Review: Intrigue is one of the most consistent liquid labels in a drum and bass scene which has a conspicuous absence of high-quality, indie liquid imprints relative to the rougher side of things. This is their yearly album and it's on an astounding 18th year, a monumental achievement that is marked this time around with nineteen top quality cuts. Soulmotion's 'Moments of Blue' is a highlight, with a sumptuously deep back end that swells and swells to luxurious effect, as tinkling piano notes flutter through the top lines in nonchalant fashion. Label boss Ben Soundscape steps up for a remix of Raw Q's 'NY State of Mind', an Intrigue classic that he strips back and rolls out, with a supremely crisp set of drums that underpin a simple but sleek bassline. There are more cuts from Joakuim, whose halftime exploration takes him to deep depths, and The Insiders & Mutt, who get funky and old school with their liquid sounds. Sick stuff.
Review: Mosaic is a fairly new artist who has been brought through the watchful eye of Ben Soundscape over at Intrigue Records, with regular features on their Intrigue releases over the past year or so. This EP shows off his darkest work to date and it's arguably his best, with four cuts of vibrant, rolling D&B that hits both heavy and melancholic notes. The title tune is a straight banger, with a torn, broken bassline that emits a guttural sense of movement and floods the arrangement with character. 'Trueform' is a sub-heavy roller, 'Radius' brings things back to the proper darkness and 'Deep Ellum' rounds of the release with a gorgeous bit of depth, featuring hip-hop flips, jazz leads and vocal shimmers. Unreal.
Review: Ben Soundscape's Bristolian Intrigue Music imprint is one of the most highly regarded smaller labels in D&B and its especially known for its annual compilations, which display some of the best-made high-brow D&B in the game. This is the second part of their 16th anniversary collection and its just as top-notch. Mako & label boss Ben Soundscape team up on the inimitable 'Uplift', a snapping, steppy tune which combines a classically Mako drum pattern with Ben Soundscape's characteristic wispy ambience. New Intrigue artist Mosaic chimes in with a stunning contribution, 'Airspace' has crisp, metallic drums that roll out inside a swirl of pads and deeply rich synth textures, a seriously melancholic track that ramps up and back down at various points. Stunning stuff here.
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