Thursday 11 August 2022

The Closest Thing To Organised Mass Zombie-dom

The summer - and perhaps more specifically, the festival season - has seen a steady stream of new music from 'old' artists, invoking the spirit of the 1990s with some frankly quite spectacular bangers.
 
The seemingly indefatigable Orbital has this year finally been able to properly celebrate three decades, including the release of 30-Something. Eschewing the usual 'best of' compilation, the collection comprises their own '30 Years Later' reworkings alongside remixes by David Holmes, Jon Hopkins, ANNA, Shanti Celeste and Joris Voorn amongst others.
 
Inevitably, there are a couple of new tracks, including Smiley, which goes right back to Orbital's origins, sampling ITV's 1988 World in Action documentary A Trip Round Acid House (including an interview with 20-old year Paul Hartnoll). The song's title pays tribute to the Smiley Face symbol, officially 50 years old in 2022, which was used in the legendary DC Comics series Watchmen in 1986-1987 and subsequently associated with Acid House. A great song and a brilliant video.
Not to be outdone, Leftfield is also back with Pulse, a precursor to new album This Is What We Do. Originally a duo of Neil Barnes and Paul Daley until 2002, Barnes restarted Leftfield in 2010 and the current iteration has now been going as long as the original incarnation. The pre-release buzz is already comparing the new album to Leftism; in a nod to the latter, Lemn Sissay returns on one track and mirroring Toni Halliday (Curve)'s guest vocals, This Is What We Do features Fontaines D.C. frontperson Grian Chatten.
 
Pulse reminds me more of Phat Planet than anything off of Leftism and I love it. Pulse sounds fantastic on headphones, I can only imagine what it's like in a club or festival setting.
There's already been a lot of excitement and praise for Reset, the inspired collaboration between Panda Bear and Sonic Boom, and with good reason. Lead single Go On was an absolute blast and follow up Edge Of The Edge is just as wonderful, channeling Brian Wilson and, unsurprising given the artists involved, a mind-bending video. There is an online listening party for Reset tonight, ahead of the album's digital release on 12th August. The event includes a live chat with Sonic Boom and premiere of third single/video, Danger. I've only heard two songs so far and I'm already expecting Reset to place high amongst my favourite albums of 2022.
No video for the new single by Four Tet, released yesterday (10th), but I had to include it. Kieran Hebden has been promising some "unreleased bangers" since the end of July and Mango Feedback was included in his rather fine Glastonbury set which I managed to catch on BBC iPlayer. Mango Feedback is another track that is feels very now but also evocative of an earlier era. I immediately thought of Found Sound-era Spooky remixed by Todd Terry. Watersmyth is perhaps more 'typical' Four Tet, a pulsing, bleeping ambient trip that fades out after four minutes but could easily go on and on and on.
 
New kids on the block (no, not them!) Jezebell have been on a roll since their first release, Thrill Me - was it really only November 2021? Hot on the heels of July's Jezebellearica EP, 30th September sees the release of the Jezebellectro EP on quality Berlin label Nein Records. Lead track Dumbell is available to preview now and it's another cracker. Built upon a sampled break from a classic 80s 12" that I haven't yet featured here but spookily enough name checked last week, there are other recognisable samples dropped in that make for an inspired six-and-a-half minutes. The EP includes two remixes of Dumbell by Ian Vale and ADJ aka Andy Jaggers, plus another new track, the intriugingly-titled The Jezebell Spirit. I honestly get a big smile whenever the latest Jezebell release drops and they are currently keeping 'em coming!

If you like what you hear, you can buy or pre-order from the following outlets (as ever, other retail options are available):

30-Something by Orbital (deluxe CD via official website)
This Is What We Do by Leftfield (pre-order exclusive vinyl & CD via Rough Trade)
Reset by Panda Bear & Sonic Boom (Bandcamp)
Mango Feedback / Watersmyth by Four Tet (Bandcamp)
Jezebellectro EP by Jezebell (pre-order via Bandcamp)

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