DMX Krew – 5 Ways 2 Jack

Since the early nineties UK-based electronic producer Ed Upton has amassed an intimidatingly large backcatalogue of material under his DMX Krew alias, one that takes in six albums released for Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label, and that saw him release no less than four albums during 2014 alone. As its title suggests, this latest 12” EP on Super Rhythm Trax ‘5 Ways 2 Jack’ offers up five new tracks that see Upton’s established love of retro analogue electro sounds firmly intact, and come distinctly oriented towards a more gritty dancefloor. On the A-side, ‘Vicious Bleebz’ kicks things off with a streamlined wander through squelchy TB303 bass pads and harsh 4/4 snares that manages to conjure up plenty of darkly robotic vibes as ominous machine-like whirs lurk at the edges of the mix and the 303 tones gradually get modulated into acid squeals.