Staff Picks: April 9th 2021

Review: The third full-length excursion from Toki Fuko (real name Sergey Korotaev), subtly expands on the dub techno and deep techno sounds of his first two sets, offering a string of psychedelic, mind-altering concoctions that sound just as good at home as they would in the club. Most notable this time round is the Russian producer's use of female spoken word snippets - seemingly all drawn from the same source - to add an extra level of mind-melding headiness to his find fusions of IDM, ambient techno, deep techno, dub techno and deep electro. With warped bass, echoing melodic motifs, creepy electronics and punchy beats to the fore, the album is akin to an intoxicating, hallucinatory trip through the farthest reaches of psychedelic electronic music.

Review: This the first in a series of limited Private Society vinyl releases, with special and exclusive songs by American artist Fred Peterkin. The spiritual life music of 'Journey On' is in the vein of his other known Black Jazz Consortium alias, followed by the deep and soulful broken beat of 'More To Be Done'. On the flip, it's all about the 12 minute long, glassy-eyed and bittersweet epic 'Looking At The Sky', awash in syncopated tribal rhythms, gorgeous female vocals and a rich tapestry of ethereal pads. On Private Society Vol 1, the New York turned Berlin resident continues to push further into his own sound, craft and mind.

Review: New Omar S 12" featuring John FM!

Review: Another new week means another selection from Joe Claussell's impossibly steamy and intense reworks. The super limited Manifestations: Long Versions EP 2 collects another three such tunes on one coloured vinyl. First is a dreamy and sun kissed tune from Mental Remedy that is all breathy vocals and noodling solos, then The Bayara Citizens offer a high speed salsa dance that transports you to the south of the Med and beyond. Another one from Mental Remedy cloys out with more afro rhythms and organic, wooden percussive sounds.

Review: Mild Peril took care of the production on this Body Part hit and now it gets a welcome reissue. Since original release this one has become a much sought after hi-NRG, new beat inspired disco gem and for good reason. The corrugated bassline, the tinny keys, the star-gazing melodies all make for perfect dancing material. 'PPPT' has perfect crashing textures for the peak of the night, 'Terminator One' gets more tense and terse, then 'Can U Dig It?' slows to a crawl that is filled with libidinous overtones and sleazy bass.

Review: Fresh from his junglised Hoover1 investigations, Rene Pawlowitz returns to his Shed alias and makes his debut on Pinch's Tectonic with three ace flashbacks to an exciting time of fusion between dubstep and techno around the late 2000s. 'Try' sets the scene with those tumbling, smoky drums synonymous with the time. Set to the backdrop of a rising, psychedelic build and faraway vocal tones, it's a dubby side to Shed we're often teased with but never get to fully taste. It's backed by two more exemplary explorations; 'Box' is dub techno to the very core, all grumbling subs and industrial elements while 'Sweep' brings the four/fours into the mix for a big fat juggernaut finale. What an EP.

Review: Legendary Southern California punk band The Offspring celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Platinum-selling sixth album Conspiracy of One by reissuing it on vinyl. Delivered on a heavyweight slab with a fancy gatefold cover, the reissued version features the bonus track 'Huck It', which was the title track of The Offspring's 2000 VHS/DVD Huck It, and anthemic song that has often been heard behind various skateboard stunts. Produced by Brendan O'Brien who also work with greats like Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen, the record packed din plenty of singles such as 'Want You Bad,' 'Million Miles Away,' and the biggest of them all, 'Original Prankster.'

Review: Man like Jordan Rakei has become a modern neo soul pin up. His solo releases - whether under this name or a more house leaning alias Dan Kyo - drip with sensuality. His buttery vocals always well matched with smoochy beats and deep grooves. To get a window into his music collection is mouthwatering indeed, and a Late Night Yales mix seems like the perfect opportunity to do so. As expect there are jazz moments, deeply soulful sounds, a few of his own exclusives and plenty of candle lit, tender, middle of the night moments of pure musical joy.

Review: On its digital release earlier in the year, Celeste's debut album rocketed to the top of the album charts, thus making her the first British female artist to see her first set get to number one for over five years. Finally available on vinyl in a "deluxe edition" that boasts a couple of bonus tracks and an accompanying booklet, Not Your Muse remains a classy and inspired debut, with Celeste's smoky, timeless vocals fitting producer Jamie Hartman's accompanying backing tracks - a mixture of pared-back folk sounds, lavishly orchestrated easy listening, synth-laden power-pop and fuzzy, retro soul-influenced numbers - like a particularly comfortable glove.

Review: Facta has long been one of the key innovators of rhythm and bass in his hometown of Bristol. His work on Wisdom Teeth is always well regarded and now he steps out with a full length there that builds on everything he has done to date. The rhythms are always inventive, broken, alluring, and the sound design here is pure, brain cleansing and brightly melodic. It makes for an otherworldy album of real charm and sensitivity that has your head lost amorist the ambient clouds one moment, and your feet taping to a gentle beatdown drum line the next.

Review: Nu Groove has long been a bastion of house music quality. The New York label had its heyday in the late 80s and early 90s and still now much of its catalogue stands up. There is everything from deep and dark house to more uplifting and vocal styles, and this collection of high points is an essential one with key acts like Bas Noir, NY House'n Authority and Metro all making the cut. The results are impassioned, soul enriched house music that set out an early template that has rarely been bettered. Essential for any real house head.

Review: Although he never confirmed it when he launched the project in 2006, Blackploid is an electro-fired alternative alias of sometime International Deejay Gigolos artist Martin Mastike - and not, as some speculated all those years ago, a Drexciya side project. You can see why some would have though Blackploid to be a Drexciya product though. This surprise EP for Sheffield's CPU Records is full of Drexciyan tropes, with three out of the four tracks delivering the kind of high-grade, sci-fi-fuelled electro brilliance that we've long associated with the legendary Detroit outfit. Highlights include the thrusting, bleep-heavy brilliance of 'Night Drive', the surging, space disco-influenced heaviness of 'Night Drive' and the raw, angular techno stomp of opener 'Electric Engine'.