Footshooter is the moniker of London based producer, DJ and musician Barney Whittaker. His style blends skippy, broken beat production with live instrumentation to create an organic, rich sound and he frequently collaborates with emcees, poets and vocalists exploring different tones and moods. His last record, Strange Days EP (released on Famous Friends), gained regular plays on NTS, Balamii, WorldWide FM and, most recently, by Bonobo in a DJ set at his NYC Boiler Room. 'Technicolour Nights', due out on YAM Records later this year, is a meditation on long evenings & nights out and how they vary in atmosphere, mood and colour. Opening with the aptly named and ethereal 'Intro', the EP quickly jumps into sunshine territory with 'Juan's Stairwell' before 'On Telegraph Hill' brings the heads down for a meditative two-step groover to close up the A-side. On the flip, Footshooter flexes his 160bpm muscles on 'Mars' with the help of London based vocalist and MC And Is Phi, before dropping the tempo just a touch on 'Rotations', a steppy, Rhodes-laden journey through London nightlife. 'Our Love' lowers the tempo even further to bring the EP to a close on a bittersweet note. More

MAPS is a project by a London-based Lithuanian drummer and producer, Marijus Aleksa. This labour of love is the culmination of many hours spent touring and in-session with some of the greats of London’s bubbling contemporary jazz scene, resulting in Marijus’s first solo project to date. The EP combines elements of jazz, afrobeat and electronic music through free-form jamming and remixing, with movement and the dance floor firmly in mind. Musicians featured on the record have been playing and recording with likes of The Sun Ra Arkestra, Blue Lab Beats, Tony Allen, Mark de Clive Lowe, Ibibio Sound Machine, Seun Kuti, Matthew Herbert and many others. The record has received air play and support from the likes of Bradley Zero, Marshmello, Aaron L and Ashley Henry to name but a few. More

Following a red letter release in the form of Joe Armon-Jones & Maxwell Owin's Idiom, YAM Recordings return with the second installment of their You And Music compilation series, this time compiled by YAM fam Hollick & Z Lovecraft. Kicking things off on the A side is Native Cruise, a new artist Hollick has been working extensively with on No Bad Days, bringing that signature ‘floaty yet punchy’ sound. It’s a Kwaito-esque club jam with pan flutes and percussive loops bringing that energy to the start of the record. Will Lister’s ‘Sunset Over St. Peter’s Spire’ is up next with a hypnotising yet intricate production from the hugely promising talent. Will is a dude very much affiliated with YAM and, of course, our pals over at Balamii Radio so it only seemed natural to have him on the record. That melody is a proper ear-worm too! The B side, curated by Z Lovecraft, is a slightly tougher affair with three tracks representing his taste in soulful sounds and expands on his A&R work for Rhythm Section International. First up is Rouge Me´chanique’s ‘Prisma Ltd’; a 7-minute psychedelic drum odyssey showcasing the multi instrumentalist’s many talents and influences, with guitar overdubs and flute ambience taking the dance floor far and beyond. On B2, upcoming break beat talent, LT, takes the helm with ‘Gale Force’. Hailing from the Peak District, LT makes work of deep vocal pads, 606 touches and a killer bass line. Finishing off the compilation is Wholemeal Music’s boy wonder, Dear Earth, who conjures a charming hip-hop ditty with his delicate assemblage style. More

Following the astounding success of their first release with Chaos In The CBD, YAM Recordings return with the first installment of their You And Music compilation series. This 5-track release features Leonidas, MSSS, Sofatalk, Tom Esselle and Z Lovecraft. Compiled by shop owners Theo & Tom and born of relationships forged at YAM Records on Rye Lane, it represents both local and international talent that they've had the pleasure of crossing paths with over the past 3 years.
Tom Esselle's 'Le^let' kicks things off with a traditional Guadeloupean folk song re-worked for the club. Driven by tropical percussion and a hefty bass line, the call-and-response vocal elevates the track. MSSS follows with 'This Is A Modern Drugs Party'. This track chugs along, interlaced with African and Far Eastern influences, while tuned percussion adds a hypnotic element. Modern drugs party indeed. On the flip, Italian maestro Sofatalk offers up ‘Truth Theme’, an afro- broken-beat masterpiece prime for the summer. Polyrhythmic percussion, twisted horn samples and vibe solos carry the release from the nightclub to the beach.
Leonidas takes things back to the floor on 'Shesha Dub)'. This analogue hardware session delivers crisp hats, acid bass lines and synth stabs aplenty. The syncopated rhythms drive the track through five-and-a-half minutes of pure groove. Finally, Z Lovecraft closes the compilation with ‘Oceanic’ a live jam recorded in one take. This track invokes memories of video games, beach life and sun-kissed afternoons, transporting the listener to an audio oasis via a digital ocean. More