Just a heads up right now for the local nuts (and anyone from ‘out of town’ who’s mad dedicated to the future sounds). The Tuesday Club are holding their annual Outlook Festival launch party tonight and it would be jolly lovely to see you down there. Although you don’t know what I look like, and vice versa. We could guess?
Despite the fact that the headlining two monikers account for one man; the inimitable David Kennedy, there will be killer support from Jacques Greene and Distance. Kind of coming at this thing from both ends of the dance music spectrum, much-lauded newcomer and highly esteemed veteran respectively… bonus.
Tickets are a measly weasely £5 ADV and can be purchased from Sheffield Union Box Office, Hallam Hubs or online right here.
A pair of tickets for Outlook Festival will be given away at some during the proceedings tonight so really if you’re not there you suck at enjoying life. Strong words there so to apologise here follows a rundown of various tasty nuggets.
I posted about this way back in 2010 (say whut) but the actual day of release is now almost upon us and jeepers creepers it’s making me shake in my boots. I am of course talking about Fabriclive56 and let’s face it, with Ramadanman/Pearson Sound at the helm, it was always destined to be brilliant. Mr Kennedy’s contribution to Dubstep Allstars Vol. 7 was better than a bungee jump into Kelly Brook’s lap and come March 21st, I’m expecting a mix that will blow my toupée clean off.
At this point I must note that I had actually finished writing the rest of the post when my inbox icon flashed and chirped “You got mail!” Contained inside was a link to a 30 minute stream (via The Fader) of the mix, so I deleted my statements of anticipation, attached the preview and instead of rewriting the first paragraph fell into a delirious stupor of intense listening. My linguistic integrity may have been compromised so this next part is probably gibberish…
As always, to mark the release of a new fabriclive, there’s a launch event and the line-up is bigger than the Elephant Man’s head. Ramadanman, Joy Orbison, Pangaea, Mala, Pinch, Julio Bashmore, Ben UFO and Midland will all be there, as well as a host of other DJs spread over three rooms. If that doesn’t excite you, then your heart is black and I’m afraid there’s no hope. Cast yourself into the sea like a stone and begin the eternal sleep! Wait…did I just suggest suicide? I meant sit on your sofa watch Jeremy Kyle and drink a Capri-Sun, that’s kind of similar though I guess.
This one comes via Fact Mag and when I read it I started shaking like an over-zealous Jesus freak at a healing seminar or at least, I got kind of excited. Ahem…ladies and gentlemen, Ramadanman is doing a mix CD for Fabric next year [cue tadaaa reveal sound]. I know, I know, calm down, breathe into this paper bag and eat some chocolate. If it’s as good — or God forbid, better — than his contribution to Dubstep Allstars Vol. 7, then I’m sure it’ll have my eyes popping out of my head. I might even dance to it, although we all know I’m too cool for that.
I’m sure some people will be questioning my extreme level of excitement, but those people are literally insane, don’t trust them. For everyone else, I’ve attached a track to stoke the fires of anticipation. Behold.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
His half of Dubstep Allstars Vol. 7 was sweeter than an iced kitten with a mini-cast on its injured paw and 99.9% of everything he produces is focused, resonant and downright magnificent. Honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has a single bad word to say about Bristol heavyweight Ramadanman…apart from perhaps a pocket of jealous producers frantically trying to emulate the fluidity of his sound.
In light of this, it should come as no surprise that I’m infatuated with his recent remix of Scuba’s ‘Tense’. A seemingly frenetic tune that appropriates its name by threatening to buck the constraints of tempo yet beautifully pacing itself via a simple bobbing synth, it’s a masterful rework of Scuba’s hypnotic original. Hints of IDM merge with the skeletal majesty of dubstep as a break-neck rhythm inexplicably maintains anodyne dignity. The NHS should play this in ambulances as they race the injured to hospital…no-one would slow down but everyone would be as calm as a sloth with a cold one.
Appearing on the latest release on Scuba’s cunningly titled Abucs imprint, ‘Tense’ is the b-side to ‘Eclipse’ on ABUCS007 and whilst not completely over-shadowing the title tune, is certainly my favourite of the two offerings. Listen below and don’t forget to support the bad motherfuckers behind it!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Compatriot of Tes La Rok, Desto is one of the few Finnish dubstep producers to hit the peripheries of the international scene. Making music that sounds like Burial and Ramadanman dropped in the middle of a deserted metropolis during a nuclear winter, it provokes all kinds of futuristic reverie. Mesmerising, melodic and seriously addictive, this stuff makes you feel like you’re mainlining essence of perfection.
‘Broken Memory’ is the b-side to the forthcoming release of ‘Disappearing Reappearing Ink’, which is set to drop on Ramp Recordings as RAMP027 some time this month. An unknown benefactor sneaked me an mp3, so grab a taste of genius below. But seriously, go and buy this, it’s huge.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Those of you familiar with Tom Encore have probably heard ‘Recoil’, his brutal contribution to Rottun Recordings’ recent Aftermath EP, and therefore are familiar with his abusive and broken musical tendencies. Well, pull out your earplugs and throw away the rubber gloves because his latest release, Lockdown EP, seems to have turned the volume down a bit and added, god forbid, a little bit of depth. Instead of snarling basslines and percussion that makes you want to punch your mother in the stomach, there is a real sense of immersion and atmospheric influence in this release.
Having said all that, the EP seems to follow a progressive gradient, starting hard and working, over the course of four tracks, towards this new-found soul. Kompot’s remix of ‘The Union’ begins proceedings, welcoming us with a sinister combination of distortion and dark pads, acting as a reminder of Encore’s nasty roots. Following this is ‘Rescue Me’, a track with a distinctly anthemic feel that bears a sparse but punchy bassline and bounces itself around your woofers more than an angry terrier on heat. The second half of the release, comprising ‘Hints’ and ‘Lockdown’, ends the affair on a beautifully calm note, evoking the spirit of Ramadanman as opposed to the flagellated corpse of Ultrablack. It’s all very pleasant and shows a diversity which should be applauded in the increasingly formulaic world of dubstep.
Lockdown EP is out now on Subtopia Records and best of all, the whole damn thing is completely free and you can download it from Lockdownep.com right fucking now!
Posted by