Mantissa 006 – Soon
We’re back! Our sixth release has arrived…
We’re excited to announce ‘Soon’ (MANT006), coming from debut artist, oliver. It’s a real honour to be chosen by an artist for their debut release, and we think you’ll enjoy the journey as he drifts between ambient, downtempo electronica, and techno.
‘Possession’, the stunning opening track, is an ethereal vignette capturing the melancholic atmosphere of late night and early morning. The EP’s immersive title track, ‘Soon’, effortlessly layers pads and melodies that combine to provide moments of both introspection and euphoria. ‘Tripped’ and ‘Melt’ complete the EP’s original material, and are as well suited to a Sunday drive as they are to the dance floor.
As is tradition Ian DPM, the previous EP artist, takes the lead on remix duties. Featuring on his 3rd consecutive Mantissa EP, he imprints his distinctive style on ‘Possession’, and expertly closes the record with a take that is vibrant, trippy and club ready.
Find it on all stores here!
Mantissa 005 – Various Artists
Open Mantissa 005 and you’ll find tracks from not one, not two.. or even three of the artists from prior releases. Wait a minute… you’re not saying all four artists from the previous releases have a track on this EP are you? Erm.. I think that might be what we’re saying. Shouts to Unknown Artist, Bex, Compliments and Ian DPM for the playful, high-energy squigglers.
Find it on all stores here!
Mantissa 004 – Evening Service
Stepping up for MANT004 is the one and only Ian DPM. This EP continues an impressive string of releases for him, including on his own imprints Scuffed Recordings and Definite Party Material, all exploring the edges of club music with tunes belonging slap bang in the middle of the dancefloor.
Proceedings start with an evening service, except the gospel choir have forgotten the keys to the church and instead take themselves and their organ down to the club for some heavenly amen breaks. The rest of the EP remains firmly on the dancefloor, but the club itself is launched into another dimension, powered by overcharged acid and off-kilter percussion riding over weighty, no-nonsense basslines.
Compliments gives Acid Dance quite the beating on the remix by putting it through a paper shredder, grabbing some of the shreds of paper and sticking them back together with a highly flammable glue before lighting the whole thing into a chaotic frenzy.
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Mantissa 003 – Tomgirl
Compliments is a non-binary dance music producer from Huddersfield, based in London. Their work is heavily influenced by the percussive UK styles of jungle, garage and bassline, with a pinch of nü-metal’s distortion and adolescent energy thrown in for good measure.
Tomgirl, their newest release on Mantissa, showcases these stylistic influences across four tracks that move between wonky 4/4 techno, amen-heavy jungle, spacey 140 and swampy chugging house, playing with the idea of floating somewhere between masculinity and femininity, hard and soft.
After experimenting with samples of their own voice on their debut album ‘The place where my voice should be’ (self-released in March 2022), the EP builds on this technique to create eerie atmospherics and strange rhythms in a more club-focused and dance floor orientated zone.
Tomgirl is topped off with a remix by Bristol’s Bex, channeling a potent strain of bassy, stepping techno that her productions and DJ sets have become famous for.
Find it on all stores here!
Mantissa 002
Mantissa’s second venture into the label space comes from Bristol-born DJ / producer & radio host Bex. Percussive, heavy, bolty and jolty, the record is full of moments destined for those wanting to lose themselves on the dancefloor through Bex’s signature emotive soundscapes.
Her late 2021 debut EP release, “Feels EP” felt reflective and warm, influenced by the increased introspection during lockdowns over the past two years. Her second release, Mantissa 002, sees these emotions once again taking centre stage with added dance-ready grooves born out of the return and resurgence of the freedom to dance. The record combines those emotional notes with high energy sounds, futuristic harmonies and classic but experimental dance influences.
The first track of the record “Stretcher” starts the affair on a smooth and soothing note, airy and easy before a welcoming kickdrum twists, breaks and stretches the ambience. “Science in Sport” blends an emotive and mood driven melody with familiar garage notes. These opening two tracks demonstrate the refreshing diversity in Bex’s sound and her unique approach to creating forward thinking dance music.
Bex is a Bristol native, the experimental and less orderly side to dance music a key influence to her creative efforts. Holding a dance show residency “Stocks & Shares” on Noods Radio since 2018, her sound has evolved through broadening her listening during the curation of monthly shows. “Ridiculous” is traditionally experimental and the third track of the record brings a pulsating energy to the forefront, sirens alongside claps, with a pace and depth this song wonderfully encapsulates Bex’s approach and inspirations.
The whole style of the record is influenced by Bristol’s trademark sound, alongside this inspirations such as Om Unit or James Blake are subtly clear to hear. However, many of the moods projected throughout feel equally inspired by artistic influences beyond those of specific artists or locations. “Infinite Games” could just as easily soundtrack a sci-fi epic as it could move a dancefloor.
Dance music’s most notorious producer “Unknown Artist” returns for remix duties for the final track of the record. Straight to the point its four four and tempered groove, understated ravey percussion and spacey melodies expertly amalgamates what made Mantissa 001 so unique with what makes 002 so special.
Find it on all stores here!
Written & Produced by Bex Ashford
Mastered by Larry McCarthy at Edgar Studios
Artwork by Josh Oliver
Mantissa 001
Mantissa takes its first steps into the label space with Mantissa 001. Written and produced by a close friend to the Mantissa family, this unnamed and elusive artist has begun the label with a bang, three club focused, space inspired tracks designed to decimate a dancefloor or atone a night’s shenanigans at an after’s.
Space Cadet opens the extra-terrestrial affair, weaving from acoustic elements to electronic and eclectic synth lines. Frozen Bounce finalising the A side with a wobbly number, woven together with quick cuts and jerky elements. U10A, the most structured of a complex affair, is a warming club tool perfect for both beginning and finishing an evening. It’s remix similarly suitable for any party specific scenario, produced by the infamously talented artist Ciel.
Find it on all stores here!
Written & Produced by undisclosed artist
Mastered by Larry McCarthy at Edgar Studios
Artwork by Josh Oliver