Orbital - Wonky

Orbitals album releases are timeless.  Now 8 years since their last release any discerning electronica fan might have felt that the Orbital sound is complete.  Enter, 'Wonky', Orbitals long anticipated 9th album is finally here and what a blessing it is.  Before anyone fears the worst, Orbital have remained true to their simplistic yet often orchestral sound without being wrapped up by current trends.  However, present throughout the album they have sought to translate the current musical fashions into their own interpretation.  Isn’t that what they’ve always done, which in turn has led to what all those close to Electronica and Techno perceive as the Orbital sound.

Purchase

One Big Moment

One Big Moment is a careful blend of old Orbital peppered with the promise of what’s to come on the album.  Melancholy melody and a stripped back drum pattern and some truly mood enhancing layer building

Straight Sun

Kicking off with a solitary piano and bouncing bass, Straight Sun is learns towards the Deep House genre more than the usual Orbital tech style.  A warm synth melody is the star of the piece whilst Orbital ensures an array of sounds are used throughout.

Never

Never, this emotive piece was released for free download about 8 months ago.  Chord changes and layer building designed to make you smile.  Never, will add a spring to your step and have your arms in the air. Never by ORBITAL

New France (feat Zola Jesus)

New France has a darker feel to it than the album so far, added to this is a sense of urgency, gifted by the Zola Jesus vocal.  Classic Orbital mood building on this one.

Distractions

Orbital are well known for their mini epics.  Distractions is the first on the Wonky album.  Kicking off with a mellow first section, the truly infectious filtered female vocal kicks in before a chaotic, violent mid-section takes hold.  Orbital has achieved yet another piece of music which requires to be fully listened too.  With multiple styles and pattern variations combined to form the whole, Distractions is a must for your ears.

Stringy Acid

Headbending stuff. A nice solid 303 runs through this track creating an old classic sound.  True to the title Orbital make use of the acid sound and throughout there is a good sampling of raw classic effects.  

Beezlebub

One of the more meaty pieces on the album.  Kicking off with a menaning bassline and striding Dubstep beatline this angry piece features bold, almost ear pieceing synth lines and effects.  Beezlebub increases pace mid-way with some old School Drum and Bass rhythms, proving Orbitals production agility.

Wonky (feat Leshurr)

The album title track is a breakbeat number at heart, packed with intriguing sounds.  On the build Leshurr brings a rapid lyricism and with the break comes the true reason for the title of this peace.  Wonky synth and tonal melodies ride over the beat line but the rhythm and vibe also keep to the good side of the dance floor.

Where’s it going?

The final piece to the Album is a purist Orbital techno track.  Pattering acid drops, raw crisp snares and layer upon layer of synth feature here. Mood shifts add intrigue throughout, along with a wide variety of electronic sounds and atmospheres.

Why Does Anyone Ever Do Anything? EP - Lung (Medschool) A true interpretation of this talents style

‘Why Does Anyone Ever Do Anything?’ is Lungs debut solo release on Med School and as promised this 21 year old has created a deep DnB and Dubstep EP which reaches further than his years. Expect laidback vibes here as Lung crosses styles from Garage and Drum and Bass all peppered with his unique touch and including the quality you’d expect from Medschool.

Lung - WhyDoes Anyone Ever Do Anything? EP by Med School Music

Tracks in order… Why Does Anyone Ever do Anything? – Lungs title track for the EP is a blissfully chilled out roller. Featuring the vocals of Rachel K Collier, Lungs subtle use of wistful piano and a deep down sub-bass makes this easy on the ears without losing any depth of meaning for the track itself.

Sky People – A Dubstep piece, with Lungs laidback style at the heart. Featuring solid kicks and some subtle snares Lung also manages to pull in some more rushing hihats, giving the true a bounce.

Asleep In Her Bed – This is where the variety of the Lung sound becomes apparent. There has been big praises for the wonky drum beat on this Dubstep / Electronica crossover. Asleep in Her Bed is where you can find all the clever thinking behind this EP.

Complete Me,Completely – As with the entire album Lung continues to bring a depth of freshness with his sounds. For the discerning electronic music listener, you’ll want to get those headphones on and digest.

From the London Elektricity themselves - "Insanely brilliant and beautiful"

Fau and Deam - 'Life Act' EP, Future Garage and Techno

Polish trio Fau and Deam will be releasing the exotic ‘Life Act’ EP on Dubporn records in at the end of January. The EP features seven hypnotic tracks, leaning towards Dubstep, Future Garage and Techno

Track Listing - Buy on Beatport

A1. On The Brink Of The Borderline 
A2. Never Mind In Neverland 
A3. Long Trip Around You 
B1. Falling Into Pieces 
B2. Blank Faces 
B3. Escape

Entry track, ‘On the Brink of the Borderline’, packs synth layers together over a progressive Garage beat to create a dizzy soundscape.  Following this intoxicated intro Fau and Deam present ‘Never mind in Neverland’.  A Future Garage track at heart, this journey has a melancholy lost feel to it, fitting the title nicely as if to lose the listener in a dream.

