Another bumper package of techno, house and electronic delights in our monthly music round-up for November 2020.
Krust – Anti Gravity (Masters at Work Remixes)
Crosstown Rebels
Krust’s ‘The Edge of Everything’ album was a triumphant return to form, ensuring him a place in many ‘Best Albums of the Year’ lists, as well as cementing his reputation as a drum & bass master craftsman. Continuing a working relationship that began in the late 90s, these MAW remixes are superb, harking back to their rolling deep house sound of the period, melding broken beat, deep house and cosmic jazz-funk to sublime effect across a vocal mix and a set of dubs and instrumentals.
Antigravity Love (Masters At Work / KenLou Remixes) by KrustGlenn Davis – Special – Ashley Beedle’s North Street West Remixes
F*CLR
The North Street crew turn in an absolute belter of a re-rub for Glenn Davis’ ‘Special’. A fabulously retro 90s rave bassline and vocal sample combo sit happily with a Detroit stab riff for maximum dance floor euphoria: bigtime new-school old-school vibes.
Malin Genie – KIAB
Malin Genie Music
Excellent four tracker from Netherlands producer Malin Genie on his self-titled label. ‘Aventjin’ delivers pacey underground house, ‘Geast’ is a tasty slice of dub techno, ‘Amulius’ takes things a little darker while pick of the bunch ‘KIAB’ is a dreamy, gauzy deep house dream.
VIXERE I/II [MGM09] by Malin GenieMark Flash – ‘Hors D’oeuvres Vol. 1’
DTFA
There are no aspirations to evoke dystopian futures here, no swirling abstract soundscapes, no found-sound or field recordings. Just three raw, pure techno tracks: deep, rolling machine funk.
Hors D’oeuvres Vol. 1 by Mark FlashLarionov & St. Theodore – ‘Thunderstrike EP’
Craigie Knowes
Four tracks of quality underground techno and electro, featuring the grinding synth riff and 909s of ‘Destruction Wave’, the purist electro shimmer of ‘Never Forever’, an acid b-line matched with big bold synth chords for ‘Infinity Abyss’ and the broken-tech of St. Theodore’s ‘Cursed Dreams’.
Thunderstrike EP by Larionov & St TheodoreVarious Artists – ‘Rite of Initiation’
Forbidden Teachings
First outing from new Belgian label Forbidden Teachings featuring four separate artists NN, Mind I Matter, Antechamber and Nigh/Tmare, ranging from EMB-esque beats to dark ambient to raw dysptopian techno. On the strenght of this release, Forbidden Teachings may well be a label to watch out for.
[FT001] Rite Of Initiation by Various ArtistsRebekah – ‘Last Summer’
BPitch
Taken from the excellent ‘We Are Not Alone Pt. 2’ compilation on Ellen Allien’s BPitch label, Rebekah turns in a slamming kick-driven rhythm haunted by an alien synth riff.
We Are Not Alone Pt. 2 by RebekahBicep featuring Clara La San – ‘Saku’
Ninja Tune
A skippy, hollow-sounding future-garage beat, ethereal vocals and swathes of billowy warm pads – it can only be Bicep, back with another effortlessly classy joint.
Albums
A Man Called Adam – Long Forgotten Oddities and Rarities Pt.1
Other Records Ltd.
A superb collection of rarities, re-edits and rediscoveries from one of UK dance music’s most enduring and creative duos, ‘Long Forgotten Oddities and Rarities Pt.1’delves deep into A Man Called Adam’s extensive thirty-year back catalogue, taking in downtempo gems and dancefloor monsters alike. Class, sophistication and experimentation have always defined AMCA and such is the case here.
Love Forgotten Oddities & Rarities Part 1 by A Man Called AdamKrust – The Edge of Everything
Crosstown Rebels
Bass techtonics, razor-edged breakbeat alchemy, deftly crafted abstract soundscapes and deep machine soul – ‘The Edge of Everything’ is a bold, confident musical statement.
The Edge Of Everything by KrustHot Since 82 – ‘Recovery’
Knee Deep In Sound
Thirteen original productions make up ‘Recovery’, strictly 4/4, taking in a variety of moods and styles, characterised by high levels of musicality and an ultra-modern sheen. With appearances from Liz Cass, Temple, Miss Kitten and Rudimental as well as guest-spots from Boy George and Jamie Jones on ‘Body Control’, ‘Recovery’ is an impressve debut.