One trend of pop culture that never seems to wane is the flow of influence between America and the UK: America creates, the UK adapts and modifies. From Hitchcock and The Beatles through to house, hip-hop, and the comics of writers like Alan Moore and Grant Morrison, this kind of creative photosynthesis has long been a working go-to template. Probably all stems from GIs bringing over chewing gum and stockings during the war or something.
Despite the bulk of the UK dance music scene giving a gasface to EDM - even the name repels, we don't mind you spelling words incorrectly, but that REALLY grates - there are those who can look beyond that and maintain that symbiotic heritage. Which brings us neatly to FWUK TRAX SIX, a six-track compilation which just dropped on Good Street Records, showcasing UK producers' take on the footwork sound. It's well timed. With dnb looking in new directions after footwork helped put flexibility back into stiffened limbs, Chicago is again exerting a global influence. And FWUK TRAX SIX shows that makes for a good thing.
With a determination to show how melody, soul and timeless resonance can be found among the splinters and brought together to make some kind of bastard cubism, these UK heads have found their own spot, with Good Street deserving a nod for making that happen. Blackpool's Beach Club, who were one of the few to make a serious attempt to bring moombahton to UK clubs, team up with Relic to kick things off with the bristling lush vibes of Cumulus and from there the comp tweaks through the structural nuances, bringing a whiff of wobble here, dreamy chill vibes there, trad ghetto tropes there - all while respecting the genre. Gold star to newcomer Relka whose Geek Pond for me for hitting all the right spots and summing up the strength of this release. Nice, real nice.
