Sweet piece of emotive electro from Australian newcomer Dull Reality, real name Ben Shields. True to its title, the song is layered with cut up fragments of Shields’ soprano. The song explores the sense of anxiety Shields felt in the early stages of his partner’s pregnancy with their first child.

I can relate–I was a puddle during that stage of my wife’s pregnancy last year–thankfully though, it proved for me to be the best kind of anxiety because it culminated in miracle. But at a time in the United States when the rights of child-bearing people are being trampled, we should be reminded that the right to the most consequential human choice, and all the anxiety and terror that can accompany it, is hanging by a thread.

Out now for streaming all over, but no bandcamp yet.

Dull Reality – “Fragment” (sc)

Blessing the world with the new vision like it was charity

Very-hard-to-categorize hiphop from San Francisco-based Iranian-American artist grey prince, real name Jubin Pakdel. I’ll admit I can’t subscribe to all of the lyrics in this, but it’s undeniably fascinating stuff. Equally referencing Memphis phonk and experimental club à la HVAD (those incessant rolling kicks!), all within the context of… something else. I’m at a bit of a loss with this one, but I can’t quite stop listening. There’s a lot to unpack here; it sort of feels like it must have been made in one fit of flow state inspiration.

Out now for streaming, no bandcamp.

grey prince – “Charity” (sc)

I long to feel the concrete on my skin

London-based producer es.cher recently sent over this lovely song featuring vocalist Choruses from the Rock (a nice T.S. Eliot reference). Gentle rolling 2-step underpins a vocal collage focused on moving around the city wondering if that person feels the same way about you as you feel about them. A youthful concept that’s easy to associate with, the song makes pleasant a concept that characteristically is not. Pretty stuff for lovers (and the unloved).

The song is out now for streaming, and you can grab it for whatever you wish to pay on bandcamp.

es.cher – “run!” (ft. Choruses from the Rock)

Swarm Intel Vol. 1 is an ace electro compilation out of Goa from the folks at Orbs Cure Labs, and their new label OCL Records. Really nice to see this kind of stuff coming out of India, which has among the richest of musical histories, but is wildly underrepresented in electronic music (but not for lack of quality material!). The first of the selected songs comes from Sri Lankan Nigel Perera, the second from co-label-boss Pulpy Shilpy, both of whom deliver excellent tunes that live in the realm between dub-electro and glitch.

The record is only available on bandcamp, so head over there and support the project.

Worth noting also that Pulpy Shilpy was recently kicked off instagram for posting news related to lynchings in India directed at the country’s muslim minority population, a practice which, in certain ways, has been systemically condoned by the government (e.g., following riots in protest of anti-muslim hate crimes, a local government razed the homes of dozens of suspected protestors). Instagram has obviously pretended its actions are in the name of protecting users against sexual content. Rich.

On yet another note, the name of the compilation–a reference to the collective behavior of systems (incl. AI)–reminded me of the behavior of Jellyfish and Squid. The proliferation of swarms of these creatures due to the effects of climate change and overfishing is wreaking havoc on coastlines across the world, including in Goa. In Japan, for instance, infestations of Nomura’s Jellyfish (those fucking giant ones) have been so intense that they’ve even clogged thermal cooling lines used to keep Nuclear reactors at temperature. The image above is an example of a swarm of jellyfish off the Devon coast (image by Tommy May).

Nigel Perera – “JFRYSHD” (sc)

Pulpy Shilpy – “Rigor Tortoise” (sc)

If you’re into electro and brain dance, we’ve got a big playlist for that.

Qrauer is a duo from Germany composed of a percussionist Christian Grochau and pianist Ludwig Bauer. “Lustend”, taken from their latest EP, Heeded is an optimistic piece of electronica. It’s deceivingly simple at first blush, but culminates in a cut-and-paste flurry of synthetic organized cacophony. “Stardoll”, also from their newest record, is essentially an interlude–sweet and shy, and perfectly titled. The EP is really worth a listen.

Heeded is out now for streaming, or on bandcamp.

Qrauer – “Lustend” (sc)

Qrauer – “Stardoll” (sc)

West Coast wonky featuring an AI-generated version of the late East Coast king. Don’t know what to make of this exactly, but hearing Big say words he never said is a trip, especially in unison with a powerpuff girl. An-Ten-Nae has been hustling for a decade and has crossed my radar several times; this one tickled me though. Only on the artist’s soundcloud, I guess for obvious reasons?

