Review: Minimize to maximize: two Dispatch lifers NC-17 and Dub Head go toe to toe on this exceptional pair of chunky bruisers. 'Open Fire' takes the lead with an icy sense of timeless futurism that's underpinned with a rudeboy swing in the bass department. Sitting somewhere between Breakage and C4C, this is one of those bubblers that really hits a lot of spots. 'Minimal Or Lazy' continues this underground vibe but with more a grumpy, techy edge that nods towards the Virus school of sound. Max vibes.
Review: The unstoppable Russian wizard Black Barrel returns to his most consistent and spiritual of homes - Dispatch Recordings - for another collection of dark, deadly minimalistic grooves. All tailored for mixing pleasure and those ice cold 3am dancefloor moments, Barrel shoots first and asks questions later as 'System Off' oozes out of the speakers with spooky intent. Elsewhere 'WTF Is Your Problem' says what we're all thinking by way of a torrential bassline and skitty breaks, 'Professional Kill' strips things back in a really quirky, funky off-beat way and 'When We Want To Feel' finishes the EP with more steam powered funk justice. Feeling this!
Review: Return of the master chef! Survival is back to finish what he started on Dispatch in October... The 'Mira' project. Following the inaugural EP comes this monster which is a head-twister from start to finish. '4 Mins' is brutally stripped back to the most venomous feels, 'Ready' brings the big room hype with a vocal loop build up and a drop so disgusting even politicians feel grubby after hearing it. Elsewhere 'Jelly' wobbles itself firm with a real techno-like energy to the groove before 'Up In The Dance' brings the EP to a climactic and chaotic close. Bashy to the bitter end, Survival has delivered something truly special here.
Review: Long-standing Dispatch duo Genic unleash their second album Process and it's a bona fide beauty. A heartfelt love letter to all forms of dnb, Process is the sound of the UK pair digging deep into every nook and cranny and capturing the groove essence. From the subtle (the dreamy 'Spend It All') to the savage (the rampant technoid roll-out 'Panic') to the heart-breakingly soulful (the smoky, jazzy haze of 'Blue Skies') to the peaktime, techy tear-out (the massive Fokus-fronted 'Ruff Dem') each cut hits with a high level of class and restraint. Proper grown-up tackle.
Review: Actions stations! Not content with releasing the first ever album trilogy in D&B with Most Violent Year (or releasing a full collabo album Short Cuts with Dauntless earlier this year) NC-17 continues to slay with another jaw-dropping body of work - Enter The Violence. Weighing in at 13 tracks and featuring collabs with the likes of Myth, Universal Project, Quadrant and Dungeon Kru, it's another full assault of the senses that digs deep into some of the most timeless and crucial ingredients and aesthetics of drum & bass. Highlights include the disgusting slimy funk of 'Slug Trail', the twisted groove and energy of 'Date With the Devil' and the pure urgency and drama of the title track 'Enter The Violence'. Fighting talk!
Review: If you've been trying to get in touch with Dub Head lately, now is your chance to link. He's picking up a 'Missed Call' and it's all for you. As always with Dub Head, especially on Dispatch, the whole EP is stripped-back and rumbling with underground prowess. The title track purrs like a tiger ready to pounce, 'In My Mind' is all about that XXL sub while 'Soulseek' brings a little soundclashy flavour into the mix. Last but not least we have 'Crater' that plunges you deep into the dank, dark ground in a way only Dub Head can. Call us straight back!
Review: Something exceedingly warm and slippery right here on Dispatch... Jam Thieves gets deep across four system-primed tracks. 'Bling Run' just oozes dark funk but keeps things reined in at all times. 'Spike' takes that notion to an even deeper level, going in on a stripped back subby warm funk that could be compared to Sir Skeppy. Deeper again 'Sunday' purrs like some type of robotic leopard, ready to pounce on its prey before 'Boomerang' closes the EP with a barking bass texture that's constantly evolving in a really clever way. This will definitely keep coming back to you.
Review: Dispatch Recordings has released a new two-track EP featuring a collaboration between Genic and Trakker titled "All That Matters", as well as a remix of Genic's "Chonka" by Black Barrel. "All That Matters" is a powerful and melodic track that showcases the skills of both Genic and Trakker. The track combines driving basslines with intricate melodies, creating a sound that is both danceable and atmospheric. Black Barrel's remix of "Chonka" is a dark and funky take on the original track. The remix adds a new level of energy and excitement to the track, making it perfect for any dance floor.
Review: Representing Canada and Australia on a UK label... 'Short Cuts' is a truly international celebration of drum & bass from two outstanding and forward-thinking craftsmen - NC-17 and Dauntless. Both currently in epic states of creative flux (NC-17 with his album trilogy and Dauntless with massive collabs like Current Value) the pair get stuck in and take the sound to some far-out places. With vibes ranging from the twisted jump-up scrapes and screeches of 'Devils' to the warm and funky Virus style 'Microchip Convention' to the euphoric, rising sense of hope on 'Vertigo City', this is unique body of work and a great example of when collaborations are more than the some of their parts. There's some serious alchemy going on here.
Review: Brazilian flavours! The now solo Jam Thieves gets busy on Dispatch with this epic new album entitled Blue House. Deep and minimal vibes all the way, highlights include the ice cold 'Temple Meads' (big up the Bristol massive) the trippy fizzles and frazzles of 'Orange Dog', the rough, jaunty funk of 'Badman' (with Welsh upstart Bennie) and the pure sci-fi drama of 'In My Soul' (with NC-17) All primed and ready for winter clubland hurtery, this is a massive Dispatch collection.
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