January 2012

As we wait patiently for the first full release from the Slow It Down guys (we’re told its impending), they’ve managed to keep us sweet through perhaps one of their finest edits to date. Taking Chromeo’s sex-dripping ‘Hot Mess’ and stretching it out with a thigh-caressing bassline, this has the power to seduce any dancefloor you drop it on. Slick, sophisticated and smooth, we can see this sticking about well into the summer…

Sometimes music can have an instant effect. Sometimes you need only listen to the opening notes of a song and without even knowing it you have surrendered yourself to the unfolding drama. This is how we felt the first time we heard Fall. Discovering the quite frankly stunning ‘Wings’ last summer we knew without question that Steven had unquestionable talent, and here it was laid out before us through four minutes of astounding beauty. Beginning with the subtle crackling of a worn record before introducing a chord structure which could reduce a grown man to tears, ‘Wings’ quickly became one of our favorite songs of the year.

Engaging, introspective, inspired. Three adjectives which we’re going to throw out there when describing the line up for this weekend’s Likwit Fusion launch party. So often we just accept dancefloor-drivel, happy to bounce about amid mindless mediocrity and cheap, manufactured thrills, but what if the whole experience were to leave you enlightened instead of on a whitie outside the local noodle bar? If you’ve ever digged a little deeper, tested the limits or broadened your horizons then you might just want to head down The Old Hairdressers this coming Sunday.

January: the month of 'Blue Monday', one of the most depressing days of the year. The month when many of us are still trying to piece together our mental state following a New Year blow-out, whilst accepting that our hope of sticking to New Year’s resolutions ('I’m only drinking one night a week') will inevitably never happen as the excitement of Glasgow's club scene regains hold of our willpower.

Uh oh, we just listened to the Bad News promo mix and if the last half hour is anything to go by, tonight is going to be truly spectacular. Launching under a storm of quite justified hype, you can expect some of the biggest name’s in UK bass to takeover The Arches tonight as certified legend, Zed Bias heads a bill which is worthy of full-scale roadblock. With Night Slug’s Girl Unit, plus Swamp81’s Loefah & Pinch completing the line up as well as some of Glasgow’s finest local talent on support, you can pretty much guarantee this is going to go off!

It’s Friday, so in light of the approaching weekend, we’re going to dedicate today solely to mixtapes. And to start the day off we’ve got something rather fresh from Synth resident, Alaska. You may have heard him fumbling through our weekly radio show, but he can also mix and here is his latest effort in the form of a new series called ‘Can’t Resist…’

He certainly likes to keep himself busy! As if it wasn’t enough that Dominic Martin aka Domsko will be dropping his much anticipated Family Affair album next week, he’s also treated us to a Tronicsole Sessions mix which features a brand new take on Shades Of Grey. Incorporating a psychedelic sax, skipping percussion and a bassline which will nail you straight to the floor, this could get your head nodding in a concrete neck brace.

Synth is walking down a bustling city centre street; it’s an overcast and depressingly damp day in Glasgow and as people shuffle past staring for-longingly at the pavement, we find an instant uplift in the form of a prominently placed Chungo Bungo sticker. The bright colours remind us that this Friday we’ll be bouncing about a heaving dancefloor amid an atmosphere of pure vibes - all of a sudden Monday morning doesn’t seem so bad.

In amidst all the reverberating sub bass, bro-stepping dubstep and cross-genre blurring of modern UK club music it’s refreshing to find a sound which has been around from the start, but has only recently again found prominence. House music in its purest form has of course always been there, but thanks to a recent resurgence in soul-bearing vocals and irresistible basslines the spirit of Chicago, New York and London is truly back. To Joe Goddard & Raff Rundell aka The 2 Bears, such heritage is central to their sound and with their forthcoming debut album ‘Work’ receiving critical acclaim, the fur-clad duo have become synonymous with bringing back the groove.

To us, 2011 very much felt like a warm up, the prelude to something much bigger. Where upcoming artists were just finding their feet last year and honing their skills, it is in 2012 that their talent will be truly recognised. As such we’ve decided to resurrect one of our forgotten features in an effort to give you a definitive heads-up on who you should be looking out for over the next twelve months. To coin a well known phrase, ‘you heard it here first’.

It’s been exactly a year since we first got our hands on the demo version of Raksha’s utterly mesmerising ‘Feelings’, and in the twelve months that have past we’re pleased to say that things are looking rather sweet for the young producer. Incase you missed it the first time round, this Junior Jack sampling dub is a true reflection of the urban landscape, echoing Burial at his most visceral. Download it as part of the Keldrist Kõlab Bassi compilation now.

