Review:
Although you may not have read much about it, West Yorkshire has long been a hotbed of Jamaican soundsystem culture. It's there you'll find Duburban, a DJ/producer combo whose output to date has touched on both dub and sub-heavy jungle revivalism. It's the latter they wallow in here, delivering a quartet of typically dub-wise rinse-outs. Opener "Butcher Shop" brilliantly flits between half-time hip-hop vibes and rip-snorting early '90s style ragga jungle madness, before "Real Ganjaman" peppers a punchy jungle riddim with toaster chat samples, spaced-out dub electronics and jangling reggae piano. The wobble bass propelled "Bam Bam" sounds like a clattering ragga-jungle anthem in waiting, while closer "Youthman In The Ghetto" does a good job in fixing soulful reggae vocal samples and jaunty dub samples to a bowel-bothering bassline and more sharply edited breakbeats.
Review:
Eleven slabs of pure, authentic roots, Rebel MC's foundational agenda-setters (penned under various names such as Blackstar, Rebel MC and Congo Natty) have been tethered and tied up to form this on-point history lesson in breakbeat and jungle culture. From the 'heads down' drum magic of the previously rare dubplate version of "Alaska Ride" to the instantly distinctive hook of The Revolutionaries-sampling "Kunta Kinte" via the Buju Banton-fronted siren session "Stamina", this album is a reminder of just how much Michael West contributed to jungle's development. Forefather fire!
Review:
It's been a while since Irish party slappers Dirty Dubster delivered a ragga package but here we find them making up for lost time with four rock steady heaters. No genre unturned, each cut reps ragga's broadest reaches: "Walk Like A Champ" swings low with a guttural dancehall feel, "Bangerz N' Goulash" tips a nod at a Diplo classic over a salubrious digidub groove while "Follow Me" shreds up on a high energy D&B flex. For most, though, the key cut will be KayPod's Marley-mashing "Could You Be Push Forward". Could this be loved? Yes siree.
Review:
New Yorker-in-Vietnam Bluntskull returns to DDD with four more trademark Jamaican bass skank-ups. Smoke-stacked hip-hop heaters, each one swinging heavily on classic breakbeats, the whole EP is a cascade of classic samples and vocals, all laced together as if they were pristine originals. Highlights include the lo-fi subtleties of "Carnival" and the slow-rolling funk flow of "Raggamuffin Flow". Get to know.
Review:
Long-standing collaborators Binga and Shafique continue to go pound for pound on this bulbous nine-track EP. Eight originals and one stone cold Perez remix, this one's a danger session as a vibrant, dancehall thrust sizzles throughout. Highlights include the dreamy chorus on "Check Di New", the Carpenter style motifs on "Pot Ah Bubble", the squid bass and textured twist on Rider's smoky vox on "Rootsman Tonic" and the incredible surge of emotion on "Chinchilla" thanks to its beautiful rising chords on the finale. And that's before we even get to Alix's deep space twister take on "Highly Blessed". Nothing short of essential.
Review:
Supporting the debut album from Italian heavy-hitters Numa Crew, this five-track sampler showcases their diversity to the next level. First off, dancehall legend Mr. Lexx comes correct with a heavy vocal delivery on the high-powered "Kill the Whole a Dem". Proper bashment beats and legendary vocal style make this one a solid pick for dancehall reggae DJs everywhere. "Bass Hater" featuring rising star Dub FX, references classic drum & bass and hip hop hybrids, while "Control" is a steady half-time, minimal hip hop-infused track, laden with dub delays and circling synths. "Impossible" is proper jungle with skanking keys, heavy sub bass and classic breaks and finally, "B.M.X" leads off with pitched strings and digitised melodies that become quickly surrounded by heavy 808 sub pressure. High diversity, low-end sounds.
Review:
When it comes to skanks you can always rely on the jungle/jump-up fusioneers Serial Killaz. Two of the most prolific and hardest working men in the bass game, for their next bullet they've collided with the Ragga Twins to pop the style once again. "Duppy Man" takes a very well-known riddim, ups the tempo and beefs up the drums while leaving more than enough space for Flinty and Deman to spit their lyrical signature. Complete with a mind-bogglingly twisted dancehall remix and instrumentals, this one covers absolutely everything that's great about the fizzy cross-pollination happening in drum & bass right now.
Review:
All around hot-shot production voice Stickybuds makes his return to release with his brand new compilation project entitled 'Take A Stand'. Westwood Recordings have struck gold with this one as Stickybuds lays down a selection of high energy compositions, ranging from drum and bass to dancehall and back to dub reggae. There is some serious quality on display here, but for us the immediate highlights have to be the dubwise pressure and rootsy switches of 'Heavy Load' in collaboration with Prince Alla, along with the tearout neuro sounds of 'The Firestarter' featuring Blackout JA. This is a great album project, showcasing real versatility as a producer.
