It is with honour & pleasure that we present to you the return of one of the finest in game! Active since god-knows-when, and equally known as artist, label owner, event promoter and all-round champion of all that’s right and proper, Semtek has cast a long shadow in the electronic underground over the past two decades. Ever the mercurial savant, Benji distils a wide range of influences that have shaped his various endeavours on his first 12” for us: from the darkside revivalism of DJ Persuasion through to the raw productions of L.M.Y.E, and even down to his earliest productions on DBA. RAD-SEM1 is two tracks of ice-cold club cuts that capture the chilly futurism of second wave Detroit Techno, the sparser fringes of UKG and the abyssal soundscapes of late 90s DnB. But as is characteristic of Semtek’s output, always far greater than the sum of its parts. More

Semtek returns to Don't Be Afraid label for the first time in five years with four tracks strictly for the DJs. More

Pizza is the 6th release on Don't Be Afraid, coming hot on the heels of Mr. Beatnick's Synthetes EP and Semtek's West Acyd Shelter. The first track on the 12", Pizza, combines disco, techno and acid house elements on a broken funky base. Goons is a mean little track with caper-like 303s and a bumping trumpet bassline, backed by sweet drum machine beats. DJ 3000 takes the fundamentals of the original and replaces them with some of his own locally sourced Detroit ingredients, including a euphoric rhodes and some rich pads, to create a peak time banger for fans of Dirty Bird and the like.

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The fourth release on Don´t Be Afraid is a reinterpretation of one of the most important jazz funk records of the 1970´s. Semtek rebuilds the legendary hook from scratch over a disorienting range of acid, broken and techno accoutrements leaving a rolling monster that might set dancefloors alight. Photonz bring their unique Lisbon via Essex style to the proceedings with an "I can´t believe it´s not Garage" take on Semtek´s beat, proving yet again that they are a force to be reckoned with in 2011. The B-side "East Acyd Shelter" is a sparse analogue workout that would be at home as much in legendary and much missed Kings Cross hangout The Key, as it would in a James Bond soundtrack of the Timothy Dalton era. More

NKC returns to Awkward Movements with two new anthems for 2012, this time backed with heavyweight remixes from the one Maddslinky and Lampuka records honcho Raimo. At just 20 years of age with a handful of physical and digital releases already under his belt, NKC has had a stunning 12 months gaining props from London’s underground scene. Having just relocated to Berlin for the season we’re expecting the year to get even bigger for the young producer. NKC perfectly blends his favourite elements of house and funky in to floor destroying bass tracks on both offerings. ‘Fading Floor’ is a call to arms with brutal drums and floating synths build ups that push the vibes up and up. Backing up is a refix from Raimo, the first hearing of which was a definite label highlight, as Raimo twists the track and completely reinvents it in to a reverbed and layered house monster. Returning to his tough-as-hell drum style ‘Shockout’ is a bouncing rhythmic slap in the face, melodic but broken prepare to hear this on heavyweight systems this summer. Maddslinky is a name that needs no introduction, as the alias of pioneer and UKG legend Zed Bias, who serves up perfection in the form of a Maddslinky reworking. More

Often seen darting about with the Electrikal 26k Soundsystem and involved in several Edinburgh nights, there's been no sleep on the schedule for the young Scottish producer Daojia. An early version of 'Riego Street' was thrown up as free download nearly two years ago, doing the rounds among DJs and heads ever since. The track has now been given a long overdue reversioning, mastering and vinyl press for release on Awkward Movements.
If that wasn't enough, this release is backed up by a brand new remix from Scan 7. The shadowy Scan 7 collective led by Detroit techno legend Trackmasta Lou need no introduction, with careers that coincide with the rise of techno. Through live analogue shows and an underground ethos built around releases on labels such as Underground Resistance, F Communications and Tresor, as well as Lou?s own Cratesavers International imprint, Scan 7 are an uncompromising force in the world of electronic music. Taking the original sounds of Riego Street and refitting it in their own militant form with a driving analogue beat, layered percussion and techno originality, their amazing rework creates a collision of styles on this transatlantic hook-up that sees the first Scan 7 remix in over 5 years ?Riego Street Dub? sees Daojia revisiting the track that made a name for himself. Surgically complex it?s unique combination of musical elements make for big system listening. A beautifully clean structure weighed in bass but flowing across whole scales of hypnotic string and keyboard sounds. More

In the short time since his debut, Chairman Kato has developed his own sound, as unique and offbeat as his personal reputation. Launching his live show in 2011, as well as his own art exhibitions, Chairman Kato has staked his territory as one of the most keenly watched producers in London, now stepping on to the international stage at the top of the underground. It?s with great excitement then that we share this release on Awkward Movements. Science & Romance consists of four original tracks, influenced from all aspects of Chairman Kato?s life, as immediately heavy as they are emotionally layered. Equally based on a musical education learned from the dark recesses of Plastic People to time spent at the BFI and the classic synth scores of the John Carpenter era ? Science & Romance is uncompromisingly hypnotic; meticulously crafted electronic music from the mind of an autodidact. Bristol based Ekoplekz (Punch Drunk / Mordant Music) has practically defined his own genre with his sound over the last 24 months. Drawn to the beatless arrangement of Usual Drama he used samples from the tracks to imagine a constantly evolving and twisting recreation. Detroit legend of Mahogani Music / Slum Village fame, Andres elected to take on the haunting structure of Low Rises, adding his own soul on the MPC in to Chairman Kato?s original. More

Anthem Alert! We're proud to present the long-awaited debut from London-based producer NKC. There are two proper post-funky offerings on this release, including 8-bit tropical flavoured beast 'Marie' and brutal offbeat tech-step masterpiece 'Ghettotechno'. This essential piece of aural wonderment gets its official release in the form of 300 limited hand-stamped 12"s, and a digital download to boot. This is Awkward Movements' third release and raises the bar once more. 19-year-old producer NKC may well keep a low profile, however that hasn't stopped props and drops coming from the likes Jackmaster, Dubbel Dutch, Marcus Nasty, Ten Thousand Yen, Hackman, and Night slugs fam L-Vis 1990, Lil Silva and Jam City who've been playing these tunes in their live sets. He's certain to keep many more dancefloors moving with these two heavyweight gems. 'Marie' on the A-side is the drop everyone's been waiting for. Laced with steel drums that float over the top of an 8-bit sound set of tribal drums, and clocking in around 127bpm mark, 'Marie' is as much a respectable party weapon that is a precursor to the year 3000 carnival it was made for. Guaranteed to kick things up a couple of notches, and rattle round your head all of the next day. 'Ghettotechno' on the flipside gets things going even harder, pulling out the tough 808 sounds and chucking them back in the mix with some expertly-crafted drum pattern work. With its short stabs and catchy offbeat mids, this track's guaranteed to both kill it live and keep the head dancing in equal measures. More