Vinyl & Digital Reviews: Offshore, Jargon V.A feat. Killa P and Narstie, and Manu Harmilapi

Originally reviewed for Clash Magazine, October 2010, 'Electric Selection'

Offshore - Aneurysm EP (Big Dada)
... but not out to sea

Offshore delivers four bass-heavy tracks for Big Dada, with metronomic drum ticks, cues from early Autechre and nods to future funk, crunk and synth-pop. 'Round and Round' is especially interesting, bringing a manga quality of the innocent and childish together with the dark and tainted.

Release date: 18 October 2010

Jargon V.A featuring Killa P and Narstie - Crime Scene / Shottah (Cheese on Bread)
... chaotic yet likeable

Jargon V.A and Killa P collaborate for 'Crime Scene', akin to sped-up dubstep and grimy hip-hop thundering away: the chaotic quality is quite likeable. Narstie helps rub stadium rock guitar on grimy and gruff vocals for 'Shottah'; always a welcome break from the polished vocals saturating music.

Release date: October 2010

Manu Harmilapi - Drei (Elektronik Milieu)
... ein, zwei

The Elektronik Milieu debut delivers sound designer techno, bringing a banging British quality of unrepentant movement to 'Something's Gonna Happen', and jittery beats for the aerodrome texture of 'Don't Call Me'. Title track 'Drei' - meaning three - clarifies the triplet beats, building intensity to melodic tinkles of emotion.

Release date: 1 October 2010

Jammer... it up your arse

Thanks to the honourable Production Unit for his cough in this direction. Brought to you with production by Toddla T and overwrought vocals from Jammer, this shits directly onto your face on January 11th 2010, so be sure to contract some sort of viral ear infection which may help deflect this offense to the grime scene.


"Give back the video monkey to Modeselektor!"

Or maybe I don't understand grime, but Big Dada don't always make bad decisions like this. From the annoying, loutish chant of 'I'm a party animal' to the bland laydee oohs, it sounds like it tried to make the beast with two backs while Toddla T was wiped out on GBL.

Quite frankly I'd rather truck it down to Maccy D's and have the Blackout Crew play me their selections of donks.