various / 14 tracks

14 tracks: Funky Refractions

As Funky climbs the charts and evolves in the the Pan-Ghetto diaspora, we've noticed an emergent seam of tracks which borrow heavily from European tech-house and minimal traditions. With Grime lynchpin, Wonder, playing OstGut tracks on Rinse, and SBTRKT releasing the Bodycode-alike 'Sleep In Tokyo' on the latest 'Dubstep Allstars', it's apparent that the finesse and perceived sophistication of our continental brethren is infecting the shape of the underground in a timely manner. This selection covers recent highlights from both scenes, from Funked-up European techno like MRSK's 'Close To Me' to technoid UK Funky like Fis-T's incredible 'Night Hunter', visiting the glossy minimalism of Crazy Cousins' Paleface, and the advanced big room bounce of Justin Martin & Ardalan's Dirtybird heater 'Mr. Spock'. In essence, there's a tradition of double refraction at play which has evolved for decades, from the Benelux and Lowlands influence on UK Hardcore, to Chicago House licking UK synthpop, blending and bending disciplines in symbiotic style. With the sets of Kismet, DVA, Ben UFO and the Night Slugs crew all converging on all shades of the Tech-House sound, it's fair to say the boundaries are only going to get more blurred...