Twisting junglisms into irregular shapes since 2017, Manchester’s pride and joy Alex Lowther-Harris brings Thugwidow to Sneaker Social for a ruff yet refreshing ride through the rave. No doubt his skin in the game reaches back further than his first recorded output, but just trying to get a handle on his released catalogue is work enough. In 2019 alone he released no less than six albums and three EPs, laying down immense slabs of material on tapes as much as wax. As well as coursing through the dense undergrowth of the cassette scene, his 12”s have appeared on labels like Western Lore, Warehouse Rave and Astral Black, and he’s collaborated with Dead Man’s Chest and Bruised Skies.

Make no mistake, this is hardcore-rooted music, but it feels closer in spirit to that ill-defined period before scenes became delineated and tribal. All the ingredients are there, but Lowther-Harris teases them, fires them off at funny angles or flips them on their head. ‘Post Modern Assault Ethics’ maintains a sparse, restrained demeanour throughout even as the diva vocal slices ping endlessly through the mix and the bass wobbles away underneath. ‘Invisible Shell Of Energy’ juggles lesser-spotted breaks through a cloud of downcast pads, only to trip over and open the filter up on the loose and funky bassline at the final stretch. ‘The Sacrifice’ turns the break damage up, but keeps the moody vibe front and centre, and ‘The Voices Beneath The Earth’ wraps things up with a heavy-hearted belter that runs the risk of achieving anthemic status. 

For all the snappy programming, crisp edits and artful low end, it’s the pervading sense of emotional depth which makes Thugwidow such a powerful presence in the contemporary jungle scene. Pairing those all-consuming moods with his non-standard structures, you’ve got exactly the kind of renegade we love to carry here at Sneaker.

THUGWIDOW - Post Modern Assault Ethics

LMajor Engineer

Second single from @amydabbs & @cocobrycebeats forthcoming collab EP, 'Slightly Involved Vol. 2'

Pre-order on Bandcamp: https://dabbstraxx.bandcamp.com/album/slightly-involved-vol-2

Amy Dabbs & Coco Bryce - Still You See [DABBS002]

Cal Newport's clearly-written manifesto flies in the face of conventional wisdom by suggesting that it should be a  person's talent and skill - and not necessarily their passion - that determines their career path. 

Newport, who graduated from  Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa) and earned a PhD. from MIT, contends  that trying to find what drives us, instead of focusing on areas in  which we naturally excel, is ultimately harmful and frustrating to job seekers.

The title is a direct quote from comedian Steve Martin who, when once asked why he was successful in his career, immediately  replied: "Be so good they can't ignore you" and that's the main basis  for Newport's book. Skill and ability trump passion. 

Inspired by  former Apple CEO Steve Jobs' famous Stanford University commencement  speech in which Jobs urges idealistic grads to chase their dreams, Newport takes issue with that advice, claiming that not only is this advice Pollyannish, but that Jobs himself never followed his own advice.

From  there, Newport presents compelling scientific and contemporary case  study evidence that the key to one's career success is to find out what  you do well, where you have built up your 'career capital,' and then to  put all of your efforts into that direction.

So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport, read by Dave Mallow (Audiobook Extract)

Lies

Look closely at a 2003 documentary on Dillinjah's Valve Sound System and you can catch a babyfaced soundcloud.com/lmajor brocking out in a whirl of ginger dreadlocks. 

The locks are long gone, but the love of a twisted out bassline has driven an addiction to production that has seen him move from drum and bass (as part of a successful threesome) to his current defining solo output. Mixing d&b breakbeat science and bass mechanics with the hardcore and garage of his Essex upbringing, he's leading the next generation pushing theses palettes into new tempos and forms. 

As one half of soundcloud.com/wearelocalgroup he's also a resident DJ at UK festival Field Maneuvers, in 2017 supporting a roll-call of original rave heroes including Mark Archer, Storm and Groove Chronicles. 

'Omega Point', his debut solo EP, launches the label Ecstasy Garage Disco with four 140bpm jungle-inspired rinse outs. Get set for the rewind.

Omega Point EP

LMajor - Proxima B

Ako Beatz Present: Enjoy Just A Vibe / Fragile

Just A Vibe

Dutch DJ and producer, Coco Bryce, makes his Lobster Theremin debut with an incredible offering of jungle, hardcore and broken beats that conjure up feelings of warm, nostalgic euphoria. Over 25 years in the game, recently it feels Bryce is unstoppable - unleashing killer cuts on Dead Man’s Chest’s Western Lore, 7th Storey Projects and Fresh 86. Nodding to the sound of the Netherlands he was enamoured with in the 90’s - hardcore, gabber, breakbeat - and channelling the spirit of the UK hardcore scene; Lobster Theremin imprint LT White is the perfect home for this extremely vibesy, playful EP. 

Title track, ‘Ma Bae Be Love’ sees saccharine sweet vocals, bouncy broken beats and jungle energy come together - an uplifting cut you’ll want to keep on loop. A2, ‘Blue Tile Lounge’ marries intricate drum patterns full of sunkissed grooves, with warm pads and uplifting vox lines. On the flip, ‘Smoke Screen’ reaches further into hardcore terrority with acid lines bubbling up, frantic percussion and whirlpool electronics swirling throughout, with timeless rave references - watch ya bass bins! Finally, ‘Get Schwifty’ is a total crusher. Hectic, old skool jungle that still sounds fresh as hell, one to shake the floor to the core, a total stonker! 

‘Ma Bae Be Luv’ EP drops 26th June, via Lobster Theremin’s LT White imprint.

A1. Ma Bae Be Love
A2. Blue Tile Lounge
B1. Smoke Screen
B2. Get Schwifty

>> @cocobrycebeats

Ma Bae Be Luv EP

BUY RELEASE

LTWHT019 // Coco Bryce - Ma Bae Be Luv EP

Fracture returns to 1985 Music with the Velocity EP, featuring the rolling sounds of Biscotti. Get it here: https://lnk.bio/pMhY

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