On ‘Long Trip Around You’, Fau and Deam take their style to Deep House, maintaining a Dub vibe with the strong sampling and a commitment to layer and atmosphere creation.

Next up is ‘Falling into Pieces’ where Fau and Deam continue their theme of big layers, progressive breaks and shady vibes.  This piece takes a shift for the dance floor at 2mins, where the bass line picks up a shuffle, generating an infectious rhythm.

‘Blank Faces’ is anchored by a down low sub-bass hum.  Complex Garage percussion and a time delayed lead synth add to the dreamy qualities of this hypnotic Dub.

Fau & Deam: Blank Faces by Dubporn Records

To round up this EP is ideal for those solitary moments where the brain can shut down and follow the frequencies in free-fall. 

Order - http://www.cargorecords.co.uk/release/18023

Released by: Dubporn Records 
Release/catalogue number: DP009 
Release date: Jan 30, 2012 

Chalk - Dirt EP Organic percussion and thick treacly basslines (Dubporn Records)

Venezuelan duo Chalk, have unleashed the new EP ‘Dirt’ on Dubporn records.  Chalk has put together five cross genre tracks for all to get their ears on.  With production techniques veering towards organic percussion and thick treacly basslines this EP is destined to sooth in the summer feeling.

Purchase here >>>Chalk 

‘Soulwax’ crosses soul vocals with a Dubstep flavour.  With some pleasant melody changes a phat laidback bassline and crisp breaks Chalk has created a classy little vibe.

Chalk.: SoulWax by Dubporn Records

‘Tricks’ features an absolutely classy snare and kick line.  Whlist rolling along with the beats and a stepping jazz bass line Chalk mixes and matches in a laidback piano melody with a strong, organic feeling trumpet riff.  One for ushering in the summer.

The bassline for ‘Like Glass’ is a winner from the outset.  Chalk has excelled again in pulling off the combination of heavy bassline and laid back vibes to create a hazy journey into jazz, soul and Hip-Hop.

For the final two pieces on the EP, Chalk has gifted the world some cheeky little cuts. ‘After Hours’ is a heavier affair than the other tracks on this EP, representing a short and sweet journey into a chaotic soundscape of high level percussion and aggressive dominating bass.

‘Dirty Strings’ encapsulates a dark, foreboding vibe with a cold melody, full of reverb and some big drums to accompany.

Imaginary Friend - Dark Matter EP (Dubporn Records)

The Dark Matter LP features an array of deep intelligent Dub and Dubstep pieces. Tracks are packed with glitch effects and technical layered melodies making it one to listen to.  If there was one reason to listen to this album it would be for the technical creativity which for the listener will bring out some special moments.

Buy the Dark Matter EP

The album kicks off with an ambient intro, ‘Unbreakable’ which is followed by RCW49. 

Peppered with glitchy ice synth patterns which form intelligently throughout the piece over a low bassline RCW49 is an ominous force, threatening to take the Dancefloor to all sorts of places.

Satellite is a two part journey which builds throughout.  Bringing together a host of raw electronic sounds, Imaginary Friend does some fine work on some erotic vocals.

‘Janavar’, is a staggered stepping piece of what could be described has Garage.  Imaginary Friend has applied his technical styling to the beat line with lots of flickering synth to this warm track.

Imaginary Friend: Janavar by Dubporn Records

‘Unfortunately’ is an atmospheric piece, pulling together a host of samples (known and unknown).  This builds throughout, introducing a thick warm bassline.  On the LP Imaginary Friend has chosen to follow ‘Unfortunately’ with a piece entitled ‘Fortunately’.  It definitely feels like a two part track here as ‘Fortunately’ picks up were unfortunately left of and fuel injects it with some bigger bassline subs and a dominating kick.

Replenish creates a tribal feel by using organic percussion, whilst maintaining the producers overall style.  This track is one for all those Dubstep listeners who want to get their ear on something dark and heavy as well as minimalist and purist.

No Deep to Change sees Imaginary Friend lean onto the Dub vibes.  With a stepping bassline this track ploughs through a clever blend of traditional dub sampling and dark than dark tech drops.

As the Dark Matter draws to close Imaginary Friend throws up the big wobbler ‘Once upon a Time in the Future’.  This piece is followed by the album closer, ‘Not an Exception’ a laidback Dubstep with a nice sub-bass line.

Buy the Dark Matter EP