Common People

Some Saturday afternoon entertainment for you lot. Cheers to a certain Tom Brook for the link...

Wankers of the Month!

Out to George Osborne, Vodafone and the UK Police for winning our inaugral 'Wankers of the Month' award!  

Prizes for all our winners include hefty bonuses in spite of national austerity measures, as much help as they need with tax evasion and law bending, as well as £150 worth of offshore bank vouchers.

Asked to comment on the award, Georgie had this to say..

 Quite.

Melé

After hearing Braiden play one of his bits on Rinse FM and being blown away, I followed up on the name he gave on the I.D, and found Melé.  

Imagine all the best elements of the Night Slugs sound blitzed into one tightly produced ball, basted liberally with funk and given a dutty lick of dancehall, and you still ain't even close.  Easily the best thing to come out of Merseyside since Joey Barton's tache.   

'Digits' (on the souncloud) is the one for me, but that may be because i'm a sucker for them TLC vocals and a big brash house synth.  Seriously though, if you don't want to look a sucker when this guy blows up, which is imminent, then get to know now. 

Go here http://www.myspace.com/ukmele

Or here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mele/164299988743?ref=ts

Maybe here http://www.mixcloud.com/krissymele

Review- Untold R&S 1009

R&S are coming at 2010 hard.  Being a label of some pedigree and prestige in the dance world they could probably expect to get the finest cuts from producers sending them material, but their form this year goes way beyond that, and I suspect it has a fair amount to do with the appointment of both a new label manager and an A&R (more about that here) who have clearly got their collective fingers firmly on the pulse. 

Following on from essential releases from Pariah, Model 500, James Blake and Space Dimension Controller R&S 1009 comes from Hemlock boss Jack Dunning, AKA Untold.  'Stereo Freeze' and 'Mass Dreams Of The Future' both bear some sonic resemblance to the R&S of old in the frantic energy and busy synth lines, but both tunes are given a solid backbone by Untold's classic, stabbing basslines.

'Stereo Freeze' is old school electro revitalised for todays dancefloors, building quickly to a dizzying height before dropping into a tumultuous, pulsing burst of energy, familiar to anyone who's witnessed an Untold tune destroy a dance before.  Acid basslines and stabbing chords intersect the pace, hisses and clunks working together breathlessly to create a post Detroit soundscape. 

'Mass Dreams Of The Future' eases up slightly, allowing more space to focus on the beautifully constructed rave keys and subtle sub bass.  As to be expected, tight production allows for the perfect amount of space in the mix, buzzing synths sit just right above a shuffling beat, kept pacy by a tight percussive backing.

Release date is 8th November, check out audio on Chemical.

Zombies

About a year ago VBS.TV put up this trailer showing the loveable pharmaceutical encyclopedia and worlds skinniest man/hipster crossbreed Hamilton Morris travelling around Haiti, on a quest to explore the legend and possibilities of real life (or death?) Nzambi, or Zombies.

Finally, finally, finally after a ridiculous wait the first part is up here and is, as expected, dark as fuck, informative, funny, and not to be missed.

Wut by Girl Unit Out Today!

One of the most hyped tracks of the year, 'Wut' by Girl Unit is out today on Night Slugs.

I wanted to just say 'Go cop that shit bitches!' but I should probably attempt to describe to you the genius of this track.  The pure, bliss laden R&B synth line is what does it for me, and probably you, but crisp 808 drums tied to a deep, roving bassline and a sample that should probably be annoying but somehow isn't make this yet another Girl Unit anthem.  

Clearly my descriptive abilites aren't up to this task, but if its not enough for you to know that Oneman, Bok-Bok, Ikonika, Jackmaster, L-Vis 1990 and indeed anyone whos ever known anyone who's anyone have been rinsing this beat all summer, then your a hopeless case.  

Flip side 'Everytime' is more in a Flylo meets Rick Ross meets Joker hustling vein, and 'Showstoppa' also does the biz, a track so triumphant that I genuinely swaggered involuntarily walking to the shops.

Go cop that shit from Boomkat.

Trainerspotter/Wigflex

Trainerspotter are hardly underground anymore, but if you don't know by now, then it's time to fix up.  I've been following the UK label for a while, and the deep colours coupled with the fresher than fresh designs, especially on the sweats, don't disappoint.

Another label/brand/record label/club night/world dominating corp you need to be aware of is Nottingham based Wigflex.  No doubt you've heard about their absolutely next level line ups in Notts, and now Manchester but the real understated flex for me is the clothing line. 

Tight logos, tight colours, tighter presentation (comes in a printed box!) and well made make for essential wearing.  Head honcho Spamchop has been previewing some new designs via his facebook page which look better than ever before, and should make below par christmas present buying as obsolete as university.  The more you buy, the faster we get out of the recession.  Fact.

