I’m one of the old farts who finds most of Autechre’s recent stuff a baffling jumble of noise and maths, but they produced some of my all-time favourite records back in the days when they still wrote beats you could nod your head to. This is taken from the triple-10” box set of Basscadet remixes… Continue reading Autechre – Basscadet (Tazmx)
Month: November 2013
Bitstream – Monolith
Here’s an epic slice of British electro from 1999, released on Bitstream’s own short-lived Signal label and now a bit of a collectors’ item. This is one of those rare tunes that works just as well on the dancefloor as it does on headphones or while late-night driving, with a serious bass flex and sharp… Continue reading Bitstream – Monolith
Dajae – Day By Day (Carl Craig dub)
I suspect I’m not alone in having heard this for the first time on Carl Craig’s absolutely killer 1995 Essential Mix, where it emerges from the Blade Runner soundtrack to start the set off with an almighty bang. Raw-as-fuck drums and an unlikely Steely Dan sample form the backbone, and the only elements from the… Continue reading Dajae – Day By Day (Carl Craig dub)
Playlist: The Drake, Glasgow, 15th November 2013
For the past couple of years, on most Friday nights, I've been lucky enough to play four hours of soul, jazz, hip hop, house and techno at one of my favourite pubs, The Drake in Glasgow. Here's a snapshot of last week's selections for anyone interested. One of these days I might even get round… Continue reading Playlist: The Drake, Glasgow, 15th November 2013
Lark – Tedra
Here’s one to file alongside De-Orbit - a slice of melancholy Detroit loveliness that for my money ranks as Kenny Larkin’s finest moment. It first appeared on Buzz Records’ Virtual Sex album in 1993 - a strong contender for best techno compilation of all time, featuring such monumental classics as Rhythim Is Rhythim’s Icon and… Continue reading Lark – Tedra
C++ – Abnormal
Here’s a raw, bleepy cut from Joshua back in 1995 which still bangs like a motherfucker. Released on Derrick Carter’s short-lived but pretty essential Blue Cucaracha label, in some ways it would have been right at home on Relief with its overdriven, hard-as-nails drums and FM synth weirdness, but the slinky, mid-paced groove, unusual percussion… Continue reading C++ – Abnormal
Speedy J – De-Orbit
OK, so I’m sure most readers know this track inside out, but I got such a buzz when I played it on Friday night that it more than deserves an airing on here. I don’t think Speedy J has ever bettered this sublime slice of downbeat techno, which is a certified desert island disc for… Continue reading Speedy J – De-Orbit
Ian o’Brien – Natural Knowledge
As Ian’s now got a load of new and old stuff available to buy on Bandcamp, I thought I’d pick out a personal fave from his awesome back catalogue. From 1999’s Gigantic Days album on Peacefrog, this is simply one of the most life-affirming, joyous pieces of electronic music I’ve ever heard. Using an ingenious flip… Continue reading Ian o’Brien – Natural Knowledge
Psyche – Neurotic Behaviour (Mayday Reproduction Mix)
One to file alongside the OTT flanger mayhem of Rhythim Is Rhythim’s Kaos: no one manipulates loops with quite so much demented energy as Derrick May on these kind of tracks. Aside from some subdued chords that creep into the mix during the last third, this is just an enormous synth hook and classic Mayday… Continue reading Psyche – Neurotic Behaviour (Mayday Reproduction Mix)
Kuniyuki – Precious Hall
Here’s some deeper-than-deep house vibes from Japan for a rainy Saturday afternoon. It’s on Joe Claussell’s Natural Resource label, an offshoot of Spiritual Life, but it’s pretty edgy and abstract compared to some of its more wishy-washy contemporaries. Tough, super-punchy drums and live percussion underpin an ever-mutating orgy of synths and sound effects, floating in… Continue reading Kuniyuki – Precious Hall
Nothin' But Magic 