Garage | 2Step | UK Funky | Bassline 220 Items

Colombian artist Dfra links with some of Argentina's finest musicians for a high-class mix of 90s and 00s deep house and a wide array of proper jazz stylings to this new EP on Deeppa, a well-formed young label that will soon hit release number 10. 'Sal Marina' kicks off with shuffling beats and nu-jazz chords that make you want to move, while both 'Green Line' and 'Manits' showcase some superb melodies over more percussive, busy beats that have a great sense of movement. 'Brown Sugar' then gets a little deeper with its withering cosmic lines and heartfelt vocals and the main man Atjazz works ii onto something even more potent before 'Sal Marina Lay-Far remix)' closes down with a timeless soulful house vibe.

Ltd Copies..

The enigmatic Welsh producer, Koreless, releases ‘Deceltica’ via Young. Marking his first solo project in over two years, the four-track EP includes previously released track ‘Seven’ (“a glacial, glitchy two-step banger” – The Observer), a vibrant remix by fellow Welsh producer and friend Jorg Kuning, an extended version of ‘Seven (Drumhell)’, which first appeared on HAAi's DJ-Kicks compilation, and title track ‘Deceltica’, blending acid and ambient techno to form his most explicitly rhythmic release so far.

After pouring everything into the intricate creation of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Agor’, Koreless retreated from the chaos of London to the tranquil countryside of his birthplace, Wales. This move sparked a newfound sense of freedom and inspiration. Embracing this fresh perspective, Koreless began experimenting with new chords, beats, and instruments, leading to the creation of Deceltica, receiving support from Four Tet, Batu, Benji B, Courtesy, HAAi, 2manydjs, and Daphni.

X Club. is the production duo of Ben Clarke and Jesse Morath. Founded in Brisbane/Meanjin Australia’s warehouse scene and exported to London and beyond, their music is inspired by early 90s techno all the way through to future-facing drum’n’bass, with X Club. carving out a space entirely of their own thanks to their authentic and eclectic take on dance music with serious consideration for underlying groove. With releases on labels such as Steel City Dance Discs, Spandau20/crowds, 99cts Records and Stay On Sight, X Club. have seen their records reach global audiences with frequent touring across the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. New World Expression by X Club. is the third release on their own label Hide THE Junk, and finds the pair leaning more into house music than ever before, but still with the same distinctive X Club. edge. These tracks have been key moments to their sets over the start of 2024, going from demos in the studio to on the road club test in a matter of days, to being pressed onto fresh 12” wax for their most loyal fans within a matter of weeks. This EP is tried and tested house & techno that fans and DJ's alike have come to know and expect in X Club.

The latest on Ilian Tape's ITX Series is this fresh dub haywiring from UK producer Mantra, one half of the UK label and events series Rupture. Following a superbly lo-fi, blue-tinted deep dubstep and garage mix offered to the label less than a year ago, she here returns to the fore with four fantastic new ones tailored for both systems and system heads. Highlights among the bunch include the dizzying, breaksy loss of sonic motor control that is 'Shackout' and the nighttimey, post-dark-garage 4x4 hardcore number 'Stomping Ground'. Closer 'Burn & Heal' rounds the whole thing out on a maximally intense jump-up jungle mastication.

Straight off the back of his first live headline tour, 1-800 Girls continues his journey of binding genres through emotion with his debut EP ‘That’s Just How I Feel’ on Seb Wildblood’s label all my thoughts. Mirroring his previous works, this four-track collection is a tapestry woven around themes of transformation and progression. Evolving with each production, this release is a strong statement of intent for how he means to go on. The EP itself is made up of 4 scantily clad, lovestruck dance tracks that feel purpose built for the summer festival run. Proudly bearing all the hallmarks of a UK production, pitch vocals are inked onto the body of each track with detail and care. He demonstrates his ability to stir emotion with simplicity, and seasons each production with tastefully chosen found sound recordings.

