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On the A side, you will find “Haul” by Deasy, pressed at 45 RPM for optimum sound quality. The Shifting bar structures and sweeping polyrhthyms compete with equatorial melody and droning bass in this densely layered epic. Hailed for his soundtrack work and with numerous compilation appearances, as well as a highly coveted Road Relish 7″ under his belt, Deasy‘s contribution to the EP shows a maturity of composition consistent with his reputation as one of Dublin’s most prolific and hardworking producers. The stunning originality of this track can only add to this reputation.
Side B begins with Droid + Slug‘s Polyp: inspired by the arduous life of jellyfish larvae as they battle against the forces of the deep ocean. It’s fragmented undulating melodies, soft analog bass and delicate stuttering percussion belie obvious comparisons. The debut vinyl release for this gifted DJ’ng team, Polyp is a step away from conventional Electronica, and the years spent in the studio, quietly refining their sound are clearly evident in this understated piece of music.
The last track on the EP comes from the most established of our artists. Ambulance‘s “Battlecat remix” of Polyp is virtually unrecognisable in comparison to Droid + Slug‘s original. With it’s poignant cascading synth-lines, thunderous rolling drums and electro tinged bass, this tracks unique style reveals yet another side to this duo’s sound, more akin to their early Street Thunder material than their recent Ambulance releases. This is another addition to an envious discography, which includes EP’s on both Front End Synthetics and Ultramack, as well as a Warpmart recommended 7″ release (and upcoming album) on Mike Paradinas’s Planet Mu imprint. We hope that this is recommendation enough.
With high production standards in both mastering and manufacturing to ensure clear and loud pressings, beautiful hand finished Sleeves, and a free gift with each release, we aim to make each Fear record a collectable, and give the music the high standard of presentation it deserves. With this in mind, please enjoy your copy of FEAR001EP, and wear your badge with pride. The Fear is here!
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The Fear first showed its face in 1998, as part of an influx of underground clubs into Dublin’s newly opened docklands venue, The Funnel. Running side by side with Decal’s legendary Phunk City and fledgling Bassbin and D1 nights, The Fear became a legend in it’s own short lifetime.
Already notorious for their respective shows on Dublin’s premier underground station Power FM, founding members D.C., Troubled Soul and Droid + Slug took pirate radio to the dancefloor, working Electronica, Techno, House, Hip-Hop, Ragga and Jungle together in full-on four deck sets. D.C. and Droid were also responsible for a series of innovative artwork, but it was a collective effort which saw the streets of Dublin plastered with stickers, posters, flyers and badges, indelibly branding The Fear’s logo onto the city’s psyche.
The release of FEAR001EP marks the emergence of the next stage of The Fear. Inspired by the diversity of output and DIY ethos of UK-based labels such as Skam and Fat Cat, and by the example of indigenous independents like U:mack and Front End Synthetics, The Fear Recordings has been formed to provide an outlet for the audio and visual work of its founders and a collective of other Irish artists.
Deasy has been a prominent Dublin DJ for nearly 10 years, and has been behind such infamous clubs as The Good Drum and Toast. He has held residencies all over the city, and supported such luminaries as Autechre, Mouse on Mars, Tortoise, Faust and Luke Vibert to name but a few. It’s rare that a DJ has the ability to smoothly transport the listener through such an extensive and broad scope of the global musical spectrum, and Deasy‘s DJ’ng style is reflected in his maverick approach to production. An extremely prolific and diverse artist, he has been behind some of the most innovative Irish Electronic music yet released, with multiple compilation appearances, soundtrack and theatrical work, and his output as part of the Soul Gun Warriors and The Heels Ov The Bread. We eagerly await his forthcoming appearances on The Fear, and his debut double album, Music is not Hygiene due out on Equilibrium Recordings later this year.
Droid + Slug are two dedicated nerds who have been fuelling Ireland’s underground Electronica scene both in clubs and to the bedroom (via Power FM) for the last six years. Applying perfect beat matching, abstract beat juggling and true turntablism to jungle, electronica, hip-hop, electro and ragga; as their recent DJ support slots at Altern 8 and the Skam 10 party attest. Over the last three years their focus has shifted to studio work. Compilation appearances for Front End Synthetics, Special Education and Bassbin, live collaborations with Ambulance and Bassbin’s Naphta, and a wealth of material awaiting release on The Fear confirm that this duo have developed production skills to rival their abilities on the decks.
Ambulance have played with some of the biggest names that have been brought to these shores, including Squarepusher, Pole, Lee Perry, Sigur Ros and Suburban Knight. The manifestation of their hard work ethic has meant that no two of their sets have ever been the same. Their discography includes vinyl EP’s on two Irish labels (U:mack and Front End Synthetics), and their tracks can been found on the DJ play-lists of artists such as Plaid and Ian O’Brien. They are currently working on an album for Planet Mu Records, and their upcoming Front End EP features a remix by Max Tundra. Despite their reputation as professional musicians the quality of their releases has surpassed all expectations, and they have been received with praise as one of the most unique and genuinely promising acts around. Released this summer, their acclaimed debut 7″ single for Planet Mu has irrefutably reinforced these notions.
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