Josi Devil - Make It Better / Restless Sleep

Single

6 Mar

Bristol's history of creating audio gold has been documented countless times, and for good reason. That said, the latest export from the South feels like a time capsule. The sound of Make It Better / Restless Sleep (2025) harkens back to the post-dubstep days many mid-30s clubbers crave. What's so special about Josi Devil's latest release is its uncanny ability to distil not only the sound of the 2010s but also the vibe and feeling.

Who would have guessed that 2025 would be the year of a garage, breakbeat and vocal house crossover that didn't suck? The dungeon sounds of Josi Devil hit some majorly impressive highs on the opener 'Make It Better'. Growling subs tamed into a rugged groover that doesn't quit. Josi Devil's snarling sound sent me back, head spinning, to that time when Randomers 'Bring' and Dungeon Meat's 'The Fuck Off Track' seemed to be everywhere. Gutter-house and creepy tech-stepper, forever intertwined in music folklore. Snappy percussive ferocity tempered with distant diva vocals and subtle distortion on the claps combined with a light dusting of reverb reminds me of when Swamp 81 ruled Clubland.

With that many superlatives, it's hard to think the follow-up could even come close, but in the case of 'Restless Sleep', we have a wicked roller that uses restraint to extend the vibe. The post-garage stylings set the track up to be an earworm from the outset, and while it's not as hype, I predict it'll be your favourite DJ's favourite track. Vocal snapshots dance between some impressively intricate percussion, forcing you to take note as 'Restless Sleep' stands apart in its use of old-school garage mid-bass that sits in the background, almost like a memory. Quality work all round from the latest Hassle Audio alumni. The predictions of the No Tags podcast seem to be coming true as artists look backwards to push music forward; the 2010s are back in full swing.

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