PRPLX’s entitled Fabric Of Space explores the deeper side of the Breakbeat spectre. Clever drum programming as well as going in a bass shakin’ direction, it reminds us of early Bluenote & Speed days but definitely with a modern touch. These tracks are another testament to PRPLX’s love for the Breakbeat. Also included here is the roadtested Taiga track which starts of deep and hypnotic but surprises you with the harsh amen drop, raw synth and dark male reggae vocal.
Matt Cutler is back with his fifth album, which is an impressive feat in just five years of releasing music. Galaxy Garden starts off on a more esoteric tip with the tropical electronica of “New Colour”, in its sunshine chimes. By the time we get to “Lying In The Reeds” we’re up to a house tempo that harks back to the softer side of early Detroit. It’s when “Crystal Caverns 1991” starts up that we reach the most blatant distillation of old-skool; kicking off a breakstep beat with sweet but punchy 90s synths, the track cuts into a deadly rave motif without so much as a pause in the beat and it’s like being back in, er, 1991. Every track reeks of originality, whether it be the surprising track structures, the superbly detailed production, even the evocative imagery that the music conjures up.
It’s entirely typical of a revered producer such as former Skull Disco boss Shackleton that some new material from the Berlin based producer should arrive without the necessity for PR fanfare that far too many musicians require. It’s even more typical of Shackleton that Music For The Quiet Hour is just so damn epic in scale and execution. Whilst this digital version doesn’t convey the full brilliance of Zeke Clough’s artistic contribution in the manner the vinyl or CD versions do, it does allow you to focus fully on the music. Largely formed of mesmerizing material produced on an Italian drawbar organ module the producer has been experimenting with for the best part of two years, theses 16 tracks are bristling with the sort of all consuming basslines and unique percussive melodies that Shackleton has made his own and true fans need little more reason to indulge.
Fortified Audio’s first release of 2012, Plastic Spokes EP, has Seattle veteran 214 merging his classic electro style with current UK bass flavours to create a tantalising 4 track ep to wreck dancefloors.
Sepalcure follow up last year’s critically acclaimed LP on Hotflush Recordings with a new EP featuring remixes from Kevin McPhee and Trevino (a.k.a. Marcus Intalex), alongside one previously released album cut and one original track. ‘Eternally Yrs’, originally featured on the LP, makes another appearance on side A, followed up by Trevino’s (Intalex’s moniker for his techno and house projects) upbeat and melodic remix of ‘Hold On’. On the flip, Toronto rising star McPhee turns the classic house sounds of ‘The One’ into a crackly, technodriven subbass tune. Finally, the emotive ‘Don’t Cry’ hits hard with the trademark staccato bass and processed vocals that Sepalcure have come to be known for.
The Hipodrome Of Music 