Review: Alix Perez's 1985 continues to build its own unique lane with the first V/A release of the year. Following Monty's "Hypnotise" comes this sleek, stark four-piece featuring a range of innovative kindred spirits. Perez takes the lead with "Haunted", a powerful techno-influenced slab of darkness while Cologne-based next-genner SubMarine follows with a 20,000 league deep sea wriggle fest on "Malibu 1973". Deeper into the Folio we forage to find barbed soul and heavy emotion on "Rollcage" (with Halogenix) and fly-by-night finger-clicking funk and subversive soulful vocals on "The Glow" (with Monty and singer Benabu)
Review: Alix Perez's mighty 1985 imprint has been taking the D&B world by storm for the past couple of years and it's thanks in part to a series of wicked compilations, some big and some small. This is the second outing in the mini VA series Folio/ and they've pulled out all the stops, roping in a who's-who of forward-thinking music that includes Perez himself, SubMarine, Hyroglifics and others. Perez's contribution is classic Perez: moody, murky basslines and soothing, haunting samples that balance each other out into an equilibrium of pure satisfaction. SubMarine's 'Grunge' is more pure energy, a rippling number that's as fluid as it is devastating - perfect for the dancefloor. Tracks 3 and 4 don't mess around as well, but we're not really very surprised because Scepticz, Lavance, Hyroglifics and Visages are all just so damn good. Pick this one up.
Review: From Cologne with badness, man-of-the-moment Submarine comes correct on label-of-the-moment 1985 with his best release to date. Four tracks deep, each one reflecting just how exciting drum & bass is right now. "Fate" takes the lead with its crunchy groove and gruff 40-a-day bass grunts, "No Sleep" is a barbed drifter with an air so solemn it'll have you wearing black for the rest of your living days and "Return Of Enel" gets all snake-like in the bass department while the drum sounds flicker and morph on every 32. Finally "Pastell" closes with its purring subs and glacial pads. Coming on strong like a homage to the sound and attitude of Perez's label, it leaves you hungry for more...
Review: Submarine is quickly emerging as one of the hottest new talents in the game. His very recent EP on Dispatch was of top-notch quality and his previous outings on 1985 have been as well. Now he's back for his first full-length EP on Perez's label and oh boy, it's good. 'Xertz' is one of the deeper cuts, subterranean synths rumbling away underneath trademark 1985 percussion precision. It rolls quickly into Dive Alarm, possibly one of the most unique tracks released in years and an incredible piece of music. You need to listen to it to understand properly, but Submarine has created a five-minute masterclass in minimal progression that'll keep you engrossed the whole way. 'Luna' is another minimal masterclass, subtle pinches of force edging out over each other against a backdrop of blackish ambience. Finally, 'Angler Beat', which manages to keep the EP fresh even after the uniqueness of the previous 3 tunes. A halftime, jungley number that rattles and rattles and rattles, 'Angler Beat' is the last gasp of a truly amazing release on an amazing label.
Review: Getting you to more places than the Docklands Light Railway ever could, DLR takes his Sofa around the world and stops off at the homes and studios of some of the most exciting new generation artists. Every direction you check its severe roller situation as each participant step up with their finest. Highlights include the outlandish grizzles of Submarine & Scepticz's "Shingoki", the hair raising wriggles and flabby funk on Ill Truth on "Catch A Break", the infectious steppy late 90s buzzes of bossman DLR and Script's "El Mosquito" and the lush jazzy flurries of Trex's "Falling Down"... but that's just scratching the surface, the whole Sofa king thing is immense.
Alix Perez & Monty - "Good To Me" - (4:54) 174 BPM
Bredren - "Swayed" - (5:56) 174 BPM
Monty - "Decisions" - (4:53) 174 BPM
Razat - "Simplicity" - (5:01) 172 BPM
Review: 1985 Music was founded by Alix Perez a year or two ago and, since then, has rapidly become one of the premier destinations for forward-thinking sonics that inhabit the 85-170bpm spectrum. With a fresh roster including Monty, Submarine and Perez himself, Edition 2 is a showcase of both the producers and sounds that Alix has in his orbit. There are too many outstanding tracks to recount here, but 'Drones' by Cesco stands out as one of the most creative: a subby, stepping halftime cut with an ingenious drum pattern. There's weighty rollers, too, including 'Swayed' by Bredren and 'Good To Me' by Perez and Monty, both of which are sublime examples in minimal construction. A truly sick collection of tracks.
Review: Reviewed By Duploc:
Today we're inspecting the construction site of Artikal Music UK's next project. Founder J:Kenzo employed eleven professional and highly skilled architects to carefully design, build and create a handcrafted compilation full of music he admires. As J:Kenzo explains: "The tracks included were filtered through from artists that have previously released on Artikal or have some connection with myself either being played on my Rinse FM shows or live sets". Considering the quality of each and every track, only two years of fabrication to finish off this product is remarkably short. Volume One of "The Architects" reflects J:Kenzo's refined taste in dubstep and drum and bass. On the 2 x 12" record, you'll find some absolute masterpieces from amongst others D-Operation Drop, Causa, Compa, Argo, DubDiggerz and J:Kenzo himself. The Architects' series, a yearly showcase filled with content from the label's artists plus VIP and remixes as well as bringing through new talent, will make the foundations of dubstep shake undoubtedly.
Review: What a crazy trip it's been so far for Xtrah's Cyberfunk imprint. Championing both blisteringly fresh talent (Incognito, Simple Technique, Phentix) and pioneers (Mefjus, Current Value) at a commendable unhurried pace, and hosting some legendary parties along the way, they now unlock album warrior mode with this sterling document of furious futurism. Showcasing not only Cyberfunk's ear for forefront compositions but drum & bass's current rude health the entire album is soaking in innovation. Highlights include the detailed percussion and walloping subs of Sub Marine's "Club Mate", Phentix's grizzly cyber-neuro "Complex System", Simple Technique's thundering halftime robot hip-hop stampede "Gorilla" and Xtrah's seasick flabby bass textures on "Nachtmuzik". The trip continue...
