Juno Recommends Bass: March 2023

Review: The Hessle Audio label celebrated a big birthday in style recently and rightly so. It has long been a pioneering outlet for always cutting-edge electronic sounds loosely couched in bass music but often involving so much more. This latest comes from Toumba who made a fine outing at the end of last year and starts 2023 on just as solid a footing. 'Istibtan' is stripped-back body music with a smattering of tin-pot percussion and dark bass. There is more broken beat work and off-grid percussive inflection to 'Petals' then 'Hazzeh' layers up tropical synth sounds into a humid club cut before closer 'Identity Crisis' offers an introspective melody and funky broken beat patterns.

Review: While Kode 9 has forever been on the cutting edge, pushing bass culture and surrounding discourses to the very limit, Escapology is without doubt the Hyperdub boss's most conceptual and boundary-blurring body of work to date. Part of a wider project which involves a game, an installation and layers of political discussion and concerns, his fourth album is part soundtrack, part ambient immersion and part club bangers. Ice cold and jarring at points ('Sim Darien', 'Astro Darien'), mindbogglingly heavy and physically flippant at others ('Uncoil', 'Lagrange Point'), Escapology commands full attention as it sucks you deeper and deeper into Kode 9's pragmatic and concerned vantage point. An album that will keep on giving for many many years to come.

Review: Trouble Maker Adam Curtain and kindred spirit soldier Ste Roberts launch their Adam & Steve project with this delightful trip down bleep lane. Rolling at a cool mid-tempo, loaded with space, bulging with subs and swaggering with rolling breaks, both 'Fighting Fools' and 'My Life' hit with ageless dancefloor charm. The former playfully brings UKG elements into the mix while 'My Life' hits with a certain early 90s b-boy swagger that could easily be compared to the Blapps Posse. Get to know!

Review: The fierce sounds of Flore continue to challenge formulas and burn down boundaries. Following her inspiring Rituals album (and its consequent remixes) comes a brand new brace of beats 'Legacy & Broken Pieces'. 'Disruption' sets the pace and tone sitting somewhere between techno and jungle. It's backed by the ravey exploration 'Fiery Principle', the dubby, tripped out head-twister 'The Switcher' and the dreamy-yet-deadly finale 'Primary Mineral'. Complex, raw and galvanised in a barbed soul, there's no stopping Flore right now.

Review: Coco Bryce can do no wrong if you ask us. The Dutch jungle connoisseur has made every style possible with the realms of electronic bass music. He explores plenty more of them here on a brilliant new double album for Fresh 86. Point of No Return is very much an album in the real sense - rather than just being a collection of tracks it is music designed with detail and invention to keep you locked in a more close listening environment. There are downtempo joints, slow motion electro rhythms, stripped back jungle sounds and tripped out electronic explorations that suspend you in the cosmos. It is another typically excellent bit of work.

Review: DJ Python is a real firm favourite here at Juno HQ. His slow motion and dubbed out reggaeton rhythms just do something to us. He takes care of the B-side of the second release from Worldwide Unlimited. 'I'm Tired' is sleepy and drowsy dub with wispy synths that reflect light like fireflies as the ever-tumbling rhythms take you down deep. 'Uwu' has a tropical feel with layers of watery droplets and jungle sounds, humidity and percussion. Nick Leon's offerings are just as lean and inviting, with a crisp, tech-edged opener then a more broken beat on 'Love Potion.'

Review: Following the inaugural VF set in 2019, Gellaitry's donned his viewfinders once again for another remarkable intergalactic r&b odyssey. Originally released digitally last year, now finally on wax, Sam's Chromeo-meets-Calvin-Harris style rolls out beautiful, ebbing and flowing from blissful introspection ('The One', 'Try') to sky-bound, up-tempo dancefloor immersion ('Euphoria OK', 'Name To A Face') A carefully balanced weave of retro techniques and keytar flexing and a more futurist take on contemporary pop and R&B songwriting, all wrapped up and polished with a good sense of timeless disco, Sam has never sounded so accomplished, emotional or fresh.

Review: Raito has released big tunes on the likes of Deadmau5' Mau5trap label before now, often loosely within the realm of tech house. Here he shows off a real love for, and a fine understanding of, bass music, however, on the fledgling Safe Raver. 'Black Tracksuit' throws it back to first wave dubstep in the sonic references - bleeping dial melodies, crunchy breaks and heft bass. 'Foresight' is then a busy flurry of jungle, with mad snare programming and subtle rave motifs. 'Junk Dog' slows it down but keeps the heavy bass and brain frying synth work next to big piano stabs. A Basic Rhythm remix gets more stripped back and heavy

Review: Bobo is Mr. Burns's beloved teddy bear but it is unlikely that the same bear is also a dab hand at crafting weighty bass music. Although born in Sweden, this Bobo is now based in Manchester and this is his debut album on Erbium. It's a work that draws on all forms of electronic sound from bass to dubstep as well as ambient, house and electro. The resulting melting pot is a triumph of both dance floor clout and home listening richness. 'Beyond This Realm' is tinged with old school rave energy, 'Rebellion' is eerie and empty bass music and 'Nowhere' is a deep jungle excursion with cuddly bass pillows.

Review: Minimal murkery wrapped up in untitled mystery, 'A/B' sees French experimentalist Orree lay down two beguiling pieces of stripped-back bass brutalism. 'A' hits like a twisted instrumental grime cut that's been through the washing machine too many times. Rippled, clean and totally out of shape. 'B' has also been through the same process but then also marinated in high levels of diesel for a sleazier, oily and intoxicating experience. Limited so don't sleep.

Review: The enigmatic Manchester producer Synkro returns with two stately, emotional and bass-drenched cuts. 'Emerald' sparkles like its title suggests. A link-up with good pals LSN over the Welsh border, there's a big meaty swing to the groove and a whole host of tasty little details in the percussion and fills. Flip for 'Tomorrow', a much breezier piece with Marenn Suki. Flexing a halftime D&B style, the amount of space he's managed to find in the mix is nothing short of mesmerising. A superb release on both sides.