Review: 25 years in the game! The world's longest-standing D&B platform continues to represent drum & bass culture in the best and most upfront way possible with this incredible collection of tracks from right across the whole scene. Loaded with legends and new generation cats alike, with all ages and styles in between, the album ranges from the likes of Bukem's first release in many years - 'Flip The Narrative' to J Majik's hardcore-heaving 'Blake' by way of Bcee & Dynamite's 'Run', A.M.C's carnivalesque 'Brazil' and Visages & Kyrist's squelchy, dark funk piece 'Mirai'. These are just some of the many, many highlights on offer. With names like Particle, Digital & Charla Green, Ben Snow, Athena, Trex and so many more, this is a fantastic way to celebrate a quarter of a century in the game. Here's to the next 25 years.
Review: Friction's Brighton-based imprint are doing things in style with this one, as Pola & Bryson meet DJ Marky for a flourishing example of high-level production chemistry that has now yielded its first full length EP: Run The Streets. It's darker than you might expect from two producers who are definitely known more for their contributions to the liquid side of the scene, and whilst 'Trouble' definitely ticks thatt box, it's the pummelling low frequencies which will really get your head nodding. 'Dogfighter' is the highlight in that regard, its striding percussive line walking boldly through a shimmering outer mirage of underground oscillations. Ed:it lands on the remix for track four to tie things up in style.
Review: Pass the pizza ar kid, Marky's heading up north and he's after something spicy! Teaming up with Dutta for the first of a two part release, this is a seriously tasty dream team where both artists characters' can be heard very clearly and vividly in the mix. "Mochi" flips between sandpaper bass licks and soft funk stabs while "Waffles" flips between a grumpy Bristol style bass and perky piano rolls that gradually get creepier and creepier. Feeling peckish? This will feed your family for three weeks and still have plenty left over.
Review: What a release this is. Coming from the vaults of Break, it's unsurprising that Symmetry's summer compilation has turned out to be such a standout collection of tracks, I mean just look at that tracklist: Lenzman, LSB, Break and more. Break's 'I Need You' has been doing the rounds in mixes and sets for a little while now and it's great to see it released, the simplicity of the sample and structure is shows that less can often be more and Break is the king of finding that balance. Lenzman's remix of Ill Truth's In My Soul is a well-made rework of an already fantastic original, its revamped drums injecting the Amsterdam flavour. Again, simple is best and this release proves that.
Review: For all his dancefloor destroying singles and party-starting anthems, Brazilian D&B legend DJ Marky hasn't much pedigree when it comes to the album format. In fact, My Heroes is his debut solo full-length, and his first album of any sort since XRS collaboration In Rotation way back in 2004. It's perhaps unsurprising, then, that My Heroes has a celebratory feel throughout, with Marky delivering a range of melodious, soulful, carnival-friendly rollers and spiralling, anthem-like cuts (see recent single "Silly"). These are interspersed with a number of surprising diversions, including two memorable trips into soulful house territory ("Around You", the samba-flecked "Freedom"), and the synth-boogie influenced goodness of "Bella Drix".
Review: Where do you go when all you need are sexy summer vibes and the type of beats that roll for days? DJ Markey's house, obviously. In lieu of actually receiving an invitation to the man's Brazilian maison, may we suggest this double helping of sweet summery goodness - guaranteed to get your feet moving and heart smiling. Marky is the king of soulful drum and bass and both "Silly" and "Firenzi" are hot enough to get things heated on the dancefloor. Set them off and feel the sun come out. Perfect.
Review: Marky and Makoto made this almost 10 years ago. Naturally it still stands up to today's production standards with ease as the rolling breaks, a sumptuous string and horn sample and juicy bass undulations fuse to create the epitome of a soulful roller. If this isn't in your collection yet, now is most certainly the time to jump on it. Lovely.
Review: Not content with putting up with a winter that's outstaying its welcome, Innerground have begun to piece together a work collective that shows off the sundrenched atmospherics of the Brazilian drum and bass scene. Headed up by DJ Marky and S.P.Y, the first track is of course "Yellow Shoes" but with a twist; adding that classic Calibre warmth to drum and bass' ultimate summer anthem tones down the glare, making it much more accessible to those of us bleached by a thousand months of rain and sleet. "Summer Soul" is far less accommodating however, and as the title suggests, it's a Submorphics-flavoured roll through the bassy summer days and soulful vocals that have become a staple of the Brazilian scene. A perfect excuse to ramp up the heating and crack open some Brahmas.
