Garage | 2Step | UK Funky | Bassline 351 Items

Upsammy enters the acoustic realm with her new side-project Sweepsculp. Five addictive tracks fusing minimalism, IDM, folk, krautrock and various styles of jazz - using only an acoustic guitar besides drums. Live recorded, digitally edited/sculpted and produced in her singular style.

Following EPs unearthed from by Dukwa and Marco Bailey & Redhead, Tdsr land back in their native Scotland with the debut release from young Edinburgh producer LWS. One half of the party duo Agora, he has been quietly honing his production skills wherever he can, seemingly even during university lectures. This is most evident in the title track ‘Metrixulus’, made entirely from a ten-minute iPhone recording from one of his economics lecture, flipping it fully on its head. Distorted synth howls are layered atop tight, clinical ercussion shaking in unison with a broken melody. The overall effect reveals a method to the madness though, nodding to deeper dancefloor moments through the emotive synth work, yet also showing a keen ear for the blistering digital drums of UK Funky and post-dubstep offshoots. The four tracks here show a young producer with a distinct sound, yet each remain markedly different to another. ‘Buy These’ on the A2 changes up the pace with a sharp, bouncy rhythm workout bringing in toms reminiscent of old Dance Mania jams, alongside some quality ambient pads. Side B delivers a driving EBM style lead blended with elements of dub techno, cavernous reverb filling the stereo field (C-Gard). Big extended breakdown in the midsection too! Arguably the most full-on cut is left till last, utilising the same knack for tight drums to underpin a truly wonky electro melody with what sounds like a detuned panpipe scale amongst various other FX.

After appearing on the label's Time Is Now Allstars compilation, Bristol's own Wilfy D makes his second appearance with Shall Not Fade, adding to their new Time Is Now White label series. The young garage star serves up the smooth and soulful two-step he is known for, plus two killer remixes from Time Is Now family DJ Crisps and Soul Mass Transit System.

"Garage Tools" opens out the EP with staccato sampling and a rumbling sub bass wobble dominating the track, the most headsy on the record while "All About U (3am Mix)" takes on a gentler vibe. Using luscious vocal chops and glimmering synths, Wilfy D creates a kind of garage love song, delicate and soothing. He kicks things up a notch on "Know U Like It", a slice of speed garage that grooves along to an earworm melody.

On the B-side Wilfy D's original "Midnight Shift", a clean classic noughties garage sound palette, is reimagined twice by DJ Crisps and then Soul Mass Transit System. DJ Crisps gives the track a drum and bass edge replete with teeth-gritting sub bass power; Soul Mass close out the record with a dirty up-tempo remix perfect for a soundsystem.

Shall Not Fade's garage and breaks sublabel, Time is Now, has been a great success in its first year, and now starts 2021 with the first in a series of hand-stamped white label releases. London via Madrid up-and-comer Tower Block Dreams makes his debut for the label with five killer cuts, backed with a weighty remix from Manchester-based garage maestro and Time Is Now regular Interplanetary Criminal.

Serious sound system pressure on this one! Select tracks from Natalie Slade's debut album 'Control' have been completely reimagined and transformed into Jungle, Footwork, Garage, Broken Beat and Hip Hop by some of the most exciting talent around, including Tek-Life affiliate DJ Taye, Azymuth producer Daniel Maunick, Garage young blood Holloway and Chicago's DJ Hank amongst others.

The first Azu Tiwaline's album, after been acclaimed by DJs like Lena Willikens, upsammy, Shanti Celeste and a bunch of electronic medias (Bandcamp, RA, Crack), is now remixed by a Lyon-Bristol-Berlin trifecta of similarly minded rhythmic innovators - twisting and warping her work into new shapes, featuring Don't DJ, Laksa & Flore reinterpretations. Nothing happens overnight. Behind every emergence, there’s years of work, thought and preparation - both intentional and unconscious - that’s gone unseen. So the past year might have been a ‘breakout’ year for Azu Tiwaline, but it was really built over two decades of experimentation, soul-searching - both creative and personal - and exploration. “A new name for a new spirit” as she likes to say, but with an unmistakable identity rooted in her history and ancestry. On her debut album as Azu Tiwaline, Draw Me A Silence, a record released in two parts with her family at I.O.T. , she fused together two halves of her own heritage, inspired by a new home in the desert. Personal history collided with family heritage: half step rhythms from a career in bass music met the warm winds and wide open silence of El Djerid in Tunisia. When music is sincere and honest, it tends to reverberate more widely, and deeply. The tracks written for the Magnetic Service EP were sent to one label and one label only, Livity Sound, who picked it up instantly. Something about the spacious, yet dense sonics - crafted with the help of percussionist Cinna Peyghamy - resonated with listeners starved of both the community of the dancefloor and the space of the outside world. The EP became one of the Bristol label’s most heralded releases of 2020, featuring in end of year coverage from Bandcamp to Resident Advisor. Beneath the calm of her productions, a restless spirit inhabits Azu, born out of months and years spent on the road. In 2020, it was her music that took her places. She put together a series of podcast mixes that echoed the percussive, rhythmic curves of her own productions, for Boiler Room, Dekmantel and Crack Mag. She distilled Fazer Drums’ percussive experiments into dubby downtempo with a remix, and contributed her most rooted track yet - Violet Curves with Cinna Peyghamy - to On the Corner’s Door to The Cosmos compilation. This will be followed by the Extended version of the album with a gorgeous ambient bonus track “Eyes of the Wind”, accompanied by a video clip directed by Azu Tiwaline, shot in her desert lands. This track will be appearing in a digital reupload reunifying Draw Me A Silence Part.I and II. As a sort of final chapter of this debut album. As for the rest? We’ll see what 2021 has to offer for both the world and Azu Tiwaline. In the meantime, take inspiration from her music: keep the tempo steady, let some light in, and listen for the silence.

