Picks Of The Week (02.01.21

Welcome back to the Picks Of The Week! For this week I am doing something completely crazy. Instead of the usual 2-3 big name reviews and one spotlight Hidden Gem review, I will focus more on the underappreciated producers this time by giving two underrated releases a spotlight. I know, incredible change.

But there's one big release I just can't ignore!

1. Various Artists - Divergence III [Eatbrain]

Recommended if you like: Heavy Neurofunk

That release is Eatbrain's newest compilation album Divergence III! Safe to say, the Hungarian neurofunk label has smashed it out of the park once again. As always with their releases I'm just going to have a bit of fun with the story-telling and atmosphere provided by all the great artists on this release. Most of it has to do with the names of the tracks.

How did the studio manage to avoid the sequel fatigue of this series of anti-hero ensemble showcases, you ask? After the two hit entries Divergence I and 2 Divergent 2 Furious, surely they must have exhausted all their options for their ensemble casts? Well, it undeniably was a challenge, but after searching the lands far and wide they have managed to assemble a crew of 13 unique mischief-making super-powered characters that each bring their own flair to the gang. Some would call them the Divergent 13. Because they are diverging from us normal mortals! And they are thirteen, but you surely got that on your own. But who are they? Cue the character introduction montage!

First up, we got Tailwind, brought into the team by the mediterran supergroup Disphonia and IHR! As the name suggests, he is the one you ask if you need something done quick. Once Tailwind is on a job, you only need to blink and he's beyond the horizon. Tailwind's the name, speed's his game! However, speed doesn't solve every problem. Sometimes you just need raw strength. That's where Heavyweight comes in! Heavyweight is a brawly grizzled veteran that has technically already retired from these kind of jobs, but was brought back by the team for one last mission. Translated to our universe this means: This is both Foreign Beggar's debut on the label and also their last track together! Produced by upcoming american producer KillBreak, this one is worthy of both the name and legacy.

We're still just getting started though. Next up we got Too Sensible, which is maybe not the catchiest character name ever, but that doesn't detract from the value he brings into the group. The slightest grief that comes his way causes him to lose his temper and go haywire on all his surroundings. Even if he seems nice at first glance, he is a ticking time bomb. How did he end up like that? Years upon years of provocation by the infamous and fittingly-named Agressor Bunx. Sad story, makes for a good fit for this team though.

In this day and age, even the super-powered characters have grown up on the internet and computers. Some even make technology their super power. Behind all the great anti-hero teams is at least one of those geniuses, controlling the power grid and sending in specially designed fighting robots if the situation calls for it. Not all of them are as religious as our next character Daemon (produced by Disaszt and The Clamps) though. Like his technical namesake, he lurks in the background and only strikes when needed. And when he does strike, he strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies by combining his godlike skill for robotics with a faible for the drama and aesthetics of the stories of the old gods. True to the old adage 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic', or from the work of a god in this case, Daemon can cause chaos that makes divine retribution seem like child's play.

But it's not all serious characters in this, of course we also need some comic relief. Introducing our very own Space Pirate, produced by Telekinesis, also known as Smooth and Markoman. He's a pirate from space that wants you to walk his plank, do I even have to explain anything more? Going from outer space to the deepest depths the planet has to offer, we dive into the Mariana Trench to meet our next character Stingray (produced by Chaser). So far all our anti-heroes have only covered the sky and the land, but what if an operation is taking place in the deep blue sea? That's where Stingray comes in. Set one foot into its territory and you will very quickly realise that the cute face on its belly is just a distraction from the destruction it can cause.

For the next entry in our list of super-powered characters we go back to land again, but stay in the darkness for a bit longer. Meet Shadowbeast, produced by Screamarts! As the name suggests, this one is a creature born and molded in the darkness. No matter where you go, you can't escape it's grasp. Just like your own shadow. Next up we have Funker, brought into the world by Liveon. With his literally enchanting funky songs, Funker is kind of the bard of the group. This might sound a bit whimsical compared to some of the others, but you just wait until he ensnares you with one of his songs. As long as you have at least one functioning hearing organ, he will make you dance, if you want to or not.

