Review: Safety first: Dannywav returns to Rocstar with another collective of multi-tempo party pieces. First he's donkey punching us with two-step slaps on the dizzying turbo-UKF of "Safe" (complete with venom bars from Leon Rhymes), next he's getting all low-slung and heavy with the cowbell in a way that's reminiscent of early Dub Pistols. If that's not enough to keep you under house arrest, he's also provided more skippy, vocal-twisting UKG in the form of "Vish" and concludes nihilistic dark dancehall stepper on "What's The Bleedin' Point". It's an ironic question; with beats like these, there's always a point.
Review: Jimi Needle nails that Kater Blau after-hours vibe with two cuts of dirty electro jazz business. But any other tech-house theme park in the world could surely benefit from these versions too and we'll tell you why. The original on the A-side will work the dancefloor nicely indeed and there's more in store on the B-side with the Bonus Beats version clearing the way for its stomping drum beat and providing an ever useful DJ-tool. You can just imagine them all running down and jumping into the River Spree to cool down after this one!
Review: Captain Flatcap : excellent name, excellent style. "Bonklet" featuring Dutty Moonshine unveils some truly inspired and eccentric beats to get those booties shaking first up. There's a definite feel of festivals about the entire release and the dizzying combination of breakbeat, retro video game soundtracks and ludicrous synth-brass wouldn't seem out of place in theme tune of an after school program from 1996, and it's one hell of a ride. Combine that with a can of your favourite juice and somebody to dance with and you've got yourself a party.
Review: A 30-strong rhythm commission headed up by one Aid Todd, Drum Machine are a tub-thumping collective that are often spotted frothing up festival frenzies across the UK. Here we find Rocstar capturing them at their most DJ friendly with a creative tool that will drive any crowd wild. Those looking for a little more than raw drum power will enjoy the star-gazing, almost prog-like remix from Aid himself. Or indeed the chop-slapping house twist from Sonny Wharton and Mango Trasher. Looking for something a lot more pumping and trance-tinged? Head for Syrum's remix and you'll be more than satisfied. Like the majority of Rocstar releases, this is genuinely unique.
Review: Back with his third album, Big Beat pioneer Lee "Cut La Roc" Potter has created a kaleidoscopic set of songs that make his early days on Skint suddenly seem like a very long time ago. As someone who grew up on hip-hop, it's maybe not surprising to hear so many influences at work at one time. There are plenty of B-Boy references, most notably on "Come Get Some" which features an amazing guest spot from MC Donald D, as well as a choice sample from Big Daddy Kane's "Warm It Up Kane". There's also the use of classic UBB tune Pussyfooter on the schizoid party-banger Jump Up & Down.
But surprisingly, there are a host of other styles on show here as well. Pop gets a look in on For The Kids, which uses a Robbie Williams chorus as a hook in between raps from The 6th Letter. Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol even makes an appearance on Mishka, with La Roc making a soundbed of sampled strings for the singer to let loose on. A pair of songs with vocalist Alex Larke also showcases some unexpected influences. Don't Stop seems pleasantly indebted to The Rolling Stones, while their other collaboration Candy Man is a slow and sentimental piano-led ballad.
There's still a lot of jump-up club tunes that fans would expect from a Cut La Roc album, like the awesome Nightlife Love and Hey Girl which features a great performance from Ragga MC Lion D. But it's refreshing to hear a DJ produce an album that takes them out of their comfort zone, especially when it works as well as Larger Than Life.
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