ALWAYS EVERYTHING

12”S YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

3. Kowton - Basic Music Knowledge/Hunger

Idle Hands

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From its HQ in Rooted Records (quite possibly the best bass music repository in the country) Idle Hands is slowly but surely bringing attention to the diverse outskirts of Bristol’s incredibly fertile music scene. Launching with an excellent Peverelist white label, and following that up with a showcase of brilliant dancehall/soca/funky heads Atki2 and Dub Boy, Idle Hands has shown an outstanding ear for quality in just a few short releases. For their next trick Idle Hands pulled from a niche rarely associated with Bristol’s rich history of soundsystem culture, calling upon the ever excellent Kowton (formally Narcossist).

Kowton’s modus operandi is slug-slow house and techno; but this isn’t some cheery Wolf + Lamb groove train. Kowton’s productions can be claustrophobic, dystopian.. one might even say post apocalyptic (if you’ll excuse the hyperbole). Basic Music Knowledge is built upon a dislocated UK garage beat, drained of its blood and torn from its bpm. Slices of diva vocals flit in and out of the radio static, strikingly sparse and juxtaposed alongside cavernous bass depth. The only thing that seems to have survived intact is a walking bassline that’s almost too cheerful, the clash adding another layer of pathos. Fans of Actress’ hypnagogic re-imaginings of house and garage inquire within, although the vibe is far, far darker. Hunger doesn’t let up the mood, a mesmerising, minimal 2-step decelerated beyond recognition. Taking familiar beat patterns to unknown tempos has a weirdly hypnotic effect; similar to playing 45s at 33rpm, every inch of the rhythmic interplay is laid bare. A slow burning affair for the post-club negative space.

Expect many more words about Idle Hands on Always Everything, incredibly exciting plans are afoot for the label, as well as an increasingly fecund Bristol techno scene.

Next: Bok Bok - Dance Report