Gemmy / Johnny 5

Planet Mu

Bristol producer Gemmy, along with Joker and Guido, is one of a new generation of producers nicknamed the "Purple Trinity" and celebrated for their innovative sound. His productions are like Play-Doh: bouncy and rounded. Gemmy mixes elements of grime, the G-funk of Dr. Dre, and the warm electronics of Digidub Records, with the clean, day-glo sensibility of 16-bit console classics like Sonic the Hedgehog, framing it with low-end histrionics for maximum dancefloor impact. He's previously released 12-inches on Punchdrunk and M4 and had one singe on Planet Mu. This double-12-inch EP showcases the different sides of his productions to date in fine style. "Johnny 5" uses a bleepy melody matched to slurring waves of bass and snappy double-time electro drums. "Dolla Digital" is an anthem--Gemmy's catchy, sing-song vocoder melody contrasts with 808 toms, a fierce bass kick, and rough mid-range synths to make an unusual and lovely psychedelic song. "Wata Down Sound" sounds completely unique within a fairly standard dubstep template, making good use of a couple of choice samples; it starts with a rude melody that sounds like a synth impersonating an electric guitar, before a flickering, lightning-like mid-range bassline drops in. "Shanti Riddim" is supreme 16-bit steppers dub, updated with a tight grid of drums and sub bass, a bubbling 8-bit bass line, and a melody that wouldn't be out of place on an old Sega game.

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