Peverelist ‘Pulse’ (Livity Sound)
Peverelist marks Livity Sound’s 60th release with his first solo outing in some six years, ‘Pulse’. The four-track EP embodies the past and present sounds of his Livity Sound label with a uniquely unorthodox take on UK techno. ‘Pulse I’, the record’s opener, finds a melting point from darker sonics to atmospheric pads before diving into the percussive chugger ‘Pulse II’. Both closing tracks round off the Bristol-based artist’s next venture through broken kickdrums, looming basslines, and distorted synths.
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Nabihah Iqbal ‘Dreamer’ (Ninja Tune)
Five years on from her debut record ‘Weighing Of The Heart’, Nabihah Iqbal presents her sophomore album ‘Dreamer’ on Ninja Tune. The shoegaze-influenced record takes the place of her long-awaited second album finalised in 2020 which was lost to a burglary. The resulting body of work, ‘Dreamer’, is a reflection on that period and a trip to see family in Pakistan, capturing emotive songwriting and timeless crooning vocals from the producer across 10 tracks. Like a long-lost sister to a Slowdive record decades on, ‘Dreamer’ is sure to stand the test of time.
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Sister Zo ‘Arcana’ (All Centre)
New York-based artist Sister Zo makes her debut on All Centre with the four-track EP ‘Arcana’, a collection of abstract percussive tracks with influence from UK bass and dubstep. Album opener ‘The Hanged One’ sets the pace for the record with a warbling 140 cut making for a killer grime instrumental, followed shortly by the heavier vocal track ‘The Tower’. ‘The Fool’ and ‘The Devil’ bring the EP to its eventual climax turning up the tempo to a swift 150 BPM.
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Tzusing ‘绿帽 Green Hat’ (PAN)
A perfect example of applying high-concept, introspective artistry while still keeping things club-friendly — Tzusing’s return to PAN explores the dominance of patriarchal societal structures over Chinese society. Using frenetic percussion, piercing vocal samples (Tzusing even uses a snippet of Daniel Plainview’s growl from There Will Be Blood’ on second track '趁人之危(Take Advantage)') and splintering techno, electro and new-age club — the artist, who grew up between China, Taiwan, Singapore and the USA, uses his sharp-edged production to create a feeling of disquiet and unease. Even ‘Green Hat’s’ title, comes from a thousand-year-old story of infidelity, reflecting on the double standard experienced by those who don’t subscribe to one-size-fits-all heteronormativity.
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Florentino ‘Xcuse Me/Loka’ (Club Romantico)
Florentino continues to fly the flag for Latin club music on this side of the pond, with the Club Romantico boss sharing his first release in four years by way of two-tracker ‘Xcuse Me/Loka’. The Manchester-based label head looks to his parents for inspiration on the record; The sounds of Bogotá nightlife from his mother, and father’s time in his home city’s acid scene — creating a record that is equal parts referential as it is tantalisingly roguish. ‘Xcuse Me’ layers a frenzied vocal demanding “turn the fucking music up” over grinding percussion and warbling bass; while ‘Loka’ digs into Latin house, before switching it up halfway through into rapid-speed Guaracha.
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Nines ‘Crop Circle 2’ (Warner Music & Zino Records)
Nines has returned with ‘Crop Circle 2’ a sequel to the album that changed his life. Through elicit storytelling, hard-hitting production and legendary features, ‘Crop Circle 2’ sees the artist pick up where he left off, which should come as a relief to the UK scene as a whole. Outstanding tracks include the previously released and revisited track ‘Tony Soprano 2’ as well as, ‘Nothing Like Me’ featuring M Huncho and ‘Calendar’ featuring Aisa, which all elevate from a bar he had set himself with the original album.
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ENNY ‘We Go Again’ (FAMM)
This six-track EP by Londoner ENNY has a Sunday morning written all over it, featuring jazz, rap, salsa beats, raw samples and much more. ‘We Go Again’ is a delicately curated album weaving together tender narratives. Drawing things to a close, the EP ends with ‘Take It Slow’ featuring Loyle Carner, who is a dream fit to ENNY’s style - a match made in heaven.
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Yaeji ‘With A Hammer’ (XL Recordings)
She’s back - and of course with her furry companion. Kicking the album off with a Björk-sounding orchestral track that combines string, flute and finally a drumbeat, Yaeji’s latest album doesn’t shy away from huge productions. More orchestral songs come with ‘I’ll Remember For Me, I’ll Remember For You’ which atmospherically plays with saxophone, piano and that high-pitched Yaeji singing. ‘Fever’ has to be one of the more unusual yet catchy tracks as slightly out-of-tune guitar chops through Yaeji’s fast-talking. Features on the album come later on with K Wata, Enayet, Nourished by Time and Loraine James.
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Mera Bhai ‘Relax Into Yourself’ (Morning Raga Recordings)
Flamingods member Mera Bhai conjures up an immaculate vibe on this six-track solo EP (which features collaborations with Stealing Sheep, Maria Uzor, Joshua Idehen and Private joy). Starting with joyous electronica in the Brainfeeder mould, it moves through sleek house, acid techno, spacious wonk, Indian classical and more in a compelling mix of sounds.
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mmph ‘Harvest’ (SVBKVLT)
Following a debilitating period managing an autoimmune disease through a global pandemic, mmph has emerged from three years of steady bed rest, exhaustion and health anxiety with new album ‘Harvest’. It draws on Korean music he grew up around in Seoul and funnels it through the inclination for experimental electronic tapestries he has since developed, making for an incredibly dramatic, detailed record that feels like a trip to the threate in the bowels of an avant-garde nightclub.
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MC Yallah ‘Yallah Beibe’ (HAKUNA KULALA)
MC Yallah is one of the most incendiary rappers in the world. The East African artist spits bars with the pace of a pneumatic drill but the agility of an acrobat. Her latest album weaves her politicised raps through hard-hitting beats, brimming with charismatic NRG throughout.
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Jim Legxacy ‘homeless n*gga pop music’ ((!))
Genre boundaries aren’t as strict as they used to be, but even so, the collage of sounds Jim Legxacy blends on his ‘hnpm’ mixtape feels radical even for 2023. Samples feel like they can be pulled from anywhere and put into any framework - Disney Channel stars weaved into Afrobeats, notorious drill bars sprinkled through vulnerable emo crooning - and it works: all building a sonic universe that’s uniquely Jim Legxacy.
REZZETT ‘Meant Like This’ (The Trilogy Tapes)
A REZZETT comeback is the perfect marker of 100 releases for legendary London label The Trilogy Tapes. Following five quiet years from the Lukid and Tapes collaborative project, 10-track LP ‘Meant Like This’ immediately thrusts us back into their rough-edged hardcore workouts and it feels damn good. The time they spent away has clearly been put to good use: it’s a detailed, fleshed-out record that accelereates through moments of mania and glides through hazier textures to intoxicating effect.
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