The Curator’s Crates: Volume 7
Crate-Digging Catches
Orgone 003 JL
At first glance, Orgone 003 JL is a deep cut from the early 2000s techstep era, but beneath the surface is a fascinating origin story that connects underground drum & bass to Grammy-winning mastery.
The Label and Its Legacy
The history of this record starts with the label that published it. Orgone was an arm of the Breakbeat Science Record Label (discussed in depth in last month's publication). While Breakbeat Science focused on importing European talent, Orgone was dedicated to circulating US-based talent. Today, the physical release stands as a vestige of New York City history and an artifact of the global drum & bass scene.
OGD
The Artist Behind JL
The search for information about JL initially yielded little. Extensive digging through forums, archived interviews, and production credits surfaced a few tracks and almost no biographical details. At the bottom of the internet rabbit hole was a Grammy Award winning sound engineer with over 4100 credits. Joe LaPorta is currently a Senior Mastering Engineer for Sterling Sound’s studios and a forensic music musicology consultant. It turns out, the person who mastered Blackstarr by David Bowie, When I Get Home by Solange, Heros and Villains by Metro Boomin, Kaleidoscope by Tiësto, and Biophilia by Björk started his career by teaching himself to make and master jungle and hip-hop.
LaPorta intentionally carried his diverse production sound into his mastering portfolio, emphasizing versatility as a guiding principle. Reflecting on his career, he noted "I've been trying to keep range over the past 20 years" (LaPorta, 2025). His commitment to range and adaptability is evident in his ability to move seamlessly between experimental electronic projects to chart-topping pop and hip-hop albums. LaPorta's jack of all trades philosophy has made him into one of the most versatile and sought-after engineers in the industry.
The Music: Two Sides of Techstep
Orgone 003 consists of JL’s “Electrolyte” and “Hymn (Dom & Roland Remix),” representing two distinct yet complementary sides of late-90s/ early-2000s techstep drum & bass. “Electrolyte” is minimal and hypnotic, built on stripped-back breakbeats and deep sub-bass that create a brooding, immersive atmosphere. It favors tension and subtle progression over dramatic drops, making it a true deep-cut for purists. In contrast, “Hymn” in Dom & Roland’s hands becomes cinematic and aggressive, with sharp drums, distorted bass growls, and haunting pads that evoke a futuristic, industrial mood. Together, these tracks showcase the genre’s duality: one leaning toward atmospheric minimalism, the other toward dark, high-impact intensity.
Whether you’re a genre purist or a curious listener, this is a piece of music history worth revisiting for both its distinctive sound and the narrative that shaped its existence.
A-Side: Electrolyte
B-Side: Hymn
Citations
Griffiths, D. (2024, April 30). “Mastering maestro Joe Laporta talks loudness, AI and being “Very much a vibe guy.” MusicRadar. https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-laporta-mastering-engineer-bowie#
Laporta, J. (2025, October 28). “Working across genres.” Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/1131380067?fl=pl&fe=vl
A playlist of all songs discussed from this point onward:
On Loop
Jet 2 U - Thew | jet 2 u (redux) - Thew
"Jet 2 U" by Thew is textural drum & bass song characterized by vocal chops and distorted laser sounds. The original thrives on speed and rhythmic intensity, delivering an urgent, high-energy listening experience. In its redux, Thew reshapes the track into a futuristic bassline anthem, anchored by deep synths, modulated pads, and well-timed drops that inject tension and release. This evolution feels both refined and experimental, trading raw velocity for depth, atmosphere, and club versatility. As a result, "jet 2 u (redux)" bridges the intensity of the original with a more polished, forward-thinking electronic aesthetic.
Smack the Door - Dismantle, Van Basten
"Smack the Door" by Dismantle and Van Basten is a masterclass in sampling. Without vocals, it's a exceptional breakbeat and UK bass track. What makes it truly stand out, however, is the injection of Anderson .Paak’s “Come Down” at the drop. This unexpected twist adds a familiar hook that shifts the track into a peak-time weapon that electrifies any dance floor.
