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The Return
Review: He's back! Upfront returns with his somewhat aptly titled EP "The Return". Four tracks deep, for the first time in quite a long time the Scottish widow-maker is guns us down with bullets of pure gully. "Dead Night" is all about the drama with its tense riff and thundering roll, "Sc-Fi" adds a little symphonic spring to the swaggering groove and guttural bass tones while "The Return" gets all gnarly, springy and savage with its crucial alien laser bass. Last but definitely least "Going Under" concludes affairs on a deep dreamy tip that's not dissimilar to Ed:It or a young SpectraSoul. Welcome back Upfront.
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DDR 039
26 Sep 19
Drum & Bass / Jungle
Best Of Dub Damage
Various
Review: This is a big release, both literally and metaphorically. Sitting at 58 tracks, it's clear that the Dub Damage crew wanted to pack as many of their best moments as they possible could into the album. If you're a jump-up fan, think of this as a bit like the holy grail of jump-up and the inclusion of remixes and originals from dons like Original Sin, Annix, Turno and Sub Zero cement that fact. Aside from those legends, DJ Alpha comes through with 'The Man With The Golden Gun', a riotous blend of punched out bass synths, whilst Kre & Basshoven low-key steal the show with 'Toronto Blue'. A fat album this, and a lesson in how to do compilations right.
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DDR 036
16 Nov 18
Drum & Bass / Jungle
The Link Ups Vol 2
Review: Smokin' Riddims long success can be linked to Jaydan's keen ear for balanced tracks, every track cuts a fine balance between, noisy, bouncing, rough and rolling and that means great dancefloor music. This new EP is a collection of co-labs, three of which are with the main man himself. 'Rubbish' is anything but, the aggressive track uses swaths and a stabbing bass to create an intense atmosphere. 'Good A Dead' uses jungle breakdowns in-between more modern drum patterns with grinding metallics and shadowy pads. '2049's rumbling bassline is the star of the EP.
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SMOKEDIGI 043
28 Aug 17
Drum & Bass / Jungle
Welcome To The Jungle Vol 4/The Ultimate Jungle Cakes Drum & Bass Compilation
Various
Review: 39 tracks, 10 FX sounds and a full mix. This isn't any old slice of afternoon cake you might share your elderly neighbour or distant relative, this is a seven-tiered wedding cake full of every type of unhealthy, fattening ingredient you can imagine. And we're not stopping until we've chowed the lot. If you've feasted on Deekline and Solo's Jungle Cakes before then you'll already know how tasty this is; a selection of their own releases and similarly spirited cuts from the scene, all laced with dubwise, dancehall and skank-soaked soul. Highlights hang from every corner but you'd be mad not to peak at Aries & Gold's soul-flecked massage of Mr Benn, or Dominator & Logan D's brokeback bust-up "Cowboy" or Serial Killaz' savage repurposing of Freestyler's iconic "Entertainer". High calorie badness.
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JC 051
12 Sep 16
Drum & Bass / Jungle
Gully/Nostromo
Review: Razor-sharp Scottish steppery: Upfront and Aesthetics strip back the unnecessaries for two straight-up rolling damagers. "Gully" is reminiscent of Origin Unknown's mid 90s output with its crisp two-step, marshmallow subs and well placed (possibly Predator?) vocal sample. Keeping the mid 90s two-step vibe alive, "Nostromo" purrs a little softer with benign chemtrails of "Pulp Fiction" and a name that comes from Alien. Cool tracks and some nerdy film references... Upfront & Aesthetics know us all too well.
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SMOKEDIGI 031
23 May 16
Drum & Bass / Jungle
Serious Selection Vol 1
Various
Review: Jaydan's label comes correct with its first ever multi-artist album featuring some its most exciting artists and affiliate and a widescreen snapshot of where both Smokin Riddims and underground D&B in general is at right now. Highlights include the Mind Vortex style electricity of Shifta's "Deadfall" Leaf's skippy, twisted roller "Dis Style" and the abyss-level sub bass depth plunges on Upfront & Aesthetics' "Touch" but that's just a small selection of what's on offer here. Jaydan doesn't do things by halves, Serious Selection is proof that lives up to its name.
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SMOKEDIGI 030
18 Apr 16
Drum & Bass / Jungle
Parallel Worlds EP
Played by: DJ Ollie, Zen Dub
Review: Scottish sonic sorcery: Upfront returns to Jaydan's Smokin Riddims with five more cross-section compositions. "Another Dimension" conjures up the ghosts of raves gone by with its planet-aligning pads, "Another Place" is a slice of cold soul that nods towards the work Artificial Intelligence have done with Steo, "Murder Squad VIP" sees him flipping is '14 Smokin Riddim anthem with even more menace, "Sic" takes the tech route with subtle alien-zapping neuro modulations on the low end while "Deep Intentions" closes the show with wafting pads and far-away vocals tied down by restrained growls. A comprehensive showcase.
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SMOKEDIGI 025
02 Nov 15
Drum & Bass / Jungle
Wonderland
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TZREC 014
20 Oct 14
Drum & Bass / Jungle
The Chameleon EP
Review: Featured on Haydan's Smokin' Riddim's podcast back in May, Edinburgh-based production powerhouse Upfront lives up to his name with an EP filled with shape-shifting, colour-changing d&b designed to move and abuse. After the wrecking effects of "Murder Squad" the release takes a spin down old-school avenue in the excellently-named "Bru Dub" with classic ragga sampling and scattered breaks laid out over darkly rumbling bass."Things You Do" picks up the vibe with an anthemic vocal and systematically drops into nowhere with the bare minimum of a backdrop to the clank and click of percussion and pulsating bass. "Feel So" is the EP's nod to neuro-tinged nastiness and finally "Skank Riddim" takes the lead on a jump-up track so perfectly honed it's like this comes easy to him. Mindblowingly diverse and accessible at the same time. Looks like the badmen have got some serious competition.
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SMOKEDIGI 015
01 Sep 14
Drum & Bass / Jungle
Smoke & Mirrors EP
Review: Jaydan and Upfront are a monstrous partnership. Both highly skilled in the heavy, show-stopping jump up dynamics, the pair complement each other perfectly. "Mirrors" is a composition of true contrast as the floaty ravey synths give way to a crude, potty mouthed bass lick. "Blow Out" lives up to its name with a vicious midrange bass lead that swipes and swathes with undiluted menace and neat switch ups on the fills. Further on we hit "Empty Threats", a track that swings with more of a triplet flavour and a much darker, deeper bass texture that groans ominously over the funky drum dynamic. "Fear Nothing" finishes the set on a stark steppy note. Armed with yet another concrete-ripping bassline, the real action can be found amid the subby bubbles on the fills. Heavyweight.
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SMOKEDIGI 014
28 Jul 14
Drum & Bass / Jungle
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