Taking his cue from seminal mix albums of days gone by, Glenn Astro is back with a compilation of original productions from a cast of fictional artists on Nothing Is Real. Across 13 tracks, the Tartelet mainstay celebrates the thrill of discovery which came as standard listening to new entries in series’ like X-Mix and DJ Kicks, moving between head-nodding downtempo, ambient techno, broken beat and all manner of chill-out room delights. You might be left wishing artists such as DJ 1999, Mental Trance and Eye Soul8r had actual discographies to go and explore, but as Astro himself is keen to point out, “nothing is real.”

Astro has never been shy to embrace classic tropes and tones in his past albums for Tartelet, Apollo and Ninja Tune, but he’s drawing on a different set of influences for this album and embracing the flexibility afforded by using imagined aliases for varied production styles.

“I had the idea to do a mixtape, preferably with unknown dance tracks that also reflect that whole 90s/early 00s vibe,” Astro explains. “Instead of digging for some records that haven’t been sourced yet or trying to find those ‘forgotten’ treasures, I made the tracks myself. That way I had full control over BPMs, feel and the whole arrangement of tracks. I thought of a few alter egos and started producing the tracks in the order that I intended to play them in a mix. In the end a whole compilation of tracks emerged.”

While the concept might suggest you’re going to hear a lot of over- familiar sounds, don’t be fooled. Astro is inspired and inquisitive, channeling the experimental spirit of the 90s and early 00s when electronic music was still continually being redefined in all kinds of micro-scenes. In many cases, Astro’s productions slip into the cracks between genres rather than specifically mimicking a style.

Even if the reference points are detectable, the end result is a curious blend as indebted to ambiguity as the overall concept of the compilation. Like the spine-tingling sensation of hitting play and awaiting the waves of unknown sonics on one of those seminal mixes, you never know exactly what you’re going to get as you take the trip through Nothing Is Real. More

Glenn Astro returns to Tartelet Records with Purple, a four-tracker of minimal slow burners and futuristic dance music, marking the label’s 50th 12-inch release.

Since releasing his second album Homespun in late 2020, Glenn Astro has been quietly channeling his funky instincts towards new production approaches. Purple, a four-piece compilation of mutant future-boogie daubed in Rogers-Nelson hues, comes through with emotional heft. It also marks the 50th 12" release for Tartelet Records.

“Following up on Homespun, I wanted to try out some more dancefloor- oriented tracks again,” says Glenn Astro. “Keeping it simple and practical, while not being too predictable. I incorporated a lot of modular synth bits and experiments, with ‘Flux’ being an almost exclusively modular-based jam.”

Incorporating tricky sound design and fluid structures, Astro’s new lines of enquiry never come at the expense of the groove. From the opening thump of ‘Penduloop’ onwards it’s apparent that his rugged rhythmic kinks are present and correct to hook in the dancers, while the melodic drops later in the track edge in a little melancholic flavour to take the mind somewhere else entirely. On this opening track, the artist explores new territory with his version of early naughties minimal house – a welcome
slow burner.

The EP title track ‘Purple’ slaps with purpose, not least in the Linn-esque drums and melodic bassline, but it’s a positively dreamy piece which skips on crooked beat formations and floats upwards via a multi-timbral tapestry of yearning synth shapes and robotic vocals. On ‘Out Of Office’ Glenn Astro provides a generous dose of electro nostalgia when he amps up the heavy-hearted feeling with aching string pads and electro-informed machine logic. The track becomes alive with its deep un-synced rhythms and dark bass notes, pushing further into the abyss. ‘Flux’, with its tooly
feel, takes the electronic mantra further and sheds light on the source of much of Astro’s new sound palette.

Crucially, even in its techiest moments, an irrepressible humanity shines through across Purple. Glenn Astro’s soul is the binding agent which links his early, sample-heavy house to his more explorative new angles, and it comes through in abundance on this fully-formed release. More

Five years after his critically acclaimed debut album Throwback, Glenn Astro returns with his deeply personal album Homespun.

Marking a change in course from his first release on Tartelet Records, Glenn Astro is set to showcase his sophomore album Homespun, a testament to a visionary artist who has come into his own. Made up of ten tracks spanning 45 minutes, the record twists and turns between electronic meditations, soulful vocals by Ajnascnet, and futuristic electro, carving out a world of spacey eclecticism that is as nostalgic as it is experimental.

“This album is in all facets different from the first one, which was a deliberate decision. No vintage sounds and references, no sampling, combined with futuristic sound design and song structures.I tried to keep it as current and intuitive as possible,” he says.

Known for his chunky beats and fuzzy textures, Glenn Astro has released on labels such as Ninja Tune and Apollo, leaving a distinctive signature on everything he touches.

But Glenn Astro has quietly been crafting a new sound for himself. Sometimes taking detours – morphing into his dark alter ego and experimenting with artist collaborations.

The sound of Homespun is a culmination of several years of reflection and artistic development – however, the album itself was produced in less than three months. “I set myself an ultimatum to finish the album within three months. If I didn’t make it, I’d
have to rethink my career path and keep music as a hobby, he says.

