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Eight releases in, Leonidas & Hobbes have honed a mutual love of soundtracks, disco, jazz, house, techno, acid, psychedelic, African and dub sounds.
Web Of Intrigue is one part tribute to lost 70s soundtracks, when music was created on the finest analogue hardware, featuring full bands, session players and lush orchestrations, one part tribute to 70s disco gods Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards (Chic) and one part mid-tempo but nonetheless cosmic house. The three parts fuse to form an instrumental track sounding as fresh as a whole meadow of daisies in 2017 and one that's been going down extremely well with international DJs who have road-tested the material.
Heavy Weather flips the script for a deeper workout in a 3/4 time signature - more of a cosmic waltz. Taking its main cue from 70s jazz fusion heroes Weather Report and The Doors' Ray Manzarek, it incorporates rich African percussion, spaced-out flourishes exhibiting the duo's love for the dubs of Lee Perry, King Tubby et al, and a good old fashioned arpeggio of an acid line - definitely a more esoteric number, all told.
The 'Dawn' and 'Acid Rain' mixes push different buttons for the heads, as suits the mood. It all adds up to a very Balearic confection, fitting snugly in with the burgeoning revival for this somewhat ineffable sound - a trend that seems to be getting stronger/bigger every year, popping up every time the sun gets his hat on and we all remember how to party like the lucky residents of that infamous White Isle....
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London/Edinburgh analogue electronic duo Leonidas & Hobbes released debut EP "Machines, Tapes & Electronic Setups" via the Hobbes Music label back in May 2013, picking up plaudits and support from the likes of Resident Advisor, Mixmag, Erol Alkan, Ashley Beedle, Alan Braxe, Shadow Child, Jimpster, Nick Warren, M.A.N.D.Y., Leftside Wobble, Mr G, Auntie Flo, Sasha, John Digweed and many more... The duo were consequently commissioned to remix the Pet Shop Boys.
Second EP "Mo' Machines" came out on the label in April 2014 and received equally high praise, with i-D Magazine inviting the duo to record a DJ mix which has to date chalked up a whole lot of love on Soundcloud.
Leonidas has released two other collaborative EPs with London-based Japanese DJ/producer Kay Suzuki via his Round In Motion imprint, equally winning fans worldwide, with a track now forthcoming on new label YAM Records' You And Music Volume 1 EP plus much more in the pipeline for 2017. Leonidas also has his own lovetoparty label, releasing edits of much-loved disco tunes on limited edition 12" vinyl format and free download. Previously, Leonidas made a name for throwing word-of-mouth parties around east London on his audiophile 'lovetoparty' sound system (providing some of the inspiration for much-admired late-night watering hole Brilliant Corners).
Equally, Hobbes ran the widely acclaimed Trouble nights for ten years in Edinburgh/Scotland, working with the great and the good from across the soul/jazz/dance spectrum since '02, and championed up-and-coming live talent via his Limbo 'gig-in-a-club' nights at The Voodoo Rooms for nine years since '07. Hobbes has toured his DJing style to the various corners of the dancing planet, including gigs in the Far East, much of Europe and across the UK. The Hobbes Music label has otherwise featured artists as diverse as Auntie Flo, JD Twitch (Optimo), Neil Landstrumm, Craig Smith (6th Borough Project), Ali Renault, iO Sounds, Joe Howe, Debukas, Fudge Fingas, Marco Bernardi, Dimitri Veimar, Mick Wills and Nightwave, with further support from Ben UFO, Justin Robertson, Motor City Drum Ensemble, KiNK, The Revenge, T.E.E.D, Kiki, Groove Armada, Maceo Plex, OOFT!, Domenic Capello (Sub Club), XDB, Ben Mono, Masa Sutela, Bawrut/Scuola Furano, Numbers, John Heckle and many more...

Over 3 years ago, Casey Tucker was thrust into the limelight after 15 years in the shadows. Never truly getting the recognition for is Detroit influenced and post rave sound in the 90s, For Those That Knoe reissued some of Casey's classic material and unearthed some gems on DAT in 2013. Fast forward to the current day and a recent treasure trove was uncovered and some fresh DATs untouched since the late 90s were discovered! Ben promptly bought a DAT player on Ebay and shipped it to Casey's home for the un-dusting to commence. FTTK has worked with Casey to present another round of authentic material spread across a further three EPs.The track Carpet Dancer has been in demand since the Fine Balance Recordings gained deserved attention. Originally featuring as the A Side on the very first fine Balance EP, it evokes all of the emotions that Casey's music can muster.Juxtaposition is a slower groovy effort with meandering chords, trademark fizzy percussion and topped off with a lush string finale.Whatever Comes to Mind rounds off the EP with a rolling percussive bassline, delicate arps and smooth sweeping pads.