Fiery Subwoofer Decoding Rackets

Objekt launches his new label, Kapsela, with a 10-year anniversary reissue of his lauded production ‘Ganzfeld’. An ambitious, evocative electro/IDM epic with cavernous drums and a riotously funky bass solo, Ganzfeld was initially released in 2014 on Leisure System as the B-side of Hypnagogia, a split EP with Detroit electro pioneers Dopplereffekt. It quickly garnered critical acclaim (including Track Of The Year by Resident Advisor) and amassed a cult following despite clocking in at 147bpm, a relatively unwieldy tempo for most DJs at the time. Given the seismic shifts in tempo and genre that have taken place in the 10 years since and the emergence of a new generation of producers with whom Ganzfeld’s influence has resonated, 2024 seemed like the perfect moment for a re-release. Commissioning remixes for the first time, Objekt enlists Djrum, who delivers a jaw-dropping 10-minute rendition which weaves through multiple genres and tempos with the cinematic flair of a short film score. Milan’s Piezo contributes a taut, prickly interpretation that builds tension at 80bpm before exploding into a cathartic double-time closer. Finally, US ambient artist Ulla fully deconstructs the original into a serene, undulating lullaby. The vinyl comes with a free lossless download. Mastered by Beau at Ten Eight Seven Artwork by Brodie Kaman

Fusing old skool flavours with a refreshed new focus, classic production outfit Universal Project are back on the forefront, making their mark in 2024 with their debut album ‘Universal Language’.

“Music is the one that is the hero. It is the Universal Language and we carry a certain message” - Bob Marley

Regardless of dialect, location, background or era, music transcends divisions and unites us together, the language of the soul. Universal Project set out to spread their language for everyone to understand.

Alongside remixes of classic UP tracks by Jubei & Zero T, the vinyl is backed by two exclusive original productions; chest shaking sub bubbler ‘Funk’d Up’ plus the darkside groove stepper ‘Zero DB’ with Xtrah.

dBridge & Forest Drive West, doing what they do, together

“Tu non hai questo suono. Non avrai mai questo sound” Blank Mind presents three sublime versions of Big Hands’ ‘Girde Maye / Astere’ from Tammo Hesselink, Notte Infinita and Paperclip Minimiser - originally released on the Ossario EP in 2021. Though playful in nature, and not overtly political - the lyrics explore identity and geographical boundaries. As the artist explains - it is written by an Italian and a Türk that talks in Italian, released in Britain in times of Brexit “and that’s why I chose to have a title in Kurdish in a song “sung” by a Türk.” The vocal provides endless scope for reshaping and is entrusted to some of the most distinctive producers in electronic music; each of whom sensitively reimagine the original.

On the flip, the esteemed and prolific Tammo Hesselink produces a robust, and heavy version in his angular, crystalline style. Finally, Cong Burn wizard Paperclip Minimiser slows the tempo with a futuristic roller, an impressive creation by a man deeply immersed in technological innovation and at one with his machines.

New 2 tracker from One-Touch.

Garage powerhouse Zed Bias is back with more old school garage brilliance with the new single 'Shell Them Again' featuring the vocals of Yung Saber and Brakeman. The original has plenty of retro signifiers from the low-end wobble to the withering synth effects, plus crisp hits and jostling drums. After the dub mix comes a remix from Zed himself alongside Safire which is much more dirty and raw. The beats are broken up so the track takes on a dubstep quality as the low-end oscillations bring the weight and drums hit with more force. Finally, the acappella closes out this fresh 12" on IFG.

Analogical Force is kicking off 2024 with a stellar "all things Electronix" album from well known producer Vertical67 (who also runs the Vortex Traks label)! It's hard not to have heard of Thomas Pahl in the electro underwater depths after multiple appearances over the course of more than a decade and under a ton of aliases. With the illuminating title of 'Changes', Thomas gets rid of corsets and presents an entrancing voyage into post-euphoria, displaying a radiant and emotive side which the artist's new discordant sound emerges. A defiant cry in the face of existential angst. Navigating between breaks, dreamy melodies and reflective landscapes 'Changes' could be defined as a deep introspective journey into the machines. Cop while u can.

Sicily-based, electro-contemporary, Monica Venturella steps up for Sex Tapes From Mars’ seventh outing, serving four acid-bleeding, delirious cuts.

