Artist: Low End Activist
Title: Hostile Utopia
Label: Sneaker Social Club
Cat No: SNKRLP009
Release Date: 14th June

Casting a self-reflexive lens over his roots via the medium of crushing, future-rushing soundsystem sonics, Low End Activist returns to Sneaker Social Club with a full-length of monumental proportions.

When the Low End Activism 12” ignited on Sneaker in 2019, it paid tribute to the Blackbird Leys estate in Oxford, UK, where LEA originates from. In the shadow of social inequality and strengthened by the unity of the multi-ethnic community, Blackbird Leys still imposes a powerful influence on LEA’s work, even as he’s stepped out onto Seagrave for last year’s Game Theory album and notched up the first couple of releases on his own self-titled label.

On this new album, Hostile Utopia sums up the conflicting emotions attached to memories of home – how it’s possible to feel nostalgic for the griminess of urban and suburban Britain, its ordinary tales of bitterness and frustration, but also its intrinsic passion and solidarity. At a time when social division is actively engineered by Machiavellian forces, real conviviality at street level feels like an impossible dream.

LEA communicates these tensions through a style which is becoming his signature – dynamic bass torsion and chiseled, fractalised rhythms slugging around the 130 mark. It’s moody like a UK-themed record ought to be, but it’s not morose. There’s fierceness in every snap and rumble, as the legacies of hardcore, jungle, dubstep and grime pour into the casing prior to the gunpowder lighting.

On previous LEA releases, the MC roll call has pointed to some of the most vital voices touching the mic in the present day. Flowdan, Sikka Rymes and Trim all had something different to impart over the riddims, and now Hostile Utopia expands on that with the most extensive show of lyrical strength yet. Mez lights up the woozy, abstract grime swerve of ‘Mercenary’ in a musical style. Emz brings a ruthlessly sharp verbal steez to ‘GetGet’, Killa P gets busy toasting over ‘DFRNT STYLE’ and ‘Superhighway’ carries the dexterous hip-hop flow of Cadence Weapon.

In between those standout tracks, LEA expresses just as much in the production. Tracks brimming with stories to impart, laden with symbols masquerading as samples and draped in aural garb that firmly places Hostile Utopia in a place, a mood, that could only belong to the UK. It’s a hybrid sound just like the society it sprang from, and therein lies its power.

Mastered by Beau Thomas
Collage by Clayton Burke
Design by DR.ME

Hostile Utopia

We're sorry we've been away for a while, but we're proud to break the silence with something worth the wait. 

Beton Brut truly takes the essence of grime and directly injects it into this remix of Reloaded Sounds very own seasoned grime combatant, SDLR. 

The full release will be available on 14/10/2022.

Massive shoutout to the Reloaded Crew, SDLR, Beton Brut, and anyone else involved in the release.

PREMIERE // SDLR - Buss Ya Head (Beton Brut Remix)

VA FT 01 (USB Stick / Digital)

Bandcamp https://frenchtabloid.bandcamp.com/album/va-ft-01

Downright Eerie https://soundcloud.com/downrighteerie

Downright Eerie - 3 Million Pieces

For our 3rd release we are very happy to say we have the mighty ETCH at the helm!
Expect peak time Amen & 140 breakbeat acrobatics from one of the best in the game

Take You All Down Soundcloud Clip

We welcome back our breaks wizard Ekula for his second EP on the label following the excellent 'All Night EP' back in 2020, and here we see a continued evolution of his sound, blurring together breakbeat, dubstep and rave into a deliscous melting pot that makes up his latest effort 'Ravestep 101 EP'.

First up we have the title track that is pretty well explained by said title, with rave stabs and synths driving the song along with breakbeats delicately cut throughout to really push the 140 breaks vibe Ekula is becoming famous for. 'The Owl Song' is more down the dubstep vibe with a clear 2-step beat accompanying the breakbeat and some wicked sampling that really showcase the producers ear for taking something and flipping it in a unique way.

For the remixes we are first of all chuffed to welcome back Charla Green to the label, as she puts her excellent talent to the title track, turning it into an absolutely wicked jungle refix that had us bouncing round In:flux HQ the moment it hit our inbox. The second remix is by our devilsome duo and founders Tik&Borrow, who take 'The Owl Song' and give it a breakbeat makeover, combining their neuro sound design with something altogether different for the pair, channelling synthesis, arps and progressions unlike anything they've incorporated before, something that is a welcome addition to the duos arsenal.

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Tracklisting:
01. Ekula - Ravestep 101 (Original Mix)
02. Ekula - The Owl Song (Original Mix)
03. Ekula - The Owl Song (Tik&Borrow Remix)
04. Ekula - Ravestep 101 (Charla Green Remix)

===========================================================================

Check Out Ekula --> @ekula_allcolours
Check Out Tik&Borrow --> @tikandborrow
Check Out Charla Green --> @charlagreen

Buy/Stream

Ekula - Ravestep 101 EP [INFLUX 081] OUT NOW!!! (Showreel)

Quick one with old skool vibes :)
Exclusive purchase with another one called Fast Lane (preview dropped here earlier):

https://boosty.to/moscow_legend/posts/dcdec50d-2d7c-476c-bc19-019d2ce05386?share=post_link

RUN AWAY (clip)

160 & Beyond in memory of DJ Rashad - 2023/04/29
feat. music from @dj-rashad @user-788260039 (midnight cult) @rupture @samsarab & much more~
------------------------------
Rather than mourn the death of DJ Rashad I wanted this to be a celebration of the life and legacy, to reflect the impact of such an influential and ground breaking artist that has forever changed electronic music and inspired artists all across the globe. Anyone making Juke, Footwork and/or 160 BPM adjacent music today has been affected by his music in some way, shape, or form, whether directly or indirectly no doubt.

