A few years ago, before the internet became so clotted with podcasts and free mixes that it was nigh-on impossible to figure out which were worth your attention, Rob Booth’s Electronic Explorations podcast was a genuine rarity: a passionate and wide-ranging downloadable show that gathered together the best new electronic music, alongside exclusive dubplates and mixes from Booth’s favourite producers. Looking back over the list of contributors, it reads like a who’s who of dance/electronic music from the past few years, and arriving in regular instalments it was – and continues to be – an excellent resource for those wanting to keep up with the rapidly shifting terrain of modern electronic music (and a perfect starting point for those only beginning to dip their toes into its murky waters).
Now, though the podcast has always been free and a labour of love, Booth has assembled a frankly ridiculous compilation to help raise money for the EE website and the cost of hosting it, featuring exclusive tracks from no fewer than 61 producers – and all for as low as £5 (you can choose to pay more if you’d like).
Says Booth on the site: "Priced at only £5, it was originally planned to include 30 tunes – already a great value package. However, this has now spiralled to a gigantic 61 brand new tracks from some of the most exciting and elusive artists on the electronic underground scene, so if you can afford to pay a little extra then please do! You can find the donation link on the Electronic Explorations homepage, or you can pay whatever you like here on Bandcamp."
Like the EE podcast list, the contributors offer a snapshot of electronic music across the spectrum – though with a heavy focus on homegrown UK talent – and include a healthy raft of Quietus favourites. While it would be mad to try and pick all the highlights, in the tracklist are some of our favourite British techno producers – Perc, AnD, Forward Strategy Group, Dead Sound & Videohead, The Hizatron and TVO – as well as a host of excellent people picked from the dubstep/post-dubstep diaspora – Al Tourettes, Arkist & Komonazmuk, Distal, Djrum, Kahn. Also represented are a number of unique outliers, among them Bristol’s Kowton, whose ‘False Dawn’ imagines Loefah-style halfstep dropped to a 110bpm crawl; Berlin’s crafter of bass-heavy pop Emika; and Nottingham’s Geiom, who offers a deadly swung garage turn on ‘Cairns’.
Essentially, if you’re in any way interested in the current state of electronic music – or are just interested in learning more about the health of the UK underground – head for the Electronic Explorations Bandcamp, post-haste. You can even listen before you buy. And watch out for more on EE, including an interview with Booth about the history of the podcast, in future.
