Review: Oh boy.. Three of modern bass music's finest players collide for the first in a series of collaborative long players on Deep Medi. The results - as you'd expect just reading the line-up - speak for themselves. Every artist's signatures is coded deep into the collection; Kahn's unpredictability and robustness, Commodo's grit and funk and Gantz often unfathomable depths and eastern twangs are all present as we wriggle and writhe to the detuned harmonies of "Crystal Collect", get twisted on the tripped out drum dynamic of "Kibosh" and lose ourselves in the spacious jazz-minded drums of "Unmistakeable". Truly unique.
Review: eep Medi Musik continues to be the leader of the deep dubstep sound after many years in the game. Kahn is now back on the label with new versions of "Dread" which was an absolute stone cold classic way back in 2012. The originally restrained and atmospheric track gets some much-celebrated Dubkasm treatment here and the results are then pressed to limited white label vinyl for the first time. All four versions bring the goodness despite them being heavier takes on the OG with plenty of fresh, fine warrior leads and effects added to the mix.
Review: Some hot new bass pressure from Kahn on Deep Medi Music which arrives swiftly after Mala's label issued those crucial Gorgon Sound refixes of his 2012 dancefloor killer Dread. Naturally the hood popping riddims are in full effect from the Young Echo member. After a climatic, horn heavy, mutant ragga intro, "Abattoir" drops into monophonic bass roll of drums accompanied by science fiction atmospheres and skittering drums. "Over Deh So" is a more liquid in its groove, providing a fitting alternative, with pulsing, dubbed-out synths exchanging progressions with sinister cathedral tones for a track you could imagine lifting the roof off a rave held by a secret occult of Gregorian monks.
Review: We've been waiting for this one for a minute: Kahn & Neek's Gorgon Sound outfit finally unleash this mighty re-fix of Kahn's 2012 Deep Medi outing "Dread". Warm skanks, gravelly toasting and a rolling muscular momentum, it's a whole new tune. "Late Night Blues" gets a similarly massive facelift as the deep space is replaced by crisp live drums and added textures. Quintessential version material.
Review: Soul Motive have always been representative of the current strains of Bristol's ever flourishing tapestry of music scenes so it makes perfect sense that the label would call on the Young Echo collective sooner or later. After some notable releases for fellow Bristol hubs Idle Hands and Punch Drunk, Kahn steps forth with another example of his undoubted talent for making music that spans the shades of the bass music spectrum with the rowdy yet soulful 2 step bump of "Angeles." This is Kahn in smooth mode, demonstrating his prowess at weaving vocals so that they form an integral part of the rhythm. Fellow Punch Drunk acolyte Superisk ensures it's an all Bristol affair with a remix that dampens the soulful nature in favour of something altogether darker.
Review: As one of the most active members of the Young Echo collective, Kahn has already revealed a sizable spread of styles in his output, and this latest emission for Idle Hands flips the script once again. It's an emotive and linear place we find Kahn in on "Margeaux Pt 1", as a bouncy 2-step beat and chirpy bassline get offset by dense layers of heavily treated vocal from Kahn himself, creating a pastoral kind of vibe as the end result. Meanwhile "Margeaux Pt 2" spaces things out with a more jagged beat and a brooding bottom end, while obviously continuing the theme found on Part 1.
Review: With an already impeccable catalogue of top quality releases, Sector 7 sees the return of the legendary Kahn & Neek combo for four new scorchers. We kick off with the title track 'In The Mansions Of Bliss', a highly harmonic steppy roller, fueled with twisted melodic grooves and pleasing sound design throughout. This is chased up by the slower tempos of 'Random Lab', a more dungeon-ready design again filled with chilling atmospheric layouts. Next up, the glitchy synth stutters and subtle eski-influences of 'Shimmer', before we finish up on 'Venus', a stunning piece of soundscaping, incorporating angelic vocal lines, emotive string lines and luscious pad textures. Very cool indeed!
Review: Joey Negro's Soul Of Disco series has always been a great source of forgotten disco gems for those who like their dance music rich, stringy and soulful. This third two-disc selection from the Z Records boss is no different. For disco diggers, there's plenty to enjoy, be it the rich, horn-drenched instrumental grooves of Board Of Directors' "Hanging Tough", the raw, clavinet groove of Loi's "Body Contact" or the wobbly synth bass and perfect percussion of Phenomenal's "One Two Three". With a smattering of bonus re-edits from Joey Negro himself for those who like their grooves a bit more DJ-friendly, The Soul Of Disco 3 is nigh on essential.
Crossing The Line (feat Killa's Army) - (4:36) 142 BPM
Send Out - (4:33) 142 BPM
Crossing The Line (feat Killa's Army - radio edit) - (3:42) 142 BPM
Review: Wait wait wait, Pinch, Kahn, Tectonic AND Killa's Army? Just take my money. This is a fantastic link up from start to finish as two Bristol legends combine in style across two powerful originals. We firstly check out the deep, rolling sub tones and high energy vocal displays of Killa's Army on the hard hitting 'Crossing The Line'. You can hear this in a Kahn set of any kind, any day of the week. Things get even darker on the flip however as 'Send Out' lands with more gnarly sub tones, creating a seriously spooked out atmosphere through its use of space and choppy drum movements.
