Latest Purchase - SCB

SCB - Hard Boiled VIP (SCB)

Yet another moniker and label for Paul Rose aka Scuba, who seems to be about the most prolific producer around just now, between his remixes and other projects and labels. At least it seems like there is always something new that he has been invloved in in the shops when I go out, and I've been picking up a fair bit of it.

The lead track, Hard Boiled VIP is a remix of an earlier Scuba single and makes it far more techno than the original. There isn't much here that is particularly innovative or novel, but it is done really sweetly and is a style of record that I have found hard to resist for a while now. expecially when this well executed.

The flip side 28_5 is more pumping than the lead track, but it doesn't really do very much. It is fairly repetitive, but I reckon it would work well for mixing.

 

Latest Purchase - Martyn

Martyn - Left Hander/Shook Up (3024)

 

I was given some money for xmas and as always happens whenever I have some spare coin floating about, I've got to use some of it on vinyl.  In this case I popped into rubadub and picked up a couple of pretty new electronic releases.

First up is this latest offering from Martyn on his own 3024 label.  I've picked up most of the releases on this label, aside from Martyn's album which I have to confess I found pretty disappointing, especially on vinyl as it lacked the previous singles which were included on the cd making it a slightly more tempting proposition.

This single is a bit better though, making a sort of cocktail of techno/house/dubstep. I reckon I probably prefer the flip side, Shook Up with its more traditionaland pumping 4:4 programming and fat bassline, but Left Hander isn't bad either. I'm happy that this is a good single as it indicates that Martyn still has a lot to offer, contrary to what his album maybe suggested.

 

 

Latest Purchase - Patti Smith

Patti Smith - Horses (Music on Vinyl)

I'd thought for ages that I wouldn't really like this record, but I was wrong. I heard most of it at a party a while back and I almost couldn't believe it when my mate told me what it was. I've been listening to a copy of this for a bit while I've been looking for the record. I've been playing a few songs off it a lot recently, so I eventually ran out of patience waiting for a cheap copy and just bought a new copy from amazon of all places.

I think this record gets treated as quite a big deal, it seems to be on lots of lists of the greatest albums ever and that sort of thing. I reckon there could be some justification for it all. From the first line of the first song (Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine) onwards, its clear that this record is driven by Patti's lyrics and delivery. which are both unusual and distinctive.


I like most of the songs and they cover a bit of a range, from shorter poppier or punkier things to sprawling improvisations. There are times when its all quite delicate, but others where it's almost menacing. I've got favourites that I keep playing as well. I'll add videos for some of these.

Latest Purchase - Frozen Border

Frozen Border - Frozen Border 03 (Frozen Border)

Another internet purchase, but one of the rare ones that didn't go so well. I ordered it off Discogs ages ago, but the guy just never sent the record. I eventually got a refund after 4 weeks and used it to buy it again from Juno.

More top quality techno from Frozen Border. I still enjoy the nameless, faceless stamped label techno thing. I think its the B side I prefer of the 2 tracks on this, although they do seem like 2 mixes of the same tune. No problem though as its a belter.

Latest Purchase - Slackk

Slackk - Theme EP (Numbers)

 

Didn't know anything about this until I saw this in the racks in rubadub. Numbers is the label they are running now and I've not been that interested in many of the releases, but I still check them out.  This wasn't a hard decision to make.

rubadub say something like the title track ‘Theme from Slackk’ brings back the raw aggression of the aptly named Underground Resistance classics Fury and Punisher and intermixes it with the tribal energy of UK Funky". I think this is pretty accurate, although I did change one of the track titles. It certainly put ideas like that into my head before I'd read their blurb.

I had a huge smile on my face as soon as I heard this, so it was definitely coming straight home with me. The two versions of Theme are great fun. The only real difference is that the dub doesn't have the voice spelling out S-L-A-C-K-K.

The other side 'Fireflies' uses similar sounds, but is maybe a little more 'serious'. This is a quality single and I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for Slackk in future.

Latest Purchase - Ramadanman & Appleblim

Ramadanman & Appleblim - Void 23 (Aus Music)

 

The line up of personnel involved in this single was was attracted me to it in the first place. Ramadanman and Appleblim have been involved in a lot of interesting music recently, and the input of Carl Craig is always enough to get me to give something a listen. I reckon it also shows that some of this new UK stuff is getting a bit more international.

Four/Four techno with dubby stylings is the order of the day here. The original mix has an unusual meandering feel that I quite like, with sprawling breakdowns and build ups and nice gradual variations on the elements. I've heard a bit of stuff from these guys before and it sounds quite different from what I might have expected, nor does it sound like much else I've come across recently.

Carl Craig's edit narrows the scope to a few particular elements and develops a bit more of a drive to the track and it certainly seems a bit more mix/dance focussed.  

It's hard to call a favourite here as there is a lot to like about both, although I reckon I've been playing the edit a bit more often.

Latest Purchase - Joy Orbison

Joy Orbison - BB/Ladywell (Doldrums)

 

This is the third release I've picked from Joy Orbison and the 2nd on his Doldrums label. This one follows a sort of pattern for me, in that I find I tend to really like one side of each of them, and find the other a bit too vocally.

BB is the track for me on this one. Quite housy, with a Detroit feel to the bass and the synth washes this is a lot more 4:4 than the other releases I've got, but this is no bad thing here.