By now it’s common knowledge that Etch is one of the brightest sparks working in the field of contemporary breakbeat mangling. The Brighton-based producer has the depth of knowledge about breaks, and the expressive affinity for how to slice and rearrange them, to rank among some of the greats. We’re talking Photek, Paradox, Source Direct levels of drum science here. Of course he’s more than just a break slicer too – look no further than last year’s Strange Days LP on Seagrave for a more widescreen angle on the Etch sound.

Toasting five years since we first carried some of Zak Brashill’s advanced junglisms on Sneaker, and three since his 2018 album Ups & Downs, we’re thrilled to welcome him back for an excursion into the heart of his drumfunk practice. On the A side of this single the sound field is sparse and taut, echoing the stripped-back, minimalistic atmosphere Paradox just brought to SNKR029. All emphasis is on the drums, and the staggering contortions they’re bent into. Where there is additional sonic dressing, it comes in noirish chord drops and distant celestial vapours that add to the palpable sense of tension.

By the contrast the B-side welcomes in a little more human warmth, with a vocal hook on ‘Shadows Passed By’ that calls back to Smith & Mighty’s flip of the Bacharach soul standard ‘Walk On By’, and a collaboration with Luo that trades in blue-tinted vibes and airy diva vocals. In both instances, needlepoint beat programming is still key and an overall sense of restraint guides the composition, lingering in a sustained mood rather than breaking out in excess drama. Etch sounds more accomplished and in control than ever on this 12”, and we’re honoured to be releasing such vital additions to the jungle narrative.

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Etch - Shadows Passed By

Etch - Loose In The Asylum

WARNING: Hazardously sour bangers! 

Mani Festo joins the SweetBox ranks with two acid hardcore jungle tekno A-bombs: ‘Toxic Waste’ and ‘Warehouse 2.0’.

A true man of the moment, Mani’s finely tuned productions are in high demand right now. His catalogue boasts releases for the likes of Rupture, Hooversound, WNCL, E-Beamz and the Club Glow imprint he co-runs with Denham Audio, Borai and LMajor. 

His SweetBox debut starts deceptively slow, building up a head of steam via an incessant pulse and faint industrial chug. Once ‘Toxic Waste’ lets loose its slamming four-to-the-floor kick, however, it’s on a one-way train to total mayhem. Blistering breaks burst through the gloom as the track hurtles onwards like an unstoppable juggernaut, finally taking control in the form of clattering percussive carnage.
Flipside ‘Warehouse 2.0’ sees a similar pairing of jackhammer kicks and a chunky breakbeat, this time sliced through by a ravenous acid line that rises and rises, until it threatens to swallow the track whole. Paired with gargantuan, psychedelic arpeggios, as the title suggests, this one’s foaming at the mouth for a warehouse to pack to the rafters.

Another two unstoppable weapons for both the Mani Festo and SweetBox arsenals, ‘Toxic Waste’ / ‘Warehouse 2.0’ will drop 30th April.

For press enquiries contact ben@diffrentmusic.com
Distribution distribution@disc-world.com

Toxic Waste / Warehouse 2.0

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MANI FESTO 'TOXIC WASTE / WAREHOUSE 2.0' [PICKNMIX018] ~ PRE ORDER

YOD w/ L Major & Etch (Production Mixes) - Subtle - 24/05/2021

Etch was live with another instalment of his show Disconnecting The Dots. He ran through a selection of experimental club cuts from the likes of EVA808, Walton and himself.

Disconnecting The Dots w/ Etch - July 2021

Ivy Scott w/ An Avrin - Subtle - 16/09/2021

Created with Dolby On I really hope you like this one because I do like it like it , yes I do !

WE SHALL OVERCOME MUDDY BEATS and the people of the world !!!

Foundation

mazda

Silas & Snare 'Inner Sound'

Artist: Low End Activist
Title: Engineers Origins
Label: Low End Activism
Cat No: LEA001

The shape-shifting sound of Low End Activist continues to pivot around an axis of bassweight pressure with the launch of their self-titled label – the appropriate vessel to take them deeper into sci-fi scented sonics with an ‘ardcore swagger. Previous drops on Sneaker Social Club and Seagrave have seen the shadowy technician mangling grime, jungle and dubstep tropes with all the grit and flair of the most visionary sample sorcerers. At times, they’ve built their beatscapes up around fierce MC spots from such legends as Flowdan and Trim, but while there’s more to come on the vocal tip for the LEA series, this first installment works in a strictly instrumental fashion.

Hi-Tech breakbeat de/re-construction is the focus across all three tracks on LEA001, with atmospheres so densely rendered you can feel them sticking to your skin like the sweat of a well-slicked basement session. ‘Engineers Origins’ emits pure darkcore energy and icy stabs of future-shock industrialism, while ‘Look Up’ shivers with off-key orchestrations. ‘Probability 1’ gets deep in the break edit and throws in an iconic low end rumble that should spark intense reveries amongst anyone with even a passing appreciation for bass. Like the most potent foundational jungle, all three tracks swerve regimented structure in favour of moody exploration around a suite of themes and sounds, slipping time in style and setting up the LEA series for further intense sonic treatments to come.

Photo by Elsa Bleda 
Mastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering

Buy the music, support the artist - https://lowendactivist.bandcamp.com/album/engineers-origins

Etch - Shadows Passed By

Sneaker Social Club

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