A huge drum & bass sample collection from the Dread Recordings studio, featuring tearing breaks, deep & menacing subs, rave style FX and haunting pads & melodies
Review: One of jungle's most influential players, Ray Keith has been back on his A-game this year as label owner, band leader (check his recent "Renegade" single) and, most importantly, as a kick-ass producer. Here we shows us why he's still relevant with two timeless shock-outs "1994" is a grunting step-heavy workout with a well known vocal sample that's taken from Jamaican film Rockers and used, most notably, by Serum. Flip for the "The Bongo Tune". A quintessential roller, it could just as easily be called "The Sub Bass Tune" thanks to amount of juicy low-end rumblage. Think Deep Blue's "Helicopter Tune"
Review: As one of jungle's originals, there was a time when Ray Keith was one of the heaviest hitters in the drum and bass scene. These days, his star has waned a little and is known more as Joy Orbison's uncle, but he still retains the ability to rock a dancefloor. For those of a certain vintage, I Am Renegade - his first new album in three years - should be a bit of a treat. Devoid of contemporary thrills - bar a trip into deeper territory in the shape of "Stardust" - it recycles the amen-heavy brand of hard-hitting jungle and hardcore with which Keith made his name during the 1990s. As such, it's a thrilling blast from the past.
Review: Evergreen Ray Keith continues to pump out the hits in his fearless, floor-friendly junglist style. This fresh, digital-only album features a range of his own dubplates - previously unreleased cuts that he's been spinning on and off for Lord knows how long. There are few surprises - by now, we should all know what his vntage, Amen-sporting old skool style sounds like - but plenty of confirmed bangers, from the breakbeat hardcore rinse-out of "Chopper" and pleasing vocal cut "Midnight", to the intense rhythms of bombastic closer "Visual Attack".
Review: Following the first collection of digital dubplates and VIPs from veteran producer Ray Keith's seemingly bottomless archives, Dread Recordings returns with another bumper selection of tracks from the vault. His vintage junglist style sounds as fresh as it always has, with highlights including the early liquid offerings of "Rare Groove", the syncopated sub action of "Too Strong", the savage jungle bass and subtle Detroit-style pads of "Unorthadox", and the rave-inspired madness that is closing track "Wobbler". Quite simply, they don't make 'em like this any more.
Review: Jungle front runner Renegade joins forces all around top don Ray Keith as the pair make an exciting return to their release schedules with an extremely vibrant two track outing. Junglist vibes a plenty as we jump into the high energy drum rolls and evil bass maneuvers of the title track 'Dancing Own My Own', packed with emotive vocal stabs sliced up to perfection. On the flip we are given 'Jah Love', a rollers anthem to the maximum as a luscious ambience and dubbed out patois samples greet us at the introduction. We then descend into subtle sub LFO's and exciting break textures, rounding up an excellent return for both producers!
Review: The renegade don returns... Ray Keith is back on Jungle Cakes with two more slabs of brutal newness. "Killa Sound" is the scud of the release; capable of swiping entire dancefloors off their collective feet, it's a powerful amen serenade with all the sirens and necksnaps your peaktime gully section could ever require (and a little more) "Dub Riddim" takes us much deeper into the heart of the Dread Warrior's psyche with much more a minimal arrangement leaving stacks of space for the humungous subs to rattle you down to the very bones. Killa by name...
You're My Angel (acoustic version) - (4:36) 175 BPM
You're My Angel (radio mix) - (4:36) 58 BPM
You're My Angel (extended Club mix) - (6:20) 58 BPM
All That Jazz - (7:24) 175 BPM
Stem Cell - (6:40) 58 BPM
Review: Dread bossman and jungle pioneer Ray Keith takes us on a serious trip with this emphatic sign-out to the decade... And a hint at the damage he's about to cause with his album in 2020. "You're My Angel" takes the lead. A deeper, personal piece with pop finesse and authentic emotion, Ray reveals some impressive song writing and singing skills on this complete crossover curveball. For balance, "All That Jazz" and "Stem Cell" go in hard; the former hits similar cosmic frequencies as the likes of Mark System and Need For Mirrors with its juicy Detroit inspired synths, the latter is just a good old-fashioned techno-inspired grizzle. Heads down Dread business... Just how we like it.
