for Sound Systems' full length in 2017, Infrasonics' label boss Spatial rejoins Never Ready with two productions originally aired during his 2016 MUTEK live set and lovingly mutated into NVR003.

Low frequency perturbations fusing Spatial's sound system culture references and trademark distortion, Netz Room's broken techno in the key of grime defines our label's intent to release forward bass explorations. Hut 6 follows with a ten minute warp drive across the known universe in search of a unifying field theory of techno. The B-Side sees J. Tijn's first foray on Never Ready with a bruk & bass out genetic resequencing of Netz Room, while Munstac returns with a sub heavy 4/4 interpretation of the title track.

Never Ready Records' third release in our establishing tetralogy continues with cover artwork from Nerog, 180g coloured vinyl and a limited pressing of 300 units.

Keysound are proud to announce the third installment in their Rollage sub-series. Following on from the first ltd edition black label and the recent volume two Keysound Sessions Anthem,' the C-troit' EP, is a 12' from Blackdown, with Dusk joining on co-production duties. C-troit' is a name revived from a lost, unfinished track by Blackdown in the very earliest roots' years of dubstep. A hybrid of the words Croydon' and Detroit', it's a heuristic for the place between Greater London's bass-lead music and the halcyon synths of early Detroit techno. Now that there's a growing body of dark, 130bpm-ish rollage, from within the Keysound camp and crews beyond (Jelly Bean Farm, Durkle Disco, Swamp81, Version & Kaizen), the EP seeks to throw warm light into the shadows, with the tracks Godlike Power', Clueless ft Dusk' and Halcyon Skies (Rollage mix).' The EP's closing cut The Greatest Concert (RIP PMC)' was written by Blackdown in the days immediately following the passing of his father. The first two installments in the Rollage series shared a common dark, tense mood but explored divergent energies levels and percussive possibilities whilst constrained by the same sound palate and tempo (130bpm). The tracks in the third edition, however, retain the same tempo, share a common pad-lead mood and percussive approach, but are not cut from exactly the same soundbank. As ever, all the 12's in the Rollage series are designed to be mixed together as one flow.

It’s been a busy eight months since Dampé’s debut on Dirt Crew Recordings. That time has seen the producer hold down monthly slots on Rinse FM, contribute a downtempo electronica/jazz edit to the S3A ‘Pages Remixes” EP as well as open big rooms for the likes of Surgeon and Blawan.

The intervening months have also seen the producer set up camp in the Rhythm Section studio in South East London, and the result of new access to studio gear can be heard all across ‘Garden’. Compared to the debut ‘Peach Shuffle’ this is a far more machine-led and darker listening experience. Snatches of acoustic instruments and space remain, but it’s never long before the disembodied vocals and oversaturated classic drum kits return reminding you this is music best enjoyed in the club.

‘A Basement, 10 Years Ago’ started just there. A bass line dimly recalled from a long-lost 6am jam is sequenced on a weighty analogue keyboard, while syrupy R&B vocals dance around mbira and gangsa, all slowly building and building together. ‘727 and Arp Breaks’ is a love letter to two of the producer’s favourite instruments from the studio. A TR-727 and an Arp Odyssey collide across dubbed out stabs to form some very rolling breaks.
Sunday Night Machines’ sees Dampé tame the box-of-physics that is the Arp Odyssey again with a sprawling meditation on two repeating arpeggios.

‘Garden’ is the one for the dancers. Four variations play with the same melodic theme in distinct sections, with the second variation being the deepest and most floor-ready the whole record gets. ‘France’ is a warped dub-come-hip hop beat that manages to conjure both Lil Jon and Yusef Lateef. We approached Liverpool’s finest ASOK (Lobster Theremin, M>O>S Delsin) for remix duties and to close out the record with a twisted bang. He turned in a propelling weapon that brings a whole new texture to the track listing. It’s very 90’s, very ravey and very raw, in a true IDM style.

With this eclectic mix of sounds we are entering another chapter of the Dirt Crew story and we hope you dig it as much as we do!

