Jolene 08 Mike Sandcastle

Mike Sandcastle steps up for the eighth instalment on the Jolene Records imprint this October, comprising four original cuts from the UK artist.

Blackpool-born house producer Mike Sandcastle is fast emerging as one of the UK’s most distinctive new electronic voices, blending raw club energy with an intricately sampled, filter house aesthetic. Rooted in the vibrant sounds of classic house yet unafraid to experiment with modern techniques, Sandcastle channels the spirit of the underground into tracks that feel both timeless and forward-thinking and have found a home on the likes of Midnight Riot, The Discography Lessons, SHEE’s Secret Society and of course Jolene where he returns here.

Leading the release is ‘Party With Me’, a five-minute excursion through disco licks, emotive vocals, choppy sample work and sweeping filters, intertwined with a bouncy bass groove and skippy rhythm section. ‘Love Takes Two’ follows next and fuses phased out sweeping synth lines and soaring vocals with plucked bass notes and a saturated drum groove.

‘When I’m With You’ opens the B-side and dives headfirst into choppy sample work as perfectly looped guitars, pitched vocal chants and driving low end intertwine with crisp percussion. ‘Whistle’ then concludes the EP on a deeper tip, laying focus on organic drum sounds, a snaking bass line, cinematic strings, jazzy melodies and a breathy spoken word vocal.