Review: Biome - Layers EP

Following a relatively quiet 2013, Biome returns and takes the release process into his own hands with the Layers EP. Encapsulated in the EP's title is a sense of moving up and down through the tempo spectrum: this is Biome's first release to fully engage with his cross-tempo experiments. Though best known for his work around the 140 notch, pitching things down is nothing new to the Manchester producer, having released previously on fellow Mancunian Indigo's Mindset label. In fact a useful touchpoint here would be Indigo's own Akkord project, whose album Biome also contributed, as we see a similarly raw, almost industrially approach to the blend of style and influence on show. In many ways, what we're seeing here is Biome showing off the full potential of a sound that has been undeniably his own, despite the many imitators, for the last half decade.

'Happiness' eases proceedings in with airy pads, delayed vocals and shuffling hats, whilst 'Broken' and 'Rise Up' provide more familiar territory for the majority of Biome's fanbase, and are a deft reminder of why he continues to hold such stead within the scene. 'Layers' and 'Philly Blunt' meanwhile, provide the EP's standout moments; the former is tightly-coiled, pounding UK funky rhythms married with characteristic dashes of reese, and the latter a rolling, pummelling junglist history lesson. Winding down, 'Foreigner' and 'Hajime' are both beautifully spacious, and further demonstrate Biome's remarkable versatility - it's rare to see a producer able to imbue such a varied spectrum of musical tone and movement with their own unique sound and presence.

Preview and purchase the Layers EP from the Bandcamp embed below.



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Competition: Win guestlist to Project 13 Secret Sessions #2, a copy of Acre's forthcoming Cold Recordings release, and a Hedmuk X Generic Greeting #2 t-shirt

A Manchester clubnight that's gone from strength to scene-pushing strength since its inception, Project 13 are bringing back their Secret Sessions for a second outing. The first saw an unannounced lineup of Hedmuk favourites Commodo, Walton and Alex Coulton play in a disused warehouse; this time around the lineup is being kept similarly under wraps, though the P13 team have let on that the night will feature four headliners representing two labels between them. Though we can't say exactly who is set to appear on the night, we can say that the unintentional theme of "Hedmuk favourites" is very much on show again this time around - and with a mixture of scene-founding, established talent, and fresh faced up-and-comers represented on the lineup, it's set to be a night of forward-thinking music, and with a proper party atmosphere to match: the disused warehouse setting means no bar, which means bring your own booze, which means a can of Red Stripe for a pound, not four.

This is strictly a ticket only event, and places are limited, so if you want to guarantee entry then head over to Skiddle to book now, then head below to enter the competition.



As with the last Secret Sessions, we've been given a couple spots on the guestlist to give away, and we're throwing in a copy of Acre's forthcoming release on Pinch's Cold Recordings and one of the latest Hedmuk X Generic Greeting T-shirts in too; to be in with a chance of winning, simply email your answer to the following question to hedmuk@gmail.com:


What is the name of the label that previous Secret Sessions guest Commodo last released on?


The competition will close on the 20th of March, on which date a winner will be picked at random by an independent third party and announced via Facebook and Twitter, as well as being notified by email.

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Competition: Win a test press of Piezo - Ptay / Ptay (Killawatt Remix) [NMR037]

Like an Italian Ipman, the engineering and sound design behind Piezo's work is exemplary. This latest release, coming from the Nomad Records stable, is no different, 'Ptay' is dripping in atmosphere and subtle touches - a rolled crash cymbal here, distant footstep there - as it rolls on rounded kicks and progresses through reams of hand percussion and synth lines that rise into the beat before falling away just as unannounced. Cinematic is a word that is too often overused, but it works here as the track holds down its own sense of narrative structure and breaks, happily, from any standardised outlay. Killawatt, an ideal selection for the remix duties, flattens out the kicks to a steady pound and leaves the whole thing dripping in dread atmospherics. What's astounding, again on that note of the subtle touch, is the amount of movement generated with just light touches of hi-hat and loose snares - from static beginnings, the beat gathers a momentum that feels like it might go on forever.

