Review: Good 4 Nothing bossman undergoes the knife of his own label mates as Premium and Certified both put their own stamp on two of his big dancefloor 2016 slapdowns. The former maintains the same up-and-down riff dynamic but with much more distorted atonality in the riff while the latter adds a whole new engine of bass texture on "Bad Bitches". Both paying total respect to the originals while taking them to brave new places, this is a perfect snapshot of where Good 4 Nothing is at right now.
Review: With this release, Walking Dead Recordings have decided to represent the younger generation of jump-up producers, the hungry kids that are pushing the limits of how nuts jump-up can get before we all suffer immediate cardiac arrest. Label boss Eazy's contribution has that deeply satisfying, grating feeling to it that's reminiscent of a Bou tune, that feeling of frequencies just being pushed to their absolute limit. This is a common factor across the other three as well, in particular Premium's cut which, with glitching complexity, fills that gnarly niche of Belgian jump-up badness. Big EP.
Review: Straight outta Basildon comes more drum and bass steppin' with attitude courtesy of Shiftin' Beatz. Title track "Bareback" is all darkside low end therapy complete with spooky sci-fi breakdowns. "Big Mouth" is on the more experimental tip and explores interesting half-time signatures reminiscent of dBridge's Autonomic period. Next up "Rewind" is sure to live up to its title; a true roller complete with evil metallic strikes; or are they demonic voices? Finally "The Game" is straight up peak time tech-step, reminiscent of hometown legends Moving Fusion.
Review: Bio mainstay DJ Premium doesn't do EPs by halves; no pussyfooting around with slim-line one or two trackers... He always licks up a feast. Case in point: "Sour Diesel" a collection of peaktime jump-up slammers that buzz with off-the-wall sonics and brute force. From the classic rave feels of "Keep On" to the grizzly gutter-sounds of "The Gallows" and "Soul Diesel" to the hardcore-meets-Prototypes style laser bending of "Jump Up". Just like its sticky namesake this "Sour Diesel" is actually super sweet.
Review: Walking Dead Recordings 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. Premium is on the imprint this time and Take Care features murky tones on both cuts, each of them dripping with the type of energy that's made jump-up so popular at the moment. Our favourite is probably 'Take Care', a gargling tune that squelches its way around the range, undercut by a skippy but forceful percussive line. The flip is also a highlight, a forceful but creative drum section underpinning a wavey amalgamation of bass force. More good work from these guys.
Review: Premium by name, premium by nature; the young UK artist currently based in Belgium makes his debut on Subway Soundz with this high impact weapon that taps back into the classic sing-along riff days before the noises went full gutter. Energetic, addictive and cuts through in the mix with such precision it blows wigs off in a 20 mile radius, this is a massive tune that guarantees chaos. Exert yourself!
Review: Premium by name... Absolute savage on the dials by nature! Englishman in Belgium Premium unleashed his inner junglist with these two hairy hurters. "Chewbacca" growls and purrs just as its name suggests. Driven by breaks but powered by a jump-up heaviness, it's the perfect sweet spot of a lot of sounds and subgenres here. "The Master" continues this grizzly theme but with more of a classic jump-up twist. One note basslines hitting with Warhead-like severity and cheeky break splashes on the fills, it's a heads-down workout that hits home in every mix situation you can blend it into. Masterful.
Review: Remix time: Bulletproof don their protective clothing for two killer versions of two recent tried and tested bangers. First up Tsuki's "Street Wars" continues to develop a life of its own. As the dust settles from the recent VIP, Premium adds a whole new layer of thugged out prang-flavoured bass. K Motionz follows with an equally suited, booted and space-funked twist on Bulletproof's second ever release - Kanine's barking mad "9 Lives". With more to follow, it feels like Bulletproof are only just getting started.
Review: Serial collaborators: Ginger ninja Premium and Octave co-bossman Profile collide once again for two more straight-up, no-nonsense rumblers. "Killer" lives up to its name with its gruff, sandpaper bass and immense snare thwack that hits harder than any kicks possibly could. "Do It Right" takes us deeper into their combined nightmares with iced out synths and a drop into a higher-pitched detuned bassline, loose funky shakers and amen fills so crafty they'll sweep your shockproof Casio. Authentic.
