Local Heroes 2012

It’s amazing what one little email can reveal, and admittedly the one from newly formed Glasgow duo, Wherehumanseat had got lost somewhere along the way. But on digging it out yesterday we were exceptionally excited to discover a sound which was completely refined and utterly irresistible. Remixing Miami-based artist Telescope Thieves, ‘Nebula’ comes on like early Joy Orbison jamming with Disclosure. Hot.

A match made in heaven? Following on from the exceptional ‘When We Make Love’, Mirrors returns this week with a House/Garage hybrid which will appeal to fans of Disclosure, Dusky and T.Williams alike. Enlisting the vocal talents of Amy Lyon (fast becoming Glasgow’s go to girl for a lyrical hook-up), ‘Hypnotize’ is a perfect example of just what the young producer is capable of.

It’s been a while since we went in on the Hip Hop, but after a quick search through the likely suspects, our passion has already been reignited. We’re not entirely sure if this is Physiks own beat, but the combination of searing strings and a ‘tell-at-as-it-is’ lyrical throwdown makes this utterly essential. If you’ve been stressing all week, here’s your chance to ‘unwind’…

We went crazy for his edit of Ariel Pink during the summer, and this week Miaoux Mioaux returns with something equally as stunning. Taking on Norwegian Disco wizard, Lindstrom and his eight minute wonder ‘Ra-ako-st’, this is quite frankly what dreams are made of. With the original taking on a reflective and at times eccentric demeanour, Julian’s mix can only be described as pure, unadulterated bliss.

It's perhaps fitting that our Local Hero feature returns this week with something completely fresh. Previously making music under the name ‘Shock’, Almost has wasted no time in getting his stuff out there, exploding onto Soundcloud with ‘Fourth Night’, a delicious slice of quirky House signed to Norwegian label Brus&Records. Swirling around a plucked bassline, it’s all about the soul-searing break at 1.15.

Aww shit...it’s finally here. After months of anticipation, LuckyMe release S-Type’s debut EP next week, and to say we’re excited wouldn’t just be an understatement, but a misleading restraint of our emotions. Channelling the same type of electric swagger used by Rustie and Chromeo, ‘Walrus’ is a super-charged slice of future funk which needs your attention. Pick up the release on Oct 16^th in both vinyl & digital formats.

Dam Mantle’s debut album ‘Brother’s Fowl’ is what we’d like to describe as an essential purchase. Twisting the very foundation of electronic music into his own inimitable sound, it perfectly captures what the producer has been working towards over the last few years. ‘Dublin’, featuring on both ‘Brothers Fowl’ and the ‘Dam Mantle and Lovers’ Rights EP’ is a journey which no matter how many times taken, always sends you in a diffrent direction.

When we come to compile our end of year charts it’s fairly obvious that High Sheen all-stars Mia Dora, HaHaHa & Raksha will feature quite heavily. Following on from their inter-stellar debut, they return to our stream this week with a slamming slice of peak-time Techno which has already claimed support from the likes of Eats Everything, Toddla T & Jackmaster. Prepare to sweat…

Haunting, beautiful, ethereal - three words that perfectly describe Koreless’ new mix on Chicago-based artist, How To Dress Well. With a melody which instantly sparks off childhood nostalgia and a falsetto which reaches deep into the soul, ‘Cold Nites’ strikes a captivating balance between endearing hope and painful heartbreak. Antony and the Johnsons ain’t got nothing on this…

We may have featured this earlier in the week, but our fascination with ‘Canterbury Pt.1’ is just beginning. On Tuesday evening Tom Marshallsay aka Dam Mantle released news about his forthcoming debut album ‘Brothers Fowl’, issuing the first single as a free download via the Wichita website. Swirling with delirious disposition and a truly captivating eccentricity, it feels like it should have sound-tracked the demise of Sergeant Neil Howie in the Wicker Man.

