Review: Three despatches from the outer limits of the jazz spectrum make up an EP that defies easy categorisation. As One's 'Elsewhere' is up first, and comes on like a free jazz excusion underpinned by the intriguing combination of a live double bass line and an almost jungle tempo breakbeat. As One are then back again to take on Sensurreal's 'NewBrandDesign', which again has Reece/Bukem-ish drums but married in this instance to long, lingering pads, disco stabs, shimmering keys and more. And then there's Jedi Knights' 'Solina', again remixed by As One into a head-fried slice that draws on Detroit techno for inspiration. An interesting package that rewards repeat listening.
Review: A collection of artists land on Audio Overload this week for a jump-up release that genuinely stands out from the crowd. There's a lot of competition in this field at the moment and quite a few releases which aren't up to scratch or don't differentiate themselves enough to get noticed properly. They do both here and it makes for a rip-roaring release that'll have you clenching your fists and scrunching your face with regularity. 'Free It VIP' is just astonishingly powerful, its synths aren't anything new but the force that emanates out from them suggests some seriously good production value. 'Make My Day' is the roller of the bunch and, packing with movement, its momentum is just unstoppable. Top release.
Review: Instag8's Deeper EP on Raw Motion isn't one of those releases for people who like to sit back, sip on a mug of matured whisky and debate the stylistic evolution of music. It's not about pretention, it's about having a good time and for that purpose it's ideally suited. Six tracks full of dancefloor vigour, Instag8 has achieved his presumed goal of making music that'll get people moving. 'Deeper' has that Souped Up-esque forcefulness to its basslines, that torn, ripping feel that only a proper foghorn will get you; 'Get Through This' hits that suspense in the build perfectly, leading in the snapping drums underneath something very special.
Review: Instigation across the nation; Instag8 and Colchester veteran MC J.O.K tag up for a clutch of cold hard truths on Raw Motion. "Spark It" lights the fire with dreamy chords then the grottiest intro this side of the sewage works. It's followed by plenty more vitriolic funk: "Bomb Threat" is a heavy pressure alien stepper, "Trust Me" is much more spaced out, warped and slinky while Jedi joins the fray for the finale cut "Stranger Things", a track so dramatic and dark it'll have you heading for the upside down before you can say Demogorgon.
Review: Call the emergency services! Jedi returns with a 'Blazing Fire' and it's getting out of control! 'Hear Me Talking' is the accelerant he poured liberally over the blaze by way of savage staccato bass hits. The weirdo wobbles of 'Do Some Damage' is the sonic equivalent of whole XXXL box of matches he's thrown into the blend just for the lols while the switchy wriggles and stripped back funk of 'Badguy' is him admitting to his arson but smiling giving zero effs about it. Finally we reach the inferno itself; 'Blazing Fire' hits with fat horn-based bass burps and more heat, brazen audacity and naughtiness than a shamed celeb caught frolicking out of lockdown rules. Heaters for your tweeters.
Review: Having marched right into the year on Dubstomp 2 Bass on January 1st, young Jedi dusts off his sabre once again for his second outing of 2021, this time on another regular stomping ground of his: Nuclear Bass. As always with Jedi, the vibe covers the entire spectrum while remaining rooted in his spiky dancefloor sound. 'Yeah Boy' takes a classic vocal and manipulates it around a vibrant arpeggio, 'Shapes' is a skittering, jittering bass wriggler, 'Watch You Back' is a gnarly slap-out banger of the pack while DEEb collaboration 'You're Dead' closes the EP with pure drama and aggression. Throw some shapes.
Review: Dubstomp 2 Bass are without a doubt one of the strongest jump up labels around at the moment and their output is so damn consistent, with almost a new release every week. This week it's the turn of Jedi, a regular on the label, and, this release is a four-tracker chracterised by its sheer veracity. With crisp drums and a tumbling percussive line, 'Bald Fuck' rolls out in style, hitting punches and stealing packed lunches left right and centre, with a really original, complex approach to make interlinked basses. The madness continies on the other three, and 'Ball Washer' is especially potent, with slicing basslines that cut through the air with untrammelled ferocity. Proper tunes these - no messing around, but then again what would you expect from this label?
Review: Dutty Bass Audio tend to deliver rough, urban-edged sounds that don't prance around or act fancy, they just get down and dirty. Jedi has delivered exactly that here, with a four-track EP of moody tones and no-nonsense drum lines. 'Quench Your Thirst' is a perfect example of said drums, with impossibly clean hits and a clear sense of space and progression, its bass stabs are almost shadowed out. 'I Would LIke' is the most futuristic, with a deep back end and seriously cool synth spasms that lend it a techier feel than the other cuts on the EP. The other two are equally top-draw - make sure to check these.
Review: The 'Mothership' has landed, Jedi's the captain and there are more than enough seats for all of us to join the ride. Our adventure kicks off with 'Car Monkeys' and a sample of the cutest sweary kid you've seen on YouTube. Loaded with an equally cute synth riff, there's more than enough euphoria to scare the primates off your wheels. 'Spread 'Em' is a grimier cut. All swaggers and big melty bass but occasional flashes of synths and police brutality. 'Give Me' is flips for a lighter footed vibe with the breakbeats and pitched up vocal sample before 'Mothership' takes off for the grand finale with its rockets powered by grunting bass, rolling breaks and more crisp synth work. Ready for take-off?
Review: Man like Jedi returns with another batch of high octane party pieces and it's vibes from the off as 'Sounds Falling' takes a classic house sample and flips it into a riffy chainsaw party. Nothing but positivity, it sets us up for the rest of the EP: the strident euphoria of 'Sleepless Nights', the star-gazing, trance-like synth arpeggios of 'Shake Money Make' and the prize piece of the feast; 'Spiritwalker'. If you like raising your hands really high and feeling goosebumps, or you're a spiritwalker yourself, or you just adore sudden trippy bass drops, this one's for you. Don't walk away from this.
Review: The force returns... Super prolific UK producer Jedi is back on Dubstomp 2 Bass with four slabs of peaktime batterage. 'Dance For Me' starts the engine with big bulbous bass licks and shades of classic rave on the hook. It's backed up by three equally stinking pieces; 'Kick Yo Ass Style' fuses up a whole array of sounds from sizzling bassline to jungle breaks, 'LaLa Land' gets all trippy with a playful vocal sample and some of Jedi's smelliest bass textures imaginable while 'Mans Bait' gets all sinister, paranoid and gritty for a dark finale. If you ain't dancing for Jedi who are you dancing for?
Review: Jedi is one of the most consistent jump-up producers around and has been pumping out the venom across a load of labels, including Dubstomp2Bass and more, for several years now. He's back with this five-tracker on Raw Motion and it's Jedi at his best, stretching his legs out in dastardly style across pounding beats and just letting loose with every fibre of his creative being. We especially love the sampling on 'Is It True', which acts as a perfect backdrop to the ensuing steppy madness, with groaning stabs peppering the arrangement and forming a formidable club-ready weapon. The knives stay out on 'Say It', whilst title tune 'Break You' combines stabbing force with wobblier sounds to great effect. Naughty.
Review: The dust has barely settled from his Instig8 collabs and Jedi is back on Raw Motion. This time he's packing a whole brace of bangers of his own. As always, it's a broadsword selection that runs the whole gully gamut. "Mark Of Shame" is a subversive, slightly deeper jam from the young producer while "Masters Of Death" is pure mid 2000s riot flavours. Elsewhere "Magic Lamp" rubs you up the right way with its epic dancefloor-style intro and drop into vicious staccato riffage before "Mechanical Psychopath" closes the show on a wonky stripped back ruffhouse tip. Masterful.
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Audio Overload and this time it's with the Bass Defiler, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Birmingham's Audio Overload. He's a regular feature both on Juno and on the Audio Overload family and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'Bass Defiler' is a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. Nice one.
Review: We're not quite sure how Jedi manages to put out so many releases, to be honest, because the man is just always on it. Always on a mix of labels, this time it's Brummy imprint Dubstomp 2 Bass. The title track is refreshingly heavy, creative bass work and stepping drum smacks forming archways of diving bass force, a joy to listen to and we'd imagine pretty devastating on the dancefloor. 'Sweet Gun' sees Jedi on familiar territory - naughty jump up that makes you want to hit your nan. 'Boner' is different again, a pummelling, fluid back end laid out beneath a rolling set of drums. Yes Jedi!
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Nuclear Bass and this time it's with the I'm A Scientist, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Nuclear Bass. He's a regular feature both on Juno and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'Only A Minute' is a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. Nice one.
Review: We're not quite sure how Jedi manages to put out so many releases, to be honest, because the man is just always on it. Always on a mix of labels, this time it's Audio Overload. The title track is refreshingly futuristic, creative synth work and stepping drum smacks forming archways of diving bass force, a joy to listen to and we'd imagine pretty devastating on the dancefloor. 'My Nuts' sees Jedi on more familiar territory - naughty jump up that makes you want to hit your nan. 'Ain't Got It Like Me' is different again, a pummelling, fluid back end laid out beneath a rolling set of drums. Yes Jedi!
