#5: May Mixes & Brooklyn Bass
A dive into the swampy Brooklyn proto-bass scene and some May releases.
Checking in a bit behind schedule with a sampling of standout mixes from the few months and some standout releases from May.
I wanted to shine a spotlight specifically on a sound bubbling about brooklyn lately. It’s hard to describe in words but in essence it’s defined by overwhelming sub bass pressure, an underwater fluidity, a deep swampiness, and a disregard or conscientious departure from the high octane post pandemic rave sound.
The sound seems to have found a recent home at The End, a Bushwick bar/club that’s seen extensive remodeling from it’s previous life as Heaven or Las Vegas.
It can be found at some of the city’s big clubs like Nowadays or Public Records but more notably at more DIY parties like:
Tower (a party by upcoming Bass n Drum label Framework)
and some I’m sure I’m missing…
and Groovy Groovy (sometimes)
Brooklyn Proto Bass Mix highlights
Distant Signals 042: como se DJ
Paul has burst onto the Brooklyn scene like no other with just over a year DJing he can regularly be found gracing Basement’s Studio with epic closing sets (like this one he just posted). This mix is a conceptual transmission from a distant planet accompanied by a vivid short story by Paul in the description.
Daisychain 318 - Eva Loveless
A sampling of percussion forward bass experimentation.
DJ DEADNAME - LIVE @ PERMISSION: DEFROSTED // Dec. 15, 2023
The TOWER/Framework cofounder has brought fresh perspective to Brooklyn’s bass music scene regularly organizing sonic excursions into the low end while whipping together disparate genres and textures as a DJ.
the mush room @ The Lot Radio 01-05-2024
A mix that lives up to its name, trudging along through aqueous sub sludge. See also this set from the first iteration of his new party, Ballet, for a more ambient, downtempo, experimental quest aiming to “exemplify the delicately shrouded callous composition of dance.”
This post got some traction so I made a playlist of these mixes that I’m going to continue working to fill with other brooklyn bass divas over time.
— Outside of Brooklyn —
Special Guest DJ - friday the 13♱h / ani/live from Dissident Berlin
Shy and co (Pontiac Streator, Ben Bondy, the 3XL extended family, etc) are constantly pushing the boundaries of bass music and this Friday the 13th mix exemplifies this dexterity brilliantly featuring tracks from k wata, kercha, henzo, and other bass bin shakers. The more recent ani/live mix exemplifies the sound in a club setting.
kinetic mix 027: Ikävä Pii
A high energy hour of weird swampy sounds, eery melodies & intricate detail, put together with so much love and care it feels like one full track. Shoutout kinetic <3
Recognise: re:ni
A steady rumbling with an intoxicating wobble across the uk bass spectrum.
– Other Mixes –
Club Rooted - Matthew Kent
@blowinguptheworkshop don Matthew Kent returns and he's conjured the ghost of dubstep for this iteration of the Club Rooted podcast, a series dedicated to non-floor focused club music.
Portrait 005: Ema
I found this mix of “Non-stop floor crumblers laced with organic textures, rip-down-the-wallpaper rhythms, and sauntering daydream melodies” on the recent must-read RA Breaking Through profile of Ema. It’s a long way from her sound today comprised mostly of acid, breaks and electro all mixed exquisitely.
Delayed with... Villella
A hazy journey from Truants head Riccardo Villella. Their mix series Truancy is a trove of great mixes like the recent Truancy Session by Babypufff.
– Other Sounds –
Calling out a few standout electronic May releases here so that the month end NL isn’t so long.
For anyone new here, every month I write about releases and mixes across every genre that standout to me. Check out last month’s below and if you haven’t listened to the new Cindy Lee album - do it.
Martyn - Through Lines [3024]
A collection of hand picked tracks by genre nomad and bass innovator Martyn, made between 2005 and 2015, remastered for vinyl and digital release on 3024. A document of an era of UK inspired dance music where ideas, genres, tempos and scenes seemed to rapidly merge and splinter off.