Bulwark (Nikki Nair SE Breaks Remix) - Glances, Nikki Nair
Continuing on the breaks & bass theme, Nikki Nair's remix of "Bulwark" by Glances balances industrial and gritty textures with smooth, haunting vocals. Rather than utilizing drops, he builds tension through ghostly echoes, risers, and filtered sweeps. The result is a dark and futuristic track that grabs your attention and doesn't let it go.
Al-Duqqi - Moktar
Moktar, an emerging talent from Australia, has carved out a hybrid style that fuses his Egyptian-Australian roots with contemporary club aesthetics. In “Al-Duqqi,” this cultural interplay is front and center; the title "Al-Duqqi" refers to Dokki, a residential district of Giza that is part of Greater Cairo, Egypt. Sonically, the organic oud coupled with breaks and a dub-infused bassline creates a listening experience that is both dark and danceable.
Ya Nas - Dar Disku | Galbi - Dar Disku
Moving from North Africa to South-West Asia, Dar Disku's "Ya Nas" and "Galbi" are two unmissable tracks off the duo's self titled album. Dar Disku translates into "home of the disco," a name that encapsulates their mission to blend their Bahraini heritage with electronic sounds and club culture. While the album was released in 2024, the live instrumentation and vinyl-like crackles create a warm, vintage-inspired aesthetic. These love songs are the equivalent of injecting sunlight directly into your veins, a welcome reprieve from this cold winter weather.
Albums of my Year
2025 by OGD
As the year came to a close, most coverage focused on 2025’s standout releases. This feature takes a different approach- highlighting earlier releases that earned renewed attention and appreciation from me throughout the year.
For clarity, each selection is organized chronologically within each category.
New Finds
I found these albums while searching record stores in preparation for the "Crate Digging Catches" segment of The Curators Crates. While I have not written about them until now, See the Sound and New Found Dialect have snuck their way into many of my playlists since unearthing them. Together, they cover a broad spectrum of early drum and bass.
See The Sound - Etro Anime
See The Sound is an hour of sentimental atmospheric jungle and trip-hop. Liset Alea’s sultry vocals make it perfect for late-night listening. It's smooth, cinematic, and sample driven with infusions of jazz that feel timeless.
New Found Dialect - The Invaderz
After years within the drum & bass world, The Invaderz put out their debut long player New Found Dialect in 2014. Compared to See the Sound, New Found Dialect scratches an itch for intense and energetic rhythms across the drum and bass spectrum.
Constant Repeat
These are the albums that occupied most of my casual listening.
Pulp (Director's Cut) - Ambré
Pulp (Director's Cut) is a soothing blend of R&B and soul. Calling it a director's cut rather than a deluxe reinforces the cinematic experience that is reinforced by the dreamy psychedelic production and Ambré's introspective lyricism. This album has my only skip recommendation on this list. Don't bother listening to "eternal sunshine" or at least skip the G-Eazy feature.
Frailty - Jane Remover
2025 was a big year for Jane Remover, they've released over 30 songs across a studio album, an EP, a temporary mixtape, and several singles/remixes. I've enjoyed all of it, but can't help but find myself returning to their debut album more often then not. Frailty's opalescent blend of shoegaze with glimmers and glitches of electronic music remains mesmerizing. The narrative arc of self exploration, especially through a gendered lens, endures the test of time.
Wallsocket (Director's Cut) - underscores
As with Pulp, Wallsocket (Director's Cut) is an audiovisual journey. Where Pulp is hazy, Wallsocket is a vivid and lifelike picture with intricate lore and character development set in a fictional Michigan town. Close your eyes while listening to "Cops and robbers" to see a bank teller fleeing Wallsocket after being caught embezzling money. The rest of the project is genre-bending, narrative-focused, and emotionally charged. Underscores tactfully weaves in class dynamics, gender identity, corporate influence, religious undertones, and gun culture using danceable hyperpop, indie rock, folk, and blues.
WOLEDTO - Elyanna
Woledto (“I am born”) by Elyanna explores love and vulnerability through poetic lyrics paired with captivating vocal delivery. At just 23 minutes, the album is a concise yet immersive journey across pop, R&B, Latin, and dabke rhythms. The Palestinian-Chilean artist weaves traditional maqamat with sleek electronic production for a timeless appeal.
