Ha! A very, very nice Christmas gift from my personal Label of the Year. Saturate Records has just released the second V.A. compilation showcasing the works by talented producers from across the globe (though mainly from the Old Continent) under one common denominator - Super Quality Beatz in Abundance. If you are wondering what directions, paths or angles the nu beatz / twisted hip-hop / experimental dance music scene will follow next year, in Saturated! VOL 2 you'll find fine examples. Just listen to the tracks on this compilation and you'll catch the vibe. My personal highlights include, among others, mind-bending tunes by oneone, Subp Yao & Bios, Racoon X, Phokus & Grapes, Microburst or Kijk Een Ster. Never heard of them ?? Time to catch up with the names, 2012 will belong to them. Definitely, one of the best releases this year!!!! Highly recommended by Doktor Krank.
Grab it on Pay-What-You-Want basis through bandcamp.
Early Autumn was a good time for fans of contemporary electronic music (preferrably with lots of bass in it). We saw a few heavy releases, which more or less lived up to the expectations (Robot Koch, Rustie, Modeselektor, Martyn, ill.Gates, Zomby), my pet labels, Saturate! Records and Robox Neotech released fantastic debut EP's (Raadsel, P-Fang), many quality tracks floated around the interweb. Meanwhile on my local scene, U Know Me Records confirmed their status of the best label for contemporary, twisted hip-hop beats made in Poland with very fresh and 'vintage' release Futura by a talented producer Galus. I hope my next charts will be equally rich with interesting contents.
Another winner from Saturate! Records. !!! Robot Whispers by DJ Pound, hailing from San Diego, California, include a few short, but veeeery raw and heavy 'serenades' for pistons and cylinders, after listening to which most humans would run for cover :) Fortunately I love robots and though the artist presents merciless, inhumane approach to beatsmaking, exploring distant fringes of bass music, I definitely dig this slow-burning, straight-in-yer-guts sonic bombs. I grind my teeth, but after a few listenes I am totally captivated by heavy basslines and evenly distributed distortions. Well, after some time I even start feeling emotions ... Best glitch-hop (?) I've heard in a while for sure. It Takes Over, Try It or Lexfix should be dedicated to seekers of intelligent FILTH. Forget about all this shitty drilling dubstep copy-cat misery, you want a kick - let DJ Pound hit you hard and proper in an unique way.
WARNING: THIS MUSIC IS DESIGNED FOR GOOD SOUNDSYSTEM ONLY! DON'T TRY IT AT WORK ON YOUR MEASLY HEADPHONES OR, GOD FORBID, LAPTOP SPEAKERS.
First promos, previews and video trailers of the super duper release Spit Thunder by Krampfhaft (Joris van Grunsven from the Netherlends) on Saturate Records appeared months ago and finally at the begining of July this thing is out physically (7") and digitally (A vinyl is released in just 250 copies, you better hurry). This is the type of futuristic music I am into right now! Very well produced mash up of mutant lazer bass, juke beats, extravagant and experimental electronic excursions into sonic landscapes full of mind-twisting synths and stabs of pure liquid sound. The title track Spit Thunder is most 'classic juke' of the four, but more tuned-down, built on nice and spacey button work. Perfect Grain Structure has a totally infectious 'silly' beat, a kind of funny experiment which works surprisingly well. However, my personal highlight of this release comes as a digital bonus. In Congo Blade Runner the artist creates an ever-expanding sonic structure with catchy melody lines and fantastic synths. Killer! Grind is another 'jukey' trip but I also read it as a an illustration of some space drama, a deep cosmic yearning of poor machines lost forever in the void ...
Spit Thunder is a great follow-up to Brightly Colored Candy Teardrops released last year (read my review). This guy has his own distinct style and we will see more great releases from him very soon (e.g. forthcoming on Rwina Records). Saturate Records proved again they are a label to watch. All their releases so far (Krampfhaft, heRobust, Luisterwaar, Acre) were of top-notch quality and offered future-oriented beatz music which really suits my taste. Forthcoming releases (e.g. Coco Bryce) sound equally tasty :)
Luc Derks a.k.a. Lusterwaar (Listenwear in English) is a new producer from Heerlen, Netherlands. Saturate Records, which you should remember from great albums by heRobust or Krampfhaft, has just released this mega EP Dry/Wet which you can download on pay-what-you-want basis (no limit) via Saturate Records Bandcamp.
Apparently Luisterwaar, after listening to tons of music while skateboarding, reached the only possible conclusion - 95% of music you hear in the radio, tv, public spaces etc. is pure shiet and crap. He decided to put those remaining scraps of good and inspiring sound together and produce his own music. I must say he has succeeded extroardinarily. 11 tracks are superb exercise in mutant hip-hop beats running on a powerful drum kicks, distorted breaks and heavy sub-bass with great melodies weaving in the background and impeccable synth job all along. Mature compositions and great production skills plus darkish vibe I really dig recently create very attractive package. The more so if one remembers that this is a debut! Finally, kudos for the funniest title I've heard in a while, Praise the Lord-ah for Having No Job-ah :)), which is by coincidence my personal highlight of this release and which reminds me of Brainfeeder stuff (in particular Lorn). This record made my day. Highly recommended by Doktor Krank. Once again Saturate Records shows good selection. Can't wait for more releases from them.
A new label on the neon, mutant beat scene Saturate Records, has just dropped its first release. Krampfhaft is a producer from Utrecht, Netherlands and his Brightly Colored Candy Teardrops EP is - to borrow a title of one of the tracks - "Pure Fucking Diamonds"!!! Add Coco Bryce and Pixelord as remixers (next to heRobust and Roel Funcken), and you know you want a closer peek at this release. Trust my werd - you'll not be disappointed. In particular Take Me Under - deep, beautiful, eerie soundscape with fantastic neon synths and talking beat. One of the best tunes I've heard this year! The title track is another example of the new wave of beatmaking by the young artists on the scene - reminding me of Error Braoadcast artists (in particular Montgomery Clunk) and the Russian beat squad e.g. Damscray, Demokracy or Moar Pillar. I must say I really dig and heartily accept the direction they follow. Lots of great, eclectic, fresh stuff coming from them all the time. The rest of the release is equally tasty and out of the remixes, I liked most the Pixelord's twisted future garage meets chip tunes refix (this guy knows how to improvise with his gear) and heRobust's blipping, spacey and a-synchronous beats.