When it comes to Deep House Tronicsole’s HiRO never seems to fail. Serial Local Hero and true master of the groove, his productions emanate an irresistible and effortless cool, perfectly represented in this new remix for TrAmHed. Think late afternoon on a Balearic beach and you’ll get somewhere close to the ultimate bliss on offer here. Hypnotic, seductive and downright sexy, this is HiRO doing what he does best…

We already reported on the massively damaging ‘You Can Bring’ EP from Sei A a couple weeks back, but having recently witnessed it work in a club, we felt it was only right to give its creator the title of ‘Local Hero’. What seems to truly resonate from a Sei A production is this visceral atmosphere which takes hold of the dancefloor, a primeval sense of complete submersion, and here on ‘Going Down’ that is completely resolute.

New music from Koreless may be somewhat of a rarity, but when he does get in the studio the outcome is nothing short of exceptional. With a sound which refuses to succumb to standard labelling, our adopted Welshman is a master at straddling the boundaries between Bass, Dubstep and ethereal emotion, creating soundscapes which wander in new, unexplored directions. ‘Lost In Tokyo’ personifies that.

Without exaggerating whatsoever, Mia Dora’s ‘Romanticise EP’ was probably our most anticipated release of the year so far. Having first blogged ‘Random Romantics’ back in December 2010, the delight at seeing it included as part of an exceptional four track EP is truly gratifying. Any one of the tracks could have grabbed the title, but we’re sticking to our guns as the completely immersive ‘Random Romantics’ skips to an entirely different beat.

Sometimes a tune just resonates. It’s hard to describe, but when you hear certain songs there is an instant connection which is hard to put into words. Emotionally charged, overwhelmingly reflective and shimmering with outstanding beauty, Julius Funkhouser’s ‘Mist’ is one such tune. Stretched over nearly nine minutes of glorious tranquillity, this is one to save for that elusive sunset.

You will have seen us feature this earlier in the week as a free download, but seeing as it’s just so damn captivating we’re giving it big licks today with our Local Hero Award. Fall’s output is staggered to say the least, but when he does deliver something new you know it’s going to be worth the wait. On ‘Broken’ he teams up with the superbly talented vocalist Amy Lyon for a strikingly beautiful ballad of pure emotion.

It’s been a while since we gave the title to an all-out Tech-House roller, but this new release from Harvey McKay on the Trapez label was too big to ignore. 5am at the afters is where you’re going to hear this as burning vocal cuts fade into darkness over an industrial foundation. Menacing bleeps complete the package, making ‘Pressure’ something of a subtly devastating banger.

We think there was perhaps a universal sense of relief when Instruments Of Rapture finally released ‘The Streets Are Alive With The Hounds Of Music’ this week (of course tinged with sadness at being the final offering from the label). But what a way to go out, and to be honest we could have chosen any of the three tracks represented by Glasgow producers to be Local Hero, but it’s Ali OOFT! who takes it with the irresistible ‘Make U Mine’. Damn fine and right on time.

The weather may have taken a turn for the worst, but the music stays hot this week as 24 year old Alex-Ander takes our Local Hero award with the incredible ‘Because Of Me’. Made almost specifically for relaxing on a hot summer’s day, this blissful slice of Deep House captures a sense of true serenity, bathed in the final rays of a spectacular sunset. Featured alongside an exceptional remix package below, this is destined to go the distance…

Leaked late last week to coincide with our first real glimpse of summer, Barrientos brings the flavour with this soulful mix on vocal legend, Romanthony. Originally released back in 1995, this 8 minute reconstruction sees chords and keys work in perfect harmony to produce a grooving slice of Balearic beauty reminiscent of Crystal Waters. Here’s hoping blue skies make a swift return!

Well, perhaps somewhat predictably, today’s Local Hero Award has been influenced quite heavily by the scintillating weather, and when we heard Esa & Mervin Granger’s utterly astounding ‘I Knew This Crazy Bird, our decision was obvious. Creating an atmosphere of pure bliss, the combination of Balearic chords, reflective synths and a vocal sample which is lighter than air makes this the ultimate embodiment of summer. Exceptional stuff.

It’s been a while since the Local Hero Award went to an unsigned track, but sometimes you just have to make the exception. Earlier this week we were sent four new tunes from the superbly fresh Cruffy, which apart from emanating some serious ghetto-bounce, also fit in perfectly with Glasgow’s futuristic Hip Hop vision. Our favourite cut is ‘Girls’ – a skewed reflection of early Skream in Pharrell Williams' perfectly polished chrome rims.