It's been five years since his acclaimed debut 'Severant' and time has proved it prescient, its futuristic trap influence is now ubiquitous. 'Slow Knife' seems to return to where 'Severant' left off, but with the intricate sound design of last year's haunting EP 'Assertion Of A Surrounding Presence' subsumed into the compositions, making them more exacting and beautifully crafted. Between albums Kuedo has been working as a sound designer and composer for hire and the application of intent and widescreen rigour that commercial work requires has definitely found its way into the new album. 'Slow Knife' has the subtlety, ambition and pacing of a brilliant soundtrack - a sense of an album of scenes, that easily lends itself to an impressionistic narrative. But, as with 'Severant', the title suggests relationship unease, with the slow knife being a metaphor for the building resentment in any close relationship. 'Slow Knife' is almost two albums, the first half, according to Kuedo, invokes the seduction of the city, taking the music of Michael Mann's 'Manhunter' as a cue, with the latter half being inspired by the bloody starscapes and voodoo wilderness of films such as 'Angel Heart', 'Night Of The Hunter' and more recently the 'True Detective' series. Both halves of the album are also in thrall to Mica Levi's inspiring 'Under The Skin' soundtrack, especially in the turbulence of the mid-section. The songs of the albums first half are synthetic and seductive, a gelatinous veil with shades of the pseudo-sophisticated trance of Enigma, of all things, underpinned with dusky unsettling shadows and atmosphere. 'In Your Sleep', perhaps surprisingly, features the vocals of Hayden Thorpe from Wild Beasts, who settles his dark, whispered vocals into the moonlit shadowy atmosphere. 'Floating Forest' is the first track to allow back some of Kuedo's experimentation with the Southern rap template, which he explored before it became commonplace, with echoed drum splashes and a sinister repetitive motif, ending with a haunting growl. The second half of the album enters wilderness territory with 'Approaching's slow descending notes, before 'Broken Fox - Black Hole' throws the record into the cathartic darkness, as undulating chords play hide and seek with riotous reeds and scratchy strings grown from challenging collaborations with cello player Koenraad Ecker (from Lumisokea). 'Breaking The Surface' shivers and coils, before metal and strings dominate while 'In Your Skin' feels like being lost in a vast hinterland before 'Warmer Light' introduces some memories of sunshine, with its plucked bassline and spiralling dub. 'Halogen Light' opens with the sound of crickets and a clear piano, cleansing the soul before 'Lathe' brings things down to earth with a short, yet powerful coda.

* Returning to Dispatch LTD after a string of successful and hard hitting releases, DBR UK are back to present their debut album, entitled 'Rough Edges', comprised of sixteen original productions from the UK trio.

* 'Rough Edges' is an ethos by which DBR UK live by in the studio, an ethos and distinctive style which has been developed over the years and throughout their own influences. Made up of varying elements, styles and attitudes within drum & bass, the album covers the trio's full spectrum, carried out with their own unique flair. * Certified masters of crafting their basslines and low ends to perfection, the pulse keeps every track pumping with soul, carefully mapped out and delivered to a tee, whatever the chosen direction. Eloquently arranged, but purposely gritty, dynamic but not over-complicated and never straightforward, glossy or predictable, it's an ideology the group stand by, whether it's a melodic vocal swathe or a murderous minimal mod. * Equipped with murky steppers for the shadowy back rooms such as 'Demolition' (ft. Slippy Skills), the album journeys through old skool & dub focused influences, like reece thronged 'Dark Alley' and hypnotic stroller 'Man Hunt'.

* Alongside their solo productions, the album also sees guest collaborators from the past and present combining efforts, with Skeptical, Structured, Gremlinz & Ahmad helping craft the gullied landscapes, the poignant and piercing vocals of MC Fokus striking at the jugular in 'Blood Water and the smooth, dulcet tones of Amanda Seal perfectly contrasting to the darkness and hysteria, before leading the listener back up the garden path.

* Back on the scene with a vengeance, having blown us away with an astounding quality and output, DBR UK deliver their first long player, 'Rough Edges', utilizing their subtly edged weaponry to maximum effect.

Wah Wah 45s are very proud to present the first full-length album in almost a decade from vocalist, keyboard player, Fela Kuti collaborator and afrobeat legend, Dele Sosimi!

You No Fit Touch Am represents where Dele is today - something of an untouchable force in the music scene that he has always been such a vital part of. The title is an uncompromising message that this man means business, and with his mammoth afrobeat orchestra on board that is definitely the case. Recorded at the Fish Market Studios in North-West London by Benedic Lamdin (AKA Nostalgia 77) the album provides a musical representation of Dele's strong socio-political opinions, as well as delivering classic song-writing that could have come straight out of 1970s Lagos!

Born in Hackney, East London, but soon to return to his parents' native Nigeria at the age of four, Dele Sosimi was schooled and raised in Fela Anikulapo Kuti's shadow at the height of early 70s afrobeat. Having been chosen by Fela to join his band at somewhat of a tender age, he was still a young man when sharing Fela's Glastonbury stage in 1984, and became both Musical Director for both Fela's Egypt 80 and Femi Kuti's Positive Force.

After Fela's passing in 1997, Dele went on to concentrate on his own solo career and, with diligent patience, carved out his own afrobeat crown. In London, where he now resides, his Afrobeat Vibration all-nighters are charged with his passion, labours and his unrelenting spirit.

Following on from his first two studio albums, Turbulent Times and Identity, this third long-player is sure to cement Dele Sosimi's position as a major player within afrobeat and beyond!

Paris player Le Loup and Pura launch their new label Shadow Play with a four-track collection of avant-garde house music delivered boxfresh from the studio. As a solo artist, and one half of Hold Youth, Le Loup has cultivated a nuanced sound that is steeped in soulful jazzy influences, with a nod to the future and plenty of soul. On this first EP we're presented with a showcase of this sound, and a hint at what's to come on the brand new label... To get things rolling we have the very first track 'The Ancient Ways', which is quite laid back and minimal in its composition. There's breathing space for the beats and bass, with an eerie atmosphere pervading throughout. 'Ygam' is next up with a wobbly bassline, cosmic death rays and sinister effects lurking in the background - it feels like the soundtrack to a deep space thriller.

On the B-side things get ravey with 'Acid Surface'. Retro breakbeats and stuttered toms support a dangerously alluring symphony of effects and pads. At the heart of the track is a deep subby bassline, transmitting an ancient, yet cosmic vibe.