Signature (or Signature Recordings) is liquid drum & bass and jungle legend Calibre’s label. Belfast-born/Cologne-based Calibre aka Dominick Martin launched his label in 2003 with the intention of primarily showcasing his own productions. Thought-provoking, stripped-back, raw, soulful, emotive, warm, deep and dubby are all words to describe Calibre’s Signature sound. The label is littered with some of his own stand-out releases, including: ‘Even If’, ‘Mr Majestic’ (featuring High Contrast), ‘Second Sun’, ‘Pillow Dub’ and ‘Amen Tune’ (featuring DJ Marky).
Review: Rejoice! The famously prolific Calibre has compiled his eighth 'Shelflife' compendiums and the world already seems like a brighter place. As always, it's a snapshot of his archives and hard drives over the years as he digs out gems through the ages that he either didn't get round to releasing or felt weren't ready for release. As always, it covers a vast range of his styles as we're treated to the likes of rattling golden age liquid bombs like 'Breather', swinging steppers like the crisp kicks and jazzy flurries of 'Chantily', the dreamy swirls and cosmic Good Looking style leanings of 'Wirly' and the beautiful 'No Sense' that many will instantly recognise from LSB and DRS's Space Age mixes. As always, Calibre is untouchable...
Review: Not content with releasing a full dubstep / 140 album at the start of the year, Calibre now proceeds to shuts down 2021 with another one of his highly anticipated dub collections. Now on its seventh edition, this particular 'Shelflife' hits the spot with a whole host of long sought-after cuts like the crisp shimmering guitars of 'Cure Amen' and the wonderfully unhurried and cosmic 'Black Mountain' (with Jet Li). Elsewhere we're battered by the deep rolls and lavish swing of 'Dumplings & Stew', the heavy drama of 'Snoopy' and sci-fi halftime of 'Blimp Op'. And that's barely scratching the surface. Big up Calibre each and every time.
Review: When we are discussing the modern greats of electronic music production, there's no way we can have that conversation without Calibre's name coming into the mix and blend. This brand new album via the team at Signature takes the title 'Feeling Normal' and is a straight up masterclass, from the stunning breakbeat-driven soundscapes of 'Barren' and 'Man Got Sandwich' to the colourful post-garage designs of 'Feeling Normal' and 'Time To Breathe' alongside Cimone. It has a touch of everything and the quality levels just don't seem to dip, regardless of whatever genre or style we are hearing. There are also some serious highlights, with 'Badman' alongside DRS being a somber, post-dubstep homage, 'Has To Happen' being a sumptuous, emotive roller and 'Predictable' being a futuristic steppers delight. Incredible work as expected!
Review: Preceding the release of Calibre's so called 'first bona fide 140 BPM record' is two choice remixes that Signature have commissioned from legendary Berlin producer Mark Ernestus. Popularly characterised for his role in Basic Channel, Ernestus' dubwise remixes are only rivaled Chain Reaction's DJ Pete (aka Substance). Delving deep into the art of the saw wave, "Badder" sees swells of holographic synths float in the ambient textures of Calibre's original groove while occasionally buffered by light, skipping tops. "Bad", just the same only simmered down, allows its drums to cut through in a way that doesn't distract from its cavernous sound.
Review: Calibre returns with another collection of unreleased gems throughout the ages. Famously themed by his bewilderingly fast and consistent proliferation, once again it's a broad range of Dominick Martin's finest flavours. From the delicate smoky soul of the yearning "Years" to the already massive rubber-ball bassline vibe-out "Crazy For You" via the premium funk of "Latin 2000" and system-shaking rudeness of "Pillow Dub", every track on here hits the spot... But would you expect anything less from the don they call the Music Man?
Review: Dominic Martin returns with an EP that's deep even by his standards. Stirring corners of your soul you didn't even know existed, "Falls To You" is a heart-breaking piece of work that trembles under his lonely vocals and delicate layers of instrumentation. "Crawler" lures back into the dance with a mystical cascades and far-away beats while "The Spirit" breezes and rattles with a dubby, slo-mo 140 style. A one of a kind EP from a one of a kind artist; sublime.
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