Gein - Street Sweeper EP (MSXEP40)
Hailing from Milwaukee, WI and named after the Plainfield, Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein (whose crimes formed the basis for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), the drum & bass trio known as GEIN touch down for their debut on Moving Shadow with a heavy double-pack of dark and twisted floorkillers. Supported by the likes of Dylan, Technical Itch, AK-1200, and Evol Intent, expect even more tech-driven darkness in the coming year as this crew are definitely destined for big things.
'Street Sweeper' draws on their inspiration from the horror and sci-fi flicks that seem to haunt all of their productions, the Gein crew piece together a gritty, rugged number that is sure to steal the show wherever it's dropped. With an inspiring sense of call and response leading the way, look out as the machines come alive at the drop and things slowly come undone. An eerie intro sets the pace for 'Morning Star' before the drums kick in and the bottom end starts churning like a trapped beast.
With a swirling atmosphere and steadily evolving vision, this technoid thriller is sure to have all the darkside crew sticking and kicking their way onto the dancefloor. 'Onslaught' is a sinister, spiraling number that is pure horror-styled illness. With bass bombs leading the way, the hypnotizing drum-work at the core suddenly turns dirty and this subtle roller finds itself in dark territory indeed.
With a reece-worm twisting and turning at the heart of the beast, beware the poisonous bite of this one as it emerges from the shadows. 'Solace' ends the EP with a haunting intro that's sure to raise the hairs on even the hardest headz in the crowd. The crunchy percussion, heavy bass, and distorted stabs are sure to bring on the flashbacks to the old-school stylings of Ed Rush & Optical. It's new-school sci-fi funk at its finest as the stuttering drums and creeped-out vision bring on a purple haze for the new millennium.
Sunchase - Sands Of Time EP (MSXEP41)
'Sands Of Time' starts with echoing hi-hats as beautiful filmic vocals cry into the distance and set the scene for this dancefloor opus. Just as you drift off into the intros seismic waves you're forced to seek cover as the breakbeats drop like a slab of concrete. Shuffling edits and huge analogue waves battle for supremacy as the heavy rhythms play havoc with your senses.
Think 'gladiator' meets 'aliens vs predator'… The creepy intro of 'Isida' takes you on a journey through eastern percussion and crouching tiger style string arrangements. Beautiful vocals resonate amongst the dark rolling drums and huge bass lines. A perfect blend of heavy rhythms and uplifting melodies ensure this is guaranteed to smash dance floors worldwide.
'As We Look' gives us another vocal workout, but this time the sultry female tones emphasize the driving breaks and fluctuating bass lines that motor forward at heavy pace. Layered breaks gain more momentum as the tracks solid rhythm's interlock at every turn. This is a straight up slice of tech-funk that is definitely gonna see some heavy rotation in the coming months.
The EP is rounded off with a fantastic piece of techno funk. The structure of 'Next Rhythm' is entirely synthetic, yet it breathes soul and oozes funk. A neurotic 'speak and spell' chants the track title as complex, robotic rhythms snap together building a wall of breaks and bass. An absolutely infectious head nodder that will definitely have them flocking to the booth to find out what it is.
