Review: Midst is a prolific jump-up producer and Audio Overload have released that side of his productions before, but this Sleepless Nights EP is something different, something a bit more brooding and stripped back. There are some wicked minimal vibes here, especially on 'Sleepless Nights', which combines a double kick, a diving sub bass and eerie shimmers to foment a tapestry of minimalistic depth, one which gradually gets bigger and bigger. 'Good Body Gyal' combines the two sounds in a really cool way that reminds us of Simula, whilst 'Whine Pon Mi' has a foreboding air to its stabby synthetic construction. Top work.
Review: Just one kiss is all it takes. Where does it take you? Well that's your responsibility pal, you can keep your private life to yourself, but we can tell you where Midst's kiss takes you... Goosebump town. Those ravey pianos, that vocal and then that sudden plummet into bassline anarchy - you'll be puckering up before the second drop. The van keeps rocking throughout the EP; 'Asylum Party' is Midst on a deeper Kyrist-style tip, all slinky and taut with suspense while 'My Whine' finishes this little love session with a smidgeon of afrobeat flavour in the chainsaw mix. Kiss kiss bang banger.
Review: Following on the heels of his last absolutely wicked release, Midst is on Dubstomp 2 Bass for a showcase in how to produce gruff, no nonsense drum & bass that hits you hard and steps over the body. It's a continuation of the label's Straight Outta series, where they profile producers from around the UK, and 'Too Many Lives' feat Padman is the perfect example, as the pair team up for a raucous jump up tune that growls in its stabs and wobbles in the sub bass, the MC work laying over the top perfectly. The old school jump up vibe carries on the VIP of 'Area 51', with an urban edge to the sound that smacks sharply of the pioneering jump up producers of 10 or 15 years ago. The rest of the release is equally as on point - big ups Midst.
Review: Audio Overload are back on their usual wagon, one which is powered not by boats but by the sheer force of the music this label releases on a near-weekly basis. We're especially big fans of the title tune, as an eerie set of pads lays the groundwork for its relentlessly pounding percussion and deep, wallowing back end, a bassline that stretches into the distance and far over the horizon. 'Funky Switch' is snapping and sharp, its warmth cut away on the drop and replaced by a wobbling, chopping array of basslines that move through each other with a surprising amount of grace. One of the proper heads.
Review: South east UK representing! MidsT returns to DS2B with one of his most accomplished and power-packed EPs to date: 'Straight Outta Maidstone'. Each cut packs its own surprise and sense of character from the emotional oboe flexing on 'Influenced' to the conspiratorial tones and harmonic bassline groans of 'Area 51' by way of the high voltage electricity bass bumps of 'Reazon'. With plenty more packed in besides, this is a massive EP from a very exciting UK new-gen rising dnb star.
Review: Dubstomping around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday as DS2B continue this year's new V/A series with a generous blast of fresh talent for your festive season. Featuring a range of close label allies, and showcasing a sound across the board from sharp, scrappy jump up to ominous, bulldozer foghorns, it's another full spectrum D&B assault. Highlights include Jedi's Need For Mirrors-esque tripper stepper 'Guns Of Navarone', Midst's disco-tinged grot on 'Your Ears' and Pruf's firing rave homage 'Flashback'. The list goes on. Everyone dancing merrily.
Review: Fire in the hole! DS2B link up two new-gen arsonists Midst and L Motive for four hair-raising, soul-singeing tear-ups. Big drama in the riffs but tension laced in every element, each of these cuts fit in perfectly with the hybrid jump-up sound that's pushing all the right buttons right now. 'Interesting' is a spooked out Q&A between two ghostly basses, 'Devil's Lettuce' is a pranged out ode to the green fingered massive while 'Mankind' is all grunts and shunts. Last but not least is 'We Shall Present' is a theatrical swaggering finale. Lettuce pray for more vibes like these.
Review: Audio Overload who have developed a reputation for going in all guns blazing, having released a string of releases over many years which don't play nice with your feelings. Now, they're launching the second part of their Jacked compilations series and it's top quality, with sounds that span a wide variety of styles, from rolling stuff to dirty naughtiness. 'Nuclear Inspectors' by Falco is definitely in the latter category and it's definitely one of the best on the release, with a cavernous bassline of spinning twirls and a pulsating epicentre that pushes out the rest of the track in a slick fashion. One to cop, this.
Review: Woi! Audio Overload invite a bunch of mates around for their biggest V/A EP to date. Jedi, Parasite, Falco and Midst all on one release and all sounding fine: Jedi takes the lead with a deeper example of his repertoire on the Die-style swing of 'Feels Naughty', Parasite goes all bubbly and Dread bass style on the rolling bruk-up 'Big Up', Falco brings the sunny-side skank vibes on the dubwise 'Business Deal' before Midst brings things to a powerful close with 'War Dogz'. A big subby hummer with a dusty old soul sample on it, this rattles with authenticity right down to the bones. Take it back, pay it forward...