Number 9 on the character sheet comes from another quite specific place on the planet: The Jungle! Fittingly, its name is Jungle Demon (produced by Cod3x). If you think you are safe from this group in the shelter of big trees and crazy climates, think again! Symptoms of being haunted by the jungle demon include: Hearing weird trumpets that sound like they are making fun of you, imagining chants by native jungle residents and moving your body to non-existant stunningly captivating drums. Beware!

In the beginning there was nothing. And Shadow Sect and Mizo said "Let there be chaos". This chaos goes by the name of Genesis and demolishes absolutely everything it touches. While Daemon only made it look like he was a god, Genesis actually is one. If you manage to anger Genesis, you and all you know will turn to ashes, no ifs, ands or buts about it. What if you escape to the barren landscape of the desert, you say? Well, we've got someone for that too: Quicksand (produced by Kutlo)! Like your (and my) childhood's worst nightmare, he can trap you and pull you under at just about any place that has sand. Once he has grasped you, your slow demise is inevitable.

You aren't even safe from this group in the non-jungle forests, Nais has made sure of it. How? By creating the Bee Zone. Sure, real-life bees might be incredibly helpful for the environment and usually friendly to people, but these are no ordinary bees. They are genetically engineered to follow their master's every will and will hunt you down if he so pleases. No matter where you go, there will be a bee right behind you. In the closet? Bee. On the dancefloor? Bee. In Space? Well, we got Space Pirate for that. They're still just bees, they would die in space!

Last but not least, we got our lights specialist Blinder (produced by L33 (the L stands for "lights")). For those enemies that cannot be entranced by the likes of Funker because they don't have ears or because they just look at things from afar, Blinder has the answer. You think there's actually a bridge across the infinite abyss ahead of you? Think again, that might just be a mirage Blinder has created to trick you! With Blinder on your tails you can kiss goodbye to trusting your visual senses!

Divergence III - out now on a streaming service near you!

Back to reality again. This is one hell of an amazing compilation album with some incredibly huge neurofunk tunes. I only wrote all these dumb character ideas down because every single one of these tunes inspired me to do so. But even if you don't care for these world building exercises, they are still all straight-up bangers. Yes, all of them! My personal highlights are Tailwind, Genesis, Daemon and Quicksand. Huge recommendation!

Because this week's format is a bit different, I will just list all my other big-name recommendations below:

Apashe - Distance (Buunshin Remix)
Toronto Is Broken, BVLVNCE - Paragons
Workforce - Back Up
Annix, Rider Shafique - Equinox
QZB - Clairvoyant EP
Fliwo - Say It Now
Sub Focus, Wilkinson - Freedom (Sub Focus x Wilkinson x High Contrast Remix)
Nu:Tone, Lalin St. Juste - One Day At A Time

2. Noizesplitter - Defect Files EP [Sine Function Music]

Recommended if you like: Phace, Synergy, Mean Teeth

Let's get back to our regularly scheduled programming. It's Hiddem Gem Of The Week™ time!

This week's (first) pick goes to swiss underground techy neuro wizard Noizesplitter's newest double single Defect Files! Fredy a.k.a Noizesplitter has been around for around a decade at this point, but it wasn't until 2016 that he actually started releasing music, under this alias at least. The first release of the Lucern-based producer that I could find is a 2016 bootleg of Rammstein's Asche zu Asche, which immediately made me like him even more. After this he went on release on T3K, Xenocracy Recordings (a release that earned him a Noisia Radio play), Moving2Fast and Subminded Records.

In 2018 he and his mate Methis asked themselves "hey why not start an own label?" and that's how Sine Function Music became a thing! That's how I imagine it happened at least. The label became a home for most of the following Noizesplitter and Methis releases, but also started featuring other artists like the Portuguese producer Impex and dutch/spanish duo Regun in 2020. 2020 was also the year Noizesplitter started participating and making a name for himself in some of the most notable remix competitions out there, namely for IMANU's Dread competition on Patreon, Black Sun Empire's Driving Insane remix album and Teddy Killerz' Shine remix EP that was released last week. Even though he didn't win a price in them, he showed the world what he can do best: techy neurofunk carnage. I recommend you check all of his remixes out, they're awesome.

While I'm fanboying: check out his Dirty Talk release from last year, the Safra remix on that was literally one of my favorite remixes of that year!

Anyway. Let's talk about Defect Files!

