Review: AC13 is a little-known but rising producer who tends to put a snappier spin on the current KoTR-influenced sound, his passion for whiplash drum-lines giving his tunes a unique and recognisable edge. He's now on Spectre for the first time with a single that embodies that uniqueness and both cuts are equally biting. 'Sensei' is packed with oriental sampling and Far East influences which conspire to give this tune a wispy ambience, an atmosphere that's cut in two with a diving bassline and cutting drum lines. 'The Operator' is equally wispy on the intro but far deeper on the drop, a subby back end rolling through the bottom end of the range with serious penetration. A good single from the up and comer.
Review: Get your buckets out and fill them up... It's "Feeding Season" at the zoo and, judging by the outrageously fat bass groove the monsters are hank marvin. Expanding and mutating on every 32, there's an old school G-Dubs feel the riff and as it punches and evolves. "Acting Up" provides the dessert. A crisp rolling damager with an on-point vocal hook and some superb development in the layered drums. Another bullseye release from the ever-reliable Dialogue.
Review: It really isn't a mystery why Taxman is held in such esteem by peers and punters alike. He's got this signature sound of grottiness which still feels musical, a trait which can sometimes get lost in today's noisy jump up scene. Let's be honest the original tune is a banger! The bass is as naughty as the title. Taxman takes into completely new places by mutating and oscillating the sub and bringing a more chaotic energy.
Review: Spectre Audio is a UK label currently bringing the best in drum and bass music. The label is supported by DJ Hype, Hazard, Guv, Jaydan and Voltage to name but a few. Next up they have got the Faceless Audio affiliated Operate with two new fierce offerings. First up is the grimy and low down techstep of "Alice" which is properly geared for some nefarious and paranoid moments on the dancefloor while "Sundown" goes for the jugular on this powerful stepper aimed squarely at the dancefloor. Sounding somewhere between Calibre and DJ Krust: the bassline on this one must he heard to be believed!
Review: Cardiff's D-Minus slams into 2017 ringing the crucial death knell cowbell that is "Must Die". A track that opens out into a bassline that's so rough, lewd and loose if it was a car it would have 'I wish my wife was as dirty as this' written in the filth, it's also laced with a precision spoken sample. "Rock The Disco" continues the ravaged energetic feel with another sandpaper bassline, twisted vocal manipulation and a rough and tumble vibe that's not far off a Taxman buzz. Powerful.
Review: They keep on coming, Damage Report is firing off all sorts of twisted sounds this year, and they're all worth paying attention to. Here we find him covering the range again: "Just A Sample" is a bounced-out robo bass jump-cut, "Cue" takes us on an Annix style halfstep rampage, "Phat Bottom" is every bit as fun as the title suggests with its "Quest" style wide-load sub rolls and details. Finally "Don't Test Me" tears down the curtain on an industrial strength Euro jump-up flex where the line between genius and insanity is blurred to the point of vanishing. Tremendous.
Review: Gradually working his way through all the best labels that start with S - Shaolin, Soul Deep and with this single, Spectre - Vigorous returns with two of his darkest constructs to date. Lead track "Stomping Ground" steps with a cool late '90s John B vibe, all futuristic and sci-fi. Complementing this, "Gull" offers a much sharper, more contemporary stepper with its gruff bass textures that you might find on a T>I or possibly Tyke record. "Gull"? Gully more like!
Review: G13 regular and Good 4 Nothing bossman takes up temporary residence at Spectre Audio with two grizzly jump-up cuts. Both served with a twist and - as always - some seriously unique big screen sampling grabbing, neither cut falls into the paint-by-numbers trap. "Madman"'s character comes from a strange harmonic metallic tone in the bass lick while "No Relief" has an almost jazzy feel to the intro's drums before the drop plunges four scales lower than you expect it too. Crafty and well crafted.
Review: Metal Works - the man formerly known as The Fade - teams up with M92 once again for a show-stopping moment "Open Both Eyes". Sitting somewhere between Lamb and Lenzman, it's an incredibly well executed piece of soulful drum & bass. "You Are Mine" sees MW go solo for a more synth focused session where a simple riff, catchy vocal sample and harder, full-bodied beats drive the message home. A serious curveball from Spectre, this one runs deep.
Review: Some days even the most optimistic junglist can feel the bassline game is over and every possible combination has been deduced. Then along comes Damage Report with "Tonight" where one of the oddest, off-beat, smile-inducing basses you'll hear all season awaits. Truly unique and great fun on the floor. Deeper in his bass game doesn't let up: "Head Cold" is fuelled by that angry sandpaper style riff that sounds like an enraged hornet's nest, "The Door Test" is all about the big bellowing subs while "Wasteman" doffs its cap to Annix's halftime hurter "Work For Nothing" with added skips back to classical double time. Chaos guaranteed.
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