2023 was a busy year at WNCL HQ - a string of high quality underground bangers culminating in a nomination for Best British Label at the DJ Mag awards

2024 continues apace with yet another masterclass in bass music courtesy of Mani Festo …

01 . MANI FESTO . Bioscan More

Tracklisting
A1 Mani Festo - Hunterr
A2 Mani Festo - Hunterr (Peder Mannerfelt remix)
B1 Mani Festo - Swarmm
B2 Mani Festo - Poison
B3 Mani Festo - Machine

Sales Note
HAVEN are proud to present the second record in their black label series focused on the crossover between sounds on the UK bass music spectrum and hard techno dynamics. This time UK break-beat maestro Mani Festo joins the label for the first time with an EP of hardcore-
inspired dance-floor weaponry alongside a remix from Swedish experimentalist PederMannerfelt.

The A side kicks off with 'Hunterr' with booming vocal cuts, pounding 4-4 kicks and break-beat rhythms sprinkled throughout for a prime UK hardcore and techno genre crossover slab of club material. This is followed by the Peder Mannerfelt remix where the Swedish legend brings his left-of-field sensibilities to the fore, submerging the vocals in to a ghostly high-frequency spectrum whisper alongside a looping bass-line and sludgy drum rhythms to close out the first side.

The B side starts with 'Swarmm' - a broken beat roller filled with screeching synth zaps and a mammoth break-beat in the second half. Up next comes 'Poison' with its eerie atmospheres and drones sat behind a 4-4 rhythm and charging break-beats in another dance-floor killer. Finally 'Machine' closes the EP with its syncopated electro rhythms and funky UK swing alongside chugging bass plucks and arpeggiated melodies in one more crossover hammer. More

Tracklisting:
A1 Mani Festo - Leviathan
A2 Mani Festo - Tethys
B1 Mani Festo - Night Drive
B2 Mani Festo - With U

Sales Note
Following a collaborative release on Sherelle and Naina's Hooversound Recordings and EPs on Sneaker Social Club, WNCL Recordings and his own Club Glow (ran alongside Denham Audio, LMajor and Borai), contemporary UK breaksmith Mani Festo readies four typically lairy cuts of gun-finger, rush-in-the-rave energy.

Mani Festo has become something of a breakbeat assassin in recent years with a deserved spotlight being shone on the producer as one of the brightest artists to emerge from within the dark 'n' dutty UK breaks and electro scene. What you see is what you get from Mani Festo; what you're getting is a screwface and a smacked jaw.

'Leviathan' kicks things off with its stripped-back, grime-like textures - distorted kicks, frantic claps and growls from the belly of the beast blend on a minimal-breaks sequence that packs quite a punch despite its uncluttered soundwaves. 'Tethys' follows in a similar vein; distorted screams come from a brass-creature deep in the darkness, scattered percussion and step-tipped production blur the lines between garage, breaks and electro.

Large wubs and basslines guide the listener front left (just make sure you've got your protective earplugs in!) on 'Night Drive' before 'With U' strays down an emotional and introspective route with its otherworldly atmospherics, jungle tones and contemplative stillness - a creative combining of both heaven and hell. More

Tracklisting:
A1 Mani Festo - Barrier
A2 Mani Festo - Barrier (Addison Groove remix)
B1 Mani Festo - Grass Snake
B2 Mani Festo - Synkron

Release Note:
After Mani Festo's last contribution to our techno-oriented Basement Tracks series, a sequel was a no-brainer. It's no exaggeration to say that over the last couple of years the DJ, producer and label boss has become widely recognised as one of the UK's most exciting techno artists, given his easily identifiable sound, each release just as bold and hard-hitting as the last - this one included.

Synkron EP boasts Mani Festo's ability to create raw, industrial electronics which never sacrifice movement nor swing. Each track is crafted with a precise direction, some via industrial electro instrumentals ('Barrier'); others with acidic accents and the introduction of breaks ('Grass Snake') and another with hard techno proclivities ('Synkron'). If this weren't enough, we're stoked to draft in iconic Bristol producer Addison Groove who adds sharp rim shots and spasmodic synths to 'Barrier' to give it even more movement and body.

Synkron EP drops 28th October 2022 via Basement Tracks. More

Hot on the heels of Dawn Razors “Blizzard EP” we are back with an EP from yet another hot new talent making their DEXT Debut “Mani Festo” has been on our radar for some time now releasing imprints such as Shall Not Fade , Sneaker Social Club , WNCL Recordings Lobster Theramin & Club Glow His tough & raw no nonsense sound which encompasses Techno , Electro , Breakbeat whilst paying tribute to UK underground sound system & Rave culture is exactly sort of heavy weight tackle that you would expect to see released on DEXT and this EP certainly doesn’t disappoint, expect speaker rattling subs , chest piercing distorted kick drums , mutated flanged breakbeats , dark and immersive textures and soundscapes not to mention a rerub of eyes open from fellow Club Glow comrade Denham Audio . More

Tracklisting:
A1 Mani Festo - Digital Projection
A2 Mani Festo - Jungle Poison
B1 Mani Festo - Roam
B2 Mani Festo - Sleepless in West Norwood

Release Note:
Hot on the heels of his LOW BATTERY debut and the announcement of his next EP on Shall Not Fade, Club Glow cofounder Mani Festo readies his latest arsenal of breaks-fuelled dubs for the Lobster White Label series.

Having become one of the go-to names for high quality electro, breakbeat and jungle over the last few years - thanks to releases on Sherelle and NAINA's Hooversound Recordings, EBeamz and WNCL Recordings - the UK producer picks up where he left off, re-imagining rave futurism and hardcore sounds through his own distinctive lens.

'Digital Projection' is a terrifying cut of grime-laced jungle. Stripped-back, but packing a punch, its large, alien-like wubs will make even the cleanest of ravers need a shower afterwards. 'Jungle Poison' reconsiders the typical junglist template with a dose of 2-step influence that makes for a high-energy cut of bouncy UK fusion.

The tempo drops as we venture into 130BPM breaks territory on 'Roam' - it's introspective and melodic aesthetics providing a moment of calm from within the eye of the storm - before 'Sleepless in West Norwood' captures that distinctive warehouse rave energy with a sequence of breaks-scattered techno.

More

Amongst his many great achievements, Mani Festo once held the highly acclaimed position of being the only other artist on WNCL to actually reside in West Norwood. Before leaving, he at least gifted us with a most excellent EP to add to his already rock steady discography of battle weapons. Forget what you think you know about Mani Festo and prepare to disengage ...

TRACKLIST
A1: Neutronics
A2: Come Wid It
B1: Disengage
B2: Iron Fist
More