VBS

If your looking for some quality viewing this weekend, you could do worse than to check out vbs.tv who have got a fucking plethora of very interesting documentaries, including Shot by Kern which has got titties, or Hamilton's Pharmacopeia which has got drugs and zombies.

However, skate show Epicly Later'd is now in its second season, and the focus of the previous two episodes has been the hilarious but absolutely next level skater Antwuan Dixon who is literally a smoking, drinking, fighting, tatooed advertisement for becoming a pro.  Seriously, the dude takes slurring words to higher levels, check it.

Iraq War Logs.

This has already been a shitty week.  In a few weeks/months/years time, when the severe cuts made by George Osborne start to hit home, this will no doubt look like an even more shitty week,  a retrospective D-Day, or whatever headline style tag you wish to put on it.  However, as shit as things are undoubtedly going to be, we have had a constant reminder of perspective staring us in the face since 2003.

The Guardian, along with a few other left leaning publications have been posting and updating the Iraq War Logs leaked by whistleblowing website Wikileaks, another 400,000 odd files of which have been released today, and analysed by the paper.  The full extent of the deception by both the US and UK government on matters such as civilian casualties,US authorised tortures and murders by the Iraq police cannot be truly understood without personally assessing these files, and nothing I can say could properly convey how horrifying and truly saddening they are.

Go to, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/datablog/interactive/2010/oct/23/wikileaks-iraq-deaths-map

Next DMZ announced!

Just announced by Mala on Dubstepforum, the next DMZ 12" will be, as ever, two of the most highly anticipated tunes yet.  

Due for release in around three weeks according to the man himself, the plate will see Mala's long awaited steppers anthem 'Education' bw the absolutely daft 'Horrid Henry' courtesy of the unimitable Coki, a dub which absolutely took Outlook festival apart.


Poor quality audio is drifting about on yootube but I would advise waiting for the release, DMZ pressings are always absolute top notch, dogs bollocks quality so just hold tight!

Swiss Family Robinson Podcast

Our Bristol based bredrins Louis and Miles, AKA The Swiss Family Robinson have got round to recording the next instalment in their always fresh, always clean Swisscast series.  Featuring up front tings from Synkro, Maddslinky (AKA Zed Bias) and the best/only good thing to come from Milton Keynes, Versa and Rowl, of whom you'll be hearing a lot more about from us. 

Its up now at http://www.mixcloud.com/swissfamilyrobinson/swisscast-008/ and its a lot, don't sleep. 

Scuba-Triangulation (Interpretations)

Few can argue that Scuba's 'Triangulation' album was a collection of some of his finest work to date, and one of the best releases of 2010 so far.  A stellar cast of the most exciting producers around have been drafted in to re-interpret selected tracks from the album, and are due to be released mid November on Hotflush.


Apple Pips man Joe completely re-works standout track 'So You Think You're Special' bringing his trademark percussive mastery to the mix and an alternating, ever present piano loop adding a disconcerting air to the sparse beat.  Other remixers include Aus Music's Will Saul and Mike Monday whose remix of 'Latch' justly earned itself its own 12" alongside the original.





New Yorks finest Falty DL applies his honed two-step wisdom to 'On Deck' with a nice jazz lick on the side, Canadian producer Deadbeat offers a wicked dubbed out percussive house mix of 'Tracers', Scuba himself re-edits two tracks, 'You Got Me (I Got You)' and 'Before (After)' and man of the moment Deadboy also imagines 'Before' albeit in a futuristic, euphoric jungle/two-step/breakbeat fusion.

As mentioned before, out mid November available on Digital, CD or 3 x 12"

Review- 'Worth the Weight. Bristol Dubstep Classics'

The impact that the city of Bristol has had on Bass music is immeasurable.  Since emerging in London, the dark, gritty and spacious new sounds that were being pushed at clubs such as FWD soon found themselves abducted and altered, as the ‘Bristol Sound’ forged its own identity.  Early adapters such as Pinch, RSD, Appleblim and Peverelist quickly found their own niches into which they could mould the sub bass sound.

‘Worth the Weight’ celebrates the many facets of Bristol dubstep.  Released on Peverelist’s Punch Drunk label, it's a coming together of all the big Bristol producers, labels and tunes into a two CD compilation which epitomises the unique bonhomie that binds the Bristol scene together so tightly.       

