Review: Ikon-B is a producer/DJ from West London who presents his latest full-length titled Enter A New Age on Format Music DnB, featuring over a dozen tracks. There's a wide range in his sonic artillery on this one, whether it's the opening cut "New Age" which is an old-school junglist roller, to the emotive liquid drum 'n bass of "Just Us" (Jungle mix) through to the seething neurofunk of "Predict The Future", the smooth vocal number "Lies Beneath" (feat Paola Barba) and the earth-shattering breaks and sub-bass of "Chainsaw".
Review: Ikon-B is letting loose an onslaught over on Subway Soundz with a tight sounding EP. 'Teleport' is a dark, moody stepper that doesn't care about rules and certainly doesn't care about feelings. The main bass on this tune oozes quality and packs some serious weight, reminiscent of the Souped Up crew. 'We Are All One' is slightly less crazy but it definitely is still on the crazy end, as bouncing bass notes inject a whole load of force into the arrangement in an infectious, rolling manner. Tasty bits here.
Review: Format are a fantastic little label that have really burst out the stocks over the last couple of years, releasing a plethora of music with the common thread of rudeness and an inability to stand still. Ikon-B and Kumarachi are jumping on this heritage with vigour this week, and this two-tracker has a jumpy attitude that we're incredibly sad won't be heard on a dancefloor anytime soon. The VIP of 'Decode' is an absolute percy, as a rolling drum pattern takes you in to a funky, flowing arrangement with serious bite. The remix from Sound Shifter is packed out in the lows, straining against itself the whole way, whilst a lovely set of synths creep out over the top. This one pops.
Review: Format Music aren't playing games with this single, featuring Ikon-B and DJ Twiz, both of whom have pulled out all the stops to make something tough and rolling; a two-tracker that reminds us of music from the Sofa Sound or Symmetry Crews. It's the B-side from DJ Twiz that really seals it, as he stretches things out over a pitched down, punchy percussive line and twisting, tendrils of bass-heavy force. Substantial stuff here.
Review: Format Music DnB have a sampler coming out for a forthcoming compilation LP, which looks set to be a testament to the strengths of the label, spread out across multiple artists and tracks. The sampler is three tracks long and the prevailing wind is expressed by Crisis & Ikon-B on 'Humanize', which rests upon a supremely punchy percussive line, the main action taking place in the streaming, pitched up and aggressive bassline. DJ Twiz's 'Danger Time' is more sub focused, with a spattered drum line and a wobbly underbelly of force. Excellent.
Review: Back in July, Ikon-B tickled our fancy with a first serving of studio hook-ups. Here he returns to action with another dose of collaborations. First into Ikon-B's studio is jungle revivalist RMS. "Speed of Light" is something of a punchy, floor-filling delight, with the duo wrapping a crunchy riddim and booming sub-bass in ricocheting spoken word samples, foreboding riffs and intoxicating late night electronics. As RMS exits stage right, another junglist enters: sometime Ruffneck Ting producer Vytol. His hook-up with Ikon-B is a wonderfully full-throttle affair, with dueling wobble bass motifs propelling the duo's hot-stepping workout from start to finish.
Review: Three veritable jungle gentlemen team up for the first instalment of Ikon-B's "Colabs" series. First to join the party is the inimitable roller merchant Kumarachi who taps in for a slinky low riding heads-down viber. Ice cold introspection with glacial synths and melodic sub bubbles "Decode" takes you right back into the midst of (Krome &) Time. "We Warned You" sees Ikon-B upping the stink factor with Section. Rusty breaks, echoed out MC vox and a rolling groove so robust it can flatten your entire unit. Bring on part two.
Review: Back to the roots. Format firesmith Ikon-B re-ups his label with two sides of purist jungle heat from himself, Sound Shifter and the mysterious Lion-UK. "Sweet Dubplate" is every bit as succulent and savage as its name suggest with big drops in the drum dynamic, sweeping sense of momentum and that all-essential vision blurring feeling. Lion-UK's "Hold It Down" provides more of a sensual jungle rub thanks to some sweet dancehall vocals, atmospheric pads but still rolling with a white-knuckle jungle drum set. Important.
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