DISCOVER YOUR TRUTH

[oathdublin]

Roots | How Joy Orbison's 'Hyph Mngo' Sparked An Underground Revolution

The year is 2009 and one debut single is about to revolutionize electronic music forever, its maker - a 22 year old kid from South London, Peter O'Grady.

The late naughties were arguably the most exciting time for the development of dance music. Dubstep had firmly embedded the sounds of its deep basslines into the veins of the UK underground at the hands of pioneers like Skream and Benga. Labels like Hessle Audio began to emerge, pushing the boundaries of what exactly a club record could be. Had the constraints formed by the origins of dubstep, the very foundations of the genre, begun to render it stale?

June 25th, 2009, Rinse FM, Blackdown in the mix - "I'm not gonna lie... This tune is massive." That was the very moment those iconic synth lines drew their first breath, and Joy Orbison became hot sh*t. Nearly 15 years later it remains a dancefloor anthem and has become a timeless classic.

Broken punchy bass drums, rising euphoric chords, and the lushest of pads all held together by a vocal sample from Janet Jackson's 1989 'Love Will Never Do (Without You)'. There are few records that saw as much club time as this A' side, yet somehow it slipped through the cracks and dodged the status of 'rinsed' - or maybe it didn't but it's just too f*cking good to leave on the shelf.

Nevertheless, it didn't avoid criticism (does anything?). Simon Reynolds wasn't a fan and labeled it "undeveloped" - however he was quickly rebutted by Tom Lea of FACT Mag who said "It’s the dude’s first single: he’s got a lifetime to hone song structure. For now, he’s created a moment." I like that statement - the idea that this track is more than just a piece of music, it's a moment, an encapsulated experience, one that lives on decades after its creation. That, for me, is what makes this record such a rarity.

'Hyph Mngo' tells the story of a young producer who broke the rules and rose to stardom. Today we know Joy Orbison as one of the best in the game, with a back catalog of immaculate solo works and collaborations like Joy Overmono's 'Bromley' to prove it.

I leave you with this quote from Carlo Rovelli's '7 Brief Lessons On Physics', one that I believe highlights the beauty of the beyond - the same innovative beauty that the substratum of Joy O's 'Hyph Mngo' was forged upon in 2009.

"Here, in the vanguard, beyond the borders of knowledge, science becomes even more beautiful - incandescent in the forge of nascent ideas, of intuitions, of attempts. Of roads taken and then abandoned, of enthusiasms. In the effort to imagine what has not yet been imagined."

Stream | Buy

[oathdublin]

Off The Record #3 | Z.I.P.P.O Joins The SK11X Series With 'Morfismo' (Early Listen)

Z.I.P.P.O - Morfismo [SK11X19]

Welcome back to 'Off The Record' a bi-weekly segment focused entirely on bringing you the best new music. If you missed the previous issue, featuring new music from Burial and Kode9, you can read it here.

This week I had the pleasure of getting my hands on a pre-release copy of Z.I.P.P.O's 'Morfismo' EP, a forthcoming contribution to Setaoc Mass' SK_Eleven imprint.

Landing on my radar in 2016 when 'Definition Of Nowhere' hit the shelves, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the diverse array of sounds represented by both his own Z.I.P.P.O alias and 3KZ moniker alongside Kaelan - everything from lush house cuts and dub techno to synth driven electro and hypnotic techno workouts.

The player leads with the appropriately named 'Pulse And Distortion', a dark affair completed with pulsating low-end rhythms and distorted murmurs consolidating to form a rolling techno groove. 'Xukro' maintains a similar energy showcasing a spectrum of hypnotic soundscapes and punchy toms cutting seamlessly through the cryptic atmosphere that subtly sets the tone from beneath.

The flip embarks with 'I Cannot Stop Thinking' featuring the vocals of Celine Marie and an elaborate synth sequence packed with interesting polyrhythms and arpeggios that fittingly resonate a hyperactive modular mind. The title track 'Morfismo' (premiered on Vault Sessions earlier this week) brings this record to halt - a convoluted odyssey dominated by pounding percussive lines and haunting subby growls.

