July: 9 breaks releases you need to hear this month

Feiertag 'Uncanny Valley' (The Enigma Corporation)

Diverse New York imprint The Enigma Corporation drops its fourth release this summer, courtesy of Feiertag. ‘Uncanny Valley’ draws you in right from the start: its bright, shimmering chords and warm, emotive vocals give the track a soulful edge, but it’s the striking live drums that really make the impact. This is delicious, downtempo breaks with a punch; the perfect party-starter for the floors, early doors.

9/10

The Wiseguys 'One For The Ladies' (Bombstrikes)

Featurecast kicks off his new ‘songs that influenced me’-style compilation with The Wiseguys’ horn-laden and jazzy affair ‘One For The Ladies’. Here, classic hip hop vocals are chopped up over funky beats and soaring strings on one of those 90s-style big beat cuts you almost forgot how much you loved.

8/10

v (XVI)

South London’s Munro first caught our attention back in 2016 with his magical house-meets-breaks fusion ‘Lilo Times’. He returns to XVI on a similar vibe here, bringing more of those rhythmic, percussive beats and jumpy basslines that really do the business. A solid release, packaged with a carnival twist.

7/10

Near 'Impel' (Sam Binga remix) (Pretty Weird)

Genre-blurring UK stalwart Barely Legal unleashes her hotly anticipated new label Pretty Weird, with Bristol’s Near heading up the first release. Fellow Bristolian Sam Binga ups the energy factor on his remix of ‘Impel’, crafting high-octane, shuffling beats around sub-shaking bass and dark undertones; it all makes for a fantastic introduction to the label.

9/10

Shy FX 'We Just Don’t Care' (Insanity)

Shy FX switches things up on this release, dropping his usual d’n’b style in favour of tribal beats and rumbling bass. Shingai Shoniwa’s vocals bring r’n’b flavours to the mix as it builds patiently with more percussion and subtle, atmospheric synths. Something refreshingly different, from one of the UK’s finest exports.

8/10

Left/Right 'Bloom' (Broken)

With a debut on Dirtybird, a new compilation on Punks and a recent tune of the month, it’s safe to say Left/Right is on fire right now. Out on his own label, ‘Bloom’ is literally comprised of a simple beat and a synth that slowly intensifies, reaching its climax before dissolving away to nothing. Different, strange and massively effective.

7/10

Taiki Nulight 'I Mean' (Insomniac)

It’s hard for us to pick a favourite track from Taiki’s new EP: each of the four songs are serious stompers primed for the clubs and festivals this summer and beyond. If you haven’t come across this artist yet, ‘I Mean’ gives you a true taster of his trademark sound featuring fierce, industrial stabs and twisted, techie hooks. Definitely worth checking.

9/10

Slick Shoota 'Do Right' (Pitch Rider)

Pitch Rider proudly unveils its very first solo EP after signing up Norway’s Slick Shoota, who lays down two turbo-charged juke cuts on ‘Do Right’. On both tracks, energetic clappy beats join rich, jazzy chords while subtle influences of jungle and rave creep in throughout. A lovely taster of what’s to come.

8/10

Khésis 'Shards' (Saucy)

Khésis is the name on everyone’s lips at the moment. With releases on labels including MTA, Broken and Eton Messy, the Hungarian rising star has returned to Saucy to demonstrate his versatility by expertly blending breaks, juke and a healthy dose of trap. It’s an experimental, peak-time battle weapon from one of our favourite artists in the scene.

8/10