Kode9: DJ Kicks (Studio!K7): 2020 - LP

I've never heard the original mix from which these selected tracks came from (i rarely have the patience to listen to mixes these days), but I'm curious as to how Kode9 - Hyperdub label boss / University lecturer / author / DJ / Musician - manages to find the narrative thread common to all these tracks. Which is a long-winded way of saying that this compilation is pretty eclectic. Opening with a trio of strong vocal-led garage-variant efforts. My favourite being the sultry lo-fi shuffle of 'Mr.Mister' by oddball US duo J*DaVeY (check out their really strange self-released double LP)

Lone's mesmerising 'Once In A While' fuses together several distinctly British threads of dance music into one superior musical bookmark. Possibly the most euphoric underground dance hit you'll hear all year. Sticky has been busy producing his own style of so-called 'Dirtypop' - where he hopes it will “...forge a blend between the credible street sounds and the pop music industry.". But that's all a smokescreen for what has been a tepid run of records....until 'Look Pon Me' turned up. A hyper-kinetic grind of jarring strings, confident rhythms and Natalie Storm's seductive drop.

Mujava (he of 'Township Funk' infamy) impresses with the minimalist dancehall march of 'Pleaze Mugwanti'. Maddslinky's stand-out moment, 'Cargo' from 2003, still sounds relevant today and he still hasn't really made sit up and take notice since then to be honest. Other contributions from the likes of Rozzi Daime, Morgan Zarate, Scratcha DVA, Terror Danjah, Grievous Angel, Aardvarck (who's been producing dance music since 1993) are worthy, Im just too lazy to write anything about them.

SBTRKT: 2020 (Brainmath) - 2 x 12" originally released April 2010
Appointment: Revolutionary Approach (Appointment) - 12"
Appointment: Reel 2 Real (Appointment) - 12"

I only got the SBTRKT 12" 'cos Nicole from Soho's Sounds of the Universe said it was really good and he was her mate. But the heavyweight 45 cuts over 2 pieces of vinyl in pretty packaging appealed anyway. What I ended up with was incredibly polished and razor-sharp missives in contemporary bass music. The standout being the garage-inflected shuffle of 'Pause for Thought'.

As anonymous as it gets, Appointment are part of the LiveJam crew who have been responsible in the past for knocking out some seriously murky techno. The USP here is that everything has been recorded live on strictly analogue gear. Both 12"s (vinyl release only, no digital) possess the rough texture of Jeff Mills' output and the rhythmic inventiveness / weirdness of early Black Dog material. It's the woozy piano riff on the second A-side track from the first 12" that always gets me. Alien, mysterious and dark: just how I like my techno to be. The second release treads a safer path but is no less interesting. Beats crunch and snap and melodies are morose and weighed down by pressure. Check the last track on the B-side for accomplished evidence.

Rhythm & Sound: See Mi Yah (Remixes) (Burial Mix) - 4 x 12" originally released February 2006

Ricardo Villalobos faffs around with trumpet parps for 10 minutes whilst the two Ras' (Donovan and Perez) interject with wise sayings from the book of Rastafari. As Villalobos remixes go, it's one of his more interesting ones, but that's not saying much. Vladislav Delay takes the prize on the first 12" with his "melancholic discotheque" vibe. The subject of much discussion from this series of remixes but for all the wrong reasons is Francois K's looping jungle re-take of 'Lightning Storm'. I've seen it described elsewhere as amusingly anodyne. But the truth is its lazy, overlong and just plain awful. Only partially redeemed by Soundstream's fun uptempo rubbery house.

The third 12" in the series brings out the big techno guns with Basic Channel veterans Hallucinator (who are actually from London) take 'See Mi Yah' and perfectly conjure up a dark, expansive, constantly evolving vista against Willi Williams' upbeat delivery. Whilst I was never convinced of Sleeparchive, he does at least seem to offer the most unpredictable version with his fun take on 'Dem Never Know'. Starts off all atonal and brooding before introducing the most chirpiest melody line ever committed to dubby techno. Vainqueur amplifies the echo and dispersement for a more beguiling abstract take on 'Rise & Praise'.

Carl Craig - their number one fan no doubt - offers a very skewed, angular revision of the excellent original ('Poor people must work'). Taking Bobbo Shanti's gruff vocals and dropping them thru innumerable plug-ins. It ends with an astonishing remix by Basic Channel themselves. A propulsive future-bound techno mantra that's probably loaded with way too much sub-bass for its own good.