Reports
Reports
Helena Hauff - Multiply Your Absurdities
Helena Hauff's release, Multiply Your Absurdities, represents a shift from pure albums to focused dancefloor releases. Known for her iconic presence as a DJ in the techno and electro scenes, Hauff maintains a strong sense of self despite the industry's push for producers. Multiply Your Absurdities reflects her storied experience in various performance spaces and includes tracks like 'Multiply My Absurdities,' which features a blend of tranquil melodies and gritty rhythms, and 'Humanoid Fruit,' highlighted by acidic sounds and industrial influences. Overall, the record combines underground techno's unique essence with the raw power of industrial music, poised to become a cult classic.
Sasha GiGi, JADED & Surya Sen - Coins (Extended)
It can get disheartening how seriously dance music takes itself these days. Contemporary dance music longs to return to more energetic and fun tracks like those from Groovejet and Utah Saints. The latest single, Coins (Extended), by Sasha GiGi, JADED, and Surya Sen, embraces a playful and catchy style reminiscent of early pop club rap while maintaining solid dance music production. The track features engaging wobbles and a memorable rap chorus, revitalising a sense of fun in the dance music scene.
Lust For Youth & Croatian Amor - Dummy Feat. Purient
Lust for Youth, a Danish-Swedish electronic duo, has evolved their sound since the early 2010s from analogue ambient to a more polished synth style. Their upcoming album with Croatian Amor, All Words, will be released on March 7th, featuring the first single, Dummy. This track combines spoken word rap with UK garage elements, appealing to modern pop sensibilities while maintaining an inner-city edge. Despite its high energy and pop aesthetic, Dummy also incorporates a murky shoegaze sound, reflecting emotion and authenticity. I predict this will be blasting from call windows come mid-summer.
Fi McCluskey - Die Young (Hannah Holland Remix)
Hannah Holland is known for her charismatic presence in London's nightlife. She blends various genres while maintaining commercial appeal through her remixes. In her latest collaboration with Fi McCluskey, she remixes Die Young, incorporating retro 90s production techniques and a faster tempo. This version features repetitive vocal and guitar chops reminiscent of Fatboy Slim with a dramatic twist and early 2000s shoegaze grunge, evoking the atmosphere of early morning festivals.
Ø - Fermionit / Kulmamomentti
Before his passing in 2017, Mika Vainio was working on a new album under the name Ø. His girlfriend, Rikke Lundgreen, compiled various tracks into a posthumous release, discovering two additional tracks, "Fermionit" and "Kulmamomentti, "which were released separately with contributions from Jimi Tenor and Timo Kaukolampi.
The intricate world of microchips and electricity parallels Vainio's work and the minimalistic sound of Sähkö Recordings, which he co-founded with Tommi Grönlund. Ø's track 'Fermionit' captures the essence of electricity and cognitive dissonance, utilizing micro rhythms and a sense of isolation. In contrast, the edits of '"Kulmamomentti'" by Tenor and Kaukolampi introduce a darker, more cinematic tone, showcasing Vainio's unique approach to sound, free from traditional musical structures, allowing listeners to find their own meanings in his compositions. He is celebrated as a pioneering figure in minimal music whose creativity and influence have left a lasting impact.
not even noticed - nocturnal slide
The Frankfurt duo, not even noticed, is recognized for their ability to rejuvenate classic breakbeat elements while incorporating a forward-thinking approach to drum and bass. Their latest release, Nocturnal Slides (2025) on Gimme A Break Records, showcases their talent by blending old-school influences with modern sounds. Tracks like 'Ethur' and 'Queso' weave emotive liquid drum and bass with uplifting pads and gritty basslines, while 'Jitter' challenges genre boundaries with jump-up DnB drums and acid bases. The duo also explores different styles in 'Kura', evoking a garage feel, and delivers raw energy in 'Rustle', appealing to hardcore junglists. The Phasmid remix adds a trippy twist, showcasing their innovative approach to production.
Denise Rabe - Mastermind
Denise Rabe's latest work, Mastermind, showcases her evolution in sound, transitioning from spine-chilling insect techno to a style I'd describe as sound bath techno. The music features slow, methodical rhythms characterised by heavy modulating subs, expansive pads, and minimalist samples. Rabe's productions engage the dance floor with influences from various genres.
Her tracks demand patience and serve as tools for group hypnosis. Mastermind, featuring dynamic synthesisers, constantly searches for resolution, while One Complete Moment uses sparse melodies to create unresolved tension. Both tracks reflect her signature insect-like textures, blending simple percussive patterns with intricate modulation that enhances the overall sonic experience.
Paleman - Pale Vater
Callum Lee, after a brief foray into experimental music under the alias Fresnel Lens, returned to club-focused releases in 2023 with his familiar Paleman persona. His 2023 album Veiled showcased his percussive excellence, and now, in 2024, he releases the EP 'Pale Vater' with 30D Records, just in time for NYE gigs. The title track features sharp syncopated grooves and a futuristic sound, while other tracks like 'Lying About Lying' and 'No You' evoke a throwback to dark dubstep influences. The EP's standout track, 'Trawl', offers rich atmospherics with haunting elements. However, the tracks feel like variations of the same material, lacking distinctiveness, yet maintaining high quality and appeal for a NYE playlist.
James K - Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream
James K's latest record, Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream (2024), features not only a complex title but a stunning production that blends downtempo and breakbeat elements. The title track creates a dreamlike atmosphere with rich bass drones and reverberation, showcasing James K's innovative style. The second track, 'Blinkmoth (July Mix)', offers a trip-hop sound reminiscent of Portishead, with careful construction and expressive vocalisations. Overall, the album is noted for its visionary vocal delivery and harmonious production, continuing the magic from James K's previous work, Random Girl (2022). The album promises to delight music lovers with its fresh and nostalgic feel.
Daniel Avery - Digital Rain / I Miss You
Daniel Avery is a prominent figure in London's music scene, known for his ability to stay relevant through new albums and mixes. His latest release, Digital Rain / I Miss You, showcases his exploration of ambient music against breakbeats.
From capturing the quiet moments after clubbing by blending soft breaks with elements of liquid drum and bass and cinematic qualities to a harder sound with grainy textures and nostalgic mechanical artefacts reminiscent of his earlier work, Avery employs a minimalist approach in his rhythms, prioritising accessibility and space. This release may be seen as self-referential and less innovative, lacking significant cultural reference points. Overall, Avery continues to meld various influences in his music, maintaining his relevance in dance music.