April: 8 electro releases you need to hear this month

Mr C 'Incidents' (Superfreq)

One of dance music’s last great characters, Richard West (aka Mr C) has enjoyed the kind of career most producers could only dream of. In addition to cutting his teeth as an MC in London’s pirate radio circuit and becoming the frontman of chart-toppers The Shamen, West is also widely credited with revitalising London’s club scene when he opened The End alongside Layo Paskin of Layo & Bushwacka! fame. His new album, ‘Incidents’, kicks off with the gloopy acid of ‘Entry Search’, with other highlights including the propulsive breakbeats of ‘A Civil Dose’, the guttural ‘Acid Fever’ and stodgy electro of ‘Do It For Me’. There are a few missteps, of course – the rap on ‘Stand Up’ sounds a bit dated – but both the unnerving ‘Raid’ and caustic ‘Ripple Effect’ are pure gold, and proof that West can still craft forward-thinking club weapons with ease.

7/10