Various Artists - Programmed 2.0

Label: ProgramScore: 8/10

A second collection of tech infused beats from Ram’s feisty sister label. Programmed 2.0 is the follow up to the first edition which gave us the massive Murderer by Eastcolours who once again makes an appearance. With fellow collaborator Noel in tow, their effort Crispy is a craftily developed banger, all agressive twanging bass stabs and crunching snares patterns. The eastern bloc is further represented by newcomer Traffic on Structures. They clearly like the rugged side of the spectrum in that part of the world, growling synths and bad boy vocal samples providing the head nod factor. Maztek flies the Italian flag as always, giving the EP its dash of Neurofunk appeal on the sci-fi grooves of Dizzy Step. Bringing it all home though is the home grown talent of Stealth & Altair. You Do Me Wrong, featured way back in March on Andy C’s warehouse mix, is a stunning blend of soulful style and gritty finesse. The amazing vocal sample, which I guarantee will ear worm you within minutes, is weaved in and around subs and intricate percussion. The singing hints at liquid, the drop gives you techstep with subtle nods to the likes of Ed Rush & Optical.

Probably not as diverse as it’s opening outing though no less enjoyable, unquestionably it’s Stealth & Altair’s cut that pushes Program’s second Programmed EP a little quicker over the finish line.

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Grahame Farmer

Grahame Farmer’s love affair with electronic music goes back to the mid-90s when he first began to venture into the UK’s beloved rave culture, finding himself interlaced with some of the country’s most seminal club spaces. A trip to dance music’s anointed holy ground of Ibiza in 1997 then cemented his sense of purpose and laid the foundations for what was to come over the next few decades of his marriage to the music industry.