Here are some of the coolest singles releases of this week - every week we recommend you three singles along our "Single Of The Week" for your shopping list.
Following stunning releases on Creative Source and Soul:R, Steve Lynx is certainly one drum'n'bass producer to watch. Coming with a sound totally unique and refreshing, Lynx' offering for Doc Scott's 31 Records label is no different. The dark, brooding hip hop-inspired beast 'Inhale Exhale' features MC Kemo on vox, while the steppy funk of the flip 'Beware Of Oscar Liar' is a journey back to the Bristol funk of the the late 90s with a 2007 twist.
Cazals
To Cut A Long Story Short
(Kitsune)
London’s Cazals have teamed up with French label Kitsuné to bring you their debut single ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’. You might have seen London’s Cazals on the road with Babyshambles, Bloc Party, The Rakes or Razorlight, or even perhaps at one of their numerous headlining UK or European shows. Now signed to French label Kitsuné, Cazals will continue down their road of success, releasing this single featuring a cover of Spandau Ballet’s ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’, followed by their much anticipated album, due early 2008. Cazals harbour an infectious vivacity, their sound being invigoratingly youthful and timeless. It’s recommended that you catch them soon to find out why this band has amassed nothing short of a cult.
Kirk Degiorgio
I Do Not Exist
(B12)
Kirk Degiorgio, the man behind the seminal Future Past and As One releases on B12 in 1992, continues to innovate with unique sounds and dancefloor friendly beats that defy categorisation. On the A Side, ‘I Do Not Exist’ is a perfect example of Kirk’s talents – twisted beats, beautiful strings and melodic keys combine to create a master work of futuristic funk, while on the flip B12 add an alternative mix which adds atmosphere and tension to this already powerful and uncompromising track. The final cut on this outstanding 21st Century techno EP is a classic Degiorgio cut with beautiful chords and rhythms that describe a wonderful yet desolate landscape.
Bass Clef
Zamyatin Tapes (Part 2)
(Blank Tapes)
Second vinyl instalment in the “Zamyatin Tapes” project from Bass Clef. Carnival vibes a-plenty in this strange other-worldly roller from the Clef to the Bass this time. Name-checking everyone’s favourite redundant BT service, ’1471’ is the closing line in Mr Cumbers defence against the ’dubstep’ tag. Bashment by Autchre is the only way to describe ’Ballad Of The Broken 606’, a thunderously hooky beat acting as the chorus that would’ve been sung by a warrior queen in a pulp sci-fi novel. ’Eight Zero Eight’ from the debut Bass Clef album, ’A Smile Is A Curve...’ makes a cameo in the final scene; a beautiful electro-bass shocker of the likes DJ Shadow would’ve been proud of.
This Week's Essential Singles 07.12.2007
Mistabishi
No Matter What
(Hospital)
Having brought you music from some of Hospital’s most established names in recent months, it’s now time to let the new talent shine through and unleash one of the hottest new names in drum'n'bass today. Meet Mistabishi (real name James Pullen), the sound of a lifelong junglist, who also happens to be disgruntled city banker and an expert in digital audio. 'No Matter What' has rocketed onto the drum'n'bass scene like a runaway share price. As sonically strong as it is melodically lush this is the sound of a true tortured genius making original forward thinking music... Battling the bassbins on a rub-a-dub skank tip, the B-side 'Lowlife’s Theme' arrives like an angry dubwise protest song.
Plump DJs
System Addict
(Finger Lickin')
Making a triumphant return to dance floors world wide, the incomparable Plump DJs unleash their first official release since 2005. 'System Addict' gets proceedings underway with a rumbling clarion bass call. With its central 'Automatic, System Addict' mantra, the track switches between serrated bass and a gated synth hook, underpinned by some typically Plump driving rhythms. Flip-side 'Doppler' sees the Plumps going for some serious heads down action. A screaming crescendo drops into techy vocodered riffing before layered percussion builds and builds to devastating effect. This release has become a classic hands-in-the-air Plump DJs weapon already taking dance floors by storm.
