Review: In our very humble opinion, we believe that the Innamind Recordings crew have had a fantastic 2018, with a string of super popular releases to show for it. This trend continues here as they bring in the vibrant sounds of Karma who touches down with two subtle stormers. We kick off with a dive into the moody rhythms and percussive stacks of 'Choose Life' which is reminiscent of early DMZ heaters. On the flip side, the more dubwise inspired chord and drum designs of 'Bluefoot' provides for excellent listening, causing a very enjoyable contrast between the two featured originals.
Review: We're lucky we grasp a release a year from Karma's gnarly paws. But when we do, we always pay attention. Here are three reminders why. "Terrorist" wades into the fray with pneumatic beats that are reminiscent of Mezzanine-era Massive Attack. Foggy, misty and laced with a crucial Reggae vocal sample, it has a tsunami-like effect through a big system as waves of dubspace wash over the crowd. "Cha" continues the pneumatic rhythm feels. But this time with a persistent techno-like 4x4 that's wrapped in tight layers of warped subs. "Vacant Mind" neatly counters the energy of "Cha" with a pensive slo-mo march into the foggy void. All elements and textures woozily working together to create somnambulant momentum, it's Karma at his most meditative. Already sold out on limited vinyl, this is a seriously key release.
Review: From Prolix to Technimatic, Total Science to Was A Be by way of Icicle, Joe Ford, Fourward, Spectrasoul, Phace, Ed.It and many more, Friction's label digs deep from the genre's most innovative corners and eras. As we prepare to close off 2016, they've taken a detailed look back over the last 18 months of crucial output to not just represent where the label is at, but the genre itself. An ideal opportunity to fill any holes in your collection cuts such as Fourward & Linguistics demonic stomper "Storm", Was A Be's rudeboy-slewing halftime damager "Blind" or Break's sparkling "Emerald" and complete with a journeyman mix of the tracks themselves, this rounds up yet another serious year at the very forefront of drum & bass.
Review: What a crazy trip it's been.... Four months ago Shogun commenced their 100th release celebrations with the start of a four-part series that's seen some of the label's finest releases and broadest scope in recent years. Now all 16 tracks are available in one package, ranging from the horn-hazed bliss of Friction & Karma's "No Return" to Phace's deep space synth tear-up "Mumbo Jumbo" by way of Technimatic's string-surged "Transference" and Ivy Lab's impeccable shake-up of SpectraSoul's "Glimpse", if you're uncertain on just how on-point Shogun are then this collection firmly states exactly where Friction's label is at... And where they're heading.
Review: You can do this the easy way or the hard way... Whether you untie your shoelaces or not, your shoes are going through the window the second "Unchained" drops. Signs has officially levelled up. Bringing up the rear are Friction and Karma with a walloping roller where the bassline takes a much more active role in the story than it would in a more typical liquid cut. "Turn To Nothing" is Ed.It at his finest; restrained, barbed and tooled up with a sharp sample. Finally North Base close the show with their most delicate track to date as "Unexplained" shimmers with Technimatic-level pianos. Don't even think about fetching your defenestrated footwear.
Review: Friction knows how to throw a party... Their "100" celebrations started in March and they're still going strong three months later! A chance for the label's artists and friends to stretch their skills and signatures, there's been some really exciting, subversion work throughout the series. This final piece in the puzzle is no exception; "Fourward" deliver their funkiest track to date, Karma gets all soulful, Total Science get all drifty and ethereal while Break simply reminds us why we love him. All four cuts glistening with long-lasting gold, Shogun can carry on celebrating their 100th release for as long as they like as far as we're concerned.
Review: What a year it's been for Shogun Audio: albums from Spectrasoul and Rockwell, new signing Karma, the epic Point Of Origin collection and killer singles from every artist on the roster. Here they wrap up the year with 34 bangers, blissers and blunderbusses. If you've been following the label you'll know just how heavy this weights in bass gold. If not, it's the best possible place to play catch up. From the Jenna G-fronted Submorphics chiller "The Divine" and the gospel-level heaven of Spectrasoul's "Shelter" to the much darker, thunderous slammers such as Friction and Icicle's "Crucifix", Fourward's "Exile" and Calyx & TeeBee's gamechanging remix of Spor's "Aztec", this is a spotless sonic calling card for the label and its many multifaceted talents.
Review: Fresh from appearing on their awesome Point Of Origin album, Karma (now a fully signed member of the Shogun family) lays down his debut single that expresses both sides of his prowess: "The Searching" is the emotional vocal number with enough grit to keep the D&B gangsters happy while "Dance" is a straight up physical tech fest that nods towards his label mates Joe Ford and Icicle. Comparisons don't come any bigger.
Review: Shogun Audio don their shades and stare into the blisteringly bright future of drum & bass with a brand new series; Point Of Origin. The idea is to represent some of the most exciting names (old and new) with an open mind to the many sub-sub-genres drum & bass seems to have right now. As a result we excitingly flicker from lush emotional jazz (Ed:It's "Centre Suite") to unruly sheet metal neuro in the space of a track (Posij - "Shieldbreaker"). Much deeper into the set we hit icy vocal soul from the likes of Need For Mirrors and Liz-E, we get flattened by Zero T's tribal thunder drums and experience a blissful rolling lullaby from Karma. This is the tip of the Point Of Origin iceberg, though... A must-check for all future-focussed junglists.
Review: Throughout his musical career, the unpredictable Karma has spread his tracks across different genres, and from drum and bass to house and dubstep, he's been capable of reinventing himself on a regular basis. For this latest Innamind Recordings episode, the producer is in half-step mode, channeling his fury behind the mixing board into the deep and subby bounces of "Heal", before moving onto darker and more pulsating territories on the excellent "Rumble Fish" - surely this week's no.1 dubstep cut. "Flee In The Fog" features Dubtro, and the dup conjure a foreboding picture with their mild pads, watery beats and lo-fi sonics. Excellent stuff.
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