November 2019 Chart

Long Low Edmund – Dewemer (Nous Klaer Audio)

A label that I have long admired, but own nothing on. This double package has changed that though. There’s a trance-like sensibility active within this collection, but it’s inflected rather than full on. Mostly present in ‘Long Rice’ and ‘Jeer’, some of this could have found a home on Prologue a few years back. 

Hexafunk/Nightmoves #1 – Diode/Grumptronix (Wormhole Wisdom)

The first of three releases on Craigie knows offshoot Wormhole Wisdom, to feature the music of Grumptronix and Diode, (Omar Torres, one half of Grumptronix). The originals are rare as hen’s teeth Florida electro releases from the nineties: funky, deep and cosmic.

Streicher Des Todes – Strings Of Death (Vigram)

Teutonically - inflected electro from, amongst others, Dave Tarrida (Scotland is really on it at the moment. See Craigie Knowes). Dark, dense and with vocoders. Perfect.

Workshop 27 – Even Tuell (Workshop) 

Deep and off-kilter as only Workshop can be; this is label head Tuell’s first release on the label for six years, and it’s predictably great, while being quintessentially in context. Essential for bridging the gap between chin stroking and abstract shuffling. 

Heavy Hitter EP – Illektrolab (Advanced Robotics)

More electro, from the criminally unprolific Jason McCracken, aka Illektrolab. These are agitated, funky, edge of your seat beats for breakdancing cyborgs. I’m very much looking forward to combining this with the Vigram and Wormhole releases. Alien frequencies abound.

Tone Dropout Vol. 8 – V/A (Tone Dropout) 

Tone Dropout and Dawl are two buy on sight nouns. Everything that comes out bearing either of these two names is money well spent. Warehouse raves but with a claustrophobic twist and very much of the present, this is an essential package which squeezes in a huge variety of cross-pollination across its expansive grooves.

Hooked On Magic – Edward (Giegling)

One of two Edward releases to come out simultaneously on Giegling, this one features the mighty ‘Jap Collage’, one of many standout moments on Eli Verveine’s recent Trommel podcast. The rest isn’t too shabby either, being a mix of recognisable styles with an idiosyncratic approach to melody and beat forging. The other EP, ‘Lost In Paradise’ is also well worth grabbing.

Silhouettes – The Hidden Figure (Exalt Records)

A small (7”), but perfectly formed release of fragile electro about which not much is known except that it’s a side product of a “a very much established and well respected Acid / Electro producer.” Lovely stuff again. Keep ‘em comin’.

 Receptor Theory – Sirko Mueller/Jonno & Tommo (Verdant Recordings)

Jonno and Tommo sound like a right pair, don’t they? The types who sell loosies behind the bike sheds and lace them with oregano. I was attracted to this release by the remixers, Haventepe and, in particular RV800, a mysterious artist who released two essential double headers on Formula out of Japan. An understated release with gravitas.