For Dsd025, we welcome Tom Jarmey to the Dansu Discs team with his new alias ‘Ocean Stirs’. His ‘Through Twist and Seam’ EP takes you on a journey across tasteful, jungle- infused electro, half-tempo rollers and vocal ear candy. It was a breakthrough 2020 for Tom, with numerous releases under both his Tom Jarmey moniker and collaborative project, Mother Of Pearls. Dansu Discs invite him to the crew with an extremely warm welcome.

We welcome the very talented Dutch producer Daniele Temperilli to the Rhythm Vibe label who's previously releases on great labels such as "Slap Funk" & "Dungeon Meat".

Mexican producer Siete Catorce treads the line of experimental club masterfully, drawing influence from Latin American styles and futuristic techno abstractions. Catorce has released on imprints such as Nostro Hood System, Naafi and Hypermedium as well as launching his own label Subreal in 2019 with collaborator Amazondotcom, on which they have released two EP's traversing deconstructed club. His new EP 'Temperatura' is a masterful exploration into club hybridity.

For the A-side, opener 'Todo' is straight-up otherworldly techno, combining fluctuating mutant birdsong and dub tones that center around unrelenting polyrhythms, whilst 'Derretido' flourishes industrial clangs with deviant frequencies. The B-side spirals on full-blown psychedelia into an unpredictable space between experimental tech and bass. 'Menos's extraterrestrial synth-work and blurred edges sound like a stripped-down early dub hybrid. 'Tu' featuring collaborator Biuddha employs smoky field recordings atop a shuffling post-dubstep heartbeat and euphoric snares. Combining fractured sound design with indisputable rhythm, this release is a formidable and unique addition to the experimental club bracket.

Press Confirmed- DJ Mag review (in the mag) *need to scan it- If Only premiere - https://ifonlyuk.com/premiere-siete-catorce-derretido-bruk-records/- Inverted Audio mix - date Tbc- Mike Greenwell (https://worldtreasuresmusic.com/) "will cover on Wtm"

Leeds based Torom brings some immaculate fourth world chugging beats - a tight concoction of the primitive and the futuristic - tied together for both the dance-floor and at home listening. A real journey into sound and a must have for any avid DJ or listener.

Mancunian genre-bender Interplanetary Criminal comes back for more on Shall Not Fade sublabel Time Is Now; In My Arms EP makes his third full release on the imprint. This time round, he shares four carefree rave-influenced garage pieces topped off with a rolling drum and bass remix from breakbeat master Coco Bryce.

Next up for Time Is Now's white label series is Prozak - a Dublin-based producer who has garnered a growing following over the past year. Prozak, aka Zac Curtis, follows up an EP of remixes for Kiwi Rekords with Make Me Feel. The EP is 100% club gear dabbling in classic rave sounds and jungle before masterfully returning to his garage roots.

- 2022 repress -

It was surely a matter of time before Leicester natives, darlings of the UKG revival Y U QT graced Time Is Now with a release. Cooper and Darryl Reid have been repping the Midlands' oft-forgotten 2-step and bassline scene since being picked up by Riz La Teef's South London Press in 2019; since dropping two EPs on Warehouse Rave and getting picked up for a remix by Conducta's award-winning Kiwi Rekords. For Time Is Now, the duo have put together five tracks of dynamic, cheeky garage that takes influence from the full breadth of the genre.

James Bangura debuts on Mister Saturday Night Records with a six track ep of diverse sounds and emotions. From the far off sounds of drum 'n' bass absorbed through headphones in Alabama and onto his first experiences of parties during the blog house Ed Banger era whilst living in California, all the while hearing the sound of New York house sound at home, this is the sound of an artist taking it all in.

