Welcome to the tenth edition of All Gus No Fuss. I took a bit of a hiatus last month, was a little busy and no music particularly motivated me to sit down and write about. Sitting here at the tenth edition of this dialogue of mine feels like a small but important milestone. Thanks to anyone whose reading this or read any of the prior editions.

In this month’s All Gus No Fuss I have explained a little more as to why Coymix is a label I am so excited about with Guy Contact featuring for their third release, as well as detailing a second killer IWD compilation by Radiant Love.

COY003 – Guy Contact – Coymix

Coymix are a label doing some wicked things and Guy Contact is the artist to feature for their third release. The quantity and quality of electronic music coming from Australia is constantly blowing my mind. Callum Chute has made an immediate impact with releases on both Butter Sessions and Bitterfield. His outing here with Coymix feels the most refined and raw of any of his releases so far. 

‘Maya Bay’ opens slowly. Named to perfection, this steady acid head turner would perfectly accompany a tucked away festival within the stunning supply of islands in Thailand. It is a tune which would have been loved by the dear Andrew Wheatherall, with weight but at a comfortable cruising speed.

Subterano is an Australian psychological horror film with a rating of 22% on Rotten Tomatoes. I have never seen a score for a film on that site be so low, I am glad to say however that Chute’s track titled ‘Subterano’ I would give a score much higher than 22%. It has a beautiful and subtle but heavy groove. 

“Sounds Of The Echosystem” begins the B side. A little quicker than the first two tracks it picks up the pace of the whole record. Its intricacies and elements are addictive and happy.  ‘Cool Blue Liquid’ concludes the record. Described as the ‘maximus mix’ it feels like an accumulation of all the effective elements of the first three tracks. The entire record has mastered a light and sensitive way of presenting heavier house elements. Perfect for both peak time and after hours, Guys Contact’s third vinyl release is my favorite so far and an exciting experience I hope to hear come summertime in more accepting surroundings than my family home. 

https://inchbyinchdistribution.bandcamp.com/album/coy003

Radiant Love IWD Comp 2 – Various Artists – Radiant Love

Last year one of my favourite labels released a compilation to celebrate International Women’s Day and it was incredible. Radiant Love put out a compilation which was thirteen tracks long, varying in mood, tempo and atmosphere. It featured some wonderful contributors and when I saw the label announced they would follow this compilation on with a second I was very excited. 

After chatting with some friends and acquaintances involved within the dance music space it became apparent that much of the hype and hysteria surrounding an event such as IWD is false. Many labels, parties and festivals meaninglessly posting about how they want a more equal and diverse scene, only to share the lineup for their summer festival and it only including two women within another twenty men. 

It has brought me immense frustration seeing established labels, parties and festivals doing the bare minimum to try and spread awareness and enact actual change, when smaller scale labels such as Radiant Love do so much. All the proceeds from this compilation have gone directly to charities working with queer people of colour, refugees and trans sex workers in Berlin.

In the grand scheme of things brilliant little compilations such as these help to solve the problems involved gender inequality within the music industry but without genuine change and activism for more financially successful institutions, real change seems a long way off. 

Without getting too deep into the weeds of the viscous sexism still rife in the music industry, I will move on to discuss this coolly calm but furious compilation. Maara opens the affair with a synth driven and deep melody. A subtle but broken beat enters the fray alongside an aquatic and acidic mood. Rudolf C has been awfully busy in the past year, plenty of warming house records across a variety of labels. His contribution here is emotive and a little darker than his previous productions.

Third track of the compilation ‘Mycelium’ by Lawrence Lee is absolutely astounding. From one angle it feels inherently electro based, with a booming kick and robotic tone. Within its fringes however it has a subtle breakbeat focus. The merger of these two genres is stunning.

Amongst some of the more established and recognized artists are a few new and upcoming gems, which actually make some of the best tracks within the compilation. New Members present the pummeling ‘Rising Aura’. Another track titled to perfection, it is a song with the speed of trance, groove of house and some more welcoming acoustic warmth. It’s sharp and edgy cut half way through must be heard to believed. ‘Pocari Sweat’ by Collo is slow and twisted. Deep and laced with psychedelia, ‘the moment I open my mouth, uprising springs from my saliva’. Thought provoking and inspiring words from Lady Biron.

D.Tiffany’s additions are as expected weighty, firstly a collaboration with label head Byron Yeates in ‘Late Checkout’. Unsettling and unnerving for peak time proper raves. Her second feature is with my favorite; Roza Terenzi. ‘Melting Ladies’ couldn’t have a more appropriate title. Another weighty and off jilt into an electro filled cavern. These two as a production pair really are unmatched and unrivalled.

Bliss Inc’s ‘Pangaea’ as titled feels naturalistic and raw. Another wonderful blend of heavy house elements with airy and lighter notes. Highlight of a high energy compilation however is ‘2 The Dawn Dub’ by Glasgow based Irish born Eoin DJ. Beginning in the depths of dub techno, moving into a gear I have not witnessed for a long long time. It is a masterpiece, laced with an acidic undercurrent, building and dropping with such intense body moving motions.

A star of the previous IWD compilation and Helsinki based electro superstar Sansibar comes through with ‘Caller Of the Storms’. Another aptly named track, he has mastered a Detroit sound with European influence and is one of electro’s finest curators at the moment. Within one of the first of these AGNF pieces I wrote on Post Bar, Helsinki’s best venue and their compilation. Clearly a city which is one of the most exciting in the world for electronic music. Emkay is another artist like Sansibar residing in the city and her track ‘Roguery’ sounds like another Weatherall tribute. Steady and deep with an ending which left me wanting more.

Kasra V concludes this incredible compilation with a hell bent acid fueled journey. It is beautifully chaotic.

This wonderful compilation features such a variety of amazing artists who have all produced tracks worthy of such an amazing cause. All the records I have wrote about this feels one most worthy to actually go away and support.

https://radiantlove.bandcamp.com/album/radiant-love-iwd-comp-vol-2