First up we got Move, a fast and techy neurofunk stomper of a track. As if Mr. Noizesplitter already knew that the chaotic infectious energy of the track itself would make me want to move around erratically, he also chose a voice sample that regularly urges me to "get up and move" already to underline the message even more. The way this sample is chopped up and used as the main melody is just too fun. Not one for the faint-hearted.

The second half of the release is the track that made me go completely crazy. It goes by the name of Process and is the whole reason I chose Phace as one of main "Related Artists" above. Noizesplitter really nailed that techy sound on this one, from the drums to the voice samples. It already starts off with an energetic AF drop, but trust me, it only gets crazier after that. After the first two sections the track switches to a bit of a slower, funkier rhythm and then goes full 4x4 to hype us up for the Return Of The Syncopation. The second drop then immediately throws us back into the funky rhythm and the 4x4 business, before ending it on a darker note. All throughout this change the main "lead" stays nearly the same sound-wise but its rhythm is rearranged so many times you barely notice it. It's madness is what I'm saying.

Awesome release by an incredibly underrated producer!

3. Mish, Greeen - E=MC² [Noxious Records]

Recommended if you like: Mob Tactics, Teddy Killerz, Gydra

What is this? Even more Hidden Gems?!? You're not seeing double, this is actually happening! I'll keep it a bit short though, I'm already close to reaching my character limit again.

This week's second Hidden Gem Of The Week™ comes from a place that I am deeply envious of right now and will probably continue to be for the foreseeable future: New Zealand! This truly magical place on earth (well, some parts of it) has produced yet another great DnB artist: Mish & Greeen! They have just released their debut EP E=MC² on Noxious Records and without exaggeration I can safely say that I have found a very strong contender for EP of the year in this release.

This is usually the part where I talk about the backstory of the artist, but except for their banging Rhythm Is A Dancer free download a few months ago, Mish & Greeen literally haven't released anything before. They are DJ veterans of the Christchurch scene though, I can tell you that much. A combined twenty years of experience on the stage is nothing to scoff at!

I've got a bit more to tell you about the label they released their debug on though! I didn't hear about them before this release, but after some research I can conclude Noxious Records is definitely one of the better labels for underground drum and bass out there. Like so many labels, the South England based Noxious started in 2014 as a soundsystem collective organising events all over the United Kingdom. During this time they already started to make plans for a proper record label, mostly spearheaded by the late Enfuza. Sadly, he did not live to see the results of his invaluable initial work in getting the label started. In late 2016 Noxious Records was officially founded and set out to continue Enfuza's legacy by continually casting a spotlight on a wide variety of underground artists.

One of which is Mish & Greeen! Let's talk about E=MC².

With a name like that I kind of expected an MC-based project, but what I instead got was banger after banger after banger. I'm not disappointed in the slightest. The titular E=MC² starts the EP off with a very nice relaxed vibe whose wubs remind me a lot of early 2010s dancefloor, but way more chill. E=MC²'s oldschool rave influences are carried over and transformed into the proper dancefloor banger that is the followup Hurt Me No More. When I say transformed, I mean that the energy has been increased tenfold, at least. The syncopated rave piano and the oldschool vocal sample lead into a drop that combines the best of Neurofunk and Dancefloor. What I'm saying is this would go off at a rave.

This incredibly high energy is kept up for the third track of the EP Never Gonna Stop. If Hurt Me No More was a fat slap, this one is a full-on dropkick down the stairs. My biggest hope right now is that Mish & Green are never gonna stop releasing this kind of music because I am never gonna stop loving this sound. What a banger. Last but absolutely not least the duo ends the release with Dragula. Talk about ending on a bang, man. For this one they went straight into the abyss of Neurofunk and I'm all here for it. If you showed me this track blindfolded I would probably guess it's the newest banger by Teddy Killerz. Raw energy, funky and wacky melodies, awesome drums, it's all there. I can only repeat myself: What a banger.

If you like the heavier side of dancefloor or neurofunk, please check this out. It's amazing.

Some other Hidden Gems of this week:

Markka - Falling EP (17 year old producer!)
Archae - Urghh/Get Down (also on Noxious lol)
Target Audience - Soulful
Incident - Revival EP
Baz & Simplistix - Wicked Man EP
Static - Dreamer
Ferice - Don't You Ever / Falling
Azhot - Flower EP
Arxiva - Rhetorics EP