Unknown Genre – Elevator Ride 12”/DL (Other Goodness)
Andrew ‘Emperor Machine’ Meecham and Sean ‘A Love From Outer Space’ Johnston make up Unknown Genre and craft a beautiful couple of downtempo floor chuggers with touches of acid and timbale percussion amongst the sinister synth work. The Orielles turn in an ambient mix to round the release out which has shades of the early 90’s definition of ambient where Higher Intelligence Agency met Peter Namlook’s Fax Records. This is still only Other Goodness’ 5th release, the label starting in 2020, putting out releases by Bawrut and Margee as well as remixes from Future Beat Alliance and Hardaway Bros (another Johnston alias).
Group Modular – Per Aspera / Ad Astra 7” (Delights)
It’s usually around Halloween when a new Delights 45 is due but this one dropped through the letterbox in July – the seasons are all mixed up these days so who cares. Markey’s Group Modular alias (alongside Mule Driver) is now ten years old and they celebrate with a couple of new tracks on the 21st release from his label. Translating roughly as “Our aspirations take us to the stars”, both sides are driven by a pulsing synth bass line and halftime beat whilst Carpenter-esque top end melodies circle above, never outstaying their welcome, soundtracking some dark corner of the galaxy, beamed from their Jerusalem base.
WTCHCRFT – Drugs Here 12” (Balkan Vinyl)
Very dark, funky acid 4-tracker on one of the best purveyors of contemporary acid on the scene, Balkan Vinyl. Hard to pick a favourite out of these as they all bang hard but ‘Uhmm’ stands out as something that should be maddening with its repeated vocal refrain of ‘Uhmm, why would you?’ but builds and builds with huge snare rolls like it’s the 90s again. Also look out for the first in a new series of 7”s from the label, ‘Kanlab 01’ by Suddi Raval.
Hooverian Blur – Confusions EP 12”/DL (Yellow Machines)
Dexorcist – Night Watch EP 12”/DL (Yellow Machines)
Hooverian Blur was one of the stand out tracks on the recent BLE-EP compilation on Jude Greenaway’s Yellow Machines label and this EP sees him producing four tracks of pinpoint precision techno. Finely honed of any fat, these sleek constructions roll, click, bleep, clap and stomp out the box with only a breakbeat on ‘Splash’ to soil the carpet.
Dexorcist is a far dirtier affair with proper banging early 90’s sub bass bottom end, bleeps, breaks and one-finger melodies. Bringing the hardcore over from the Modified Magic sub-label, this is contemporary rave music with one foot firmly in the past and the other in today’s production techniques and my god it’s glorious. Hard to pick a favourite from the 4 tracks but each one should ensure maximum dance floor destruction.
Dexorcist is a far dirtier affair with proper banging early 90’s sub bass bottom end, bleeps, breaks and one-finger melodies. Bringing the hardcore over from the Modified Magic sub-label, this is contemporary rave music with one foot firmly in the past and the other in today’s production techniques and my god it’s glorious. Hard to pick a favourite from the 4 tracks but each one should ensure maximum dance floor destruction.
Clipping. – CLBBNG EP DL (Sub Pop)
Clipping go clubbing with a download only 4 track ‘dance remix’ selection. Created for their tiny desk concert and the first volume of a possible series – with two mixes of ‘Nothing Is Safe’ and two tracks their self-titled debut, each nail the 4/4 kick early on and garnish with acid whilst Daveed Diggs expertly flows over the beats.