This record is a testament to Z.I.P.P.O's diverse production capability and SK11 remains the gift that keeps on giving.

'Morfismo' is available to purchase now on all formats.

Buy

[oathdublin]

Off The Record #2 | Kode9 & Burial 'Infirmary/Unknown Summer' (fabric Originals)

Infirmary / Unknown Summer

Welcome back to 'Off The Record', a bi-weekly segment focused entirely on bringing you the best new music.

Friday saw the release of a one-off split single from 'Hyperdub' boss Kode9 and Burial on fabric Originals [FRO10].

Run it back to 05 when Burials 'South London's Boroughs' EP hit the press and you'll discover the roots of this longstanding relationship, one responsible for some of the most innovative and influential sounds to come out of the UK, ever.

Now 18 years later, having contributed to various records together and collaborated for the likes of the 'fabricLive 100' mix [2018] and Mary Anne Hobbs' 'ICONS Mix' [BBC 2010] - the pair combine forces once more for the latest edition to the fabric sub-label.

The player leads with the soulful sounds of 'Infirmary'. Littered with interesting twists of tempo, vocal cuts and eclectic percussive rhythms - it as a testament to the broad array of sounds we've heard from Kode9 over the years, both familiar and unpredictable.

The flip side features 'Unknown Summer' a near 10 minute escapade that can only be described as "Burialesque". Atmospheric soundscapes, blissful bass, and in true Burial fashion, excellent sampling - form this excellent B side, one that fondly reminded me of the sounds of 'Untrue' [2007] an LP that redefined the possibilities of a club record and changed the way I consumed and created electronic music to date.

Editors Note: Upon first listen, 'Unknown Summer' went slightly over my head. I quickly and impatiently labeled it 'formless', but I was wrong (surprise, surprise)... After I parked my preconceived notions and gave it a proper listen, it came through - as Burial records have a habit of doing. I concede that my predispositions are more of an adulation than anything else - for the best music has always left me questioning form. You win this time Mr. Bevan, touché...

Stream | Buy

[oathdublin]

Now Playing | In Conversation With Kendrick Lamar & Rick Rubin (GQ)

Kendrick Lamar Meets Rick Ruben & They Have An Epic Conversation [GQ]

"We've been told the consumers are dumb, but they're not. They know when its real, they know if they can feel it - that's something I always understood, just being a fan myself. Still today when I look at my certain aspirations in terms of artists, when I look at Em when I look at Jay - I felt the stories they were telling, whether it was fiction or not, these ideas that they would put down made me believe anything and everything they were saying."

Join one of the most diversely decorated producer on the planet [Rick Ruben] and one of Compton's best [Kendrick Lamar] in conversation.

Watch

[oathdublin]

Now Playing | Crate Digging With Ben Thomson (FACT)

Ben UFO - Record Shopping

"I don't think I'll ever exhaust the amount of amazing, interesting and surprising records that have come out of the UK, I barely think I've scratched the surface really"

Join a young Ben UFO inside the storage lockup of an anonymous Discogs seller and dig through the sounds of Plasticman, Moving Shadow, DJ Hell and more.

Watch

[oathdublin]

Now Playing | Dele On His Struggles With Childhood Trauma, Addiction & Sexual Abuse (The Overlap)

Dele "Now Is The Time To Talk [The Overlap]

"I just couldn't, I wanted to deal with it by myself, I didn't feel like opening up to anyone. I had a lot of people try to help me they could see in me I was struggling, I lost myself for a few years. Turning everyone away, not accepting help from anyone, I mean when I have the family that saved my life crying and asking me to tell them what's wrong and I just didn't want to do it, I didn't..."

Hear for the first time how a generational talent overcame his lifelong battles with trauma and substance misuse, as Dele shares his experience with the world.

