Are you familiar with Callisto? Or DKMA? What about short-lived Strictly Rhythm project Boston Boyz? Like too many of the great pioneers of US house music, in his all-too short lifetime Dana Kelley flew a little under the radar in terms of international recognition, but his musical legacy is monumental. He sadly passed away in 2013. Over the past couple of years we’ve been given a second chance to appreciate his distinctive, oh-so legit strain of deep house thanks to a trio of extensive Callisto compilations on the specially revived Guidance, and now we’re taken deeper into Kelley’s catalogue with a first volume of his works as DKMA. The quality just doesn’t let up, and there’s even some unearthed DAT gear sanctioned for use by Kelley’s family, all co-ordinated and put together by the Above Board distro team (headed up by Going Good main-man Brian Not Brian, no less).
StabUdown Productions are BACK
14-02-2022
Cleveland’s finest dropping some ruffcut box jams with more than a whiff of late 80s Detroit machine funk. Peaches In The Dungeon – six tracks of pure heat, with a stunning sleeve by Mark Dancey.
Okuda Hiroko
02-02-2022
The Casio Employee Behind the “Sleng Teng” Riddim that Revolutionized Reggae
The “Sleng Teng” riddim revolutionized reggae music in the mid-1980s, and has spawned hundreds of versions in the decades since then. Less well known is the story of how the distinctive bassline originated in a preset sample included on a Casio electronic keyboard and the work of a young developer fresh out of college.
We’ve been clocking the excellent music on XCPT out of Matera, Southern Italy, for a little while now – check the Sativa Club 12″ from last year if you haven’t already – but this new one deserves an extra shout out. There’s not much out there about who or what Butu Yard is (“Jonic coast soundboys collective” anyone?) but the strength of this new single can’t be messed with. Heavyweight dreadstep vibes on the A with a mighty MC spot (alas, without a specific name credit), while the flip offers up a drumfunk depth charge from the aforementioned Sativa Club. Both sides absolutely killer, don’t sleep on this one.