An-Ten-Nae – “Raindrops On Roses” (The Biggie Edition) (sc)

Here I go again posting more melancholy breakcore. Who knew this vibe would recapture my attention after all these years?

This one is from Russian producer bezdarnosti, who sent me this track a few weeks ago. A simple but effective two and a half minute breakbeat workout at 165bpm with some chopped lofi chords and an indecipherable vocal sample low in the mix for good measure. No bass to speak of, but it doesn’t need it, it just works.

Out now for streaming, or pay-what-you-wish on bezdarnosti’s bandcamp.

bezdarnosti – “Rooftop” (bc)

Like sad jungle? we’ve got a playlist for that.

Chicago-based artist K-ORA sent this over a few weeks ago — brooding melancholy ambient for rainy days like the one I’m experiencing right now. Brief enough to be to-the-point, a quality I generally find positive for ambient and drone — “Do You Remember” has plenty of textural detail to grip hold of, making it more than background listening. Not overly concerned with pleasance, but also without any painful dissonance, the song strikes a balance between mood-setting and active listening.

“Do You Remember” is out now as part of K-ORA’s Sphere 2020, a five-song EP that goes beyond the ambience of this song. Only on bandcamp. Definitely worth checking out the whole release if you like this one.

K-ORA – “Do You Remember” (bc)

PS. while this isn’t on Spotify, if you’re looking for a couple of good ambient playlists, check out our Ocean of Ambience and Drumless Rave Explorations lists.

image/ Alessio Trerotoli

Another one from PAPA Sound, the Swedish duo composed of Teddybears’ Patrik Arve and songwriter Paulo Albo, who I wrote about last month. This edit is some nice minimalist dancehall-tech featuring vocalist-turned-chef Jamkid.

The original cut of “Mannen” and the edit featured here are both available for streaming, and should hopefully be available for purchase on the duo’s bandcamp soon.

PAPA Sound & Jamkid – “Mannan” (Skull Edit) (sc)

image/ Månen (the moon) as seen in Stockholm in 1900.

Dreamy breakbeats at jungle speeds from Dallas-based Human Centerpiece. Float away on those pads until you get to site of an Eyes Wide Shut-style ritual sacrifice. Then just go with it.

The song is available for streaming all over, and also on bandcamp as part of Human Centerpiece’s upcoming full length, Surreal Estate.

Human Centerpiece – “My Sacrifice” (sc)

And if you enjoy emotive breakbeats, check out our Xtasy Breakbeats playlist — or if you really like new jungle sounds, check out our jungle playlist.

Milk, a Toronto-based newcomer, recently sent over this song she did with the ever-engaging Jimmy Edgar. Admittedly melodramatic, Milk croons sweetly over this Edgar beat in fabulous fashion. Apparently written to memorialize “a budding relationship, commitment issues, and a lil dash of mental illness”, Milk asks repeatedly on the hook: “Is this my demise? Is this how I die?” — if this is how death sounds, then I’m kinda comforted.

The song is out now for streaming on Spotify, and everywhere else, and is available for pay-what-you-wish purchase on Milk’s bandcamp.

Milk & Jimmy Edgar – “What We Are” (sc)

Robot:86 describes himself as “an inhabitant of a desolate planet where war has been raging since the beginning of time.” London isn’t exactly totally desolate, but there’s no doubt that Albion certainly was the site of near-constant war until the end of the second World War, so allegorically Robot:86 isn’t far off.

Hyper Rewind is Robot:86’s latest maxi-single — and spans from the excellent blown-out filter jungle of “Battle With Hypermind” to the icy minimalist electro of “Rewind the DJ”. Quite deft textural genre exploration on these two, worthy of notice.

Hyper Rewind is now streaming, and is available to purchase on bandcamp. There’s also a Diggers Factory campaign to press vinyl, so get in your pre-order now to make that a reality.

Robot:86 – “Battle With Hypermind” (bc)

Robot:86 – “Rewind the DJ” (bc)

PS. if you’re looking for more modern jungle, we’ve got a playlist for that. And if you’re looking for more electro, we’ve got one for that too.

I got this in the mail recently from BLCKEBY (real name Marco Diamubeni), a producer hailing from Italy by way of RDC. “Columbo” relies heavily on a line sampled from “Hold Up” by famed French rap group 113, who you might remember from their pioneering track “Tonton Du Bled”. BLCKEBY takes a healthy slice of the acapella from “Hold Up” and flips it nice and dark, with some skittering percussion and what sounds like the occasional sneaker screech. Nice and simple take, but very effective.

