Review: The Dansu Discs team have assembled a killer selection for our enjoyment here, from the one and only Bailey Ibbs, unleashing six tracks of UKG flavour. We begin with the softened chord maneuvers and crunchy drum processing of 'Gurl', a worthy title track, which is closely followed by the much more breaks-driven influences of 'We Run' and luscious, bubbling soundscapes of 'What's My Chance?', giving us a super-wide sounding selection of originals. On remix duty, we see three parties give 'Gurl' the once over, with Groovy D giving us a throwback 2-step rethink, Denham Audio sending the stems to the junglist chop shop and AK Sports combining gnarly, acidic basslines and hardcore drums to take it somewhere completely different.
Review: When it comes to churning out sweat-soaked, rave-era revivalism, few producers are quite as adept as Chrissy, in part because he's genuinely studied the turn-of-the-90s styles he's emulating (and has the record collection to prove it). For proof, check the cut that kick-starts this EP, "Can't You Feel It". Built around bustling breakbeats, fizzing synth bass, simmering strings and sweaty female vocal samples, it's a thrill a minute ride - as is the stomping, acid-powered, bleep-laden track that follows it, "Depeche Moines". Soundbwoy Killah kick-starts the remix portion of the EP with a hybrid UK funky/UK garage revision of "Can't You Feel It" that boasts one of the weightiest sub-bass drops we've heard for yonks - seriously, it's massive - before Denham Audio re-casts "Depeche Moines" as a breakbeat hardcore-goes-tribal house smasher.
Review: The quality level for garage music worldwide has never been higher in our eyes, a theory perfectly exemplified by Lavonz on this bubbling new six tracker, kicking off with the groovy moog subs and vocal chops of 'Satisfied'. From here, 'Paradise' unleashes an array of nostalgic 2-steppers drum lines before 'Wicked Things' provides us with a more experimental, scattered slap. From here, Donna Dee & Rhallia get involved with some fabulous vocal interventions over 'Lurvin' You', before the sunshine skips and glittering guitar riffs of 'Sexy Coolin' alongside Brace. Finally, mashes together throwback drum processing with a busy selection of melodic inputs to provide the perfect high energy outro.
Review: Next up from the Dansu Discs team, we see them unveil the second edition of their extremely popular 'Dansu For Mental Health' compilation, which sees them unleash eight fabulous bubblers. Focussing primarily on the deeper side of garage production, the project works perfectly, with a solid balance of influences etched throughout, from the dubwise delays of Dubrunner's 'Scattershot', to the subtle breakbeat additions of 'Irresponsible' from Bailey Ibbs. There are a number of highlights for us, with the nostalgic melodic plucks of 'Hold On' from Stones Taro leading the way, alongside the acidic bass pulsations of 'Jet Stream' from Nicolas Duque. Lovely stuff.
Review: This 14-track VA comp will delight anyone who loves UK garage but has really had enough of partying like it's 1999, as London-based Dansu Discs showcase new directions in post-UKG bass music. Opener 'December' does for Al Green what High Contrast's 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' did for Julie London, and sets the scene for an album that's full of surprises, from the prog-isms of DJ Life's 'Blue' to Pinder's broken beater 'Hot Feet' to Warwick's ominously rumbling 'Only Way'. Elsewhere, Suki's 'Mind Control' could cross over onto deep house floors, while 'Original Style' from Main Phase will please the ragga-garage diehards.
