November 2023 was an exciting month for electronic music releases with some slick techno bangers, a compelling new release from Woodleigh Research Facility plus some ingenious acid, electro and jungle.
Album Of The Month November 2023
My album of the month for November 2023 is Phonox Nights by Woodleigh Research Facility.
Hard to believe we’re coming up on four years since the death of Andrew Weatherall. One silver lining, however, is that given how prolific he was we can still enjoy the fruits of his labours.
This latest release from the Woodleigh Research Facility vaults, recorded with and released by longtime collaborator Nina Walsh, is a nine-track album of music inspired by the Phonox club in Brixton.
The material was recorded shortly before Weatherall’s death in February 2020 and finally released on November 22nd, 2023.
As you might expect, it’s more of that slow, chugalong hybrid house which we’ve come to associate with Weatherall throughout the latter part of his career.
And, as always, incorporates a wide range of influences from techno to disco to dub. One of the standout tracks for me, meanwhile, bears more than a passing resemblance to early SAW-era Aphex Twin.
Is Phonox Nights a classic for the ages like Screamadelica or Haunted Dancehall? No, but it’s still a captivating listen and a surprise early xmas present for fans of the Guvnor.
EP Of The Month November 2023
My EP of the month is Crude Appraisal by Jerome Hill released November 27th on Super Rhythm Trax records.
It’s a four track EP of explosive acid bangers that are so far off the PH scale they threaten to dissolve every dancefloor they encounter.
The Warning is a steady and relentless breakbeat assault, while Harlesden Shuffle (Extended 12″ Disco Mix) is reminiscent of the mighty Hardfloor in their heyday.
Combustion Zone is more of a straight-up techno slammer while House Thing takes it back to the jacking house of Chi Town with a seriously phat bassline and old skool ghetto house vibes.
Techno Releases November 2023
Let’s start with Tresor, who gave us two top releases this month.
First there’s Memoirs of Hi-Tech Jazz Remixes by Waajeed released November 17th, with some bouncy minimal funk from Mark Broom, abstract vibes (and Roland MC303 presets!) from Yazzus and filthy electro funk from Jensen Interceptor.
Then we got the In Memorium EP from Silent Servant released on November 24th. It features two tracks of Detroit-influenced electro followed by two uncompromising tracks of straight-up four to the floor techno.
Next, let’s cool things down with some smooth dub techno from Ajnkana. The Nanostructural EP is a four-track release that came out on November 14th. Its not super original or anything like that but it’s well executed and as a longtime fan of the genre, I quite enjoyed this release.
Paul Woolford is certainly one of the more prolific producers out there and I’m particularly partial to his releases under his Special Request alter ego. Discovering that he put out a KLF tribute EP was a special treat for me.
Released on November 23rd, WHAT TIME IS LOVE? SESSIONS is a genre-defying series of tracks based around the KLF classic What Time Is Love? that merges contemporary technology with the K, the L the F and generous helpings of the ‘ology.
The result is a gnarly gumbo of trance, breaks, techno, retro rave and spaced out cinematic ambient, (sometimes all in the same track) that’s been on constant rotation since I first heard it.
As for the KLF themselves, they’re back, apparently, this time foregoing the justified and focussing exclusively on the ancient these days having announced they’re going into the care home business (aimed at aging ravers.)
They also released a shambolic remix of Harry Nilsson’s Everybody’s Talking from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack and hyping it up to be the xmas number one.
As with so many KLF projects we’re left assuming that the whole thing was meant as a joke but listening to the remix, as a longtime KLF fan, makes me think that maybe the time has come to finally pull the plug on any hopes I might have had of a proper musical comeback from MuMu land.
Jungle / DNB Releases November 2023
Rua Sound are an Irish label focussed on drum and bass, jungle and “high velocity electronic music aimed squarely at the dancefloor”, according to their Bandcamp. Previously they’ve put out tracks by the likes of Sully and Tim Reaper.
The 97-98 EP by Russ Brooker, released November 17th, features two cuts of razor-sharp jungle plus a chilled breakbeat track called Breath.
There are plenty of bigger name drum n bass labels out there, but I tend to ignore them because the sound’s become far more commercialised in recent years.
I’ve always been far more interested in the stuff that happens on the edges, because that’s where the interesting stuff originates.
Plus, if that source just so happens to be the same island as I’m from, then all the better. I’m always going to give props to all those talented people out there helping the scene to flourish.
Electro / Breaks Releases November 2023
Vromm is a Spanish producer based in London and one of my top producers of the year.
I first came across the name with his Capricorn 20hz remix followed by subsequent output on R&S.
Released November 3rd, his Molecular EP features four tracks of abstract, bass-heavy electronica that draws influences from electro, dub techno, dubstep and ambient, while simultaneously defying all attempts classification.
Genres are bullshit anyway, but if you require a label first before listening, here’s one that fits, “top quality.”
On to another favourite producer of mine whose career I’ve been following with growing interest over the past year or so, Client03.
Released November 3rd, Panic Multiplier is the latest EP from the producer featuring four cuts of fresh and futuristic sounding electro.
Electro, by its very definition, is often a hostage to its own origins, relying too much on retro sounds and conventions. Client_03’s production is always pristine, however, the bass booms while the highs slice through, all raw and splintery, with nare a cliché to be found.
Personal Share Connection is my favourite track of the four, blending 808 subs, the Think break and some highly polished 303 work to create an infectious cyberpunk b-boy anthem.
Finally we have Echaskech’s two-track Kanlab 04 EP, released November 22nd on Posthuman’s Balkan Vinyl label.
Track one, Shadow Freaks, does kinda veer into those electro cliches I alluded to earlier but that nasty juddering bassline guarantees it dancefloor potency. For me Appetance is the standout track, a melodic, uptempo piece featuring interpolating synth arpeggios and plenty of brooding atmosphere.
Coming In December
So that’s it for now but stay tuned for December when I’ll be sharing more sweet electro, including a new album from Rekab, yet another new dubby release from Children Of The Bong, a surprisingly sweet selection of ambient cuts from Kerrie plus an EP of fresh remixes from Altern 8.