It started, as it so often does, with two old friends hanging out. 

John Shima and C P Smith were joking around one evening in their home city of Sheffield. At some point, Smith challenged Shima that, if the latter could produce a record using nothing more than a small modular synth setup, then Smith would release it on his Central Processing Unit label. As heads will know, while Shima has drops on imprints like FireScope and Subwax Excursions to his name, he had never previously released anything via CPU. Shima accepted, and thus we now have his CPU debut, the four-track EP CPU Modular 1.

The specific setup that Shima worked with for these tracks was Smith’s Doepfer A-100P6 Suitcase, a small but mighty combination of modules and programmers. It’s no surprise that Shima was able to familiarise himself with the equipment in double-quick time - after all, Shima was an early adopter of the Eurorack modular format back in the day. What emerged from the CPU Modular 1 sessions was a quartet of devastatingly effective DJ tools, mid-set rollers which will get the dance moving something crazy.

Opener ‘003’ kicks the EP off as it means to go on. There’s something at once stiff-necked and buoyant about the rhythms here, all thwacking Roland tones and snares which crack like someone whipping a length of sheet metal. While the beat barrels unyieldingly onwards, the programming in the tuned modulars is more exploratory and even trippy, full of delay-laced bleeps and flighty rhythmic motifs. It comes together for a cracking mix in the vein of artists like Jerome Hill and London Modular Alliance. Second A-side cut ‘010’ is no different, the street-beat groove and grumbling low-ends underpinning all manner of modular wizardry.

CPU Modular 1 is really timeless stuff, a set of percussion-heavy, future-focussed beats which recalls Smith’s own CPU drop ‘DJ Tools Vol.1 - 808 Tracks’. ‘011’ kicks of CPU Modular 1’s second-half with a dose of Drexciyan dystopia, playing an atonal loop off of an insistent bass wiggle and neurotic hi-hats. Even when Shima tightens or slackens the modulars here, ‘011’ remains unyielding, a dose of pure ‘Wip3out’ energy that you could happily groove to all day long. The EP closes out with ‘005’, a gnarled, gurgling production which still retains the dancefloor punch of the rest of the record.

For his Central Processing Unit debut, John Shima was tasked to produce four tracks using a single small modular setup. Unsurprisingly given the pedigree of this seasoned machine-funk pro, Shima aced the assignment.

RIYL: Jerome Hill, London Modular Alliance, Matt Whitehead

CPU Modular 1

John Shima - CPU Modular 1

_____NETX GIGS___
09.02.24 dream baby Dream Bar - Berlin 
15.02.24 Cafe Sonntag Bar - Berlin 
16.02.24 Cafe Sonntag Bar . Berlin 
21.02.24 Mein House Am See  Berlin 
Resident Advisor
https://ra.co/dj/djsinev

Central Processing Unit, commonly referred to as CPU Records, is an independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 2012, specialising in electronic music.

Distributed by Kudos Records London UK.

We are not currently seeking unsolicited demos. Due to the volume of digital submissions, it is impossible to listen and respond to each one.

Primarily based on a passion for vinyl and all things funky. Funk Drunk is club night and a mix series born out of Sheffield (UK) and matured in the french Alps.

We aim to promote both new and old, forward thinking House, Disco, Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Broken Beat, Techno and Jungle.

One day I'll pull my finger out my arse and launch the label! 

Previous bookings include: Guts, Docteur Vince, Loz Goddard, Ben Shenton, Thatmanmonkz, Simba, Huddle, Smorsli & Zeeni.

Big up to those spreading the love - Keep it funky!

funkdrunkrecords@gmail.com

***INTRODUCTION***
==============

WELCOME TO MY VINYL RECORD BOX - a new and used independent vinyl retailer and mail-order specialist, based in Stoke-On-Trent, UK.

MY VINYL RECORD BOX was established in 2015 by Matthew Southwell - with over 35 years experience buying and selling records.

The shop specializes in stocking - HOUSE MUSIC, TECHNO, DISCO, ELECTRONICA, JAZZ, GARAGE, PUNK, JUNGLE, FUNK, ELECTRO, BLEEP, KRAUTROCK, ACID HOUSE, PSYCHEDELIA, HIP HOP, BLUES, MOD, DRUM & BASS, NEW WAVE, BALEARIC, SYNTH POP and REGGAE.

Each individual record is carefully inspected and graded in accordance with the internationally recognized "GOLDMINE GRADING STANDARD" - condition is everything!

THERE IS CURRENTLY OVER 5,000 RECORDS FOR SALE THROUGH THE SHOP IN THE DISCOGS MARKETPLACE - with new additions listed on a daily basis!

The DISCOGS store is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Click here: https://www.discogs.com/user/MyVinylRecordBox

***RECORDS WANTED***
================

Having a clear-out? Boxes in storage? Downsizing or looking to sell a large record collection?

Please contact Matthew at the shop to discuss your options.

Tel: +44 (0)7758366201

Email: myvinylrecordbox@gmail.com

Electronic instruments designed and built in Toronto, Canada

Atmospheric Drum & Bass Producer.

https://twitter.com/FutureWorldMac1

Selector, Music Maker & Writer: Crossing the I's and dotting the T's 

Head to @innate-recordings for label business.

Raised on the vibrations of Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, Punk and Reggae, turntables were a natural progression for this Bristol born, Welsh rooted DJ and music maker Owain K (Owain Kimber). After discovering the sounds of bootleg mixtapes and Techno as a youngster in the 90s, he's never been one for sitting still.

Technostructuralist.

I've been playing other people's music from the early 1990s and occasionally making some of my own.

John Shima - CPU Modular 1

CPU RECORDS