Beats News

With his first releases as Last Life for Loxy’s Cylon Recordings leaving a mark that propelled him into must-check zone with followers of stripped back, progressive DnB, Mauro Picciau has continued to advance the Last Life sound into a distinctive force.

His recent tracks for Samurai Music compilations - Decade, Samurai Hannya, and Outliers, plus his own LL Series honed the deadly step forward carved out with his Samurai Music debut EP - Nootka in 2017.

"For us, the Start Taking Note is a marvelous Frankenstein of sonic fragments. Foley, samples, ethnic instruments and late night synth jam sessions put together over solid UK Grime Influenced beats, bring together a sound of multiple generations of music and musicians together, to create this unique adrenaline shot.

We always strived to distinguish ourselves from the generic sound of the club scene, and we consider EP to be the foundation of our audio/visual identity.

Belgrade's urban underground music scene and the urban graffiti art is something that brought us all together, and will always stay a purest form of inspiration.

We also very grateful for Killa P's guest appearance on the EP title track. His career, tunes and artist he worked with amongst the core influences of our sound."
- TRAKA

Welsh producer Odeko first appeared on Mr. Mitch's forward-looking Gobstopper imprint with the A.I. influenced EP "A History With Samus" in 2016 immediately snagging a "producer to watch" tag from Fact magazine and a premiere at SPIN. In early 2017, his second EP "Digital Botanics / Construct Conduct" arrived confirming his sound and setting the stage for him to start working on this - his debut album "Rose Tinted Vision Implant" that is set in a post-Ballard, post-Gibson, post-Miéville, alternate reality. "Rose Tinted Vision Implant" sees the Bath-based producer creating a cutting edge sonic world inspired by "speculative fiction, time/reality shifting stories and dystopian shit." The entire record is structured around, and expands upon his passion for the "future," underpinning the music via a underlining narrative. "Rose Tinted Vision Implant" starts with "The User" (aka the listener/ protagonist depending on your perspective) of the 'Optic.Rose' going through the process of getting an implant is made by a mega corporation, (think "whatever Elon Musk's legacy will be 200 years from now" says Odeko "not necessarily evil or good, just a world owning superpower."). And then we follow "The User" who has unfortunately received a bad egg through stages of that devices degradation. Sonically we're there to observe. We open ("Anomaly Detection") with a precursory scan and move onto installation ("OpticRose_0_1_Installation")
through to a battery change and a recalibration. From this point, the 'presence' begins to take over the implant and the tracks verge into a more cerebral range. Odeko notes "its a bit of a satire on corporate brands pushing these great products that everyone is obsessed but that are detrimental to both the world, and how we perceive reality. Our relationship with social media and tech could go down a dangerous path if we loose sight of things. I'm going quite far here for the sake of the concept, but things like VR, AR, the want for body tech, mixed with our desire to be connected, emotionally, digitally, physically, wirelessly could lead us to a world where everyone has implants, or some kind of tech built into them." Sonically its a record that explores a post-IDM, post-Grime, post-Ambient, post-Glitch, post-Retro-House, post-Instrumental Grime, take on electronic music, like Gobstopper's Mr. Mitch himself and his label mates Orlando, Lloyd SB, Tarquin, Clu, rAHHH and Loom, Odeko is making a kind of post-genre music. Yes it's a cerebral concept under the music but as popular shows like Black Mirror have shown - critiquing our new future can be fun, unusual and highly rewarding. Welcome to the world of Odeko.

In a brief time Parris has not only engineered but fully-stabilised an otherworldly sound of unique resonance. Through leadership of cult label Soundman Chronicles and his own work on Idle Hands, Tempa and Ancient Monarchy, his research and publishing has attracted fervent interest in the UK Bass community and is rapidly gaining wider international recognition.

Measured with due diligence, he has propagated and influenced key research topics and industry best practice standards through regular transmissions on Rinse FM and the recent C90 Cassette 'TX280916 / TX111116'issued on Keysound.

Hemlock is honoured to present his most recent work exploring low frequency encryption and optimisation. HEK028 contains some of the most sophisticated and realistic models we have manufactured thus far.

'Your Kiss is Sour' a slow release payload observed from inception to destruction through decay. Malic tones are exposed, individually suspended then vacuum sealed allowing multiple strains to be dissected and ranked according to their sonic weight and availability.

'Flowering in Threes' introduces technology sensitive enough to detect and harness resonance from long-submerged sub frequency transmissions. The available models can be layered across several axis concurrently with minimal phase or gravity distortion.

