By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Manchester, The city of Manchester has long served as a crucible for electronic music innovation, a place where the industrial echoes of the past meet the frantic energy of the digital present. Out of this storied DIY landscape, a project with a deceptively self-deprecating name has emerged as one of the most vital forces in contemporary British underground music. DJ Absolutely Shit, the collaborative powerhouse consisting of local legends Il Bosco and Metrodome, has transitioned from a cult curiosity to a definitive voice in the post-pandemic rave scene. Their latest long-player, Synthetic Stupid, serves as a sprawling, technicolor manifesto that defies easy categorization while paying homage to the chaotic heritage of Northern club culture.
The origins of DJ Absolutely Shit are rooted in the subterranean spirit of Manchester’s independent venues and warehouse spaces. Before the global lockdowns of 2020, the duo had already begun to cultivate a dedicated following, primarily through their reputation for marathon DJ sets that disregarded genre boundaries in favor of pure, unadulterated energy. Both artists brought significant pedigree to the table. Il Bosco, a figure synonymous with the Red Laser Records imprint, has long been a champion of "Manctalo"—a gritty, Northern reimagining of Italo-disco. Metrodome, meanwhile, is widely regarded as one of the most versatile producers in the UK, a technical virtuoso whose work with the Levelz collective and various solo projects has seen him master everything from boom-nap hip-hop to high-velocity jungle. When these two creative forces collided, the result was a project that embraced the "shitness" of the DIY aesthetic—the raw, the unpolished, and the unapologetically fun—while maintaining a level of production sophistication that only seasoned veterans could achieve.
Synthetic Stupid, the duo’s second full-length album, arrives at a time when electronic music often feels divided between overly polished commercial pop and self-serious, academic techno. DJ Absolutely Shit occupies the vibrant middle ground, offering a record that is as intellectually stimulating as it is physically demanding. The album is characterized by an overwhelming sense of warmth and kinetic bounce, a sonic signature that has become the duo’s hallmark. It is a record that sounds like it was made in a room filled with vintage hardware, flickering neon lights, and a deep appreciation for the history of the dancefloor.
The opening movements of the album immediately establish its maximalist intentions. In "8bit Bash," the listener is treated to a collision of retro-gaming nostalgia and industrial aggression. The track utilizes sawtooth hoover sounds—a staple of early 90s rave and Belgian techno—reimagined through a modern lens. The percussion is infectiously swinging, avoiding the rigid grid-like structures of contemporary tech-house in favor of a more human, loose-limbed groove. It is a masterclass in tension and release, where the jagged edges of the synthesizers are balanced by a rhythmic fluidity that keeps the energy from becoming overwhelming.
As the record progresses, the duo’s ability to weave disparate threads of electronic history into a cohesive tapestry becomes even more apparent. "Warning" is perhaps the album’s most evocative moment of "cosmic" exploration. Here, the influence of Italo-disco and early synthesizer pop is worn proudly on the sleeve. Glittering arpeggios dance across the stereo field, underpinned by a driving bassline that feels like a direct transmission from a 1980s discotheque in Rimini, albeit one that has been transported to a rain-slicked street in Salford. It is old-school in its soul but futuristic in its execution, bridging the gap between the analog past and the digital future.
The collaborative spirit of the Manchester scene is also a central theme of Synthetic Stupid. On "50 Inch Subwoofer," featuring Yussuf Maleem, the duo explores the intersection of classic house and modern bass music. The track is anchored by a quintessential piano house riff—the kind of uplifting, major-key melody that defined the Hacienda era—but it is subverted by subterranean bass rumbles and pitched, warbling vocal manipulations. It is a clever juxtaposition; the "upstairs" of the track is all euphoria and light, while the "downstairs" is a heavy, dub-influenced workout that demands a high-quality sound system to be fully appreciated.
Similarly, "Ale’d Up ’n’ Dat," a collaboration with the rising drum and bass star Sl8r, serves as a direct tribute to the UK’s enduring soundsystem culture. The track is a frantic, breakbeat-laden journey that captures the "everything all at once" philosophy of the British rave. It incorporates elements of garage, jungle, and hardcore, all while maintaining a cheeky, irreverent attitude that prevents the technical complexity from feeling inaccessible. It is music designed for the peak hours of a club night, where the lines between genres blur and the only thing that matters is the collective momentum of the crowd.
What sets Synthetic Stupid apart from its peers is its refusal to stay in one lane. Throughout the album, one can hear the echoes of British rave tweaking on acid, electro-hop sharing space with Italo-disco, and UK garage flirting with experimental breaks. There is a sense of "messing about with a sampler" that pervades the entire project—a playful, improvisational energy that suggests the duo is having as much fun making the music as the audience is listening to it. This "stupidity" is, of course, a calculated aesthetic choice. It takes a high level of intelligence and musical literacy to create something that feels this effortlessly chaotic.
The cultural impact of DJ Absolutely Shit cannot be overstated within the context of Manchester’s musical resurgence. In an era where many artists are concerned with brand management and social media aesthetics, Il Bosco and Metrodome have built their brand on the idea of being "absolutely shit," a move that ironically highlights their immense talent. Their marathon sets have become legendary, often lasting six or seven hours, during which they take the audience on a journey through the deepest corners of their record bags. This stamina and commitment to the craft are reflected in the pacing of Synthetic Stupid, which feels like a condensed version of one of those epic nights.
The album also serves as a reminder of the importance of the "DIY" ethos in modern music. In a world of algorithmic playlists and corporate-sponsored festivals, DJ Absolutely Shit represents a more organic form of success. They have built their following through word of mouth, through residency at local clubs like the White Hotel, and through a series of vinyl releases that have become highly sought after by collectors. Synthetic Stupid is a celebration of this independence. It is a record that doesn’t care about radio play or commercial trends; it cares about the feeling of a bassline hitting your chest in a dark room.
As the final tracks of the album fade out, the listener is left with a sense of exhilaration. Synthetic Stupid is more than just a collection of dance tracks; it is a vivid snapshot of a specific time and place. It captures the resilience of the Manchester scene, the joy of creative partnership, and the enduring power of the rave. The duo has managed to create an album that is inimitable and smile-inducing, a rare feat in an industry that often takes itself far too seriously.
In the grander scheme of electronic music history, DJ Absolutely Shit will likely be remembered as the architects of a very specific kind of Northern soul—one that is built on grit, humor, and a deep, abiding love for the dancefloor. Synthetic Stupid is a definitive statement from two artists at the height of their powers, a record that embraces the absurdity of the human experience and turns it into something beautiful, loud, and undeniably brilliant. Whether you are a veteran of the original rave era or a newcomer to the scene, there is something in this album that will resonate. It is a reminder that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to embrace a little bit of stupidity.