Review: Grid Recordings are a regular here on Juno and for good reason, their proclivity for steadily releasing rough but energetic, whole-hearted cuts is strong and their small size doesn't prevent the release of top-quality music. 'Cop Killa' is the strongest on the release, with a Dispatch-esque feel to its cracking percussion and a torn, broken back end that rips across the range with style. The flip side is even more distorted and broken, with a pounding sub that underpins its metallic top line - this is a genuine stinker. KY has killed this one and so have Grid.
Review: KY is one of those artists with a low-key fantastic back-catalogue and after a bit of a slow-down in terms of output, he's back on Biological Beats with a fierce two-tracker that shows off some serious production improvements over the past couple of years. 'Weapons' is the stronger of the two, an expansive, growing number that starts in small pieces and gradually puts itself together, each synth sounds wicked and the combination of all of them is next level. 'Badman Test' is very creative and has a unique rhythmic structure that some won't like but that others will love and regardless, it's a top-level cut to round out the release. Yes mate!
Review: KY's Nah Ramp EP has landed on Biological Beats, a label that always manages to inflict audio-based biological warfare on its listeners. This release is no different, from the haunting chants of its title track, a pummelling concoction of force that reverberates in ways you didn't quite think were possible. It's not all immediately aggressive, 'Better World' slowly bringing you in with a seduction and temptation that's matched in its criss-crossing daggers of low-frequency quality. The rest of the EP is sheer jump up quality; 'All Over It' and its grating snares; 'Mysterious' and its dystopic ambience; and 'Keep It Fresh' with an alien vibe and crocodile smile. Quality all the way through.
Review: Usually spotted on Samurai Bass, Stafford's Subsonic jumps aboard the good ship Subway Soundz with four disgusting battle tracks. All of which pack serious infectious bass riffs: "Shaolin" is all about the 97 style wobble, "Crunchy Nut" is a cross between a swarm of killer bees and a grumpy young Clipz, "Destroy" makes you feel like you're stuck in a metal tube while kids are kicking footballs really hard at the walls outside (in the nicest possible way) while "Bingo" goes for an early 2000s BBK style drama jam. Full house!
Review: Grid Recordings have been on an absolute tear the past year or so, with everything that comes through their doors sounding slick and firmly on the pulse of D&B in 2019. This time around it's a compilation featuring some of their most reliable producers, who, characteristically, have come through in a big way. Jayline & Macpherson's 'Look & Listen' is a spacious, atmospheric creeper than packs a serious punch, one that emerges through a soundscape of celestial tones. Nick The Lot definitely has one of the standout tunes with 'This Planet', keeping up the space theme and also keeping up the trend of twisting, expansive basslines that ripple with energy - proper roller this. KY's 'Dreams' is in the same vein and even more futuristic and techy, which shows that Grid can do things in all styles. Head Nodders indeed.
