Peaky Beats teams up with Stones Taro on new UKG/bass EP
“After swapping some music and speaking about my world tour plans, we decided to write some music together in 2021 and thus ‘PBR008’ was born.”
UK-based Iraqi producer Peaky Beats joins forces with Japan’s UKG emperor Stones Taro on a new four-track EP filled with playful UKG, two-step, acid, bass, dubstep and more.
The release comes out today (29 September) via Peaky Beats — his label with the same namesake — and will be limited to only 300 vinyl for its first month.
The A side starts with 'Leeds to Kyoto'; a smooth, bouncy UKG steppa, accompanied by a slick 4x4 uplighting roller in the form of 'Wind Power Ship'.
Flipping things over to the B Side brings the soundtrack of Peaky Beats’ recent world tour 'Karate Cat', a ravey breakbeat acid number to open up any dance floor. It closes with B2 'Demon Dubs', which lands in the realm of dubstep for a dark, banging closing track.
With the A side being more playful and friendly, Karate Cat kicks off the B-side with a bang, with deep, urgent percussion hitting you straight out of the gate. The track is littered with acid lines, breakdowns and subtleties throughout, all culminating around the halfway mark. Instant floor-filler this one.
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Mixmag Asia caught up with Peaky Beats, who mentions, “I first met Stones Taro through the Record store Naminohana in Osaka, with whom I have been stocking records for years. After swapping some music and speaking about my world tour plans, we decided to write some music together in 2021 and thus 'PBR008' was born.”
He continues, “Once my Tokyo shows at Circus and Live Haus got confirmed thanks to the legends Meguro and Eurlica, a local Kyoto party Arkuda booked myself and Stones for a show at Metro as part of the world tour which gave us a chance to finally meet, and I was able to gift him in person with a test pressing for our release together.”
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Peaky Beats Records, founded in 2019, collaborates with global record stores like DnR, Naminohana, Phonica, Gramaphone, and many more. It’s recently released ‘PBR007’ with Ollie Rant and launched three sub-labels, expanding its label family with artists like Eliza Rose, Highrise, Papa Nugs, Stones Taro, and others.
The label’s releases enjoy consistent support from notable artists like Disclosure, Green Tea Peng, Ross From Friends, and Floating Points.
‘PBR008’ drops today via Peaky Beats; purchase it here.
Henry Cooper is a Writer at Mixmag Asia. Follow him on Instagram.