Various Emergence Nanorecords (UK)

Nanorecords first release is a compilation of cutting edge South African trance – and as we’ve seen this year, it’s a bit of a hotbed for manic night time full on material. Protokulture kick things off with Ultra Phunktional, and what a killer way to launch in. Immediate rushes, truly wonderful samples, energy pouring out the speakers like liquid, and plenty of satisfying filtered movement that builds and builds and builds… this is the best ten minutes of trance I’ve heard in a fucking long time. Rinkadink’s Ultima has a dirty backbone with some seriously sweet melodies over the top, keeping the feet firmly stomping while the mind rushes around all over. Hydroponic’s Disorient Express has a wobbly, rooted backbone and plenty of depth and dubby stabs over the top. The movement here is completely unique, very fluid without losing its stomp, and the finale’s dirtier than a Christina Aguilera video. Freak Of Da Week! from Boogie Section v Bent Sentient is cracking, it makes comedy use of that ¾ drop favoured so much by Mr Posford et al, and its finale is blistering and yummy. Whiplash’s Syntax & Whiskey is heavy going and manic, with hard thunks over a ten-to-the-dozen bassline that’s real peak time outdoor stuff. Things get wibbly and menacing with Hydroponic’s paranoid Reality Game, one of the best basslines ever and a real myriad of shit going on in the middle…then they’re immediately back with Elephunktitus, a twisty and shuffled dancefloor monster. Protoculture bring the album to a close with Synergism and Metaphysical, the former being warpstab-heavy with killer melodic runs and awesome Stakker acid; the latter goes for a more ethereal vibe and really sets out to lift you off the floor… melodies rise, sounds layer, making for an awesome close to a damn awesome album. If you’re pissed off at the way you keep getting asked to fork out for the same old formulaic shit all the time, then wake up to this. Truly exceptional, truly cutting edge stuff.

More info: www.nanorecords.co.uk