To be in with a chance of bagging an early test press of the release simply head over to the Hedmuk Facebook Page and Like and Share the above image to be entered. The competition will end on Thursday the 12th of September, and a winner will be selected at random by an independent third party before being announced via Facebook and Twitter.



Piezo - Ptay / Ptay (Killawatt Remix) will be released on 12" on September the 16th, with a digital release to follow on the 1st of October.

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Competition: Win free guestlist to Project 13 Secret Sessions Pt. 1, a Project 13 T-shirt, and Leadbelly & Acre limited white label vinyl

Despite now having established themselves a staple on the Manchester club circuit, the guys at Project 13 have never been about finding a laurel to rest on and continue to dedicate themselves to trying new things - and, not unlike ourselves here at Hedmuk, always to retain the music as the centrepiece. Their latest venture comes with a little more mystery then usual, though, as they announce the first of a run of parties held in a warehouse space in Manchester, featuring as-yet-unannounced headliners representing Deep Medi, Hypercolour and Hyperdub respectively; and with all this in mind we thought it best to hit them up for a little more information on what to expect from their upcoming Secret Sessions parties, as well as to get some prize together for a big giveaway:

Hedmuk: What was the thinking behind moving P13 out of a more regular club environment, as it were, and into the more neutral warehouse setting?

Jacob P13: It’s a project we’ve been contemplating for a while now, the resources have been there and we felt now was the perfect time to execute. Our nights at Joshua Brooks have all been smashes but, as great as the venue is, our music policy and following doesn’t tend to gel as well as there as we’d like.

Ideally, we’d like a big dark room, a quality sound system and quality artists - which is what we have at the Secret Sessions.

H: Have you got more of this type of event planned for the future, and will you still be running the more regular nights at Joshua Brooks too?

Matt P13: We plan on doing a short string of events like this in the future, although whether that’ll be at the same venue or not, we don’t yet know. I suppose it comes down entirely to how well the first one goes down, and if it captures the interest of our following as well as we hope it will. Running an event like this has so many more risks that your standard club event. If we do continue these warehouse-type parties they’ll be more spaced out than our club nights, and will crop up just as randomly as our club-based events. We will also be continuing at Joshua Brooks, although our next event won’t be until mid-May, for our 2nd birthday.

H: In terms of the music you're representing, do you feel like your new setting in the warehouse gives you more freedom when putting together a lineup as the venue does less to distract from the music on show?

J: Yeah fully, we can do our own thing in terms of orchestrating the fundamentals of the event - from the music policy, the sound, the staffing, the door policy and everything else in between - to make it a Project 13 party at its realist and finest.

It’s events like these that intrigued me the most about this scene, going to free parties over the country where you had no idea what to expect besides good music, good sound and good vibes. We couldn’t be happier with what we have in store for the event.

H: Is keeping the capacity low, at 150, something you've thought a lot about too?

M: Semi. It’s in our best interests as well as the audience’s that we keep the numbers down for safety purposes. However, having 150 people in a large industrial space keeps the intimacy there and gives people their own space to do as they please. When we put on nights in clubs, we put a lot of effort into filling the gaff. It can be going off on a next level, however if you’ve not got space to breathe let alone move to the music, it can seriously damage the vibe on a whole. I personally feel that having space to dance, mingle with like-minded people, or just lurk on your own in a dark corner is what people will take back from the night, and makes a good night just that.

H: What else have you got lined up for Project 13 over the coming year?

J: Event-wise we have the Secret Sessions party and the 2nd birthday at Joshua Brooks in May.  Our main focus at the moment is planning the next series of live streams which will be dropping in Spring. We’re also orchestrating the first release for the label that we are hoping to have out by the start of next year on vinyl.