"With this release, I set out with a particular sound in mind - one through which I could amalgamate my inspirations from over the years to create something fresh and outline a unique approach. With these tracks, I wanted to walk the line of having something energetic enough to tease my UK Underground & Dance Music influences, and yet experimental enough to present the listener with a deeper landscape to explore through the FM sound design." Aagentah

Brain Dance is the debut EP from Sydney artist and Velodrome’s resident dancefloor darling, Posture. Following on from his single ‘Zoom Dates’ released on Velodrome Recordings in 2020, this EP affirms Posture’s ability in creating heavy-hitting techno with heart. A bold and refined body of work, Brain Dance is a masterclass in brooding high-energy dance music. Blending sombre tonal palettes with intricate driving percussion, Posture has crafted a suite of 4 peak-set techno cuts that retain a delicate, fluid energy throughout. Written in isolation, Brain Dance is pensive in its mood while remaining wholly inspired by dance floor energies from past and future - a record that invites introspection in the peak of dance floor hypnosis. This record also comes packaged with a limited edition 250gsm A4 print designed by Bradley Pinkerton.

Banoffee Pies Records 15th Original Series release comes from Cassius Select. Canadian born producer Lavurn Lee, now residing in his home city of Hong Kong, drops his latest solo EP "Heavyweight". His unique style and selective output has drawn our attention for some time. This release does exactly what it says on the tin. With previous appearances on the likes of Matthew Herbert's Accidental JNR., Hypercolour and more, he has maintained a primary focus on rhythmic structures, alienated textures and eerie vocalisations that flaunt a strong influence and appreciation for UK techno, Hip Hop, Garage, and all things Broken Beat. The release kicks off with "Born To Defence", a mood setter scattered with punchy drum rolls and wild toms that set the tone for a harmonic palette across the 4 tracks. The A2 "Honda Civic" displays a tougher edge using a hybrid of sound. Pulsing late night business - Hatchback style. "Sicko Groove" gets the B side off the ground with a chest rattling, Grime inspired club track, sliding further up the weight divisions before things close off with "Guia Circuit", a more techy low end tool with notable energy shifts. Bp015 sustains stripped back but relentless percussion throughout. "The Original Circuit Training Soundtrack". Love BP x

MoreNight serves up five playful UKG cuts on his first full vinyl release via rising label Time Is Now. UK based producer MoreNight has been making waves over the past 12 months with killer collaborations with legendary grime vocalists Footsie & Manga, as well featuring on a weighty compilation for Conducta’s imprint Kiwi Records. His debut full length vinyl EP ‘Silvia’ is the exciting young producers finest work to date & paves the way for what is set to be a big future for this talented artist.

DJ Crisps serves up four killer UKG cuts for Bristol label Time Is Now’s tenth vinyl outing. Rotterdam based producer DJ Crisps has been bubbling over the past 12 months with a string of killer twelves, including a massive record for Riz La Teef’s label South London Pressing. His latest outing ‘Diamonds’ EP is some of the rising artists strongest work to date, weighty basslines meet 2-step laden grooves on this killer cut.

Full printed sleeve with illustration artwork. Limited run of 100 vinyl copies only. Having collaborated with Umwelt on the earlier Mothership compilation (an allied Midnight Shift x Voitax production), the German producer is now handed the reins for full creative curation over the course of six tracks with features from close pals Ngly and Cressida. Awash with a palate of dark and broken sounds yet with touches of warmth and humor, 'Soothing Songs For A Cultured Affair', burrows deep into the mind of the Voitax label boss. Lending from a rich musical upbringing, we witness the evolution of breakbeat and electro as seen through the eyes and ears of a producer at one with his machines.

Today Rozzma announces the ‘Khatar Sayeb’ EP, the artist’s first release for XL Recordings. He kicks off the EP release with ‘Hout’, a track that displays Rozzma’s knack for combining tribal sounds and contemporary urban/street music with a sharp, idiosyncratic flair. Rozzma is an Egyptian sound artist inspired by the era where sound preceded music – he finds inspiration in the similarities between the wilderness of prehistoric times and modern-day chaos. Having already performed his particular strain of music across the world and at festivals like Sonar and Unsound, Rozzma releases ‘Hout’ into the digital world with an animated video created by the artist’s close friend Mahmoud Shiha. “Hout is a celebration of beating the odds,” says Rozzma. “It’s about a specific state of mind where one finds comfort in the most extreme and unfortunate circumstances to beat the odds that one could instead fear.” The EP’s title ‘Khatar Sayeb’ means 'loose danger’. “The release challenges the idea that danger and fear are uncontrollable circumstances,” explains Rozzma. “We cannot fully diminish fear or danger. We can only condition ourselves to believe that safety exists during the absence of fear. It is however more dangerous to deny the uncertainty of danger itself. Danger is a very broad state with infinite circumstances. But it is also infinitely uncertain and mainly linked to luck. We do not control our luck; good or bad. And it is solely luck that dictates danger and safety. It is for that reason that one’s best chances may be to condition themselves to find comfort in danger. Loose danger to be specific.” Rozzma’s world is one of status quos being challenged, whether that be the real world, the historical world or specifically in the world of music. Rozzma won’t let you settle with what you believe. Everything deserves to be challenged.