mall grab helmed steel city dance discs is back for volume 8, featuring three club tools from rising producer salary boy.

* there is a way* opens with a soiree of shuffling percussion, which drives it forward throughout. the tune holds its nerve and refuses to cash in, constantly bubbling and building as layer upon layer unfolds almost to breaking point. an exhilarating statement of intent. never looking back. side a comes to a close with * tricks*. it confidently boasts a heavy hitting kick drum, set to shake speakers and alter heartbeats. a relentlessly positive guitar sample and buoyant bassline set the mood of a lively cut, which builds to a pay-off that brims with shimmering brass and crisp hats. a sunshine filled stormer, sure to get even the most cynical city worker moving. drums, drums, drums. as * mistakes* begins we’re swept away by salary boy’s effortless command of groove, before a booming bassline snatches back at our attention. “everyone makes mistakes” is the refrain from the vocal sample. i’d usually agree but our hard hustling, hi-hat wielding hero hasn’t put a foot wrong so far. an evocative piano loop anchors ‘cry’, a tune made to define the early hours. equally adept at touching the heart, as it is at moving the feet. endings are important, and this is as strong as they come.

exzellente compilation mit den jahreslieblingen der britischen rough trade-shops. trotz der pandemie und weiterer herausforderungen bescherte uns das jahr 2020 fantastische, neue musik (oftmals politisch), die hilft, das leben etwas erträglicher zu machen. eine spezielle ehrung het an andrew weatherall, der seit den späten 80ern stets freund und inspiration für die gesamte rough trade-crew war. featuring andrew weatherall, jane weaver, the avalanches, jeffrey lewis, viagra boys, bob vylan, soccer96, bright eyes, jockstrap, dry cleaning, u.v.a. 20-track-doppel-lp.

incl. tuccillo and fred p !