Picks Of The Week (04.12.21

1. Pirapus, Christina Harrison - Obsession [Dark Machine Records]

Recommended if you like: Lee Mvtthews, V O E, Despersion

Time to celebrate one of my favourite artist discoveries from this year: Pirapus!

In case you're not yet familiar, let me introduce you to the magical world of the world's first "Stadium DnB" duo. Pirapus are Ben Hollamby (also known as Tex) and George Murray from, as has become tradition with all my favourite new dancefloor artists, the New to the Zealand, more specifically Christchurch. Seriously, at this rate I'll move over there just for the DnB. The two started putting out tunes in early 2020, pretty much right at the start of the pandemic. However, they did not let that stop them from jumping from success to success to success. After collaborating with amazing local talents the likes of SUUNE, BURNZY, PONZ and Elipsa in 2020 and a banging release on onesevenfour's first compilation (that was actually my introduction to them!), they caught the attention of none other than ShockOne, who promptly signed them for his new Dark Machine Recordings label.

Multiple festival appearances, multiple catchy carnage-causing contributions to the ever-growing list of dancefloor bangers and even a "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" at this year's Georgies later, it has now become crystal clear that 2021 is Pirapus' year. So let's talk about the tune they end this amazing year on, Obsession!

When the duo posted their first preview clips of this tune last week, my hype-o-meter was already going off. If there's one thing that unifies a lot of the tunes in my "Top Songs of 100", except for the fact that it's all DnB, it would have to be powerful vocals. Or at least a melody that I can belt out along to in the shower. Even though that preview clip stopped at the drop, as they annoyingly always do, that short snippet of the vocal performance by returning Pirapus feature champion Christina Harrison was already enough to set the hype train in motion. Also, both their previous tracks and their very much recommended showcase of dubs have showed me that I can simply trust these two when it comes to powerful drops. As you might have expected, they have smashed through that high expectation barrier with this new one!

On the one hand you've got this melodic-yet-earth-shatteringly-heavy call, which they mercilessly use for the hypest of the hype drop delays, on the other they blast us with quick-firing variation upon variation built from some of the naughtiest Dubstep-y wubs I've heard in quite some time. Saying the energy is higher than that of an earthquake and a tsunami combined all throughout the drop just wouldn't do this drop justice. For the second half they even drop down to half-time for a bit, before bringing it back to full force for the finale of the track.

Pirapus continue their steep upwards spiral (more like Spiralpus amirite) with yet another ridiculously heavy track. May the never stop doing this.

Other heavy releases from this week:

Agressor Bunx - Ensuing Cataclysm LP
Mechanical Vein, Saltee - All Gods Fall Down (Zardonic Remix)
Deformaty - Cyber Riot 💎
Ricky West, Legendary - Gameboi (The Remixes) 💎
Juno - Lilith / Surrender

2. SORRY IF IT'S LOUD - IN BETWEEN WORLDS 💎 [Bite This!]

Recommended if you like: Synergy, IMANU, Misanthrop

I know Jan is already waiting to give you his thoughts on the Monty album below, but let me just quickly introduce you to this week's Hidden Gem Of The Week™! I swear I'll be quick.

This week's pick comes from the up-and-coming international multi-genre duo SORRY IF IT'S LOUD (SIIL)! Such thoughtful producers, already apologizing before I even press play. However, with music that's this well produced they really have nothing to apologize for. SIIL is the amalgamation of the mad producer talents of the Amsterdam-based Becking and the diverse mixing expertise of the DJ across the pond, FLEX. Becking started out on his musical journey when he was just 12 years old, the first spoils of which were self-released in 2017, which eventually lead to successful releases of his on the local indie label Suit of Bullets. At the same time, FLEX, born and raised in Dallas, Texas, but nowadays residing in Phoenix, Arizona, made a name for himself out in the clubs and festivals. Since he started out DJing at the age of 20, he could add the likes of Lil Peep (wait what), Kill The Noise and Protohype to his list of people who he supported. Then, in 2017, they connected via SoundCloud message and decided to form the duo we're talking about today! Together they create and mix Trap, Dubstep, House, everything really. With this new EP, that "everything" now also includes Drum and Bass!

This new musical endeavour is being released on Bite This!, which you might recognize as Jauz' label. Wait, Jauz, isn't that the EDM guy who loves sharks? Well, yes, I guess, but sharks aren't the only thing he loves. He also loves DnB! Don't believe me? Well, then you probably don't know his various DnB projects like his collab with Zeds Dead, his recent tune with FRANK ZUMMO and We Are PIGS or his Tequila Mr Happy (Mr Tequila) mashup. Still not convinced? What about that time he spent half of his allotted time at Insomniac's Summer Virtual Rave-A-Thon 2020 on a full-blown DnB set? What I'm trying to say is that releasing this DnB EP doesn't come out of nowhere for Jauz, it simply is yet another step towards our beloved genre. A step I wholeheartedly welcome!

So what kind of DnB do you get on this IN BETWEEN WORLDS EP then? The good kind, obviously, that's why I'm featuring it! To be more specific: On WAKE UP they effortlessly flow between all the different styles that make up the more aggressive side of today's techy newschool subgenre, which they follow up by the dreamy journey full of beautifully moody synth work and deep 'n' dark basslines that is COME WITH ME. Speaking of deep, on DEEPER they then take us on a tour through the bottom of the ocean, complete with rolling drums, heavily reverberated sounds from another planet breaking through from below and an excellent 4x4 switchup for the second half. Last but not least, SIIL emerge from the deepest depths with the help of Chase to assault our ears with some of the weirder sounds you'll hear this year one last time on ENOUGH.

Honestly incredibly produced EP that could have easily come from any of the more established DnB acts. Consistent as hell too! Will definitely follow their DnB endeavours very closely in the future.

Other great techy things from this week:

Alerstorm, Save The Rave - Albayzin / Gloria 💎
nøgs - Second Wave 💎
Various Artists - Sanitization_01 LP [Redacted] 💎
BIONYK, Pharao - Black Heaven 💎