Review: Strength in numbers! The ever-heavy, ever-ready Dubstomp 2 Bass family unite once again for the second instalment of their DS2B Collective series. Familiar faces all the way as we're reminded of how forthright and firesome the label's output is; Jedi brings his signature dancefloor weight and trippiness with cuts like "Donald Duck", DEEb brings the emotions and subversive dynamics with and Falco's epic "Hysteria", Lowlife gets twisted with his moaning, groaning basslines with his contributions (especially "The Other Side") while newcomer Mudlark follows up his single earlier this summer with the almighty trouser-blazer "Be A Mudlark". And that's just the tip of this gully iceberg.
Review: Dubstomp 2 Bass are back on their wagon, one which is powered not by horses but by the sheer force of the music this label releases on a regular basis. We're especially big fans of the title tune, as an eerie sample lays the groundwork for its relentlessly pounding percussion and deep, wallowing back end, a bassline that stretches into the distance and far over the horizon. 'Destroy' is snapping and sharp, its warmth cut away on the drop and replaced by a wobbling, chopping array of basslines that move through each other with a surprising amount of grace. One of the proper heads.
Review: Dubstomp 2 Bass alumni Midst has been on an impressive roll this year. Despite the curse of lockdown, he's dropped a whole slew of generous EPs on the likes of Nuclear Bass, DS2B and, one of his most consistent homes, Audio Overload where we find him getting low, slinky and stripped back with "Eastern Ways". Each cut off-grid in the drums and lewd in the bassline department, we range from the sparse twangs and hip-shaking funk of the title track to the left-sided bassline mischief of "Nancy On Drugs" by way of the turbulent, gritty-assed space trip "My Mule" and the dark, horn-tooting finale "Bigotry & Discrimination". Heavy stuff.
Review: Jack it up, jack it in, let us begin... DS2B's Audio Overload deliver their first VA collection and it's an absolute banger-fest. Representing many of the label's exciting new-gen artists, and even more off the label's far-reaching sounds and styles, across the set expect to be KO'd by the sound rampant sounds of Lowlife, anticipate high levels of energy from man like Jedi (especially the reverse mindwarper "Popcorn Playa"), enjoy some feisty VIP action from Midst and plenty more chaos from the likes of Pruf, DEEb and Falco. Jack it on, jacket off - let's get to work.
Review: Nuclear Bass are doing what all music fans love and putting together a fat compilation of artists that all represent a distinct strand of dancefloor-focused drum & bass. Each act has several contributions, an unusual but welcome format, and Jedi's part-roller-part-jungle track 'All I See' is an especially potent addition to the mix. Longtime producer Falco makes a fiery contribution with the choppy yet heavy VIP of 'Beerpong Contest', and L-Motive finishes things off with the growly, wobbly 'Sublime'. Wicked.
Review: Audio Overload are back doing what they do best, and if you think some jump-up naughtiness is exactly what you need as the lockdowns begin to ease off. This time it's a four-tracker courtesy of Midst and the album art is a prelude to just how dark and eerie this one gets, with sonic gore very much the order of the day. The title track is definitely the highlight because it's just so solid, as rolling percussive lines crash underneath a stabbing oscillation of basses and tangled low frequencies. It will make you scared of clowns, that's for sure, and the other three tunes all deliver just as tightly. Big ups.
Review: Midst and Jedi is somewhat of a fiery combination, the pair of them together packing a sound that, more often than not, is downright dirty. No Man is a vindication of that and the selection throughout this release is so on-point and so in-touch with current styles of D&B it's a little absurd, you can almost picture the videos on Facebook as each of these drop. 'Maybe' is the unique one of the bunch, a steppy cut that chops and changes the whole way through; the Midst remix of 'Dracula' is our favourite, its wobbling sub-bass riff guides you down into a steam-train bassline that sounds a lot like a Serum cut or similar. The other cuts are also all definitely worth your time.
Review: Midst has handed a big release to fans of the dirty jump-up sound over on Audio Overload. From the beginning, you can tell 'Shirley' is going to be heavy and as menacing bass strabs build up into preparatory drum skits, your feelings are confirmed. A growling hurry rushes out to meet you; powerful and more than willing to shove you around. 'Toga' is the next offering, a glitchy mash of jump-up, permeated by rattling arrays of bassy synths and an ever-present sense of movement. Nice and solid, this release is a statement of intent from Midst.
Review: Hey you! Do you like tuna? Do you like knuckles? Do you like socks? If they answer is 'yes' to any of those questions (and even if it's 'no' to be honest) then you'll love this new EP from rising upcomer Midst. Hot on the heels of his EPs on Dubstomp 2 Bass and Nuclear Bass this year come four tracks of total hybrid heaviness; melodic in some places, grizzly and toxic enough to melt your skin in others, highlights include the mad switches between light and dark on the EP title track and the depth plunge bass drop on "I Can". The woozy swagger on "Limits" needs a jolly good shout out too. Sock it to 'em gang.
Review: Dubstomp 2 Bass is another of those very consistent and prolific jump-up labels that just generally tends to release some of the naughtiest cuts from that side of the scene around. Midst is on the imprint this time and Bad Juju features murky tones on all four cuts, each of them dripping with the type of energy that's made jump-up so popular at the moment. Our favourite is probably 'Evil', a gargling tune that squelches its way around the range, undercut by a skippy but forceful percussive line. The title track is another highlight, a forceful but creative drum section underpinning a wavey amalgamation of bass force. More good work from these guys.
