All good things must come to an end... DJ Hybrid's Deep In The Jungle Anthems VA series reaches its final volume, giving him time to develop other awesome ways to bring some of the freshest and talented new artist and contemporary jungle to our sets, ears and hearts. Naturally the series ends with a massive bang as we're pummelled with 38 sizzling slabs of freshness from a whole host of skilled producers from Fez to Sum to DJ Gaw to Guzi and Epicentre to Conrad Subs and so many more. Consistently mapping and pushing the boundaries of the modern jungle sound and forever championing the new breed, every single Deep In The Jungle Anthems collection has been a vintage. Make sure you collect them all. Salute to DJ Hybrid!
Although they've released music on countless labels (they were initially associated with I'm A Cliche, Correspondant and Hivern Discs), many of Red Axes' most potent dancefloor workouts have appeared on Erol Alkan's Phantasy Sound imprint. This tidy compilation rounds up the best of their material for the label to date, flitting between certified bangers (the frankly mind-melting, extra-percussive 'Some Lights', the hypnotic and hallucinatory 2018 anthem 'Sipoor', wonky electronic disco workout 'Shabak Shalom', the rushing gorgeousness of 'Rhythm Passage' and the deep, sub-heavy throb of 'Sound Test'), and lesser-celebrated - but no less trippy - B-sides (the bleeping and creepy '20 Min', angular acid weird-out 'Sound Text XoX', and frankly insane 'Oh My Arp').
There has been some excellent material released by Nu Groove since the long-dormant NYC label was reborn a couple of years ago, though this EP from Ibiza-based Italian Guiseppe Tuccillo may well be the best yet. It starts on a warm, deep and spacey-sounding flex with the rubbery 'Sunshine City'. 'It's Not Over' sees him join the dots between rolling, mid-90s NYC house and classic Italo-house, while 'Let's Do It' is a slightly slower slab of swirling house retro-futurism. Three quality club cuts for those who like their house to be as addictive as it is classy.
Three nicely varied offerings from the Constant Sound label's co-owner James 'Burnski' Burnham, headed by the ridiculously catchy and unashamedly party-stoking 'Where Are You?', where hyperactive, clipped vocals add a new dimension to the sturdy, garage-influenced house grooves that have become one of his trademarks. 'Stop' is cooler and calmer, jazzy vibraphone tinkling making way for nudging keyboard stabs, and delay-heavy reggae vocals and brass flavouring the irresistible shuffle of closer 'The Way''.
Opening the From Another Mind account for 2023, label owner SHDW & Obscure Shape deliver the intense Vergessene Welt. "Planet Der Sturme" gets the release off to a visceral start, thanks to its fuzzy, murky rhythm. "Der Urknall" adopts a different approach but is just as impactful; based on pounding grainy drums, it sounds like an interpretation of 90s Synewave techno, filtered through a modern studio. "Das Gefallene Konigreich" follows in a similar vein, albeit with blustering synths, while "Geburt der Erde" is a mesmerising acid workout. The title track brings the EP to a close in an uncharacteristically mellow mode, with the pair inspired by deep Detroit techno to create a hypnotic finale.
Seb Wildblood's last release, critically acclaimed album 'Do You Feel It Too?', was an undeniable delight. Pleasingly, this EP for Oath, which marks his first outing since, is equally as inspired. He begins with 'Re-Location.zip', a pleasingly warm, dreamy and atmospheric breakbeat number underpinned by drowsy chords and weighty sub-bass, before joining the dots between nostalgic, acid-infused prototype progressive house (think early, rather than late, 90s) and Italian dream house on the similarly tactile 'Floor Science'. Title track 'Vitara 3000' follows, with waves of attractive electronics and eyes-closed synths riding a lusciously loved-up house groove, before Central delivers a chunky, bouncing and rolling revision of the same track.