Watch

[oathdublin]

From The Shelf | 5 Masterpieces From The Electronic Archive Of The Emerald Isle

Ireland, home to some of the greatest electronic musicians on the planet. Here's 5 of my favorite Irish records from the last decade, fresh from the shelf.

New Jackson - The Night Mail

Originally pressed in 2011 on Bodytonics 'POGO Recordings' imprint and later remastered on Mano Le Tough's 'Maeve' label in 2019 - they do not come better than this. Accurately painted as a 'below the radar anthem' by the RANSOM NOTE, 'The Night Mail' is a unique endeavor, unlike anything I have heard since its release.

Driven by rolling arpeggios, droning bass rhythms, and euphoric synth lines, all glued together by a masterfully blended vocal - it is everything you've ever wanted from an electronic record. A testament to the impressively broad catalog of sounds represented by David Kitt's 'New Jackson' moniker.

A record I could never afford on Discogs before its re-issue, but one that now sits contently on my shelf.

Stream | Buy

Kev Sheridan - Losing Someone Is Never Easy [Alone In Berlin EP]

Another beauty from the ever-growing back catalog of Mano Le Tough's 'Maeve' and a record close to my own heart - Kev Sheridan's 'Alone In Berlin EP'.

Snappy snares, lush pads, and melancholic chords - all combine to create this minimal yet emotionally eclectic affair.

It's not often emotion is encapsulated efficiently in a club-driven track, but Kev hit the nail on the head here. Packed with subtle tones of adapting to life abroad and produced at the hands of pure talent.

'Losing Someone Is Never Easy' earned its place on my shelf a long time ago and there it remains.

Stream | Buy

Lee Kelly - Our Place In Time [Excerpts From Layers Of Identity]

Daire Carolan's First Second Label [FSL] has never really failed to disappoint since its conception in 2011, with contributions from a broad array of Irish talents like ELLLL, Sputnik One and Thrust's Glimmerman - but there's just something about Lee Kelly's 'Excerpts From Layers Of Identity' that ticks all the boxes for me.

Mesmerizing strings, low-frequency basslines and underlying arpeggios complete 'Our Place In Time', a track I've had on repeat since it came off the press in 2019.

Stream | Buy

DeFeKT - Split My Mind [Magnetic Resonance]

"Few artists have been as pivotal in Ireland’s electronic evolution of the past decade as DeFeKT" [DJ Mag].

A playful affair with underlying tones of darkness and raw emotion, this EP is something truly special. Written in the midst of Matt's ongoing struggles with MS, this record is an immersive experience, one that allowed me to connect with an unfamiliar world.

'Split My Mind' became an instant dance floor anthem when it hit the shelves in 2019. Pounding kicks, acid basslines, lush arpeggios and mesmerizing pads - all the keys to my heart, served immaculately on a plate of wax.

Here DeFeKT uses his craft as an outlet to contextualize his experience and solidify his reputation as a modular mastermind who never falls short of the mark.

Stream | Buy

Bicep - Glue

There are few tracks in existence I vividly remember hearing for the first time, this will always be one of them. Responsible for nearly 200,000,000 streams on Spotify and now casually disregarded by many as "overplayed" - 'Glue' is an undeniable masterpiece.

Comprised of mellow breakbeats, stuttering synths, harmonic pads and a vocal that will enlighten your soul, this track as much an experience as it is a piece of music [so much so that the live version has become an 8 minute escapade].

Records that have seen the club as much as 'Glue' has are few and far between and armed with memories and beer stains, mine has probably seen the inside of my record bag more than it has my shelf - After all, records were meant to be played...

Stream | Buy

[oathdublin]

Now Playing | The Club That Reunited Berlin (Resident Advisor)

Tresor: A Story Of Survival [RA]

"And by chance, a friend told me about this space, an old power plant in East Berlin. I came in and, pffttt... I was shocked, I was scared, I came up the stairs, there were no gutters, nothing, it was dangerous, it was really dark and cold. But somehow I said wow... the walls started talking to me... This space has so much potential."

