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.