This month's selection of tunes is full of broken beats and breezy synths. As mentioned during the month, the full archive of my playlists can now be found on the Playmoss platform. Check out the history here.

Dispensing with waffle, let us get onto the tunes.

->April 2018 Playlist<-

Space Dimension Controller - Everything Is Better Now

The latest SDC release featured some sprawling tracks on it. Unusually, a lot of them weren't actually that good. However, lead track 'Everything Is Better Now' more than made up for it. Near to fourteen minutes of electro-space-funk that shifts and moves through a variety of motions.

Solitary Dancer - Heroine Dub

Solitary Dancer's releases so far have erred towards expansive and soundtracky electro. 'Heroine Dub' is a pared back breaks workout that focuses on percussion and---unsurprisingly---dub fx for the majority of its length. As it plays out, it brings in washy synths and full fat dub bass, elevating the track beyond that of a simple tool.

Lanark Artefax - Touch Absence (Intimidating Stillness Mix)

Arguably one of the big tracks of last year, Whities took the opportunity to bring 'Touch Absence' back to consciousness with the Intimidating Stillness mix. It is more fragmented, skittish, than the original, and perhaps slightly less of an anthem. Though it does provide another chance to get under the skin of a much loved track, as if hearing it with a fresh pair of ears.

Sasha - True (Garden City Movement Remix)

Late Night Tales seems to be the home for Sasha's song based work nowadays. His 'Scene:Delete' album has already seen a multitude of accomplished producers take it through its paces. Now it is the turn of his first single for the imprint, in the form of 'True'. Of the three version, Garden City Movement come in with a post UK Garage feeling re-rub, pitching the vocals into new registers and imbuing the track with a sense of energy that was perhaps missing from the smooth original.

Imre Kiss - Love

Imre Kiss is yet another name who has crossed the divide from Lobster Theremin to the club focused Mörk imprint. The label itself seems to be developing a certain aesthetic for---I hesistate to say---post-Trance vibes. It is something that Imre Kiss adopts, leaving behind his usual gauzy vibe. 'Love' features emotive choral synths and Tin Man-esque 303 lines that linger in the upper register. On a solid EP, it is the stand out cut.

Ross From Friends - Would You Still Be Here

I'm a bit late to the party with this release on Lone's Magicwire label. Ross From Friends does what he does best - dusty house music with a penchant for swinging into lush melodic refrains. 'Would You Still Be Here' doesn't disappoint, with the swelling breakdowns being the show stealers.

Antenna - Primavera May

Antenna's best work tends to be pieces that shift into an otherworldly realm. The backing to 'Primavera May' sounds like the drip of water from stalactites into a sparkling cavern pool. There is a synth pop edge to the track, but the elements drift between shoegaze and house music without feeling an obligation to pin its colours to any mast.

Pye Corner Audio - Dead Ends

James Zabiela picked this I Love Acid track up from Pye Corner Audio for his exemplary Balance mix. It uses a technique that served Hardfloor very well in their storied history of acid techno, applying it to a slow tempo and moody track. It takes its time to unfold, gradually layering up a variety of 303 phrases. Roland's little acid box is surprisingly versatile, and often comes to life when its various timbres are brought together in harmony.

Mall Grab - Happiness

Shall Not Fade have been rather active of recent. Easter saw a 20% discount on their Bandcamp, Mall Grab 'Alone' saw a repress, and they stuck up their catalogue and affiliated labels onto Spotify. I have taken advantage of all three of these pieces of activity, so have a listen to the pastel grooves of 'Happiness' from the 'Alone' release, which so happens to be sat on my desk right now.

Kiyoko - Nancy Grows Up

Just taking the mood down to finish. The 'Emeralds' EP was short and sweet, perhaps erring a little too heavily to the former. It evoked memories of nineties IDM, the smoother side of things as spun out by Bola and Boards Of Canada.

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