Selections: Black Cadmium

Rotterdam’s Black Cadmium have been friends since 2000, and their years spent raving, collecting records, DJing and producing are reflected in a musical taste that spans everything from Chicago house to Detroit electro and breakbeat hardcore.

Since 2019, the duo of Joginda Macnack and Mike Richards have released impressive EPs on labels like naive, United Identities, Ovum and Vault Wax, but their debut album ‘Dream Computer’ (which you can listen to and buy here) gives a more comprehensive picture of Black Cadmium’s varied influences and distinct sound.

The first release on their new GLXY imprint, the record finds them collaborating with like-minded artists Quanza, Danou P and Arp Frique, referencing everything from the Motor City electronic soul of techno’s originators to broken beat, bass-heavy breaks and gnarly acid, and adding a new layer of musicality to their tracks. ‘Strings Of Love’ starts with melancholic guitar strums, before morphing into a warm mix of UKG drums and lush chords; ‘Dream Computer’, meanwhile, has the eerie synth wraiths of classic jungle, percussive house rhythms, and an irresistible drop into moody breakbeat. A particular highlight is ‘Children Of The Future’: an original mix of cosmic jazz synth, heavy drum work, spoken word vocals and Detroit stabs.

Like their records, Black Cadmium’s sets range across the stylistic map, and their Selections take in everything from post-punk and Italo to classic house, acid, breaks and future-facing techno. Dive in below. 

“What makes a banger? The intensity of the beat, hats or snares? No, not necessarily. What makes this track a banger for me is that it evokes memories and flashbacks of early dancefloor moments. Walking towards each other, gathering in bliss. So soothing and smooth.”

“Chicago, Detroit perhaps? No, straight from Edinburgh. So sultry, seasoned with the right amount of everything you need out of an arrangement like this. Spicy!”

“Timeless, that bass. Sexy and nasty. I got this record handed to me a little while back now — that sent me down an ESG rabbit hole. It was released in 1981.”

“This (still) futuristic Italo dance classic is phenomenal, I urge you to watch it on YouTube because of the video. Just sit back and let her take you away. What a trip.”

“The ’90s was a good time for music, and Paul embodies that. I’ve been a fan of his for a while now, I’m very impressed by those Easter eggs he’s been laying. This dancefloor mover has been in many of our sets. People really pick up on the emotion that Paul put in there. Sexy, with a splash of peak-time darkness.”

“Miami-based DJ and producer Jonny From Space moves stealthily, but distinctively throughout the musical realm. His creative ventures seep into different areas. I play this track in almost every set, especially when those hips need to move some more on the dancefloor. Works every time.”

“This is the ultimate party starter, at any kind of party. ‘Decode’ has been the secret weapon in a tonne of DJ mixes over the last few years. A true WTF acid beast, it bangs traditionally and levels the place. Soso Tharpa is one of Washington D.C.’s best young producers. Check him out.”

“.Vril is a DJ/producer from Hanover, Germany. I don’t know him very well yet, but I’ve received a few promos and I’m becoming a huge fan of his ultra-deep, melancholic house/techno sound. With this track, you only have to close your eyes and the rest will happen automatically.”

“Well… AceMo is the shit! Y’all know it, we know it, he knows it, and all his friends know it too. ‘Heartfelt’ is ravey, it’s emotional, it’s breaky. A ‘break down the house’ track. So for all those people in front of the booth who always ask, ‘Which track is this?’ It’s AceMo.”

“Rotterdam, our home city, has many heroes, but the best and also the most underrated is Martyn. Together with another veteran, Om Unit, AKA Philip D. Kick, he recently dropped a sick EP on his own label 3024. This is the crème de la crème of timeless dubby and bubbly music with a soul.”