Review: And the award of the biggest collabo of the year goes to... Bou, Camo, Krooked, Mefjus, Mila Falls, P Money and D Double E with 'Swerve It'. A track you definitely won't be swerving, this is a huge fusion of everyone's styles brought together with incredible vocals (and strong shades of Mefjus in the bassline) Deeper into the EP we hit the delights of the B Live front 'Nan Slapper' before getting into some more old school style deep-in-the-mix Bou tunes; the grizzly globe trotting 'Malta To Ibiza', the pounding 'La Kasbah' and the high voltage sizzler '3 Letters'. Sik.
Review: Celebrating two decades deep in the game, Critical Music deliver this exceptional 22 track collection from some of the most innovative artists in the bass field. From old label mates such as Sam Binga, Mefjus and Ivy Lab to exciting newcomer talents like Spectral, Able and Cauzer, the entire collection is a blistering jolt of futurism that ranges the full Critical spectrum. Highlights range from the introspective tones of Buunshin's 'Forget About Me' to the dark, tense minimalism of Calibre's 'Verstat' by way of the barbed soul of Halogenix's 'IDGAF'. Here's to another 20 years...
Review: It's been quite a while since Martin Mefjus last treated us to a full release, but boy have him and Vision-owners Noisia more than made up for it with this seminal release. Particles is a six-tracker with features on every tune: Camo & Krooked, Skeptical, Phace, IMANU, Break & Noisia. What a lineup that is, and it exceeds expectations as the Austrian trio of Mefjus and Camo & Krooked smash things to pieces on 'Sidewinder', a deeply unique track with a stepping, featherweight drum line, funky synth work and a seriously track structure which moves from hardstyle-esque sounds into drum & bass and back again. IMANU's feature on 'Transit' nails the neurofunk vibe (emphasis on the funk), whilst things get minimal on Skeptical's 'Amber'. Unbelievable Jeff.
Review: This one is dedicated to all the giddy aunts out there! 30 tracks of forward-focussed bass innovation from one of the most influential shows to have emerged in recent years: Noisia Radio has helped to expose so much exciting new talent and here they bring together just some of the highlights. Ranging from super experimental to absolute gully gold, among the big hitters from Noisia themselves we have trippy, drunken freestyle bass from Bleep Bloop and Tsuruda, savage break wizardry from the likes of Howitzer, 23rd century spooky funk from Samba, beautiful glitched-out steppy funk from the mighty MRSA (AKA Mat Zo) and absolutely loads more. This is an immense package of tracks right here. Just like every Noisia Radio show.
Review: It's that time of year again! The scene's longest-standing platform Drum&BassArena step up with their annual flagship album and once again it's a fitting salute to all corners, all shades and all styles of the rich, wide scene. 60 tracks deep comprising absolute bangers and bliss-outs from the likes of Chase & Status, Noisia & Phace, K-Motionz, Rockwell, DJ Hybrid, GLXY and Seba, it's also home to exclusives from Kyrist, Brookes Brothers, Bou & Simula, Kanina, Kove and A.M.C & Turno. From jungle to jump-up, liquid to dancefloor and complete with three killer mixes for life when you're not practicing your double/triple/quadruple drops, Drum&BassArena continue to celebrate the widest possible scene.
Review: Mefjus' second album - Manifest - came out last year and was one of the biggest releases of the year, with every inch of the release absolutely dripping with insane sound design and characteristically frenzied tones. The man himself is currently releasing his forthcoming remix album as a series of singles and this is the latest, a double-sided display of technical prowess from Break and Misanthrop. Break's remix of 'Uneasy' is typically top-notch, those Break drums rattle and shake as per usual and the complex simplicity with which he arranges his basslines ties the knot on a hard-hitting piece of work. Misanthrop's contribution is more frenzied yet somehow even more precise, it's synth stabs and jagged edges tear and fold over and over, turning the original into a strange yet improved version of itself. We can't wait for the full album.
Review: With Vision Recordings being one of the most exciting projects working within the experimental areas of drum and bass music's extended circles currently, we had no doubt that we were opening a pair of firecrackers when 'Ringshifter' appeared in the store. We begin with Culprate's mettlesome rework of 'Ringshifter' itself, which smashes an assortment of contorted bass synths together in a perfect dystopian harmony. On the flip side however the fun continues as Levitate rises forth to give 'Assembler' some similar treatment, jam packed with hysteric synth designs and pinging drum structures. Amazing stuff.
Review: If you've been to the D&B motherfest that is Let It Roll you will already understand the gravity of this situation... The Czech festival's showstopping opening show tradition levelled up this year by recruiting an entire troupe of A-list heavyweights to score its spectacular show. From the opening sirens of Abis's launch track "Battlecry" to the final harmonic synth echoes of The Prototype's "Infinite", this is an epic celebration of drum & bass at its most technical, dramatic and theatrical. Other highlights include the sudden twist in Mefjus's rolling tale "The Chase" and the rush caked euphoria of Muzzy's "Photons". The portal awaits...
Review: Oi oi! The mighty Mefjus returns with his highly anticipated second album Manifest and it's every bit as crispy, dizzying and fizzy as you want it to be. One of the most respected artists in the more technical corners of drum & bass, this is his statement about a much wider slice of the jungle pie. Still laced with his signature riotous sparks but laced with a whole new blast of dynamics such as vocals, strings and twists in the tale, highlights include the utter wiliness of "Fractured", the fugly toxicity of halftime stamper "Physically", the subversive hurricane soul of "Together", the squidgy slapbass and sudden twists of "Pivot" and the Konflict salute finale "The Sirens". Bravo Mefjus.
Review: Two more stunning pieces of work to come from Mefjus's forthcoming sophomore album Manifest... "Muskox" is a savage piece of neuro theatre with a touch of the technoids about it thanks to its Bodzin-styled rise. "Assembler" takes a step back for a moment with its industrial beat textures before steaming into your every sense with an intoxicating bassline that will, if mistreated, ruin your skin, your life and the ones you hold nearest. Yeah it's that heavy. Bring on the album!
Review: Fresh from announcing his forthcoming album on Noisia's Vision imprint (the label spared only for the label bosses, The Upbeats and now Mefjus himself), Mefjus delivers his first solo originals in over two years. "If I Could" is a real hurricane theatre piece with a perfectly manipulated vocal and really airy, light vibe that's underpinned with gritty venom. "Ringshifter" lives up to its name, meanwhile, with some of the most savage angular metallic blasts and punches to ever be served from Austria. It's Mefjus, but not as we know him.
Review: Well well well... What a way to kick off a new year: Modified Sonics sees the entire Critical troop go to town on each other's work and celebrate the label's 15+ year contribution to the game. No stone unturned, no shoe unthrown; from long-demanded VIPs such as Emperor's sharp update on "Infrasound" and Mefjus's VIP of "Disrupted" come well-deserved re-ups of classics such as Binga's fuzzy take on Serum & Bladerunner's "Who Jah Bless", Benny L's gut-troubling twist of Enei's "Mosquito" and a crucial twist of Rockwell's breakthrough gamechanger "Underpass" from none other than Perez. With loads more dopeness from the likes of QZB, Hyroglifics, Klax and many more, this is one of the best V/A albums Critical have ever put together. Essential.
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