PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: CRYSTAL CULTURE

Crystal Culture, the fledgling new label run by rising star Pedro 123 and Get Some's Bobby Pecotic, is to launch tomorrow night (December 20th) at the Alibi in Dalston. Boasting a stellar line-up including sets from Pedro himself, Liminal Sounds' Elsewhere, Chesslo Junior, Skanky and Richard Aki, the night will give an insight into what we can expect from forthcoming releases. Best thing of all? It's free all night.

You can listen to Pedro 123's latest mix for the Sonic Router x Uncle Albert series here: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2012/12/pedro-123-sonic-router-x-uncle-albert-mix/

Further event details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/143486855799798/?fref=ts

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SR x UA MIX 014 - PEDRO 123

The latest volume in the Sonic Router x Uncle Albert mix series see rising star Pedro 123 step up to the plate with an exclusive mix and plenty of chat too.

Read the interview and stream / download the mix over at Sonic Router here: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2012/12/pedro-123-sonic-router-x-uncle-albert-mix/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: GRAVITY - SUMMER BREEZE

Working with the intention of casting the spotlight onto new and currently non-established grime producers, fledgling label '1st Stepz' have this week released their second EP. 'Summer Breeze', produced by Gravity, follows Moony's impressive debut on the imprint earlier this year and despite it's title, carries just as much weight in the winter. 

Working a great melody, chopped vocals and nifty arcade sampling, Gravity's original mix is a pleasant surprise and with it, a thoroughly enjoyable grime-tinged listen. Moony's remix packs typical 2-step groove, whilst further remixes from Mr K Ro and Mr Smh take the original down more garage-friendly routes to good effect. A great way to introduce yourself. 

The Summer Breeze EP is out now to buy & download at all good online outlets. 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: JAMMER - LORD OF THE MICS IV

With the fourth installment of iconic battle series Lord of The Mics IV released this week, I caught up with chief orchestrator Jammer on the new series, different challenges and it's genre-defying legacy.

Read more over at Clash Music here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/lord-of-the-mics-iv-jammer

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE AT 140 #4

In my latest 'Life at 140' column for Clash Music, I round up November's happenings in the world of grime and select my top 5 tracks of the month, including Spooky's iconic 'Playground' single. 

Read more over at Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/life-at-140-4

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIMINAL SOUNDS

A hub of all things good in the world of electronic music for some time now, the excellent Liminal Sounds site today announced the launch of it's label arm with a debut EP of serious credentials. Youngstar's classic grime anthem 'Pulse X' is to receive a 2012 makeover from contemporary producers Visionist, Blackwax, Slackk, Pedro 123 and label head Elsewhere, all of whom we are told 'take THAT bassline and put their own spin on it'. Intriguing, bold and genuinely exciting, you can preview Pedro 123, Slackk and Elsewhere remixes over on the Liminal Sounds Soundcloud here: http://soundcloud.com/liminalsoundsmusic

 Highly recommended. Pulse X Remixes will be available both digitally and on vinyl, with Visionist and Blackwax reworks available on the 12''. Out January 21st 2013. 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DJ EZ

In my latest piece for Clash Music, I was fortunate enough to catch up with pioneering UK Garage legend DJ EZ on his 20 years in music and a planned return to the studio in 2013.

Read the piece in full over at Clash: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/garage-flower-dj-ez

COMPETITION: WIN TICKETS TO GIRLS MUSIC WAREHOUSE PARTY

Top selecta Toddla T is hosting a Girls Music warehouse party this Friday at the Bussey building in Peckham and we're giving away a pair of tickets (for you and a friend)  - for a chance to win just email info@basslaced.com with the name of the site you found out about the competition (Uncle Albert) from in the subject header. Good luck! 

The line-up features label head Toddla T himself plus exclusive sets from The 2 Bears, Roses Gabor & Martelo plus rising star Walter Ego, who himself recently announced he will be releasing a two-track vinyl on my Coyote Records imprint in the new year. Paul Woolford will headline Church's room.

More info: http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?408311

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: PEDRO 123 - SWAP NUMBERS

Following on from his debut release on Get Some earlier this month, rising star Pedro 123 is back with his latest outing on French imprint B Yrself. The 'Swap Numbers' EP is a ruffneck 4-tracker that, in similar vain to 'Slush', seamlessly joins the dots between the old and new sounds of inner city London. 

Title track Swap Numbers is a great example, blending the classic rhythms and chopped vocals of old school garage with a series of glorious little bass-laden interludes whilst on 'Touch Me', he looks to grime for inspiration; listen out for eski influence in abundance and some great synth work in particular. 'Coolant VIP' on the other hand lands somewhere in between the endlessly blurring funky / garage / grime hybrid to create a really smooth, club-ready joint. Proceedings are rounded off by a bold, jumped up rework of Swap Numbers by French beatsmith Kon. Highly recommended. 

Swap Numbers is out now on B Yrslf & available from all good online outlets.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SLIT JOCKEY PRESENT 'CHOICE CUTS 2'

Hot off the back of the release of Mr Mitch's excellent 'Mind Machine' EP earlier this month, US label Slit Jockey are back with 'Choice Cuts 2', the second volume of their compilation series. Featuring tracks from label boss Dev 79, Starkey, fellow stateside talent Kozee and producers closer to home in the shape of Moony, J-Beatz and Sheffield's DS1, Choice Cuts is a great snapshot of grime both here and across the pond. Look out for Starkey's 'DPMO' featuring Trim (previously only available on 12'') in particular. Great work. 

Choice Cuts 2 is available to purchase as a compilation / individual tracks from all good online outlets.

Stream here: http://world.idolweb.fr/slit-jockey-records/various-artists/choice-cuts-2/3700551742448.html

Buy here: http://www.junodownload.com/products/choice-cuts-2/2086521-02/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: RUFF SQWAD - WHITE LABEL CLASSICS

I was lucky enough to meet up with Magic at No Hats No Hoods last week to discuss the forthcoming Ruff Sqwad 'White Label Classics' compilation, a CD that chronicles the incredible talents of the East London collective and with it, a vital part of grime's fragmented past. 

Read the piece over at Sonic Router here: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2012/11/they-just-had-fun-with-it/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SR X UA MIX 014 - TRC

The 14th mix in our collaborative mix series with Sonic Router comes from Butterz alumni TRC. I managed to catch up with him briefly too to get his thoughts on grime, bassline and a relatively quiet 2012.

Listen / read up over at Sonic Router: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2012/11/trc-sonic-router-x-uncle-albert-mix/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: PEDRO 123 - SLUSH EP

Pedro 123 is a name I've followed closely over the past year, albeit initially for his flair for mixing grime, but as time has progressed, remix work for the likes of Trim, fellow Get Some affiliate MIK and more recently, Lakosa & iO has seen his production skills really come into their own. His debut release on Get Some's label arm, 'Slush', is the perfect testament to how his sound has developed and in my eyes, casts him in the same company as fellow grime-leaning, exploratory young producers like Visionist, Wen and Bloom.

The EP itself consists of 3 tracks; Slush, Jetpack Joyride and a remix of the former from UTTU's promising young beatsmith Checan. Title-track Slush is led by a chorus of eski-style synths, crashing kicks and timely sub bass, all of which bear the hallmark of a producer willing to take grime's iconic sounds in new and different directions in back to the future-esque style. B-Side Jetpack Joyride is a further example of this, although this time a little more fast-paced and garage-leaning in it's approach, again giving it a welcome nostalgic quality. Checan's tasteful remix of 'Slush' rounds off the EP in style with 4x4 swagger by the bucket load; heavy drums, chopped vocals and some exceptional re-worked synths. All 3 tracks come highly recommended. 

Pedro 123's Slush EP is out on November 12th, both on 12'' vinyl and digital.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE AT 140 #3

In my third 'Life at 140' column for Clash Music, I talk Lord of the Mics 4, new EPs from J Beatz, P Jam and Faze Miyake and look ahead to the fourth installment of Butterz x Hardrive at Cable on November 10th.

Read in full over at Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/life-at-140-3

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: HODGE - DUSTED EP

Alongside fellow Bristolian Artifact, Hodge is one of the city's most revered up-and-coming new producers and his forthcoming release on Deadplate is a testament to his undoubted potential. Dark, weighty and in places reminiscent of some of Pinch's early work, the 'Dusted' EP is comprised of three tracks; Tonda, Dusted and Turmoil, the latter of which also features a remix from Kowton. 

Tonda is a wonderfully stylish cut, blending the dark, primitive sounds of early Dubstep with up-tempo contemporary techno beats. Title-track Dusted on the other hand is less cluttered but equally as impressive; the same deep and dark undertones that are becoming something of a Hodge hallmark resonate throughout. Turmoil is far lighter in it's approach until we're greeted with another dose of deep, dark bass which underpins the edgy, dancefloor-ready tones of it's introduction with real verve. Kowton's techno-edged remix is a welcome addition too. All in all, a cracking effort.

'Dusted' will be released on November 26th on 12'' vinyl and digitally via Deadplate Records.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: BUTTERZ x HARDRIVE #4

The fourth installment of Butterz x Hardrive parties at Cable on November 10th looks set to only reinforce the belief that it is truly one of London's most iconic new club nights. As a veteran of the 3 that have gone before it, I can honestly say that each has improved on it's predecessor and where JME and D Double E were the undoubted stars in March and July, Butterz have looked to the legendary DJ EZ and renowned party starters, The Heatwave, for inspiration this time around. Throw in special guest appearances from P Money, D Double E, Riko, Skibadee and Hyper alongside a stellar roster of regular Butterz faces in Swindle, Champion, Royal-T, Terror Danjah and Elijah & Skilliam and you have all the ingredients for yet another memorable night.

Tickets available here: http://www.cable-london.com/event/we-fear-silence-present-butterz-hardrive-with-ez-terror-danjah

Highlights of Butterz' 2nd Birthday at Cable back in March

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: I LOVE GRIME

I made my way up to Rinse's offices last week to chat to Spyro and Sian Anderson about the release of their joint 'I Love Grime' compilation.

You can read about it over at Clash music here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/i-love-grime-spyro-sian-anderson

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: WILEY

In my latest piece for Clash Music (and probable journalistic highlight), I managed to speak to Wiley on his journey so far, that elusive first number 1 and 'hitting it out the park like Craig David'. 

Read in full over at Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/going-the-distance-wiley

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: PINCH | MIA 2006-2010

Tectonic Recordings founder Pinch is to release an exclusive collection of non-label tracks and remixes next month entitled 'Pinch: MIA 2006-2010'. Despite almost six years passing since the release of his debut album 'Underwater Dancehall' back in 2007, Pinch has remained vastly influential, not only presiding over Tectonic's progress but also working on a slew of material for other leading artists and labels alike. MIA is therefore something of a testament to this and incorporates a number of forgotten gems, with each track carefully selected to document phases in Pinch's long and esteemed production career. For anyone with an interest in furthering their understanding of contemporary dance music's formative years, this is an essential purchase.

'Pinch: MIA 2006-2010' will be available to buy on CD / digitally from November 19th. 

