Mutha*fucka is another release on Philly Blunt Records. This track, from 1995, incorporates Dillinja’s trademark square wave sound which he layers on top of the sub. The b-side to this release is another great track which I’ll post up next week.

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Dillinja – Mutha*ucka

This percussive slow-burner doubles over itself and becomes quite a banger. The undulating keys really work to make the snares stand out. For me, it is the highlight of Kompakt’s latest compilation, I really look forward to more material from the mysterious Jatoma, who are currently virtually unknown.

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Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs released his 2nd E.P. in June on Greco-Roman. From the 4 tracks it’s the meandering bass-line of That One which I find myself playing the most. Too many producers seem to write functional music that doesn’t develop and relentlessly churns out the same 16-bar phrases, relying on the mastering being really loud in order to maintain interest. That One, on the other hand, switches up every phrase with subtle drums hits and, most noticeably, the cool wobbly bass sound after the first 16.

Here are some remixes of his that I posted a while back that you can download, well worth a listen. Look out for another T.E.E.D. release in November.

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Don’t know how most of how you feel about Kanye, but I’ve been a massive fan since way back. The only project of his I haven’t really enjoed was the 808 & Heatbreak album. That said, there were a few big tracks on that. And now, he’s dropping one track a week, for a few months for free via his blog. This was the first song from that effort and it is seriously amazing. Jay’s verse is negligible, but Kanye drops some epic swagger on two different tempos. Also, if you’ve not seen the video for the original version of this track, please do, its hypnotic.

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This is the a-side to the second release on Roni Size and Krust’s Full Cycle label, Daylight. The song opens with a sample from Daylight by Ramp which was also used by A Tribe Called Quest in their track Bonita Applebum.

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Roni Size – Daylight

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This is taken from Dexter’s album “Our Man in Paris“, which was recorded in 1963 and subsequently released on Blue Note Records. This is one of my favourite standards, I can’t get enough of the main riff. I bought this record at the Blue Note shop in Amsterdam around four years ago, I remember being gutted last year (or was it two years ago?) when I discovered that it had been shut down. It’s an all around great album with some really brilliant cover art, in typical Blue Note style.

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Do you find yourself getting frustrated when thinking about politics? Are you even interested in it? How positive are you about the future?

I’m sure these are all questions many young people have pondered over in some form or another. The normal reaction, myself included, being a moment’s thought pattern followed by a huge wave of indifference. Why is this? These questions seem fairly important don’t they? Well Think Act Vote is attempting to bring these questions back into people’s mind in a positive way.

Think Act Vote was started because of a frustration about the negative view of politics held by so many people in the UK today, and an ambition to do something about it – to create a community around our relationship with the political system and the choices we make for our future. The campaign was built to inspire us to think more positively about our future and the votes we cast, today, tomorrow and forever. Elections are about making choices for the future.

Think Act Vote is creating an iconic book which will come out towards the end of this year. It is about using creative energy, fusing Design, Fashion, Photography, Art, Poetry, and Sustainability. Anyone can contribute. Why not start by answering the simple question – What’s The Future That You Choose?

www.thinkactvote.org
www.twitter.com/thinkactvote
www.facebook.com/thinkactvote

It is difficult to pick a standout track on Pariah’s 6 track EP, Safehouses. While some people like Teki Latex have taken a liking to The Slump, others have preferred Prism, a track factmag.com calls “stunning“. For me, Slump is a peak time tune, while Prism for the later hours when crowds are more eager to appreciate depth. This is a cohesive body of work, where each track feeds of the other and a sense of ambiance is created through shuffles, space and low end theory.

These tracks are not your average post-dubstep offerings, with influences of juke, hardcore and classic techno subtly shifting throughout. It is easily one of the best EPs of the year within its niche, along with James Blake’s CMYK. Interestingly enough, both of those have been released on R&S Records. This recently revived imprint is not wasting any time.

You can pre-order/buy the EP here.

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As ever I’m always the last to know when a really top quality tune comes out. This is most probably due to the Jungle obsession. Ramadanman’s Glut is a really well crafted bit of music with all the elements of the tune coming in progressively. The pads, or chords, that enter later contrast well with the tough drums. I really like the way that the tune drops after the 8 – bar break down with all the sounds in the track entering together for the first time. Really looking forward to mixing it when we play out.

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Here is my latest RA chart, as usual, in some particular order.

Its the second month in a row that I’ve included a Mount Kimbie track. If you haven’t bought their album “Crooks & Lovers” yet, please do. It will be on all the “Best Of” lists for 2010.

