Review:
This is how you do Let It Roll in style... You roll out to Prague with four of Hospital's deepest, most respected technicians on soundtrack duties: Anile, Krakota, Keeno and S.P.Y. Naturally they all smash the mission to pieces, Anile's brilliantly titled "Caveman Neil" does weird and wonderful things with harmonics, Keeno goes all-out gospel to tremendous effect on "Empath", Krakota cooks up some bouldering, smouldering drums and showers them with disco sprinkles while S.P.Y serves up a Randall-level roller. Take us to Let It Roll already!
Review:
Not content with putting up with a winter that's outstaying its welcome, Innerground have begun to piece together a work collective that shows off the sundrenched atmospherics of the Brazilian drum and bass scene. Headed up by DJ Marky and S.P.Y, the first track is of course "Yellow Shoes" but with a twist; adding that classic Calibre warmth to drum and bass' ultimate summer anthem tones down the glare, making it much more accessible to those of us bleached by a thousand months of rain and sleet. "Summer Soul" is far less accommodating however, and as the title suggests, it's a Submorphics-flavoured roll through the bassy summer days and soulful vocals that have become a staple of the Brazilian scene. A perfect excuse to ramp up the heating and crack open some Brahmas.
Review:
Critical boss Kasra never misses a trick. Having built his label up to be one of the leading lynchpins in D&B, now he takes to the studio hot seat and teams up with S.P.Y for a couple of killer collabs - incidentally his first EP since 2002! "Surface" gets things started with a snappy two-step break, driving, warped bassline and echoing, distant vocal snatches. It's got that all-encompassing, attention grabbing finesse, with Metalheadz style touches and a deep, rolling vibe. "Control", however, takes things back a decade or so, with some classic old skool breaks and classy, stripped back sultriness.
Review:
S.P.Y makes his highly anticipated debut on Hospital Records with Love & Hate, a four-track journey into the darkest depths of D&B with plenty of old skool influences, marking a return to core values and a pure sound. The title track is dominated by pounding sub bass stabs with moody atmospherics and twisted diva vocals. "Clouds" blends brooding virus synths with machine funk for a techstep banger, whilst "Sleepy Hollow" sees S.P.Y strip back production to a Detroit influenced sound with epic synths. The S.P.Y remix of Submotion Orchestra's "All Yours" rounds things off in style.
Review:
S.P.Y has become somewhat synonymous with those hazy summer sounds and soulful, Brazilian vibes. A producer who seems to have got the Midas touch, every collab, production and remix he is involved in is magically transformed into a mass of pure liquid D&B gold. Here he steps up to the fore for another top notch release on Goldie's acclaimed Metalheadz imprint - the title track is a shimmering, understated roller with gently driving energy, waves of undulating bass and crisp, crunching breaks. "Xenomorph", however, provides a glimpse in to the darker side of S.P.Y's consciousness. It's perhaps more what you'd expect from a Metalheadz release - a trademark dark, textured soundscape abounding with echoing SFX, warped b-line and snatches of ominous vocals.
Review:
"What The Future Holds" is the highly anticipated debut album from Brazilian born, London dwelling D&B producer S.P.Y. With releases on numerous labels such as Metalheadz, Spearhead and Soul:r he signed exclusively to Hospital late last year. Long term fans will be pleased to hear that he hasn't deviated from his signature sound at all and in fact, a range of flavours are covered here - from deep, rolling cuts such as opener "You" to techy, neuro influenced pieces like "Back Again" to uplifting, vocal led bangers such as "Hammer In My Heart". Key featured vocalists include Diane Charlemagne and Jazz vocalist Ian Shaw. This is seriously good D&B.
Review:
Ding ding, round two. S.P.Y gets into his stride as the second instalment of his "Alone In The Dark" series hits hard with five more sterling sounds. "Termination" is every bit the hurter you want it to be with its shattering snare shot and waspy alien bass and "Shadow Play" follows closely behind on the ice front with its chilling pads and sudden junglised drum shatters. "Get Up" follows with big sweeping radar basses buzzing under a soaring vocal and subtle heritage atmospheres and "Coldwave" is just a brutal slap into the 23rd century. Ever the switch flipper, S.P.Y ends on a curveball. This time the Vangelis-goes-neuro drama of "Mind Over Matter" with on-point barsmith Inja. You'll never rave alone.
Review:
While many producers tend to mellow with age, Brazilian-in-Bristol SPY has taken the opposite approach. His early productions were expansive affairs, musically rich and often smothered in soaring strings, but his most recent album, Back To Basics Chapter 1, was altogether more robust and rolling with clear early jungle influences. This speedy follow-up - a partner piece, if you will - is similarly dark and atmospheric, whilst retaining his ear for melody and love of liquid rhythms. So while the majority of the material spits and pops to the rhythm of classic jungle breaks and surging basslines, there are hints of grandeur amongst the basement beats. "Stardust" and the "Inner City Life"-ish "Lost Orbit", in particular, are amongst his most expansive tracks yet.
Review:
Carlos "S.P.Y" Lima made his name by putting a decidedly positive spin on drum & bass, filling his 2012 debut album What The Future Holds with string-laden, post-liquid tracks that fused floor-filling rhythms with a breezy, carnival-friendly musicality. On this belated follow-up, the Brazilian producer flips the script, delivering a murkier - if no less beautifully produced - set filled with darker, moodier moments. Given his way with mood and rhythm, it's unsurprising to find that Back To Basics Volume 1 hits home hard. Whether laying down and tech-tinged late night roller ("Brooklyn (Dub)", "Jelly Belly"), a discordant freak-out ("Riding The Void") or an "Inner City Life" style vocal groover ("Dusty Fingers", featuring Diane Charlemagne), Lima is at the top of his game.
Review:
Steve BCee's Spearhead imprint finally unleash the S.P.Y. anthem that featureS on Marky's Fabric mix along with reaching high in the end of year polls. And no wonder, "By Your Side" is a stone cold classic! Uplifting and emotional, the beautiful instrumental intro with haunting clarinet flourish, delicate harp glimmer, warm sweeping High Contrast-style, cinematic strings, scattering breaks and swooning vocal that leads to crisp breaks, warm, undulating bass and an incredible orchestral passage made it a ubiquitous feel good anthem that pushes all the right buttons and will continue to do so for a long time yet. Just when you thought it couldn't get much better, Logistics takes over for the remix on the flip. Well matched to the sound of the original, the Hospital lynchpin roughs the track up adding crunchy breaks and peak time drum rolls, whilst the increased tempo lends a euphoric edge to the vocal. Good work all round.
Review:
In the slim chance you missed these last year, or you've only just got into drum & bass, Hospital have compiled both of S.P.Y's albums from last year into one massive 24 track bundle. Representing S.P.Y's broad palette and crystalline vision of jungle past, present and future highlights can be found in every track, notably the inner city reflectivity of "Dusty Fingers", the rolling dreamy soul of "Cold Harsh Air" and the brutal classic electro switch on "Brooklyn Dub". Complete with a mix of the tracks by S.P.Y himself, this is the perfect time to play catch up on one of the genre's most respected and talented artists.