Interplanetary Criminal returns to Time Is Now with four future UKG classics in the making.

The 3rd instalment in Headset’s VA series, showcasing unsung Scottish artists making alternative club music in any tempo. 50 copies only

4 tough sound-system club cuts inside. FFO breaks, uk techno, bmore, jungle & 140.

Sling shot debut from Harba with a batch of oddball UK techno cuts, all firmly stamped with his own style. No ‘doof doof’ business techno - strictly 140 heaters with a UK rudeness, marrying vocal chops that feel haunting and hallucinatory yet anthemic and hypey.

He covers ample ground over the four tracker - crispy percs, squiggly synths, raw textures, and dancefloor feels, all with an upfront swagger. 'Despair EP' is a wake up call for others to inject some identity into their sound. Early support from Ben UFO and Pangaea.

Buckley - not be confused with the UK house veteran of the same name - is a new young producer from Leeds who brings his brand of UK garage to the increasingly vital Well Street label. Opener 'Sniper's Glint' is a naughty low-end wobbler with prickly percussion. '1003' is just as filthy thanks to the low-end oscillations and glistening, knife-like hi-hats. On the flip, 'Gloam' keeps things heavy and bass-driven with kinetic 2-step percussion and 'Snowdrift' shuts down with a fourth and final heads-down back-room garage burner that makes you want to move.

fabric Originals is proud to announce the release of the highly anticipated collaborative EP by legendary garage producer MJ Cole and rising star K-LONE. This EP marks the inaugural release in the label’s new series, 'Future Memories,' which brings together icons and fresh talent to create groundbreaking music that bridges generations.

Set to drop on 12th July, the EP promises to deliver a vibrant, sun-soaked sound that perfectly captures the essence of garage music. Combining MJ Cole’s masterful production and decades of experience with K-LONE’s innovative approach and modern flair, the collaboration offers a unique and exciting listening experience for both longtime fans and new listeners.

'Future Memories': A Series to Unite Generations
The 'Future Memories' series is fabric Originals' latest initiative to celebrate the legacy of electronic music while paving the way for future innovation. By pairing seasoned veterans with promising newcomers, the series aims to create timeless tracks that resonate across generations. MJ Cole and K-LONE’s EP is the first in this exciting venture, setting the tone for what’s to come.

About the EP
The EP features three tracks, each meticulously crafted to evoke the warmth and energy of summer. Listeners can expect a seamless blend of MJ Cole’s signature style and K-LONE’s distinctive touch, resulting in tracks that are both nostalgic and forward-thinking.

Snoozin’ B awake from hibernation. Alec Falconer & Harry Wills team up for their second release with beats to moo-ve you.

Some swingin’, some thumpin’, all groovin’… still snoozin’.

Welcome to ‘Hardcore Heaven III’, the third in Scuba's series of classic hardcore-inflected vinyl EPs further develops the themes, from acid house to jungle, established on the first two installments.Hardcore Heaven III ups the tempo from the first two EPs, with a focus on early Jungle on ‘Truth’ and ‘Give Up Everything’. Meanwhile, ‘Riding Hi’ and ‘Pocket Rocket’ add a 4/4 kick and samples possibly best described as… borderline?Scuba has also announced D:U:LIVE, a series of live shows inspired by his acclaimed ‘Digital Underground’ mixtape and ‘Hardcore Heaven’ vinyl EPs from last year.

3v1l Gl0b4l1sm is a sound journey to consciousness, which invites us to dedicate ourselves to a sensitive reflection on the progress and dehumanization of this capitalized society.

Four cuts full of rage and freshness, capable of immersing us in the perfection of the chaos through industrial breaks and delicate melodies guided by the brutality of their synthesized sounds.

7053m4r14 is the architect of this project published by the Black Quasar Records label, with which also shares his previous work. The multidisciplinary artist who converges between numerous genres and akas, such as C-System or Spectrums Data Forces, opts for this album for a fusion of styles ranging from IDM, Break Beat and Electro.

The pristine mastering by Koschitzky is what finishes signing this piece.