Tracklisting:

1. Qawwali VIP (Planet Mu ‘06)

2. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Ghaudi ‘Dil Da Rog Muka Ja Mali’ [Pinch Remix] (Six Degrees Records ‘07)

3. Chamber Dub (Soul Jazz Records ‘07)

4. Cave Dream (Planet Mu ‘07)

5. 136 Trek (Punch Drunk ‘08)

6. 30Hz ‘Mutate(d)’ [Pinch Re-Work] (Lot49 ‘08)

7. E.motive (Planet Mu ‘08)

8. Motion Sickness (Tempa ‘08)

9. Attack Of The Giant Killer Robot Spiders (Planet Mu ‘09)

10. Henry & Louis ft Steve Harper ‘Rise Up’ (2Kings ‘09)

11. Elements (Swamp 81 ‘10)

12. Emika ‘Double Edge’ [Pinch Remix] (Ninja Tune ‘10)

- Deserted Island (Previously unreleased bonus track ‘04)

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SR X UA MIX 012 - TRENDS

Oxford based producer/DJ Trends is the latest rising star to contribute to the Sonic Router x Uncle Albert mix series, providing a fresh 45 minute mix of the best in hard-hitting, hard-edged grime. A fan of the genre's formative years, I managed to catch up with him to talk style, future plans and his penchant for refixes too.  

Read up and stream / download the mix over at Sonic Router here: http://www.sonicrouter.com/2012/10/trends-sonic-router-x-uncle-albert-mix/

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SHACKLES - CELESTIAL SHOWCASE

Following hot on the heels of Spooky's impressive 'Code 9' release last month, DJ Shiftee's stateside imprint Hot Mum USA are back with a free 8-track offering from Sheffield-based exploratory producer Shackles. 'Celestial Showcase' offers up an insight into the mind of the steel city's latest prospective star, with warped beats and  ambient, cosmic bass lines setting the pace throughout - think of it as something like trap-infused serenity. A thoroughly enjoyable listen all in all and more good work from Shiftee's label. Props all round. 

You can download Shackles' 'Celestial Showcase' for free here: http://club.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/19089/shackles-celestial-showcase.html

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: P JAM - OXYGEN EP

With the monstrous 'Arizona Skyz' first surfacing last year after a near-on 4 year hiatus, P Jam has enjoyed a welcome return to the fold in 2012, readying his first EP of the year for re-established in-house imprint 'Beatcamp' in the process. The 'Oxygen' EP is a tough 3-tracker, each of which bears the hallmark of a producer thoroughly enjoying something of a new lease of life. 

Joining the dots between more contemporary 140 styles but retaining the same hard-edged sound that first earmarked him as one of grime's early pioneers, Oxygen is full of encouraging signs. Whether its the funky undertones of 'Bubble Bum' or the more phrenetic, fast-paced beats of 'SkyBoy', there is a marked sense of freedom and experimentation. 'Quantum' is probably the least complex of the 3 but it too sounds remarkably different to anything P Jam has released before. Really refreshing stuff from one of the scene's formative minds.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: MOSCA / KATY B - 'WHAT YOU CAME FOR'

Rinse's decision to fuse Katy B's vocals with Mosca's 'Bax', one of 2011's stand out tracks, may have raised more than a few eyebrows but the forthcoming release of 'What You Came For' is certainly an interesting prospect. It would seem that Bax was seen as too good an opportunity to miss out on, particularly given Katy B's uncanny ability to give bass lines an extra dimension, and the results are reminiscent of some of her earliest cuts with Geeneus on the Buttons; 'As I Do' and 'Good Life' both spring to mind. 

Despite the nostalgia, at the business end of proceedings, 'What You Came For' is a no brainer. The instrumental still sounds as fresh as it did last summer and Katy B's vocals are typically polished and the hook is, as with numerous tracks on her debut LP, remarkably catchy. Viable to the mainstream but still keen (and able) to retain that edge, that underground swagger that underpins Rinse's very existence, 'What You Came For' has the potential to be a top seller. It may not be cutting edge but it certainly does make sense. 

'What You Came For' is set to be released on October 22nd via Rinse Recordings.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: FAZE MIYAKE - VERSUS EP

Faze Miyake's brand of bass-heavy, hip-hop leaning grime has taken the genre by storm since the release of 'Take Off' last year, a track recently played by Baauer at his Boiler Room session in New York, highlighting both the reach and continued relevance of Faze's sound. 

'The Second Six' followed the Take Off EP back at the turn of the year but nothing by way of releases has followed since bar a number of excellent refixes, all of which have been kept very close to his chest. His latest offering, the 'Versus' EP should therefore be welcome news to expectant fans and as with everything he's put out to date, it doesn't fail to deliver. The EP is a 4-tracker, each a collaboration with a different producer: Miyake teams up with Preditah on 'Dell' and 'Take Off vs Gargoyle', Teddy on 'Quantum' and highly-regarded beatsmith Flava D on 'Volt' and all 4 give us an insight into what to expect from bigger, forthcoming projects. 

'Dell' has won its fair share of radio play over the last few months and does a good job of uniting two distinctly different sounds; Preditah dictates the tempo in typical forthright style but Miyake provides the undercurrent with chopped-up, low-end bass bringing the track together. Trademark woofs and 'woah' samples are also prevalent throughout.

By way of comparison, 'Quantum' is far more in line with the work Faze has undertaken over the last few months; there are definite similarities with 'Powers', his recent rework of Quincy Jones' 'Soul Bossa Nova' but this is certainly no bad thing. Rough, raucous and full of bass, Quantum is a track that Faze dictates with Teddy's influence lying more in the neatness of sampling. 

'Volt' on the other hand seems to take Faze Miyake's deep-lying bass lines and up the pace completely, leaving us with dancefloor-ready, club-worthy grime from the off. Flava D, although something of an unknown quantity, is both prolific and consistently good and her influence on Volt is all the more apparent for it. Probably my favourite track on the EP. 

Versus' final track is another joint effort alongside Preditah with the two blending Faze's 'Take Off' with Preditah's 'Gargoyle' to great effect - a firm radio favourite.

Although seemingly more of a filler to satisfy demand, the EP still packs a hell of a punch. The fact Miyake holds back from releasing unless he feels necessary is also a good omen but I'd hazard a guess that some exciting, more palatable projects are soon to be in the offing.

The Versus EP will be available digitally from all good online outlets from October 5th.

Pre-order via ITunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/versus-ep/id563474572

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE AT 140 #2

In the second installment of my 'Life at 140' column for Clash Music, I talk refixes as the wait for Butterz x Hardrive #4 wittles down to a little under 2 months + my top 5 tracks, including music from Royal-T, Faze Miyake and Deeco. 

Read in full over at Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/article/life-140-2

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: DUSK & BLACKDOWN - DASAFLEX

Following a series of stellar reviews of Dusk and Blackdown's forthcoming LP 'Dasaflex' appearing over the last few weeks, I can only add my stamp of approval to the duo's first full-length outing in 4 years. Something of a tour de force in terms of influence, their Keysound Recordings imprint has harbored some of the most exciting new talent since 2005 and the pair have played a key role in breaking new music on their Rinse FM show since 2008. 

Whilst much of their focus has centered on finding new talent over the last few years, Dasaflex sees the spotlight cast back onto Dusk and Blackdown with good reason. At the cutting edge of everything good in funky, grime and garage, the LP is a tribute to the colourful, upfront sound they've put so much into curating - a must listen. Look out for title track 'Dasaflex' and 'High Road' in particular. 

Grab it via Boomkat: http://boomkat.com/cds/562844-dusk-blackdown-dasaflex

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SANDMAN - JALAN PANJANG EP

Alongside stateside labels, those from the Netherlands have also shown a good measure of interest in the fortunes of grime over the last few years. 'Progressive Intelligence', a label run by a small but dedicated collective of DJs and producers, is arguably the stand out example, having not only released in-house material but also a cracking EP from Nasty FM's Moony earlier this year.

Last year, I wrote a short review of Sandman's 'Run It' EP which, considering just how far away from the genre's musical / cultural epicenter it was made, was as good and as rugged as anything being made in the UK at the time. His second release, the 'Jalan Panjang' EP, is due out this coming Monday (September 17th) on Progressive Intelligence and again, shows good promise. It's a 3-tracker, each a little more mellow 'Run It', with the focus seemingly more exploratory than hard-edged. Preview it below.