Lothian Buses’ is an EP of genre collisions with Proc Fiskal amalgamating his twinkling, caffeinated grime sound with the rhythms and sounds of other genres, without ever overthinking it. To kick off, ‘Thurs Jung Yout’ is a kind of shoegaze drill with strings and gentle tones swelling and dissipating against busy drill beats. ‘Baguettes’ is a more classic Proc sound, a galloping rhythm against a sparse melody that was a quick fix up for a show that turned out well. ‘Choco Frito (Calamari)’ was influenced by the good life, DJing in Portugal in the sunshine and hearing Kuduro played out. The latticing drum patterns nod to the style, dropping into a sunny accordion chorus with a plucked guitar line. ‘Scarab Aloph’ is Proc's style compressed, full of micro-glitches, tight drum fills and incidental drop-outs across a pretty melody, while ‘HopeTak2’ is his percussive, breezy take on funky house with smiley melodic stabs. Finally, ‘Mullit Madollock’ takes the sonics of airy Bukem-style atmospheric jungle, an instantly recognisable inspiration that's not been as foregrounded in Proc’s work before, refitted and updated with grime-inspired melodic bass kicks.

Numa Recordings is back again with a heavyweight release for all the grime heads out there: Badman Ting is a proper roadman anthem featuring Killa P, Irah, Long Range (aka Killa’s Army) and XL Mad (member of Numa Crew).

The original version sees the four MCs riding a heavy drill riddim with an unparalleled mix of dancehall and grime vocal styles. The riddim, produced by XL Mad himself, is minimal and impactful, combining spooky melodies with distorted 808 bass. All these elements make the whole thing.. a ‘Badman Ting!’

Exploring the boundaries between Grime, IDM and Dubstep, this four-track EP is a worldwide first: The first vinyl release of Japanese Grime.

Apulati Bien is back on Promesses with an 8 track EP called ‘RER TRACKS’. All sketches of these songs were formerly composed in early 2017 during Apulati's RER journeys (Paris suburban train) on an iPhone 4 using field recordings from the phone and the iMPC app. Then put together and re-arranged some years later in his Brussels studio. Each song is like the soundtrack of a different train journey, bringing eclectic vibes between de-construct dancehall, mutant dub and dark ambient. "OUEST" and "Oz" contain vocal featurings (also recorded on a phone) from Mexican artist Vica Pacheco and Haitian MC Damoreless Zoekila.

Bristol grime producer OH91 returns to Coyote Records for the first time since the back end of 2014 with new single, 'Shuttle'. Having released his debut record, 'Stealth', with Coyote back in 2013, OH91 also released a remix of Rapid's 'Xtra' beat on white label through the imprint in 2014, backed up by a an edit of Footsie's 'Prang Boy' from label mate Chemist — the 12' sold out in less than a week. Releases with up-and-coming indies White Peach, Trapped Audio and Banana Stand Sound have also checked his progress over the last two years, as well as collaborative production work with long-time friend and mentor, Sir Spyro. Honing in on a day-dot instrumental grime sound favoured by MCs, OH91's work on 'Shuttle' is sharp and brutally effective, sirens form the basis of the short intro, as a booming, looping beat — boosted by tense, anxious strings — slingshots the track straight into the dance. On the flip, Dutch producer JLSXND7RS, fresh from producing a number of tracks for Wiley on latest album, 'The Godfather', throws down a fierce, contorted remix full of warped sounds and eerie, sci-fi bleeps.

For the second release on his emerging Dark Knight imprint, Dutch producer JLSXND7RS has teamed up with Croydon cult hero Rocks FOE for the two-track instrumental offering “Warren & Justin”, available both digitally and on 12” vinyl.

The 6th vinyl release on BTG sees a newcomer to the label and a relative newcomer to the scene taking the reins. In his short time on the electronic radar J-Shadow has already had releases on Nous Disques, Car Crash Set, PRIME, The Collection Artaud, eatmybeat, Dissident Sound and Dream Eater.

BTG006 sees a full showcase of his sonic array driven by rough bass, ghostly pads, acute percussion and influences from the entire electronic spectrum. Embers is a grimey monster that drives with purpose and energy from the very top, J-Shadows signature sounds instantly invade your ears as the track builds into a weapon capable of destroying any dance floor. The release then swoops down to a grizzly techno-esque stomper, with a slower build than title track “ Embers, The Awakening serves to show off this producers more subtle techniques that allow for an almost 7 minute journey into the belly of a Berlin beast. As if that wasn’t enough the final original on this EP “No Gravity”pays homage to the higher tempo sounds that BTG have been trail-blazing for some time now, a 160BPM pile-driver with murky bass, knifelike breaks and a wonky build that will keep the listener on their toes.

