June: 6 bass & club tunes you need to hear this month

v1984 'Pansori' (Knives)

Knives, the label run by Kuedo and Joe Shakespeare, apparently had v1984 in mind when they first started putting out records back in 2014. The Planet Mu-affiliated imprint specialises in releasing work from futuristic electronic artists that all use disparate elements in their productions (see past JG Biberkopf and Jlin releases), and v1984’s latest really does fit into the catalogue well. The Cleveland-based producer (real name Christopher Ramos) takes motifs of hip-hop, classical music and the oft-cited ‘deconstructed club’ to create his own captivating auditory realm. Album opener ‘SPfiNAL TAP re-JUVENescence’ swells, blisters and finally de-crescendos to make way for ‘Too Much’, in which a moody squarewave melody haunts its way between trap-style kicks. Closing track ‘beauty_UT5INYR-H3D’, meanwhile, features some heartbreaking piano above mechanical whirring and droning samples that repeat things like “it’s… in your head”. This is a record you have to listen through a few times to really get – not because it doesn’t sound good the first time, but rather so you can truly appreciate the scope of the project Ramos is taking on here. It’s subtle, introspective and navigates the liminal space between club music and experimental ambience skillfully.

8/10