Footwork / Juke Recommendations Best Of 2016

Review: This debut release from footwork crew Teklife's label sees them pay tribute to DJ Rashad, the late, great innovator who passed away in the spring of 2014. Afterlife gathers together a collection of DJ Rashad tracks co-produced by Rashad's close friends and associates, including DJ Spinn, Traxman, DJ Manny and more. As the label themselves state, this 14 track album really conveys the wealth of musical influences and knowledge Rashad possessed with soul, hip-hop, house, techno and many more all brought together at 160 BPM. "Afterlife is our tribute to our friend and our inspiration. Rest In Peace DJ Rashad," Teklife write. Enough said. A must for all fans of Rashad.

Review: The second release on the Teklife label sees the latest album-length journey through footwork from collective mainstay DJ Earl. Obey artist Shepard Fairey provides the retina-searing artwork for Open Your Eyes and the music within leaves as much, if not more, of a lasting impression on the senses. Alongside contributions from fellow Teklife artists MoonDoctor, DJ Manny, Taso and DJ Taye, perhaps the most surprising individual involved in Open Your Eyes is Oneohtrix Point Never, aka Daniel Lopatin, who features on three of the album's tracks as well as being credited on mixing duties. After the celebration of DJ Rashad's legacy that launched Teklife, this second release sees the collective's position at the forefront of the footwork movement further reaffirmed.

Review: Fresh from his "Hammerhead" escapades on Aquatic Lab, Dave Jones dons his Zed Bias guise for another slippery bass session on the good ship Exit. This time he takes the footwork formula and twists it inside out in a way only he knows how: "Driftin" soothes with jazzy chords and velvet vocals from Zoel Violet, "Fever" is all about the dense physical drum arrangements while "Hipbounce" is a sonic sandstorm of soca and occasional UKG bass belches. Unique as always.

Review: Teklife alumni Tripletrain makes his debut on Baltimore's Araca with two delicious slices of uptempo breaks. Hopping and switching somewhere between jungle, footwork and drum & bass, both cuts fit Araca's formula-free attitude perfectly. "Try To Believe" is a soft focus, dreamy juke joint with subtle shades of dub laced throughout the track and militant amen structures on the fills. "Never Could Be" rolls with hurricane Detroit minded synths and a shuffling kicks that create a lolloping sense of momentum that refuses to let up. Icy.