Review: Paradox is one of the most consistent jungle producers around and we've been loving his output across the many years of his production history. His latest single is quintessential Paradox: spacious, atmospheric breaks music with a focus on sophistication that doesn't sacrifice grit. This is one for the true heads and if you like your music dumbed down with frills attached, then this probably isn't for you. 'Decagon' summarises this perfectly, with its booming snare drum as the centrepiece, each percussive hit precisely engineered around it to create the overall vibe of deep roughness. Quality single as per usual.
Review: Second time around for Gremlinz "Frankie Gunns", an atmospheric, early morning jungle roller that first appeared on Renegade Hardware's compilation style Deadpan EP way back in 2009. Here, the hazy, head-in-the-clouds original - a wonderful combination of slowly shifting ambient chords, hedgerow field records, rambunctious jungle breakbeats and booming sub-bass - comes accompanied by a fresh rework by Paradox, AKA 1990s drum and bass survivor Dev Pandya. His rework is, arguably, even better than Gremlinz fine original version, with deliciously dreamy ambient chords seemingly drifting in and out of a backing track rich in punchy D&B beats, stabbing riffs and rumbling bass. When Pandya ratchets up the ruffneck riddims midway through, the hairs on your arms and neck will leap to attention.
Review: Few producer / vocalist partnerships in drum & bass have been as enduring or iconic as Seba and Robert Manos. Even though they both work autonomously with other artists, you can really feel it when they work together. Mystical, moving, soulful but heavier than lead boots, it's been this way since 2005's "Make Peace" and their work keeps getting better; "Etherall" is a hurricane break-based piece with fluttering pianos and dynamic breakaways that let Robert and his earnest, heart breaking lyrics shine through while "Always" shakes with more of a jazzy, cosmic energy where Manos's vocals provide just as much texture as they do soul. Timeless.
Review: The break professor returns! Biting down on 2018 like it's one of your mum's best brownies, once again he makes everything sound so spacious, effortless and natural. The roomy dynamism on the drums and sudden drop into strange cosmic space slop on "The Bolide" are guaranteed to grab you by the cohones while "Dioxan" throes down a b-boy dual with its bubbling sub funk, twisted bass variations, classic samples and minimal rhythm make-up. Classic Paradox.
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