Dummy Picks 007 // July 2013

Text: Robert Darnell, Karen Ka Ying Chan, Adam Harper, Zara Wladawsky, Steph Kretowicz, Selim Bulut and Aimee Cliff

It’s been a long, cold road to summer in the UK, but with so many amazing releases lined up we can barely contain ourselves, numerous festivals to pack for (and recover from) and the sun finally making a cameo appearance in the sky, it seems like we’re here. Celebrate with this month’s staff mix, the seventh in our series, mixed as ever by the talented Zara Wladawsky and fleshed out with descriptions of every track from the writer that chose it below. Hit play, read on and get into that woozy, suntroke headspace that July’s all about.

Click here for May’s Dummy Picks and here for our special Field Day-themed staff mix.

Not Waving – Nemrut Dagi
I’m always a sucker for a bit of well-executed sentimentality in electronic music (pianos usually help), and this is just the ticket. In the context of Not Waving’s debut, Nemrut Dagi worked as a welcome tension-releaser halfway through ‘Umwelt’s’ misty, unsettled vibes. [RD]

Pharaohs – Miraculous Feet
This is a new ‘un from 100% Silk – I’ve not heard a song that straddles the line between disco and punk this convincingly for a long time. This is up there with The Rapture’s Out Of The Races And Onto The Tracks in terms of dance punk songs that are classics in my own head. The groove is so loose, the bassline is totally addictive, Maria Minerva’s vocal is the sexiest this year and the way that the piano line and washy guitars mesh together at the half-time breakdown is b-l-i-s-s. [SB]

Ikonika – Mr Cake
With her forthcoming second full-length album due out in mid-July on Kode9’s Hyperdub, Ikonika has firmly established herself not only as an impeccable selector, but also an amazing producer. A shimmering, futuristic theme consistently runs through the whole album; and this track – occupying a strange space between bassline, funk and electro – is clearly inspired by the brand of glossy synth sound from the 80s. It’s one of the most catchy, outstanding summer tunes emerging from the contemporary UK scene. [KKYC]

Squadda B – Slippin Kant Get Up
Coming from down south in Little Rock, Arkansas, Pepperboy has been putting out some great releases full of cloudy beats and real sentiments lately, offering something so much richer than terms like “trap” might suggest. Here he is with Green Ova’s Squadda B, from their brill collaborative album Rebel Muzik. Slippin is some of the most gorgeous hip hop I’ve heard in a while, and it’s certainly in my top ten cor-anglais-based hip hop productions of all time. [AH]

Young Fathers – Ebony Sky
Far as I’m concerned, Young Fathers deserve all the praise coming their way for their bloody ace Anticon releases this year, and Ebony Sky brought the recently released ‘Tape Two’ to a gushing, sing-along close. [RD]

Blondes – Elise
[Associate Editor Ruth Saxelby and ZW dancing in the sun at MoMA PS1 in Queens]
ZW: “Ruth, what’s your track for the month?”
RS: “Elisssssssssssse! Elissssssssssssse! It’s sooooooo goooooooood!”

Hyetal – Jam The Network
I’ve listened to Hyetal’s album a lot since its release, and whenever this one comes on I can’t help but feel giddy excitement. It’s all about the chorus – when those glossy 80s synths come in it’s just intensely emotional, hairs-on-end sort of stuff. The way it builds to its climax is really thrilling, too, a lesson to new producers who think that sound comes before songwriting. If this could incorporate the right vocal you’d be looking at song of the year. [SB]

Forest Swords – Thor’s Stone
The fact that there was such a long wait for this track makes it sound so sweet, but its shimmering intensity, gradually unfolding itself over the course of many dreamy listens, is what makes it sound even sweeter. The Tri Angle producer sifts through sounds that recall both the muggy earth and the elation of spiritual worship to create something that’s both unmistakably of this world and a little bit out of it. [AC]

Zebra Katz – Blk Wiccan
I know I should probably be more excited about the fact Ojay Morgan managed a track with Busta Rhymes on his latest ‘DRKLNG’ mix tape but it’s hard to ignore the agitated thrust of Blk Wiccan. Two-and a half minutes of wobbly, tinny beats and breathless non-stop words swell into pure, infectious movement before dropping back out into a characteristically broody bass line. [SK]

Matrixxman – Protocol
Percussion-only goodness in that jackin’ Chicago style that’s been prevalent in everything from L.I.E.S.‘s recent Dolo Percussion release and beyond on consistently good NYC imprint, Fifth Wall. [ZW]

SFV Acid – Kludes
I haven’t quite fallen for the SFV Acid album in the same way as his earlier EPs – the ‘Neighborhood Archives’ EP really is just so good – but there are some real belters on it, and Kludes is one of them. It reminds me of the late James Stinson’s 2001 masterpiece ‘Lifestyles Of The Laptop Café’ – really melancholic, emotive electro. The way that it falls apart in the middle, leaving just one sad, solitary synth line, is astounding and beautiful. When he wants to, SFV Acid can write some truly incredible stuff. [SB]

Fred P. – It Is What It Is
My favourite Fred P track (if not one of my fave tracks ever) has finally been repressed on DJ Qu’s Strength Music imprint this week. It’s right up there with Deep Burnt and that ilk for me. [ZW]

Tracklisting:

Not Waving – Nemrut Dagi
Pharaohs – Miraculous Feet
Ikonika – Mr Cake
Squadda B – Slippin Kant Get Up
Young Fathers – Ebony Sky
Blondes – Elise
Hyetal – Jam The Network
Forest Swords – Thor’s Stone
Zebra Katz – Blk Wiccan
Matrixxman – Protocol
Rizzla + False Witness – Tributo Bubloy
SFV Acid – Kludes
Fred P. – It Is What It Is