CPSL X XANDR.VASILIEV - Suspiria [Detroit Underground]
An emotional and complex landscape where beauty and chaos coexist and amen breaks dominate. Each break is a complex beast, simultaneously chaotic and meticulously crafted. The darkness is not just a lack of light — it’s a palpable presence, filled with complex soundscapes that shift like shadows
Entrañas x Zunfo - Tres Cruces
Tres Cruces explores the connection between dubstep, dembow, dancehall, and jungle. Crafted in 2023 between the cities of Denver and Quito, this release showcases the artists’ global influences and their passion for UK club music.
OSSX - STILL UNSLAPPED EP
OSSX are incapable of missing and that’s a fact. Tap in for junglish Ashanti edits.
Manami - Dreaming Still
This EP depicts an abstract tale of two contrasting worlds, unfurling a whirlwind of eclectic sub-heavy dance styles ascending in hardcore drive and club-focused sound design. Put simply — technicolour breaks-phoria.
SEL.6 - DESIRE VI
Breakneck bass and breaks with instrumental flourishes out of Miami,
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NYC Concerts in the Next Two Months
Thu, May 23 - serpentwithfeet @ Warsaw
Sat, May 25 - MIKE & Tony Seltzer @ Webster Hall
Tue, May 29 - Chanel.Beads and Mount Kimble @ Webster Hall
Fri, May 31 - Anastasia Coope @Baby's All Right
Fri, May 31 - Black Marble / Desire / Johnny Jewel @ Knockdown Center
Sun, Jun 2 & 3 - Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes @ Public Records
Tue, Jun 4 - Of Montreal & Godcaster @Elsewhere
Thu, Jun 6 - Akusmi + Christopher Tignor @ Public Records
Thu, Jun 6 - Snarls @Elsewhere
Fri, Jun 7 - Machinedrum @ Market Hotel
Sat, Jun 8 - The Menzingers / Lucero / Dirty Nil @ White Eagle Music Hall
Sat, Jun 8 - Arushi Jain @ National Sawdust
Sun, Jun 9 - The Antlers & Okkervil River @bowery ballroom
Mon, Jun 10 - English Teacher @ Bowery Ballroom
Tue, Jun 11 - Nourished By Time @ Bowery Ballroom
Tue, Jun 11 - Charli XCX @ Knockdown Center
Fri, Jun 14 - Bendik Giske w/ Concrete Husband @ Public Records
Fri, Jun 14 - Protomartyr @ Warsaw
Jun 14-16 - Dripping Fest
Sat, Jun 15 - Liturgy @ Le Poisson Rouge
Tue, Jun 18 - Juana Molina @Public Records
Fri, Jun 21 - Wilco / Cut Worms @ Beacon Theatre
Sat, Jun 22 - ML Buch @ Elsewhere Zone One [sold out]
Sat, Jun 22 - Hannah Frances @ Public Records
Wed, Jun 26 - Horse Lords @ Le Poisson Rouge
Wed, Jun 26 - Whitney Johnson and Lia Kohl + More Eaze @ Public Records
Thu, Jun 27 - Ethel Cain @ Central Park Summer Stage
Tue, Jul 2 - Hiatus Kaiyote @ Brooklyn Paramount
Thu, Jul 11 - Cassandra Jenkins @ Public Records
Tue, Jul 16 - Snooper @elsewhwere
Wed, Jul 17 - Cola @ Bowery Ballroom
Mon, Jul 22 - Hana Vu @bowery Ballroom
Wed, Jul 24 - Medhane + Kahlil Blu @public records
Sat, Aug 3 - The Body & Dis Fig w/ Cel Genesis @ Le Poisson Rouge
Wed, Aug 7 - DIIV @ Brooklyn Paramount
Fri, Aug 9 - Tirzah, Loraine James, Purelink @Knockdown Center
thanks for the kinetic shoutout <33