When I first heard that Sorrow had an album being released on Monotreme Records, I simply spat a greeny at my screen and refused anything to do with Night Tracks for three weeks. After a while, I decided that purely for the sake of the readers, I should check it out...
Sorrow, despite completely turning his back on Birmingham, has gained quite a reputation as someone that you can rely on for top-notch skeletal, garage infused jams. Like Burial, but ruder and does more tracks with the vocalist CoMa. However, lately, he's been putting out a few grime pieces as part of the 8-bar revival led by the likes of Kahn. If, as he is known to do, he turns his back on his previous sound, then this album is a perfect parting gift.
Fent Plates, like another of our favourite labels, Broken Bubble, are a label that have the talent to pick out the movers and the shakers on the lower tiers of the underground. Those that exist under the underground, the people that thrive on soundcloud and haven't necessarily felt the need to DJ (or at least attempt to) every night of the week, and help push them a few tiers up, higher into the musical consciousness. If there's a label that does that, and does it well, then they get Night Tracks respect.
Whilst this is, in name, an Asa EP, props have to be given to Sorrow, who features on over half the tracks on the release. Asa and Sorrow fit perfectly the description I alluded to earlier. Plenty of fans on the net (and some real hardcore ones at that), but chances are that your average club-goer won't know them, but they're just waiting to break out and blow up. That may all be about to change, thanks to some pushing from the global dubstep superstar Koan Sound, but in no small part due to the support and investment from the well managed and well followed Fent Plates.
This EP might just be the perfect taster for the world to fully grasp what the duo are about. Asa's wind-chime percussion go perfectly with the real strings (top notch work from 'A. Cantalupo'), to create something that's haunting, and not necessarily as stark as some of his peers, washed out, bleak, dystopian works.
When Sorrow steps in on the third track, his remix of Ebony, there's predictable results. Attitude. And lots of it. Whatever he's been taking in the last year or so has proper mashed up his bass, warping in and out, distorting the track and beefing up the work that his drums already did.
The EP rounds off with the instrumental and vocal versions of Omega, the latter featuring M.I.K, a huge nod to their apparent recent love for grime. The instrumental is solid, and expected, and the vocal hits hard, and although the lyrics tail off into irrelevance at points, British grime vocals over atypical beats still win me over, and it's good to see great vocalists working over something other than 8-bar or weak hip-hop beats.
Big up Sorrow. A long awaited physical release is in the works for the Bristol-based producer, on the oddly-named Monotreme Records. Dreamstone is a collection of 12 tracks that showcase Sorrow's dominion over the bleak, shuffling world of dark garage. Plus Sorrow has the sickest bass.
Anyway, forget that he completely turned his back on his 0121 roots and check out these two free downloads from the album to give you all the convincing you should need.
The album drops on May 13th on CD, LP and digi. Grab it here.
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Sheeeeit. Today has been a busy day. First the Owsey EP, now this one from my man Sorrow. This one is a four track EP (with two bonus tracks if you buy the whole thing), and it's really representative of Sorrow at his moodiest and hardest-hitting, which I guess is the sound he became known for.
Sorrow - Reaper
Anyway, just buy the EP, it's £2.30 for six tracks, by Sorrow. Can you go wrong?
It's that time of year when every site gives its take on the best tracks to be released this year, and of course, Night Tracks is jumping right on that bandwagon. To avoid any bias, I haven't included anything released by Night Tracks, so read on, and check out the tunes. Maybe you'll pick up a gem that you haven't heard before, or maybe you'll just enjoy reading my rambling take on 50 tracks. Read on for the first 10, numbers 50 to 41...
50. Everlone - Starred(from 2011 (Self Released))
This track was one that I discovered some months ago, but only discovered it had been released about a week or so ago. A great track, minimal garage, with traditional distant vocals coming in amongst lush pads. A simple track, yet very effective.(Buy here)
49. Trashbat - Saraswati (Hard Mix)(from Old Manor Way EP (Dubstrict Records)
Trashbat doing what Trashbat does best, and that is ultra-dark, warping mid-range over seriously deep subs. This was on one of the most underrated releases of the year, his Old Manor Way EP, that contained 5 tracks that made it seriously hard for me to pick the best. (Buy here)
48. Kid Smpl - Gbye (from Collapse EP (Self Release))
This track almost typifies Kid Smpl's style. Immersive pads, and drums that almost sneak up on you. The slower than usual 2-step drums that come into play are a particular highlight and everything comes together in a track that has elements from the past, but is definitely forging a vision of the future. (Buy here)
47. Sweetheart Of Kairi - Approaching Farewell (from Sweetheart Of Kairi EP (Self Released))
Two of the most dynamic producers in the underground today, Owsey and Sorrow, came together in a series of collaborations for their Sweetheart Of Kairi moniker. Combining cinematic strings and pads with top notch swinging drums, they've come together to create something that doesn't sit comfortably anywhere, and it's all the better for it. (Buy here)
Everyone knew that an LV album was going to be good, just not THIS good. This track is one of the darker affairs on the album, Routes, located near the end, bringing you down after the many highs of the album. Makes for a perfect outro though, and Josh Idehen's delivery only adds to it. (Buy here)
45. Krytikal - Selfish Way(from Area Music Vol. 1(Area Recordings))
For me, this was the standout track from a seriously impressive release by the Birmingham based Area Recordings. Nobody gets the eyes down, tribal dubstep thing as well as Krytikal does, and this track is no different. (Buy here)
Perfectly straddling the line between UK Garage and Techno, this track from Sweden's Alexander Berg completely blew the A-side 'Tundra' out of the water. Whilst this hasn't taken off yet, I can see this being the sort of track collectors franticly dig for in years to come, only to find it available exclusively on discogs for £40. (Buy here)
43. Silent Mind - Farwater(from Farwater (Self Released))
Dreamy, minimal dnb as it should be done. Silent Mind is on to something here, and its great to see him amongst a group of producers that are doing something different in a scene that some say is saturated with sound-a-likes. (Buy here)
Black Box might've been pushing records since 2009, but 2011 was the year they really made their mark, thanks in part to badmen like Benton, who took things darker than ever before. (Buy here)
41. The Weeknd - The Morning (from House Of Balloons (Self Released))
Abel Tesfaye was a veritable force in 2011. Some love him for shaking up a boring RnB scene with innovative production from Illangelo, and lyrics that at least attempted to differentiate themselves from the standard. This track just oozed soul, and that's something that's always going to go down well. All for free too. Big up. (Buy here)
So that's all for now, the first ten tracks. Take some time to listen to them all, who knows, maybe even buy some of the ones you like? Check back soon for 40 to 31...
Anybody that follows the constant high quality output of the Night Shift Collective will probably have heard of this already, but if you haven't, it is essential you check it out. Right now.
Sweetheart Of Kairi are Sorrow and Owsey (who Night Tracks interviewed before) merged together in a blissful clash of production genius, and they've pulled some of their free downloads together with a few extras (including a remix by Stumbleine) into an EP, which you can grab for a minimum of £0.40 from their bandcamp page, but come on, check it out, and you'll know it's worth more of your hard earned pennies, so reward their generosity with a little of your own!
Check out a new group, the Night Shift Collective on Soundcloud of like-minded producers pushing a 'Night Time' sound.
From the description; "We will be showing you our best tunes along the lines of Future Garage, 2-Step, Ambient and related styles that feature deep, sincere vibes.
If you're trying to find the soundtrack to your night in solitude or just chilling out, look no further."
It's a real worldwide thing, with members from The Netherlands, UK, Canada, Germany, Russia, New Zealand, Australia and Japan, so keep an eye on it if you dig that sound.
