Review: The relationship between dub reggae and it's extended grandchild dubstep has always been an exciting one and we love nothing more than hearing a soulful vocal over a more dubstep inspired original instrumental. Here we see the combination of Shandy, Tenor Youthman and Tailored Sound provide us with just that as 'Rise & Shine' combines blissful sub patterns, spacey horn textures and catchy vocal lines to give us a certified smash. This project also comes complete with an additional 'Sax Version', just for good measure.
Review: As a label, New World Audio have been smashing it recently, bringing their own crispy take on 140 music to the table at every opportunity. This latest exploration from Shandy is a perfect example of their exceptional threshold for release quality as he unveils the fifth edition of 'Vintage Grime', kicking off with the marching subs and spacey pads of 'Distant Land' alongside the string lead melodies and choppy bass tones of 'Don't Chat It'. Next, 'Brave' arrives with an array of cheeky brass inversions and regal string lines, before the horns are set to run wild on the jumpy rhythms of 'Wonderman'. Lovely stuff!
Review: Ah yes, there ain't nothing like a good Shandy at the end of a week to reign in the weekend vibes! This particular grime producer is among the few of his peers who is actually still constructing some proper rhythms, the sort that Plastician would have rinsed the f*** out back in the early 00s. This is the fourth instalment of Vintage Grime, and it all kicks off with the bouncy bass stabs of the killer "Beat Box", which falls absolutely flawlessly into the bubbling bass waves of "Deep South". "Knowledge" tips it all off with one final swing of the juice, a quick-firing, missile-like grime bullet that's tailor made for some serious head-nodding. Fire!!
Review: Longstanding New World Audio merker Shandy cracks open three tins of fizzy fire on us with the fittingly titled "Vintage Grime" collection. "Horizon" sets the scene with string-sprung drama. Unashamedly steppy, it's an instant flashback to 2001. "Coincide" joins the dots with dubstep with its hazy tones and low-slow groove. Finally "Projection" is an all-out space hopper with a broadsword bassline, neck-snapping beats and delicate pianos. True to the craft.
Review: The New World Audio regulars team up for a collaborative effort and produce a startling 2-tracker that's bound to turn more than a few heads. Sukh Knight goes for a deep and meditative ninja slasher on "Pai Mei Technique", aligning shredded, minimal bass tones with stuttering, flexible percussion stabs, whereas Shandy and RDG's "Fate" takes the samurai slashing to the next level thanks to their inimitable, stop-start motion approach - sublime and heavily recommended.
Review: For this third release - their first of 2012 - bass music upstarts New World Audio gather together a selection of tunes from a quartet of little-known producers. Sukh Knight's Bhangra-inspired "Shutdown" is probably the highlight. It offers an exotic stroll through dubstep's more melodic pastures, with sampled Indian vocals and Bollywood melodies offering a decent contrast to the sub-heavy bassline. Shandy's aggressive and intense "Jogi" isn't far behind, though, thanks to some punishing rhythms, spangled rave synths and dubwise effects. For those seeking pure dancefloor thrills, look no further than the eyes-closed dubstep-skank of Trex's murky "Mad Mother Dub".
