As someone who unapologetic ally distances himself from the wider DJing community, refusing to be a part of any hype-making or posturing, instead putting all of his energy into performing and creating, it's perhaps unsurprising that DJ Bone's records sound as unrelenting and full of fervor as his ethos.
"No Sleep" on Sect is just the latest for Bone and perhaps an indication of his hard work of late; the latter part of 2008 so far has proven to be a busy time for the man: His own label, Subject Detroit, is releasing no fewer than nine 12-inches. This one, however, is a triptych of cuts joined by a bubbling keyboard line and lashed together with that inimitable Detroit funk. The title track works a couple of different female vocals about "music" and "Detroit techno soul" around that keyboard, occasionally stripping everything back to a raw shell, then turning on the warmth with rising strings.
"Fam" tweaks the melody slightly, making it sound more machine-derived and supplements the female vocal with a male one, this one calling off a short list of commands. It's a colder version of "No Sleep," the track now jacking, the warmth of the strings absent, but present throughout is the righteous hi-tech funk that permeates so much of DJ Bone's work.
"Higher" strips back the final layer from the work, removing with it the majority of the kick and other extraneous percussion. Pads and strings float above the now shimmering melody in its most synthesized form. "Higher" serves as an ethereal third deck tool and is a stunning outro for one of Bone's best.
Buy DJ Bone - No Sleep (True to Da Roots) at
  
Tracklist: DJ Bone - No Sleep (True to Da Roots)
A No Sleep (True To Da Roots)
B1 Higher
B2 Fam (Create)
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