Dext Recs revive there Dext Limited imprint for a brand new vinyl compilation series , Volume 1 features 4 weighty Bass heavy jams from K-65 , Krotone , Local Group & Dawn Razor all cut to transparent vinyl enjoy !

Arriving as the third album on Supreems ‘Sweet Sun’ label – an imprint gathering a reputation for future-facing, storytelling electronic music – Sloucho's 'NPC' explores the duality of his main character and non-playable lives. With a strong Irish artistic presence featuring Rory Sweeney, EMBY, Curtisy and more, Sloucho navigates through Cloudcore-inspired broken beats, bass-driven percussion, alternative dreamscapes and wubby fuck-steps on his most complete release to date, laying the foundation for an origin-story in the process.

Garnering support from Surusinghe, Roza Terenzi, Two Shell and more; some of the tracks on NPC have already been heard in clubs around the world - from Antwerp to London and Mumbai to Paris. ‘Mind Traveller’ offers an ambient introduction to ‘Athrú’, Sloucho’s home world, as the artist's pitched vocals act as the listeners guide into the island's core. ‘Mutant’ features experimental electronic artist Rhoshi on a track that follows the kaleidoscopic sonic-themes of Sloucho’s previous Cloudcore releases ‘Slow Feet’ and ‘Silver Veil’, before the Rory Sweeney-featuring ‘Come Around’ ignites the dance with its dutty screw-face two-step, balanced by moments of melodic contemplation before evolving into a techno-dancehall hybrid.

‘Brand New’ stays on the steppy aesthetic, and brings MCs EMBY and Zack Oke into the frame with a 3D Meta-human video created in collaboration with respected, exhibiting digital artist Aisling Phelan. Using a motion capture suit, they captured EMBY and Zack’s performance and imported it into Unreal Engine, using different environments scanned from around the Greek Islands as the backdrop. The result is mind-blowing; a complete digital realm, shot like a real-life rap video as EMBY and Zack spit bars across an elasticated garage riddim. Full video is on YouTube.

‘Super Maramu 2000’ is a cut of alien-club beamed directly from ‘Eile’, the afterlife of Sloucho’s Neolithic ancestors. A waltzer-ride through Latin-bass and techno with an oxymoronic blend of maximalist and minimalist futurism, it’s as silly as it is serious, before the stuttering, juke-influence of ‘Make It Work’ brings the album’s rapid first half (and a bit) to a close.

Sloucho seamlessly weaves from front left of the club to dark, fume-filled rooms on ‘Two Thousands’ (featuring EMBY and Curtisy), ‘Rocks’ (featuring Zack Oke, who sounds remarkably like experimental spoken-word artist Coby Sey here, and Chilean artist Vatican Jail) and ‘Lights On’ (featuring Yamagōchi), Sloucho explores a previously unseen side to his sound, meandering through alternative trap and hip-hop laden beats that are both dreamy and nightmarish, bringing NPC to its starry-skied climax.

Irlam's infamous upstarts DJ Absolutely Shit are at it again with four more tracks to rattle yer spines and rupture yer spleens. Utilizing the classic approach of sourcing a sick sample, adding a rugged breakbeat, then tweaking out the buzz for maximum enjoyment, the pair deliver an explosive EP of global hypercoloured mayhem that burns hotter than an oz of 'Ells Angels sputnik.

'Bridge To Your Heart' grabs Sade by the hand, shoves two purple doves down her throat and queue-jumps to the front of Bowlers for an endorphin-rushing hardcore workout full of modern beat engineering and sample manipulation.

Switching approach, 'Bolivia' shuns the dreamy feminism for an altogether more masculine affair - roping in the Wu for an argy-bargy, elbows-out speaker shaker full of hi-definition laser stabs and destructive, land mine subs.

Hitting the accelerator, 'Rocking You Eternally' traverses the jungle boarders in a blacked out Nova, Ab Shit's flair and panache at drum programming and contemporary production chops beautifully on show throughout this big system roller with a carp-hunting vocal hook.

'Gong' closes off proceedings, merging moods inna more seductive flavour. E-soaked pianos and a gentle throb coaxing us to that end-of-night climax that'll have us humming the piano line all the way down the M65 home.

