ARTIST: VARIOUS
RELEASE: GLASGOW UNDERGROUND SPRING/SUMMER SAMPLER 2012
CAT #: GU2007
YEAR: 2012
TRACKS: KEVIN MCKAY – THE RUSHES // SMALL PYRAMIDS – THE MUSIC // FRANKIE REDENTE – WHAT U WANT (KEVIN MCKAY EDIT) // ADMIN – WHATEVER YOU WANT
Kevin McKay has been producing records since the early 90s. His early work as Muzique Tropique found favour with DJs as varied as Andy Weatherall, Dubfire, Roger Sanchez and Danny Tenaglia. Recording with Omid 16B as Sixteen Souls he made “On My Mind” one of the all-time anthems at the legendary Sir Henry’s in Cork. In the 00s he discovered Mylo and set up the Breastfed label going on to co-produce & mix “Destroy Rock & Roll”. As the producer/programmer half of Linus Loves he was responsible for the massive club hits “The Terrace” and “Night Music”. Since 2007 he has been running the Heartbeats label (home to Grum) and in 2011 he relaunched Glasgow Underground. “The Rushes” is all about that spine-tingling, sweat-drenched moment on the dancefloor when the combination of beats, basslines and chord-changes delivers a fully-loaded smiling experience. If “Where’s Molly” is asking the questions, “The Rushes” delivers the answer.
Small Pyramids is LA-based producer & dj Zach Hunsaker. Zach’s debut release, the classy space-disco “I Want Blood” was one of DJ magazine’s Singles of 2012. His recent tripped-out rework of Mary Epworth’s “Black Doe” sparked an internet sharing spree with tastemaker sites like Mixmag, LaGaSta & Golden Scissors featuring the mix. “The Music” is the perfect record to get the party started pool-side: warm keys, a bumpin’ disco baseline and a killer vocal hook make the kind of slow-burning house record that sounds best in the sunshine.
Franky Redente is a London dj and producer. As one half of Photo 51, his remix of Romanthony’s classic “The Wanderer” found its way into Seth Troxler’s playlist and on to DC10’s closing party dancefloor. “What You Want” is all about the bassline. The keys shimmer hypnotically and the drums make a real impact on the system but the long, snaking baseline – part analogue funk, part piano house – delivers the real wiggle element to this dancefloor monster.
∆dmin is Bristol-based dj & producer Adam Wickens who was signed up to do a 12″ for GU after Kevin heard the lovely bass-heavy grooves of “Bubblebath”. “Whatever You Want” is the kind of blissed-out bass-house that would fit perfectly between Julio Bashmore & Floating Points. With Thom Yorke already giving Adam props for his forthcoming GU 12″, it looks like there are good things on the horizon for ∆dmin.