9696 Dream by 96 Back

A new 10-track record from the Sheffield artist, 9696 Dream represents the first in a series of three new 96 Back releases on Local Action scheduled across 2021, climaxing with a new full-length album this Autumn.

Barely out of his teens, 96 Back has spent the last three years turning heads with music that’s as evocative as it is intricate. Prodigiously talented and with UK rave history in his blood — he’s the son of legendary Sheffield promoter Matthew Swift and studied under the tutelage of hometown hero Liam O’Shea — he cut his teeth with releases on Central Processing Unit, Hypercolour and Happy Skull, while also collaborating with like-minded souls such as Skee Mask, Happa and Henzo.

Last year 96 Back signed to Local Action for the release of Sugilite, a four-track EP that showcased him at both his heaviest and most delicate, picking up support across the board and cementing his status as “one of the most exciting producers in the UK.”

The months since Sugilite have seen 96 Back hitting all-time high levels of productivity, creating some of his most advanced and evocative music yet — both solo and with Special Request, who included a collaboration with 96 Back in his recent DJ-Kicks.

9696 Dream is the first of three releases due from 96 Back on Local Action this year, a 10-track record of new material that plays as a continuous 31 minutes and introduces an audio language of sorts that flows through all three releases. Honing in on the dreamier side of 96 Back’s music, 9696 Dream closes on ‘Friend Moment’ — a touching collaboration with one of his oldest friends, Joe Paisan. 

Mastered by Warp Records founder Rob Gordon with artwork by regular visual collaborator Air Max ‘97, 9696 Dream will be released on March 16 both digitally and as a limited edition cassette.