Big Face
I Wanna Be A Style Crusader
(Kitsune)
Glaswegian five-piece Big Face release their debut single ‘I Wanna Be A Style Crusader’ via Kitsune, the Paris based label which provides a reliable guide to the hottest in UK music having recently released fellow Brits Hadouken and Klaxons. The single features mixes from DatA and David E. Sugar. From Paradise Garage dub vibe to a guitar hero noisy and tough remix by the youg Parisian. New Wave from Scotland via NYC and Paris.
Kraak & Smaak
Funk Ass Rotator
(Jalapeno)
Kraak & Smaak are back with brand new material after the phenomenal success of their debut album ‘Boogie Angst’. Since launching the album two years ago, the band have become one of the most popular live dance acts and have made serious inroads into the US market. ‘Funk Ass Rotator’ uses a much loved funk break to power the track, with Ro Krom the frontman and drummer from their live show providing the vocals. On the flipside, ‘Mad As Hell’ provides a tech-funk offering that will appeal to DJs across the board from house to breaks to funk.
This Week's Essential Singles 30.11.2007
Simian Mobile Disco
Hustler
(Wichita)
After spending the summer touring their critically acclaimed album ‘Attack Decay Sustain Release’ everywhere from Glastonbury to Ibiza, Simian Mobile Disco (real names James Anthony Shaw and James Ellis Ford) are finally ready to release anthem in waiting ‘Hustler’. Starting out as a deep and heavy late night workout, ‘Hustler’s acid levels rise and dissolve the track until four minutes in it prolapses into a raw electronic riot, like someone slinging Giorgio Moroder and Josh Wink into a man-sized blender and setting to 10. On top of which, New York singer Char Johnson provides as much sauce as anyone has ever talked about going to a record store. Includes remixes from Armand Van Helden, Kevin Saunderson, and Shackleton.
Chromeo
Bonafide Lovin
(Backyard)
If you haven’t heard Chromeo yet, then you are missing out on one of this year's most pleasurable musical assaults. The Canadian duo Chromeo has made a big splash with the release of their album ‘Fancy Footwork’ which garnered fantastic press reviews. Their new single ‘Bonafied Lovin’ is a hugely catchy electro funk extravaganza and is accompanied by a cheeky little video that owes more than a nod to Dire Straits classic ‘Money For Nothing’.
Rennie Pilgrem
Dutty Work
(T.C.R)
Out on the Thursday Club Recordings label, the follow-up single 'Dutty Work' to Rennie Pilgrem’s ‘Nu Era’ continues his journey rediscovering the delights of kick-arse beats and filthy basslines. As featured on Rennie's ’Beatz & Bobz 7: Live At The Cavern’ mix album, this will be the first release on his iconic T.C.R. imprint for six months when ‘Eraser’ tore up dancefloors with its crazy edits and huge beats.
Middleman
Good To Be Back
(Bad Sneakers)
This is the second release from the four-piece Middleman, supported by Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq, and Huw Stephens. The latest release on Bad Sneakers Records (home of Wild Beasts, Sugars, The Rosie Taylor Project etc), ‘Good To Be Back’ is a vibrant, catchy tune with booming basslines, pop melodies and smart lyrics.
This Week's Essential Singles 23.11.2007
Stateless
Bloodstream
(K7)
The third single from the self-titled debut album by Stateless, 'Bloodstream' is the kind of slow-burning epic that gets under your skin like an addiction. A 21st century blues ballad built from cinematic hip-hop beats, super-heavy bass and perfumed piano, it features a killer lyric and a spine-tingling vocal from singer Chris James. An acclaimed young five-piece from Leeds, Stateless have already displayed their mastery of beat-driven guitar and turntable rock on previous releases, earning rave recommendations from famous fans including DJ Shadow and Roots Manuva. But 'Bloodstream' is their masterpiece, their rousing showstopper, their soul-stirring anthem. It sounds both heartbroken and drunk on its own romantic intoxication.
