savannah ep - mr beatnick (EP) release date: 13/5/2013 - available to download
The mighty Savannah EP is the long-awaited third and final element of Mr. Beatnick's Synthetes Trilogy. Since 2011's Synthetes EP, Mr. Beatnick has been widely acknowledged as one of the most inventive producers to emerge from London in recent years. From earning his stripes as a beatsmith with releases like 2006's Bitches and holding down his regular NTS show The New Jerusalem, to delivering the Savannah EP in 2013, it has been no walk in the park for the East London based talent, but a flurry of gigs and critical recognition in the last two years have seen his profile rise. With a triumvirate of genre-challenging releases for Don't Be Afraid under his belt, and a nod to everything from house to hardcore on this latest addition, it is clear that his potential is finally being realised.
new recordings from coast province, kenya - mukunguni (CD) release date: 5/4/2013 - available to download
Field recordings of the Mijikenda tribes, made in different spots in and around Mukunguni village, coastal Kenya, throughout September 2011: mostly healing music (especially for mental problems), but also love-songs, and spiritual contributions to weddings and burials; mostly in the Sengenya style which evolved in the early twentieth century, adding pace, new Tsikitsi rhythms and extra drums to the traditional Dumbwi forms of the Duruma tribe. Besides the Sengenya drums - bumbumbu, dahdahe, chapuro, vumi, ngoma - there are lungo and dena (metal rings), kayamba (raft rattle), njunga (bells), ukaya (metal tray), bamba (metal guiro) and bottle-tops. Our album opener is solo dena, played to sound like a bat and heal the village sick, with the ear for frequency and timbre of a stringent minimalist. There are the piercing, reeded nzumari oboe and bung'o horn, sounding like fierce free-jazz improvisation; and two gently stunning marimba solos, with complex, overlaid melodies and rhythms, played in polyphonic accents, almost like talking drums. Most of the recordings here are songs, with strong tunes, robustly delivered, different solo voices leading the group - to heal; to chase away Pepo Mlume, the devil who poisons the imagination; to get you on your feet, dancing; to celebrate dowry payments and weddings; to bring the Mijikenda cultural inheritance to life. Matatizo - 'Worries' - was recorded spontaneously at a bus-stop, waiting for a ride: it's a Swahili love-song, with a plaintive female vocal performed to the accompaniment of five or so people rubbing their palms together in tight rhythmic patterns. 'The lord conferred this love on us, my sister. Is it human, or from the angels? Flowing out of binoculars...or computers? I can't figure it out, but my heart aches so badly.'
superteng - wrongtom meets deemas j (EP) release date: 1/4/2013 - available to download
“Superteng” is the second single from the 'In East London' album by Wrongtom Meets Deemas J. Released September 2012 on Tru Thoughts, the LP gained massive props across the media, from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Huey Morgan and Don Letts on BBC 6Music, to John Kennedy (XFM) and The Heatwave (Rinse) through to MOJO, Q, The Wire, Resident Advisor, Clash, CMU, The Quietus, Big Issue and beyond.
This digital single package highlights the album cut “Superteng”, plus Extended, Instrumental and A Cappella versions, and two new remixes putting a contemporary club-orientated spin on Wrongtom’s reverb heavy, old-school dub production style: Deemas J’s old-time rave cohorts Scoop, Alter Ego & Rico come with the UK bass; and one half of Fuzzbox Inc, Mo’ Matic, drops the tempo to indulge in some hip hop head nodding.
As big as bonus tracks come, this release also brings a huge Benny Page Remix of much loved previous single “Jump + Move + Rock”, which ramps up this groove laden, charismatic hype track in the direction of the peak time drum & bass dancefloors.
'In East London' was the first album release from highly respected DJ and producer Wrongtom since the hugely successful Roots Manuva re-rub album ‘Duppy Writer’ (Big Dada). This time, he had the urge to make something original, whilst maintaining that nod to vintage dub and dancehall, and he knew that long-time friend, occasional collaborator, legendary livewire and stalwart jungle MC Deemas J was the go-to man. The result is an essential reggae, dancehall and dub fuelled LP, with a deep, fresh and bouncing vibe rooted in East London that pays homage to the culture and sound that first got them both hooked back in the ‘80s. The first single “Jump + Move + Rock” preceded the record, to heavy radio support, including a live session for John Kennedy (XFM); and was accompanied by a video that gained over 100,000 YouTube hits in a few days.
dub poet - itself (EP) release date: 29/3/2013 - available to download
This is a masterpice from Miami minimal Techno producer Itself. Delivering a dark moody number wich will set the dancefloor on a hypnotic tale. Check it out!
party perspectives ep - death on the balcony (EP) release date: 3/2013 - available to download
Here at Seven Music we are extremely excited and proud to present our next release to you from Leeds based duo Death On The Balcony. Mark Caramelli and Paul Hargreaves have been busy boys over the last few years, releasing on esteemed labels such as Culprit, Pets, Silver Network and Airdrop.
Their years of experience as DJ's and record collectors shines through in the pair's productions. What sets the guys apart from the rest of the rat race is the amount of depth and emotion they manage to pack into their tracks. Music that will easily stand the test of time and sound equally as good on the dancefloor, as it will on the headphones!
On remix duties we enlisted Portland's Emotion II Emotion. More will be familiar with his productions as The Miracles Club and his amazing label ECSTASY, but Rafael Fauria's Emotion II Emotion project really caught our attention recently with his 'EIIE 1' EP on Wax Classic. It only made sense to get this guy onboard ASAP! :)