BTG006’s B-Side sticks to the remixing ethos of the label with two legends taking the helm. B1 is a Danny Scrilla flip of the title track Embers which needs no explanation, pure energy from the top and then Etch fly kicks The Awakening into a 123bpm air pumping foot stomping techno track designed to sub bass to destroy tower blocks.

Meetsysteem's debut album Geen Signaal gets a remix treatment by Prins Thomas, Levi, Ranie Ribeiro, O.C and Elkan.

Flute Grime, Fever in you bed with U'r Girlfriend... & Grimy R'n'B, fever on MTV !

Influential Dutch grime producer JLSXND7RS debuts on Dream Eater with the four-track Ceres EP, enlisting MC Armour, a member of the trailblazing N.A.S.T.Y Crew, for vocal duties.

A cool dubstep minimal tool. Well done with just the little story and the little sounds to mke it good. Nice one !

The debut No. 1 album of 2017 'Gang Signs & Prayer' is to be released on vinyl this summer on a heavyweight double LP. Topping the album charts back in February with a phenomenal 69,000 sales - the debut album from Stormzy has seen him elevate from Grime King to global superstar.Before the release of his debut album, Stormzy wasn't short of success - Releasing his debut EP only two years ago, Stormzy has won two MOBOs, won Best International Artist at the BET Awards, performed on Jools Holland, become the first unsigned rapper to feature on the BBC Sound Of... list, sold almost a million records, and made history by sending two grime freestyles into the UK chart top 20 for the first time in history.The 22 year old South London artist's won Best Grime Act at the 2014 MOBOs just a week after his Jools performance and that was quickly followed by an invite from Kanye to join him onstage at the Brit Awards.Both Shut Up' and Wicked Skengman 4' both went on to chart in the UK top twenty - the former beating that year's X Factor Christmas single - He finished 2015 with his own show on Apple Radio, aptly titled #Merky, making him the youngest presenter on the roster, alongside names like Pharrell Williams,& Dr Dre.For many who only know Stormzy as the six foot MC who spits fire on YouTube, the debut album may come as something of a pleasant eye opener. He's immersed himself fully in the craft of song writing and production, gleaned from those years of growing up on slow jams. Twelve tracks of grime this ain't. Lead track Big For Your Boots' is now A listed at Radio 1, 1 Xtra an Capital Xtra and a top 30 airplay track. The album features a host of collaborations including Raleigh Ritchie and grime cohorts Ghetts and J Hus. The album also features a new version of his massive hit Shut Up'. A UK tour announced last week which included 3 headline shows at London's Brixton Academy sold out in 24 hours

Crucial collection of raw, darkside early gqom from pioneering Durban trio Phelimuncasi, setting the gripping vocals of twins Makan Nana and Khera, and Malathon, to cranky technoid club engines by DJ Menzi, DJ Mp3, and DJ Scoturn, all showcased for first time outside South Africa on the ever vital Nyege Nyege Tapes. Unmissable for fans of dark, heavy dance music of all stripes!
For Phelimancusi’s overdue first international showcase NNT follow a number of excursions into this sound from DJ Menzi and Sleeping Buddha for sibling label Hakuna Kulala with a mix of vintage early works and banging new exclusives, including some produced recently as 2019 in the downtime after the trio’s incendiary performance at the label’s annual festival. Alongside the gqom archaeology of Italian-based GqomOh! label, this lot forms a vital piece of the genre’s
history, charting how the vocalists’ conversational, toasting style, itself rooted in local storytelling traditions and the intimidating rhythmic singing of the apartheid-era came to influence their sound, and ultimately set the course for Gqom to come.
Colloquially known as “taxi techno” in the Durban townships, Gqom is a staple sound at NNT’s annual festival in Jinja, Uganda and always brings the best moves out of the SA dancers (and everyone else for that matter). As recently revealed on his shocking ‘Impazamo’ tape for Hakuna Kulala, DJ Menzi is one of the scene’s wildcards, and his productions for Phelminancusi are a big highlight here, counting the heavy call and response lyrics, signature Zulu trills and hard clang
of their ‘Private Party’ anthem, the Terminator-stare drones of ‘GQOM Venus Cemetary’ and the desiccated bones of ‘Umgido’ among the comp’s heaviest drops.
Racked up beside an infectious introduction to gone-but-not-forgotten producers, DJ Scoturn with the menacing bell hook and bouncing bars of ‘Umahlalela’, and the starkly martial snares of DJ Mp3’s ‘Sesi Gora’, which sounds like mutant dancehall dispatched via late ‘80s Chicago, this lot is surely more than your RDA of the dark stuff, and absolutely primed with dense cyberpunk atmospheres for skulking deserted inner cities and counting down to the apocalypse.

