HIP HOP / TRAP **** James Massiah / DJ GAWAD – Contact High (Drowned By Locals DBL 44DL)
In 2025, Drowned By Locals impressed with “Faith Elsewhere“. Now the label from the Middle East hauls another street-credible cargo from the UK hip-hop scene. Poet and DJ James Massiah from London drops four casual narrations with DJ GAWAD at the controls. Four short cuts about the life between tax stamps, Hackney nights and models, as a celebration of human voice and beats showdown.
TECHNO / DUB / AMBIENT ***** DJ Gonz – Magical Negro Overdrive (SELN011)
Diverse tracks by Gonçalo Neto aka DJ Gonz, co-founder of London label SELN (formerly known as SELCPH). After the ambient warm-up “No Angels”, prog house synth swirl “Who Do You Ride For” gives a push towards the floor, which is fully realized with bone-dry techno “Known Cause”. Another tip is dubby journey “G.O.O.D.S.”, and the stepping title cut is a good fit to Berlin’s Nullpunkt, before kraut-acid “Root Tears” wraps up the lot. Also check out “Vertical Hold” on Semantica, produced by DJ Gonz’s label partner Conrad Pack.
SYNTH POP / ELECTRO **** Captain Mustache – Cracks In The Glass (Iptamenos Discos ISI011)
Two tracks from Captain Mustache, to brighten up the world. Simple and catchy synth pop with Ken Laszlo bass line, as a French connection when the artist’s compatriot and electro expert DynArec joins with vocoded vocals. PRZ remix is a clashier affair while retaining the original’s basics. Well in line with prods by Rude 66 et al.
TECHNO *** Esilum – Hidden Source (Molecular Recordings MOL0XX26D)
Driven by techno loops already hot in the 1990’s, it fits well onto DJ memory sticks. The first two tracks rely on proven formulas developed by Downwards, Axis, et al. “Stone Age” is of robuster kind, ploughig on with powerful bass. My clear favourite is “Tension Core” that lifts off with semi-industrial dub-soaked hypnosis.