Avant-Club UK #2
Avant-Club UK #2 Club,Electronic,Experimental,Hyperpop,Industrial Part 2 of a monthly deep dive into the contemporary electronic artists working within the UK and around the frameworks/aesthetics of post-club, deconstructed club, UK Bass, and everything few and far-between (championing the fringe and experimental). My standout tracks, and words on them below: 1. The Twins: TURMERIC Identical twins Omar and Jamal are the Twins of the moment. Pulling influence from their South Asian heritage, they fuse electro-clash with desi sounds, sampling Bollywood to regional folk music. With Omar on vocals and Jamal on production, the duo have coined their style “Bollywood Electronic.” Their debut album ‘TUMERIC’ is a must listen, and so is the track of the same name. High octane and built around a fractured and reassembled sample, supported by pumping bass and dhol rhythms, with Omar’s vocals treated with glitchy processing. The tail end isn’t unlike something you would hear on ‘Go Plastic’ by Squarepusher. A distinctive take on hyperpop and the music of the adjacent indie sleaze revival. 2. Proc Fiskal: ADDICTIONZ Edinburgh based Proc Fiskal (real name Joe Powers) provides a different form of dance floor catharsis through his idiosyncratic strain of electronic maximalism. ‘ADDICTIONZ’ is the lead single and opening track from his recent project ‘Exchequer EP’. Released on acclaimed electronic label HyperDub, home to releases by cutting-edge electronic artists Burial, Kode9 and aya, it situates Powers within a lineage of forward-thinking UK club experimentalists. Intricate and rhythmically entrancing, the track starts with a slew of synths before giving way to gorgeously programmed MIDI strings and harp. A marriage of his grime roots and hyperpop sensibilities, interwoven with classical instrumentation in service of what he has described as “the utopian idea of the pastoral.” If you are enamoured by the dense, somewhat fantastical, and detailed sound design of projects like ‘Leo Line Eon’ by Iglooghost you may have interest in this one. It ventures into similar sonic terrain, but with different stride. 3. Another Country $$$$ – ANOTHER COUNTRY The new darlings of the UK underground band circuit, as the live electronics standouts. Manchester based duo Another Country $$$$ merge live drums with a distinct club vocabulary. Their live shows (I thankfully caught them during Pitchfork Music Festival at Cafe Oto) also feature live visuals, another cornerstone of their practice. With ‘ANOTHER COUNTRY’ (which I hope is their walkout song), a list of ‘another’ statements are read by text to speech, a mantra for pushing forward (it feels like) there will always be another something or other in life. Merging delicate sonics, not so dissimilar to ‘botanica’ with post-rave trance like lush synth chords which enter the fray with the driving kit. The track, its progression tastefully curated, feels imbued with nostalgic sentiment. If you ever get the post-rave blues, maybe they sound something like this. People’s Playlist by Eli Callingham Add Your Heading Text Here You Might Also Like Recent Posts
Avant-Club UK
Avant-Club UK Club,Electronic,Hyperpop,Industrial An introduction to contemporary electronic artists working within the UK and around the frameworks/aesthetics of deconstructed club (Ship Sket), glitch (Two Shell), hyperpop (BABii), UK bass (Mun Sing), and industrial-wave (Rat Section). ‘deconstructed club’ (sometimes referred to as ‘post-club’) emerged in the early 2010s and is often traced back to the New York-based GHE20G0TH1K club nights. An early major platform, these nights brought together artists and DJs from diverse musical backgrounds, foregrounding experimental, hybrid, and post-digital approaches to club music. Deconstructed club is not a rejection of club aesthetics but a subversion of them, working with the core logic of club music (intensity, structure, rhythm, and repetition) and refashioning these elements to create something innovative and transgressive. Strongly connected to LGBTQ+ communities and queer club culture, deconstructed club developed with an emphasis on identity and experimentation and a resistance to homogeneous or normative procedures. Since its emergence, these ideas have expanded beyond a specific scene or group of artists and now function as an inspiring ethos, one that prioritises process, hybridity, and shared production methods over stylistic consistency. The artists collected here reflect this ethos. While their sounds differ, they share an approach shaped by an informal online pedagogy, post-digital production techniques, and an artistic milieu that values eclectic influence and experimentation. In this sense, this playlist and artists included sit closely alongside those in my Abstract Electronic UK series. My method of compilation is also similar, tracing a loose but connected network of current artists and their corresponding influences from different movements rather than a typical genre-based playlist. My introduction to this ethos mirrors many others: a deep interest in computer music and the sound design of Arca, as well as spending hours scouring forums such as MOD WIGGLER, the depths of Youtube, and subreddits such as r/organicsignals. Discovering projects like XYZ (Iglooghost, Kai Whiston, BABii) in 2020 and Lux Cache in 2021 introduced me to a wider network of producers and a shared approach to sound, where process, texture, and digital experimentation are at the forefront. This appealed to what at the time felt like conflicting musical influences/interests. People’s Playlist by Eli Callingham {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }} {{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }} {{ options.labels.newReviewButton }} {{ userData.canReview.message }} You Might Also Like Recent Posts