*Repress*

East London-born music legend and all round boundary-breaking innovator, Dizzee Rascal, today announces the release of his 7th studio album, entitled ‘E3 AF’ and new single ‘L.L.L.L (Love Life Live Large)’, out via Island Records.

This new release marks the genesis of a new era for Dizzee and is the first album wholly written, recorded and produced in the UK in over a decade. ‘E3 AF’ is a 10-track layered, purposeful statement of intent, rooted in Dizzee’s inedible ties to both east London and Black British music’s legacy. He sound is sharper, stronger and more self-assured than ever, and it is obvious that he has poured the creative energy of the past few years into ‘E3 AF’ as a body of work. First single, L.L.L.L (Love Life Live Large), features Tottenham born MC Chip and kicks open the door with the force of a steel toe capped boot. Chip, adds another thwack of bravado to the rumbling, Dizzee-produced beat. ‘E3 AF’ confirms Dizzee’s status as an artist still very much in his prime, sonically it draws on the infectious pace of grime and resolutely forward-thinking UK rap. From one song to the next, you are taken on a journey through Black British musical excellence. Ice-cold UK drill drips on Smoke Boys-featuring ‘Act Like You Know’ (produced by MK the Plug) and Eastside pulses with pure grime courtesy of Chubby Dreadz and Platinum 45. Self-produced opener ‘God Knows’ (featuring P Money) and high-octane ‘You Don’t Know’ pull from dubstep, grime and drum ‘n’ bass while threatening to wreak havoc with your speakers. By the time Alicai Harley’s warm up vocals float over sunny syths on the deeply personal ‘Energies + Powers’ (produced by Steel Banglez), the album practically radiates heat. Dizzee Rascal is a unique artist that has inspired many for multiple generations. From his 2003 debut album release, the Mercury Prize-winning ‘Boy In The Corner’ to date, Dizzee has continued to push expectations and boundaries. He is British musical royalty. Every album that followed stacked up another marker of success. Between 2004 and 2017 all album releases blasted firmly into the Top 10 Official album chart, won awards, critical acclaim and amassed Dizzee a huge following of devoted fans. ‘E3 AF’ is set to confirm Dizzee Rascal’s status as the master at the top of his game.

D Double E & Footsie the Newham Generals return to Butterz with archive material following up their 2015 drop 'Scars'. Frontline is an unreleased Grime classic from 2005 that comes from the versioning era of Grime, where MCs would all do their take on the same instrumental. Humpty Dumpty, is a lower profile unreleased banger that has been unearthed for the first time since 2006. War Wid and Prangman are two forgotten Grime classics that saw short run vinyl releases back in 2004, but have long been out of print. This release marks 10 years of Butterz the label, and begins a run of a new slew of 12"s to come out through the remainder of 2020 and 2021.

HTS005 bring East Man & Walton back together for another collaborative single.
The A side, ‘Screw Face’, is a hard as nails square wave 8 bar banger with a big bad bass line that makes you want to screw up your face and jump around the dance floor.

The B side is a hard stepper that plods along at a seemingly glacial pace. ‘Don’t Speak’ brings a mix of off kilter percussion and chest rattling sub bass that when combined bring a deep meditative quality to the track. This is one for the head nodders in the dark corners of the dance.