Following on from the long-awaited announcement regarding the first release from TNGHT (Hudmo’s collaboration project with Lunice), the Glaswegian super-producer has also put his hand to Bjork’s ‘Biophilia’ track, ‘Virus’. Much like his recent remix for Battles, this show’s a more delicate side to his hyperbolic vision, taking Bjork’s off-kilter vocals and wrapping them round an altogether extravagant (but gentle) soundscape.

It was only a matter of time before John Smyth aka This Is I got noticed. Formally producing under the name Dynamode but now rolling solo, he was a main-fixture on Synth last year with a handful of quality demos screaming out for attention. One such demo was the superbly reflective, ‘Round & Round’ - a Diana Ross sampling, sunset groover which has since been picked up by Love Not Money Records for release in July.

There can be no doubting Grobbie’s place as one of Glasgow’s finest up and coming producers, infact it’s almost a crime that he’s not claimed more attention from the city’s many conscientious promoters. Here, he turns out an utterly blissful remix for French producer Andrea, flipping the original into a liquid-garage hybrid which fuses reflective melodies with a deep but subtle bassline. Gorgeous stuff through and through.

Choosing this week’s Local Hero was tough. The sheer volume of quality being pumped out of Glasgow at the moment is quite frankly ridiculous, but it’s with Rememory’s Esa and the ever dependable OOFT! that the award is presented. Released this week as a digital exclusive to the original, Esa takes lead track ‘Memories’ and brings it to a blissful climax amid shimmering synths and deep-burning basslines. An essential addition to an already exceptional release.

Finally! We first reported on this dangerously slick collaboration back in August last year, and as the months have passed our anticipation for its full release has become total. Glasgow’s premier edit duo team up with man of the moment, Rob Etherson (Mia Dora, Ovr Kill) for what is shaping up to be the soundtrack of the summer. Featuring on a new Retrospective All Stars Compilation, ‘Crush’ is sex, sax and seduction all rolled into one – prepare to get down.

It was a long time coming, but boy, was it worth the wait. This week, new Glasgow label High Sheen announced themselves to the world with the unveiling of their first single and a sound which undoubtedly echoes the course of the future. With Synth favourites Mia Dora, HaHaHa and Raksha all coming together on one track this was never going to be average and with their respective sounds warping into something completely fresh, this is very much just a taste of things to come.

It’s not often that we re-blog something in our Local Hero segment, but with the unseasonable warmth casting feel-good vibes all over Glasgow, we turned to Milton Jackson’s recent Freerange release, DSI for the prefect soundtrack. Deliciously smooth and completely seductive, this is a shining example of why Milton Jackson is king of the deep. Locked in for summer.

Without slipping into a fit of over-exaggeration this was genuinely one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make for our Local Hero award - infact so much good music was uploaded to Soundcloud this week we’re practically set til 2013. Taking the title though is a new track from certified one to watch, Illyus. Quietly bubbling away for a few months now, we’ve got a feeling this guy has a one way ticket to blow as tracks like ‘The Rescue’ ooze a flowing late-night buzz which is hard to ignore. Watch this space as they say…

There could only be one winner this week and his name is Rustie. Unleashing the vocal edit of ‘Glass Swords’ highlight, ‘Surph’ into the blogosphere early last week and quickly playlisted by daytime Radio 1 as a result, this undoubtedly marks a rather large moment for the up and coming producer. Enlisting the lyrical talent of Nightwave, ‘Surph’ exemplifies just what it means to make good pop music in 2012 and I for one couldn’t be more excited.

It’s been a while since we were last treated to the quite fanatical sound of Sega Bodega and we were starting to get worried. The level headed amongst us would have realised he was building up to something big, and here it is. Featured as part of Jakwob’s latest release, this remix of ‘Electrify’ showcases all that is wonderful about Salvador Navarrete’s twisted take on modern pop. Cascading with vibrancy, this is a neon vision of a not so distant future…