Abstrakt's Quick Six

Tons of dope new stuff dropping to start 2010 in a huge way. Some of the most exciting stuff for me is the post-garage/bass/step/beats end of things. I am eating up the cross-breeding of genres and sounds that got going in 08 and fully took off in 2009. While the combination of techno and dub soundscapes is nothing new, throwing some broken beats and heavy dub drops with the wonk element of electro, and its bastard cousin of dare-I-call-it 'ambient garage', has really made listening to the cutting edge of music quite exciting. Here's to big things for 2010.

DJ Food - The Shape Of Things That Hum (Ninja Tune)

Ok, DJ Food is back and the world is a better place because of it. The first track brings DJ DK of Solid Steel fame in to collaborate and they come out with a filthy dub breakbeat stormer with all kinds of build. So nasty in a nice way.

The rest of the EP is classic DJ Food with lush strings and wind work building the tension like the true master that he is. Essential.

mp3:
- DJ Food - Sentinel (Shadow Guard)
- DJ Food - Giant (instrumental)

Depeche Mode - Fragile Tension remixes (Mute)

Big set of remixes here with a bunch of different takes including a bass party by Herve, a jackin' big roomer from Laidback Luke and more, but the slow building nu-electro of the "Solo Loves Panorama' remix, which drops into a sick, quirky and majorly funky groove is my top pick. Kris Menace's 'Love On Laserdisc' remix does it right as well, with a beautiful vocal treatment (not that Dave Gahan needs the help) while plucking strings build the mood into a proggy big room hand-raiser. Excellent.

mp3:

- Depeche Mode - Fragile Tension (Solo Loves Panorama remix)

- Depeche Mode - Fragile Tension (Kris Menace Love On Laserdisc remix)

The Partysquad - Hollertronix 10 (Mad Decent)
The Hollertronix series never fail to deliver a mash of crunked up dance bumpers, and here we go again with 4 cuts of sure fire. This new crew outta Amsterdamn does the Bmore breaks and Bass thump that you love with an electro-stomp edge. Smokin.

mp3:
- The Partysquad - Murderer

- The Partysquad - Crazyfunkystyle

Adam F feat. Horx & Redman - Shut The Lights Off (Breakbeat Kaos)

9 years on from their first heavyweight collab, dnb hit maker Adam F joins up again with the Funk Doc to absolutely wreck all dancefloors they touch down on. Major anthemic dnb on the OG, a decent bouncy electro edit and then the serious dubstep heat coming in the form of a Capsa & Trolley Snatcha remix. Massive!

mp3:

Adam F feat. Horx & Redman - Shut The Lights Off (Caspa & Trolley Snatcha remix)

Adam F Feat. Horx & Redman - Shut The Lights Off (In Da Club Edit)

Uffie - MCs Can Kiss

One of the female MCs that was just ahead of the vocal electro curve a few years back, drops this catchy single with a relatively simple flow, some jazzy horns but an undeniable hook. Starkey gets all twisted and steppy, while Zombie Disco Squad keep it smooth and deep.

mp3:

- Uffie - MCs Can Kiss (Zombie Disco Squad dub)

- Uffie - MCs Can Kiss (Starkey Redid)

Martin Kemp - After The Night / Aztec (Blunted Robots)

Expecting more big things from this man in 2010! Smooth UK funky step here with all the right stuff in all the right places. 'After The Night' comes out clicking with tons of atmosphere, weird vox and some big drops. Flip for more of the same on 'Aztec' with even more Detroit feel. Sickness.

mp3:

- Martin Kemp - After The Night

- Martin Kemp - Aztec