Tried & True
I imprinted on these albums like a hatchling finding its first moving silhouette. These are longstanding favorites that have shaped my personal listening taste, DJ style, and curatorial perspective.
Speak for Yourself (Deluxe Version) - Imogen Heap
All roads lead to Speak for Yourself. Imogen Heap’s 2005 masterpiece remains a blueprint for experimental pop, inspiring artists like Caroline Polachek, FKA Twigs, and PinkPantheress. With its intricate vocal work, electropop textures, and lyrical depth, it remains a touchstone of electronic music.
Perfectionist (Deluxe Version) - Natalia Kills
I discovered this album shortly after it came out - arguably too early in my development. It's time capsule of early 2000s pop music mix that, while critiqued as cliché, has had a lasting impact on alternative pop. Natalia Kills introduced a highly stylized, conceptual persona and reinforced it with catchy lyrics, experimental textures, and theatrical flourishes. Ultimately, I will always have a soft spot for Perfectionist.
vKiSS - Dazegxd
While vKiSS was released far after Speak for Yourself and Perfectionist, it is on this list because it introduced me to my ideal version of club music. Garage, house, jungle, and trance converge into a kaleidoscope of electronic textures. At its core, vKiSS is a dialogue between synthetic instrumentation and organic vocals, exploring themes of love and vulnerability as they unfold mediated by technology.
If you come to an OGD set, you'll most likely hear "wasting your time" as the opening song.
Best Remix Album
Following the resurgence of the remix album started by RAVE:N, The Remixes by Kelela and it's antecedent Brat and it's completely different but also still brat by Charli XCX, I wanted to finish off this list with an underrated pairing: GRASA and CLUB GRASA by NATHY PELUSO.
GRASA -NATHY PELUSO | CLUB GRASA - NATHY PELUSO
GRASA exists as the sum of its parts. Each song is a mosaic tile with its own color and texture, crossing genre lines between trap, R&B, pop, and salsa. Despite this diversity, the album feels cohesive because of PELUSO's introspective lyricism. Club Grasa, on the other hand, takes those same songs and infuses them with energy for dance floor. Through remixes by global producers, the introspective tone of Grasa is transmuted into kinetic energy.
Where Grasa speaks in confessions, Club Grasa shouts in celebration.
This week's Playlist Tour is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood OddwOrld (Hello :D), and was curated for a Prospect Park set run by NYC based collective Gong. For this set I strayed from my usual bass and breaks heavy sound and took the opportunity to show my Indie Electro, Afrobeat, and 90's Boom-Bap knowledge (hence my mask being in the background of the set and not on my face). This is essentially an hour of music I listen to on a daily basis. I tried my best to guide the listeners through each genre as seamlessly as possible, while still sectioning out each genre to show the differences in sound. This was my first time attempting this, so while it is rough at times there are a lot of blends in here that I love for how unique they are. If you need a chill mix for work or just a reminder of the warm weather soon to come, this is the set for you.
Track List
1 Mk.Gee - cz
2 Weird Inside - game point
3 METAROOM - S.N.U.F.F.Y
4 Wizkid - 2 Sugar (feat. Ayra Starr)
5 Hannymoon - Milan
6 JayO - Obsessed
7 Little Simz - Point and kill ft. Obongjayar
8 Chrome Sparks - Marijuana
9 Koffee - Toast
10 Eric B & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique
11 Talib Kweli & Hi Tek (Reflection Eternal) - The Blast
12 MF DOOM - Doomsday (feat. Pebbles The Invisible Girl)
13 Nujabes - Luv(sic) feat.Shing02
14 Nas - One Love
15 Nujabes - Counting Stars
16 Slum Village - Fall In Love
17 Emperor - Still
18 Hugh Hardie - Evening Red
19 SERAPHINE NOIR - Red Sun (feat. Ash Lee)
20 OddwOrld - Southbound
21 Masego - Prone
22 Crackazat - Coffee Time (Original Mix)
23 Wev x Nick AM - feel everything
24 DJ E-Clypse - That Brooklyn Ish
25 berlioz x Ted Jasper - nyc in 1940
26 Peggy Got - It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)
27 Ossie - OSSIE BABA
28 Promnite - India
After Dark Alerts
Music foreword | Free and low-cost events
Happy Hour: Aniche
Thursday, January 8th from 7PM - 10PM @ Jupiter Disco
Aniche is the genre-agnostic DJ, producer, community builder responsible for founding the popular @findingyourniche party series. @finding.your.niche shifts away from mainstream club culture, returning the focus to the dance floor and the joy of being present in the moment. Aniche's 3-hour set will use that philosophy to take listeners on a deep, immersive journey through experimental club music.