“Columbo” is available for streaming on Spotify and the like, but hasn’t made it to bandcamp quite yet.

BLKEBY – “Columbo” (sc)

Two more absolute destroyers from Chicago-based KEEFE, who I covered a few weeks ago. While festival season begins untempered and the latest COVID upswing continues, I can’t help but feel like these two tracks still manage to give a new–and less hopeless–meaning to the notion of ‘plague rave’. I like to imagine myself dancing to stuff like this post-apocalypse, complete with new masking styles à la 18th century plague doctors. If that’s humanity’s inevitable future, at least we’ll have music like this to meet the mood.

Both tracks out now for streaming, or as part of Execution Pt. 1 on bandcamp.

KEEFE – “This Cross” (sc)

KEEFE – “Execution” (sc)

(And if you’re looking for more stuff like this, we’ve got another playlist for you.)

Another slice of shuffling club from Malmö’s Slackin Beats, hot on the heels of his stellar previous single, which I wrote about a few weeks ago. This one features Stockholm-based Klara Zangerl, whose voice adds enough glitter to make this shimmer in that way only perfect Swedish pop does. It’s called “24/7 Dread”, but it’s leaving me far more elated than glum.

You can stream the track now everywhere, or grab it on bandcamp.

Slackin Beats – “24/7 Dread” ft. Klara Zangerl (sc)

Nice effective house music from Dutch producer Papi Gaba, who calls this “post-lofi house”. I’m not so sure I subscribe to the idea of adding ‘post’ to anything anymore, especially not a term that’s already got a qualifier. But whatever you want to call this, it’s really silky lovely stuff.

The song is now available to stream, or purchase on bandcamp. And if you’d like to hear more stuff like this, we’ve got a nice spotify playlist for just this sort of thing (whether you call it lofi or not).

Papi Gaba – “Fragile” (sc)

I kind of never thought I’d be writing about breakcore again, to be perfectly honest. But it’s hard not to win me over with well organized breakbeat chops and some satisfying pads. That’s just what New Zealand-based toadmilk delivers on this one. Plus, I give myself some license here, since notwithstanding the intricate-to-the-point-of-chaos arrangement of the amen throughout, this is probably closer to jungle than traditional brain-melting breakcore. Not that these things really matter — it’s just a cool song.

Unfortunately, this isn’t available for streaming on any of the major services, nor has toadmilk uploaded it to their bandcamp. So the only place to listen is right here (or on toadmilk’s soundcloud).

toadmilk – “not enough breaks” (sc)

Following a theme today, more sludgy forward-thinking R&B for you on this cold Monday. Coquinati is a producer from Vicenza who’s spent several of the past years in Korea. He describes his music as inspired by the innovation and development rapidly swallowing poorer portions of large Asian cities like Seoul, and by the tension between the K-pop of Gangham and the underground movements of Itaewon. “Landing” features fellow Italian Noone, whose vocals are pleasantly obscured under a wash of distortion, and set atop a sea of pads and glitch.

You can stream “Landing” now, or grab it below.

Coquinati – “Landing” (ft. Noone) (mp3)

Matthew Santos, aka MA/SA, sent over these two songs from his latest 4-song release, MMXXII. Santos is LA-based, and a two-time grammy nominee for his songwriting work in the late aughts for Lupe Fiasco. Bleary-eyed, trudging hybrid-pop that sits in a similar lineage of dark R&B as does Shlohmo–particularly his work with How To Dress Well. Lovely stuff here; great for a sleepy Monday morning.

You can grab MMXXII on bandcamp, though unfortunately, the second song below seems to only be available for streaming (which you can do on Spotify, or wherever else you listen).

MA/SA – “Pedal To The Floor” (sc)

MA/SA – “In My Breath” (sc)

Bratislava-based Blame Your Genes sent over this bit of infectious 2-step house the other day. As far as I know, not explicitly titled in reference to the war ongoing on Slovakia’s doorstep, its title ought still remind us of the ruin that continues to be left by Russian fire.

It’s hard to find light these days, but I am a firm believer that this kind of horror calls not just for reflection on the atrocities being committed, but also for allowing ourselves moments of joy. Neither should be ignored. While I reflect on the continued suffering of the Ukrainian people, this song brings me some joy today.

You can support Blame Your Genes by grabbing this on bandcamp. And remember to continue to donate to relief efforts in Ukraine; the war is ongoing.

