In Strict Tempo, vol. 108: Round Up
A little roundup of bits this week, with Spotify especially being busy, launching their new Song DNA feature which uses “AI” to provide some additional context and information around the songs. So far this just seems to be scraping information off record company websites and the WhoSampled database (which Spotify bought last year). Is it a useful innovation? Potentially, although it seems like a bit of a lazy roll-out just getting AI to do the work. A properly curated selection of ‘sleeve notes’ on key releases however… that could be good.
Spotify have also announced this week that one of the ways they’re looking at combating streaming fraud is by allowing certain artists to ‘lock’ their profiles, and not allow new releases to go live without approval. Sounds good in theory, but with my label hat on I can only imagine the fuckery when an artist forgets to approve a track in time for release date… It seems Spotify have thought of that too, though, and will allow artists to grant labels/distros a ‘key’ that gives them pre-approval
RA have dropped a few interesting articles this past week, a look at songs named after clubs, which wasn’t really that great if I’m honest, and almost certainly prompted by someone listening to that Rosalia tune on repeat in the office, and a rundown of early electroclash, that was much better. They cut off the electroclash article at 2001, which was probably when it just started to really get as close as it could be to the mainstream. There’s still some incredible tunes in it though, hearing La Rock at Berghain will forever be one of my favourite clubbing memories. It prompted me to go back to that sensational Miss Kittin Live At Sonar 2005 album, show me a better run of tracks committed to CD than the Windowlicker-Dexter-The Difference It Makes section and I’ll show you a liar… Finally they’ve just published an oral history of Corsica Studios, which I haven’t read yet but am very much looking forward to reading. You can find my tribute the the Elephant nightclub here.
In Strict Tempo Book Club: I’ve just read Mark Ronson’s memoirs. Maybe not the typical artist covered on In Strict Tempo, but the book doesn’t really go into his time as a superstar producer/DJ, ending with him producing that Nikka Costa album at the start of the Millennium. No mention of Amy Winehouse, Ooh Wee or Uptown bloody Funk (a tune I absolutely cannot stand and would wipe from history given the chance). The story starts as Ronson, moves to New York as a teenager, learning to DJ and making his way in the cities club scene. One thing that does come through, is not only that is Ronson very aware of his privileged upbringing and the optics of white kids playing hip-hop to Black audiences, but also that he seems a genuine music nerd, with the knowledge to match his DJ chops. It’s pretty name-droppy in places, as you’d expect, but it’s an interesting enough read nonetheless.
Plus, if you missed it a couple of weeks ago, I uploaded a new Ceremony mix that’s well worth a listen.
New Music
DJ Gonz - Magical Negro Overdrive [SELN]
SELN co-founder DJ Gonz brings the highest levels of energy possible on his debut album, ticking off loads of boxes here, from BEB to Actress to Mika Vainio and everything in-between
Untold - HEK036 [Hemlock]
Bandcamp only for now, streaming fans, I’ll revisit the full release when it makes it way to DSPs. Untold drops two new tracks on his Hemlock label previewing a full EP in a couple of weeks. Prince Ruperts Drop is a slice of prime Untold, a roller in every sense of the word. It’s Not My Fault But It Is My Problem dials up the kicks and can only really be described as “chunky”. Looking forward to getting my ears round the rest of this.
Shed - Applications II EP [Illian Tape]
Did I have new Shed on my 2026 bingo card? Probably not, but I’m glad someone out there did. Typically progressive techno joints from the main man. Not on Spotify I’m afraid.
Mammo - Lateral [Short Span]
Yu Su - Foundry [Short Span]
Two new ones here from the label that can do no wrong. The Mammo album floats and meanders through an ever expanding space, crossing all aspects of the percussive spectrum, whilst the Yu Su album, of which only a couple of tracks are available at the moment, is quite simply one of the best things you’ll hear all year, with a stellar cast of collaborators including Dip In The Pool, Memotone and Seefeel. Can’t TIP! this one enough.
Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Intro (25th Anniversary Mixes) [Smugglers Way]
Let’s face it, one of the most influential dance records of all time, and cornerstone of the whole ‘French touch’ movement. Anyway, both artists have remixed it fresh for ’26, neither of the new mixes really adding much to the OG, but it’s always nice to hear a new take on an old classic
Underworld - Kittens (r31_for2026) [Self-Released]
Speaking of which… As part of Underworld’s 2026 live shows (ultimately for the 30th anniversary of Born Slippy.NUXX) they’ve been playing in two parts, culminating with a second half of frantic, 150mph techno, including some edits and updates of old favourites. This is one of them, which they’ve been playing to close out the first part of recent shows, a Beaucoup Fish era staple given an update for a new era.
