EP Review: Driving Me Wild - Kahwe

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Driving Me Wild EP - Kahwe

Driving Me Wild has moments that recalls the feeling when you walk into a club, building from snatches of noise and a quiet bass track. The big house piano that rides in late on into the first minute of 'Anything' captures that sense of rounding the corner and meeting the dance floor. Those keys drop, the room is in reckless abandon and everything changes.

Kahwe is 20 year-old Joe Cowie but this release would probably have you believe he has significantly more years in his record box than he does. Cowie's production work is based primarily around garage and 90s house but he manages to bring those two genres together without the spirit of either conflicting with the other, and at its best, the EP captures the very feeling of clubbing.

'Driving Me Wild' is a deep, a tightly focused house track with elements of soul in the vocal. The slick electronic bass seemingly bends round corners, creating a surprisingly melodic feel that provides a bedrock for the warm pads Kahwe throws at this track.

Despite a few retro touches the music on this EP comes off feeling surprisingly modern - the skittering beats and rap samples on 'Anything' adapted to suit the empty-pipe echoing bass noise. It's both respectful of the past and unafraid to experiment.

Final track 'Yew' is much more laid back. Whilst it retains a relatively uptempo rhythm the fuzzy sounds and blissful break create a very different atmosphere to round the EP off.

Driving Me Wild is released through Anjunadeep on 11 February, available to buy from Beatport here. Preview the EP below:

News: Glastonburgh Festival Emerging Talent Competition 2013

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Now that entries are closed Glastonbury Festival have confirmed this year's judges for the Emerging Talent Competition and I'm delighted to once again be on the panel of judges.

If you are unfamiliar with the competition it basically gives one unsigned band the opportunity to play the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury. They've had some pretty notable breakthrough acts in the past so it's a exciting competition to be a part of.

You can read up on my thoughts on the 2011 contest - obviously keep an eye on the Glastonbury website and these pages in the coming weeks for news on the long list and this year's winners.

I'll be judging with 39 other bloggers to create the long list - from here Glastonbury's own judges will whittle down to the overall winner. All entries are divided across the 40 bloggers (listed here) so if you entered there is no guarantee I will be assigned your entry. If you have entered please note that I can't respond to questions around the judging. Queries to the blog tend to go up around the judging period so I'd urge you to not contact the blog unless you have a legitimate reason. Usual submissions are of course welcome as always - I'll just be extra busy!

EP Review: Sensoramic - Laura Jones

Believe it or not Sensoramic is Laura Jones debut solo EP release. It says a lot about the impact of her work that I struggle so much to get my head around that fact, but she has actually only featured on other artists releases, split releases and compilation EPs. She has had several notable tracks since her 2011 break but none quite matches 'Love In Me' in terms of appeal and acclaim, having held the number spot on Beatport for several weeks.

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Sensoramic - Laura Jones

The influence of the artists Jones has collaborated with and the labels involve (both Visionquest, whom this release is from, and Jones' other regular label Crosstown Rebels) is fairly clear. Sensoramic is more minimal in approach. Where 'Love In Me' relied on a nod to 90s Euro-house for it's appeal this release is much more unashamedly contemporary.

The maturity works. Opening with 'Let Me In', Laura creates a moody, distant track full of hushed desperation. A deep bass shuffles beneath the track whilst cool xylophone-esque chimes play out an accompany to widescreen synths. The EP also includes a dub version of 'Let Me In' built around that bass line and layered cuts of Jones' vocal, creating something a little deeper for the dance floor.

Next track 'Loose Myself' is claustrophobic, elastic bass effects and rigid drum patterns creating a dark atmosphere that Jones is unafraid to keep maintain at a slow and precise pace. The track gradually builds to a bouncy bass line that does nothing to lighten the mood, delivering an epic and introspective conclusion.

Final track 'Every Thought' continues the introspective theme, creating a melodic collage of delayed synths, gradually decaying keys and plenty of filters and effects.

The EP is at its finest when opened up to the loose chime playing and contrasting depth of 'Let Me In' but the whole release grows the producer's sound convincingly.

Sensoramic is released through Visionquest on 4 February.

Stream: This Dark Matter - Slow Revolt

Just a quick one on this... This Dark Matter is the first half of a two-part EP out on new label Pavilion, sister label to Super.

The Slow Revolt comes from London and there's a lush Folk feel to this EP, but it's also got a strong indie-R&B twist, particularly on the title track.

This Dark Matter is out now - listen to the preview below or check out the full release on Spotify.

Video: Diana - Shiny Darkly

Press play above for downright noisy goth garage from Shiny Darkly, new on Copenhagen's Crunchy Frog label (responsible for the Raveonettes and Iceland's Apparat Organ Quartet amongst others).

'Diana' is a dark take on garage post-punk, full of reverb and distortion. The video is also confrontational - a disorientating riot of urban desolation, group dance and some fairly graphic scenes. Slightly NSFW.