Liverpool label Scenery Records continues to shine a light on local talent by next turning to Mark Forshaw for a new four track EP. Remixing is the singular Autodidakt Records boss Daniel Andreasson and once again the release showcases a gloopy, analogue heavy house and techno sounds with influences of acid and beyond. Before now Forshaw has released on labels like Mathematics, Tabernacle and Apartment and is also a member of Phantom Planet Outlaws with John Heckle and Binny. Having been involved with the Merseyside scene since the 90s and as a DJ who has locked down many a dance floor, Mark is a learned and well informed house head with plenty of say for himself. Up first, 'Peer Pressure' is a slithering bit of jacked up house music with a grubby, oscillating bassline and firmly planted kick drums. A searing acid line eventually cuts into the mix and flips and drifts about as the groove percolates below and it makes for enjoyably dark and intense listening. Daniel Andreasson remixes with his usual idiosyncratic style and layers up oodles of scuzzy sonic noise, dirt and lo fi texture on top of a swampy techno rhythm and snaking, spiralling synths. Fully dystopian in nature it makes way for the blistering stomps of bleep techno monster 'For No One'. This raw acid concoction is a broody and alarming affair that cannot fail to blow minds. Next up is the rather more lithe and elastic, hurried and energetic bit of techno minimalism that is 'Raptures'. With rubbery kicks and Rob Hood style synths is scurries from start to finish in gloopy, unhinged fashion. Lastly, 'The Push' is a prickly, fulsome brew of cowbells and claps, razor edged synths and lumpy drums that rides up and down, sticks out in many direction at once and generally does a fine job of firing your every synapse. This is another no nonsense EP from Scenery that is lovably rugged and unpredictably creative.
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The III Rivers juggernaut sets forth once again, release number 4 The Charivari EP, putting Voiceless in the cockpit and leading the charge. Second Nature sets a dark, sultry and ominous tone as Voiceless deploys a plethora of sounds and moods that resonate with all the tense drama of the label's affiliated club night, Bohemian Grove. Big laser beam synths dart through a thick pitch black haze while a factory line percussion section hammers on. Always keeping a foot in the sonic warfare division, we get three locked grooves loaded and ready for battle; funky, electrified technoid wobblers that should fight off most opposition with ease. Flip the disc and Opt-out opens with a controlled urgency as a barrage of kick drums sets the train in motion. Voiceless layers up rich, untreated piano chords against the backdrop of dark industrial chaos; percussion artefacts career around the mix and various elements are put through an aural meat grinder before the familiar and welcoming piano motif returns like a long lost friend; guiding us through the smoke hand-in-hand. A beautiful juxtaposition of soulful melancholy and cold, glacial machines. Final track Charivari really hits the accelerator as a tough and mechanical rhythm jolts against blurred, radioactive pads and searing string lines before collapsing into a fractal breakdown introducing mystical, weaving high end leads. An eyes-down fist pumper of the highest order and one that commands excessive smoke & strobe light abuse late, late into the session. One to close off one of their infamous soirees in style, hoards of mutant dancers leaving the industrial backdrop of the club's venue and crossing paths with the early morning dog walkers and Sunday strollers. Four releases in and we've lost none of the quality control, unique drive and free minded 'true spirit' (to quote Tresor's legendary catchphrase). The label goes from the strength to strength and with it, brings a whole new generation of techno shamans under their wing. More

More extra-terrestrial, technoid vibrations from the Ill River nucleus. This latest transmission delivered by the one and only Hakim Murphy; and received through biosynthesized artefacts planted on Earth by the higher civilizations during the Great Experiment. Reports of strange noises in the sky have been circulating since 2010, posing many questions as to their origin. Secretly, III Rivers have been communicating with the space beings, securing their place in the interstellar Shangri-la when at last we finally transcend the cosmos. "Smog" is the initial signal to land - beginning with cascading bleeps and sonars before a buzzing sawtooth assumes first contact. Proceeding to encapsulate all Earthlings with its electromagnetic hum - it's no wonder people are rushing to the top of apartment blocks to try and bootleg this shit on their phones. "Vortex" is next, taking us right through the wormhole into the domain of machine-elves and humongous multi-headed entities, all eager to show us the porthole to paradise. A blissful bubble of ricocheting snares, delectable synth rubs and celestial goodness awaits. “Spanking Tables” concludes the set and sees Hakim display his amazing control of percussion and unusual sounds; comfortably easing us in with our new galactic friends. Synthetic toms, drifting pads and sharp hats all converging on our bodies. Beautiful stuff. Maybe the Maya were just a year too early…. More