joe
You probably know Joe for his idiosyncratic, floor-filling productions for Hessle Audio and Hemlock Recordings. Tunes like “Slope,” “Claptrap,” “Punters step out” and this year’s track-of-the-year contender “Tail Lift” have become trusty weapons for some of the world’s biggest (and most adventurous) DJs. The artist behind these creations has kept a resolutely low profile these past few years, but if you listen carefully to his productions, you’ll get a sense for Joe the DJ. His sets speak to years spent picking through rare groove, soul, funk, techno, disco, garage and jazz, soaking up Theo Parrish’s sets at Plastic People and absorbing London’s soundsystem culture. You’ll hear gems that traverse eras and genres, tied together not by a single sound but by a shared sensibility—one that’s serious yet playful, rough yet soulful, intricate yet functional. Joe laid out this style in a recent selection for Truants, a standout mix that signalled the return of one of dance music’s quiet achievers.