After years as one of grime and UK funky’s eminences grises, Scratcha DVA has made a number of career step changes this year.

Off the back a decade’s worth of 12″s and EPs, Scratcha finally got around to releasing his enjoyable (if inconsistent) debut full-length, Pretty Ugly. He’s also subbed his slot as an early morning jester on Rinse FM for a more focused role as presenter of the station’s regular Hyperdub show. And so it continues: pet label DVA Music have announced their first ever artist album.

Shy One is 21 year old Mali Larrington-Nelson. DVA’s been a consistent cheerleader, releasing Shy One’s debut Decaffeinated Love EP on DVA Music. That disc was a strong introduction: carried by a title track that somehow managed to channel Joker and Shackleton simultaneously, it also featured a nifty rework from T. Williams…

Full story and tracklisting at FACT

More:

• Forget vinyl, engineer produces the world’s first laser-cut records made from WOOD
• Meet ‘algoraves:’ Raves with music generated by artist-controlled algorithmic software
• JUNGLE IS MASSIVE: AGAIN
• London club Cable closed with immediate effect
• Uncle Dugs interviews Goldie
• BRISTOL MAN BANNED FROM THE ROAD AFTER “DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUM’N’BASS”
• RBQMA: Skream
• Local producer Moldy digs for the roots of a misunderstood sound
• WHAT’S GOING TO KILL THE HOUSE REVIVAL?
• “We just called it techno”: Mike Paradinas and Lara Rix-Martin on Heterotic, the early days of µ-Ziq and the ascent of Planet Mu