Review: Jedi is back, using his force to compel you to pull ugly bassfaces and throw your drink with an EP that doesn't hold back. Its not the kindest on the ears but then again it's not supposed to be, it's a monograph in hard-hitting sonics and dastardly tones. 'John Spartan' is undergirded by a booming snare drum and percussive clarity, but the action happens in the steadily melodic but still raucous bassline, a pitched-up monstrosity of dancefloor proportions. The others feature more big synths, but with emphasis instead on forward movement and serene rapidity - top release.
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Audio Overload and this time it's with the Family Jewels EP, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Birmingham's Audio Overload. He's a regular feature both on Juno and on the Audio Overload family and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'Family Jewels' is a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. 'Wig Flew Back' is another highlight, if only because the bright, vibrant introduction sounds more like a liquid track than Jedi's usual territory, and the build-up is exquisitely put together. Top stuff.
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Dubstomp 2 Bass and this time it's with the Power & Terror EP, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Birmingham's Dubstomp 2 Bass. He's a regular feature both on Juno and on the D2B family and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'Raptor' is a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. Nice one.
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Dubstomp 2 Bass and this time it's with the Die Clown, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Dubstomp. He's a regular feature both on Juno and on the Dubstomp family and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'We All Get Laid' is a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. Nice one.
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Audio Overload and this time it's with Dont Do drugs, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Birmingham's Audio Overload. He's a regular feature both on Juno and on the Audio Overload family and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'Get Down' iis a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. Nice one.
Review: We're not quite sure how Jedi manages to put out so many releases, to be honest, because the man is just always on it. Always on a mix of labels, this time it's Brummy imprint Dubstomp 2 Bass. The title track is refreshingly futuristic, creative synth work and stepping drum smacks forming archways of diving bass force, a joy to listen to and we'd imagine pretty devastating on the dancefloor. 'Give You The Finger' sees Jedi on familiar territory - naughty jump up that makes you want to hit your nan. 'Ass & Titties' is different again, a pummelling, fluid back end laid out beneath a rolling set of drums. Yes Jedi!
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Audio Overload and this time it's with Your Moms A Hamster, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Birmingham's Audio Overload. He's a regular feature both on Juno and on the Audio Overload family and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'You Ain't Shit' is a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. Nice one.
Review: Jedi is one of the most frequent contributors to Dubstomp 2 Bass, the Midlands-based jump-up imprint that doesn't take no for an answer. This time though he's back with an eight-tracker, a sort of halfway-house between an album and EP that actually works out at the perfect length. It's called Devil's Anus and the title track is the best cut of them all, a wobbly, gyrating cut that is relentless in its formidable monotony and which somehow manages to get better and better as it goes on. The rest of the album is textbook Jedi and our other favourite is 'They Don't Know', a sick little bit of production creativity - go check it.
Review: Jedi is back, once again, onto Audio Overload and this time it's with the No Weed EP, a four-track exemplification of his production ability, as well as that of the A&R people over at Birmingham's Audio Overload. He's a regular feature both on Juno and on the Audio Overload family and you can see why, his ability to craft hard-hitting jump-up beats reflecting well the new primacy of jump-up within the D&B scene. 'Stinking Badges' is a highlight, it's snapping, steppy drums supporting a rough, gargled bassline that chokes its way down the range. Nice one.
Review: We're not quite sure how Jedi manages to put out so many releases, to be honest, because the man is just always on it. Always on a mix of labels, this time it's Audio Overload. The title track is refreshingly futuristic, creative synth work and stepping drum smacks forming archways of diving bass force, a joy to listen to and we'd imagine pretty devastating on the dancefloor. 'Turkey Boy' sees jedi on more familiar territory - naughty jump up that makes you want to hit your nan. 'Yeah Man' is different again, a pummelling, fluid back end laid out beneath a rolling set of drums. Yes Jedi!
Review: Audio Overload's most prolific and consistent acts Jedi returns with four more barnstorming blister bangers. "Inmates Of Alcatraz" starts the scrap with a bassline so strong it can bend iron bars and crumble concrete while "Floor Shake" brings the house down with sharp vox sample and a two toned bassline that saws through the speakers like timber. "Trick" is sensual enough to have you spilling your milkshake everywhere while "Drop It" rolls the bassline... Because it's got it going on. Hot.
Review: Last spotted on Audio Overload kitten canoodling, Jedi returns to the label with some serious club slapping sample flexing. "Partys Jumpin" takes us late into the eve with a banger for the people while "The Rain" takes it to the Peebles (ahem) with a window smashing soul/grot tear up while "In The Club" hits the Marques with a singalong riff of Macky proportions. Finally "Everyday" gives you all the deets you need to tear the club up. Serious party heat.
