Warm Ears return to London’s Bar 512 on July 1st with the mighty Artificial Intelligence headlining what is sure to be another great night, and we’ve got two tickets to give away to one lucky winner! To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is like the DNB Dojo Facebook page, like the Warm Ears Facebook page and send an email to competitions@dnbdojo.co.uk with your name and the subject line “Warm Ears Competition”. We’ll draw the winner on Sat Jun 24th – good luck!
We’ve got a very special exclusive from scene stalwarts Need For Mirrors and Phil Tangent today as we present the premiere of the lead track from their new EP for CIA Deepkut, ‘Polaroid’! Shimmering pads, simple breaks and a memorable vocal sample make for a blissful deep liquid jam; perfect Sunday listening.
Regular readers should know we’re big fans of the vinyl format here at Dojo HQ; in an age where music has become increasingly disposable, a well produced and curated slab of wax stands as something slightly more tangible than the ever increasing slew of digital releases. Of course it sounds cracking too!
Enter Swiss label Demand and their new vinyl EP series, Requisites. To quote their own press release, “every release symbolises one particular requisite that you’d evidently need to rock the so called black gold”, starting with the obvious; headphones. It’s clear that the Demand crew hold vinyl in as much esteem as we do, and everything about this release from the artwork to the tracks themselves suggest this is a labour of love.
On to the music, and we’re treated to a diverse array of tracks from artists mostly familiar from the label’s back catalogue. Phil Tangent and Phase both turn in respectable deep but edgy rollers that are well worthy of your attention, but the limelight falls elsewhere for us. EastColors and Tiiu team up for a super deep and moody outing on Naked Skin, synths stalking through the track as Tiiu’s delicate vocals shimmer above a sparse beat.
Perhaps the best of all though comes from the super team of Big Bud, RoyGreen, Protone and Dual, who join forces to deliver blissfully laid back vibes on Gospodi. Taking a few notes from the Calibre playbook without resorting to cheap imitation, this one just grows on us more and more with every listen. Hypnotic stuff. Check out the clips below and hit up the Demand Store to grab a copy right now.
IM:Ltd bring us a split single dedicated to breakups from Pennygiles and Phil Tangent. The A-side sees ‘giles delivering an impassioned deep liquid roller that’s characterised by soft pads and tough-edged breaks.
Over on the flip Phil Tangent conjures up lush, bountiful atmospherics with a hint of jazz on the intro before diving in deep with crisp, rolling breaks and warm, inviting sub bass.
Watch out for this one dropping on vinyl and digital from November 25th.
IM:Ltd keep the flow of quality releases coming with a top notch EP from Hibea. Title track White Owl is full of character, from the iconic chord stabs to the frantic steel tom syncopation when the break switches gear. Hitting a nice sweet spot between depth and dancefloor sensibilities, this is definitely a tune DJs will be reaching for time and again. Over on the flip Phil Tangent steps up for the remix duty and provides a characteristically soulful refix of The Form.
For the digital lovers, the packages also includes a couple of digital only bonus tracks, with the original mix of The Form and a superb Fade remix of White Owl, bringing the vibes with a techier bassline and a rolling jungle-infused beat. Check out the previews below and look out for this one dropping April 29th.
Soul:R have had a brilliant year and are aiming to round it off in style with their last few singles, one of which comes from the very talented Phil Tangent. Phil delivers deep vibes throughout, from the ethereal synths and rolling breakbeats of Restitution on the A side to the slightly grittier vibes of Squaring The Circle on the flip, featuring a cheeky vocal sample of none other than Bjork!
Look out for this one dropping December 10th on Soul:R.