Review: Joining dots between two sounds that came from the same mindset and very similar streets and cultural context, Influence Records have curated something incredibly special here with 'Diaries From Detroit'; a VA collection boasting some of the most talented names across the D&B generations from Seba to Conrad Subs. All exploring those cold futuristic aesthetics that both jungle and Detroit techno share, highlights can be found at every twist and turn but you'd be crazy not to check the likes of subtleties and immense subs of A Audio's 'Mercury', the ice cold grumbles of Lynx's 'De-Tro' and the shimmering dub techno influences on L-Side's powerful 'Point Of View'. What a collection.
Review: Easy shows us the way to San Jose with these two teasers from his forthcoming album After Dark. First up comes the title track, a moody slab of deep D&B laced with the perfect balance of drifting, dreamy emotions and a heavy, focused groove. It's backed by an equally sprightly piece of soulful D&B with 'Burt Bacharach'. A celebration of one of the world's most influential songwriters, this will keep the raindrops from falling your head for a long long time to come. Bring on the album!
Review: It's been a while since Sweet Tooth cooked up an "All You Need" EP feast. But the wait has been worth it as five of the label's most exciting artists deliver electrifying new twists on the jump-up sound. "Murderah" is all about the high-end Hazard-style bass lickage, "Route 66" croaks like an angry, addiction-riddled frog who's run out of glue to sniff, "Side Effect" takes us back to Dreamscape at its 1994 prime with its paranoid-drenched synth stabs, "Could Be" wriggles with Majistrate's trademark wobbly charm while "Phenomena" toys with some of the most enduring aspects of late 90s D&B with a tearing mentasm, old school samples on the breaks and an interesting key change midway. Exceptional.
