Review: With 2022 looking to be another huge year for the underground dance music world, we will be looking to labels such as Vital Techniques' 'Second To None' to keep us blessed with truly original flavour, an idea they tap into with this spicy new single from Phono-Vibez. This one takes the title 'Desperate' and lands with a serious splash of colour, from the chiming melodic sweeps to the sliding bass bulges and catchy high pitched vocal lines above, giving us a refreshing taste of skippy UKG originality. We are also treated to very tidy rework from Vital Techniques themselves as they up the intensity a tonne with their floor-filling overhaul, focussing on more punchy drum processing and choppy 2-step rhythms to give us a perfect remix addition.
Review: It's always a pleasure to see the heavyweight Leeds duo of Vital Techniques return to their home imprint of Second To None Music, this time delivering a six track epic across garage bass and breakbeat themes. We kick off with the euphoric introduction of 'Positive Thinking', which through nostalgia inducing piano chords and a bubbling breakdown, launches the EP into the stratosphere right from the beginning. We continue with the wobbly garage feel on 'Can't Trust', this time utilizing catchy auto-tuned vocals for some additional texture, before 'Pull Up & Play Back' unleashes a missile-like arrangement, perfect for the late night dances. From here, our personal highlight arrives in 'First Time', another singalong garage masterclass, encompassing everything we love about the Vital Techniques sound, followed by the well-titled throwback flavours of 'Back In The Day'. Finally, 'Never Be The Same' slows the pace significantly for a much more crunchy roller, giving us the perfect wind-down for a pretty outstanding project.
Review: As always with the Vital Techniques duo, they have gone all out on their latest drop via their home imprint of Second To None to deliver us six tracks of futuristic garage fire. We begin our delvings with a look at 'Euphoria', a floating, chord layden bubbling bop, followed by the lethal reese manoeuvres and catchy vocal hooks of 'Obsession'. From here, we move into the more broken beat rhythms of 'Nothing Matters', followed by the cleverly placed vocal slices and choppy synth plucks of 'Walking On Air' and the sumptuous sub-bass structures of 'Temptation'. Finally, 'Show Me How' sees the Vital Techniques team smash together an impressive collection of synth sounds for a big room round off.
Review: We have started to notice a bit of a pattern developing with the Leeds City veterans: Vital Techniques, that pattern being that whenever they join forces with long term associate: MC Pean, bangers tend to follow. This latest drop is a perfect example of that as we take in the high energy bassline roles and catchy toasted lyrical inputs of the A:Side 'Gassed', perfect for setting the party alight'. On the flip side, the party flavours continue, this time with a more rhythmic design on 'Way Back When', drawing on a combination of nostalgic lyricism and well processed bass warbles to stitch together a piece of rave-ready dynamite.
Review: It's pretty clear that Vital Techniques have not let the lockdown period slow down their inspiring work ethic as they get busy sourcing four explosive remixes to their vibrant collaboration with MC Pean entitled 'Bun Up The Ting'. We kick off with J69's old school niche bassline rethink, adding extensive wobbly bass designs and high energy drum runs into proceedings, followed by Soulecta's nostalgic UKG flip, perfect for the sunshine. Next, Danny T & Tradesman switch it up with a crunchy grime recreation before Sublow Hz sends the acapella into the jump up blender for the final overhaul, giving this project a fantastic amount of variety from start to finish.
Review: Second To None Music regulars Vital Technique return to action with the follow-up to 2019 General Levy hook-up "Give It To Dem". This time round they've got MC Pean in tow, a mic man who last featured on their 2017 EP "Gunfingers". He's in fine form on "Bun Up The Ting", a verified UK funky wobbler laden with wobble-step style bass, siren sounds, laden percussion hits and an ear-catching steel pan style lead line. The duo's tight production, bowel-bothering bass, twisted electronic noises and cheery melodies naturally come to the fore in the accompanying "Instrumental Mix", while the bonus acapella version is perfect for those inventive producers who feel like making their own remix (or DJs who just want to get busy in the mix for that matter).
Review: Straight out of the heart of Leeds, Second To None Music has been setting some serious pace across the breadth of 2018. Headed up by founders: Vital Techniques, we see them assemble a mighty host for the first edition their band new 'Head Gone' compilation series, showcasing some of the best in bass music right now. We see inspired appearances from bassline heavyweights such as Deadbeat UK, Brent Kilner, Spectrum, Pavv and more, with particular highlighted flavours coming from man of the minute: Sammy Virji, on his super vibrant roller entitled 'Thunderclap'. Dr Cryptic also makes a stellar appearance on 'Little Roller', with Vital Techniques themselves supplying some skippy heat on 'Wasted'.
