Mr. Maverick comes with a spacey intro, minuscule Gregory Isaacs samples and a minimal hybrid dub-synth bassline. “Highlander” is pure dancefloor pressure with a chopped-up amen guiding you through rolling synth hits and an incredulous sub-bass. More future dub from Belfast’s versatile Dominick Martin.
Bigga Bush Biggabush Free
The UK’s Glyn “Bigga” Bush is an interesting fellow. He loves electronic-based music, but can’t get enough of live instrumentation. Musically, he’s all over the shop. Thankfully, his inner conflict is our gain, as Biggabush Free is unfettered, optimistic and fun. Breathtakingly eclectic, all the tracks somehow manage to mesh seamlessly as the album flits from breaks to dub to trip-hop (‘member that?). While Bush won’t change the world, he’ll certainly make us happy while we try to. Sweet.
Sharkey Sharkey’s Machine
The likes of Kool Keith, The Roots and Dirt McGirt being the exception, I haven’t been feeling hip-hop much since ‘Pac and Biggie died. Sharkey hopes to set this scribe straight. Working with the cream of hip-hop’s underground, including Grand Puba, Cannibal Ox and The Pharcyde, Sharkey’s Machine melds rock, funk and straight-up old skool vibes. The results are very smart and edgy. It’s so good, I might just find my badonkadonk back on the dance floor. Holla!
Stockholm Cyclo Beginning People
Though influenced by the West London broken beat scene, as well as Germany’s nu-jazz movement, Stockholm Cyclo’s music is evocative of his homeland-ethereal, but very polished. Then again, what do you expect? Sweden can hardly be described as musically raw. Having said that, there are notable moments, namely the exquisite “Face” as well as the delicious “Noisuf.” However, there’s not enough to make this a truly stand-out set.
Two Lone Swordsmen From the Double Gone Chapel
Who said guitars were dead? With their first Swordsmen release for four years, Weatherall and Tenniswood become axemen, trading punk and funk licks like two session musicians let off the leash. Chapel does begin with the squelchy dub of “Stack Up” and “Faux”‘s odd synths, but from there drums and bass guitars rule. “Formica Fuego” could be a Charlatans UK instrumental, for example, while “Sex Beat” is prime punk and “Punches and Knives” is one of several slow grooves showcasing Weatherall’s distinctive, if dreary, voice. Drums, guitars and singing, huh? It could just catch on.
Quantic Mishaps Happening
Will Holland worked in police forensics before being discovered by Brighton’s Tru Thoughts label and, tunes replacing test tubes, he’s still mixing it up. This third LP from his sponge-like studio project is a more organic affair. Brazilian, African and Far Eastern sounds supplement the funk, with an impressively diverse cast-Nigerian percussionist Sonny Akpan, French rapper Trinidad and Philly jazz chanteuse Spanky Wilson, among them-adding distinction to Holland’s already classy compositions. Best, though, are the contributions from regular singer Alice Russell, and an enjoyable stab at jungle on the penultimate “Perception.” Better living through chemistry, indeed.
Vexed Pop Pop
Vexed is a new boy to the Forward>> scene, but don’t let this put you off. His debut, “Pop Pop,” is going to be huge! The industrial beats lead mysteriously up to the drop and out of nowhere a devastating, wobbling bass gradually builds up, becoming noisier and sicker, then dropping back down again to a sheer disgusting sub. These sorts of tunes are hard to pull off properly but Vexed has done it.
Macabre Unit Bubble
Macabre Unit has been causing a stir on the scene since their first release, “Dem No Ready,” on Geenius’s Star Signs label. It starts off with a calming string riff that makes you think “Ah, this is nice” and then out of nowhere comes the darkness! A huge techno-sounding bassline thumps down with the trademark Macabre beats crashing around it. One of my personal favorites at the moment, and it will no doubt be a favorite of everyone who buys it.
Footsie Scar
Footsie, best known for previous MCing with Nasty Crew, comes with his second release, an instrumental bomb on DJ Tubby’s label. It’s got a very different feel to most grime tracks about, with an Arabian guitar riff and a half-speed plodding beat that works very well with the bouncing, laid-back bassline. This is a great track for the MCs to ride and will no doubt be a smash.
Hannas Barber Hannas Yard EP
This is the debut release from Hannas Barber, a duo from Leeds and Glasgow. Standing apart from the usual laptop neo-dub miserabilism, Hannas Barber manages here to find a genuinely present sound between fragmentary moments of minimal electro and the dust of late ’80s Jamaican productions.
