Review: The relationship between Chronic / V Recordings and Brazil requires no introduction. If it wasn't for Bryan Gee opening the doors to the first generation of artists like Marky, Patife and XRS then the culture might not be anywhere near as strong as it is now. Just take this immense project from DJ Andy as he shines a light on a huge cross-section of Brazilian talent on this long-awaited VA. To many highlights to list every one but Alibi's monster 'Rave Digger', L Side's firesome 'Inna Di Dance' and Dirtbag & Collette Warren's super-funk jam 'Telepathy' are great places to start. Vibracoes!
Review: Destination Sao Paulo - one of the fieriest spiritual homes for drum & bass since the late 90s and home of rising star Acuna. Last spotted on Chronic collaborating with fellow Brazilian donnie DJ Andy, here he returns with one of his biggest EPs to date. Featuring the likes of A Little Sound, Speaker Louis and Fatman D, it's a non-stop tear-up with a whole range of vibes that ranges from the epic diesel engine banger 'Roll The Streets' to the electrifying stepper with A Little Sound 'Get High'. Street talk.
Review: The heat has yet to settle on his Chronic EP and rising talent Acuna returns with another big hitter on DJ Hybrid's Audio Addict. This time linking with Manchester mic master Madrush MC, the pair weave two sterling cuts, both laced with venomous tension. 'Babylon System' is every bit as foreboding as and grizzly as the title suggests while 'City Lockdown' takes a deeper, more tense vibe as the pair flex between some buzzy midrange bass hits and a skippy beat. Loaded with two instrumentals for added mixing creativity, Audio Addict smash it once again.
Acuna - "Don't Need Your Love, Baby" - (5:12) 174 BPM
DJ Hybrid - "I Get Mash Up" - (4:52) 175 BPM
SR & Digbee - "Morning Strummer" - (4:26)
Ricky Force - "Setbacks" - (5:19) 170 BPM
Review: A truly delightful EP here from36 Hertz, "The Aztec Bass EP" celebrates a wealth of talent from the label, including such names as Acuna, DJ Hybrid, SR & Digbee and Ricky Force. Kicking things off with "Don't Need Your Love Baby" by Acuna and the spaced out intro switches into a synth driven, vocal hook and ensuing drop which is full of rattling metallic beats. DJ Hybrid's "I Get Mash Up" carries on with its bellowing bass and uplifting, polished vocal sections, before we move on to SR & Digbee's "Morning Strummer". Here things get a bit more rough and dirty on a Wilkinson-style tip before last but not least Ricky Force brings things to a close with the driving bass of "Setbacks".
