ESD036B - Chris Colburn - Up The Ante

RELEASE DATE 9th April 2012

Some collaborations are just meant to be and this can be said of Bryan Chapman and 8 Sided Dice. If you don’t know Bryan’s music already, then within a few bars you will realize there is more than a passing likeness to the heavy-weight funk that has come to characterize the label and the music of it’s founder, Alan Fitzpatrick. Dig deeper and the connections keep on coming. Not only does Bryan hail from Alan’s hometown of Southampton but, like Fitzpatrick, Chapman was brought to the attention of the wider world by early support from Dubfire, who signed Chapman’s “Echo Vacio” alter-ego in 2011 to Sci+Tec and also championed Fitzpatrick and ESD’s first “hit”, ‘9 Hours Later’ 

The Irrelevance Of Tomorrow EP consists of three no-nonsense tracks, each big on persona. ‘Box Of Voices’, with its pulsing electronic hook, is bursting with tension as its steady rolling groove is propelled by pacey hi-hats. ‘Amplified Koma’ is a certified weapon with a sinister android vox that distorts over arrangements of mechanical drums, intensifying pads and drawn out peaks and troughs. Finally, ‘Barren Prison’ creates a dizzying sensory mêlée of iridescent melody, jazzy stabs and destructive, pounding beats.


ESD042 Bryan Chapman - Box Of Voices

Having recently spoken out publicly about rediscovering the joy of finding new and interesting music via vinyl-only releases and how this music is becoming an increasingly important part of his club performances, Alan Fitzpatrick has put his music where his mouth is by releasing the first in a series of vinyl-only EP’s on 8 Sided Dice. These occasional, limited edition 12” EP’s will give 8 Sided Dice and their artist roster the opportunity to showcase a rawer, more underground alternative to the labels main output   

Eyes Wide Open sees Fitzpatrick on typically bombastic form, albeit within a sparser framework of sounds that include chugging industrial rhythms, reverberating metallic frequencies and wonky harmonic keys in addition to Alan’s trademark heavy-funk vibes. 
Eyes Wide Shut retains all the same musical elements with the exception of the ride cymbals and the main stab sound being fully closed; providing a dryer, tighter alternative that some DJ’s may find gives the track a more workable dynamic within their sets. 


ESDV001 A Alan Fitzpatrick - Eyes Wide Open VINYL ONLY clip

ESD043 A Alan Fitzpatrick & Jon Gurd - Electric Love - clip

For his third outing on 8 Sided Dice in as many years Hans Bouffmyhre has delivered a typically bombastic and uncompromising three-track EP. Lead track ‘Pressure’ sets out the stall with its cavernous kick and nagging chords that evolve from a simplistic pattern to create a hypnotic melodic mass. ‘Hurricane’ opts for a more abrasive vibe with its distinctive jittering buzzer sound and rising tones making for an anxious and disorientating effect. Finally, ‘Mental State’ brings elements of both styles together by fusing pounding grooves, unrelenting bleeps, echoing chimes and nagging harmonics.  

ESD044 - 1 - Hans Bouffmyhre - Pressure - clip

Conceived around the theme of wanting to escape from the real world into a fantasy reality but becoming trapped there due to a glitched exit, Bryan Chapman’s latest EP for 8 Sided Dice takes on a futuristic, almost apocalyptic feel. Beginning with the darkly mechanical ‘The Devil Factory’ that conjures up images of smoke belching machines pressed into service for corrupt motivations the evolves with ‘Koherant’ adding an ominous atmospheric to the EP, suggesting the high-paced, anxious scramble to find a way to exit the rejected reality. ‘Lump’ closes out the story with its perpetual groove, melancholic chords and abrasive strings hinting at the panicked futility of being trapped.   

ESD045 - 02 - Bryan Chapman - Koherent - clip

Since making their debut on 8 Sided Dice back in December 2010, ON/OFF have gone on to deliver two further floor-lighting EP’s for the label alongside releases for the likes of GEM Records, Phobiq, Rekluse, Rhythm Conveted and their own Fone Audio imprint. The end result has been the establishing of ON/OFF as one of the newer artists who more recognisable DJ’s are regularly inclined to name-check as ‘ones to watch’; another feather in the cap of 8 Sided Dice’s ability to nurture and develop new techno talent.

‘Aker’ kicks off this latest two-tracker from ON/OFF with an uncompromising explosion of mechanical beats and abrasive sounds that combine to create a belligerent, no-nonsense vibe that puts the track firmly in the peak-time bracket. ‘Bathtub’ takes up position on the b-side, retaining the industrial percussive feel of the EP but taking things in a more linear direction; working the loops through measured progressions that allow for building tension and while ensuring a consistent level of dance-floor dynamics.   


ESD046 - ON/OFF - Aker - clip

Having left a lasting impression on many with his ‘Whipped’ track back in February, Chris Colburn makes an overdue return to 8 Sided Dice this September. Typically raw and uncomplicated, ‘Destiny’ is a punchy slice of mechanical sounding techno, fusing wobbly metallic sounds over a punchy kick and incessant hats. Cari Lekebusch delivers two remixes to complete the package, the 06:00 remix that works the track up into an intense, shunting crescendo while the 04:00 remix adds swirling spaced out atmosphere. 

ESD047 - 02 - CHRIS COLBURN - DESTINY - CARI LEKEBUSCH 06.00 REMIX- 8 SIDED DICE

Having eased his way on to the 8 Sided Dice release schedule via remixing Rich Jones and latterly collaborating with Alan Fitzpatrick on their ‘Electric Love’ EP, Jon Gurd finally makes a full debut on the label via the two-track You & Me EP. ‘Black Is You’ roars out of the traps with its distinctive revving pads combining with clanging keys and heavy rhythms to create a funky but intense groove. ‘Two Of Me’ lays down a resolute groove that steadily works its way up in to a fiery crescendo of jacking stabs and stomping beats

ESD048 A Jon Gurd - Black Is You - Clip

Having supported James Miles previous work for Break New Soil and Kaluki Music, there was no hesitation from Alan Fitzpatrick in signing this two track EP from Mile to 8 Sided Dice. The unrelentingly industrial ‘Downtone’ with its pumping old-school groove and crunchy percussion sets an underground tone for the release; backed up by ‘Crumbles’ which works up a stabby heads-down groove embellished by reverberating melodic touches and extrovert pitching effects to create a driving but hypnotic ambience. 

02 ESD049 - James Mile - Crumbles - Clip

ESD050 - Alan Fitzpatrick - 9 Hours Later - Markus Suckut Redefinition 2 - clip

Under the stewardship of Alan Fitzpatrick, 8 Sided Dice Recordings continues to maintain its reputation as one of the most consistent techno labels via a steady stream of well received releases. The label operates as both a home for high profile artists and a outlet for emerging talent; striking a balance between output from Fitzpatrick, Slam, Dustin Zahn and Sasha Caressi, as well as exciting new talent like Rich Jones, Chris Colburn and ON/OFF.

www.8sideddice.co.uk