DJ Chart: Gavin Richardson (Substance)

Nowadays, if a club night lasts beyond a couple of years, continually attracting A-list names as well as introducing crowds to lesser-known talent, it’s safe to assume something is working. In an age when anyone with a laptop is a DJ and everyone is running nights, club events come and go before most have had a chance to build a loyal following.

Edinburgh’s Substance is of an altogether different breed. Now in its 7th year, an anniversary set to be celebrated with the visit of Moderat in October, the night run by brothers Gavin and Adam Richardson has been a consistently reliable fixture in the capital’s sometimes frustrating club scene. Bringing techno heavyweights such as Jeff Mills, Surgeon and Neil Landstrumm to the city in recent years, alongside newer talent such as Boddika, Objekt and Rephlex Records’ Dave Monolith, Substance always seems to strike the right balance.

As with any dependable night though, a lot depends on having a trusted resident at the helm. With a reputation that has landed him gigs across the UK, including at Bloc’s Stubnitz Boat Party in 2012, Gavin Richardson is one such DJ. As he prepares for Substance’s Edinburgh Festival special, Richardson picks out ten records he has on heavy rotation just now.

SHXCXCHCXSH – LTTLWLF [Avian]
This is just one of those tracks, from the unpronounceable Swedish duo Shxcxchcxsh’s impressive debut LP. Amazing.

Greg Beato – Let Em Know [Apron Records]
This is some debut EP from the Miami-based teenager on Funkineven’s Apron Records. Let Em Know is absolutely slammin’. Punchy kick, strong hi-hat, and a nice organ riff, perfect for this unusually prolonged summer weather. Respect The 78 is also cool; all creeping tricks and twists.

Special Request – Hardcore EP [Forthcoming, Houndstooth]
Huge EP, this one. Wall to Wall is an absolute belter, whilst Mindwash (remixed by Anthony Naples) captures that amazing hardcore utopia/dystopia vibe. Broken Dreams is ace too as it goes, all breaks and jitters, whilst the hugely talented Lee Gamble is recruited for the fourth and final track. Keep an eye out also for the Special Request version of Tessela’s Hackney Parrot.

Delta Funktionen – Onkalo (Karenn Remix) [Delsin]
Blawan has obviously been so important in bringing back techno in the UK over the past couple of years, and this rework with Pariah as Karenn doesn’t mess about - an absolute brute! The synth is great and reminds you a bit of Landstrumm et al back in the day. Dark, dark!

Will & Ink – Fermat [Will & Ink]
Nice bassy club techno from Dutchmen Will & Ink, produced on custom built hardware by all accounts. The first release on this new label.

MGUN - Bean Chirp [Don’t Be Afraid]
Probably one of our favourite new producers of the last year or so - a warm welcome to you, Manuel Gonzalez! This one’s got a bit of a disconcerting retro feel. Make sure you also check out the rest of the EP If You’re Reading This, and his three previous releases from last year: The Upstairs Apt; Harmnear; and, The Near Future which appeared on Will Bankhead’s Trilogy Tapes and Kyle Hall’s Wild Oats. Loads of variation in each.

Forward Strategy Group - We're Looking For Manpower [Perc Trax]
Triumphant stuff from the Edinburgh-Leeds duo, who finally arrived on the international stage with Labour Division and the following live shows. Huge melodic chords looping over and over on this one. Can’t wait to see what’s up next from them.

Hugh Mane – Spectra Sonics EP [Forthcoming, Running Back]
First EP from this pseudonym, brought back to life from a dusty DAT according to Clone. It was recorded in the early 90’s by all accounts. Tuff City Kids’ edit of Fukdemdiscoidkids probably edges it from an excellent, varied EP of golden era house.

Kobosil – Think & Think [RK3]
New Berlin producer breaking through, Think & Think is another quality cut of murky, no-frills techno on a super limited vinyl only run. As one of the chosen remixers of the Barker & Baumecker album, Transsektoral (alongside Machinedrum, Third Side & Blawan), it’s safe to say there is more to come from this guy.

Ekman – Reform [Berceuse Heroique]
On a similar tip as L.I.E.S. man Vereker, this is heavy, scuzzy, nighmare-ish stuff from Bunker affiliate Ekman, the first release on new label Berceuse Heroique (which translates as lullabies for heroes, taken from the 1914 piano solo by Claude Debussy). DJ Sotofett, Gesloten Cirkel, Boddika, MGUN and Unit Moebius have all been recruited for the label’s first few releases. Watch out though for L'estasi Dell'oro, who is next up - Kingdom For A Kiss is an epic 12-minute monster.