So September was a busy one! Keeping it short and sweet, Team ATB have drawn together the short list and come up with our favourite releases of what was an overly hectic yet much celebrated month for music at least. Peak the selections below.

Bicep - Vision of Love [EP]

For two friends that simply started up a website together in 2008 to share their love of House music with anyone that cared, things have escalated quite nicely over the past four years for the Northern Irish duo. Andy Ferguson, 24, and Matt McBriar, 25, otherwise known as the duo that are Bicep have been in and around the music scene for almost a decade now, largely down to the fact they've been hitting the bright lights of Belfast and its clubbing 'mecca' since the tender age of 15. Since then however they've enjoyed the success from a hugely successful blog and now a hugely successful EP to match.

If this summers House resurgance was largely down to a revivalist craving for Anthemic pianos, cut-up vocals and a garage skip then you have to give the Vision of Love EP its undoubted props. Having already wetted the appetite with the release of early summer smash '$tripper' , Vision of Love continues the trend and takes the best elements from retro house music of the early 90's and brings it back with a welcome contemporary bang.

Blending euphoric piano chords with adrenaline fuelled vocal ticks is what this EP's all about. Quite frankly 'Getcha Boi', 'Keep Keep' and title track 'Vision of Love' are all a joy to listen to and will no doubt put a smile on any House lovers face. 

One of our favourite EP's of the year, this is underground House at its best.

Mala in Cuba 

The DMZ founder and dubstep pioneer released his first album, (always staying away from an full album) this was a big and bold move from Mala. 

Inspired by a trip to (unsurprisingly) Cuba, Mala in Cuba is inspired by the area with rich groves and jazzy overtones using artists from the Caribbean country. The deep bass that is associated with Mala is still there but one of the most midblowing moments of the album comes in ‘Calle F’ with the blast of a trumpet the track becomes a electronic jazz monster and has all the energy of a live experience. Danay Suarez provides stunning vocals on ‘Noches Suefious’ for one of the most chilled tracks on the album.

Heavy beard stroking vibes throughout. 

  

- Hugely insightful video about the story behind the album. 

Amerigo Gazaway of Gummy Soul - Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to The Pharcyde 

One of those rare beautiful things; a mashup mixtape that is put together with such care and attention to detail it is a joyous listening experience. 

‘Join Gummy Soul's Amerigo Gazaway as he embarks on a 55 minute "Quest to The Pharcyde". Utilizing the original Jazz, Soul and Funk recordings sampled throughout A Tribe Called Quest’s extensive catalogue, Gazaway recreates classic productions – pairing his reinterpreted instrumentals with select vocals from West Coast “golden era” favorites, The Pharcyde’. 

First off, if your going to mess with Tribe you better be damn sure you do it right and damn, Amerigo Gazaway really pulls it off. Big props to the guy. ‘Bizarre tribe’ takes everything good about both acts and creates something so chilled and brilliant its like listening to a brand new collab from the golden age heroes. Cant even pick my favorite track and I’ve been bumping the album and the Instrumental cut ever since its release. 

And holy fuck it’s free. A must for any golden age fans. 

 

Miguel- Kaleidoscope Dream 

L.A. Singer - songwriter Miguel Pimentel showed undoubted promise on his 2010 debut 'All I want Is You', featuring tracks like the outstanding and somewhat nostalgic slow jam 'Sure Thing' our heart actually bled for a hot minute. Fast forward to 2012 and the 25 year old's back with his hugely anticipated second album and its fair to say it doesnt dissapoint.

In fact, on Kaleidoscope Dream Miguel manages to craft a stylised mixture of Soul, Rock, Pop & R&B that puts this album on a par (if not slightly above) Frank Ocean's modern classic 'Channel Orange' (yeah we said it). On 'Candles in the Sun' he questions the existence of God and the motives of the government without loosing his sexy soulful groove.'Do You' is the latest single off the album and evokes an emphasis on the Love drug which is powered by a strong hook where he bluntly poses the question: "Do you like drugs? Yeah, me too/…I'ma do you like drugs tonight".

'How Many Drinks?' is another gorgeous number complimented by a dreamy falsetto towards its climax but of all the tracks 'Adorn' is ultimately the stand out cut. Oozing copious amounts of sexual healing it sets the tone for the rest of the album effortlessly and amongst Miguel's falsetto and its  jovial nature, how can you not be feeling this track? I mean really.

Kaleidoscope Dream ultimately succeeds because it has a uniqueness to it, a sense of professionalism abstained by raw emotion that makes it distinctly Miguel-esque, something that we all hoped it would contain and thankfully its lived up to the anticipation. Just as emotive as it is easy listening, its an album that will live long in the memory and helps elevate Miguel that one step closer to becoming an idol like the ones he's so often compared to. 

If you dont already get the picture, go cop this ASAP.

Honorable Mentions

Nicole:

- Jessie Ware delights us with a soulful, 90's vibe. If you were oblivious to her vocal ability 'Night light Perseus remix' surely defines it. I feel like i've been transformed back to 90's classic RnB. Definitely for those sunday chills. 

- It seems September is a month for showcasing talented vocalists.' Disclosure ft Sam Smith- 'Latch' is the perfect mention. The tasty track is their first single from their debut album, released next year. After their explosive summer, defo keep an ear out for that ! 

- Kastle & Jason Burns - Somebody - Kastle has steadily been churning out R&B vocaled Bass bangers over the past few years and with Anthony Hamilton featured on this one collaborating with fellow Future House crooner Jason Burns was a no brainer. By Symbols Recording. 

- Samename- Okishima Island - I'm a Sucker for bangers that get the "Pull up" Gun Finger Salute and this 19 year old UK producer has had a heavy reload on my itunes over the past month. A definite Lil Silva vibe on this one. Big up. Also check out Harajuku , Banger!

Charlie: 

Star Slinger – Take this up. Manchester’s finest beat maestro provides a killer track and it’s free. Best thing about this track is the BMP change; it goes from a hip hop groove into straight up raving material. 

Joey Bada$$ - Silent Night. Taken from Rejax the follow up to the sublime 1999, Silent Night has that Biggie – Suicidal Thoughts vibe. Dark, depressing hip from the teen soon-to-be star. Bada$$ reps that 90’s sound and 1999 is one of the best mixtapes of the year. 

Death Grips – Hunger Games. Tweeted by James Blake and damn this is heavy. Aggressive lyrics and mad beat.

Speaking of James Blake; Trimbal - Confidence Boost (Harmonimix). The video dropped for this track is produced by Blake himself. Again big reverb and pitch altering that we have grown to know as signature Blake. This is heavy stuff best listened through a quality set of speakers.