No jokes cru, this is some of the best tackle to emerge outta the DJ Absolutely Shit studio to date. One of two, vinyl-only EPs and ahead of their debut album that follows on C90 tape.

Boing boing boing, boing boing boing, boing boing!!

Twin Cities duo Feel Free Hi Fi return to their in-house imprint Digital Sting with their first full length entitled “I was so far in I was out.” After two prior EP's and collaborations with Equiknoxx and Duppy Gun Feel Free Hi Fi deliver 8 new tracks of their distinct but eclectic digital dub. Amalgamating many of the sounds, sonics, and aesthetics of prior releases into these eight percussive instrumentals. The industrial dub and weirdo dancehall remain but the focus is further refined while also exploring environmental and cinematic sounds to create often dark and heavy versions that are as singular as they are collective, as introverted as they are expansive.
The records come in double sided silk-screened printed custom DJ Jackets, with Obi Strip style stickers and hand stamped white labels created and printed by Digital Sting.

Reptile Mob is back with a third part of its superb on going compilation series and this one looks at different aspects of the garage house sound. Side a-begins with some fresh four-four grooves no least the opener from the legend that is Perception with Andy G and their dubby 'Let's Go'. Conspiracy Dubz keeps it bumping with the old school feels of 'Musical Rush' and on the B-side it is more of a 2-step sound that emerges with jazzy melodies and female vocals. Groovy D's 'Another Chance' is the real standout for us with its classic vocal sample worked into a nice kinetic rhythm.

Four more slices of UKG from one of the most exciting producers around.

Duo Lucas Brell and Marvin Uhde deliver fire-powered percussion to Osàre! Editions. Longtime friends and collaborators, they channel a liquid medley of drum menace that flips sideways, swiftly pivoting between wildly different tempos. As disorientating as it is formidable, Purest State Confusion offers up a fractal prism of ever-shifting beat patterns – an endlessly warping vortex of guttural, narcotic sounds. The titular number, a wormhole techno ordeal, builds steadily, layer upon layer. A crystalline dancefloor pleaser, it subverts classic four-to-the-floor with a delayed kick drum that punctuates every 8th beat. Like black oil diffusing in water, the bass creeps in menacingly to 'The Disappearer', in hard and fast contrast with the sharp fluctuations of the amen break. Slamming in mercilessly, 'Channeling Bryn Jones' opens up the B-side, its fluttering rhythms joining together with an infectious klaxon melody before the IDM stylings of 'Brain Massage' closes out. Purest State Confusion was recorded at various locations in Leipzig and Berlin. Final touches and mixing assistance were performed by Mike Bierbach at the Wsnwg studios. The pioneering techno producer inflects the record with his staunch taste for aerobic club rhythmics, teasing out the whirling tempos and pointillistic harmonics.

Having been part of the family for quite some time now, Lauren Bush aka re:ni joins the Timedance roster with an incredibly potent quartet of Techno infused bass-bin weaponry. « BeautySick » sees re:ni plunging into a world of intoxicating serpentine grooves. Spectral vocal slabs chime like echoes of a distant hallucinatory trance, while industrial drumworks find a mesmerizing counterpoint in eerie dubwise atmospheres. These four compositions not only showcase re:ni's sonic evolution but also explore the transient moments where darkness converges with light. They stand as a testament to the sonic prowess of one or favorite dancefloor sorceress. Picture Hakime Sorayama’s ‘Sexy Robot’ in front of an unreasonably large stack of speakers at a dimly lit sound-system dance; this is the soundtrack. Press + Tour highlights : DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Xlr8r, Bbc6 Music (Sweatbox Mix for Sherelle), First Floor, The Quietus, Phonographe Corp + more TBA Upcoming tour dates for Q1-Q2:UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Slovenia, Ireland, Australia, Croatia, USA

Opening a new chapter for DNO Records, Pllfry debuts on the label with five raucous halftime tracks that also feature collaborations with two vocalists – NST & Genoveva. The ‘Overexciting’ EP is built around iron-clad percussion and a healthy dose of mangled sonic futurism, but the dominating flavour throughout is big, bold, unadulterated bass.