Blame Your Genes – “Ruins” (sc)

image/ Vadim Ghirda

Perfectly simple breakbeat-infused pop from London-based Lothian producer Barry Can’t Swim, who you might remember from his excellent Amor Fati last year on Shall Not Fade, or his prolific string of no fewer than eight singles in the past three years. Not bad for a guy who never learned to swim.

“God Is The Space Between Us” is the first single from More Content, out June 24th on Ninjatune sublabel Technicolour, which has had a really strong run since its inception, with releases from the likes of Octo Octa, UMFANG, Elkka, and DJ BORING, among others. The single features Taite Imogen, a lovely singer who I hadn’t heard of until now, but will happily keep an eye out for in the future, as I will continue to do for Barry Can’t Swim.

Pre-order More Content on bandcamp and get “God Is The Space Between Us” while you wait, or stream it anywhere and everywhere.

Barry Can’t Swim – “God Is The Space Between Us” (ft. Taite Imogen) (sc)

Some sharp-as-hell new school electro from Trondheim based Stefandré. Feel those tom fills.

Unfortunately not on streaming services, but you can grab the track for whatever you wish to pay (or for free) on Stefandré’s bandcamp.

Stefandré – Quiet Before the Storm (sc)

I’m destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it.

“Keep It Real” is a solid AZ-sampling breakbeat workout from Chicago-based KEEFE. This is some of the hardest stuff I’ve posted since I restarted the blog, and I’m not mad at it. I’ve also included another one from his latest–grab the whole 4-song EP on bandcamp for $1 — it’s full of this kind of grit. And all the proceeds from the EP go to Chicago Hopes for Kids, so it’s kind of a no brainer.

KEEFE – “Keep It Real” (sc)

KEEFE – “Do I Think” (sc)

Clean shimmering steppiness from Tel-Aviv based Dawncall and Dresden-based Azaleh. Unfortunately, where I am, winter’s sticking round a while longer, but this kind of vibe makes the cold a touch easier to handle. Grab the song on bandcamp; plus there’s tons more A+ material from both of these producers on their respective soundclouds (I included an older one from Dawncall below).

Dawncall & Azaleh – “Momentum” (sc)

Dawncall – “Laykalar” (sc)

More of that sugary Swedish pop meets bouncy UKG that I can’t resist. This time from Russo-Swedes snackbox and EEVA. Hard not to swish around to these. No bandcamp, but find both of these tracks on spotify or wherever else you stream.

snackbox – “Without Feelings” (ft. EEVA) (sc)

snackbox – “Don’t You Know” (sc)

JKP is a producer from London, and like many of his countrymen, he’s got a knack for a certain kind of melodic organic house-inspired electronica that’s hard not to enjoy. I don’t know much about JKP, except that you might have heard some of his music in an advert for Shiseido beauty starring Euphoria star Hunter Schafer. Lovely stuff for fans of Four Tet or the like. I don’t think these are on bandcamp, but you can stream them on spotify and elsewhere.

JKP – “Lioness” (sc)

JKP – “Outsider” (sc)

I got this cryptic submission from St. Louis-based ∆EYEZ the other day. Strikes me as somewhere between chopped & screwed (without the lean) and early aughts Prefuse 73 or Machinedrum. Hard to place, and frustratingly brief, but really compelling stuff nonetheless. I’ve included the song he sent me, as well as another two from a couple of years ago.

I don’t know much about AEYEZ, but if his soundcloud is any indication, he’s pretty prolific; there’s a lot of really good stuff there. He hasn’t released much on streaming services, and there’s no bandcamp, so your best bet is to follow him on soundcloud.

∆EYEZ – “Afterlife Pt. 2” (sc)

∆EYEZ – “FRMT/01 – K87” (sc)

∆EYEZ – “T®XX” (sc)

Los Angeles & Miami-based producer Troy Kurtz (who used to blog with our old compatriots at Gotta Dance Dirty, and now runs the Pulp Trax label) just released this steppy little number on Amtrac’s OPENERS label.

True to its title, it explores the acidic side of breakbeat 2-step, albeit seemingly with the lack of an actual 303, in favor of an oscillator with other characteristics (but still with enough squelch in the filter to be aceeeed). The bassline’s bite is balanced nicely with the constant spectre of evolving phantom chords and devolving glitchy ambience, and a recurring hollow snare for good measure–all of which pushes the track nicely into roots dub territory without making it feel overtly nostalgic. Solid stuff here.

The song doesn’t appear to be available for purchase on bandcamp yet, but it’s streamable on spotify and elsewhere.

Troy Kurtz – “Acid Rain” (sc)