Oakland’s Edd Dee Pee and Coppa Tone usher in their next chapter with this bit of shimmering, broken thump. “That’s My Word” posits a minimal, Afro-futurist manifesto over deep chords and percussion, while the flip’s “Face It” technofies things a bit and “Safari” reconfigures drum & bass from dub’s bullrushes. This is simply the next phase.
Tamion 12 Inch All Black
With electroclash dead for lack of passion, groups like this Detroit trio bring the true, young Reagan-era rage back to the digital age. The five cuts of this debut find B.Kerry’s pissed-off-but-vulnerable vocals crunching well with the brittle synthesizer arrangements. Alienated and necessary.
Hedonizm Sampler
Breaks vet Ellis Dee offers two bits from his upcoming comp. “The Chase” sees Dee team up with his man Syrus for some dubby and cinematic thrust, while the flip finds the Autobots build “Blogger,” an electro-tinged bassline burner. An exercise in necessary boom.
Sappo Sudden Impact EP
After a longish break, our man Sappo vengefully resurfaces with four impressive cuts of soulful rump-up. Simplicity rules the breaks and basslines here, and the ragga touch of “Ease Off” and white-hot female vocals on “Can’t Wait” and “Free Your Mind” shoo this one into serious contention.
Further Good Times…?
Producers Neville Attree and C-Rock roll out a slice of murky, alienated electropop for the afterhours set. The Adventure Club mix chugs along all minimally with hissing snares, while the Jagged Splinter mix anchors things with a nice, buzzy synth bass. Smooth.
Various Artists EP Family Gadgets EP
On this diverse comp from Brooklyn’s prolific Statra, you get Alexi Delano’s techy, bass-driven jam “Afro Science,” Bluelight’s densely noisy house kick “The Connection,” newcomer Microlife’s string-laden minimal epic “Dub Teeth” and Chris J.’s spaciously dubby “Automaten.” What else ya want-blood?
Spacek Motion Control
In advance of their devastating new album, Steve Spacek and Co. put aside that “Radiohead of soul” nonsense and get down to some tasty Timbaland-meets-Terrence Trent D’arby mess right here. The title is the soundtrack to playful foreplay, while the flip’s “It’s Not Gonna Happen” gives up some mush-mouthed disappointment over spitty rhythms.
Ramirez Hablando Rmxs
Chad Jackson very effectively brings tech-trance boys Ramirez’s early-’90s accordion-tinged classic to the breaks arena. His Dark Horse Dub brings that old-school acid-buzz-bassline flavor, while the flip pumps the ranchera aspect and evokes a less heavy but funkier, Kickin’ Records-style thump.
Razed High Let Me Walk You Home
The Insiduous label launches its seven-inch series with two moody beat cuts by producers Haiy-Ding and 4x-Ampl. The title cut is a drum-machine-soaked stomp with eerie guitar samples and atmospheres, while the flip’s “Gotta Keep Going” lands more organic drum samples under its minor-key arrangement. Nice one.
Schatrax Mispent Years
This dark and spare, early-’90s bit of UK tech-house from Josh Brent had ’em crawling for it back in the day. On this ’03 remix revival, Brent gives the track a broken electro treatment, while Silicone Soul turbo-boosts the beats for some hands-in-the-air action. Funk D’Void gives it a layered, chiming, kaleidoscopic flavor that will neatly bring this tune back to the realm of dancefloor hysteria.