Review: Cor blimey, Ray Keith on 31. This is a release of biblical proportions. Both tapping into the Keith's signature Dread vibe but with all the modern tactics of the day (big drones, trippy basses, ominous clouds of pranged out funk), both cuts are schoolings from a genuine jungle OG. "Jungle Fi Dread" is all about the breaks and sirens, taking you right back to A.W.O.L 1993 while "What Time Dread" raises the pressure with some seriously danked out twists on the vocals and more woozy tones and textures than your local haberdashery. What an immense release.
Reprise & Ray Keith - "She's Gone" (feat Nathan Thomas) - (5:21) 150 BPM
Jungle Dub - (6:40) 174 BPM
I Love 94 - (6:40) 58 BPM
Solid State - (6:44) 175 BPM
The Storm - (8:13) 175 BPM
Reprise & Ray Keith - "Arabian Nights" - (6:28) 180 BPM
This Is My Sound (Bonus Track) - (6:15) 189 BPM
Review: Boom! The first BIG drum & bass album of the decade has landed... Ray Keith's long, long, long-awaited album. His first since 2012's I Am Renegade, he's making up for lost time with 31 tracks that cover his entire style and comprise collaborations with likes of DRS and Reprise. As always, Keith covers the board and showcases the true breadth and range of the genre. From the absolute slaughter jams such as "Darth Dred", "Master Assassin" and "I'm A Souljah" to classy sample-based ultrafunkular sweetness ("Don't Look Any Further") and proper songwriting and real heartfelt vibes and sentiments from the bottom of his pioneer's heart such "You're My Angel". The full range, the full flavour, the wait has been worth it.
Review: Selector! Jungle Cakes' Welcome To The Jungle series welcomes a bonafide legend to the controls: Ray Keith. Digging deep across the board he's put together over 40 killer tracks from an obscene rollcall: Serum, Vital, Dillinja, Bladerunner, Margaman, T>I, DJ Hybrid, Turno, Filthy Habits, Ed Solo, Deekline and many many more artists are responsible for the savage soul and badman bounce on offer as we're rattled and shaken from pillar to post. From the naughty ragga skanks and turbo reverse bass lashes of Deekline & Ed Solo's "Hot This Year" to Ray's very own seminal "Chopper" via Bladerunner's evergreen breezer "Jungle Jungle" via two mixes and 10 FX tools, this is one of Jungle Cakes' tastiest ever projects to date. Big up the Dark Soldier
Review: Allow jungle revival pioneers and Jungle Cakes bosses Ed Solo & Deekline to present the much anticipated follow up to "Welcome To The Jungle". On this second edition of "Welcome To The Jungle", Ed Solo & Deekline delve deeper into their roots, and influences with a heady brew of jungle cuts old and new. From stone cold classics like Ray Keith - Chopper and DJ Hype ft. MC Fats - Peace, Love & Unity, also featured are remixes from Chase & Status, and Sigma. Mixed live by Ed Solo & Deekline over 2 continuous mixes, and crammed with 28 upfront exclusives, VIP mixes, classics, and fresh cuts from Jungle Cakes, Welcome To The Jungle Vol. 2 is all you need.
Review: V Recordings do some of the best compilations in the business and their brand new Foundation series is a natural recognition of that fact. They're not being hyperbolic with the usage of the term 'Foundation' either, because this is truly an overview of some of the scene's most foundational producers. Old-school Dillinja, Krust, Roni Size and DJ Die, amongst others, make up the roster of acts that formed an integral part of the genre back in the day. The new crew is also represented, however, in the form of L-Side, Think Tonk, Nasza Linez and loads more, all of whom bring some of that V-style heat. Wicked album - one for the heads.
Review: Labels, artists and websites all tend to adopt a retrospective tone as the end of a year gets ever closer, so it's naturally quite timely for V Recordings head honcho Bryan Gee to crank out a third volume of his excellent Retrospect series. With it comes a wealth of old jungle riddims, influential classics and long forgotten favourites from the likes of DJ Die, Roni Size, Ray Keith, Krust, Lemon D and more. Gee opens in style with the Brizzle roller "Fashion" by the legendary Roni Size and maintains the pressure throughout, dropping gems such as DJ Die's "Something Special", Krust's iconic stepper "Check Dis Out" and the jazzy, liquid loveliness of Lemon D's "Get On Down" with its shimmying, sunshine filled vibes. For a trip down memory lane, this one's essential.
