Review: San Diego dnb soldier Calculon cracks open a can of perpetual motion with this beautiful debut LP. Long time in the making, the unfailing US jungle champion has been pushing the sound long before the exciting current fervour for it and it really shows as he rolls out a timeless array of soulful styles. From the subtle bluesy hardcore vibe-out that is the title track itself (with Shamanga) to the more brutalist Renegade-flavoured fire of 'California Heat' (with Rain Forest) via the V-level jungle soul of 'Dime Piece VIP' and the Digital & Spirit-esque breakbeat battering ram 'Gully Goat', Calculon's deep roots in this game and years as a DJ and a consistent ambassador for the culture are really paying off here. This is an exemplary body of work that'll make DJs and home listeners beam. Keep it moving.
Review: This is a monster of a remix album, as Calculon has roped in an all-star cast of names from the world of slower, breaksy music: Om Unit, Deft, Survival, Lewis James, Fanu and more. Lewis James, of Exit Records vintage, especially impresses, as his remix of 'Get Murked' makes its way through analogue soundscapes via a vessel of bouncy junglist breaks, a truly funky yet hard-hitting arrangement that rolls out to your heart's content. Deft's remix of 'Get Murked' takes a different direction, with oodles of space for his halftime approach to reap dividends amidst a serious commitment to soul and funk. Top album.
Review: If you love jungle this will be the release for you, as Rainforest and Calculon take a deep dive into the fractious world of 160 and 170 jungle, blending floating sample work with crisp percussion of the type which makes or breaks releases like this. They've nailed it, and it's especially apparent on 'Homebwoy Jungle', which makes full use of the added groove possible when you dip down 10bpm and focus on core aspects - sensational.
Review: Shoot Recordings are coming in to play with this single from Stunna & Calculon, the B-side of which is a remix from Stunna. This one is stripped back and clear, there are no over the top synths or cheesy vocals, instead it's all about the roots of the genre: drums, bass and the rawness which has made the genre such a mainstay. 'Dime Piece' features Lailah Reich on haunting vocal duty over a subby yet melancholic rolling number, the perfect exemplification of what makes this release so solid.
Review: Shoot Recordings comes through with a new pair of artists on its roster, after having put out a series of killers by the likes of Chrissy Murderbot and Pawn. There's more juke-driven house music on this latest outing by Calculon and Austin Speed, backed with by a serious team of remixers. The original is a raved-out footwork monster with some of the nastiest piano stabs and break samples we've heard in a long time. Lewis James transforms the original into a full-blown monster, where the beats are totally screwed up along with everything else, while Deft adds another wild and trippy dubstep remix.
Review: Following the juke/footwork-isms of his recent Greatest Hits album, Chicago's Chrissy Murderbot teamed up with pawn for the more dancehall inspired Original EP. It went down so well that they've now commissioned remixes of the EP's tracks to keep the booties shakin'. Calculon & Austin Speed distort the kick for a punishing electro-bass meets D&B version of the title track. Meanwhile it's all about the minimal doom-bounce vibes on Moresounds' rejig of "Your Words". Werk!
Review: Chrissy Murderbot & Pawn's title track from The Original EP is one of 2013's ultimate showstoppers, equalling Kahn & Neek's "Percy" from last year. Where K&N had the 'shut up' vocal, CM&P's dancehall vibes come from an 'original-original' sample, with soundsystem bass combos of brute force barking loudly like Felix da Housecat's "Kickdrum". On the digital flip is the more frenetic "Your Words", combining looming dubstep rhythms with out-of-control footwork sequences and skittering percussion. TIP!
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.