Levels Vinyl & CDs

Review: Last year, Estonian pairing Ajukaja & Andrevski delivered one of the most unexpectedly delightful 12"s in the Rare Birds EP for Jon Rust's emergent Levels label with the title track a particular highlight. Our applause goes out to the Rust man for coaxing further extended house cuts out of the pair for another fine Levels 12" in the shape of Looking For Something That's Not There. If you've had a dance to Call Super, the Hessle crew, Lakuti or even Rust himself, lately you should be familiar with both tracks here. "Looking For Something That's Not There" operates on a plain of gliding bliss similar to "Rare Birds" whilst "Mesilind" is a tougher drum track with some delightfully strange yawning vocal samples.

Review: As a selector for the Standard Place party and host of the excellent No Boring Intros NTS show, Jon Rust already commands a formidable reputation amongst those that know. It's becoming increasingly evident Rust's eye and ear for sonic excellence is making his Levels label one to watch. This second release throws the spotlight on Estonian producers Ajukaja and Andrevski and is a real delight! Ajukaja is something of a musical hero back in Estonia and we suggest you check out the Porridge Bullet label he runs if you like what you hear on these three tracks. Drawing their formative interests in industrial and ambient sounds into the deep house template, Ajukaja and Andrevski are on most impressive form with A Side cut "Rare Birds" which positively glides in a manner akin to a Tallin-born Mr Beatnick. Do not sleep on this!

Review: Though he describes himself as sound curator, Free-jay, lighting designer, and therapist, the Renaissance man known as Lord Tusk is perhaps best known for his work as a producer, and was first brought to attention via the debut release from the Levels label. At the time of release, the Natural Partnerships EP was officially daubed 'fairly indescribable' thanks to it's gleeful tempo shifting, though the mastery of hardware Tusk demonstrated was wholly auspicious. Having just made an appearance on Apron, Lord Tusk is now back on Jon Rust's label with Escape From Babylon and the four tracks will be ear candy for anyone who loves pounding drum machine rhythms. Be prepared to hear this beating down dancefloors for months to come!

Review: 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.

Review: Benji B, Jamz Supernova, Shy One, and Scratcha DVA have all been giving this one mad props and hardcore support, and it's easy to hear why. It is a welcome follow-up from South London's James Massiah who saw big success with his 2019 hit EP Natural Born Killers. It comes again on Jon Rust's Levels imprint and makes some of his most rich work yet. It autobiographically explores the peaks and valleys of 21st-century love, life, and relationships with seamless rap flows and signature neon beats that all take cues from dancehall, dub, acid house, grime, and leftfield pop. Gritty yet shimmering it is a great new addition to the UK's current rap scene.

Review: To date, Ruutu Poiss has released a trio of 7" singles, the majority of which joined the dots between left-of-centre synth-pop, MPC beat-making, and melodious electronica. Here the Estonian producer flips the script, popping on Jon Rust's Levels imprint with a pair of spacey, Motor City deep house cuts. "Kiiged" sets the tone, layering deep space synthesizer pads, alien chords and eyes-closed melodies atop a jazz-flecked, broken house groove. "Noad" is an even deeper affair, with more obvious Detroit influences - not to mention nods to '90s ambient house and intelligent techno - amongst the hissing cymbals and undulating synthesizer motifs.