The mulleted wonder strikes again! Last time Muck agency boss, PMcQ dropped a minimix we found ourselves executing dance moves that go beyond the constraint of the human body (think Michael Flatley on speed). And it’s no wonder, cramming twenty-one songs into ten fat minutes; you’d have to be a sedated druid not to find at least one of your legs breaking free. In his latest throw-down you can expect to hear acidic basslines, dreamy synths and groove-ridden rhythms from the likes of Boddika & Joy O, Azelia Banks and Muck’s own Botnek. Mixed to perfection and flowing like Guiness on St Patrick’s Day, this is the midweek blast of dancefloor frivolity you’ve all been waiting for…

It’s no secret; Glasgow’s thirst for partying is insatiable. Take any weekend of the year and you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice - every single sound, style and speed is catered for amid a community of clued up clubbers. But with every new night comes a comparative risk. Often promoters launch a new event with the intention of building it month on month, however even with the biggest names on the flyer this has proved difficult for a city of Glasgow’s size and as such, clubs have become sporadic, or in the case of 0-10, numbered.

With Soma's 20^th anniversary celebrations still fresh in our minds and Pressure recently announcing their first party of 2012 it’s understandable that we’ve become more than a bit excited about the next twelve months. Kicking off what will no doubt be another incredible year for our favourite House & Techno label is the fourth instalment of the Slam Remix series which has seen some of clubland’s most exciting new and established talent take on the duo’s extensive back catalogue. Of course the potential for some exceptionally on point remixes for one of Techno’s most widely respected production teams was always going to appeal, and it is here on Part 4 that the concept hits true perfection.

2012 is going to be a good year for Sei A – we can feel it. Transcending numerous genres and melting the darker sides of electronica into a style which is inimitably his, the Turbo signed Glaswegian has certainly been raising a few eyebrows with his eccentrically twisted take on modern Techno. Following on from the crystallised ‘Frozen Flower’, we are now treated to forthcoming release ‘Flux’ - a swirling slab of hypnotic bleeps, psychedelic breakdowns and tribal kicks, altogether combining to create some serious after hours madness.

We’re only five days into the New Year and already 2012 is shaping up to be something special. In an exclusive to Synth we’d like to introduce a new artist by the name of Mirrors and the super-slick ‘Dip You’. Irresistibly smooth and ridiculously danceable, you’ll find yourself hypnotised by a seriously addictive bassline and what can only be described as new-age House infused by 90’s Speed-Garage. January just got better.

Forget that hollow promise to subject yourself to a month of abstinence over January. You know as well as we do that come the weekend you’ll be heading out to kick-start yet another year of blissful partying. ‘Start as you mean to go on’ is the phrase and when Friday night finally rolls round you’d be forgiven for hitting the dancefloor. Certainly, when Animal Farm show no intention of taking a break then why should we? Celebrating their seventh birthday but a matter of weeks ago with Detroit legend, Rolando, the Techno-loving party collective dive straight into 2012 this weekend with what promises to be something quite special.

Christmas has come and gone, the New Year party that ended yesterday has left you incapacitated and a tree fell through your window this morning thanks to hurricane ‘get-to-fuck’ – there is no getting away from it, January is shit. Thankfully however one of Glasgow’s most consistently filthy production duos, Dirty Basement have just released the ‘Thirsty Work EP’ – a perfect combination of liquid bass and just the right amount of get up and go spirit.

With i AM very much in celebratory mode after a highly successful year at the Sub Club, punters arriving for tonight’s party were treated to wee Christmas ‘gifty’ in the form of a free drink before twelve - perhaps a ploy to get the club jumpin’ earlier but appreciated nonetheless! Desperate to take advantage of this, the night began with a huge queue stretching down Jamaica St where many a hi-top wearer waited patiently for their pint. Inside, with the club filling up nicely, thirsty clubbers danced in the drinks queue while catching up - “WAS SANTA GOOD TO YOU??!� Beta & Kappa played their usual blend of garage and bass - Jamie XX’s “Far Nearer� being particularly memorable and the Sub Club’s world-renowned soundsystem making it feel like the music was actually touching you (in reality it’s just your mate.)

It feels quite appropriate that our first post of 2012 should feature an entirely new project by an old favourite. You may already know him as Jinty – presenter of Gutter Riddim on Subcity Radio and one of Glasgow’s finest Grime DJ’s, but under his new moniker Inkke his focus is entirely on production. Dropping into our inbox yesterday like an electronic insight into the next twelve months, the ‘Pink Dot EP’ is a wild exploration of futuristic Hip Hop underpinned by ghostly melodies and low-slung bass.