By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Bristol, The landscape of British electronic music is one of constant flux, yet few artists have navigated its shifting tides with as much grace and curiosity as Jacob Martin, the producer better known to the global clubbing community as Hodge. In an announcement that has sent ripples through the underground, it has been confirmed that the Bristol-based innovator is set to return with his second full-length studio album. Titled Big Splash, the record is scheduled for arrival on October 2nd via the esteemed London-based imprint Local Action. This news marks a significant milestone in Martin’s career, representing not just a collection of new rhythms, but a profound evolution in his artistic identity and personal philosophy.
The announcement comes four years after the release of his debut long-player, Shadows In Blue, which arrived via Houndstooth in 2020. While that record was praised for its atmospheric depth and its synthesis of nature-inspired textures with precision-engineered techno, Big Splash promises a departure toward something more visceral, playful, and human. The lead-up to this project has been paved by a series of high-impact singles released over the past eighteen months, including the double-sided "Tom’s Tweaks / Let You Know" and the more recent "Wiggler / Trust." These releases signaled a tightening bond between the producer and Local Action, a label that has carved out a unique space in the UK scene by championing music that sits at the intersection of club functionality and idiosyncratic pop sensibility.
According to the label, the genesis of the album was an organic process rather than a calculated career move. The relationship between Hodge and Local Action head Tom Lea blossomed through a period of intense creative exchange. The label noted that during a sustained period of "back-and-forth" communication, it became increasingly evident that the sheer volume and quality of the material Martin was producing pointed toward a larger narrative. The "demos folder" for this era of Hodge’s career is reportedly overflowing, suggesting a producer who has found a renewed sense of momentum and a lack of creative inhibition.
At the heart of Big Splash is a thematic shift inspired by the most fundamental of life changes: parenthood. For many electronic musicians, the arrival of children can lead to a period of silence or a retreat into more ambient, sedentary sounds. For Hodge, however, the experience of raising kids seems to have injected a sense of "chaos and fun" into his workflow. He describes this period of his life as one defined by a specific kind of domestic energy—one that is unpredictable, messy, and vibrant. This energy has translated into a sound that moves away from the steely, often dark aesthetics of traditional UK techno and toward the warmer, more inclusive realms of deep house and garage.
This stylistic pivot is also deeply rooted in Martin’s recent experiences on the dance floor as a spectator and a participant, rather than just a performer. He credits the specific atmospheres of certain venues and parties for shaping the sonic palette of the new LP. Among these influences is the NYC Downlow, the legendary queer space at Glastonbury Festival known for its celebration of vintage house, disco, and high-energy performance. The "Downlow" is a place where the barriers between the booth and the floor dissolve, and where the music serves a purpose of collective liberation. By tapping into this spirit, Hodge is looking to capture the "deeper moments" of the dance floor—those points in a night where the groove becomes hypnotic and the external world fades away.
Closer to home, the influence of Bristol’s local institutions cannot be overstated. Martin specifically cited Strange Brew and The Love Inn as pivotal touchstones for the album’s development. These venues represent the modern heart of Bristol’s nightlife, moving away from the massive warehouse raves of the past toward more intimate, community-focused spaces that allow for musical eclecticism. At The Love Inn, one might hear anything from slow-burning Balearic tracks to driving UKG, while Strange Brew has become a sanctuary for experimentalism that remains tethered to a groove. These spaces have allowed Hodge to reconnect with the "fun" of clubbing, a sentiment that permeates the title track of the album, which is available for streaming alongside the announcement.
The "watery" theme of the album title, Big Splash, was intended to be celebrated in a literal sense earlier this summer. A planned boat party in Hackney Wick, organized by the Local Action crew, was meant to serve as the launchpad for the album announcement. While logistical delays meant the official news arrived slightly later, the event itself served as a testing ground for the new material. Those in attendance, as well as those who caught his set during the Local Action takeover at Ormside Projects, were treated to a preview of a producer at the top of his game, blending the rhythmic complexity he is known for with a newfound melodic brightness.
Hodge’s journey to this point is a testament to the longevity of the "Bristol sound." Emerging over a decade ago, he was initially associated with the darker, more industrial end of the bass music spectrum, frequently collaborating with artists like Peverelist and releasing on labels such as Livity Sound and Timedance. His early work was characterized by a certain tension—a mechanical precision that felt perfectly suited to the brutalist architecture of UK clubs. However, as his career progressed, that tension began to give way to a more organic fluidity. Shadows In Blue was the first major step in this direction, incorporating field recordings and a more cinematic approach to composition.
Big Splash appears to be the culmination of this softening process. By embracing house and garage, Hodge is engaging with genres that prioritize the "swing" and the "soul" of electronic music. Yet, given his background, it is unlikely to be a straightforward homage to the past. His ability to manipulate sub-bass and his keen ear for percussion ensure that even his most house-leaning tracks retain a contemporary edge that is unmistakably his own.
The collaboration with Local Action also speaks volumes about the current state of independent British labels. In an era where the industry is often dominated by data-driven decisions, the "back-and-forth" nature of this project’s development highlights the importance of A&R as a relationship-based craft. By providing Hodge with the space to experiment and the encouragement to follow his instincts into "the chaos," Local Action has facilitated a record that feels like a genuine reflection of an artist’s life, rather than a product designed for an algorithm.
As the October 2nd release date approaches, the anticipation within the electronic music community continues to build. Big Splash is not just an album; it is a document of a transition. It captures a seasoned artist finding joy in the unpredictability of both the nursery and the nightclub. It suggests that the most profound creative breakthroughs often come not from isolation, but from an immersion in the messiness of the real world. In a genre that can sometimes take itself too seriously, Hodge’s invitation to make a "big splash" is a welcome reminder of the power of play.
The album will be available across all major digital platforms, with physical editions expected to follow. As fans revisit Hodge’s previous contributions to the scene, such as his influential Selections series for major publications, the consensus is clear: the Bristol producer has successfully navigated the difficult second-album hurdle by looking inward at his own life and outward at the dance floors that continue to sustain him. October cannot come soon enough for those eager to dive into the latest chapter of one of the UK’s most consistent and compelling musical voices.