This Week's Essential Singles 16.11.2007
Pendulum
Granite
(Ear Storm)
Pendulum’s first release under the new Ear Storm/Warners deal (in a very sought after promo run)! The last year has seen Pendulum retreat to the depths of the underground to work on their follow-up album to the seminal ‘Hold Your Colour’ LP. Finding that using purely electronic sounds left something to be desired, they've fetched their guitars and worked on perfecting their ultimate sound – an electronic Led Zeppelin, a krunked‑up Soundgarden, Tool meets Timbaland, combined with the synthetic aggression and sonic purity of the original Pendulum sound.
The global sound of Soul:R's 'Archive' series brings together new music out of Wellington (New Zealand) and Berlin (Germany), with both production teams making their Soul:r debuts. The Upbeats are fast becoming one of drum'n'bass' top production teams. Their ‘More Than One’ oozes class; dreamy pianos float with energetic future beats and a gnarling bassline. For the melancholy crew, Duo Infernale's ‘Feeling Blue’ on the B-side is seriously clever blend of hard beats and delightfully interweaving piano strings and keys. Think Jazzanova on steroids.
With the release of 30Hz’s debut album ‘Electric Sheep’ scheduled in the coming months, Lot49 unleash the opening cut from the long player simply entitled ‘Daddio’. Featuring the impressive talents of Yolanda, who has previously appeared alongside the likes of Massive Attack and Bugz in the Attic, the original mix is a no holds barred dancefloor assault with equal parts dirty funk and grinding vocal melodies. This package comes with some heavy-hitting remixes from the likes of Trevor Loveys and Miles Dyson... Don’t miss the first of many slamming singles from 30Hz’s forthcoming album!
Following on from a third UK Top 20 single in a row, The Pigeon Detectives release the indie anthem ‘I Found Out’ on the cool Dance To The Radio label. Re-recorded from the original album version, ‘I Found Out’ has been produced by Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths). The album ‘Wait For Me’ has now sold over 140,000 copies. The last single to be taken from the ‘Wait For Me’ album, the band are set to start work on the second album at the end of the year.
This is the first single taken from Border Crossing’s new album ‘Freedom of Speech’. ‘Militant Style’ is a snapshot of the Border Crossing sound - soulful vocals courtesy of Vicky Virtue, rumbling dancehall beats and orchestral swells making it a real UK melting pot of influences. The East To East mix is almost dubstep in feel if not in sound, while the Incisive mix adds an RnB flava. Flip over for two killer cuts from the album – ‘Side To Side (Disco Whip)’ sees Jehst flowing over a 4/4 groove, and ‘Flying High’ is a dreamy send off. Excellent 12" from a very promising band.
Having just finished remix duties for the Stanton Warriors and a soundtrack for the eagerly anticipated skateboarding film ‘Xtremely Sorry’, Baron steps up with one of the big tunes of the autumn entitled ‘Endless Summer’. Never mind about the summer ending, did it ever begin? Anyway this is a great track that featuring Ayah on vocals; the vibe is liquid but with a slightly harder edge to it making it playable across the board. On the flip we have 'Dr Agnostic' with a more aggressive approach with film score speech and great rave stabs
Skream launches his own imprint Disfigured Dubz. Arguably the biggest name in dubstep and probably the most prolific producer too, Skream provides a more personal outlet for his creative genius on his own label. ‘Moving Snares’ hurtles along at breakneck speed while techno textures, buzz saw effects and a driving insistent synthesised melody demonstrate why dubstep is the most intense, exciting music around at the moment. On ‘Sand Snake’, Skream teams up with Cluekid. The track has a cheeky flute-esque melody with tough riffle shot snares that lead into a dutty bass grind that refuses to be pinned to one motif.
The ‘Swing Down EP’ is the first release from Jalapeno funk supremos Soopasoul (aka Danny Hibrid). 'Swing Down' is voiced by Mississippi sister Nikeya Booker, adding a touch of Mississippi soul to Danny´s old but nu rare groove leanings. 'Twin Stix' is a percussion funk workout with the man himself banging everything he can lay his hands on to build the track to a floor burning funked up peak. 'Looking For Freddie' drops the tempo for a melodic downbeat instrumental workout that oozes blues and funk. This slice of timeless funk shows what the Soopasoul blueprint for global funk domination is all about.