To celebrate it's release, you can stream Sandman's 'Get Into It', a near-30 minute mix, featuring tracks from Terror Danjah, SRC, D.O.K and Moony as well as some of his own exclusive forthcoming material. Listen below.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: TERROR DANJAH - DARK CRAWLER LP REVIEW FOR CLASH MUSIC

In my latest piece for Clash Music, I was lucky enough to review Terror Danjah's forthcoming Hyperdub album, 'Dark Crawler'. A grimy onslaught from the outset, Terror has put together an LP that showcases the genre in a new and exciting light; utilising both older and newer influences as well as some of the scene's freshest young MCs, Dark Crawler is a great snapshot of grime's standing in 2012. 

Read the full review and words from Terror himself over at Clash here: http://bit.ly/QIUJIN

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: ARTIFACT - THE WORN EP

I've been keeping a watchful eye over the last 6 months but having been a feature of sorts in label boss Tom Lea's sets over the last 2 years, It's no surprise that Bristol's newest rising star, Artifact, is to release his latest EP via Local Action. In what will be the imprint's tenth outing, having also released music from T Williams, Slackk and DJ Q over the last year, Artifact has curated a glorious little 3-track dancefloor stomper. 

The 'Worn' EP lands somewhere between house and techno but all becomes fairly insignificant upon first hearing the searing, Swamp-esque bass stabs on 'Worn' or the infectious jump-up techno beats of 'Turtle Fight'. Opening track 'Drain' is probably the least complex of the three but still packs a weighty dance floor punch, complete with killer snares, in what is an excellent Local Action debut for the Bristolian. Props all round.

The first run will be available on white vinyl, each with individually spray-painted sleeves, from the end of September / beginning of October. 

You can preview the 'Worn EP' via Soundcloud below: 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SR X UA MIX 011 | MR MITCH

The 11th mix in the Sonic Router x Uncle Albert mix series comes courtesy of grime visionary Mr Mitch. Full of exclusives and at over 50 minutes long, it serves as a comprehensive snapshot of all things currently good in the world of grime as we enter the final quarter of 2012. 

Listen, download and read up on what he had to say over at Sonic Router here: http://bit.ly/RkGeHt

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: ROYAL T LP REVIEW

The tail-end of the summer will see two of grime's lynchpins in Royal T and Terror Danjah release LPs on both Rinse and Hyperdub respectively and I gave the former my seal of approval in a review for Clash Music.

Read up on Royal T's brilliant debut over at Clash here: http://bit.ly/RqAcoS

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SPOOKY - CODE 9

On the basis of a series of releases over the last 2 years, grime owes a debt of thanks to stateside labels. Starkey's label ventures 'Seculasis' and 'Slit Jockey' are well documented fans having released music from J Sweet, Numan and Mella Dee but 'Hot Mom USA', an imprint run by DJ Shiftee who only yesterday released an excellent 'US meets UK' mixtape alongside Elijah, is the latest to give grime's unsung heroes a platform.

This time it is Spooky who has been chosen to provide the goods with 'Code 9', a surprisingly different chest-plate rattler to be released on September 3rd. Listening to Spooky's radio / club sets, it is sometimes easy to forget that aside from his bullish reworks of grimy favourites like Preditah's 'Circles' or Faze Miyake's 'Take Off', hs is an excellent producer. 

Code 9 seems less complicated, less erratic and more focused than previous endeavours. My initial reaction upon first hearing it was one of quiet satisfaction as opposed to immediate rewind which may not sound completely positive but in hindsight, probably is. I think what I'm trying to say is that, for me, this is Spooky's most palatable single release for some time. Whilst his flair for making 8-bar classics is obvious, Code 9 just seems that little bit more considered, more in keeping with the grime that is starting to make headlines outside the genre's steely confines. Remixes from fellow hidden gem Moony, his a glorious little 2-step rework, and Wheez-ie and Star Eyes are also well chosen and take the original in new and exciting directions. A genuinely impressive release from both label and artist.

