ARTIST: Monty Luke
TITLE: Hard Work Not Hype
LABEL: Dogmatik
RELEASE DATE: 22nd February 2019
FORMAT: Vinyl Album + All Digi Formats
DISTRIBUTOR: Love Vinyl

It’s safe to say that Detroit, a city steeped in economic, cultural and musical history, will soon weave its way into your soul should you spend any sustained time there. This rings all too true for Monty Luke. He has immersed himself in Detroit’s scene since moving to the Motor City in 2008.

His new eight track LP, released via Dogmatik, showcases the style of a new generation of Detroit producers carrying the beacon for a deep, Detroit sound that blends analogue weight and punchy drum programming together with masterful synth work and raw emotion.

Even at first glance the polarised artwork, an aerial map of Detroit, shows the more introspective nature of this Motor City ingrained release, with Luke purposefully steering away from writing club ready material. Introductory track ‘City Lights’ gives a first taste of this, combining swelling synths, dreamlike arps and crisp percussive hits. There’s a real weight to the bass synth that compliments Abi B’s soulful vocals all too well.

‘Anton’s Room’ & ‘Crime Wave’ follow suit – the former with its layered gritty bass, expansive stabs, glitchy bleeps and undulating arps and the latter creating a sonic swell between your ears manifested by a surging, panned arp, alongside sirens and punchy, gunshot like snares. Inspirations from Moodymann to Theo Parrish are clear to be seen in tracks like ‘Move’, taking a range of jazzy loops and samples and chopping them into a low slung, bouncing MPC laden jam.

Progressing into the 2nd half of the album there’s a transition from deep, Detroit house into harder hitting, electro territory. ‘Willie Maze’ with its killer drum programming, reverberating Rhodes and dynamic bass and ‘Roja’, combining emotive late-night chords and melancholic synth melodies, really hone in on that pensive, thought-provoking aesthetic. One of the highlights, ‘Wasteland’, is the best example of this transition – interlacing a commanding electro drum pattern with squelching, synth melodies and Serene Arena’s introspective lyrics.
Then taking it full circle, closing track ‘Block Is Hot (Black Hole Mix)’ - co-produced by King Britt in Philadelphia (alongside City Lights, Crime Wave & Willie Maze), returns to the 4/4 path with a thumping party track, carrying through that raw nature emanating from the dark melodies and Monty’s ad-libbed vocals.

‘Hard Work Not Hype’ is a record flying the flag for those underground artists working tirelessly behind closed doors to produce material that’s based on feeling, emotion and skill, rather than riding off the back of an inflated, socially constructed image. Monty Luke, as someone that follows that mantra, has been able to construct an album showcasing this, creating a real weight and depth to this release; it’s raw, powerful and thought provoking, expertly capturing the soul of Detroit - the city that’s had such a profound effect on him.

Press Contact: Sharon Andrews
SHINE MUSIC PR
65 Greenwich South Street
London
SE10 8NT
sa@shinepublicity.com

BUY NOW

HARD WORK / NOT HYPE ALBUM

Mike Huckaby @ DEMF 2000

Yellow River Radio (21/08/24)

Revered Danish electronic producer Kasper Bjørke has quietly been a consistent force over decades, steadily rising in the ranks with his eclectic and artful approach to disco and all that falls around it.

His latest album, “Puzzles,” was released earlier this year and showcases further versatility and focusses on the “deep roots in the classic disco groove.”

Featuring collaborations with a diverse array of artists, the album is a testament to Bjørke’s ability to effortlessly blend genres while maintaining his signature sound – whether it’s dark and mood driven or rooted in those euphoric club moments which are soaked in synths and melody.

As a DJ he is wildly eclectic, drawing for leftfield sounds which are rooted in EBM, New Wave, Nu-Disco, House and beyond.
 

From classic bangers to new school disco, this one cements his longstanding presence at the forefront of indie dance and demonstrates why he is such a powerhouse in the booth.

Lock in… INTERVIEW ON THE LINK ABOVE

@kasperbjorke

INTERVIEW

Kasper Bjorke - The Ransom Note Mix

For Viscera 122, close friend and Gun FC teammate Lárus joins the series!

"Laurence McAulay aka Lárus is a London based Glaswegian DJ, radio host and club promoter.

He runs the Vicious Creatures party series which over the last 11 years has seen him share the booth with the likes of Job Jobse, Ellen Allien, DJ Fett Burger, Intergalactic Gary + many many more. Learning his trade at the Sub Club in Glasgow where he was a resident for 5 years he is now based in London where he has played sets at, amongst others, Corsica Studios, Printworks, Rye Wax,Pickle Factory, The Cause, & brilliant corners. Outside London he has DJ’d at venues such as Pikes in Ibiza, Sisyphos in Berlin, Oath in Tokyo, Club 77 in Sydney, Revolver in Melbourne & Potato Head in Bali.

Away from the club he has hosted shows on Rinse FM, had guest appearances on the likes of HÖR, The Lot Radio, Red Light Radio & Rinse France and is currently a semi regular resident on Glasgow’s Clyde Built Radio as well as having mixes on platforms such as The Feel My Bicep blog, Stamp The Wax, Ransom Note, Craigie Knowes, Bordello A Parigi & ZeeZout."

Keep it locked, you're going to love this one.

@laurencemcaulay

Lárus | 122

For Viscera 123, Stella Z (@stella_zheng) pilots the latest voyage.

"Stella Z, a London-based selector and producer originally from China, is one of six artists chosen for the Future Proof artist programme by the legendary Rhythm Section label. Known for her captivating soundscapes, she artfully blends organic and object sounds with nature-inspired textures.

