Fatima Al Qadiri ‘Mojik (Your Waves)’ (Hyberdub)
Released as the lead single from Fatima Al Qadiri’s upcoming album on Hyperdub, ‘Mojik (Your Waves)’ is a deeply haunting, introspective track that implements a scattering of the NYC-based artist’s distinctive sonic trademarks. Using the same minimalist approach heard in her eerie film scores as well as 2021’s critically-acclaimed LP ‘Medieval Femme’ — Qadiri’s sparse, yet encompassing array of synths ripple around fellow Kuwaiti Gumar’s soul-stirring vocals like ocean waves, with each distinctive tone slowly making its way to the surface before disappearing beneath the track’s depths.
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Match Box ‘Cyber Sunshine’ (GODDEZZ)
Silly hour warehouse music at its very finest, ‘Cyber Sunshine’ from Amsterdam duo Match Box deftly combines ‘90s golden era rave euphoria with intricate modern bass. Employing frenetic electro synths, rolling junglist basslines and jubilant synths, the track is equal parts spellbinding in its complexity as its nostalgia.
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Chloe Robinson and DJ ADHD ft. Nikki Nair ‘Get In The Bin’ (He.She.They.)
Think you’ve heard kick drums? Think again. Impossibly wobbly, this collaboration between Chloe Robinson, DJ ADHD and 140 BPM maestro Nikki Nair is a masterclass in down-and-dirty, spine-tingling bass. All slamming kicks and slick hats, ‘Get In The Bin’ is destined for the precise moment in the club where you can’t remember what time it is, where your keys are or your surname. We all know which bin they are on about here, amiright!
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Silvestre ‘Party’ (On Loop)
Portuguese producer Silvestre brings a generous helping of startling, giddy electro-acid for the principal single from his upcoming EP debut on Moxie’s On Loop imprint, ‘Osaga’. Consisting of speedy percussion, old skool synth stabs and a searing acid riff, it’s the unexpected referential elements that really set ‘Party’ apart. Samples of jungle MCs and glaring rave horns are interwoven through a haunting prayer-like vocal cacophony. Part spy caper, but all thriller.
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James Andrew ‘Mr Sparkle’ (Nothing But Nice)
After a two-year wait since their previous release, London’s Nothing But Nice are back with their third outing ‘The D Floor Express’, produced by the label’s co-head honcho James Andrew. The B-side’s opener ‘Mr Sparkle’ is our highlight – an unapologetically retro affair, featuring dreamy-yet-squelchy game boy synths and strings all over a driving tech-house groove.
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Francesco Farfa ‘Laser Beam (Alex Neri Remix)’ (Air Trance Communications)
In a collision of Italian old-school nostalgia, longtime producer and DJ Alex Neri has remixed a track from Florentine ‘90s underground legend Francescco Farfa, on record label Air Trance Communications, which released its first record in 1995. The song is a banger regardless of eras, opening with eyebrow-raising shouting samples, before launching into a peak-time funky, menacing acid workout built for systems with some heft to them.
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I. JORDAN ‘M1, M3’ (Fabric Originals)
In a recent interview with Mixmag alongside the producer of the record’s flipside SHERELLE, I. JORDAN explained that their latest release was inspired by a single night where they played three gigs in Greater Manchester, with the title ‘M1, M3’ a nod to their postcode locations. Filled with pads that just seem to build, build and build some more – the track is massive. It’s fast-paced yet dreamy, the perfect soundtrack to long car journeys in outer space.
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Baby Rollén ‘Automated Reply’ (Not For You)
Slump Recordings head Baby Rollén comes in hot and heavy this month with ‘Automated Reply/OOO’, a double-tracker on Jive Talk’s Not For You imprint. A-side roller ‘Automated Reply’ supplies that feel-good trance touch with an air of ominousness - a driving Italo-infused cut with a menacing bassline that’s sure to stay in your head for days.
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Benga ‘Skank (Holloway VIP)’ (self-released)
London’s Holloway takes on rework duties of Benga’s first ever dubstep release from 2002 with ‘Skank (Holloway VIP)’, a classic made fresh. Recreating the original samples used in ‘Skank’, the producer’s revamp stays true to the Music 2000 sound that Benga first toyed with to create some of his earliest tracks. “‘Skank’ is such a seminal track that has stood the test of time and continues to slap wherever it gets played,” says Holloway on the classic cut.
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Sloucho ‘EVERYTHING’ (CABAL)
Fresh-faced and ready to take on the world of club music, Ireland’s Sloucho makes a serious statement with the glittering vocal number ‘EVERYTHING’, the first part of a two-track release coming in March. From post-dubstep ambience to euphoric club readiness, Sloucho’s next venture follows the release of his debut ‘HOLD IT DOWN’ in 2022, with a live performance of the producer’s forthcoming dual single ‘READYMADE/EVERYTHING’ landing on Valentine’s Day.
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gum.mp3 ‘Cellphone (Redux)’ (Spectral Sound & Ghostly International)
p-rallel ft. KAM-BU, BXKS ‘Evening Time’ (4ZA Music & Black Butter Limited)
What a line-up of artists all in one place. p-rallel gets you raising your gun fingers to this banger, drawing together some heavy vibrating bass and fiery lyrics. KAM-BU’s bars alone are enough to hype you up, but when BXKS jumps on the mic, it’s the perfect wheel-up moment. We promise you, you’ll find it hard to sit still listening to this one.
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Stormzy (Rema Remix) ‘Hide & Seek’ (Universal Music)
Refashioning the original, Rema has added his own touches to this emotional track with an Afrobeat remix that sits perfectly against Oxlade’s melody. Keeping the classic “Girl, you’re shining,” lyrics, Rema adds his own backing before going into his verse. His addition entwines itself with the original sound masterfully, showcasing just how incredible his vocals are. And of course, Stormzy still has his moment to shine.
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TYGAPAW ‘MYSM’ (fabric Originals)
TYGAPAW’s music always feels like it’s tapping into a range of energies:forming potent, forceful techno with radical aims. This latest artistic expression carries on that theme, but it’s less in-your-face and more in-your-head, with a hypnotic, heads-down vibe that’s alluringly compelling. .
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PinkPantheress, Ice Spice ‘Boy’s a liar Pt. 2’ (Sony)
A collab dreamt up in viral heaven — the streets were shaking even before this dropped, when PinkPantheress and Ice Spice were spotted filming the music video by fans on TikTok. When the full video landed it duly broke the internet, and the quality of the music attests to why these two have got so popular. We already knew the naive beat from Mura Masa pairs perfectly with PinkPantheress’ innocently sweet vocals from the track’s original form, while the addition of Ice Spice’s unbothered flow adds an extra layer of edge to take it from heartbreak hotel to an over it anthem.
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Jam City ‘Redd St. Turbulence’ (Earthly/Mad Decent)
Jam City does what he wants. After releasing the definitive club music album of last decade, he moved onto burying feeble vocals among jangly guitars while an entire scene of stripped-back, staccato rhythms developed in his wake. His next album went headfirst into colourful pop music, as he began to produce for stars like Troye Sivan, Olivia Rodrigo and, most recently, Lil Yachty. For his next album, it sounds like he’s back on a dance music tip, which we wholeheartedly welcome. This first taste is frantic and heavy, with vocals from hardcore band Show Me The Body's Julian Cashwan adding to the sweatbox atmosphere.
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