Abstract Elements & Detail - "Wrecked" - (4:59) 170 BPM
A-Cray - "Stomper" - (4:41) 172 BPM
Review: Next level badness from Phace & Misanthrop's Neodigital camp; both these cuts push D&B into brand new creative alleys, ruffing the genre up and nicking its wallet in the process. "Wrecked" is as forefront as it gets; all stuttering cuts and mad edits flying in from nowhere. Wonky, spacious and daring, it's like a Dub Phizix track but heard 30 metres deep underwater while having a bad dream (this is a good thing). A Cray's "Stomper" is a little more conventional - in that its rhythm is more of a classical steppy dynamic - but the thundering bass and spiky synth shots give it an almost anarchic edge. Goodbye neurofunk, hello neuropunk!
Review: If your immediate reaction to the news that Horizons have released a 17-track behemoth to celebrate their tenth year in existence wasn't total joy and amazement, you might not have a pulse. As a heavyweight label at the centre of the darker end of the scene, this LP has attracted mainstay names to come and show support, resulting in the most enviable roll call of the year. Kicking off with Break, artists as diverse and as legendary as Mako & Hydro, DLR, Need For Mirrors, Skitty and NickBee all come forth to spread the deep, dark, and at times industrial, love.
Review: Bad Company is in the habit of releasing some of the scene's best high energy, heavy drum & bass. From this LP's epic opening statement by the label's owner himself, a brain-blistering stepper of monstrous proportions, it's fair to say that this has not set out to be a gentle introduction to the label and all it stands for. From the erratic neuro of Zooi's "Detail" to the minimal start and thousand MPH drop of "Minerva"; Soul Synthetic's cinematic nightmare stylings of "Goose Bumps" and the icy emptiness of "Headslide", this release has everything a twisted drum & bass fan from the darker side of the tracks needs to be happy.
Review: We probably don't need to convince you of the quality of this LP, since Horizons have been calmly showing everyone how things should be done with their Dreamthief series since 2008. Pitching together to create one mindblowing collection of tunes, the likes of Gremlinz, Nitri & Release, Need For Mirrors, NickBee and Utopia Music's own Mako bring the vibes in strong. Need we go on? Not really. Should you buy this album? Almost definitely.
Review: Little is known about 2222 but in this instance it's more useful to let the music do the talking anyway. Detail's hard-hitting first track is a minimal stomp through electronic and neuro influences. With cinematic breakdowns and some serious atmospheric build-up, expect to hear it on a mixtape near you soon. Following this penchant for all things dark, crisp and minimal, Haemoglobin's offering steps hard to an echoing synthy backdrop. Noel & Exit9's "Can't Be There" softens the corners with a deliciously deep roller of a bassline, and to throw yet another curveball, Hidden Elements - "Nr 13" is a beautiful piece of microfunk, delicate and subtle with an intense level of production skill. One special EP.
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