'My Beautiful Fantasy' explores and challenges several popular weightless theories in an engaging and controversial tone sequence.

Air Texture Vol. VI selected by Steffi and Martyn

The Air Texture Series asks two Producers/ Performers to select a double CD worth of unreleased music. The only guidance is the music should not be main floor bangers, other than that we get out of the way, allowing them autonomy over their selection. This time Steffi and Martyn were asked to step up. Exciting, since as residents at Berghain/Panorama Bar - two of the most important dancefloors in the world... how would two such respected artists approach our experimental ethos.

Limited to 500 copies

On his third album as Trickfinger, John Frusciante makes the jump from Acid Test to its leftfield sub-label, Avenue 66, to unleash the full scope of his vision. On She Smiles Because She Presses The Button, the legendary, LA-based cult figure, presents his most diverse yet cohesive album to date.



Frusciante has the melodic and programming chops to jump from style to style while sounding only like himself. "Amb" is the welcome middle-ground between Balearic and IDM while "Brise” with its quick syncopations and rhythmic groove provide a contrasting fabric. Elsewhere, JF caroms through electro and pastoral, "intelligent" ambient. The common thread through this quixotic journey are his trademark, timeless melodies.



For years now, Frusciante has immersed himself in machines, learning tracker programs, synths and drum machines inside and out, applying the same, tireless approach he's exhibited throughout his career. On She Smiles Because She Presses The Button, this period of intense study leads intense creative liberation.

Chart topping international DJ and multi-instrumentalist Jax Jones returns with his new single ‘i miss u’ featuring Au/Ra. ‘i miss u’ is the latest musical offering to come from the Ivor, BRIT and GRAMMY nominated artist and follows the success of his debut album ‘Snacks’ being named the best-selling dance album of last year. With 5 billion streams, 2 billion video views and 40 million single sales all under his belt, ‘i miss u’ marks the next phase of Jax’s ascent as he continues to create genre-defying dance music. Returning to his club and underground roots, ‘i miss u’ is an emotive Jax Jones dance track that comprises colder sounding beats when compared to his hugely popular dance pop tracks. Underpinned by a hair raising vocal from German singer-songwriter Au/Ra, best known for her 2018 breakout hit ‘Panic Room’, Jax’s latest collaboration makes nod to his beginnings with a harder bassline and club ready tone.

KURU IS THE FIRST ALBUM COMPOSED BY THE COLLABORATIVE PROJECT KARU, AND ORCHESTRATED BY THE MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST ALBERTO BRUTTI. HE DELVES INTO HIS PASSIONS FOR TRIBAL CULTURE, JAZZ AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTION COMBINING THEM IN A WORK THAT IS IN EQUAL PARTS UPLIFTING AND SOMBER. THE ALBUM STARTS OFF WITH SELVA, WHICH UNFOLDS WITH ITS MYSTIC CHANTS AND A WARM SAX PAVING THE WAY FOR A SHIMMERING TRACK PUNCTUATED BY THE POLYMORPHIC PULSE OF THE DOUBLE BASS. THE HYPNOTIC CRESCENDO MELTS INTO THE SPACIOUS SERENITY OF UPYA, THE SINGLE EXTRACTED FROM KURU; TO CLOSE THE A SIDE, ZALIWA FEAT DAYKODA, WHICH SETS A VIVID FOREGROUND GROOVE AND BLENDS THE EDGES BETWEEN HIP HOP PRODUCTION AND JAZZ. ON THE B SIDE, KARU GO INTO DARKER EXCURSIONS; KENZO AND ROOT TURN UP THE BASS PRESSURE SOFTLY GUIDED BY THE GLOWING SAX, THAT STILL FEELS DISTORTED AMONG THE TRIBAL RHYTHMS AND VOICES. LIKE A WISTFUL SUNSET IN A DESERT, KURU CASTS A DELICATE NOSTALGIC MOOD THAT CALLS FOR PEACE AFTER THE STORM. THE ALBUM FEELS INTENSELY HUMAN, SOPHISTICATED AND EVENTUALLY PLAYFUL THANKS TO THE GUEST APPARITION OF THE ARTIST AND DJ GUEDRA GUEDRA WHO DELIVERS A BOUNCY FOOTWORK REMIX OF UPYA, THAT SHINES WITH ENERGY AND LOOPY SAMPLES WITHOUT MESSING WITH THE ELEGANCE OF THE TRACK.

Touched Revolutions call on Keiss for their next release, incredible rich soundscapes, warm crunchy beats, stretched acid, and plenty of attention to detail.
Boards Of Canada fans CHECK THIS!

