'KicK iii' opens with the line "Oh shit...Arca", and that's exactly the reaction this album evokes. This installment of Arca's ‘KicK’ series is euphoric, futuristic, coherant and unique. It stands out for fusing many of Arca's influences, all while maintaining a consistent club sound. Like the other ‘KicK’ installments, this one is daring and is experimental, but it takes it to a new level. We hear Arca rapping, we hear ballroom-style track Señorita', we hear raunchy lyrics, we hear samples of old hardcore. This hyperactive, vibrant album is enough to keep any listener engaged and takes them on a journey through a world constructed by Arca herself.

Christmas came early when Juke Bounce Werk dropped this monster compilation on December 8, featuring 42 bangers from the bleeding-edge of dance music. It opens on palpitating sounds from Acey, moves through transcendent and chaotic acid from Bored Lord, a subtly menacing club construction from bastiengoat, airy transcendence from DJ FLIP, DJ Puffin’s shiny banger ‘Venus’, Morwell’s deep and atmospher ‘On the Inside’, and more, closing on Rouge Way’s sultry ‘WYA.

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A match made in heaven, the combined production prowess of Local Action regulars Finn and India Jordan speaks for itself. Their shared humour and love of everything that toes the line between euphoric and melancholy makes for some consistently exciting rave records - single 'All About Love/Big B' is no exception. 'All About Love' is part sombre piano banger, part raucous rave tune, whereas 'Big B' settles in speed garage territory - all deep basslines and up-tempo hi-hats, with a little added sporty synth to keep you dancing all night long.

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“It’s Whack History Month” Philly-born Tierra Whack told Zane Lowe at the start of December before she dropped not one, not two, but three back-to-back EPs over the course of the month. Her quickfire mission saw a trio of three-trackers, ’Pop?’, ‘Rap?’, and her latest, ‘R&B?’, each land just one week apart. The ultimate EP in the trilogy, ‘R&B’, shone through. Made up of impassioned opener ‘Heaven’, a soulful track with silky production from J Melodic, ‘Cutting Onions’, and ‘Sorry’, this EP is a sublime end to the sublime of projects.

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After releasing a handful of work this year Session Victim (Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling) concluded 2021 with a stimulating new four-track EP ‘10.000 Hours’ that showcases their classic house sound. Each track has its own unique rhythm: ‘Chunky Dip’ is punchy, ‘MPFree Now’ explores a bright, funky tone, ‘Hide and Seek’ focuses on a deeper and more relaxed sound, and closer ‘House In The Hills’ merges an subtle beat with ambient sheen.

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Following his ‘Heartbroken’ EP dropped in January and his album ‘Period Of Time’ landing in August, Austrian DJ and producer Demuja capped off a busy 2021 with the release of a new EP titled ‘Green Tiger’. The track ‘Bath in Lava’ stands out particularly for its layering of beats and synths, while ‘Off to Paradise’ takes you on a deep house journey like no other.

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Manchester-based producer Sharda pushes the definition of a soundsystem record with his latest EP, a four-tracker that features banging kick drums, euphoric chipmunk vocals, flouncy garage and rolling jungle. On 'High Tide' Sharda says he was inspired by coastal towns in the UK (Blackpool and Margate) and Korea (Sokcho, Busan). This can be heard as the record flits between dreamy, neon synths and erratic happy hardcore melodies.

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DJ SWISHA has to be one of the most industrious artists in the game right now, seemingly never letting up from the steady stream of music he releases into the world. Through it all, the quality never dips. This collaborative EP with New Jersey’s OSSX is real gem, with four tracks merging emotive vocal lines, tightly-crafted percussion, hypnotising pads, a brave reworking of a house classic from Blaze that takes on the task admirably.

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