Browsing Tag

UK electronica producer

Rumination refracts through the emotive visceralism of Ricky’s alt-electro release, Dreaming

Posted on 18 December 2024

In his latest release, Dreaming, the artist and producer Ricky reached far beyond the reverberations of the moody electronic trend, entrenching his release in piercingly plaintive soul. As one of the most melancholic leftfield electronica tracks to permeate the airwaves in recent years, Dreaming transcends self-indulgence to deliver a raw visceral experience.

As the frenetically syncopated backbeat sonically visualises the tumult of the external world, the dual vocals from Ricky and an arcane-timbered female guest vocalist reflect rumination in the cultivated track, which reaches the epitome of affecting, Every note in Dreaming is a tender extension of vulnerability which entrances you into the emotion as light radiates from the progressions, refracting a sense of salvation that the lyrics yearn for.

Ricky’s roots trace back to Nottingham, where he cut his teeth with the electro-punk indie rave duo Battlecat! between 2007 and 2010, touring extensively and sharing stages with the likes of Hadouken!, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Two Door Cinema Club, Future Islands, and many more. He hit prestigious stages before pausing his output due to family commitments.

Eventually returning to music, he released ‘Pushing Buttons’ in 2021, drawing inspiration from Burial, Bicep, Boards of Canada, and The xx. Early singles caught the attention of BBC Introducing’s Dean Jackson, earning airplay and solid feedback. After grappling with depression and a ten-month hiatus, Ricky has re-emerged with a new EP in the works and plans to bring his live sound to the UK and Europe in early 2025. I know I will be the first in line for a ticket for the live rendition of Dreaming.

Dreaming was officially released on December 1st; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aza.B dawned a new era of electronica in his deep house disco anthem, Funkin’ You Up

Posted on 26 June 2023

Lincolnshire, UK-hailing DJ and producer Aza.B’s raucously funked third single, Funkin’ You Up, grooves with big beats and even bigger blasts of euphoria.

After a blazing sax solo, the momentum starts to build in the vibrant electronica tapestry, which grooves through entrancing disco rhythms and the irreplicable atmosphere of deep house to construct a galvanising anthem that could only have been assembled in Aza.B’s wheelhouse of authenticity.

After getting a taste of different EDM scenes and cutting his teeth in many of them as a DJ and producer, Aza.B developed an understanding and passion for a myriad of genres before melding them into bespoke testaments to his boundless creativity. While other producers are attempting to go mainstream or fit into the confines of niches, Aza.B took the less pedestrian route with his interstellar productions to dawn a new era in electronica.

Funkin’ You Up hit the airwaves on June 16th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Visit the Citadel in Sentry’s latest future bass single

Posted on 14 September 2022

UK-based future bass and electronica producer, Sentry invited his listeners into the ‘Citadel’ in his latest emotionally-heightened single, taken from his upcoming project, The Anomaly, which is due to drop later this year.

Citing Quiet Bison, Porter Robinson and OBLVYN as his influences, the 22-year-old artist makes familiar progressive moves, but there’s a sublime equanimity to his production style between the big percussive breaks. Toeing the line between scene-setting ambience and visceral synthetics, Citadel is a ground-breaking hybrid that you are going to want to take for a spin time and time again.

Citadel is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK producer, Audio Jacked has revealed another soulful floor-filler with Not Me That’s Broken, featuring Jessie Wagner

Posted on 9 July 2022

You only need to look at the title of Not Me That’s Broken to know Audio Jacked isn’t your average electronica grifter. By building his big room house track around emboldening substance and soul; he allowed emotion to drive the momentum just as much as the monolithic basslines and powerful breaks that rhythmically knock you off-kilter before the hooks pick you back up again.

Jessie Wagner had her work cut out for her keeping the progressive pace; between her vocal dynamism and the clear connection to the lyricism, she was arrestingly triumphant.

This may only be Daniel Puddick’s third release as Audio Jacked but the experienced UK musician and songwriter has been enriching the EDM scene since the 90s, and his finger is just as firmly on the big melody pulse as it ever was.

Not Me That’s Broken is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Trip hop got trippier with the release of Bi&nka’s reverb-drenched seminal single, Loves a Wall

Posted on 14 October 2021

Any fans of Banks & Steelz will find the same amount of infatuation for the trippy ground-breaking tones in Bi&nka’s latest alt electronica single, Loves a Wall. The shoegazey reverb paired with the urban grit in the electronic mix opens up a mellow spacey soundscape for the spoken word rap vocals and the listener to fall into.

On the basis f Loves a Wall alone, it comes as little surprise that the independent Luton, UK-based artist and producer has received airplay from BBC Introducing and has amassed a loyal fan following with her indulgent, experimentally-layered mixes.

With her debut EP in the making, there has been no better time to place Bi&nka on your radar.

Loves a Wall is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast