Juno Recommends Bass: September 2024

Review: A full nine years on from the generation-defining smash success that was In Colour, comes In Waves, the upcoming second studio album by former indie band heartthrob come electronic-music matinee idol, Jamie xx. We don't imagine that the success of In Colour is easy to top, so we don't blame Jamie for waiting almost a full decade to follow it up. That said, the lead singles on this one do a pretty good job of marking the album's shift away from the summer-jammy and/or sentimental electronica ballad focus of In Colour; 'Baddie On The Floor' and 'Life' verge on French house and future house in turn, and suggest something of a shift in interest for xx towards the faster ends of things. Jamie xx's intended aim, in releasing label Young's words, was to recreate the thrilling volatility of an 'almost mystical' night out, "one where you return home in the cigarette ash dawn, the specifics of the last eight hours already blurring, but aware that these feelings will remain a crystalline memory." We eagerly await the ensuing, full-length story of heartbreak and introspection promised by the remaining tracks.

Review: Jamie xx's long-awaited new album, In Waves, marks the next chapter in the career of one of the most sought-after producers of his generation. With In Waves, Jamie captures the emotional crescendos and thrilling volatility of a mystical night out. As you return home in the cigarette ash dawn, the specifics of the last eight hours blur, but the feelings remain a crystalline memory. In Waves is a melancholy paradise of bliss, heartbreak, and introspection. It tells the story of a journey where you merge into the divine pulse of shadows, light, and dance floor rhythms. It's a strobe light epiphany about the limitless possibilities and spiritual capacities of humanity. Nine years after his debut solo masterpiece, In Colour, the London producer has not only surpassed the heights of its predecessor but has also rendered all supernatural adjectives and analogies understated. Jamie xx's reputation for creating deeply evocative and transformative music is all found here, setting a new standard for electronic production.

Review: Martyn's 'Vancouver' is back for 2024, but it's had a serious facelift. Two new remixes, released on his own label 3024, take the 2008 dubstep roller into new territory, each adding its own unique twist. Verraco, hailing from Medellin, opens with his MDE Reshape, and it's a rave-ready banger that doesn't mess about. Martyn's signature restraint is still there, but it's been turbocharged with a funky twist, skippy beats, and an otherworldly vibe that feels like you're dancing inside a spaceship with a crew of robots. Not your average club track-this one's for the late-night dancefloor when things start to get weird (in the best way). Then there's Berlin-based Rhyw, who takes things in a much darker direction with his SKG Mix. This version swaps out the skippy for the sinister, featuring a broken, ambiguous beat that keeps you on edge. The bassline hums like an angry fly circling your head, and there's a formidable sense of menace in the atmosphere. It's moody, it's unsettling, and it's exactly what you want when you're three hours deep into a night out and looking for a track to completely flip the room.
Both remixes are part of 3024's Through Lines project, and expertly mastered by Beau at Ten Eight Seven, because of course they are-these are polished, precision tools for DJs looking to mix up the vibe. Two very different remixes, but both guaranteed to get heads nodding, if not fully spinning.