February: 10 big tunes you need to hear this month

1 B.K.R. & Jamie Jones

'Bubble & Squeak' (17 Steps)

The work of former Leeds producer Simon Baker (the clue is in the surname) along with the Hot Creations boss who needs no introduction, this bubbling UK house instrumental shakes, pops and hisses in all the right places. Nice drop too.

2 Mark Ronson feat Kevin Parker

'Daffodils' (Amtrac & Blu Jemz Night mix) (Columbia)

When Mark Ronson posted this new remix online at the start of December, the reaction from everyone from Disclosure to Seb Chew was the same: it’s turned the already excellent ‘Daffodils’ into, well, roses.

3 The Martinez Brothers, Jerome Sydenham & Matthew Jonson

'No Pop' (Cuttin’ Headz)

Well, this is one collaboration we didn’t see coming! The latest on The Martinez Brothers’ Cuttin’ Headz imprint is as weird as it is wonky, and it sounds like the sort of acid that Green Velvet likes to drop from time to time.

4 Calibre

'Over The Top' (The Nothing Special)

The return of former d’n’b prodigy Calibre is always something to be excited about, and this is one of 12 new tracks from the new album on Craig Richards’ Nothing Special label that could have made this page. In the end, we decided to go for this serene instrumental.

5 The Bucketheads

'The Bomb' (Kölsch rework) (Positiva)

We heard Kölsch play an incredible, radical re-tweak of ‘The Bomb’ up in Manchester recently and asked who was behind it… even though we had a sneaky suspicion. Let’s hope this bootleg rework sees the light of day in the spring.

6 DJ Octopus

'Stay Away From Inked Girls' (Hot Haus)

Some interesting advice here from DJ Octopus, who hails from Italy and may or may not have eight arms. His new EP, meanwhile, is led by the raw jam ‘Hong Kong’ and our pick, a crisp slab of jacking underground house which references The Goodmen’s ‘Give It Up’.

7 Patrick Topping

'Yes Chief' (Kaluki Music)

Formed in 2006, Kaluki’s had an excellent run so far with releases ranging from Max Chapman to Citizenn, and it starts 2017 with an excellent VA EP lead by Patrick Topping, whose early rave-inspired jam (“This is the sound of jungle coming through!”) is underpinned by the most malevolent bassline we’ve heard in aeons.

8 Bicep

'The Game' (Catz N’ Dogz remix) (Aus)

There seems to be a new slab of Bicep vinyl every month, but in the case of this brand-new and beautifully blissed out house mix, it’s a remix of the 2013 Aus classic. All versions here are new reworks from Polish producers Grzegorz & Wojciech, who are undeniably on form.

9 Jagwar Ma

'Give Me A Reason' (Michael Mayer Does The Amoeba remix) (Mom + Pop Music)

Jagwar Ma are one of the few rock bands still capable of pushing things forward, and this late-night Moroder-ish mix from Kompakt’s Michael Mayer, with its distinctive “And left/and right!” vocal, follows hot on the heels of his new !K7 album and continues that trajectory.

10 Huxley & Mark Fanciulli

'Preset' (Moda Black)

“Change the preset! Change the preset! Stand right here next to me!” So intones the voice on ‘Preset’, a fierce yet funky slab of Amnesia techno for UK and Ibiza floors alike. Big Tunes favourite Huxley is joined by Nic Fanciulli’s young brother Mark here: we like.