[P13 residents] Leadbelly and Acre have just released a white label which has gone down great; Leadbelly and T-Man have a video dropping shortly which is looking big; Acre has a massive release out soon, so watch out for that; and there will be a few of our artist at Outlook this year too.

And to be in with a chance of winning one free guestlist entry to the first Secret Sessions party, a Project 13 T-shirt in the colour of your choice, and a copy of the aforementioned, strictly-limited white label from Leadbelly and Acre, simply send your answer to the following question to hedmuk@gmail.com with 'Project 13 Secret' in the subject line:


Which of the Project 13 residents playing on the night last year put out a vinyl release on Innamind Recordings?


The competition will close on the 27th of March, at which point a winner will be chosen at random by an independent third party and notified by email - as well as being announced via the Hedmuk Facebook and Twitter pages.


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Review: Killawatt - Press On / Tantra [OSMUK026]

Further expressing his techno lean with this latest offering on Kryptic Minds' Osiris Music UK, 'Press On' and 'Tantra' see Killawatt expressing a newly-grounded confidence in his natural production abilities; and whist describing something as "experimental" is an approach more commonly used for delivering a poorly-disguised insult, this is a territory into which Killawatt has dipped carefully and, arguably resultantly, successfully on this release.

The lead track is, as its introduction suggests, a study in rhythm and percussion as the tune is lead on by a whirling range of beats and blips: the distinctive tick of each percussive sound being played off against one another to create an intricate, beats-based melody. And yet, despite the apparent absence of a traditional catching melody, there is a hook there, and one which draws subtle attention to Killawatt's ever-developing accomplishment when it comes to arrangement. The flip, 'Tantra', re-balances the record with a more familiar skulking step to it and a sub-line that nods to the jungle influence that is never far from his work and will always do the damage on the dancefloor.

Killawatt - Press On / Tantra [OSMUK026] will be released on March 1st and is available to pre-order now from the Osiris Music Surus store.





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Featuring: Widowmaker

A producer that's been on our radar for some time now, Widowmaker has shown unending improvement over the last couple of years; not only in terms of creativity and drive but also in the constant development of his own production techniques and abilities: Widowmaker tunes hit hard. This is coupled with an almost frenetic approach to crossing genre boundaries and tempo ranges, meaning that whilst he's working to nail one style down there's always something else, and something different, bubbling away in the background; it's a strange sort of focus, simultaneously directed towards a whole array of sounds and styles but without any of the compromise that a Jack of All Trades must make. With a release on N-Type's Wheel & Deal already under his belt, and another big 12" out now as the first release on Kaium Records, 2013 looks set to be a good year for the young producer as he takes big-name DJ support - from the likes of Youngsta and the aforementioned N-Type - in his stride whilst continuing to push himself creatively and technically.


Hedmuk: To introduce yourself, what's your name, where do you come from and how would you describe your sound?

Widowmaker: I'm Sean AKA Widowmaker, I come from a town called Farnborough in Hampshire, UK with pretty much no undergound music scene.

It's hard to say really [how I'd desribe my sound]; typically 'dark' and 'moody' but with elements of sci-fi/techy sounds (if that makes any sense).

H: Would you describe yourself as being from a musical background, or is it something that you picked up on yourself? What was it that first got you into producing?

W: Yeah most definitelty, I've always been an avid music fan. Got into writing from playing guitar from around age 11-12, got in a few shitty bands with mates and just realized that I can't be bothered to rely on other people to do music. So eventually I heard dubstep from a mate around 2007-8 and thought, 'I could have a go at that'. Pretty much goes on from there.



H: You've got close ties with N-Type and his Wheel & Deal imprint: how did you first get involved with the label, and how did it feel to be picked up by someone with such legendary status in the world of dubstep?

W: Yeah it was big, I have to shout to Benton for the hook-up as he played that Skream bootleg I did ages ago to [N-Type] on Skype or something, and then Mark [N-Type] popped up on AIM one day asking for it. Then after that it was a case of just writing better tunes and sending them, 'til he rang me up one day asking to sign 'Tunneling Wurm'. I remember I'd just woken up or something when I got the call and my head was a wreck; it was funny at the time.

