EP Review: City Reign – Numbers For Street Names

Numbers For Street Names, the second EP from the Manchester based foursome, reeks of nostalgic alternative rock, familiar with the likes of Oasis, Nine Black Alps and Joy Division – all great bands to emerge from the depths of the northern city. The record oozes light anthemic rock with complex layerings of rustic vocals, fiery […]
It’s always nice to see an email come through from Hyperdub, even more so when it contains the debut EP from a hometowner. On this latest release, Sam Walton brings us four interesting and original tracks, pulling influences from House, UK Funky and grime whilst keeping the energy levels high. ‘Aggy’ starts proceedings. Hard kicks […]

EP Review: Walton – Walton EP

EP Review: DJ Shadow – I Gotta Rokk

DJ Shadow is perhaps the ultimate postmodern expression of the potential within electronic dance music.  His 1996 debut album “Entroducing” was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the first to be composed purely of samples.  Forget the Halle orchestra – all Josh Davis needs to make music is an Akai sampler, a dark mood, and […]
The extravagantly named ‘Kelly Price w8 gain vol.II’ EP comes from Hype Williams. In all honesty I’ve never heard of him before, but I trust Hyperdub’s taste explicitly and opened my ears to some very new sounds indeed. Hazed out ‘Rise Up’ starts up the A side, Inga Copeland (one of the two) lays down soft […]

EP: HYPE WILLIAMS – KELLY PRICE W8 GAIN VOL.II

EP REVIEW: DOK – West Coast

No stranger to the wax, DOK’s first EP outing on Hyperdub sees him team up with long time partner and some say evil twin (or is that eviler twin?) Terror Danjah for this filthy, funk fuelled slice of east coast, west coast grime goodness.   ‘West Coast’ is a hard hitting, grimey, filthy, low-riding roller. […]
This, the latest outing on Planet Mu, sees Vezelay (aka Matthieu Le Berre) make his label debut with this six track EP of electro pop dream dust. The EP opens with ‘Sedative’, where arpeggios and a simple but effective, kick and snare combination lead the way for distant vocals to float upon. ‘Demure’ follows on […]

EP REVIEW: VEZELAY – LYRE

EP REVIEW: Ossie – Set The Tone

East Londoner Ossie, gives us three gifts of musical goodness for his second outing on wax with the “Set The Tone EP” on a personal favourite of mine: Hyperdub. Imagine the scene if you will. I am just about to get off the bus and begin my walk to work. For me, the only way […]
In terms of respectability the 80s has made something of a comeback. Throughout the nineties and noughties the decade that spawned acts such as Flock of Seagulls, Van Halen and Wham was widely maligned as a vacuous, miserable period where egos and haircuts overshadowed meaningful memorable material. Now it’s in renaissance. But as bands like […]

ALBUM: Curry & Coco – Sex Is Fashion EP

EP: Swindle – Airmiles

Next up from Planet Mu is yet another label debut, this time we’re greeted by Swindles. From what I can gather, previous to his “Who Said Funk” E.P. coming out in March this year, he’s worked with a pretty good chunk of notable UK MC’s. Providing beats and backing for Roll Deep, The Mitchell Brothers, […]
What’s happening to Scottish music nowadays? Scottish bands seem to have developed a real identity within guitar music – perhaps seeking to make amends after the turd that was Franz Ferdninand plopped, steaming onto the British music scene. Bleak, melancholy and down-beat, yet without being depressing – like the last rays of sun on a […]

EP: We were Promised Jetpacks – The Last Place You’ll Look