Review: Oof! Soul Intent always keeps us on our toes and these two beasties are definitely no exception. 'Monster Inc' takes us right back to the early 2000s style of dancefloor dnb. Big beefy bass riffs, beats chunkier than the national debt and nothing but fun time feels. Think G Dub, D*Minds, Hazard, Clipz and Twisted and you're on the right dancefloor. 'Damage Four' continues that vibe but with more of a bass-focused twist. Slinky, sleazy and full of surprises, this wouldn't have gone amiss on Bingo Beats at its mid-2000s prime. Go on Soul Intent!
Review: A fierce n' firing D&B four-tracker here from Joe Rossiter and Liam Bailey, better known collectively as Chromatic, a UK duo who've appeared previously on Dope Plates, New Playaz, Formation Records and Flexout Audio, among others. Opener 'The Prayer' (feat Tim Cant) brings the mid-90s jungle vibes, while liquid, minimal and jungle influences collide on 'Roots' (feat Soul Intent). On the flip, 'Kavos' (feat RV) is another old school-sounding roller, and then finally 'Blend' itself is a smoother ride - liquid in feel without being all wishy-washy about it. It all adds up to an EP that'll do the pair's ever-growing reputation no harm whatsoever.
Review: Chronic is a sub-label of V Recordings that's specifically for rolling, rapid and rough tracks, the ones that are too naughty for the main label yet too good to throw out. Jumping Jack Frost as curated this latest compilation for Chronic and it's simply too good, with a wicked mix of vibes. From the snarling funk of Philth's 'Sanctuary', the wobbling energy of 'My Flava' by Command Strange or the rough jungle on Bailey's 'Computer Life', this LP injects the old-school vibe into new-school clarity. Arguably the stand-out though is DLR's 'Dafunk, a combination of stuttering drums and upbeat samples wrapped up in typical DLR-esque fashion.
Review: Rolling Rotterdam rotters Blendits have been dishing out some serious underground flavours for exactly two years this month. A suitable time, then, to look back and reflect on the damage they've caused. 15 tracks in total, we flicker and flux between lean minimal mechanical badism (Young-G's "Shantytown") to big slappy-drum jazz business (Impish's "Friday") and Bop-style glitch jitters (Hydro, M-Zine & Scepticz' "Keep Your Distance"), all the while keeping our eyes (and ears) on the future. A perfect time to fill the gaps in your collection and get up to speed; Blendits mean business.
Review: Proudly releasing their first EP, Rotterdam based outfit Blendits have convinced Chromatic, Bredren, Philth and J Daur to hand over their tunes. Thank god they did. Chromatic's "Inertia" bursts into life with a layer of sci fi bleeps and effects before launching head first into a full-scale bass attack. "Ghost Palace" is the shared nightmare of bass chums Bredren and Philth, who are pure dirt separately and together... it's difficult to say. The bass removed any metaphorical ability. "Le Tricolore" is a soulful, jazzy float through liquid vibes and caramel bass and "Passing Period" brings out the experimental side of Bredren, featuring some beautiful sound design touches and emotive vocals from Janna Salhoume. Showstopper.
Review: Here's something to celebrate: a studio hook-up between regular sparring partners Break and Mako, and fellow Utopia Music artists Fields and Villem. "Shadowlines" is an undeniably forthright concoction - a pounding tech-step smasher that makes great use of glitchy electronics, snappy snares, weighty sub, nightmarish textures and creepy melodies. It's an excellent follow-up to the quartet's 2012 single "Dilligence". Flip for "Found You" by former Fokuz and Formation Records artist Chromatic, who drops a typically chiming and picturesque liquid D&B roller packed with fizzing rhythms, warm chords and hazy female vocal samples.
Review: Beautiful, breezy bass from the Chromatic guys, kicking off immediately with a summery roll through jazzy piano and twinkling melodies played high up into the stratosphere. Continuing the heavenly feel, "Marrakech" features the bass talents of Soul Intent, placing crowded surroundings with otherworldy atmospherics and string-like synths that drive the whole track forward. Finally, "Lounge Lizard" kicks back for a lazy stepper full of big, comfy soul sounds and a kick drum you can really lean into. Perfect for a long evening drive, or a long evening of lush rollers. Get relaxed.
Review: Want to hear something out of control? The ruffians from Hype's Playaz have come out to play for the seventh installment of the now legendary The Flavours series, and good gracious is it a scorcher. Featuring a tech-heavy stepper called "Very Exciting" (agreed) by newcomer Konichi to break you in, the second track is a deep, devastating roller courtesy of big man Philth with politically charged vox from P-Fine. The rest of the EP comes on strong with heavy-hitting tunes from Serum, the ever-gorgeous Chromatic and Nu Elements as well as some hugely promising newcomers. Do not sleep on this - you've been warned.
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