H: You've recently been receiving regular plays from Youngsta on his Rinse show, was this something you always had ambitions for or has it been more of a pleasant surprise? Do you feel that this sort of recognition adds further pressure to deliver the goods, as it were, when you sit down to write more music?

W: Yeah definitely, it was a case of just writing something really different and then thinking, 'I don't really know who would play this, it's weird'. So I sent the tune to Dan [Youngsta] and he liked it, which was obviously a good thing to hear. After that I've just been way more comfortable about writing odd things, you know? There ain't really any pressure, to be honest, because I just make what I like. A hell of a lot of projects are unfinished, however: I'll get 'em all done some day!



H: With a Wheel & Deal release at a relatively early stage in your production career, did that set a precedent for you as to how you want to put out your music in the future - such as with your recent release on new label Kaium? Do you feel it's important to still be releasing on vinyl, or do you see that as just a bonus?

W: Yes, 100% vinyl: it's the most important thing for me in terms of releasing. It shows people have taken the time to put the effort in to get your music out there on such a great medium, which is never easy. Anyone can whack a tune on the internet and make someone pay for an mp3 file, but to actually take the care in putting it out on a record proves they are serious about the music. Also, people tend to take you more seriously if you have a handful of vinyl releases, which is a plus.

H: Whilst most of your output has been straight-up 140 stuff, you've also been giving teasers of beats at different tempos; do you find yourself experimenting a lot with different styles and speeds? Are we likely to see more of this in the future?

W: I love it, it's the best thing about production; you can write whatever you feel like without any restrictions, and just enjoy making music. I've been making a lot of techno and house at the moment (which I don't know nearly as much about compared to dubstep) usually around 120-134BPM. It's a nice change to write in a slower BPM because there is more space for the sounds in the tune, and you can kinda fit more in it.

No doubt you will see more from me in the future from that aspect, but only a few bits will be under the 'Widowmaker' alias.



H: Take us through how you went about putting together the mix you've done for us.

W: Yeah basically just wanted to do something different again and just do a mix of tunes that I really enjoy; kind of wanted to get the point across in terms of the atmosphere of the music instead of the speed being the main factor. It starts out at about 130 then ramps up past 140 about half way though. I always mix 'classics' in on my radio show, and usually in other mixes, so I decided  to just put in stuff that's mostly new and showcase some of my own bits which people might not have heard.

H: Finally, are there any forthcomings or anything else in the pipeline that you'd like to put the word out on?

W: Yeah, my latest vinyl is out now on Kaium Records which is 2 tunes 'Abscess' & 'Cerebral', and 'Bionic 2099' which is a digital bonus. Expect more tunes on Wheel and Deal in 2013 too. There's a collab is to come out as well, around February I think, on vinyl as well. But I can't give away too much yet. Couple other things in the pipeline as well but can't say much at the moment!

Thanks for taking the time to do this as well, mate: big up.


Download: Widowmaker - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix


Tracklist:


Myk Derill - Cold [Piston Recordings]
Fontaine - Genetics [Dub]
Kamikaze Space Programme - Cassini [Decarhythm]
Karenn - Studio 3 [Bleep]
Survex - Srx-01 [Shapeless]
Paul Mac - Rolled Out And Back [Osiris Music]
Spinline - Monday Luv [Dispatch]
Widowmaker - Hidden Agenda [Dub]
Icicle - BNC [Shogun Audio]
Thelem - Tarnished [Osiris Music]
Youngsta - Poseidon [Tempa]
Widowmaker - Spore [Dub]
Widowmaker & TMSV - Persei [Dub]
Widowmaker - The Void [Dub]
Benton - Wormholes (Soap Dodgers Remix) [Dub]
Widowmaker - Serpent [Dub]
Youngsta - Destruction [Tempa]
John B - Love Again (feat. Jillian Ann) (LX One Remix) [Beta Recordings]

Widowmaker - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

Preacha.

