Review: Just in case his recent album Isoclusion wasn't quite enough DJ Hidden action for us all, the experimental Dutch hardliner now serves up a huge collection of remixes from tracks of his over the years. Featuring reboots from across the spectrum - from Pythius and Redpill to Limewax - each cut adds a whole new lease of life to the originals. Those looking for unrelenting brain-mushing freakery will be all over the remixes from the likes off Katharsys, Ophidian and The Outside Agency while those looking for some interesting departures from the usual Hidden hammer and tongs will be interested in the DNGN DRGNS remix of 'Sigs Of A Time' and his own VIP take on 'Nightmare Connector'.
Review: Introducing 'Isoclusion'... A tense, frustrated, foreboding fusion of isolation and exclusion that's been articulated exquisitely by Dutch sonic extremist DJ Hidden on his sixth studio album. Those already familiar and acquainted with the pioneer's work will already know what's in store here... A unique blend of uncompromising music loosely based around (but definitely not limited to) drum & bass. Piqued and pepped with elements of IDM, techno, hardcore and even ambient, highlights on this inimitable trip include the gentle twangs and stirring feels of 'Stasis', the late 90s Virus style rattle and funk off 'Sense Memory' and the stark, dramatic halftime heaviness of 'Cathode Days'. All this and plenty more, DJ Hidden's skills are in plain sight right here.
Review: Rotterdam's own Prospect Recordings enjoys a huge following and an even bigger roster of mashed-up, dark and filthy artists, and this family album looks to capitalise on some of this artistic wealth. Why not? If you had a back catalogue full of some of the most insane drum & bass on offer to the wider world, wouldn't you want to share it? Littered with breakcore, neuro, gabber and hardcore, it's a whipround through the neck-breakingly heavy side of drum & bass that many fear to tread. Track names like "Skullsplitter", "Total Confusion" and "Death Will Set Us Free" have rarely been so truthfully descriptive, and even label darlings Counterstrike and Bong Ra team up for "Possessed", a feeding frenzy of metal, breakcore and drum & bass. A horror movie for your ears. Nobody's lives were ever enriched by staying inside the chillout room.
