Diss tracks are back in the house world? You better believe it.

Earlier this month, contributing editor for PitchforkPhilip Sherburne penned a piece that discussed the motives of electronic labels that solely release records on vinyl – rhetorically asking if it’s elitist and perhaps promotes exclusivity. An interviewee for the piece, DJ Sotofett, one of the heads behind the Sex Tags Mania family, wasn’t happy with how the article turned out, it appears. Following its publication, he’s now released his very first solo digital single with the lengthy title ‘Philip Sherburne, Your Word Should Be Worth More Than The Ignorance Of Pitchfork’. Drama, drama, drama. On the plus side, it’s a pretty damn good track. It’s available via Hard Wax.

Early next month we’ll be getting a visit from Greg Beato. Best known for his raw and grimy take on house, techno and electro, the Miami producer is a mainstay on labels such as L.I.E.S. and Apron Records, and has also had his work find homes on Unrelated Records and the world’s best-named label, Russian Torrent Versions. He’s just released one of the latest instalments on the Juno Plus mix series, and his Dekmantel mix is also killer. Give ’em both a spin before he comes our way. It’s going down at a secret Inner West location on Saturday August 6. Stay tuned to the Heavenly Facebook page for more details.

It’s been 20 years since Rebekah[below] began spinning 12-inches behind the decks and she’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. A Birmingham native, she grew up as a regular at the legendary Que Club on a steady diet of Dave Clarke, Derrick Carter, Richie Hawtin and Billy Nasty. Since then, she’s released on the likes of Affin, CLR, Coincidence Records, Corresponding Positions, Sleaze Records, Soma Records and VENT, and of course established her own imprint Decoy Records. Word on the street is that her debut album isn’t far off being completed, so expect to be schooled with some new material when she hits the Burdekin Hotel on Saturday September 24.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Tour rumours: I’ve got $50 on a return from the London-based, Belfast-born blogger/production/DJ duo Bicep (AKA Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson[above]) before the end of the year. Same goes for Randomer.

Best releases this week: oh man, the new full-length from Ukrainian deep house don Vakula has dropped and it is straight fire. I admit that the title Cyclicality Between Procyon And Gomeisa is fucking stupid, but still. It’s out now on Dekmantel. Otherwise I’d suggest giving a spin to KiNK’s Valentine’s Groove (on Clone Royal Oak), Ø [Phase]’s Versions II (Token), Equiknoxx’s Bird Sound Power (DDS) and Acronym’sGuadalquivir (Northern Electronics). I unfortunately didn’t dig Ernesto Tomasini & Shackleton’s Devotional Songs (Honest Jon’s Recordings) as much as I was hoping. Good, but not great. Oh, and someone played me a snippet of the new MSTRKRFT album the other day. Holy shit was it awful. Can you remember when they were popular? Dark times.

Recommended:

SUNDAY JULY 31

S.A.S.H White Horse Reunion Party @White Horse

SATURDAYAUGUST 6

FunkinEven @Club 77

Greg Beato @Secret Location

SATURDAYAUGUST 13

Damiano Von Erckert @Club 77

SATURDAYAUGUST 20

Return To Rio Launch Party: M.A.N.D.Y. @Manning Bar

Gunnar Haslam @Jam Gallery

Edd Fisher, Otologic @Club 77

SATURDAYAUGUST 27

Darshan Jesrani @Club 77

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8 – SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11

Red Bull Music Academy Weekender: Mr. Fingers, Bok Bok, Peanut Butter Wolf + more @Various venues

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24

Rebekah @Burdekin Hotel

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11 – SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13

Return To Rio: Carl Cox, De La Soul, Eric Powell, DJ EZ + more @Del Rio, Wisemans Ferry

FRIDAY DECEMBER 2 – SUNDAY DECEMBER 4

Subsonic Music Festival: Lee Scratch Perry, Mad Professor, Josh Wink, Ben UFO + more @Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort

Got any tip-offs, hate mail, praise or cat photos? Email [email protected] or contact me via carrier pigeon.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine