Traxman ‘I Want U To Ghost’ (Planet Mu)
‘I Want U To Ghost’ is a paragon to footwork’s ability to have you second-guessing if you’ve been transported to 10-years into the future, all-the-while listening to something created 10 years ago. The first single from the forthcoming ‘Da mind Of Traxman Vol. 3’ - Traxman’s first release since 2014 and a collation of his productions dating back to 2005 - is a moody, rapid-fire dance track that combines signature “slaps”, atmospheric synths and a raucous vocal sample to create a dithering dance track that will be rattling around your skull for hours on end; were we expecting anything less from one of Chicago’s most innovative producers?
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DJ Sofa ‘Slowpoke’ (Stereo 45)
Breaks shuffle and scatter over a droning bassline on DJ Sofa’s recent contribution to ‘Portal Tech’, a new four-track compilation via Newcastle-based label Stereo 45. Along with a handful of other jungle frontrunners including Tim Reaper, Nectax, Sketchy Rida and Dwarde, Helsinki’s DJ Sofa adds her dubbed-out take on 160 BPM sounds to the mix with a nostalgic, bone-chilling sample of everyone’s favourite psychic Pokémon, Slowpoke.
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KETTAMA, Interplanetary Criminal ‘Yosemite’ (Steel City Dance Discs)
One of the most talked-about tracks this winter has to be KETTAMA and Interplanetary Criminal’s ‘Yosemite’. Marking their first release together from a pair of banger-producing greats, this banger has both crashing techno and speedy garage stylings, what more could you want?! Merry Yosemas!
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Moonchild Sanelly ‘To Kill A Single Girl (Tequila)’ (Transgressive Records)
South African pop’s forerunning shapeshifter, Moonchild Sanelly, provides a bumpin’ preview of her upcoming album ‘Full Moon’ with ‘To Kill A Single Girl (Tequila)’. Opening with a nostalgic vocal hook, it soon launches into a rolling bassline and a clattering of hi-hats, as she explores the ups and downs of her relationship with tequila, and ultimately being forced to cut it out of her life. “I don’t fuck with tequila ‘cause it kills my joy / I don’t want no tequila, I just want my boy”, she sings, in her distinctively freeing tone.
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DJ Q ‘Leave Me Now’ (Local Action)
Bassline badman DJ Q always delivers. His latest single, the second in a series “aimed squarely at the club”, has a lighter touch than full-scale murk, with twinkling melodies and silky vocals. When it the throbbing low-end rolls in, following a spinback sample, it’s all the more impactful.
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DJ Babatr ‘Rave Rapaz’ (Self-released)
This cut from the ‘Chup!’ EP by Venezuelan raptor house legend Dj Babatr is a rowdy highlight. Riding a pulse of unmistakable percussion, it teases towards an impending climax via cleverly warped vocal samples. When the drop comes, it’s bombastic, with bolshy rave staps leading the way.
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