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov - "Would You Go To Bed With Me" - (4:43) 125 BPM
The Hammers - "(Born To) Hand Jive" - (4:42) 129 BPM
International Premium Ensemble - "Mambo No 5" - (3:43)
The Hot Honeys - "You Should Be Dancing" - (4:04) 123 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexander Mazur/Valeriy Negovora/Olga Bogatirenko - "Move Like Jagger" - (5:06) 128 BPM
The Party Knights - "Rhythm Is A Dancer" - (3:25) 126 BPM
Chubby Checker - "The Twist" - (2:41)
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov - "Rock That Body" - (4:58) 125 BPM
Extreme Latinos - "Macarena" - (3:58)
Cool Alpha - "The Hustle" - (5:03) 129 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Alexander Mazur/Evgeniy Hondishko/Alexey Svidersky - "I Know You Want Me & The Bomb & Get Get Down" - (5:49) 128 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexey Svidersky - "Venus" - (4:59) 129 BPM
Big City Singers - "Ymca" - (3:54) 122 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Alexander Mazur/Alexey Svidersky - "Long Train Running" - (3:51) 122 BPM
International Premium Ensemble - "Night Fever" - (3:43)
The Parties - "Rivers Of Babylon" - (4:03) 116 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexander Mazur/Alexey Svidersky - "Baila & Oye Como Va" - (5:57) 133 BPM
Icy Lasers - "Tush Push" - (5:01) 126 BPM
Big City Singers - "Achy Breaky" - (3:26) 123 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Alexander Mazur/Alexey Svidersky/Valeriy Negovora - "Freed From Desire" - (3:30) 110 BPM
Big City Singers - "Electric Slide" - (3:56)
UM Pop Kings - "Mr Loverman" - (3:47)
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexey Svidersky - "Guantanamera" - (4:29) 126 BPM
The Hot Honeys - "Shout" - (4:17)
Extreme Latinos - "Limba Limba Lambada" - (4:08) 115 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vladimir Kirichenko/Alexander Mazur/Evgeniy Hondishko/Valeriy Negovora/MD Rasta - "I Like To Move It" - (4:42) 127 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Evgeniy Hondishko/Alexey Svidersky/Stas Konkin - "Smooth Criminal" - (7:01) 120 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexey Svidersky - "After Dark" - (4:27)
Bodymoun Unit - "I Never Knew Love Like This Before" - (3:52) 109 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov - "Would You Go To Bed With Me" - (4:43) 125 BPM
International Premium Ensemble - "Mambo Na 5" - (3:43) 87 BPM
The Hot Honeys - "You Should Be Dancing" - (4:04) 123 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexander Mazur/Valeriy Negovora/Olga Bogatirenko - "Move Like Jagger" - (5:06) 128 BPM
The Party Knights - "Rhythm Is A Dancer" - (3:27) 126 BPM
The Lovin Spoonful - "Summer In The City" - (2:42) 112 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov - "Rock That Body" - (4:58) 125 BPM
Extreme Latinos - "Macarena" - (3:58) 102 BPM
The Party Knights - "Sugar Sugar" - (3:04) 157 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Alexander Mazur/Evgeniy Hondishko/Alexey Svidersky - "I Know You Want Me & The Bomb & Get Get Down" - (5:49) 128 BPM
Nightliners - "Scatman" - (3:21) 138 BPM
The Dirty Ones - "Be My Lover" - (3:56) 138 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexey Svidersky - "Venus" - (4:59) 129 BPM
Big City Singers - "Ymca" - (3:54) 122 BPM
The Action Steps - "What Is Love" - (4:28) 125 BPM
International Premium Ensemble - "Night Fever" - (3:43) 108 BPM
Nightliners - "Daddy Cool" - (3:26) 126 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexander Mazur/Alexey Svidersky - "Baila & Oye Como Va" - (5:57) 133 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vladimir Kirichenko/Alexander Mazur/Evgeniy Hondishko/Valeriy Negovora/MD Rasta - "I Like To Move It" - (4:42) 127 BPM
UM Pop Kings - "Mr Loverman" - (3:47) 86 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Alexander Mazur/Alexey Svidersky/Valeriy Negovora - "Freed From Desire" - (3:30) 110 BPM
UM Pop Kings - "Barbie Girl" - (3:18) 129 BPM
Fidels Kids & The Black Sea Horns/Mihail Krykalov/Miroslav Pyatnikov/Vitaliy Tkachuk/Alexey Svidersky - "Guantanamera" - (4:29) 126 BPM
Review: The Gun Audio label have been killing it with each and every release since it opened for business at the beginning of 2013, but for those who haven't yet had a chance to experience their cutting edge take on D&B, this second label compilation is essential business. From the sci-fi synths of Mackie Gee's "Transmission" through the punishing rhythms of Jaydan's "Acid High" and Benns' "Disconnected" to the more classic sounds of Bladerunner's "Hot Steppa", there really is something for every discerning D&B fan here to chew on!