Review: Vital Techniques have had a top draw year so far, dropping some of the scenes biggest releases across both the grime & bassline spheres. Here they return for a high energy two track bass party, beginning with the old school sounds of 'All The Time' which smashes together electronic vocal slices and almost eski-like lead subs, resulting in a super groovy movement. On the flip, the more UKG inspired composition of 'Be Real'; takes hold, which focuses on classic organ chord progressions, vocal melodies and some seriously skippy drum arrangements, rounding off a great two track project.
Review: After a string of potent collaborations, Vital Techniques team up with the vicious vocal presence of MC Pean again for a weighty composition on their home imprint: Second To None. Across the introduction we are given grimey rhythms and smooth shells from Pean before sliding into a heavyweight bassline crescendo with lethal synth work and destructive drum processing. This a combo which seems to be able to do no wrong!
Review: Vital Techniques continue their exciting start to 2018 with this fantastic box of goodies entitled 'Taking The Piss' via the Second To None imprint. Featuring 4 original creations the full project is full of rave-ready material and is guaranteed to get the dance moving. The title track features a high energy vocal from the ever-ready MC Pean which sits perfectly above grinding bass synths and euphoric synth chords. Pean features again alongside Leeds city grime legend: Dialect for more electric vocals on the 'Supply and Demand' VIP. Following this we hear the demonic bass sounds of 'Hold On' and moogy patterns of 'Shadow Boxing'. This is a great overall project that even comes complete with the 'Taking The Piss' instrumental track.
Review: While he might not be a name to receive all the latest hype and background chatter, the UK's Mikey B has been a strong presence on the wider bass scene throughout the last ten years. Coming through with the first mutations of grime into dubstep, the man has been perfecting and refining to achieve the diversity of sounds found on this latest LP. Evolution is a journey, or rather, a DJ set in and of itself; all sorts of bass squelching can be found across its seventeen bangers, all of which have their roots firmly locked onto the dancefloor. In fact, play this whole damn killer out at a party, and you don't even need a DJ. Hybrid cuts for the modern ear - yes, yes, Mikey!
Gunfingers In The Air (feat MC Pean) - (4:01) 132 BPM
Get Down - (3:47) 130 BPM
Prisoner - (4:05) 130 BPM
Review: Leeds bass junkies Vital Techniques are back to work on their Second To None imprint and, in fact, it would be fair to say that this new EP is a clear mark of their confidence and panache behind the mixing board. Calling any tune "Gunfingers In The Air" is pretty much a sure sign that you know what you're on about when it comes to deathly bass shots, and the same can be said for the more house-centric vibes of "Get Down". "No One Else" is a perfect hybrid" between dubstep and garage, all sped up and full of mutant dread, whereas "Prisoner" comes through with a much sexier, sleeker garage banger with that unmistakably early 00s r&b touch.
Review: 4x4 fire in the hole! Second To None mainstay Mikey B returns with Nu Wave murker mandem DJ Direct for this one-track wounder. Complete with a big classic house-style soaring female vocal and an emotional, heavily harmonised bass riff, it's an instant peaker guaranteed to raise spirits, vibes and every hair the back of your neck. Gully.
Review: Constantly dealing out killer versions on his Soundcloud and teasing us with dubs that seem to be lurking in the A-list forever ("Rizla" anyone?), northern powerhouse Brent Kilner delivers some serious goods on Second To None. With its MC-samples and broken glass bass riff "Shots On The Scene" is a straight up ode to bassline in all its 4x4 glory. "Wheel Up" adds a jazzier twist to the chords that tap into the original UKG foundations while "Earthquake" fuses in a little breakbeat murkery and grime energy. Shots fired.
Review: More solid bass goodness here courtesy of the Second To None crew. Livesy clashes here big style with Rude Jude with some seriously funky sparks flying about. The 90s are all over this EP like rash with "Crazy" being the perfect Moschino-clad skippy UKG (with a hint a modern wobble too). Elsewhere "Can We Go There" fuses soulful yearning with thumping speed garage, whilst Pallace turn it into melodic electro-house. The title track also gets remixed, with Palize turning in some classic-sound piano house and Holly finishes with a cheeky hardcore-rave-meets-trap rework.
Review: Second To None headmasters take us back to school with three broadsword 130 bass four-steppers "Spin The Dubplate" kicks with classic strutting UKG beats but rumbles the horns and harmonic bass of grime while MC Pean spits down the law chapter and verse. "Mucky" dips much lower into the bass swamp with a classic organ-style squelch guiding us through spacious, switchy drum arrangement. "Cloud 9" flips the contrast button with a superb breakbeat garage roller laded with crisp soulful vocals. Hypho brings the damage on his "Spin The Dubplate" for bonus grades. Power up.
