Playgroup

Playgroup sounds like the intersection of a gritty 1982 New York loft party and a polished 2001 London design studio. It is music that wears its influences on its sleeve, blending the skeletal rhythms of post-punk with the shimmering, hedonistic pulse of classic disco and electro. The production is remarkably dry and punchy, favoring tight drum machines and elastic basslines over the lush, over-compressed sounds of contemporary pop.

What makes Trevor Jackson's project distinctive is its curation. It doesn't just replicate the past; it edits it with a designer's eye for negative space. The vocals are often delivered with a detached, almost bored cool that heightens the tension of the groove. It is music for people who find the history of the dancefloor as exciting as the dancefloor itself, utilizing dub-inflected delays and sharp synth stabs to create an atmosphere of sophisticated rebellion.

Start with the self-titled 2001 debut, 'Playgroup'. It is a masterclass in the electroclash era's ability to make retro sounds feel urgent and futuristic. From there, dive into his 'DJ-Kicks' mix to understand the wide-ranging vinyl-digging DNA that informs his sound, from obscure no-wave to forgotten funk gems.