Juno Recommends Bass: July 2022

Review: Following some great releases by Bakongo and Stefan Dubs, Big Hands is next up on Trule with three dubbed-out percussion jams. Layers of drums and sparse synths all run through intricate delays on this hypnotising release. On the A side, lose yourself in the deeply meditative atmosphere of 'Aperta' (Improv 1) featuring trumpeter Abraham Parker, who appears again on the low end theory of '278 Dub' (Improv 2) which then receives a minimal techno dub remix by Al Wootton over on the flip.

Review: Two The Hardway is back with more bonkers brilliance. 'Who Said' is lithe, bumpy and twisted electronic music that draws on bass, acid and wave for its mysterious vibe and intoxicating groove. The vocal version is dubbed out and layered with dub-wise vocals that give it an even more tropical feel. 'Hot Number' then brigs some hypnotic sax lines over dagga-tinged beats, weird sound effects and an evermore powerful rhythm. A Test Pressing Version spins out on jungle beats and then the dub of 'Blossom' reigns this wonderfully chaotic and unconventional EP to a close.

Review: Sneaker Social Club is one of the UK's most consistent and somehow underrated labels and it has been for a while. This next offering is another mangled take on various forms of bass and hardcore music from Filter Dread. The opener 'Talk All Low' is a real face melter with warped bass and rudely vocals. 'Underwave' is a more twitchy and paranoid affair then 'Space Beams' layers up more hefty bottom ends and twisted synths. The second half of the EP offers acid flashes, dystopian bass and spaced out breaks on closer 'Data Temple'.

Review: Peruvian duo Dengue Dengue Dengue and Argentinian Prisma combine to fantastic effect on their first ever collaboration here. This is a hypnotic EP with cascading synths, ever churning rhythms and wires electronic mixed with a sense of ancient dancing rituals to make for something entirely new and fresh. Colliding polyrhythms and powerful FM synth lines define each of the tracks from the suspensory opener to the more dark and twitchy 'Breachas'. 'Grietas' is a stuttering and swaggering cut that has hallmarks of dubstep and reggaeton then DJ Python makes the latter more explicit on his remix before 'Pliegues' (Verraco remix) closes on a wildly textural and broken up rave vibe.

Review: Pseudonym's first outing of the year is a genre-bridging affair from Soreab, with a hefty remix from Pugilist. All five cuts cross the spectrum of bass, IDM, techno and in between sounds. 'Myth' opens with nice silky jungle rhythms and smeared chord work, 'Serac Fall' brings a more broken and jostling rhythm with monstrous bass and trippy effects and 'Ages Of Anxiety' has a sense of optimism in the melodies which dance over lively drums. 'Decisions' (feat Nativ) gets more roughed up and physical then Pugilist rounds out with some icy hi hats and rubbery bass.

Review: Club Designs label head Garneau is a beat making astro who lands here on the Thirty Year Records label with Vancouver Slab party series producer Max Ulis. The Canadian underground mainstays combine to great effect with these club ready sounds that combine bass, booms and beats into potent tracks. 'Do It' layer sup jostling breakbeats with twisted synths, 'People' is a ghetto tinged house banger and 'Tulip' has a classical violin sound doing dances over deeper techno. 'Mr Sub' is a high speed thriller.