Review: One of Shogun Audio's most stand-out sound crafters, Sustance comes correct with his debut album Perceived Connections. Featuring the likes of Strategy, Flow Dan, T Man, Visages and many other collaborators, the whole album is a slide and glide across the most futuristic plains of D&B. From the autonomic style opening title track through to the final woozy beatsy closer 'Lost Inside' via the booming swagger of 'Ten Ton', the poignant soul 'Sweet Relief' and all kinds of cool trips and twists along the way, this is an exemplary debut artist album. Get connected.
Review: Overview are without a doubt one of the biggest success stories of recent years and 2020 has proved to be their biggest yet, with a slew of fantastic releases across their roster of artists. Pretty much that entire crew is represented here and the tracks cover their 2 year history, from early tunes like breakout hit 'Around Me' to brand spanking new cuts like 'Framed' by Klinical and Waeys. Waeys has been an important part of the Overview story and his tune 'Who You Are' with Hadley was one of the first steps in that journey, a ridiculously dirty techy roller with an infectious bounce and a progression that will certainly get your gurn on. A spectacular album.
Review: Shogun have a forthcoming compilation and it's one which shows just how good a year they had, all things notwithstanding. It features music from GLXY, Sustance, Koherent and more, and what's notable is just how many are from producers relatively new to the Shogun camp, evidence that the Brighton team are doing the best they can at nurturing the next generation. GLXY are at the forefront of that generation and they have several tracks featured from their Spring album, Research & Development. 'Conclusions' feat. Steo is one of the best, a feathery light liquid number with a dusting of harp and a dash of vocal magic, a sultry approach mirrored on their critically acclaimed single 'She Sings For Me' feat DRS. Koherent's recent, infectiously funky number 'Bliss' makes an appearance, as does several tunes from Gerra & Stone's rebirth as GEST. Big.
Review: Sustance, without a doubt one of the most exciting new producers on the minimal end of the spectrum, has his first ever EP on the Shogun main label. Blood Money is an exceptionally good outing, one drenched in a coating of reddish hedonism, the sound and the feel of the underground encapsulated. Its title tune says the most with the fewest words, a deeply rhythmic track that bubbles with its bongos and bangs with its basslines, a stripped back yet forward looking item of fearsome proportions. The ever-present Charli Brix features on the rolling 'Break The Habit', whilst Monty's feature on 'Lapis' leads to the creation of a jump-up infused number with attitude at its core. 'Be Forgiven' isn't the most outspoken but might just be the best, as tender piano notes flutter above its penetrating underbelly. Top, top class.
Review: Following releases on the likes of Dispatch, Flexout, Vandal and Shogun, Sustance lands on Overview with this ravishing five-piece collection. Adding to the ever on-point signature of the young UK label, each cut is slippery, stripped back and primed for butt-wriggling. Highlights include the playfully titled "Squirt" (watch out for that sudden gnarly switch on the bass midway), the fluctuating subs and bold percussion splashes on "Temperance" and that restrained high voltage electric menace on "Shame". More of this please Sustance and Overview.
Review: Straight outta Toulouse! Vandal Records celebrate 15 years with this serious statement: 17 tracks of some of the most forefront, innovative and exciting drum & bass from an on-point selection of trusted lifers and the most exciting new-gen names in the game. Highlights can be found on pretty much every track but you'd be mad not to check Rizzle's evocative and eerie "Ether", Was A Be & Synth Ethics' high voltage "Roughmouth", Nymfo's tense groaner "Semantics" or the twisted techno-like stab-whirlwind "Semantics". And that's just the tip of this on-point D&B iceberg. Some anniversary albums celebrate the past; this celebrates Vandal's future.
Review: Following on from last year's incredibly popular instalment, Shogun Audio have brought back Point of Origin for a third time. This series emphasises the rolling, minimal-ish side of the scene from some younger, more hungry producers and boy, is it a good formula. Exemplifying this is Revaux with 'Ibex', probably the nastiest tune on the album and arguably the best, as its crunching bass tabs inject fantastic groove. Rizzle and Malaky add something more sultry with 'Solstice' and 'Requiem', the former focusing on the vocals of Sydney whilst the latter opts for a more instrumental roll-out. Gerra & Stone represent the old guard amongst the newbies, holding up their end with a growling amalgamation of low-frequency force. This is an exquisite album of D&B, with every corner covered and every flavour recognizable - special props going to Shogun for supporting new talent as well.
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