Five For The Funk: LWE Summer In The City

Photo: Dinky

With it now just being a few days away from LWE's summer return to the Tobacco Dock (read all about it here), we check out five of the top acts gracing the London venue and run through their latest releases.

With all artists having an immense pedigree thanks to enjoying many years in the business, we thought it would be good to catch up with their very latest sounds, giving an inkling as to what we're likely to witness from each of their respective sets on the night. 

Groove Armada & Brodanse - Advancing Man

With Groove Armada successfully mastering everything from super chilled lounge music to ragga-infused bass heavy house, their latest release with Brodanse on his Danse Club Warehouse imprint sees the two electronic pioneers go full throttle into the realms of tech-flavoured house.

The spooky vocal hooks giving way to a rigorous bass line, with a pervasive spoken word motif that whirls around the record. 'Advancing Man' plays as a pure and unadulterated peak time house banger, as it rolls and ducks with definite nods to classic house, dressed up in ultra modern production skills. 

Dinky - Xanex

After Seth Troxler championed 'Fallen Angel' everywhere in 2013, Dinky was under a fair bit of pressure to follow it up with something equally as impressive. Thankfully, her creativity and experience combined beautifully on the super trippy 'Xanex' that landed near the beginning of the year.

It's ethereal, detached quality strengthened with whispering vocals, strange fleeting edits and even guitar licks sounds like Portishead translation of tech house, with an infectious, off kilter pop hook that endears itself to you the more you immerse yourself in it (fans of this bugged out sound definitely need to check out her Dimension D LP). Her Tobacco Dock set promises to be equally as mesmerising.

Anja Schneider - Revolution

The Mobilee boss lady's latest extended player is full of quality moments. 'Revolution' in particular though is a surefire club killer (read our recent interview with her here).

Alien vocals collide with a powerful drum kick and glittering arpeggios lilt around the track as it builds and builds throughout its near nine minute duration, as her deft production skills and carefully judged layering come together to create a real dance floor tool to get the masses whipped up.

Damian Lazarus & Ancient Moons - Lover's Eyes

Damian Lazarus isn't a man to stand still or get stuck into a rut (watch his interview with LWE here). This absolute belter from the Crosstown Rebel himself sees him team up with Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford and for a full on flavour of subcontinent raving.

The exciting inclusion of Pakistani Qawwali singers Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad and Hamza Akram is certainly an original step, as Lazarus explores themes based on "deserts, jungles and sunrises."

The track builds from bare techno beats and exposed chanting to gradually fade in wicked atmospherics and increasingly frenetic Qawwali drumming as it meanders its way to a rabble-rousing conclusion. Take it from us, Damian Lazarus has put together one of the scene's most original records in a while, and boy does this work in the club.  

DJ Sneak & Murk - To The Bassline

The all conquering House Gangster earlier this month dropped a smoking hot, club primed one sided 12" that is almost certain to find its way into his set at Summer In The City. It follows DJ Sneak's favourite themes of upfront jacking beats and uplifting soulful vibes, combining it with an infectious bouncing bass line and a wash of authentic vocal samples.

'To The Bassline' leaks in the G's usual blend of sampled frenetic hi-hats and classic Chicago flavours, whilst giving plenty of room for the vocals to really do the business. In short, yet another beast from the Chi-town house master. Want more Sneak? We recently chatted to him about BBQing...  

Grab your LWE: Summer In The City tickets here

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