The third release on Raw Basics is a collaborative effort from Basic Rhythm and the inimitable Lamont.

On the A side we have Hard Shoulder. Starting with an electro groove and meditative synth line, pausing for a moment to drop in a head nodding bass stab to accentuate the percussion before bringing in a gritty percussive roll and flair evoking Detroit and Chicago but with a contemporary twist. Hard Shoulder is a modern electro roller with energy to spare.

On the B side is Spring Back, a deeper more melodic affair that opens with a distorted chime melody, bringing to mind children nursery rhymes, before stripping back to clear simple percussion and bass stab. The track rolls along, dipping in and out of the melody line and playing with the time signature, before bringing in a deep sub bass and switching the groove up. This is space age bass music!

Originally made in 2012 but it took until late 2019 to get permission to use this Dubplate Mix by DJ Tango. This is an official release.

“You’re trouble” is an avant-garde electronic pop album about questioning and locating a sense of self in a disorienting, breaking environment of dissolving certainity which grows increasingly chaotic, about dysmorphic dissatisfaction, becoming disillusioned and alienated. It seeks to juxtapose beauty, serenity and vigour with instability, ugliness, chaos and crisis, expressing itself fluidly without genre or otherwise boundaries. A kind of sinister, anxious but still forward-pushing and at times positive and hot-blooded empowering energy can be felt that wants to urge the listener not to give up but to try and take courage and take control of the troubles and fears in their life. The tone is sometimes reflective, sometimes confronting. The album navigates fairly abstract musical territory, cathartic abrasiveness, heavy and unrelenting sounds of post-club music and noise fused with stretches of pop music, never settling down or resting for long, constantly breaking up and re-assembling itself. Between chaos and form, it’s finding relief in imperfection and the in-between. As such the music is ambivalent and is equal parts some kind of crisis club music as well as introspective reflection.
Downloads

gold vinyl / 180 grams

Six striking pieces of music from three unique and distinct artists, each elaborately soundtracking the luxurious and endless nights of tomorrow...

Sofie Letitre releases her new EP 'Uncanny Valley' on DIVISION. On 'Uncanny Valley' Sofie Letitre delivers a dark mysterious sound that reminds of acts like FKA Twigs and Bjork. Like the evil sister of Massive Attack with the intensity of James Blake.

Uncanny Valley is a concept-album based on the Uncanny Valley principal, the point where there is aversion for a humanoid robot as he becomes more human. You will be drawn in themes like vulnerability versus invulnerability and perfection versus imperfection.

The EP is produced by Ferdy van der Singel and Thijs de Vlieger (NOISIA), and the vinyl contains the mp3 codes to download as well.

A mainstay on the label, Dresden-born / Berlin-based B-boy Worf is up there with Kiat as the most consistent and prolific artist in the collective since his ‘City Of Meth’ EPs in back in 2018. Following various appearances and cameos on the imprint since, his emotional, hip-hop influenced designs are back in the form of his most accomplished release so far.

SG's debut "Oseng" launches the Between Fields imprint with an assortment of loose breakbeats and warm sonics. Recorded between 2018 and 2020 in Berlin.

Get your lucky penny out of your pocket it's time for Scratch Discs.

Every copy comes with a special scratch card with a host of bang average prizes to be won

Hailing from Ann Arbor MI DJ FLP makes his vinyl debut on new Vanity Press offshoot 3345 records. A 5 track vinyl that's suitable for play at either speed

Mars89 titles his first release Natural Sciences after a year already defined by bacterial outbreaks, drone assassinations and the rise of the right. Across four tracks which range from industrial quom to leftfield electronics, Mars89 supplies the goods to live the nightmare.
White label limited to 300 copies worldwide.

Following a jaw-dropping LP on Ghostly International in 2018, multifarious rave authority Tadd Mullinix reanimates his hi-tek junglist guise X-Altera for an EP on Sneaker Social Club. It’s a perfect fit between project and label, as Mullinix exercises his fearsome knowledge and grasp of foundational jungle and drum & bass on an imprint with strong form in the field (from seminal Foul Play works reissued to contemporary cut ups by Dead Man’s Chest, Etch and more).

