Monika returns to Soulvent this month with another top single and he’s recruited LA’s Akuratyde for a remix. As you’d expect based on the producer’s previous work for Blu Mar Ten Music, this is a detailed, shimmering rework full of lush synth work and unusual production; imbued with all the emotion of the best liquid tunes but also an experimental streak and unusual percussion. Beautiful! Look for this dropping Friday 7th September at all the usual outlets.
A new release on Blu Mar Ten Music is pretty much always a cause for celebration, and their latest material from Kiwi producer RQ is no different, though it’s certainly a step away from the label’s usual fare.
Drawing influence from the likes of Photek, Source Direct and Blocks and Escher, RQ’s latest work (ahead of an album due on the label at some point in the future) is tense and ominous. Three of the four tracks are powered by a backbone of intricate percussion, with an array of finely processed breaks skittering in and out of the mixes. Building on top of the militant drum section, there are hints of psychedelia, touches of jazz, and a flirtation with melody that feels faintly threatening. Uplifting liquid this is most certainly not.
We could waffle on about the depth and emotional resonance of the tracks on show here but it feels complex and elusive enough that we’ll never do it justice, so just wrap your ears around the clips below instead. The EP is out now at the Blu Mar Ten Store.
South African producer Krispy is in the hot seat today with a wicked new track dropping next month on The Dreamers! Taken from the second of the label’s Dream Cycle compilations, All of a Sudden brings together appropriately crispy (ah-ha) breaks, smooth atmospheric textures and deep sub for an uplifting liquid workout. Look out for this alongside 24 other high grade deep tracks dropping at digital stores September 20th!
The arrival of a new album from Kiwi liquid maestro Tokyo Prose last month took everyone by surprise; in a world where even EP releases are often stage managed and teased one track at a time over a period of weeks, to find out that a full album was in the offing and the first tracks were available instantly was a breath of fresh air. But when the artist and the material are as good as this the hype is unnecessary.
Tempting as it was to jump in with an instant reaction review, this one seemed worthy of a little contemplation…so with the dust now having settled and Wild Grace having been on rotation fairly regularly for a month, how does it stand up in the cannon of Tokyo Prose?
The first thing to note here is that Tokyo Prose hasn’t lost his gift for understatement; as the only artist besides LSB who really gets close to Calibre in the evocative roller stakes, the “less is more” aesthetic of previous work is present again here. Moving piano chords and crisp breakbeats reign supreme, and any temptation for over-editing tracks has been ignored in favour of smooth progressions and disarming simplicity of form.
Wild Grace lives up to it’s title too; the tracks conjure a sense of natural beauty through soft, mostly organic instrumentation and a deftness of touch. Highlights include Trick of the Light, Innate Motion and Impressions, all of which tread that fine line of mellow yet uplifting, beautiful but not cheesy, a kind of muted euphoria that is at once imbued with a sense of speed and also a sense of stillness.
If we have a complaint, it’s that the vocal work on this album doesn’t quite live up to the standard set by 2014’s Presence; whereas the Riya and Zoe Klinck collaborations of that LP are among the highlights, the instrumentals are definitely the tracks we’re more drawn to at Dojo HQ this time around. Overall though it’s still a stunning collection of music from an artist we’d love to hear from more often. Wild Grace is out now on vinyl and digital at all good stores.
Greazus’ label Aufect are back in our spotlight today with a beautiful new tune from fellow Canadian producer rOhmz. Combining a deft sense of melody and melancholy with a keen ear for sound design, Vagarious contrasts deep wobbly sub with quirky percussion and soft, hypnotic hints of piano and synth. Think Tokyo Prose crossed with Kimyan Law, and worthy of those comparisons! Look out for this coming Aug 30th at all good stores.
It’s that time again; Dojo boss Hex is on the 1s and 2s with all the latest D&B, Jungle and 170 selections! This month’s mix features new beats from Benny L, Safire, Taelimb, Allied, FD, DJ Kid and many more, plus Hex’s new remix for Detached Audio so watch out for that one.
As always you can check out the podcast via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Johnathan Thomas is back this month with a solo EP for Samsara Beats, and we’re hyped to have him back in the Dojo spotlight for a premiere of Clarity! Going in deep with influences from the atmospheric sounds of 90s Good Looking Records, this one is all about soft textures and crunchy breakbeats. Blissful! Look for the EP dropping Aug 27th at all the usual digital outlets, and on cassette via the Samsara Bandcamp.
Vykhod Sily return with their third release and we’re hyped to have the premiere of Monolith! Written by two of the dark/minimal scene’s best producers, this one blends militant tribal drum rhythms with bleak atmospheres for a driving, dystopian vibe. Look for the release coming September 1st exclusively to Patreon subscribers.
London producer Depf joins the Deviant Audio ranks and we’ve got the exclusive on deep roller I Can’t Forget You. Building tension on the intro, this one has a haunting quality to it, blending weighty but restrained techstep stylings with hypnotic pads and warped vocal echoes. Check it out and hit up the Deviant Audio bandcamp to grab the Clear State EP right now!
Hex returns with your monthly dose of Dojo podcast crossing the full spectrum of D&B, Jungle and 170BPM goodness. This month’s selection features new releases from Wreckless, Calibre & Jet Li, Zero T & Villem, K2T & Option, CHAX, Edlan and many many more…
As always you can check out the podcast via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.