On the introspective first single and album title track “Homespun,” Ajnascent’s vocals lend a sincerity to the melancholic production. “It’s about the regret of not taking chances and giving in too much, but also about taking responsibility and being honest with yourself. Homespun is a nod to nostalgia and a desire for simplicity and prudence, being equally the culprit and the cure,” elaborates Ajnascent.

On “The Yancey,” an homage to J Dilla, Glenn Astro paints his vision of contemporary dance music with shimmering melodies, deep ambient soundscapes, and advanced drum programming. “Moreira” and “Look at You” feel like spaced-out electronic funk hybrids, while “Taking Care of Business” goes back to the future with Glenn Astro’s take on jungle. Other tracks such as “Mezzanine,” “Slow Poke Flange,” and “Viktor’s Meditation” provide the finest dubby electronics. More

A1. THE POWER A2. FEELIN’ ME A3. SHUTTER SHADES B1. THE POWER (MEDLAR REMIX) B2. SHUTTER SHADES (DEFT REMIX) More

‘Nitely’ is the debut album from Jonny Wildey; written recorded over three years at North London’s creative haven Total Refreshment Centre.

Although ‘Nitely’ will be his first release under his own name, Wildey has been making electronic music under the name Alphabets Heaven for the last decade, releasing a string of acclaimed singles on Nightmares On Wax, Tru Thoughts, Soundway, and King Deluxe.

Recording upstairs at Total Refreshment Centre proved an inspiration in itself for Wildey – he recorded at night, which happily meant that some of the most exciting music around was happening in the same building: “The TRC had gigs on at the time, so I’d go there, start working on something, then would see the Neue Grafik Ensemble, or some amazing jazz band, and go back upstairs and carry on working, which was a lot of fun.” Unsurprisingly, he soon attracted some like-minded collaborators – ‘Nitely’ features Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming, Soccer96), Emma Gatrill (This Is The Kit, Laura Marling), Marcus Hamblett (James Holden, Timber Timbre) and London based beat master Deft (Yip Wong).

‘Nitely’ represents a musical shift, with Wildey embracing more traditional songwriting and a drawing upon his wide range of musical tastes – Shuggie Otis, Yes, Arthur Lee’s Love, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, A Tribe Called Quest, John Frusciante, Milton Nascimento, Steve Miller. “I really just wanted to take a lot of influences from the 70s and 80s that I was maybe a bit embarrassed about earlier in life and try and apply that to everything I’ve been doing for the last 10 years. I’m not ashamed to write songs and put my vocals at the front, which is a huge step for me. The big connecting thing is that a lot of the music I like is fun – say, Shuggie Otis has a lot of what I like in dance music, in that it just feels so light – it will just make whatever you do feel a bit better, that’s the kind of music I wanted to make.

Spanning 12 tracks, ‘Nitely’ is a record from the heart; it’s direct, warm and unequivocally honest. The sound palette of the record effortlessly meshes the crunch and warmth of 70’s funk & soul (Lonely, Violet, Your Dreams), the dreamy air of bedroom pop (Don’t Fall Asleep, Love is Out There) and sub heavy frequencies from beats/electronica (Roll, Too Much). The result is a modern day Pop / New Soul classic, an album that from start to finish is an endearing look into the mind of Wildey. It’s familiar-yet-new, nostalgic and straight forward, wearing its emotions very clearly on its sleeves. More

You may not have heard the name Jackson Almond before, but you will have likely heard some of his music. Having released on WotNot back in 2013 under the name Real, with a flurry of EPs, remixes and bootlegs under this name and as part of duo Boean (on BBE, Warner, XVI & Slowfoot among others), Jackson has been delighting ears for a while now, with a particular knack for balancing hooks and earworms with original ideas and creative production.
This EP began life as a series of headphone jams written when Jackson was living outside of the city in self-imposed exile, tuning into the goings on in dance music from an external position. It was then polished into dancefloor gems at the WotNot studio at the Total Refreshment Centre. The music reflects this, with the sonic palette reflecting lo-fi and outsider house, but with a warmth, depth and musicality specific to his own personal situation.
The music embodies the hook of the title track - Open Your Head - a mix of influences and sounds from world, soul, jazz, house and techno sources. In OYH, a child’s voice floats over percussive drum and mbira layers with African flavours, while soulful guitar stabs widen the palette. Ee Ye follows a similar idea with overseas sounds opening to infectious house organ stabs. People, Places, Things In Spaces is an immersive roller with warming Wurlitzer chords providing an almost gospel-like inflection.
The attention to detail throughout the EP is astonishing, the best example being the arrangement of our personal favourite Common, with the irresistible chord progression working its way around instruments, patiently building to hit its peak halfway through the track for the ultimate screwface moment.
Ultimately this rebirth of Jackson Almond sits nicely with a label finding their stride again; with widely-praised releases from Danvers and K15 already this year, WotNot are staking their claim on people’s ears once again.
More