sznl Presents: Cycles (feat. Varist)
Thursday, January 8th from 10PM- 2AM @ Jupiter Disco
If you’ve visited New York City’s leading bars and clubs, you’ve likely encountered sznl, the DJ-producer duo known for their refined blend of minimal house, funk, soul, and disco. Their acclaimed Book Club Radio sets have earned them a loyal following among music enthusiasts seeking depth, sophistication, and a sense of musical narrative.
This Thursday, join sznl and fellow Book Club Radio alum Varist for Cycles, an evening curated to explore the full spectrum of house music. Expect an immersive experience designed to seamlessly move through acid, progressive, deep, and classic styles.
There are 3 incredible events happening this Saturday, January 10th. I usually don't recommend more than one event in the same borough on the same night, but had to make an exception for these incredible organizers and selectors. Make no mistake, the only wrong choice is staying home.
SWDJs x Dugout
Saturday, January 10th from 10PM - Late @ SILO
Support Women DJs, a global platform dedicated to amplifying female talent across electronic music, teams up with Dugout Radio, a community-driven hub for underground sounds, to bring an unforgettable night to SILO’s front room.
Get ready for a high-energy journey through drum & bass, jungle, and UK garage, delivered by a stellar lineup of femme DJs. Among the highlights, keep an eye out for kstrobez, a Jungle DJ and producer with razor-sharp technical skills and impeccable track selection.
FLUX
Saturday, January 10th from 10PM - Late @ JADE
Flux offers a raw, authentic UK garage experience focused on deep cuts, dubplates, and rolling basslines. There is no one voice to look out for, event founder Tonton has assembled a lineup of heavy-hitters who each bring their own flavor to the decks.
SWEAT
Saturday, January 10th from 10PM - 4AM @ Deluxx Fluxx
The name says it all, SWEAT is a full-body celebration of rhythm, bounce, and soul that is guaranteed to keep you on your feet all night long. Curated by PAN!C ROOM collective member Waddle, the soundtrack pays homage to groove-heavy innovators like Anderson .Paak, Kaytranada, Thundercat, Mac Miller, Channel Tres, Toro y Moi, and Steve Lacy.
In-Function x OnlyFemmes
Saturday, January 24th from 9PM to 2AM @ Honey's
IN‑FUNCTION teams up with OnlyFemmes to bring you a night of bass-heavy energy at Honey’s. From UK Garage to breaks and 140 heat, expect an inclusive dance floor and forward-thinking sounds from an all-star lineup: HONEY B, Waddle, J.N.R. b2b zakariyah, and EMMALINE.
Berlin Rat Pt. 2
Saturday, February 6th from 10PM - Late @ Nightclub 101
Almost a year after the first highly successful Berlin Rat party, Aleska and Y2Aura are back at it again with another night of smokey & sexy techno. Bring your favorite club rat and dress on theme.
This section is inspired by the history of white label vinyl records used as promotional copies by DJs. Record labels would often send DJs advance copies of releases to test out on crowds. In some cases, the records would even be mixed differently to sound better on club speakers.
The hope is to spotlight new and exciting sounds that you are able to download and take with you - either for casual listening or to share in club settings.
Make It Bun Dem (OddwOrld DnB Remix)
A dubstep classic meets the face-melting drum & bass sound of OddwOrld. For anyone who loves the original’s hooks but wants them in a quicker, more kinetic package, this remix delivers.