Australia based label EQ, tap Melbourne’s Nubreed and UK stalwarts King Unique for the second installment of the exciting compilation series, ‘Electric’. Conceived in 2005 as an offshoot to EQ’s world conquering ‘Balance’ series, in hindsight EQ relinquished all control upon handing the reigns to Gavin Keitel.

The intention had been for ‘Electric’ to be a platform, upon which, up and coming DJs could make their debut on the international stage without the label’s commitment to cutting edge, quality underground music wavering in the slightest. The inaugural album by Gavin Keitel fit the bill perfectly, but few could have imagined the full impact this electrically charged super-conductor would have on the series debut. If the intention had been for ‘Electric’ to become EQs ‘quiet achiever’, the culmination of Keitel’s vision and subsequent outpouring of support from all forms of the dance music media quashed this idea. While lacking the international reputation of previous Balance stalwarts such as Chris Fortier, James Holden, Desyn Masiello or Paolo Mojo, Keitel had very effectively put both himself and the ‘Electric’ series on the world stage. This has left EQ with an unenviable, yet by no means unfortunate dilemma. That of ensuring the follow-up would be worthy of being propped upon the building block forged by Keitel’s genre-spanning electro to tech-house to minimal masterpiece.

As would only be expected, EQ have not only taken up the challenge, but, responded with the force of an electrically charged atom. The second in the series won’t disappoint those fans expecting nothing less than cutting edge, underground dance music, delivered by uncompromising compilers. Yet even with this in mind, as always, EQ have ensured a surprise of tantalizing proportions. Firstly, ‘Electric 02’ will be showcased over two CDs, and the involvement has grown from a single DJ on the first ‘Electric’ to a combined total of six artists on ‘Electric 02’, with one being famed illustrator & cartoonist Neil Swaab who has been named as one of the top visual artists in the U.S. by Print Magazine, creating the cover-art.



Keeping the local vibe’s electric current flowing are local heroes Nubreed. While the Melbourne trio’s unwavering commitment to quality can never be questioned, it would be a vast miscalculation to equate tenacity with inadaptability or inflexibility. A far cry from their lauded Y4K breaks compilation of last year, here Nubreed are given the freedom to explore the more house orientated and electro sounds that the band members find equally interesting. And judging by Danny Bonnici’s Ableton assisted DJ sets in recent times the results will be nothing short of breathtaking.



The second CD is an equally exciting prospect, with dons of the decks’n’fx DJ sets, duo King Unique (Matthew Roberts & Matt Thomas) to be ‘Electric’s first international ambassador. Whether it be their own productions, remixes or radio sets, no small part in their rise to prominence is due to one high quality project after another. Unique in more than just name, their sets take the more highly publicized Ableton Live accompanied sets of Sasha to a whole new level. Having always used samplers, laptops and effects since King Unique’s inception in 2001, today at least half their sets are made up of mash-ups and re-edits done in the studio, incorporating Ableton Live. While Matthew Roberts mixes these mash-ups off CDs, Matt Thomas uses Ableton to play FX, big whooshy sci-fi noises, vocals and stuttery-robo sounds over the top. Then the whole mix goes through a Pioneer EFX unit for further treatment. The result is likely to be Electric.

Electric_02 Album Release Parties - King Unique U.S. Debut!

October 19th BOSTON, MA @ I/D (15 Lansdowne St.) featuring King Unique
October 20th NEW YORK, NY @ Motion at Duvet (45 W 21st St) featuring King Unique www.eastsideproductions.net


www.stomp.com.au
www.kingunique.com

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DANCE LOCAL THINK GLOBAL
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