LOCAL FORM: Jim303
If the name Jim303 doesn’t spell it out for you, then we don’t know what will…
James Gatt AKA Jim303 has a guilty pleasure for 303 basslines… And can you blame him? The local producer - who is already responsible for these club-ready slappers - is a techno act that is well and truly on the rise. Away from production, Jim’s tasteful selections have scored him a fortnightly radio show on Area 3000 called Positive Education - a tribute to the early 90s release by Slam.
Enamoured by high-octane breaks, electro, techno and garage, his sets are unrelenting and must-hear. However, as shown by the first of his three selections, his tasteful musical repertoire branches wide and far.
First:
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Castles Made of Sand (1967)
The first time I ever knew I wanted to be involved in music in some capacity was when a friend introduced me to Jimi Hendrix back when I was 10. I’d always been a keen listener to my mum and dad’s record and CD collection, but Hendrix was unlike anything I’d experienced before. His musical narratives were philosophical and psychedelic and truly ahead of their time. From then on, I picked up a guitar and started learning. RIP Jimi.
Classic:
Drexicya - Black Sea (2013)
This isn’t a full-on classic tune that every single person will know, but it terms of shaping the sound of Detroit Electro and much of the harder, faster electro we hear today, Drexciya is where it began. Truly inspiring for me as this track is so simple. It literally only has 8 parts: Drums with some chords and an acid line. It really taught me to just keep things simple in my productions and make the most with what I’ve got. RIP James Stinson. Another James taken too soon.
Current:
Dawl - I’m Confused (2020)
Easily my favourite release of the past few months, full of trippy acid weirdness. Whether it’s electro, acid or bleep and bass, Dawl always seems to churn out these tracks which transport you to another dimension. A great artist who’s guaranteed to get the dance floor moving.
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