DJ Support
Anthony 'Shake' Shakir, The Bug, Om Unit, Mosca, Laksa, Oneman, Resom, Sinistarr, Ciel, Smokey, Synkro, Ryan Hunn (E.Myers), Nikki Nair, John Morrow (Foul Play), Josh Cheon, 8Ball, Tailor Jae, FFF, Mani Festo, Omega III, Flore, Richard (Numbers/ Rubadub), Si (2 Bad Mice), Solid Blake, Etch, Israel Vines, DJ Haus, J-Shadow, Matt Karmil, Doc Scott, Roger 23, Konx-om-Pax +more

Time Is Now assembles an all star lineup for the labels first various artist release. The six track ‘allstars’ record features contributors from previous release artists, as well as new label members: Interplanetary Criminal, Soul Mass Transit System, Holloway, Mainphase, Ollie Rant & Wilfy D.

The debut EP release from Amduscias (the evil doppelganger of an already known producer) presents a selection of tracks woven with British folklore and occultist connotation taking the fringes of UK bass music into a dark twisted new pasture, bass and beats ready for the dancefloor but equally horrifying to the headphone listener - skewing techno and dubstep to its farthest reaches.

TRUSIK travels eastward again to meet Back to Chill mainstay HELKTRAM whose technoid dubstep constructions have been operating under the radar with just two releases from Banana Stand Sound and Encrypted Audio back in 2016. That is until now.

Sounding like the production line of a steel plant, “Suggestive Effect” gallops with metallic sonics and coilgun snares as the low end ripples and undulates speaker cones apart in its single minded purpose.

“Insecure” fizzes with electromagnetic hum, airlock whispers, clinical atmospherics, and the sonar blips of techno while remaining firmly within the dubstep realm, that is, until midway through when the bassline morphs into something more fluid than the half-time stomp of most dubstep.

Finally, “Iron Box” is a dyed-in-the-wool wobbler. Possessed only by a simple, mindvirus melody, the track lets the sub handle the heavy lifting with the immediately groovy low end science that is within dubstep’s DNA.

Having seen major support from Joe Nice and Goth-Trad across the years, HELKTRAM and Japanese dubstep in general needs more praise for their tireless work in making dubstep a truly global genre. With their eighth release, TRUSIK hopes to expand the record boxes of DJs everywhere and showcase HELKTRAM’s prowess in sub bass science.

Hot on the heels of its debut release, Montreal’s Chambre Noire is back with its second record: an EP by Québecois artist Vromb, a veteran producer around since the mid-90s, known in particular for his releases on Ant-Zen. Over the course of five tracks on vinyl (six in the digital version), the artist’s sounds seem to take on physical shapes, like living origami: constantly mutating as they open, close and transform into something else. With attention to movement and boundary-challenging textures, this EP is ready to ensnare listeners in a variety of contexts, from club environments to more contemplative environments.

Fallow presents his debut EP on the freshly established Chow Down label - 6 typically epic and emotive tracks from the semi-infamous Manchester-based DJ & producer. On side A Fallow serves up 3 gigantic grime instrumentals with all the bravado, theatrics and outrageous samples the genre has to offer. The tracks are as cinematic as they are energetic, weaving pulse sounds, choirs and dreamy sino samples into breakneck dance-floor gear to great effect. On the flip Fallow adopts his DJ Chalice moniker to explore his softer side. Still bursting with colour and melody, the tracks are as indebted to sunny dancehall records as they are a raw UK sound. Peppering carefree mallets and flutes with angelic chipmunk vocals, Chalice still captures the producers' unique ear for bold melodies and vivid sounds.

There was a rumble which echoed as it emerged from the murky depths of the cave. Deep down in the tomb below was the sound of distant drums which banged and roared with pride and promise as they began to wake the dead from their long slumber. Few had ever imagined that they'd rise again, the stories told of ancient ruins and magical creatures had long been deemed irresponsible nonsense told to scare children and for fireside tales. Now, it seemed as if they were wrong, very wrong indeed...

Ramses is set to release a new EP on Dill Dodos Recife (serie of Discolored Field’s label focuses on club reflections), a Lyon based record label with a promising future. The EP is a weird, mutated assortment of heavy hitting club sounds and low end weight.

"This is Urban Poetry's 2nd 12“ vinyl release and it combines old and new in a beautiful and timeless way. Being located in Berlin, the label has been releasing 170 bpm music and beyond for almost twelve years now. Both tracks, Cruel Culture's Hyperion and Elusive Elements & Silent Mind's Immortal, first came out in 2012 as digital only releases and were musical milestones for the label. Their sheer beauty and grace is still breathtaking today. In Cruel Culture's Hyperion, celestial strings and atmospheric pads open up the doors for a dance of the titans, to which the track continually evolves into other spheres.

180g Translucent Green Vinyl from one of the masters of the darker side of drum and bass / jungle.