|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12"
|
|
XL 1001T-EP
|
Joy Orbison and Overmono team up a massive new 12" for XL Recordings. Two of the UK's most respected and exciting prospects in electronic music, Overmono and Joy Orbison have joined forces to release a 12" single that's already been making the rounds on the DJ circuit to rapturous reception. But one of the decade's final club bangers comes from an unlikely place -- the rural London borough of Bromley. Overmono's studio, based in a former magazine printers, already had a rich history in UK dance music before brothers Tom and Ed Russell arrived, having been in use by various prominent artists and DJs since the '90s. Leaving the city daily to commute to the studio in the suburb of Bromley -- the opposite direction to the usual daily grind-helped back up the duo's creative ethos and push them to make music further outside of the known and well-trodden paths. Sharing the same sentiments as the Russell brothers, Joy Orbison has been a staple of the UK scene for over ten years and excitement still bubbles over whenever he releases a new record. This collaboration could hardly feel more natural; two intricate and detailed tracks holding a distinctly UK feel. Both "Bromley" and "Still Moving" are an ode to the place where they were made, a moment in time tied and influenced inextricably by that particular geo-location, something once so familiar in dance music that's now all but lost.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XL 966T-EP
|
Breakbeat science of highest quality. The Higher delivers a rude debut for XL Recordings with The Core. "The Core" introduces itself arms open and dances into the wind of the soundsystem, rinsing out precision tooled rave tropes, Detroit taught strings, and spine-tracing breaks. "Stick 3" goes on nutty in a burst of ravenous, dark side energy with bags of UK warehouse swagger, while "Submarine 99" lets the sweat cool a minute, lean and gangsta with k-dub, then coming loved-up and boisterous in "Submarine '95", a deeply classy, but rugged rollers vortex that twists timeless influences into inexorable, new, rave music.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XL 915EP
|
"This EP is a collection of songs that were recorded during the past couple of years," says Baba Stiltz. "They all represent things I've been going through, just day to day stuff; travelling, DJing, meeting people, being alone a lot, falling in love, parties, hang overs etc." Swedish-born 24-year-old Baba Stiltz has been steadily releasing his idiosyncratic take on dance music. Opening the EP with jazz inflected slow-jam "Showtime" and peaking with "Maze", the kind of summer floor-filler Baba is such a natural at crafting-his range is fully on show for Showtime.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 922EP
|
Omar McCutcheon, operating under his Batu alias, has been on the frontline of Bristol's innovative electronic music scene since 2013. In 2015 he founded his record label Timedance. Batu's Rebuilt EP marks his third release in just over a year. Batu pushing his sound forward in every way possible, creating his most uniquely slippery sounding tracks to date. "I wanted to try and challenge myself a bit for this EP. Every track represents a different phase of experimentation -- and also different tempos, I wanted to push my processes further than I ever have done."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XL 892T-EP
|
Jonny L's classic gets the re-whisk from a solid set of UK bassheads. At the tail-end of 2017, XL Recordings reissued Jonny L's seminal D&B album Sawtooth on vinyl for the first time (1997). After showcasing this 20-year-old classic, XL Recordings release a 12" containing remixes of the most iconic track from the LP, "Piper". With efforts from Peverelist, Overmono, Powell, and Zomby, these remixes go some way towards showing the influence Jonny L's music still has on a wide range of contemporary electronic artists.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 881EP
|
Norwegian duo Smerz had a prolific 2017, which saw the Copenhagen-based Henriette and Catharina play the likes of Club 2 Club, MoMA PS1, sell out "Half Life" parties of their own, as well as release five new tracks along with five self-directed videos. Smerz go in to the new year with Have Fun. With their unique electronic sound blending deconstructed club music, minimalist R&B, and experimental pop and techno, Smerz are also prolific DJs whose DJing style takes a similar route.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 887EP
|
Arla III, like the previous two records in the Arla series, is a culmination of Ed Russell and Tom Russell's combined influences. A representation of their memories -- both real and false -- of UK rave culture. These records have been informed as much by fantasy as real memories. The result is Overmono piecing together experiences of growing up and going out to raves in the Welsh countryside.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 856EP
|
Sam Gellaitry is ready to present the third chapter in his Escapism saga: a coming-of-age trilogy that demonstrates the young prodigy's unique, filmic musical productions. Hot off the heels of the previous two Escapism installments, Escapism (XLT 759EP, 2015) and Escapism II (XLT 828EP, 2016), Escapism III sees Sam Gellaitry's sound transcending, invoking a cinematic feel of technicolor-esque scope to his experimental production.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 828EP
|
Escapism II is a continuation of Sam Gellaitry's bright experimental production, following up the critically acclaimed Escapism EP (XLT 828EP).
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 762EP
|
Truss and Tessela, brothers Tom and Ed Russell, team up as Overmono for the five track monster Arla EP. In their own words: "Despite doing some live shows together and the fact that we're brothers, we hadn't ever really written music together and wanted to start something new. We decided to head to a remote cottage in rural Wales, near to where we grew up. The trip ended up being the most creative stint either of us had ever had and after a week we had the foundations for Overmono."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 774EP
|
Denver-based Gila's background as a jazz drummer as well as his involvement as one-half of hip hop duo Gorgeous Children, has helped him approach electronic music from a different angle. "I'm stylistically indebted to hip hop and I think it's at the core of all my songs, but I'm equally interested in pulling inspiration from industrial sounds and nature," he explains. "When I set out to make a song, I let the textures and rhythms dictate what it should become, rather than pursuing a specific genre or style."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 759EP
|
Sam Gellaitry's debut EP on XL, Escapism EP, incorporates bright experimental production that showcases the wide range of his versatility and influences. Limited edition.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 731EP
|
Hugo Massien's Kontrol EP sees XL Recordings continuing to reconnect with the spirit of the label's early days. XL's early reputation was built around a series of underground, club-focused, outsider rave 12"s from the likes of The Prodigy, SL2, Awesome 3 and Jonny L. Hugo Massien harnesses that spirit and brings it right up to date.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
12"
|
|
XLT 730EP
|
UK producer and DJ Powell continues to blur the lines between contemporary club music, punk, and forward-thinking computer acid with Insomniac/Should've Been a Drummer. Describing the music is a challenging prospect... but dancing to it isn't. Both as an artist in his own right and through the music released on his Diagonal label, Oscar Powell has established himself among the 2010s' most singular, exciting artists. The music is tough, but always playful.
|