New Single Release: BODUR “DON’T BEAT THE SWEET OUT OF MY BOY (Florentino Remix)
New Single Release: BODUR “DON’T BEAT THE SWEET OUT OF MY BOY (Florentino Remix) All DJs should take note because this is the only song we need to be hearing in the club, and preferably on repeat. 06.02.24 Words by Layla Wheatley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFO4afzk2AA Don’t beat the sweet out of my boy’ brings the listener into a trancelike state with an effortlessly cool atmosphere to it. The pulsing electronic baseline with pleasingly frequent bass drops adds to this hypnotic and energising vibe. The song almost takes on a dark quality with Bodur’s expert manipulation of voice and tone, accompanied by her meaningful lyrics. This track is a cohesive collaboration with gothic rapper Denzel himself, but it has also been remixed by Florentino. Don’t beat the sweet out of my boy’ brings the listener into a trancelike state with an effortlessly cool atmosphere to it. The pulsing electronic baseline with pleasingly frequent bass drops adds to this hypnotic and energising vibe. The song almost takes on a dark quality with Bodur’s expert manipulation of voice and tone, accompanied by her meaningful lyrics. This track is a cohesive collaboration with gothic rapper Denzel himself, but it has also been remixed by Florentino. She originally turned to music and creative writing as an emotional outlet from internal struggles and to express her opinion of societal issues, which she has since continued to do, establishing an authentic image. This is epitomised in her album title, ‘oz’ meaning ‘self’ in Turkish, where this song features along with two others entitled ‘Gorgeous’ and ‘Mummy’ For example, ‘Don’t beat the sweet out of my boy’ is a comment on toxic masculinity and how, in the effort to pursue manhood, some men leave behind or restrict their softer qualities. Specifically, this song was first a poem penned by Bodur pleading that her younger brother would not lose his innocence and sweetness in his transition to manhood. If you love listening to this artist, make sure to see her play live at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton on May 16th, where she is part of a brilliant line-up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BODUR (@bodurbodurbodurbodur) You Might Also Like
NEW EP RELEASE – Elkka ‘DJ Friendly’
NEW EP RELEASE – Elkka ‘DJ Friendly’ 31.10.23 Words by Georgina Walker Whether you’re looking to invigorate your playlists or for a DJ to place in prime position on your must-see list, Elkka needs to be on your radar. Her latest EP ‘DJ Friendly’ is like bottling up a surprise night-out that turns into a saucy silly affair, but the quality of Elkka’s EP is serious. ‘DJ Friendly’ makes for a joyful listen whether dancing is on the agenda IRL or you want to tap your toes and nod your head from the comfort of your sofa – no judgments here. First track ‘Babe’ opens with floaty sounds, heading into a slow burning intro that erupts into a euphoric chorus featuring vocals from Elkka herself. Elkka’s journey began as a singer songwriter, now to producer, DJ and label boss since 2016. At the chorus we’re hearing serious banger balanced with playful lyrics, ‘I f*cking love you babe’ can be both a tender, sultry moment or a girls bathroom proclamation mid night-out, just met? No problem. I f*cking love you babe. A solid addition to any pre-night out playlist. Showing no sign of slowing down, the next track on the EP is ‘Thirsty’. This confident club track features some abstract electro that makes for enticing listening. As the ‘gimme, gimme, gimme’ vocal builds, so does the anticipation for the track’s crescendo, and it delivers. The chorus explodes into an addictive listen, with enticing subtle high-hats and an acid-tinged finale for good measure, keeping this song firmly in your memory and you firmly at the party. Finally, we have ‘DJ Friendly’ the EP’s namesake is a distinctive and infectious track with all the ingredients to captivate dancefloors. This vivacious and energetic finale has a strong bassline and enough transition between light and shade to keep listeners on their toes. If you’re deciding whether to stay in or go out, a listen to this would make the FOMO extremely real. In 3 tracks Elkka encapsulates the best of dancefloors, with tangible energy that will permeate playlists and parties alike DJ Friendly’ was released on 27th October 2023 via Ninja Tune. You Might Also Like Uncategorised