Review: Sleeper - Dawn Of The Replicants / Zodiac / Shelter [CHST023]

Sleeper's third plate of the year, and his second solo outing, is another solid release and reminder of the sort of talent and attention to detail required to make an impression within today's 140 bracket.

'Dawn Of The Replicants', with its Jehst-referencing title, suggests a UK sound and delivers just that: the spidery synth line of the intro has the mark of label head Distance all over it; but a copycat tune this is not, as a rising Reese riff bursts through and pulls with it a whole heap of bottom-end. And if Sleeper's sound could be defined by only two of its elements, it would be this immense sub-weight and his mastery of the Reese-led midrange. Plenty of producers have made attempts at emulating him in this but it is on tracks like 'Dawn Of The Replicants' that Sleeper shows - just as Jehst's breakthrough left a host of MCs trailing on coat tails - he is so often already a league ahead of the next inventive technique.

As on 'Zodiac', in which the entire mid-range seems to be in a struggle against the swung kicks and doppled hi-hats: the bassline pulling backwards against the percussion, which presses forward. And yet the tune, with enough rhythmic variation and techy synths, is propelled on far beyond any another static attempt at introducing doubled-up kick drums and sporadic snares. The digital bonus, 'Shelter', is an altogether more creepy affair which hangs the listener up to witness their own undoing; with an unsettling, almost ceremonial, bongo riff and reverbed clangs draped around an eery vocal sample.

Sleeper - Dawn Of The Replicants


Sleeper - Zodiac


Sleeper - Shelter



CHST023 will be released on Monday 19th November and is now available for pre-order from the Chestplate Surus store in both vinyl and digital formats.



Preacha.

Radio: Hedmuk X Ardstepz X Rood FM - 07/11/12

Hedmuk X Ardstepz X Rood FM - 07/11/12


Download: Hedmuk X Ardstepz X Rood FM - 07/11/12

Stream: Hedmuk X Ardstepz X Rood FM - 07/11/12


Tracklist:

Shandy - Crack
Gantz - Enso
Anex - Province
Karma - Orbit
Karma - Meanings
BunZer0 - Melancholy
Shandy - Duality
Demon - 6 Degrees
Core - Civil War (feat. Jamakabi) (Shredexx Remix)
>>> Cauze & Wayfarer - Uprising
District - Proof
Sparxy & Mannix - The Guardian
Shredexx - Alien Music (feat. Rival, Marger & Kwam) (Congi Remix)
BadKlaat - Bad Guy
MIK - Do It (Fable Remix)
Ruff Sqwad - Together (feat. Wiley)
Unknown - Ard
DJ Marsta - Hollow

- Ardstepz Guest Mix


Ardstepz - Weak
Cloud 9 - Do You Want Me Baby (Dusky Remix)
Audiojack - These Days
Tensnake - Mainline
Detroit Swindle - Brotherman
24 Hour Experience - Together
Ardstepz - Heater
Ejeca - Horizon
Scuba - Talk Torque
Ardstepz - One Love
R.I.P Productions - Work It
Roy Davis Jr. - Gabrielle
Bump & Flex - Long Time Coming (Big Up Version)
Victor Goes Ballistic - Always On My Mind
Outlander - Vamp
Boddika & Joy O - Dun Dun
Trevino - Derelict
Paleman - Slither
NY Stomp - The NY House Track
Kovu - Untruths
Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate
Large Joints - Down On You (Hands Up Mix)