As might be expected of tracks called ‘Demolition’ and ‘Collapse Of The System’, there’s plenty of damage being dealt; the former’s wrecking ball bassline spins violently as its supporting beats splinter and fall, while the latter’s destructive low-end hacks chunks from its itchy sci-fi soundscape like some psychotic sentient buzzsaw.

There’s room for nuance too, however. The title track is all about contrast, its rumbling bassline winding along like a colossal serpent, while hi-hats chitter, and Macedonian vocalist and producer Genoveva delivers a haunting, silvery vocal that’s cold and alluring in equal measure. And as if the undulating low-end and metallic melody of ‘Water Fire’ weren’t enough to make heads spin, the track features a vocal from South Russian up-and-comer NST that seems to slip and slide at will, pulling the track forward and always remaining just out of reach.

Bonus track ‘Old School’ nods to the golden age of hip-hop, taking a tough boom bap-style beat and scratch samples, but flipping it script with machine glitches and pellets of acid.

Like a collection of missives sent back from a hi-tek future, the ‘Overexciting’ EP serves as a reminder that DNO can’t be pigeonholed, and always stays one step ahead.

Rhythms of postmodern realism at the very bottom of the DNO.

Born 2 Be Free returns with a second sizzling slab of UKG-flavoured wax and this one from Azaad has a superb throwback feel thanks to the smart sampling. 'Untitled 92' hints at which period this artist has the most respect for with its silky smooth chords and thumping kicks getting you into a nice deep vibe before 'Outta My Mind' hist that bit harder with nice dry, scraping hits, bouncy bass and clipped vocal fragments. The classy vibes continue with 'Torn' which shuts down with a more high speed and slick sound smart snares and a rich, emotive vocal that finishes it in style. Three classy, timeless garage cuts.

Deep within the freeway buzz of dystopian Los Angeles, there exists an unstoppable sonic gathering of minds, who call themselves “Fast At Work” and abide by a belief in the deeper potential of higher tempos. However, lately, there has been some debate about the true existence of the Fast At Work mantra. Just as the debate was reaching its climax, seemingly out of nowhere, a helicopter emerged containing a musical capsule from the future (or possibly aliens). The group accepted this music as scripture, and coined it “Soft Fascination,” – naming group member Carré as their chosen matriarch. Through the title hymn “Soft Fascination,” Carré preached a proto vision of a classic dubstep bassline and tender pads. With “Cute Mad,” Carré magically induced a sense of positivity and bubbly bass. And with the third offering, “Glowing,” she pushed her audience closer to understanding simplicity and space. Finally, in an effort to expand their gospel to the furthest realms of their musical world, she recruited Priori and James Bangura to create their own missions, rooted in the original offerings of the alien helicopter’s capsule disc. While Priori expertly rearranged “Soft Fascination” into a shiny mind-melter, James Bangura expanded on the lightness of “Glowing,” creating his own lucid dreamscape of deep melancholia.

This tape contains a recording of a live of Nplgnn recorded at Human Razzmatazz (Barcelona) on March 2023.Everything you hear it comes from two Korg Electribe Emx1 +Pioneer Djm900 NXS + Traktor.

To describe the sound it makes sense to bring back what was thepress release of “Sigma/Tau” the first record of Nplgnn releasedin 2014 on Where To Now? (rip): “Nplgnn creates a less pampered style of body music, stripping away the usual signifiers such as melodies and basslines to create something more utilitarian, brutal and pure.

This is the pre-babel language of dance music - it's cadences are rhythmic and its meaning is comprehensible to all on an innate, primal level.”Ten years later this tape makes those words still remarkable to describe the sound of the Neapolitan head. Among a bunch of unreleased sounds you can go through all the Nplgnn recent records for LavaLava, Youth, Hundebiss and its own lathe cuts series dubbed here and there with vocal cuts intersections.

Coming off like the rude son of early ‘00s breakcore heroes, quotingthe Manchester Boomy heads, Nplgnn delivers a 45 mins mutant soundsystem recording. It's acid dancehall punk, amorphed ragga riddimz, or whatever you want to call it. 100% dancefloor melting .Ask Aphex Twin for a couple of IDs.