Genre defining classics such as Pinch's sparse anthem 'Qawwali' or RSD's  'Pretty Bright Light' sit comfortably next to more recent efforts from the likes of Dubboy, Guido, Hyetal and the duo Wedge and Shadz.  One of my favourite tunes of all time 'Roll With the Punches' by Peverelist rightly finds a space, and makes this worth the purchase alone in my opinion.  Any further doubts can be assuaged by a glance at the full tracklist below, and if you haven't already got your finger hovering over the 'Buy Now' button, the CD version also contains a photo booklet and sleeve notes from the famous 'Gutterbreakz' blog.

CD 1

1. Pinch 'Midnight Oil'

2. Peverelist 'The Grind'

3. Gatekeeper 'Tense Past'

4. Peverelist 'Roll with the Punches'

5. Appleblim 'Vansan'

6. Pinch 'Qawwali'

7. Forsaken 'Hypnotise'

8. Headhunter '7th Curse'

9. RSD 'Pretty Bright Light'

10. Komonazmuk 'Bad Apple'

11. Appleblim & Peverelist 'Circling'

12. Pinch 'Lazarus'

13. Forsaken ft Mr Jo 'Into the Sunset'

CD 2

1. Smith & Mighty 'B Line Fi Blo'

2. Dubboy & Atki2 'Tiger Flower'

3. Joker ‘Holly Brook Park’

4. Guido 'Mad Sax'

5. Hyetal & Shortstuff 'Ice Cream'

6. Pinch 'Get Up' (RSD remix)

7. Jakes '3kout'

8. Wedge & Shadz 'Running away' (Guido remix)

9. Gemmy 'Bass Transmitter'

10. Guido 'Orchestral Lab'

11. Dubkasm 'Hail Jah' (Jakes remix)

12. Joker 'Stuck in the System'

13. Hyetal 'Pixel Rainbow Sequence'

Review- Rockwell Reverse Engineering

If you haven't already, please commence hyping about the fact that the most original tune of the year is released today.  If 'Reverse Engineering' by Rockwell is not already in your possession, make it happen sooner rather than later.  A track made solely with backwards samples is no doubt an innovative idea, but the track goes well beyond its own concept, and requires more than one listen to truly appreciate and to overcome the truly disorientating effect the sound of the samples has at first, but as with most classics being challenged is part and parcel of the enjoyment, certainly no less true here.  A thread with 10,000+ comments on the Dogs on Acid is further testament to the importance of this release.   

'Everything (& U)' on the AA side offers a more conventional effort, but with no less depth.  An Autonomic friendly sound, bearing all the marks of a tight as yer like Rockwell production, this one is more for the eyes down crew and well worth the purchase.

Out today on a heavyweight Darkestral plate, I cannot impeach you enough to NOT SLEEP ON THIS ONE!

Cop it- http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/servlet/Info?Track=LARTSEKRAD

Interview - Dom Hz

Manchester native Dom Hz has been around for a while, whether you knew it or not.  Early days spent watching and subsequently MC-ing at Drum & Bass dances around the city provided a vital tutelage in how to make beats to make you bounce.  Though mainly Dubstep centred these days, he also does a deep line in Garage, Bassline and his first love, Drum & Bass.  We pinned him down for a quick chit chat…

PYC- Introduce yourself to anybody who might not know Dom Hz, who are you/what do you do on the daily?

Dom Hz- Well, my names Dom, I make tunes. People like some of them and I make a small amount of money every now an again.  I DJ at any clubs willing to have me, I’m a resident at Hit and Run in York every Wednesday and the music I make is mostly Dubstep, Garage & Drum & Bass.

PYC- How did you get into the production game?

D- I played keyboard from a young age and taught myself basic chords. In high school I was a big fan of Rhazel and started beatboxing, which led to MC-ing to drum n bass.  When I left school I went to Mancat music college and learned Cubase.

PYC- Has coming into production from an MC background affected your style?

D- Yes and no, yes because recently I’ve been doing tracks and remixes for MC’s and vocalists and it has helped me to understand their point of view, but at the same time I’ve always kept that aspect away from my production, and nowadays I don’t MC at all, but its definitely helped.

PYC- Who are your musical inspirations?

D- Too many to list! My first real music love was Drum & Bass so any early Pendulum, Hazard etc, but my inspiration for production comes mainly from UK Garage, producers like MJ Cole, Zed Bias and Todd Edwards. I used to love hip hop like AIM from Manchester and obviously Wu tang.  Closer to home Synkro was obviously a huge inspiration to me, early Dubstep influences from Skream, Distance & Headhunter.

PYC-What software do you use to make tunes? I’ve heard that you sample your own voice, that true?

D- I’ve always used Cubase SX but recently I’ve upgraded to Cubase 5.  I play around in Ableton and Reason occasionally and yes I have been known to use my voice in tracks, I hummed the intro to 'Don’t Stop' and I often use beatboxing underneath my drums.

PYC-What would be a dream collaboration for you?

