DMX Krew

DMX Krew sounds like a lost transmission from a 1984 pirate radio station that somehow traveled through a wormhole into a modern modular synth laboratory. It is the sound of heavy-duty Roland drum machines, squelching basslines, and melodies that feel both incredibly futuristic and charmingly retro. There is a distinct tactile quality to the music, as if you can feel the physical knobs being turned and the patch cables being swapped in real time.

What sets Ed Upton apart is his refusal to choose between the dancefloor and the laboratory. While many of his peers in the Rephlex circle leaned into aggressive noise or complex mathematics, DMX Krew always keeps a foot in the funk. His music possesses a quirky, almost cartoonish sense of humor, utilizing vocoders and bright synth leads that evoke the spirit of early electro-pop without ever feeling like a hollow tribute act.

Start with '17 Ways to Break My Heart' for a masterclass in emotional electro-pop, or dive into 'Ffressshh!' if you want the raw, unadulterated energy of 90s breakbeat and techno. It is music for people who appreciate the grit of analog hardware and the soul of a machine.