With musical credentials that most producers would kill for, the organic breakbeat mastermind that is Ils (real name Illian Walker) really does not need an introduction! For his new album ‘Paranoid Prophets’, Ils has reshaped his sound once again, drawing influences from right across the musical board. 'Everybody Needs A Shrink' (the first single lifted from the album) taps into the darkest corners of the mind, soaked with haunting vocals from regular collaborator Gina matched with manic drums and spine grabbing bass. On the flip the studio amps get warped up to plus eleven, for the acid guitar speaker buster ‘Burn Again’, digging the nails in skin deep. When this one drops you better pay close attention! With musical credentials that most producers would kill for, the organic Breakbeat mastermind that is Ils really does not need an introduction!
With the ‘Back Of Beyond’ album still making waves and Nu:Tone’s DJ sets smashing up clubs worldwide, the Hospital label thought it was about time to unleash some fresh wax from the Cambridge lab. They have enlisted the help of production buddy Futurebound to turn Nu:Tone’s ‘System’ anthem into an epic dancefloor destroyer. Taking Natalie Williams’s incredible vocal to soaring new heights with techy drum'n'bass backdrop to die for. On the flip comes another heavy hitter in the vein of the humungous ‘Missing Link’. ‘Second Connection’ is a textbook exercise in crunching bassline science like only Nu:Tone knows how. Do not miss!
This song is about to start rinsing out the dubstep scene from top to bottom. When the Matrix finally short circuits and the machines all crap out, mankind is going to wake up to this. It's going to freak you out but so is realizing we’ve all been asleep for so long. It’s like Artful Dodger and Ed Rush & Optical had a foursome with Les Rhythmes Digitales and spat out this song a few minutes into the 8th hour...
The lead single from Slyde's forthcoming album 'Sex And Drugs And Blah Blah Blah' is a remake of the Ian Dury classic 'Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll' and has already been causing quite a stir. Played to devastating effect by a handful of specialist DJs, it has literally caused a riot on the dance floor. A head banging, two fingers to the establishment; an outstanding interpretation, which takes no prisoners but still manages to keep its tongue firmly in its cheek.
The Black Ghosts deliver their most haunting and moving release to date, backed by remixes by Plastician & Skream and The Replicants. The Black Ghosts (Simian's Simon Lord and The Wiseguys' Theo Keating) have been building a steady reputation this year via limited edition singles 'Face', 'Anyway You Choose' and 'It's Your Touch‘. They've also experimented live with a full band and FX set. 'Some Way Through This' looks to have raised the Ghosts stock further thanks to some strong specialist radio support and an incredible video. The remixes here are perfect – Plastician and Skream show why there's so much fuss about Dubstep with their mix, whilst the Replicants deliver an off kilter jittery version that meets somewhere in between rock and dance.
We welcome back DJ Fresh with his brand new single ‘Scream’. Out on the Breakbeat Kaos label, 'Scream' has a deliberate contrast between quirky sounds and Hammond stabs against heinous breaks and nasty sub bass over a backdrop seemingly borrowed from 60’s horror movies and interesting subliminal whispers. The B-side ‘Steam’ sees Fresh team up with breakbeat dons Deekline & Wizard, slowing the tempo down to massive stomping breaks with the insanely catchy vocals of Ivory & Spyda. The picture disc features the exclusive and strong dancefloor vibes of ‘Witchdoctor’ to boot.
The second single to drop from the new Shut Up And Dance album ‘The Great British Public’ comes one week prior to the LP. This has been getting some serious hype and sees the mighty Nick Thayer tweaking the Shut Up And Dance synths to nutty effect on the flip to boot! Cool bass grooves and catchy edits!
‘Uninvited’ is the stunning new Freemasons single featuring Bailey Tzuke (daughter of pop legend Judie Tzuke) on vocals. It is a cover of the Grammy Award winning song by Alanis Morissette. 'Uninvited' is taken from the new special edition of the Freemasons album 'Un-Mixed' which will feature versions of all Freemasons tracks from the 'Shakedown' compilation and new bonus tracks.