Review: Second To None Music have chosen the right name for their label. These guys should not be underestimated, and their output is among the best UK bass, garage and funky that we have heard recently. This statement compilation is simply putting them on a lot of people's radars, and getting the to know that absolutely nobody at their HQ is messing around when it comes to relaxing fresh bangers for the UK's dance floors. The music is wild and diverse, ranging from pure bassline to UK funky, and there are certainly plenty of noticeable artists and known faces here, including neb-dancehall specialist Deadbeat, Mikey B, B Squared, and Hypho. If you're into the British way of doing house, then this twist up will surely satisfy.
Review: Generally busy with production partner Mikey B, solo outings by Sketchi are rare as hen's teeth. So it's all the more exciting when they do arrive, and here on first-single-in-ages, I Know, he doesn't disappoint. His aforementioned co-producer even makes an appearance on the dreamy off-kilter house of "Don't You Care?" Elsewhere he's left to his own devices but equally shines on the likes of the brooding, tribal UKF monster "Axe Kick" and the sweeping melancholy of spacey 2-stepper, "Conquer". A class above.
Review: If anywhere is providing a credible challenge to Bristol's bass crown, it's Leeds and here we have that city's newest contender, Oliver Livsey, with two new jams on the Second To None label. "Disconnected" is an assured 4 x 4 pounder that neatly twists in some subtle 2-step and dubstep breaks into the mix. "Smoke" on the other hand, sees Livsey collaborate with bass hero Mikey B, and is a super melodic jam with skippy beats, female RnB vocals and accelerated catchy basslines. One to watch!
Review: Mikey B and Krissy B first collaborated under the B Squared moniker last November. Now we finally have a follow-up, better late than never and all that, and they have clearly lost none of their mutual spark. "Never 2 Busy" is a hyperactive 136bpm banger that fuses soulful RnB vocals and chords with demented 2 step and jagged bass. Elsewhere "Fair & Square" keeps up the pace with jackhammer 4 x 4 beats and warbling female vocals, "All I Need" brings us skippy beats with mechanical wobble basslines and finally "Find You" is hard bounce with chipmunk vocals. Knackered yet?
Review: Following a well deserved festive break, Vital Techniques began 2016 with one-tracker, You. Now they getting fully back up to speed with the hard-hitting bass blitzkrieg of the Big Man Ting EP. There are three new tunes here that have already gained support from the likes of Marcus Nasty, Flava D, Hatcha and Dappa: "No Way" is fast and furious 4 x 4 with buzzsaw bass, with swishy pads, bouncy kicks and string stabs, "Jenga" is slower, deeper and more mystical and finally the title track is on full rave alert -big drops, merciless bass frequencies and speedy beats.
Review: Founded back 2010 by duo Vital techniques, Second To None, was born with the intent to promote 'the sickest...130-140bpm bass' from around the UK. They've certainly done that here, presenting 12 bleeding edge cuts for listening pleasure. Highlights include the linear, up-and-down hoover bass joint "Live My Life" by Deadbeat UK, Mikey B's heavy and eccentric 2-step gem "I Wonder" and Vital Techniques own deep bass workout, "News To Me".
Review: You've not heard of B Squared then? Don't worry - it's the alias of Mikey B and Krissy B's brand new collaboration. Together they've rustled up four dance-floor bombs: the hoover bass shuffle of "It's In You", the skippy hype of "Baby", the jagged 4x4 attack "Wired" and the softer, more melodic "Square Root". We reckon we'll be hearing a lot more from this pair!
Review: Of late Louis Richardson aka bass hero Hypho has started to including two new tracks per release, a sign he's getting more prolific. On the "Hyper EP" we get the smokin', tokin' half-time title track that boasts some urban cred courtesy of Haribou's low-key rap. "Ekko" meanwhile is more your traditional dubstep but with added mechanical intricacies. Remix-wise Vital Techniques perk things up with some steppy dub vibes and Smoked Out Fox delivers the EP highlight - all dark bass throbs and knife-like hi-hats.
Review: Usually found remixing the likes of Skream with his production pal Mikey B, rare solo Sketchi outings are a more basic to basics gig. Here the bass and grime meister serves up two lean and mean left hooks - the spacey wobble of "Ak's" and the deep doom-dub of "Badman".
Review: Here we have a mini label showcase with Second To None presenting two sizzlers by two top names on their roster. First up Northern powerhouse Brent Kilner slam-dunks the sped-up RnB vocals, big breakdowns and relentless wobble of "What 2 Do" straight into our ears. Meanwhile the shady Onix goes slower and heavier with the percussive 4x4 pounder "Pressure". Fierce beats.
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