Applebottom – All Nite

Label: Madtech

The unstoppable rise of Bristol’s dance scene shows no sign of abating, as fresh teenage producer Applebottom (aka Joe Arthur) steps up to the plate for Kerri Chandler’s on-point Madtech imprint. The city's dance output over the last few years has betrayed a preference for big, ear-shattering bass workouts to steady 4/4s; somewhere on the threshold of the house, garage and bass music scenes. Applebottom's muscular release is no different. Here the young producer seamlessly incorporates disparate styles and references to create a storming pair of dance tunes that are sure to stand out in any set.

These soulful tunes reflect the recent trend towards big 90s sounds without ever sounding less than cutting edge 2013 material. A-side All Nite kicks off with twitching percussive accents and deep kicks crunching under lucid garage-style vocal chops. Around the two-minute mark descending chords introduce a weighty bass drop, accompanied by tough kicks and some deftly applied diva vocals which round up a hefty package. Arthur doesn’t turn down the power for tough B-side Turn On The Faith, which wastes no time starting out with a hefty 4/4, jukey rhythms and a cut-up ghettotech vocal line whose start-stop rhythm is complemented by some powerful synth stabs that add a touch of colour without ever softening this tune's edges. 

Applebottom achieves a remarkably mature sound for a talent so new: each track is structurally complex with an impressive and exciting range of powerful layers, but neither feels over-crowded for a second. Instead we're left with what are perhaps this year's first club-knockouts, and another jewel in the crown for both Bristol's house scene and Chandler's Madtech Records.

8/10