Code 9 will be available to purchase digitally as of September 3rd from all good online outlets.

Spooky - Code 9 [Out 3/9/2012] #MOM003 PREVIEW by spookybizzle

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: LIFE AT 140

'Life at 140' is a new monthly feature I'll be providing for Clash Music, documenting my take on the best music and events from the world of grime each month. August's edition features music from Royal T, Spooky and Moony plus news of a Butterz tour, Maybach and Faze Miyake's FWD debut. 

Check it out via Clash here: http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/life-at-140-1

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: THE UPFRONT PROJECT

Incredible line-ups, cheap entry and a fantastic venue all underpin London's newest and most exciting Friday night, The Upfront Project. Hosted at the newly-refurbished Lightbox in Vauxhall, The Upfront Project aims to showcase dance music in a whole new light with names from across house, techno, garage, disco, funky and just about everything in between being brought in to light up South London's clubbing forecast. With Jam City, Ben Westbeech, Darling Farah and Paul Woolford all having played the night's opening dates, the calibre of future guests remains just as strong with Cooly G, DJ Rashad and Simon Baker all confirmed to play over the next few weeks. In short, a quite brilliant new club night.

Keep up to date with The Upfront Project via Facebook here: http://on.fb.me/PrtcZO

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: MELLA DEE - RUFF CUTS EP

Hot off the back of his release on my in-house Coyote Records imprint, Doncaster's grime virtuoso Mella Dee is back with another solo outing, this time via Forefront Recordings. Forecast for a September 10th release, the 'Ruff Cuts' EP gives us another insight into Mella's undoubted potential and sees him dabble in and out of a variety of bass-driven sub genres. A producer with a comprehensive back catalogue alongside Woozee under the excellent Mista Men guise, Mella's recent solo forays have all shown promise and Ruff Cuts is certainly no different. 

'Gassed' is a down-tempo bassy house cut with strong grimy undercurrents, underpinned by the sampling of Crazy Titch's infamous dispute with a taxi driver and oozes dance floor swagger, whilst 'Fazed' continues the trend but instead opting for a more mellow, summertime feel. 'In The Bits' rounds off proceedings in similar fashion, uniting elements of grime, garage and house in a style Mella has made his own in recent months. Great stuff. 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SR X UA MIX 010 | BLOOM

The tenth installment of Uncle Albert's collaborative mix series with Sonic Router sees Belfast's Bloom take to the stage with a great introductory 70-minute mix. I managed to catch up with grime's most intriguing new face on life in Belfast, radio influences and the incredible success of 'Quartz' too.

Read / listen in full over at Sonic Router: http://bit.ly/Qx5XQP

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: SWINDLE

In my latest piece for Clash Music, I caught up with precociously talented man of funk Swindle, on everything from cutting his teeth alongside Danny C to Butterz and his forthcoming debut album on Deep Medi. 

Read it via Clash here: http://bit.ly/QLck2n

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: FORMULA RECORDS PRESENTS | WEDS AUGUST 8TH | EAST VILLAGE

Wednesday August 8th sees the latest installment of Formula Records nights at esteemed London Night spot, East Village with Terror Danjah, Formula protege Notion and Hyperdub's Ill Blu to join label boss Champion on the night to celebrate the best in grime and funky. With Terror Danjah ('Dark Crawler' feat Riko), Notion ('Digits') and Champion ('Crystal Meth / Speed') all fresh from recent releases, you can expect a glut of fresh, upfront material too. 

Here's a few recent mixes to get you in the mood:

Notion | Sonic Router x Uncle Albert Mix 009: http://bit.ly/Nl53l0

Ill Blu Xlr8r Podcast: http://bit.ly/QmEm43

Champion live at Butterz vs Hardrive: http://bit.ly/M2UUOB

Terror Danjah live with Boy Better Know: http://bit.ly/N12yH4