Stella first gained recognition with her debut LP, In The Woods, Will Be Late, released by Third Place Records in February 2023. The EP, which features effervescent sonic journeys inspired by her mountainous seaside hometown in
China, has received acclaim and support from industry heavyweights like Ben UFO, Alexis Le-Tan, Cosmo Vitelli, and Ciel, as well as from media outlets including The Vinyl Factory, Mixmag Asia, and Electronic Sound. Her downtempo remix of "Red Sun" for Echo Juliet released in May 2024 has
been spotlighted twice on BBC Radio 6 Music, further establishing her signature sound.

Beyond the studio, Stella has opened for esteemed artists such as Marcellus Pittman, Bolis Pupul, Sean Johnston, and Mogwaa. Her DJ sets span a wide range of genres, from slow pulse, psychedelic burners to tribal rhythms and industrial beats, all while uncovering hidden Asian dance gems."

Enjoy! Cosmic thumpers await.

@stella_zheng

Stella Z | 123

Next up for the EDWIN MUSIC CHANNEL is feverish Mancunian duo DJ Absolutely Shit, consisting of producers, musicians and DJs Ruud Whiting aka @METRODOME and Christian Wood aka @IlBosco

The duo delivered a mix recorded live at the Manchester-based club The White Hotel during the release party of their latest album, “Inabiteveryoneelse.” The amazing MC Chunky was on mic duty, making the whole mix a genuine UK rave recording, and you can hear the crowd going nuts in the background.

Follow the link to read the full interview on our website: https://edwineuro.pe/mix129

№ 129 - DJ Absolutely Shit

Avenue Red were grateful to ourselves for having made the impeccable choice to rock up in Margate on the extreme southeast edge of England to witness a phenomenal event back in April. Masterclass sets from all who played there, with this live set from Reedale Rise (real name Simon Keat) being one of the highlights to shine on this wonderful soundsystem in a visually stunning venue. It was ace to also unexpectedly bump into some key agents of organised UK underworld deepness, including Miles Atmospheric of Atmospheric Existence Recordings, Bovill of cult label Meanwhile and many others! Quality > quantity. Keep the faith and enjoy the ride, the tide and the vibes inside! 🌊🌊🌊

"This set was recorded directly from my live performance at Faith In Strangers, Margate earlier this year for Ornate Music and 50arc. The venue is fantastic with a beautifully tuned sound system, views over the sea, and lovely hospitable staff. The event was a chance for me to catch up with people I'd not seen since before the pandemic and put some faces to online names, including Avenue Red's very own Alec.

My live set has changed a lot over the years and the current evolution is all unreleased house and techno tracks. The music I play live has moved in this direction simply because it's more relevant to the dancefloor and more fun to perform to a crowd than some of my deeper electro tracks. Gear-wise, I've added a Roland TR8S drum machine to Ableton, which has allowed me more opportunity to improvise and react spontaneously. Listening back, I'm happy with how the set sounds and hope it resonates with people. Shouts to James Ornate, Damo B, and the 50arc crew for letting me play, and to Alec for both attending the event and hosting my set." Reedale Rise, August 2024

https://soundcloud.com/reedalerise

https://reedalerise.bandcamp.com/
https://www.discogs.com/artist/4529196-Reedale-Rise

:: Event ::
https://faithinstrangers.co.uk/events/ornate50arc

https://soundcloud.com/50arc
https://soundcloud.com/ornate-music
https://ornatemusic1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.discogs.com/label/125377-Ornate-Music

Avenue Red Live Session #007 - Reedale Rise @ 50arc & Ornate Music By The Sea @ Faith In Strangers, Margate, UK (06-04-2024)

Avenue Red Live Session #007 - Reedale Rise @50arc/Ornate @ Faith In Strangers, Margate (06-04-2024)

www.openlab.fm | 106.4FM in Ibiza & Formentera
Check the full tracklist on our website:  https://openlab.fm/news/chaotic-neutral-058-bill-patrick

Join Bill Patrick for this month’s edition of “Chaotic Neutral,” featuring a mesmerizing hour of Electro, Broken Beats, Dub, and Electronica with music from Buttechno, The Apricots, So Klarity, Mat Carter, and more.

Download our App:
IOS: bit.ly/OLappApple
Android: bit.ly/OlAppAndroid

Chaotic Neutral 058 - Bill Patrick

A taste of the UK artist's darker side.

Tracklisting and download: https://bit.ly/XLR8Rpodcast_Kayper

XLR8R Podcast

Tracklist & Download

XLR8R Podcast 868: Kayper

Retza shares music from his recent finds, studio sessions and favourites along the way.

@retzamusic

2:00 – 3:00pm
Monthly on the fourth Friday

www.blooplondon.com
www.facebook.com/blooplondon
www.youtube.com/blooplondon
www.mixcoud.com/blooplondon
www.twitch.tv/blooplondon
@blooplondon

Looking For Life w/ Retza - More Than Anyone - 13.09.24

WASTELAND

WILLIE MAZE

ANTONS ROOM

MOVE

CITY LIGHTS

CRIMEWAVE

BLACK CATALOGUE >> BERLIN
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/monty_luke/
worldwide booking: james@sweatlodgeagency.com
NIGHTDUBBING LP OUT NOW ON REKIDS!
https://orcd.co/rekids237
ALWAYS ORIGINATE >>> NEVER PIRATE

WASTELAND

Monty Luke

Recent comments

KY5

Aryana Farsai

Related tracks