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: Sinful sounds: Jedi lays down another storm-trooping selection. Over 20 releases this year (and counting), there's really no stopping him as he delves deep into the dancefloor psyche, drawing up references from across the board; "Gum Drop Buttons" has all the hallmarks of a reload with its infectious bass. "Sinner" takes us deeper into the melting pot again with a soulful sample licking upside the gritty bass. "Enter When Ready" goes in hard with its throbbing Q&A riff while "Empty Experience" rounds up with a bassline made of 100% uncut bounce. Your focus on this determines your reality.
Review: Ripping the heart out of 2017's kneecaps, Jedi continues his relentless proliferation of absolute gully. "Hash Cakes" wakes, bakes and shakes with a squidgy bass, sharp drums and an expertly dug sample. "There's A Better Way" follows with a really cool twist on a classic Kathy Brown vocal while "2 Drops" is straight out of the book of Playaz circa 2007 - buzzy, hooky and just on the right side of silly. Saving the best for last, "Hoo Baby" closes with one of Jedi's best vibes to date as swooning vocal coos melt into a bassline so cheeky it will have you dancing the chicken dance from here until 2019.
Review: Jedi's up to his forceful and wildly prolific tricks once again, this time back on his most common stomping ground D2B. Once again it's a generous dispatch with four bangers, all firmly focused on peaktime danger: with its speedy rap, spiky hook and barking bass riff "All I Wanna Do" smacks in a similar way to early 2000s Full Cycle while elsewhere we're rubbed up the right way by a vicious sandpaper bass riff on "You Wanted Them", we get mischievous with the tongue-in-cheek higher toned harmonic riff on "Violator" and classical to the wideboy bass squelches on "Slow Your Roll". Naughty.
Review: Jedi: a one-man army in the endless war against greed and drum & bass's most prolific of newcomers, he returns with his second release of 2017... And it's bound to bust some serious bellies. "A Jedi Craves" shakes its jowly double chin witheringly with its eerie wind-like bass, "Intergalactic" swings it chubby moobs with a spiked-out Beastie Boys sampling bang while "11 Seconds" is just a straight up riff-heavy truffle shuffle. "Greedy Slob" brings us to a fittingly obese close with a mischievous bass riff that takes on so many twists and textures you'll be left in a daze. Time to tuck in, fatties!
Review: The force is strong on these: Dubstomp doyen Jedi returns with more of his big bass mind tricks, loaded with more samples than a lightsabre has radiation levels. "Samurai" licks with a quirky sense of playful funk, "Women Aye" balances cool west coast synth tones with a classic Hazard-style grizzle bass melody while "Very Dead" strips the vibe right back to its bare bones with its tubular metal ball bass textures. Finally we hit "Spontaneous", a flammable bouncy piece of work that's as devilishly effective as it is simple. These are the bangers you are looking for.
Review: Finally! Jedi's named a tune after the noise we make when he delivers yet another massive banger care package... "Ohh Wow" mischievously twists up an autotuned vocal dropping into one of his trademark swampy bass licks. Elsewhere he names a tune after your enemy with "No Dick", a warped snake-like head-shaker, and even makes some sincere confessions: "I'm Going Mad" is the sound of 100 circuit boards flipping you the bird while "He Hit Me" is pure chainsaw funk. Wowzers.
Review: 'Am I Really Me' is harsh and brash and full of all the garish noises we're used to hearing on this side of the scene. 'Boogie' uses the recognisable vocal sample from Booty Luv's fun and funky track Boogie 2Nite, which lightens the atmosphere ands brings a party vibe to an otherwise dark slab of jump up. In 'Shogun' we get two fro the price of one on classic of film samples fo jump up, the weird, creepy whispering kids and the crazy screaming nutter, both there and both used to full effect. 'Darkside' is our favourite track of the EP bouncy, dark and gun finger inducing!
Review: Man-machine Jedi returns with four more slabs of stone cold truth: "Yo Momma" delivers the goods with every bit of tongue-in-cheek mischief and wisdom we've come to expect from the insanely prolific artist while "You Know My Name" shows off a deeper, purring side to his repertoire by way of a well placed rap vocal from one of the most distinctive and methodological men in the game. Elsewhere he provides balance with a sludgy bass walloping number about your father before closing the show with the deadly drama and ruthlessness of "In That Room". Naughty.
