Eden Samara ‘Rough Night’ (Local Action)
Best described by Eden Samara herself, ‘Rough Night’ is a “coming of age story” told in eight parts, one for each track on the album. “I think well into our adulthood we still go through cycles of losing ourselves and finding ourselves again, so the album encompasses a cycle of growing pains, then coming out the other end where one might appear the same but inside something has shifted,” she explains of the record. Captured through silky production and bubbling synths, Eden Samara takes a step away from lending her vocals to other producer’s tracks and creates something vastly different to her contemporaries. On her debut album, Samara muses on love, self-acceptance, and sexuality, with contributions from the likes of Shanti Celeste, Loraine James, and Peach.
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Wisdom Teeth V/A ‘To Illustrate’ (Wisdom Teeth)
In the first of (what we hope is) many more compilations to come, K-LONE and Facta’s Wisdom Teeth imprint bring together 10 tracks from artists across the globe - from Miami to Seoul - to commemorate the bass label. All sitting “around the 100 BPM mark”, ‘To Illustrate’ spans the breadth of dance music from dubstep influence on Henzo’s ‘Whirlpool Vanish’ to the hip hop notes on Facta & K-LONE’s ‘Kiss Me, Can’t Sleep’, and Salamanda’s intoxicating synth-led track.
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Pearson Sound ‘Red Sky’ (Hessle Audio)
Opening with some feisty hi-hat action, this EP from Pearson Sound doesn’t surrender. Coupling techno and trance, this four-track project is mysterious for its slow pace yet typical fast drum beat. ‘Sinkhole’ is the best example of this as its squeaking telephone dialled sound and bassline contrasts the sweeps of strings that float into the record. ‘Red Sky’ uses an assortment of techniques to become something unusually satisfying.
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Headie One ‘No Borders: European Compilation Project’ (Relentless Records, Sony)
Although for much of 2022 it may have seemed that Headie One has dedicated his time to jumping from city to city, basking in the glory that the previous years of hard work have gifted him. he’s actually been linking up with some of the greatest talent European rap has on offer. The project this has produced, ‘No Borders’, not only allows the talent and versatility of Headie to shine but sheds light on artists such as the Parisian Gazo, German sensation Kalim and Berlin-born Luciano. It breaks down the walls throughout the European rap scene, with hits such as ‘22 Carats’ and ‘Cloud’ sitting front and centre of a vital body of work, which feels like something we always needed to hear.
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Coco & Clair Clair ‘Sexy’ (Nice Girl World)
Hyperpop sensations Coco & Clair Clair have created a dreamy soundtrack to the life of an IT-girl. Feel-good lyrics are sung with auto-tuned vocals that always seem to tell the tale of being a boss bitch. ‘TBTF’ is a self-indulgent track that features them saying words of affirmation at a slower and clearer pace compared to other songs on the album. ‘The Hills’ is unlike the others, building from heavenly guitar, the song has UK bassline spirit to it and a perfect feature from hip hop artist DEELA who nails the vibe.
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DJ Swagger ‘Fleg’ (ec2a)
In the latest release from Dr Dubplate’s Original Pirate Material series on ec2a, German producer DJ Swagger traverses the dark, bassy depths of the 140 BPM ocean with a four-tracker that spans knotty two-step, frenetic techno and enveloping, volatile dubstep. First track ‘Sssweat’ is a no-nonsense wobbler, meandering between nail biting speed garage and plunging low-end. ‘Confu’ strips back the bells and whistles in favour of atmosphere and percussion, while the decadent, scorching basslines and keening synths of ‘Ghos’ wrap eerily around a sample of female laughter. Last track ‘Crotch’ brings us slap bang back to earth with its hefty, confining drums — though glittering synth stabs provide ample respite.
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V/A ‘Ugly Drugless Remix Compilation’ (Big Dyke Energy LDN)
Composed of remixes of Ugly Drugless and DJ Sweat’s 2021 EP ‘Bangers & Trash’, all provided by friends and family of the London-based queer party and label, this isn’t your average rework record. Angel D’Lite speeds up the squelching acid and staccato Northern vocals of ‘Pingerz for a Tenner’, inserting some bolshy breaks and glorious atmospheric synths. While Fiesta Soundsissy reimagines the low-tempo bass and kicks of ‘Hey Boy’ into a frenetic footwork track, Big Dyke Energy residents FAFF transform the electro-adjacent ‘Titties’ into a dreamy trance record for their ‘fisting our way to heaven remix’. Combined, all three deliver tantalising, tongue-in-check bangers primed for the dancefloor. With all profits going to trans platform We Exist, It’s well worth a cop on Bandcamp while it's still hot!
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Timmy Regisford ‘Source Of House’ (Nervous)
Having been producing dance music, and specifically house music since the 1980s, New York legend Timmy Regisford brings eight fresh cuts to one of dance music’s most enduring labels, Nervous Records. The record is a tribute to Afro house and Afro disco, featuring lush, warm pads, vocals and instruments, blending them with classic house music rhythms and electronics.
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Lord of The Isles ‘Night Of The Endless Beyond’ (ESP Institute)
As the Scottish producer’s second full-length album, ‘Night Of The Endless Beyond’ is a beautiful exploration of sonic loveliness – like a warm aural hug. Containing many of his trademark ambient beatless moments, he also incorporates techno and house elements for a listening experience that is never one-paced.
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Marcel Dettmann ‘Fear of Programming’ (Dekmantel)
Berghain resident and techno icon Marcel Dettmann drops a full LP via Dekmantel, more than a decade since his last. On top of his usual barnstorming techno fare, there are lush beatless moments, scary electronic workouts and a deep vocal exploration with Ryan Elliot on ‘Water’.
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