Yet, this mix is not entirely Juke/Footwork, or even all DJ Rashad, but more so inspired by that IDGAF spirit - the very experimental nature of both his music and Juke as a whole in which you can also hear so many different influences from across genres. This mix itself being very much a multi genre mashup with unique tracks of unabashed creativity.

RIP DJ Rashad (October 9, 1979 – April 26, 2014)

Tracklist:
------------------------------

01. K-Rai - Journey of the White Owl
02. DIYZ - Bassick
03. Guchon - Funk Tranz
04. Lazarus - Sore
05. Mani Festo - Caving In
06. Noizy Wilson ft Baj:NO - Mobile Telephone
07. Midik - Run It (Original Mix)
08. Gremino - Spirit of Power
09. Fetus - EMM
10. DJ Finale - Padou Mixe
11. ETRA - Got Fucking Smoked
12. Hyroglifics - Two For Two (w/ Deft)
13. Amy Kisnorbo - Squidge
14. Mente3000 - Street Knowledge 93 (Hyper John Hardcore Jungle Remix)
15. DJ Rashad - Cause I Know U Feel feat. Gant Man
16. DJ Rashad & DJ Manny - Over Ya Head
17. Irene J. - Cloud Over Ashfield
18. DJ Rashad, Tripletrain and DJ Spinn - Pass That
19. Melba - Insatiable
20. DJ Rashad - Drums Please
21. Yunna - Sea
22. Nectax - Vale FM
23. Slinki - Your Queen (Sempra Remix)
24. Frenquency - Baby I'm Good (Too) (ft. Kim Chi Sun)
25. K. Locke - Dem People Go
26. Root For The Villain - Make Your Sweat
27. Sun People - Nu Gun
28. DJ Rashad and DJ Phil - Come Close
29. TEKLIFE - L's Up For Rashad
30. Ace-up & Weezy The Era - Sure Shot
31. Lypo D - Umber
32. Lyndon Jarr - Somebody New
33. DJ Rashad - I Don't Give a Fuck
34. UnoTurbo - ex ss131
35. HNGVR - 4x4=160
36. Funkerman - Speed Up (Noizy Wilson's RAW BOOTY)
37. Jonah K - Undone
38. DJ Rashad - Let It Go
39. DJ Rashad - Rollin
40. DJ Rashad - CCP2 feat. DJ Spinn
41. DJ Rashad - Do Not Fuck feat. DJ Manny, DJ Spinn & Taso
42. Yoshimura Gungnen - lo
43. TMSV - Helios
44. Tim Reaper & Dwarde - Mendoza
45. Inuza - Ozelot
46. ETRA - Executive Dysfunction
47. Walters - Motion Sickness
48. Disaffected - Mountain Isn't Dead
49. Johney - Microwave Track
50. ITSUFO - LEVEL UP
51. Double O - Straight 98 (Escher Remix)
52. Portway - Panorama 
53. Cobalt Override, UFO! - Forgot Password
54. Midik - Lanslide
55. Kiat & Kiljoy - Taiko (Digital Remix)
56. ITSUFO - G RINSE OUT 95-96
57. Norfik - Approach
58. Boards of Canada - Everything You Do is a Balloon

160 & Beyond In Memory Of DJ Rashad 29-Apr-2023 Sub FM

Out July 24 on Catch22 EP, Samsara Beats.

@root4thevillain
@samsarab

[Premiere] RFTV - Catch22 (out on Samsara Beats)

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CA$TLE presents DROMEK - Subtle Radio - 16/10/2023

Using one baseline and an array of drum machine patterns. A monochromatic bassline resonates throughout. Overtones, undertones and motivational propriety. Paying tribute to the days of the analogue cassette. Give it a spin – connect with the old school.

Analogue Cassette

Free Download

Bell Tune

Over 2 decades of electronic music.
Footwork / Jungle / Bass / Rave / Etc

Many shows, live events, and festivals played throughout this time - unforgettable experiences had and memories made. 

Boundless: A Tribute To Sonic Junkie
https://sonicjunkierecords.bandcamp.com/album/boundless-a-tribute-to-sonic-junkie

Releases on: @nu-kvlture @aeronema @blackxmarble @dredcollective @bldsmx @devine-records @neonstreetmusic @funktrap-records @quantum-groove

DJ & host of 160 & Beyond radio show on Sub FM (@subfmradio) 2018-2023

Contact/booking: kraisounds[at]gmail[dot]com

See also: @megadrives
RIP DJ RASHAD