After the standout success of last year’s maiden edition, Drumcode returns with volume two of its acclaimed Elevate compilation featuring no less than eight label debutants.
The compilation’s manifesto is simple. Platform a broader range of emerging artists on Drumcode and help elevate the next generation to make strides in their careers. At the same time, the project gives fans a taste of the future and a sneak peak of some of the names you might expect to see featuring on the label or at showcases over the coming year and beyond.
Japanese duo Drunken Kong return to Drumcode after last year’s excellent EP debut ‘I Want To See’. Their offering ‘Higher State’ is a dreamy gem of a track, driven by a crisp underbelly of percussion and pumping bass, before a transcendental melody line and vocal elevates the track into silky peak-time territory. The terrific Marie Vaunt is back following a feature on last year’s Elevate and the recent A-Sides Vol.12 with ‘ASDR’, a dynamic full-throttle bolter that fires on all cylinders before a thrilling break and build-up elevates the energy to eleven. We’re delighted to have Siminia Grigoriu back so soon after her first contribution to Drumcode on A-Sides last December. ‘Global Soldier’ is another of her trademark rolling techno tracks that’ll move your soul. Anna Tur is one of our debutants, an Ibiza icon who shares the awesome ‘Bon Voyage’ which brings energy in spades, driven by a massive melodic lead. Sydney Blu is a Canadian dance music treasure and debuted on Truesoul last year alongside Shelley Johansson. This time she steps up to the main imprint with ‘Moderate Stimulation’, which begins as a rugged percussive jam before a laser-kissed synth line gets introduced and the track takes on a celestial form.
DI SUN, formerly DJ Dee, is another returning artist following last year’s Elevate. The Chinese producer has created ‘My Heart’, a huge emotion-driven cut with a unique sonic stamp, as operatic vocal samples cascade over a pin-sharp bottom end. Mari Ferrari is a new name to the label, the rising Portuguese artist’s ‘C02’ is a ballistic peak-time track propelled by a top-end melody and swarm of uplifting pads. ANII is fresh face on Drumcode, the British artist crafts the velvety ‘Reset Your Mind’, built around stirring chords and tectonic bass. The emerging Danish artist May Larke gets her first DC cap. ‘Free Your Mind’ begins on the vibey low-end tip, before evolving into a 303-led steamer. Another Ibiza powerhouse, Davina Moss debuts with the punchy house-leaning ‘Pure Dancefloor’, which reinforces the breadth of the Drumcode sound. KASIA’s ‘No Tomorrow’ is a plump stomper, as the Polish-born, US-based artist shares a strong production with a foot in techno and acid-laced progressive alike. An additional remix of Mha Iri’s standout recent single ‘Bell’ comes from Change The Beat winner YOZÉ. The Turkish artist turns in a fiery, rave-infused re-rub of the Scottish artist’s original.