Review: The Ghost Snares team have most certainly unboxed a real gem with this new collection from Drumatic, who spoils us with four tracks of original drum & bass flavour. We open up with the steadily sweeping sub synths and gorgeous vocal sampling of the title track 'Good Time', setting a floating mood instantaneously. Next, abstract string-like synth sweeps and euphoria-inducing pads combine on 'Roscoe Street', before 'Emptiness Inside' follows up with a liquified paddle through murky bass notation and chilling synth work. Finally, an unexpected touch of breaks as 'Lift Me Up' focuses on more melancholy piano chords and choppy breaks at a more garage-sentric speed, closing this one off with an emotional splash.
Review: Since their inception, there are few labels that have been able to tie the fusion of Jamaican system-influenced sounds with the UK underground as well as the Nice Up! Team. We have been absolutely loving their journey in recent times, with this latest selection seeing them gathering some of their biggest hitters for one of our favourite compilation drops of 2021. That list of heavy hitters includes the likes of Danny T, Tradesman, Red Eye HiFi, Taxman, Escape Roots and many more, all of whom contribute a fantastic combination of instrumental and vocal fire. The quality level is so high, from the footwork inspired drum rolls of Casement's 'Mutiny', to Congi's spacious rethink of Origin One's 'Dead & Buried' and even Gray's big room recreation of 'Strangers' from Mr Benn & Tiya X An. There are a couple of clear highlights for us, including Wrongtom's dubwise rethink of Seanie T's 'Veterans', which features one of the most vibrant collections of UK hip hop vocalists we have ever seen. As well as this, the Riddim Punks rework of Think Tonk & General Jah Mikey's 'None Of Dem' is anthem material if ever we heard it. Fantastic work!
Review: We've known for a minute that Manuka is one of the real hot spots for genuinely innovative electronic flavour, with this new 'Decades' compilation EP being another great example of that mantra in action. Kicking off with the jittering vocal slices and smooth breaks of Sinic's 'RBF9', we can tell we are already in for a treat, followed closely by the mellow atmospherics and spacey textures of Doc Zee's 'Vibes' and the pure euphoria of Hypho and Megumi Hope's breaksy 'Feel You' original. We then dive into the trippy acidic zones of L=Pad & Jasehip as they unleash the blippy masterclass of '303Bot', before closing the EP off with the super unpredictable rhythms and eerie textures of Canaan's 'Energy Stream' alongside Jules. Fantastic work as per!
Review: Let's just list the amount of stone cold bass OGs on this collection: Krust, dBridge, Om Unit, Danny Scrilla, V.I.V.E.K, Von D, Moresounds, AU, Oris Jay & Chris Innersound and whole load more of soundsystem culture's most innovative craftsman working at the deepest levels of the low end coalface all feature on this immense and forward thinking document. Including the curator Amit himself. Every track is a highlight, each one and abyssal, immersive experience but essential highlights include the toxic bass bounces of Moresounds' "They Can't Handle It", the 23rd century UKG of Oris and Chris's "They Can't Handle It" and Krust's big screen masterpiece "Escape From Finland". Amit deserves a holiday. Or a massive trophy. Or both. Bass compilations don't get much bigger than this.
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