apron east vol. 2
Francisco Espregueira
Following APRON JAPAN VOL. 1 (2023), London’s own Apron Records is back with another essential compilation, APRON EAST VOL. 2. The label, helmed by Steven Julien (aka FunkinEven), has long been a lab for cross‑pollinating genres, and here that energy is turned full East. The result feels like a late‑night transmission from some future‑funk orbit. Julien’s roots in London house, acid, Detroit, and Caribbean rhythms inform the spirit of the compilation — but in APRON EAST VOL. 2 he gives space to voices like Yuka Sunflora, DJ Dreamboy, Hookuo and Benedek, among others, to shine with their own character.
Each track winds into its own terrain: Yuka Sunflora opens with breeze and tension in “Go With the Waves 4AM,” while DJ Dreamboy and Hookuo tap into nu‑jack swang and sharp rhythms. Benedek returns with “Keychanger” merging city‑pop synth textures and West Coast sheen. J M S Khosah pushes deeper with “Long Game Veteran” and “Candid,” staking out space in that strutting deep house / psycho‑funk realm. Meanwhile, Julien’s own imprint echoes in “Call Me” — an electro‑jazz pivot that connects the dots across the collection. Better enjoyed when listened from A to Z, without interruptions, APRON EAST VOL. 2 feels like more than sequel to APRON JAPAN VOL. 1, it’s a widening of the map — a dusk‑to‑dawn trip through hybrid grooves, curated by a label that always seems one step ahead. Available on cassette for the collectors.