Review: Planet Mu Round-Up - INVERTED AUDIO

Its safe to say that Planet Mu have been killing it this year with their releases. We've had awesome full lengths from Falty DL, Boxcutter and Few Nolder. We've also been blessed with some amazing singles from the likes of Pinch, Gemmy, Starkey, Floating Points, Brackles and Terror Danjah and to top it all off we've recently had a new Mary Anne-Hobbs compilation (IA will run an in depth review of this in the coming week). We're now in September and it doesn't look like they plan on slowing down as we reach the end of the year. So here's a head's up of some of our favourite releases coming your way very shortly.

First up, there's a new EP entitled Bravery from New York based producer, Falty DL. Picking up from where his brilliant debut album, Love is a Liability, left off these 8 tracks, some written as recently as 3 months ago, take us further into the mind of Drew Lustman. One of the first things that one notices when listening to this is that these cuts feel rawer and less comforting than tunes such as "To London" or "Human Meadow". The beats have a tendency to swing so much that sometimes they come close to falling apart all together, the title track and "Made Me Feel So Right" being perfect examples of this. However, there is also a precise element of control exercised in these tunes: even though they feel that they could fall apart at any moment they always manage to hold themselves together. It is the thing that I love most about this EP: the tunes feel completely unforced allowing the emotions conveyed to be completely believable. Highlights are "Made Me Feel So Right", which successfully taps into the same haunting feeling that Burial is most famous for, the squashed funk of "Discant" and the swinging, yet melancholic garage of "Bravery". I'm still yet to decide whether I prefer this or his album but, to be honest, it doesn't really matter because its a fantastic EP that comes very very highly recommended.

Next, we have a great single from Burnkane, a Scottish producer that I actually know very little about but these two tracks are truly something else. Think Flying Lotus and Burial fucking R'n'B whilst Arthur Russell watches. First tune, "You Know", combines inventive live instrument experimentation with melancholic auto-tune vocals and heavily processed woodblock percussion all sitting below warm ambient textures. The thing that I like most about this track is that it has great pop sensibility and, as a result, is very catchy. "You Will Forget", on the flip, is slightly more tounge-in-cheek. Based around a broken dancehall rhythm, this tune takes the whole auto-tune R'n'B thing and fucks with it. Still present though, are the lo-fi textures and mournful keys. Its a party tune for the downcast. My only complaint, though, is that, perhaps, it could do without the slightly redundant and cheesy male rap vocals that feature in the mid-section but that's just a matter of opinion. These two tracks wear their influences proudly on their sleeves but still have enough originality to sound like nothing that we've really heard all year. The success lies in the blending of a range of styles in order to create a new, fresh one. Brilliant.

Finally, we have an utterly sick collaboration called "Solidify" between female producer Subeena, Sa-Ra's Om'Mas Keith and the wonderful Jamie Woon. It's been far too long since we've heard any track with his voice on it and this tune is definately one for those who thought highly of Burial's remix of Woon's cover of "Wayfaring Stranger". Subeena's relatively sparse production suits his voice perfectly. Shimmering keys swirl around the vocal line which is underpinned by warm subs and great, mechanical sounding delayed percussion. Maybe it is just my ignorance but I'm finding it hard to tell what part Om'Mas Keith plays in the tune. Maybe he provides some backing vocals, but if not, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he lent some of his talents to the production. The B side is given over to Subeena and it allows her production skills to shine through. "Analyse" brings down the tempo and takes the listener on a four minute journey through synthesiser heaven. It begins slowly with the same keys sound that make "Solidify" so successful and gradually builds into a cresendo of string pads and 808's, sounding not unlike early Aphex Twin or 80's synth-led pop. I can imagine that this would sit perfectly in a set played around the day-break hours and, combined with "Solidify", this 12" is fantastically rich and well worth your full attention.

In brief, there are also releases from Brackles, Ikonika and Eskmo coming your way very shortly on Planet Mu but these should be enough to satisfy anyone who is feeling slightly jaded about the current state of dance music. Dig a little deeper this week and fork out for these great three records.