DJ Mag

Martyn
Hear Me (Zomby Remix) (3024)
The first release after a lengthy hiatus, Martyn drops a tasty little remix package with tracks from his 'Great Lengths' LP given new body kits and modifications by Zomby and Redshape. 'Hear Me' gets well and truly Zombified, with swathes of techni-colour synths and a wicked descending bassline all merged within an "of the moment" funky riddim. 'Seventy Four' gets reshaped in a red fashion, stretching the original's progressive tendencies with driving funk and added panache.

XI
000 (Immerse)
It's been nice to see Toronto's XI develop as a producer over the years, especially having been a big fan of his early 'Ronin Dub' track which never got released. Great to see him get picked up by Bristol's Immerse imprint. Pokier than a casino, '000' shakes and rattles nicely along with a lovely hypnotic undercurrent, whilst 'Slippin'' on the flip blips and bleeps in a riot of synth jiggery over a tough-as-nails riddim.

Von D
Miss Maui feat Moxy Phinx (Black Acre)
I like Von D, a producer who caresses his music with a touch of soul. Has he gone a bit overboard on 'Miss Maui' with the spoken word? Maybe. But it still washes over the eardrums with savoir-faire. Toss it over with a caddish flick, and you'll find that your pleasant date has been sullied, as the ragged belch of Warrior Queen brackishly assaults your sensibilities. But, who doesn't like a bit of rough?

Computer Jay
Maintain (Ramp)
More computer funk emanates from the Ramp stables, with an agoraphobic electronic fug all of its own, as Computer Jay swaggers into town. But rather than a gory circuit malfunction, the LA resident slices a vein and pours out some computer love instead. Ikonika and Mike Slott chip in mangled and respectful remixes, but it's Falty DL who squeezes out the pips, with a syncopated, interplanetary edit with a splash of Cylon porn commentary.

Shortstuff & Hyetal
Don't Sleep (Punch Drunk)

Bristol and the Home Counties collide on this rather delicious jacuzzi of Technicolor melody. 'Ice Cream' nudges it for me, smooth with a hint of chunky funk.

Pangaea
Pangaea EP (Hessle Audio)

This, the first double pack from the excellent Hessle Audio stable, is their 10th release. Fans of Pangaea's twisting, syncopated style will salivate over the subtle nuance of 'Sunset Yellow' and the stuttering and stabbing energy of 'Why?'. But what the North Londoner does best is lacing the rest of the EP with an ethereal presence that isn't quite tangible, but stirs the soul nonetheless, and for me, that is what makes this EP delicately brilliant.