You'll note a touch of megalomania amongst my selection this month but I make no apologies. If you're releasing records and you don't think they're worthy of being top of your pops then maybe don't release them?
You can hear my latest chart HERE.
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1. J. TIJN . Half Empty Half Full EP (WNCL Recordings)
PRESS RELEASE: J. Tijn makes a welcome return to the Cassette Library for his second EP on WNCL Recordings. Once again, the boy wonder explores musical worlds outside of his perceived comfort zone ("HEHF"), gets his bleep on ("Fat Controller") whilst ensuring the die-hard raving crew are kept happy ("Malaria"). To round things off, we're also treated to the next installment in the beat-heavy Decimated series ("Decimated #8").
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2. WEST NORWOOD CASSETTE LIBRARY . 5th Anniversary EP (WNCL Recordings)
PRESS RELEASE: WNCL Recordings continues the 5th Anniversary celebrations with this
appropriately titled 4 track EP of underground goodies from label boss,
Bob Bhamra - a selection of unreleased and previously dubplate-only
affairs from the Cassette Library vaults...
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3. KEVIN McPHEE . TW EP (WNCL Recordings)
PRESS RELEASE: To help us celebrate 5 years of WNCL Recordings, Kevin McPhee has returned to the label - and this time, he's on the creep...
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4. 2NDSUN . Solar Souls EP (Youngbloods)
FROM Free Breaks BLOG: 2nd Souls serve up some flowing choral bassy techno goodness in the
forms of ‘Lose Control’ ‘Revelation’ ‘Peak’ and ‘Come Home’ melodic and
stomping at the same, the remixes from the likes of West Norwood
Cassette Library add extra sheen to an already polished package.
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5. LUCA LOZANO . Outer Space EP (Super Rhythm Trax)
I've seen "Outer Space" described as a rave pastiche or some such boring, lazy, journo go-to phrase which is to underplay what a fine track it really is. (NB: The juno clips below are the wrong way round).
I've seen "Outer Space" described as a rave pastiche or some such boring, lazy, journo go-to phrase which is to underplay what a fine track it really is. (NB: The juno clips below are the wrong way round).
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6. PHYSICAL THERAPY . Hit The Breaks (Liberation Technologies)
6. PHYSICAL THERAPY . Hit The Breaks (Liberation Technologies)
I'm kicking myself for not snapping up some of these tracks for WNCL when I first heard them. But no matter. Hit The Breaks (Bonus Beats) has now taken up permanent residency in my record bag.
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7. MARQUIS HAWKES . Sweet (Houndstooth)
7. MARQUIS HAWKES . Sweet (Houndstooth)
An EP that is crammed with goodness - two solid, killer House cuts in "When I Get Home" and "Sweet" plus a cheekily titled nod to Relief Records which, unsurprisingly in Hawkes' hands, is quite perfectly executed.
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8. AJUKAJA & ANDREVSKI . Looking For Something That's Not There (Levels)
8. AJUKAJA & ANDREVSKI . Looking For Something That's Not There (Levels)
Completely missed this on release but I kept hearing the B side, "Mesilind", on radio without realising what it was. Luckily the penny dropped before they all sold out.
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9. KASHAWAR . Nobody Jams EP (Project London)
9. KASHAWAR . Nobody Jams EP (Project London)
It's rare these days to go to a record store, be passed a recommended release from a friendly member of staff and actually agree that it's a 'must-have'. The lead cut is a 2-step, sub bass, scratch up affair that's right up my street. Thanks to Nick at Phonica!
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10. STL . Listen Up! (Mutual Friend Recordings)
10. STL . Listen Up! (Mutual Friend Recordings)
Peckham collective snap up some deep as you like STL tracks for their sophomore release. "Wrong" is all kinds of right.
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