Title: Sounds Of The Durban Underground
Artist: Various
Producer: Various - mastered by Nux Schwartz
Studio: Sonic Studios
Label: Sheet Music

Born out of frustration with an industry more interested in the new Britney single than a whole underground scene happening right under it's nose, Sheet design collective have put together a collection of Durban electronica by 12 virtually unheard of artists. Moving from trip hop to within sight of house, this is really an amazingly chilled and interesting release that while not commercially available should serve as a fat wake-up call to all and sundry. Felix La Band is probably the most recognizable name on here and his two tracks I really dig for there offbeat, double bass infectiousness (see 'IT' review). Toine Scholtz is well known in dj circles as are Kevin and Myles (Mea Kulpah) from their sets at 206 - both deliver up polished beats, one trippy, one kwaitofunkygarage like. dN (Dean Henning) appeals to me along his slightly more experimental lines like Felix does. Sivrat has also locked into a beautiful space - simple, down like early St. Germain. Stephen Anderson is pretty out their - almost industrial, but not as predictable. Others don't appeal to me as much because of the way they tend to lean, but are still quality productions. Roll on Vol. 2.

 

Bignity van der Want / Letcher
Sondebok Battery 9
Infinite Coastline Niklas Zimmer / James Webb
4/4 Down The Stairs Felix Laband
Perd Oor Die Maan Laurinda Hofmeyr
Afrocentric Jimmy Dludlu
'n Vis Innie Bos Anton Goosen
Serious Peaceful Crime Unit Jedi Rollers
The Summer Eye Black Milk
Sounds of the Durban Underground Various
Snowflake Zen Arcade
The Moon is a Spoon Sunways
Memoirs of a Clone Watkin Tudor Jones Jnr.
Conference Niklas Zimmer
Mondmusiek Breyten Breytenbach
Clear Dreamshop
IT Various
Steady On Mood Phase 5ive
Delenta Delenta
In The Meantime Watershed
Faith in Love Coleske
Torn & Tattered Henry Ate
Butterfly Peepl Qzoo
Grannysmith Grannysmith
Myrtleville APE
Gathering Marcus Wyatt
Moment of Truth Africa O'Ye
Never Ever Ever.. Wonderboom
6 Faces of Dr Kwela Kwela Tebza
A Life Less Strange Semisane
Kwaai - Ragga Earthquake
Seed Tananas
Clear Lesley Rae Dowling
Matabele Ants Tony Cox
Mulp Plum
63 Tree
Ohm Ohm
Addictive Personalities The Original Evergreen
Jan Skopgraaf Piet Botha
The Urgency of Now Fruit Fly Navigators
Jou Medemens is Dood The Buckfever Underground
Tranquillity Gloria Bosman
Land of no Cadellacs Famous Curtain Trick

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