Honey Badger Records are back with their annual HBRTRX compilation. The series, which seeks to highlight artists from the East and South East Asian underground, is now on its fourth iteration and features some killer dancefloor cuts from both familiar and emerging producers.
The compilation opens with a track from label boss JNS, a drifting nocturnal groove called ‘Night Watcher’. Jesse You delivers another highlight with the scuffed up ‘Bamboozle’. And on ‘Network’, Two Tone Shape demonstrate a knack for tough drum machine funk.
Our pick comes from Closet Yi. Following EPs No Bad Days and Honey Badger in 2020, the emerging producer returns to the label with the breakneck and acid-tinged ‘Unnamed Lagoon’. According to the producer, the track looks towards uncharted territory “as if you’re seeing a drone visual of an undiscovered island”.
‘HBRTRX Vol.4’ is scheduled for release 1 September via Honey Badger Records. Order a copy from Bandcamp.
TRACKLIST
1. JNS – Night Watcher
2. Sojeso – Casino
3. Radiofear – Space Garden
4. Closet Yi – Unnamed Lagoon
5. Natsumi Hirota – f. _________
6. Seo John – Granite
7. Jesse You – Bamboozle
8. J E L L V A K O – Floating Wave
9. Mignon – Marching as to Laplace
10. Two Tone Shape – Network