- b2b


Killjoy - XTC
Horsepower Productions - Rude Boyz
Strickly Dubz - Bonus Groove (Original Mix)
Industry Standard - Got Somebody Else
The Streets - Let's Push Things (Remix feat. Roll Deep)
Warrior One - Bad Like Jimmy Cliff VIP (feat. J2K, Serocee, Lady Chann & Rubi Dan)
Ryder Project - Joy
G.O.D Limited - Original Don
Ms Dynamite - Neva Soft (Mike Delinquent Project Remix)
Platnum 45 - Oi! Instrumental
Mosca - Bax (DJ Beenie Remix)
Ty Holden - Brixton
Mark Ruff Ryder & MC Vapour - Move Your Body
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood (Ed Case Remix)
Skittles - Dot2Dot (Zed Bias Remix)
High Plains Drifter -  Sholay
Dark0 - Hyli (Grime Refix)
Tinchy Stryder - Nah Fam (feat. Dillusion, Soljah Kid & Fuda Guy)
Unknown - Untitled
General L.O.K - Elmo Riddim
Coki - Red Eye
Facta - FWD
MIK - Let's Get Busy (Fable Remix)
Artwork - Red
Plastician - Growlin
MIK - Donny Don (Pedro 123 Remix)
Trends - Green Forest
Rebound X - Rhythm & Gash
Kp & Envyi - Swing My Way
Collision - Drop
Etch - Pulse
Remarc - R.I.P. (Phillip D. Kick's Footwork Jungle Edit)
Remarc - Ricky
Urban Shakedown - Arsonist ('95 Remix)

Hedmuk X Ardstepz X Rood FM - 07/11/12 by Preacha [Hedmuk] on Mixcloud

Preacha.

Free Download: Biak & Baitface - Cellula

Whilst the idea of a 'vanity press' might be more often frowned upon in literature, in the sister art of music - in particular independent and, for want of a better term, underground music - the concept can expect welcome, and anticipation. That is not to say that such welcomes are unheard of in the case of self-published literature, and in fact some of the most challenging and fiercely independent thought has in the past been inked and distributed entirely independently, but rather that when a producer or musician decides to lay a foundation from which to release their own music it is because they are confident in their own abilities of self-regulation and, to further the analogy, editing and censorship. Dubstep, despite its relatively short history, can already offer strong examples in the likes of, without wishing to draw comparisons, the DMZ or Chestplate imprints: both of which began as a outputs for their producer-founders' most defining sounds. And perhaps most important in all of this is that freedom of expression, and the fact of independence; regardless of successes or acclaim, or even the quality of output, this is something which all independent record labels share in common and is a key to progression in creative endeavour.

With all of this in mind, we have Baitface and Badimup. With release number one on the way, the official date set as the 21st September, and both tracks already receiving wide rotation, Baitface is giving out this collaboration with Biak for free. 'Cellula' combines cold, techy synths with stomping kicks and an echoic snare-bongo combination to build a fast-paced stepper; and with such quality being offered up for free, that all-important aspect of self-regulation is clearly being taken seriously already.


Download: Biak & Baitface - Cellula [WAV]
Download: Biak & Baitface - Cellula [320kbps mp3]



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Free Download: Demon - Unidentified // Competition: Win a M.U.D t-shirt

Since the last time we linked up with Demon his Macabre Unit Digital label has stormed Juno's charts with each of its five releases, he's sold out one batch of t-shirts, smashed GetDarker (repping Hedmuk in the process) confirmed the first M.U.D showcase clubnight, and just this week he has announced the official release date of the imprint's first vinyl release, which features tunes from Biome and DCult, as the 9th of April this year.

In support of MUV001, the man himself is giving out this weighted, techy stepper and also offering the chance to win one of the latest run of Macabre Unit t-shirts (as worn in the photo above). Entering the competition is simple: just go to either the Hedmuk - Bass Music Facebook page or Demon's own page (or both, to give yourself two chances) and click 'Share' beneath the link to this article. The competition will close on Wednesday the 28th, at which point two winners - one for each Facebook page - will be selected by an independent third party.

Download: Demon - Unidentified [WAV]

Download: Demon - Unidentified [320kbps mp3]

.Preacha.