D- I would love to make a tune with MJ Cole, with Luther Vandross on vocals!

PYC- Coming up in the Manchester scene, you've seen it grow at a rapid rate, what's the best thing about it?

D- Being a part of it I suppose!

PYC- Who is the best producer in Manchester at the moment?

Dom- Biome, also the most underrated.

PYC- Coming from Manchester, have you found it hard to get support from DJ's based in the south?

D- Yes at first, but I started getting plays from Jim Syte from Open Earz and then Beezy started playing my tracks on Rinse.  My main label 'Subdepth' is based in Bristol so I get a lot of love down there. I think London’s a hard place to get heard because it’s so big and there’s so many people and producers there, but its early days yet.

PYC- Outside of Manchester, what producers are doing it for you right now?

 

D- Vandera, Phaeleh mainly, loads of others as well but those two stand out for me.

PYC- What releases have you got lined up?

D- Quite a few! I’ve got a digital release coming on Subdepth’s new imprint ‘Subdepth Hollow' which is a heavy one, ‘Soldierz’ and ‘Why Not’ we’re trying to sort out a remix for one of them. I’ve also got a 12" on Subdepth featuring my girlfriend Helen K called 'You' which features a bassline remix! ‘Pull up’ will be coming out on Open Earz Black with a flip from von Boyage, a few tracks on  Subdepth’s first bass music compilation CD, a couple of dubby tracks on Bristol’s '2 Kings Records' and of course the Ministry Of Sound compilation (‘Adventures in Dubstep and Beyond’)  is in the shops now.

PYC- Got any wise words to pass on before we go?

D- Fuck the politics and the money; it’s all about the music at the end of the day.

More at..

http://soundcloud.com/domhz

http://www.myspace.com/subdepthrecords

Shackleton on Fabric Duty!

For latecomers and those at the back, the word is that Shackleton, purveyor of dread laden beats since day, has compiled the next Fabric mix CD.

Expect a reflection of the mad energy seen at his live shows, and a selection that will take you into deeper territory.

Release date is 6th December.

Butterz T-Shirts.

Heads up.

I personally think these Butterz T-Shirts are swagtastic.

The label of the same name they run has been consistently on point this year, and via the blog/label/Rinse FM show, the duo have become a major force for good in the often frantic, fractured Grime scene.

Check out what a serious blog looks like at www.butterz.co.uk/ and get some Grime learning up in yo head.

Twitter, Tweet. Twoo.

Twitter is at www.twitter.com/pycsessions

Follow?

Bok Bok XLR8R Mix.

XLR8R have been doing it better than most for a long time.  Keeping their collective finger on the pulse as always, they have enlisted Night Slugs head Bok Bok to compile the latest podcast, it's more than a doozy, don't miss out.

Review- Space Dimension Controller - Temporary Thrillz E.P

Space Dimension Controller makes music that makes you dance, and there is no excuse for not being aware of this by now.  The 20 year old from Belfast is the embodiment of the phrase ‘hotly tipped’ and not without good reason. 

Inexorably making its way into the underground consciousness was 2009's absolute anthem 'The Love Quadrant' which was by a long, long way my track of the year, and an almost tangible sonic embodiment of euphoria.

SDC's new five track E.P 'Temporary Thrillz' is due to be released around mid October by R&S Records, who return to form this year with huge releases by the likes of Pariah, James Blake, and Model 500.  Make no mistake, its a major release.  Standout track "Transatlantic Landing Bay" has been a personal favourite for a while. Shuffling hi-hats move uplifting keys along beautifully into a now trademark funk laden synth. 

As usual, this E.P defies categorization, perhaps for the best.  Too much time is wasted on articulating on whether Space Dimension Controller makes Funk, Space Funk, Cosmic Disco, and any other galactic themed genre on which you can add 'Funk.' 

 However, the Funk label is indeed a fair one, but SDC also oozes class, proven on the sublime 'Simmering Emotion' which sounds like the beautiful love child of Dam-Funk and, well, Space Dimension Controller.  Title track 'Temporary Thrillz' moves along briskly, with a warm analogue feel and pulsating synths that Scuba would be proud of.

This is an incredible release, and the double pack vinyl offers two locked grooves and a coloured vinyl for much the same price as a standard E.P, so don't sleep!

Cop it here-http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/servlet/Info?Track=RS1008

Welcome.

Welcome to the Pyongyang City Sessions blog.  We aim to bring you fresh reviews, interviews, mixes, links, Ustream sessions, events listings and hopefully more from within and around the bass music centred scene. 

We hope to be interesting, relevant and reliable, and we won't post rips or leaks.  Please get in touch with me (Dan) if you feel you have something to contribute.