Selections: Sully

FABRICLIVE’s first original artist release couldn’t be in much safer hands than Sully’s. A luminary of modern jungle, the Norwich-born DJ and producer has been a critical player in the genre’s resurgence over the past decade, delivering a parade of glowering underground weapons informed by the intricate subcultures of UK dance music. On his landmark new EP, ‘Model Collapse’, Sully demonstrates once again why he’s one of the most exciting figures in jungle today, splicing together shards of techstep, acid rave and glory era jungle/drum and bass into two world-class wobblers. “‘Model Collapse’ was a stab at writing something without samples and building some funk with software from the ground up,” Sully told DJ Mag. “The title is a term to describe what happens when neural networks (or any network?) starts to digest itself. A bit like what happened with BSE in the good old days. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about that.”

Buzzsawing synths and tactile acid lines get to work over some classic amen choppage on the title track, which broke into the Official UK Top 40 Singles Chart following its release last week, whilst ‘The Wash’ takes a more experimental road, contrasting erratic drum configurations and processed vocals with gut-busting bassweight. Both cuts hark back to the producer’s free party roots, which makes them the perfect fit for FABRICLIVE’s newly-minted imprint, celebrating 25 years at the forefront of soundsystem culture.

The EP arrives on bespoke vinyl, featuring a distinctive picture disc and hand-etched design by London artist and regular collaborator John Karborn. “We have a few projects under our belt now and I’ve always enjoyed the process,” Sully shared. “[Karborn] is a dynamo of ideas and I’m never quite sure where they’ll lead, which is 99% of the fun with this stuff. Conversely, FABRICLIVE is a new partnership for me but it’s clear we are on the same page in terms of trying something a bit different and being a bit ambitious with the presentation.”

The collaboration serves as a symbol of a refreshed vision for both brand and producer, whose impact on contemporary electronic music culture remains scarcely matched. To celebrate the release of ‘Model Collapse’, Sully has handpicked a selection of current favourites, timeless jungle workouts and post-punk anthems for our Selections series. Dive in below.

‘Model Collapse’ is available to buy in both digital and vinyl formats here.