Forget your preening, coke-addled clichés, Uzuri show how house music should be. Solid, dubby and heartfelt, last year’s ‘Back In the Days’ by IFM was a breath of fresh air that blew away the cobwebs of an overcooked and vacuous norm. Highlight ‘Miles’ delineated pitched-down techno a la Red Shape, proving that faster isn’t always fatter; the meaningful, weather beaten sound had further parallels in A Made Up Sound’s grubby ‘Archive’ release on the Clone Basement Series.
Founded in 2007 by Lerato Khathi in London, Uzuri’s aim is “to release quality underground house, techno and beyond, taking in influences from Chicago, New York, London, Detroit and Soweto, but always with an eye firmly on the future.” Latest 12”, the ‘Wolfgang Hair EP’ from Chicago Skyway, harks back to the jittery syncopation, square bass and plaintive synths of prime Artificial Intelligence techno, until the ferocious ‘Acid Master’ rounds matters off.
Past form includes deep electronica and the tender burnished soul of the untouchable Move D; as Lerato says, “The label’s number one concern is quality and non linearity.” Amen to that.
Uzuri Essentials
IFM – Back In The Days EP
Move D – Quit Quittin’
Anton Zap – Outside EP