As the wall fell and Berlin became one, something special was happening underground. Built on the foundations of human connection and now 32 years after its conception in 1991, Tresor remains one of the most important techno institutions on the planet.

Join Dimitri Hegeman in conversation with Resident Advisor and discover how dancing dissolved the final degree of separation in the Techno capital.

Watch

[oathdublin]

Now Playing | Kieran Hebden On The Art Of Live Performance (Red Bull Music Academy)

Four Tet: Live Set Break-Down & Performance Secrets [RBMA]

"During the set I do lots of tension building, playing with all these elements, holding off for a long time and then suddenly dropping the main element I know people know... People are familiar with it but they're hearing a version that's totally unlike anything from the record."

Learn how a master of his craft utilizes a combination of simple hardware to create and build atmosphere on the fly.

Watch

[oathdublin]

Now Playing | Harry Agius On Finding Himself, Self Confidence & Life On The Road (Resident Advisor)

Between The Beats: Midland. [Resident Advisor]

"Im constantly looking across the crowd, looking at every single person. How are they enjoying it? Am I playing right for them? I think the best moments come when you feel like you're a part of the crowd, you're just as excited to see where it's going to go, even though you're DJing. Those are the gigs, the gigs everyone talks about, the ones where you're almost not picking the music, the music's picking you and it becomes a collaborative process between you and the crowd. That's what we're always striving for - those beautiful moments where it's a blur."

Sit back as one of the greatest talents in the world of DJing uncovers the truth behind his struggles with sexual identity, self-confidence, anxiety and more. An honest insight into the challenges presented by life on the road as a touring DJ.

Watch

[oathdublin]

Now Playing | Steven Bartlett In Conversation With Russell Brand (Diary Of A CEO)

Russell Brand: Escaping A Lifetime Of Anxiety, Addiction & Finding Love. [Diary Of A CEO E260]

"Have you ever felt that subtle feeling that the way you're living is not quite right, that something somewhere is out of balance, that you're not living your life the way that human somewhere inside of you should be living their life... We are all addicts searching for ways to feel less pain through drugs, porn, screens and money, whatever our vices might be, but maybe, just maybe, Russell is right, maybe there is a simple cure for all of us right there in plain sight."

Immerse yourself in the mind of a recovering addict - In my opinion one of the greatest spiritual teachers of modern times. Discover how a spiritual solution can provide the answers we are all looking for.

Listen

[oathdublin]

Off The Record #1 | Grian Chatten 'Chaos For The Fly' (The Kids Got It...)

Welcome to 'Off The Record', a bi-weekly segment focused entirely on bringing you the best new music.

This week saw Grian Chatten's debut solo album 'Chaos For The Fly' hit the shelves. Although this marks his maiden voyage as a solo artist, by now you are likely more than familiar with the iconic voice of the Fontaines D.C's front-man. (For those of you who are not, get listening, you won't regret it... LINK)

This record tells an emotionally diverse tale of heartache, anger, and anxiety. Written on tour after the Fontaines' rapid rise to fame, I found myself connected with a lonely man lost in the chaos that surrounded him, concerned by the cost of living in the fast lane. In an interview with NME, Grian spoke of the struggles he faced whilst adapting to life on the road - a narrative everpresent for the album's duration.

A far cry from the post-punk sounds of the Fontaines D.C. but remaining oh so familiar. Filled with pure poetic beauty, hints of traditional inspiration throughout, and immaculate production at the hands of Dan Carey, Chaos For The Fly is a debut to remember.

My Take: So often we see solo ventures disappoint, but this one made sense. A personal story that needed to be told by Grian alone. I think it's very easy to glamourize the rock n' roll lifestyle, but it certainly comes with its challenges ("Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider, is chaos for the fly"). Chatten used his voice as a creative outlet to share and understand his struggles as a superstar - and that is a thing of beauty. The kid's got it.

Stream | Buy