Here are the big quarantine tunes from the 1BTN massive going into the month of May 2020. Incomplete Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page.
Tornado Wallace
Mundane Brain
(Optimo Music)
I could have chosen any of the five tracks on Tornado Wallace’s excellent Midnight Mania mini album on Optimo Music, but Mundane Brain is probably the most fitting for now. Taking in acid house, trance and with growling trippy beats throughout, it perfectly conveys how most people’s brains are feeling right now.
Clara Suess, INTER-MISSION
K-Lone
Cape Cira (album)
(Wisdom Teeth)
Escape to the tropical land of Cape Cira, the perfect isolation album.
Patrick Robinson
Jeannette Ndiaye
Makom Ma Bobe
(Kalita)
Kalita’s official re-release of Cameroonian singer Jeannette N’Diaye’s 1981 disco banger Makom Ma Bobe backed by an extended edit courtesy of Mendel! Syndrum overkill! Boo boo boo!
Ian Lawton (Trainspotters)
Grace
Boys Cry (EP)
(Esc_)
Favourite track – Real Tears. An emotional opening, with iced out synths and luscious pads which changes into a serious bass driven heater with rng vocal chops scattered throughout. A blend of eski style grime, wave and rng creates a unique sound whilst giving homage to ever changing hardcore continuum that’s ingrained in the UK’s underground electronic music scene.
Eone
Nat Birchall meets Al Breadwinner Mystical Dub
(Tradition Disc)
From Nat & Al’s third album together Tradition Disc in Dub, this features Nat on flute over a beautiful slow and heavy rhythm from last year’s Vin Gordon album African Shores that Nat & Al produced. Mystical, magical, meditational bass business!
Jim Lister (Version)
Paul Hierophant
Utopian Dystopias (Part 2)
(Exalt Records)
Superb EP from Hastings’ mighty Exalt Records. Moody, intelligent acid, perfect for those hazy 4am moments. Check out the track Second Monolith. Monster.
Murray Scott (UBIK)
Kings Hi-Fi Feat Natty Campbell
Wicked & Wild
(Free Download)
Wicked refix of the classic Tempo riddim with the talented toaster Natty Campbell on vocals. Pull it up…
Kris Venum (World A Reggae Show)
Luke Slater
O-Ton Reassembled 5 – Berghain Fünfzehn
(Osgut Ton)
It’s relentless and I love it. A driving, unforgiving, techno builder. I can’t wait to hear this on a massive system
.
Anya Lux
Clap! Clap!
Southern Dub feat. Domenico Candellori
(Black Acre)
Italy’s internationally acclaimed producer Cristiano Crisci, aka Clap! Clap! strikes again with his latest single Mandragora, it’s no surprise he has grabbed the attention of and been supported by the likes of Paul Simon and Gilles Peterson, and performed at festivals worldwide. Unifying electronic beats with field recordings, instrumentals and vocal sounds from a wide spectrum of sources, his music is often slightly obscure and wild, captivating and always intriguing. Falling into the gap between electronic producer and world music innovator, I am always interested in what Clap! Clap! has to offer. Southern Dub is a hugely percussion driven piece bringing in drum echoes and sirens, typical of Dub music, however just as pertinent are vocal samples emulating incantations and multiple layers of percussive loops. All forcible ingredients of EDM if you ask me!
Jo Dressler
The Devonns
Blood Red Blues (Protest Song)
(Record Kicks)
The Devonns dust off the golden age of 70’s Windy City Soul with their self-titled debut album. Straight from the streets of Chicago, Illinois, The Devonns (pronounced ‘De vaughns’) are a brand new soul outfit and the latest addition to Record Kicks. Their self-titled debut album is an assortment of influences (such as The Dramatics, The Isley Brothers and Leroy Hutson) taking us back to the heyday of soul yet bringing their own unique modern twist.
Dumani Ncube
Joel Sarakula
Midnight Driver
(Legere Recodings)
The new single and opening tune on the new LP Companionship from the Sydney born & London living Joel Sarakula. Think Steely Dan meets Jimi Tenor cruising down the Californian coastline in 1977 – you get the picture.