Motion work completed for the book ‘Black Material’ which showcases the artwork of Robert Knoke. I love a nice triangle, especially when the concept is a well executed as this piece from Onur Senturk:

Curator Jens Karlson asked me to make a short animation and get Robert Knoke’s black and white artwork as base for video. I chosed to create tense harmony between geometrical forms and organic movements. Combustion helped me to expand possibilites of Black material with his strong music and sound design.

This week’s Jungle track is another release from the Tearin’ Vinyl label. This tune is the DJ Dextrous remix of Ruffneck Scouts which was the B – side to The Licence remix. I love the tacky midi-piano sample in the introduction as well as the great pitch adjusted Amen-break in the drums. Watch out for an absolutely filthy second bass line at 3.07′.

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DJ Krome & Mr Time – Ruffneck Scouts (DJ Dextrous remix)

That internet phenomenon has been slooowed down 800% and it sounds quite unreal. Nice one, Shamantis.

J. Biebz – U Smile (800% Slower)

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Our third mix in our series comes from one of the friendliest men I know in dubstep: Rob Kemp, or as most know him, Brackles. He’s released forward-thinking dance music for a good while now and started up a great label last year, garnering mad respect from all the right people. I asked him if he would be up for contributing a mix at a party a while ago,  he replied that he’d really like to do a summer mix with tunes he didn’t get to play out. Now that summer is coming to an end, it seems like the perfect way to say goodbye to the best one in years. Most mixes that you come across these days are snapshots of a certain time and place, BTGMX003 avoids that in a really classy way – I know I’ll be bumping it for years to come.

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Download: Brackles – BTGMX003

Could you please introduce yourself, for those that don’t know you?
I’m Brackles – I started out DJing when I was 15 and got into making music through that. I now DJ on Rinse FM every Thursday and play out most weekends. I also run the Blunted Robots label with Shortstuff.

What’s the story behind this mix?
There’s not really any rules to the mix – it’s from all different genres and decades. I just wanted to play some of the records you wouldn’t hear me playing on Rinse or in the clubs. Most of these records are my favourite track off a particular album so it made sense to draw them all together onto one mix. I guess the goal was just a good selection of tracks for the summer.

What do you prefer, making tunes or making mixes?
A few months ago I’d have said mixes, but I’ve really been getting into the tunes recently and I think I prefer making beats now.

What inspires you more, sights or sounds?
Definitely sounds, I couldn’t really say sights influence my music. I reckon that sights have a more subconscious effect on what I make..

You run Blunted Robots with Shortstuff and your brother Martin Kemp. How has that been? What’s in store for the future?
I just run it with Shortstuff actually! [ed note, my bad!] Yeh running the label has been a lot of fun and hard work. It’s been a steep learning curve but I think we’re getting there with it now. The next release is me and Shortstuff feat. Terrible Shox – Good Foundations with a Doc Daneeka rmx. After that we have DJ Dom’s debut 12″.

Any other hype stuff we should know about?
My Songs For Endless Cities CD is dropping on !K7 at the end of August. I’m working on a big project for after that but I’m not sure I can say what that is yet.

BTGMX003 – Brackles

O.V. Wright – Let’s Straighten it Out [Delabel]
Jay Z – Feelin’ It [Rock-A-Fella Records]
Dr Alimantado – Can’t Conquer Natty Dreadlocks [Greensleeves Records]
Roy Ayers – D.C. City [Uno Melodic Records]
Stevie Wonder - Too High [Tamla Motown]
Gil Scott-Heron – When You Are Who You Are [Flying Dutchman]
Bobbi Humphrey – Harlem River Drive [Blue Note]
Dave & Ansel Collins – My Best Girl [Trojan Records]
Drexciya – Organic Hydropoly Spores [Tresor]
Eighties Ladies – Turned On To You [Uno Melodic Records]
Susan Cadogan – Nice and Easy [Trojan Records]
Rico – Africa [Island Records]
Larry Heard – Missing You [Alleviated Records]
Raymond Scott - Portofino [Basta]

[Brackles will be dj'ing at Phonica Records this Friday Friday the 27th of August to celebrate the release of his K7 mix cd. More info here.]

Boogaloo Crew are London stalwarts when it comes to Bass. They have been steadily building up their rep for a minute and it seems the fruits of their labour is paying off, their tracks are featured in mixtapes all over the place and they  play out a fair amount, on solid lineups no less.

Here is the latest mix they’ve done for The Daily Street, volume 4 in TDS’s expanding series. It is on the house/2step/funky tip which is all over London clubs at the moment, but the tracklist is fresh and the mix is great. Look forward to seeing Boogaloo Crew soon and look forward to the next TDS mix.