Glasgow-based label Lava Lava release second Waves compilation

Lava Lava has always maintained an international outlook since its inception as a Subcity Radio show in Glasgow over a decade ago. Since then, label manager Michael Divers has gone onto procure over 15 releases from artists across the globe.

Now, the team proudly present the second instalment of their WAVES compilation. Following in the footsteps of Volume 1, the compilation features a wide range of genres and moods, from deep and moody grooves to peak time club cuts.

The idea behind the label was that each release would often bounce from one genre to the next, so we could have lined the submissions up as five separate releases. However, I loved the idea of these tracks combining on one compilation which would span from dubby, tripped out sounds to peak-time club cuts and everywhere in-between. Something which would take the listener on a journey but where each song can also be a completely stand alone, DJ-friendly track. Certainly, that’s always what I think makes a great compilation, rather than 10 tracks which all take you down the same path.

That’s also kind of the inspiration behind the title too; although each track sounds different to the next, at the end of the day they’re all sound waves.

Kicking off Volume 2 is South Korean producer Hyungmin. His track ‘Pistil’ intricately layers delicate synth loops with stripped back percussion, resonating bass notes and crunched atmospherics to create a hypnotising groove. GHRS is up next and heading straight to the dance floor with ‘Refried Beans’. A track heavily inspired by Glaswegian club culture, where wonky low end notes bounce alongside heavily swung percussion and tripped out vocals to create a no-nonsense club tool.

Australian producer Jaguar B keeps us on the floor with ‘Feel so…’, a House cut steeped in old-school Chicago energy. Driving drum patterns, rounded bass lines and retro clave hits playfully develop to create an irresistible groove. Evan Michael steps up next with a sample of New York’s underground sound. ‘Vast Cast’ blends retro Sci-Fi elements and slick modern House sounds, resulting in a spaced out club journey which ebbs and flows.

Frederik Neu returns to the label with ‘Wanna Feel’, An energetic House anthem masterfully crafted with punchy kicks, shuffling percussion, echoing vocals, warbling synth lines and bright pads. Finally, DJ, Producer and founder of the newly-minted Love Dynamics imprint, Squidgenini rounds off the compilation with a sublimely crafted deep cut. ‘Want Some More’ delicately combines rolling drum patterns, reverberating synth licks, soft vocals and grumbling bass notes to blur the line between Deep House, Electronica and Dub.

I think a lot of independent labels are now filling that void which has been created for people who are yearning for “real” dance music - people who want to hear music which wasn’t created solely for the purpose of creating content, but for hearing in a club sound system while dancing with your friends or hearing on your favourite radio stations and taste makers DJ sets.

Get it on Beatport