I've been pushing through the mysterious clips and videos of a Soviet nature that Russian-based producer Delete sends through for a while now, and the reason for it all is finally revealed, an LP released on the Dutch label, Mindtrick Records.
Check out the final teaser below, containing the track at the halfway stage of the release, 1937.
It's clear that Delete is a man interested in the storied history of his country, and it reflects in his music. The video above contrasts the stark grimness of day to day life in the USSR, contrasted with the glorious public face the regime used to keep up appearances and this is reflected in the music, which is largely downbeat, at times unnerving, and gives an overall vibe of uncertainty. All this combines to ensure that you're quickly aware of the story Delete wants to tell. Garage this laced in history can't be called future garage, so I'll quote Inofaith and say this is the perfect use of the term "Future Garage from the past".
Either way, it's a real standout album for me.
Check out a preview mix below.
The album consists of eleven original tracks, and a couple of remixes of Remember Us, courtesy of Roof Light and Lostlojic, and fans of physical releases will be happy to know that there's a 12" sampler available with originals Remember Us (with a remix from DFRNT) and Neva (with a remix from VVV). You can grab all formats from the Mindtrick Records store now.
Let's face it, Roof Light is one of the best out there. No matter what he puts out, it's always different and most importantly interesting. A release on Phutureshock with Roof Light, backed by similarly interesting Ukrainian, Lostlojic? Well that's definitely caught my attention.
The A-Side is a piece by Roof Light, and good luck assigning a genre to this one. It's currently floating around my vinyl shelves as I can't bring myself to put it anywhere. To put it simply, this has a bit of everything in it, up to and including, a bit of slap bass that makes for probably the most danceable tune I've heard from him.
Lostlojic's B-Side is equally difficult to classify, sitting somewhere between garage and footwork, a hazy mixture perfect for a long summer evening.
So, we're down to the penultimate list, this time, it's tracks 20-11. If you missed the first few lists, then check them out here: 50-41, 40-31, 30-21. For now, read on, starting with number...
20. Ollie Macfarlane - Torment(from Shadows EP (Seeking Blue))
Anyone that heard any of my mixes on radio stations throughout the year will know this track. Ollie strayed away from his more traditional UK Garage style for this one, with lush pads, great vocal samples and driving drums that put him at number 20 in this year's prestigious list. Very glad this got signed on a great EP overall. (Buy here)
Another track from one of the standout releases of the year. Although the track is lead by those neon synth stabs, it retains a real dark, street atmosphere. Out to LV & Josh Idehen, whilst the album works best as a whole, this was undoubtedly the high point. Shame it wasn't longer, but that's testament to the track. (Buy here)
18. Inofaith - Nocturne (from Dawn Is Late EP (Shipwrec Recordings))
I am a man who loves a good nocturne, and if there was a release this year that deserves that title, it's definitely this track from Inofaith. I know Inofaith likes to produce late at night, and anybody that listens to his Dawn Is Late EP should be able to see that for themselves. The long, sample heavy instrument is the perfect build up for the glorious moment that the shuffling garage drums kick in. (Buy here)
17. Zed Bias & Steve Gurley - Roll (from Roll (Keysound Recordings))
Let's be honest here. Could a collaboration between Zed Bias and returning UKG don Steve Gurley be anything but magic? The dark vocal rolls (no pun intended) over and over above possibly the best percussion of the year. Dark Garage at it's finest. (Buy here)
16. Ghostlight - Known All The Days(from Leaving For The City Of Saints EP (Other Heights))
Again, I can't express how glad I am that Ghostek's stuff finally saw a release this year, and I'm even more glad that Other Height's found space for some of his collaborations with Roof Light. They may have been floating around for some time, but that didn't take away any of the impact of putting this on my decks for the first time and playing it from beginning to end. (Buy here)
15. Sully - It's Your Love (from Carrier (Keysound Recordings))
What a way to open Sully's first album, with this track that harked back to the golden age of Dark UKG. Burial might've tried and failed to replicate El-B's drums by his own admission, but Sully has definitely succeeded in creating something that garage pioneer would be proud of. (Buy here)
14. Ghostek - Cryostasis(from Lost Tapes EP (Square Harmony))
Nobody does that dark, moody garage better than Ghostek, and this was the defining example from his Lost Tapes EP. The bass has tremendous power, and as always, you never quite know where the drums on a Ghostek track are going to take you, and the little vocal snippets are used sparingly, and only appear at their most effective. The sort of track that would leave anybody that listens to it wanting more Ghostek. (Buy here)
13. HGLDT - Knowing You (from 2010/Knowing You (Swing & Skip))
Possibly my most awaited release of the year. Ever since I heard this track played and recommended by Blackdown, I was desperate for a release, and I rinsed the youtube clip hundreds of times. Backed with a remix by Resketch, and a track by Damu, this was a great release that brought the emerging Swing & Skip label(run by HGLDT himself) to a lot of people's attention. (Buy here)
12. DjRum - Mountains Pt. 2 & 3 (from Mountains EP (2nd Drop))
It's now pretty much universally recognised on music sites that DJ Rum (or DjRum in this case) was onto something special with his Mountains EP, and Night Tracks feels so differently. I don't think anybody that heard it for the first time expected that laid back, string-laden intro to give way to the pounding, somewhere-between-techno-jungle-and-garage drums that rule over the latter part of the track. (Buy here)
11. Jamie xx - Beat For (from Far Nearer (Numbers))
Although all the hype was around the steel-pan laden summer anthem, Far Nearer, the flip side, the dark and moody Beat For was not to be ignored. I struggle to think of a dark track that has such dancefloor potential as this one. It first made an appearance on a mix by Jamie xx a couple of years ago, this record was delayed and delayed, but the world is better for it's arrival. The perfect accompaniment to Far Nearer. (Buy here)
Today, we're lucky enough to get a few words from one of my favourite producers, Roof Light. Read on and check out some of his thoughts and opinions and check out some of his music too. Win win.
NT: Hey, can you give us an introduction for those that might not have heard of you yet? RL: I'm a musician, Sound Sculptor, Producer, Songwriter, Painter, Father, Husband, Son, Brother, anything else is unimportant.
NT: You’ve released on some pretty big labels in your time, including MJ Cole’s label, Prolific. When did you first start producing, and when did you start to send your tracks out to other people?
RL: I have been 'dabbling' for 30 years on and off, from drumming on chairs and buckets with unknown bands, to messing about with broken tape and other machines. Professionally started 4 years ago. I never sent any demos, People were nice enough to contact me..
Roof Light - When You Sleep, I Turn To Rust
NT: I always feel like your releases have a really cohesive vibe running through each one. It’s hard to explain, but when I’m listening, I can instantly tell which release it came from, especially the In Your Hands EP which, in my opinion, flows perfectly. Is this something you consider when producing or is it just a coincidence?
RL: It's just a coincidence, I never plan things. The 'creative' part is something unexplainable. I'd love to say that everything is ordered and I know what I'm doing. The truth is, I just sit down and work. Sometimes
I have a few weeks away from the studio, a kind of enforced break. This is good for me, I 'enjoy the silence'. Reading is something I do a lot.
It's good news over at the Night Shift Collective, as member and prolific producer Roof Light has put his track 'When You Sleep, I Turn To Rust' up for free download as 'a 'thank you' to everyone who's shown love supported etc. over the last couple of years'. It's a real epic, coming in at over 11 minutes, and it's well worth kicking back and hitting play.
This is definitely one to grab, and is close to the epitome of night time music.Check it out.
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.