Nick Carling
Fruitful Radio Show
SoulStateJazz
Rebels On The Way
(Banoffee Pies)
Tom Ellis new ensemble along Mark Hand, Michiel Renger and Dave Elson on their first release after a few live representations at Freerotation Festival in Wales, with a 6 track album of hybrid live/electronic jazz-house. Emotive yet uplitifing grooves.
thejointventures attic
Jonathan Wilson
Just For Love
(Bella Union)
After the expansiveness of Wilson’s last few releases it’s a return to basics on his latest record Dixie Blur. The album opens with this lovely version of a Quicksilver Messenger Service track that seems to suit these reflective times.
Senor Mick (Garden Of Earthly Delights)
Pépé Bradock
Dactylonomy I Dumb Thumb Count de Finger
(Atavisme)
Typically classy outing from Pepe Bradock, both tracks exquisitely produced with more ideas and samples than most albums, deployed with depth and subtlety, demands to be heard on a large sound system.
Andy Mac
Clive Stevens and Brainchild
Mystery Man (special disco remix) (Midnight Disco)
Gerry Rooney and Joel Martin’s edits are usually worth digging out as they go a little deeper than most for their source material. This 12″ was originally pressed up a couple of years ago but disappeared as quick as it hit the shelves. There’s nothing new here, after all it’s a rereleased re-edit, but it’s hitting the shelves just at the right time to prevent the cash-in crew from, erm, cashing in. Oh yeah, and it’s brilliant!
Steve KIW
Jex Opolis
What Am I Gonna To Do?
(Good Timin’)
As I didn’t submit a track for the Bunker Buzz Chart last month, I’m including two this month. A brilliantly uplifting nod to ’80s synth pop, which could have been written by The Human League, circa Dare.
Clara Suess, INTER-MISSION
Felipe Gordon
Gotta Keep Us Separated
(Shall Not Fade / Lost Imprint)
A deep distraction poly titled for these strange times Felipe delivers an on-point groove destined to delight. We may be separated but with tunes as hot as this we will feel the heat of those disco days past thanks to this rather wonderful Jupiter EP.
Kate Wildblood (The Wildblood and Queenie Show)
Chewy Rubs
Baby Love
(Re-Loved)
Still making the hairs stand up on the back on my neck, this strung out sample masterpiece has me feeling the love this lockdown with its exquisite orchestral manoeuvres in the disco.
Queen Josephine (The Wildblood and Queenie Show)
Siti Muharam
Alaminadura from Siti of Unguja (Romance Revolution On Zanzibar)
(On The Corner Records)
Heavy Ancestral Vibes realised through the ‘Golden Voice Of Zanzibar’ Siti Muharam! Hypnotic free flowing traditional forms electrified by Sam Jones production, brings a truly magical legacy back to life!!!
Chris Lewis (Turn On Tune In)
The Heliocentrics
Infinity of Now
(Madlib Invasion)
Been waiting for another album from this lot for quite a while and this doesn’t disappoint. Released on Madlib’s label, it’s their usual mash up of styles: afrobeat, psych and outer space Ra style jazz. Great musicians. One of Britain’s most underrated bands innit?
Ian Lawton (Trainspotters)
Hannes Bieger
Poem for the Planet (feat. Ursula Rucker)
(Awesome Soundwave)
12 minutes of deep thought provoking hypnotic techno by German wizard Hannes Bieger. Given the spoken word treatment by Wordsmith Goddess Ursula Rucker. Planetary Techno for our times good people. Proceeds from the Single on Bandcamp are going towards re-greening projects in Africa via Awesome Soundwaves’s partners, Treeceeds. Bonus. Listen up….
Chewy Beatwell (What’s Wrong With Groovin’)
De Grand IV, Junior Williams
Cash Maniac
(Cosmic Chronic)
Super sleazy, laid back, Miami electro boogie funk. The final release from superb label Cosmic Chronic. B-side is a stormer too.
BIG RED AL (LATE NIGHT BIGNESS)
Spotify Playlist