Moktar ‘North Africa’ (Steel City Dance Discs)
Fit for an atmospheric late-night drive, Moktar’s recent release on Steel City Dance Discs, ‘North Africa’, is a rolling electro cut that intensifies throughout, eventually breaking down into a harder club beat. On the track, Moktar explores his African heritage fused with Middle Eastern sounds, which will get a further expansion on his forthcoming record ‘Immigrant’. “Through ‘Immigrant', I wanted to highlight the struggle many people all over the world go through to be accepted while representing the community in Egypt, North Africa and Australia,” he says of the record.
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Call Super ‘I Love Like Your Men’ (Can You Feel The Sun)
Call Super’s first release in a year lands via his imprint, Can You Feel The Sun, as a two-tracker dedicated to opera singer Kamala Sankaram as a result of “playing her astonishing performances in clubs”. ‘I Love Like Your Men’ pushes the boundaries of UK techno and electro overlaid by an ethereal vocal sample and cherubic strings in, what Call Super explains, “a tribute to the undated diaries of Samuel R Delaney”.
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Jorja Smith, Joy Orbison ‘Rose Rouge’ (A Decca Records, Universal)
Reimagining Jorja Smith’s 2020 single ‘Rose Rouge’, Joy Orbison replaces its original jazz orchestra with his own electronic orchestra, exposing her vocals to a new entity. Emphasising the drum beat - as you would expect - Orbison brings a build of bass that gives this track a club edge. Dropping into the gentle rise of a synth, Jorja’s vocals are much more dominant in this version with the lyrics “I want you to get together” repeating throughout.
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X CLUB. feat, Pretty Girl ‘Only If U’ (Steel City Dance Discs)
Out on X CLUB.’s new EP ‘Public Disturbance’ this track itches that itch. The atmospheric techno is more of an experience than just a song. Featuring vocals from Melbourne’s Pretty Girl and a mean drum beat, this single is sure to be played at clubs all around the world. Dipping into a gloopy bass drop, ‘Only If U’ takes you on a journey we wish would last longer than five minutes.
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Conducta ‘Lessons’ (Kiwi Rekords & Supernature)
Conducta is back and with a belter of a track. Twisting the Amen break with springs of sound effects, he has made a playful single that will get you bouncing around the room. Londoner Elheist hops on the mic with some looping lyrics keeping it interesting. Tis’ a pièce de résistance of UKG.
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Borai ‘Lights On’ (Higher Level Recs)
It’s a rare treat when an Amen break can give you a warm, cosy feeling inside — but the steady, joyful synths on Bristol bass don Borai’s ‘Lights On’ give those feverish stabs a soft edge. Silky lasers bounce through the consonant, breezy bass as the track picks up the tempo, leaving enough breathing room to take in the reverberating vocal sample murmuring “lights on.” All-in-all, it’s proper last track at sunrise material. We dare you to give it a listen without memories of hugging your mates while trying to think about the cloakroom queue.
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DAPHNI ‘Clavicle’ (Higher Power)
Daphni is back! Marking Dan Snaith, AKA Caribou’s first full release under the moniker since 2019’s ‘Sizzling’ EP — the 14-track ‘Cherry’ LP released this month is packed to the brim with delectable ear worms full of otherworldly production and his signature, buoyant optimism. Our favourite from the hefty list has to be ‘Clavicle’ — a deep, filtered track that marries together shuffling kick drums, warbling synths and sparkling bleeps and bloops; creating a track that is simultaneously deep, eerie and lighthearted.
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Cinthie ‘Keeping Strong’ (AUS)
Following her excellent contribution to the iconic !K7 ‘DJ Kicks’ series earlier this year, which was packed to the rafters with high quality house music – Berlin-mainstay Cinthie continues much in the same vein with her latest release on AUS. ‘Keeping Strong’ starts off as a low-slung groover, but builds, builds, and builds more into a glowsticks-in-the-air ‘90s-inspired anthem.
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