Natural Partnership EP vinyl

The mysterious Lord Tusk inaugurates Levels, a new record label that's emerged from the good work Dalston based community radio station NTS is doing. Levels has been founded by Jon Rust, who presents the No Boring Intros show on NTS as well as being involved in the Standard Place parties with celebrated selector Oneman, so there's a degree of curatorial kudos that encourages further investigation. And those who do with be rewarded with the Natural Partnerships EP, which largely occupies the mid tempo end of the beats spectrum but still offers some notable stylistic diversity. Lead track "Natural Partnership (Hightower mix)" has that bass heavy instro hip hop feel to it that feels like the sort of Northern Sulphuric Soul Mr Scruff peppers the early doors of his extended sets with, and the remaining cuts veer a few BPM skywards, characterised collectively by the electrically charged compressed nature. The final Arms House remix of "Female Bodyguards" is a particular delight.

INKSWEL (HOT SHOT SOUNDS / BBE)