PREMIERE: A1 – Michael James – Reflection [Hoary]

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Hoary reach their tenth release and celebrate with their 3rd consecutive VA. Brain child of iO Mulen and one of his many labels, Hoary acts out as a sub-label to Hoarder. Dedicated to blooding rising talent: including artists like Jake Flory, Nolga and Sota. Saying that, Michael James is absolutely no stranger to the game. Four years since his emergence, the Zoo Project founder finds himself in total demand. Evolving onto the scene with frequent appearances on Burnski’s Constant Sound label. It wasn’t long before James caught the eye of iO, lighting the torch with The Summit EP on mulen records. Into 2020, James levelled up with his Fat Earth EP on Infuse. Subsequently maxing out in the summer with his Weird Things collab EP with Enzo on FUSE. Ending the year with another collab EP with Burnski under their ‘Relic’ moniker for CB017; before signing off a productive year in style with his crazy Radar EP on S.A.S.H.

iO explained his admiration for Michael James in a recent interview with Trommel:

‘I found Michael and his release “10101” on Constant Black once and thought, that he’s very close to me because of his swing and groovy sounds. On some of his tracks, you can do a pitchdown and it will be something very similar to trip-hop. We have a similar approach to production, must say. Also – he’s a man of a smile! First time I saw it in 2018, at DC-10. It was irresistible, like that party at DC-10. In 2019 we knew each other much better, after our sets on “S.A.S.H. Queens Birthday Long” at Sydney, where he assured me that that smile was branded (laughs).

Interview Link

Michael James leads the charge for HOARY10 and take’s A1 with his peak time weapon, ‘Reflections’. His trippy, driving beats are totally recognisable by now and they’re as sharp as ever in this one. Spear-headed with a fierce bass that charges like a renegade, and re-inforced with some tricky melodies that float between a wall of eclectic tones. Unsung heroes Birdsmakingmachine occupy A2 and they’re causing chaos with ‘Requiem Mafriendo’. A cunning, dubbed-out slice of warehouse techno that goes all-out-attack with some sharp-edge percussion and merky bass.

On the flip-side, enter Matpri. Who himself makes a return to the iO fold after a solo release on Hoarder with the Zdraste EP. B1 ‘Rassol’ is another minimal masterclass from the Russian artist in crafting shape-shifting rhythms. Matpri opts this time to endear the track down an uplifting direction, with some lofty synths that create a sentimental feeling.

Completing the EP on B2 is rising Welsh artist, Adam Nahalewicz. Announcing himself onto the scene with debut releases on Floorpiece and Distinct, he was then picked up by Burnski to feature the Quiver EP on ‘Aesthetic’. Clear indications of a producer who has set his sights on the artistic corners of the sound, and it was enough to convince iO to recruit his talents. ‘Moocher’ is definitely his strongest track to date and formulates another dark and mysterious, peak-time bouncer. Injected with some smoky, whirling tones into the top-end to to intensify the atmosphere and ignite some dance-floor motions.

Full premiere of ‘Reflections’ by Michael James below:

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