Mechanical Evolution marks the debut of Jsph-SJ, a new alias of Joseph S Joyce, under which he explores the intricate landscapes of jungle through the lens of drumfunk, intelligent drum and bass, dub and its many offshoots. The EP serves as a deep dive into breakbeat experimentation and 90s-era sonic nostalgia.

The title track was shaped around a sample from 1964, where British science fiction writer, futurist, and inventor Arthur C. Clarke boldly predicted: "That humans are simply a stepping stone in the evolution towards an inorganic artificial intelligent life form." This statement shaped both the atmosphere and structural direction of the track, arriving at a moment when the rise of AI feels increasingly tangible.

Mechanical Evolution features a drum break from the Wax Breaks series by Paradox, whose aesthetic was a major influence. Final mastering comes courtesy of Harvey Jones, aka Pizzahotline, a standout voice in the new wave of contemporary jungle production.

The second track, Break It Down 3000, pays tribute to golden-era breakbeat. Built around the iconic James Brown “Cold Sweat” break, the track overlays shimmering deep pads reminiscent of 90s intelligent drum & bass, punctuated by wah-wah guitar licks and dusty chord strums. The result is both a nod to the genre’s soulful roots and a recontextualization for modern listening spaces.

The artwork draws on a striking, anonymous photograph of a NASA space suit test robot, reportedly from 1965. Its stark, speculative quality felt thematically aligned with the EP’s exploration of artificial futures and retro-futurist sound design.

Across both tracks, the release blends classic 90s textures with modern production techniques and structural nuance, inviting listeners into a space that is both forward-looking and deeply referential. 

Jsph—SJ - Mechanical Evolution

https://defaultposition.bandcamp.com/follow_me

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Default Position is a London/Berlin-based record label founded by Joseph S Joyce which specialises in emotive forms of electronic music. The label gets its name from a term that is widely used in psychology, referring to a person's natural tendency or reaction to something or someone. A person's default position is often based on deeply embedded core beliefs about themselves or the world around them, often originating from childhood. Many of us will have to challenge our default positions in life, especially if we've developed negative ones. In terms of creativity, however, we believe that the default position serves something of great value. We believe it represents an artist's fundamental frequency, a place of creative authenticity, devoid of external influences or material motive. When an artist's output comes from their default position they express their truth. Our aim is to help them deliver their message.

Jsph—SJ - Mechanical Evolution

Default Position

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