Classic orchestral grime from one of the pioneers of grime music.

Sense MC has teamed up with Diffrent Music to bring you "The Elephant In The Room LP", the debut album from Sense MC, produced by a hand picked selection of artists associated with the label and a few extra people who've worked with Sense in the past. It's been three years in the making, but is finally ready to be unleashed, #BuyTheAlbum

Epic!

South London wordsmith Pinty releases ‘Midnight Moods’ mixtape via his new label Winged Feet.

Coming back on the night bus, the whole ambience of South London when there is no one around... that is the midnight mood”

Following off the back of his debut ‘City Limits’ EP last year, Pinty makes a welcome return with ‘Midnight Moods’. Described as a late night mixtape recorded over several sprawling nocturnal sessions, the release features guest productions from DJ JD Sports aka King Krule and Maxwell Owin. Culminating in 6 tracks and a ‘lullaby’, the woozy and loose takes were eventually mixed down and mistakenly bounced in mono as the sun came up in the misty room at 7am, then lovingly mixed in stereo during daylight hours some weeks later.

Leading with the DJ JD Sports produced ‘It’s Just Life’ in early March, Pinty rolls through with the 2-step tinged ‘E’s’ and ‘Moonlight Duty’, drawing from his late brother’s UKG influence which helped pave the way for him. Filled with deeply personal lyrics, Pinty isn’t your usual party MC as he spits over luscious lo-fi house melodies with closing tracks ‘Go To Bed Pt. 2’, ‘All Nightly’ and ‘Fresher’. The mixtape showcases his vast appeal, from smoky basement clubs to slinky jazz bars.

Pinty’s witty wordplay and effervescent club sound take influence from the introspective poetry of The Streets and the jazz tinged house tones of Peckham’s vibrant night scene. The lyricist released his debut EP on Rhythm Section International in 2019 to much acclaim, making waves with his distinctly individual live performances, appearances on Boiler Room and Just Jam, radio residencies on Reprezent and Balamii, and the front cover of the Peckham Peculiar.

‘Midnight Moods’ is out on the 24th April via new label Winged Feet from Pinty and Alexander Waldron, co-founder of Greco-Roman.

Spooky Bizzle is back on Oil Gang with the biggest Grime tune about.
Haunted Joyride has been killing raves and radio sets for months, this one is heavy. Check out Oil Gang 019 for the Haunted Joyride Version Excursion.

Walton returns to Tectonic to drop his latest EP of deadly dance floor weapons, as Tectonic sets up to celebrate being 15 years old!

With releases dropping on Illian Tape and Kaizen, Manchester’s Walton is a producer in high demand for his inimitable style the blends grime and pirate radio aesthetics with forward-thinking dance floor sensibilities..

‘Scooped’ opens the EP with mood setting pads and 128bpm drums, in preparation for a gut-wrenching bass line, bringing elements of grime, dubstep and techno altogether.

Following on next is ‘SBWYS’. The title references a vocal sample that decorates the rough 138bpm beats, “Sound boy watch ya space!”. Point made.

‘Smashed Crabs’ takes a 2003-era grime style rhythmic framework and paints over hard bass sonics and laser blips at 134bpm.

Lastly, the title track ‘Abyss’ continues the rave lazer aesthetic and tempo of Smashed Crabs, but sending things more intergalactic in trajectory, wrapping up a great EP in fine style. Definitely a bit of something for most dancefloors, crafted in the way of the Walton.

Spooky Bizzle presents the Haunted Joyride Version Excursion with four of the bestMC’s about over the biggest Grime tune. Riko Dan, Mez, Nasty Jack & PK join Spooky on this killer record.

The next release on Hi Tek Sounds sees the inimitable JEB1 bring his distinctive sound to the label.

The A side, ‘Guyana’, is a mournful, melancholy affair full of lush melodies and choral arrangements, accentuated only by a pared down percussive rhythm track and growling bass line. The title connects the contemporary sound of inner city London back to JEB1’s ancestral heritage.

East Man steps up for the remix on the B side, stripping the track back even further, reducing it to a bouncing tin pan percussion and driving rhythms, and alternating between a warm low sub bass and a gritty growling bass lead to cut straight to the dance floor.