Bleep

001
Enigmatic imprint Ghost Phone make themselves known with their first compilation disc. 001 is still deliciously mysterious; there aren’t any names attached to these numbered tracks, but a strong sense of the label’s sonic philosophy surfaces. Each one shines with the hauntological glow of vaporwave, taking RnB, two-step and hip-hop samples and sending them through all sorts of manipulations (reverb, chopped and screwed, rhythmic pullbacks) to craft serotonin-soaked grooves.

002
Here, have some deep-set RnB meditations from the coolest little label Ghost Phone. 002 takes a quick dip in the rerubbed and reworked world of a new kind of chopped and screwed. From the brightness of the Drake-freaking ‘Mais Que Amor’ through to ‘Ize Kashmir’ and its dub counterpart, low swinging dirty south samples and acrobatic vocals fragment and magnify into an abstracted soundscape of urban sound.

003
The intriguing mystery of Ghost Phone continues with their third compilation. The nameless artists of 003 take a relatively different tact this time around. The samples still resonate at a vaporwave frequency — all CD-skipping sampled rhythms and icy reverb — although the overall vibe comes off a sight more dubbed out. A sly, swinging beat drives ‘A2’ along like a slow-burning UK Garage cut, while a low-key trap vibe comes through on ‘B2’.

004
GHSTPHN004 is the fourth installment of the excellent Ghost Phone series. Following in the same vein as the three which preceded it - covert vinyl-only affairs with little to no info given on the artist who created it - it’s another exciting record of delicate sample flips and warm atmospherics. Decidedly deeper than some of the more DJ and club-focused entries in their catalogue, which veered more towards straight up US rnb and 2-step, 004 explores more introspective tones while remaining impactful. ‘Soul Seeker’ is a real highlight - a gorgeous piece of subdued, muted soul over a deftly detailed minimal UKG beat.

005
Beyond the who and the why, Ghost Phone can rely on their steady influx of stellar 12” comps to bolster their rep, and naturally, Ghost Phone 005 is yet another top-shelf disc of low key bangers. The vibe hits right at the sweet spot between effortlessly swinging house and fresh as hell R&B — with a few touches of airy dub for good measure. As is the case with any Ghost Phone release, the hooky samples kidnapped are irresistible.

006
Five minimalistic, stripped-back and bass-laden mystery edits each with different vocals with an airy groove, from consistently-quality label Ghost Phone. This is the fifth addition to their versatile edits series, often drawing from the sounds of UK bass music across garage, dubstep and breakbeat with some RnB touches. This latest instalment will tick all the right boxes for fans of this series, so if you’re new to the party then act quickly before those in the know snap them up.