Top EPs May 2021

It might have been one of the dingiest May’s we can remember, but the promise of a golden summer is enough for now to soothe those pangs for some sun on your bones. But we can drink inside now! There’s been an honest to god, actual ‘rave’ (are government tests raves? a question for another time) in good old Liverpool.

And, as per usual, we’ve had some absolute corkers find their way onto the airwaves. Pass the AUX and let’s get started. 

Various Artists – Haŵs Party Vol. 3

I was sitting on a bus, heading back through deepest darkest Tooting from an appointment to give blood, when I first heard the preview clips for this EP.  I don’t know whether it was the loss of blood or the opening to Rudolf C’s Shotta, but within seconds my head was gone and so was £15 from my bank account. This is one house party you want to be at.

Inconceivably, the energy only gets better as the EP goes on, with Lisene and DJ Life (again!) both delivering a pair of cut-throat, hands-up-eyes-down belters. Nathan Pinder’s offering is, honestly, up there with one of the most danceable tracks of the year so far, and is bound to be echoing across countless fields, forests and basement walls this summer.

Barker – BARKER002

This man just can’t seem to get it wrong. Without massively changing his formula over his last three releases, gifting us beatless, dream-like techno that flits ethereally through washes and waves of stunningly arranged synths, he continues to astound with every new piece.

His second white label with Ostgut Ton is no different. E7-E5 is everything we already love about Barker and carries the mind away to somewhere blissful, whilst Bent is a masterclass in his ‘beatless’ beat aesthetic. Then there’s the B side. If ever a tune was worthy of having a side all to itself, it’s the stunning, brain-tickling, emotion-soaked finale that is Polytely. Masterful.

India Jordan – Watch Out!

Our favourite Donny export since Paddington Bear (and possibly Rovers), India Jordan follows up on the brilliant For You with a gloriously heady concoction of house rhythms, manic percussion, colourful piano stabs and spin-yourself-around-until-you-feel-sick melodies on Watch Out!

That exclamation mark isn’t there for no reason. Whether it’s the euphoric title track, the slightly moodier You Can’t Expect The Cars To Stop If You Haven’t Pressed The Button, or the impossibly feel-good And Groove, there’s an infectious enthusiasm and energy that sings through every vocal sample and keyboard note. It’s summer pressed into a slice of wax and it’s right up our alley.

Gallegos – Chronic Ensoniq EP

This one hits like a bolt from the blue, as Holding Hands strike once again with this aggressive blend of acid, techno and electro from now two-time collaborator, Gallegos. Setting the needle down on the title track and letting it run is like dropping yourself into an undefined region between a war zone and 4am at the Pickle Factory.

The madness continues with what can only be described as an absurd combination of acid lines, vocal samples, euphoric synths, frantic breaks and four to the floor kicks. A highlight? The whole thing is just absolutely mental, and is itching to be played out and about.

Naone – Falling Sun + Bliss Inc Remix

One hell of a solo EP, this. Naone arrives on the Unknown to the Unknown label, adding herself to a frankly ridiculous roster, and the South Korean takes us on one hell of a journey literally in the opening track. Falling Sun is an acid-laced techno track on the surface of it, but those dreamlike synths create a whole other soundscape – one for those sunrise/sunset, tears-in-the-eyes-hug-your-mate-or-a-stranger-will-do moments.

Bliss Inc’s remix is a little more down and dirty, setting the tone for the evil sounding head spin Center Creek, and for X-TDB133, the perfect showcasing of Naone’s dark acid meets uplifting synths style, with some haunting vocals also chucked in. Digital bonus, Space Duck, is very, very fun and very, very good.

Pagan – Butterfly EP

When you hear Butterfly dropped in the middle of the biggest set you go and see this year, watch jaws drop and hands fly to pockets to record this breaks-fuelled madness, and stick it on IOM before you can say to your mate, “I have this on vinyl”.

Once you’ve got over your own self-importance, you can enjoy the trance melodies and chair-throwing kicks of Ways You Went, the irresistibly danceable and ever-building layers of The Depot, a building it would not sound out of place in, and the dramatic finale, Dreams Of You. Did someone say unreleased Bicep?

Unknown Artist - Artfully Dodged Edits 

Time to get a bit silly, and two-step our way into a few UKG remixes that really shouldn’t exist. But oh man, aren’t we glad they do. Even if you think the original tunes are corny or a bit of a cop out to choose, you can’t deny the slinky rhythms and air-wobbling low end. And Toto’s Africa? If that doesn’t get a crowd moving as a sample I really don’t know what would.

Throw in a UKG remix of a Dre (yes, Dre) track, and Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me A River, and you’ve got yourself a little EP that is blending old and new in really fun ways. Rude.

Function – Awakening from the Illusionary Self

Function teams up with Tresor Records for something a little more serious now, a four track EP of no nonsense, slowly shapeshifting techno that could only have been born out of one of Berlin’s darkest corners. Misinterpretations of Reality morphs along a dark little wormhole, the fast BPM at odds with the minimal aspects of the track.

Things become a little sharper and more metallic on An Optical Illusion of Consciousness, a life support machine of bleeps and hi-hats the bed for shimmering synths and trippy little elements of percussion that fade effortlessly in and out of earshot. On the flip, help yourself to a near-ten minute behemoth that sums up everything great about Function, and the pitch black lip smacker that is Compulsive Thinking: Repetitive and Pointless.

Fantastic Man – Cloud Management

There couldn’t be a much more appropriately named record than Cloud Management, an EP to wind down with after what’s been a fairly intense selection. The opener as a title track really does just float along on a bouncy little low end, and when those piano notes come in then you’re really cooking with butter.

The drifting breaks number Lounge Wizard continues the mood, but things get a little funky when the warped Psychic Monthly chugs its way into view. The first EP from the conceptual label collaboration of Love International and Test Pressing ends on the acid squelches of Time Apprentice, rounding off a seriously good little debut. 

Harrison BDP – Perspective EP

The unmistakable sound of the Welsh YouTube algorithm king, Harrison BDP links up with SITU records for a gorgeous little collection of tracks that are as good as anything we’ve heard from him before. Perfect mixing and production meets the breeziness of hanging out the car window on the way to a festival, for some irresistible house cuts on the A-side.

The real highlight for us is the B. Perspective is a wonderful bouncing, jackrabbit cut that weaves in some Carl Sagan vocal fun reminiscent of Charles Bukowski in Aggborough’s The Answer to Everything. Finally, Floating or Sinking leaves you wondering just that, inviting you a warm bath of shimmering pads and wobbling synths.