Formed in 2004 by Friction & K-Tee (real names Ed Keeley & Keir Tyrer) and firmly established as one of the finest leading labels in both drum & bass and wider electronic music for years now, Shogun Audio are at the very pinnacle of club and festival-primed drum & bass. Alongside label affiliates Elevate Records and SGN:LTD, the critically acclaimed group of imprints have provided a platform for new and established artists alike, retaining an exceptional homegrown current roster that includes Pola & Bryson, Document One, GLXY, Monrroe, Koherent, Sustance and GEST (formerly Gerra & Stone). With one of the widest back catalogues and discographies in the business that includes full length projects, EP’s and singles from the likes of Break, Alix Perez, DJ Marky, Spectrasoul, Technimatic, Icicle, Joe Ford, Fourward, Ed:it, Ulterior Motive, My Nu Leng, Rockwell and many more, Shogun’s commitment to each and every strand of drum & bass magic they’ve released to the masses is unparalleled. With plenty on the horizon, countless live appearances and new, sought-after ventures like their exclusive, vinyl-only ‘Skuriken’ series, it looks like Shogun Audio are just getting started, with more to come on every level.
Review: A cool, calculating new character to emerge on the Shogun ranks with no introduction or backstory; Abacus makes his/her/their debut with this respectful NRG cover. Rolling at an authentic 160, laced with goose bumping pianos and powerful vocals from Cimone, this will either take you back to 92 or make you wish you were 20 years older (temporarily at least) This needs your loving.
Review: Drum & Bass pioneer DJ Marky is making a triumphant return with his highly anticipated second LP, titled "The Time Is Right", a remarkable testament to his unwavering passion for drum and bass culture, showcasing his growth as an artist and solidifying his position in the upper echelon of the global D&B hierarchy. "The Time Is Right" is a collaborative masterpiece, featuring esteemed artists such as Dossa, Locuzzed, Alibi or SOLAH while connecting different cultures and musical influences, creating a mesmerizing fusion. This sonic adventure delves into the realms of jazz-infused rhythms and liquid melodies, showcasing Marky's ingenious incorporation of samples and skillful drumwork.
Review: Friction's Brighton-based imprint are doing things in style with this one, as Pola & Bryson meet DJ Marky for a flourishing example of high-level production chemistry that has now yielded its first full length EP: Run The Streets. It's darker than you might expect from two producers who are definitely known more for their contributions to the liquid side of the scene, and whilst 'Trouble' definitely ticks thatt box, it's the pummelling low frequencies which will really get your head nodding. 'Dogfighter' is the highlight in that regard, its striding percussive line walking boldly through a shimmering outer mirage of underground oscillations. Ed:it lands on the remix for track four to tie things up in style.
Review: Document One dropped their debut album on Shogun Audio last year and it was packed full of wicked dancefloor anthem, as well a a number of liquid and jungle cuts. Anamorphic is their first outing since then and it's gone down the heavier route whilst also incorporating some junglist tones, a wicked combination that represents the diversity present on Friction's label. 'Rave Culture' exemplifies that best, with a ferocious breakbeat and chopped up vocals combining to make a monstrously heavy and catchy club-focused riddim. Lovely stuff.
Review: And the Shogun album heat just keeps on coming... Fresh from launching Ed:It's album series, Friction's label flings Document One's debut upside our features. And it's another essential addition to our collections. As an act renowned for covering the spectrum and subverting the styles, the album format is perfect for the Oxford duo as they guide us through the spectrum... Launching with sing-along sunny-side jungle ("Shutdown") and closing with epic Sigma-esque gospel business ("Newborn") they pack every shade and style in between from soothing chime-laced deepness ("Temporal"), introspective soulful steppers ("Fortitude") and absolute grizzlesome grit ("Holy Moly") A highly accomplished debut album.
Review: Oi oi! Document One cement their arrival at the Shogun estate with this deliciously bendy, switchy multi-shade bass flashback. Fittingly loaded with myriad ideas all compounded into one epic, precision-barbed freakout, it is - unquestionably - Document One's best track to date with perfect levels of funk, fury and outright trippiness. Get on it.
Review: Having teased us with a little "LSD" earlier this year, then a sneaky peak of the EP with the well oiled sci-fi soul flips of "Reaching Through" earlier this month, Document One deliver their first full EP for Friction's label and it's a blinder. "Cosmic Funk" steps and slams like it's 98 on Virus all over again, "Aiight" is all about the tightly coiled spring groove, spacious dynamics and croak funk textures while "We Got It" plays the aggy UK stinker of the set. They got it... So can you.
Review: Document One and Joe Ford aren't the most obvious partnership but they're clearly one that kicks arse in all directions. Both parties bring their finest skills to the table with something for everyone: strong musicianship, scalp-singeing bass, a soaring vocal and a beautiful jazzy drop that swallows you whole and spits you out alive on the second drop. Take care with this one.
Review: Ed:It continues his "Sihouettes" series with another wide-armed collection of precision D&B. As with the previous editions in the collection (that will eventually comprise to form his debut album) the range is wide, incisive and reveals his deepest influences and knowledge of proper foundation drum & bass. "Can't Stop Thinking" lights the fire with an introspective, dark and sexy vibe (think Shogun era Perez) while "Empty Eyes" gets proper sultry on the vocal side and proper heavy on the bassline / production side. "Endings" takes the crown for the darkest jam of the EP, though; pure grumpy funk, not dissimilar to the recent work of Tyrone (or FD when he's in a badboy mode), there's something very classy yet disgusting about it. Finally he tags up with fellow Shogunites Pola & Bryson for "The Ticket", a slinky, subdued creeper that gets darker, deeper and more immense as the track builds. Just the ticket!
Review: Surely one of the most consistent-yet-stealthy operators on Shogun this year, cool-handed Eddie Ed.It delivers yet another barbed soul dispatch on Friction's stainless stable. With its mild dubby touches and heads-down focus there's more than a whiff of classic Total Science to "Babylon Step", "Heaven Sent You" keeps our focus firmly on the floor with a beautiful BMT style far-away vocal technique and grumbling, sludgy bassline, "South City" will be the highlight for many thanks to its sunset vocal harmonies and angular Break-style drop while "Isolution" closes the show on a much gnarlier note with its depth-plunge bass funk. Four examples of D&B properness right here.
Review: "Kovacs" is Scavoks in reverse. Scavoks in Welsh means 'absolute banger mate'. Coincidence? No, just something we've just made up because when the music's this good it hypes up itself. Teased ahead of his four track "Junction" EP, "Kovacs" is a grainy, heads-down stepper with a springy sense of momentum to the drums and a gurgling bass that's up there with DLR or Skeppy in its lean-but-direct energy and funk. An understated and uncompromised way to introduce his biggest EP on the label to date; ED:IT's on a ninja mission right here.
Review: 13... Unlucky for some but not for yung Ed:It as it's exactly the amount of months since his last Shogun four-track breath-taker. As with everything he's dropped on Friction's label, the EP is an exciting full-vibe spectrum that explores myriad dark corners of the dance. "Junction" is all about the emotional power with its evocative vocal and touching chord progressions, "Nevermind It" flips the vibe with contrast as we're treated to a naked subby two-stepper before "Wander Away" takes us on an all-out soul juggernaut that tips its hat towards the Breakbeat Era style of vocal jazz-tinged drum & bass. Finally we have the grumbling bass stepper that Ed:It teased us with earlier this month: "Kovacs". All bases covered, there's a strong argument to start calling Ed:It Edward Winnerhands here. A very strong argument.
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