Track Of The Day: R Rash - Smokin Jakkit (Trelik)

 

Peter Ford oversaw two labels which are critical to both UK and global techno: Ifach and Trelik. And it might not be too much of a stretch to say that minimal house/techno is their lovechild. Ifach stopped releasing at the turn of the century, but Trelik marches on. Having said that, I am not familiar with most of its recent output. No mind. ‘Smokin Jakkit’ is boss, and not unlike Tan Ru’ Purple Heart’. Not surprising as both R Rash and Tan Ru are the work of Eon, aka Ian. Loveday and co-conspirator with Peter Ford as far as Trelik is concerned. Incredibly funky and with a touch of the manic. Not minimal at all, but not complicated either.

Track Of Yesterday: C.V.O. - Party Time (Detroit Mix) (Balance)

 

Sometimes all that’s left to do is randomly pull something from the shelves and go with it. And so it comes to pass that this one will have to do. C.V.O., aka Glenn Underground on fine form here with the Detroit Mix of ‘Party Time’, differing from the original in depth and electric quality. Both mixes reach the disco heights, but this one is more out there and jazzy. Plenty of interesting drum patterns and improvisation. Well, as much as can be had within the house music template. The vocals come in slightly off beat and the siren-like synth holds everything together. Sort of. At times it feels like a live jam. The type of track that could dislocate your joints if you follow shape throwing through to its logical conclusion.

Track Of The Day: Marco Bernardi - The Dancing Clowns (Berceuse Heroique)

 

It’s never nice to be reminded of the passage of time. This record came out ten years ago, when the label was at its peak and maybe Mr Bernardi was as well. He was very prolific around that time but his output has dropped off more recently with only two releases under this name since lockdown. This is a great piece of work though, all fifteen or so minutes of it. Not a second passes that doesn’t want you to take it all in. A truly panoramic piece of semi-orchestral electronic music. Grand and panoramic in scope. The music of the spheres if only they knew how to make it. It comes with an ace Specter mix on the B side too.

Track Of Yesterday: America - Horse With No Name (Warner Bros)

 

One of the most sixties songs wasn’t released until 1971, so it’s true what they say. The decades backslide and happened later than thought. One of my first memories of watching ‘Top Of The Pops’, along with seeing T.Rex perform ‘Metal Guru’, and Bowie sing ‘Starman’, was watching the promo video for this amazing song. Some other videos found their way onto the TOTP playlist at that time. Notable ‘Silver Machine’ by Hawkweed, and ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’ by  Stealer’s Wheel. This hinted at something quite different and exotic though, and kept the hippie dream alive, if that’s what it was. This sound seeping its way into the carpeted and wallpapered living rooms of working class British semis felt weird and emphasised that you could have a beard in the hot weather. Not glam rock at all.

Stacey Pullen @TheLotRadio 08-15-2026

 

Circoloco Radio 463 - Tia Cousins

 

Circoloco · Circoloco Radio 463 - Tia Cousins

Track Of Yesterday: Oliver Dollar, Ben Silver & Boogs - Cosmic Weapon (Rekids)

 

Yesterday The UK’s 5th, (or is it 6th?), heatwave peaked in the east of England, and I went running, because I’m a masochist. I had intended to do 10K. However, after stopping for a hydration break, I found it difficult to get moving again. Fortunately I was listening to Eli Vervain’s recent set for The Lot Radio, and this track was in its infancy. It’s really not an exaggeration to say that I could still be loitering beneath a bush on a country road if ti weren’t for this piece of quintessential bass-driven deep house. The undulating beats come in hard and heavy when necessary, embellished with spoken word samples which sound like something broadcast on Funkadelic radio. You know the sort. Bordering on manic at times, mixed with a more relaxed tone floating over the kick. Thank god for track lists.

Track of The Day: The Todd Terry Project, Bango (To The Batmobile) (Fresh)

 

A house record that feels like it’s been composed entirely of cut ups straight out of a hip-hop playbook. The beats have momentum but they never seem to cut loose. The laughing girl sample feels fresh after having already been used god knows how many times. The other elements, notably the little squiggly myth line feels raw. And then the pipes come in along with the bass. I used to play my cd copy of this to death, and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t dig it out now. It’s house music as collage ruthlessly spliced together on two turntables, and it works. Fresh and Sleeping Bag put out some great hip-hop/soul by the lies of Mantronix, Just-Ice and Joyce Sims, but maybe Todd Terry at this time, was the most radical of all.

Beautiful Freaks w/ Budino @ Kiosk Radio 08.08.2026

 

Track Of The Day: Greville - Sonic Tonic (Visions Mix) (Mad Habitat)

 

Greville is an Australian artist who I discovered about ten minutes ago.And I’m glad I did. This kind of elemental shizzle is very important and carries a tribal whiff that first emerged in The UK’s rave culture back in the late eighties. That said it is unmistakably of its place. It would appear to only be available on vinyl, as is the case for all release on this label, which is a pity. A great piece of work all the same, and one which could function on a visible level throughout a set.

Track Of The Day: Peter Lazonby - Sacred Cycles (Brainiak Records)

 

An absolute beast of a record. As soon as the synth washes come in you know you’re on a mission. It takes a while to warm up but that’s all part of the game. It’s a real tease. It’s trance distilled to its constituent elements which disperse and recompose themselves in a myriad of different ways. And all the while you’ve got those immortal washes. I guess one of the biggest criticisms of trance is that it lacks soul. Not this. However, “It’s soul Jim, but not as we know it.” It’s best moments are when it’s accompanied by the synthetic low end. It’s not Goa, but it’s on its way. A landmark piece of music that has stood the test of time and is due a new leash of life.

Track Of The Day: Tape 05

 

Sleep D from Butter Sessions @TheLotRadio 07-27-2026