Review: With a discography that stretches from Rottun to Disney, US bass merchant AU5 peddles an exciting range of melodic low-end mischief. Coated in huge washes of euphoria, "Crystal Mathematics" is instant 'lighters up' material with all manner of cosmic, dreamy trills and flourishes. "The Reason II" combines deeper, spine-chilling pads and an eerier atmosphere over one of the ugliest basslines Viper have ever released. AU5's message is crystal clear right now.
Review: After his ridiculously massive "Bearhug", Welsh bass wizard Bmotion continues his Viper assault offensive with two more superlative shredders. "Arabia" has a really bouncy, squelchy groove before dropping into an evocative Moroccan string and vocal hook that builds into another one of his trademark drops. "Ignition" is much more base in its intentions as a spiked-out bassline chews itself inside out with tech-like menace before leaning forward and trying to munch you own face off. Comparisons to Culture Shock's "Troglodyte" aren't to be thrown around lightly but in this case it's legit.
Review: Wales national BMotion has upped his game with "Bear Hug". Tearing things up from the off, it's a brutal assault from all directions, from the onwards push of the relentless bassline to the retro synths coming in equal measures melodic and murderous. And if that wasn't enough, "Vice City" doesn't disappoint those with visions of '80s hat-tips, thanks to the neon bass and snug level of warmth in the mix. Consider the gap in the market for danceable tracks officially filled.
Review: Since being exclusively signed to Futurebound's label the lad hailing from sunny South Wales has been showing us what he's made of. 'Passenger' is a track designed purely to set the dance alight. The drums are tough and heavy enough to get the floors pumping, but the catchy melodic main body of the track paired with the repetitive vocal gives it some crossover appeal for festival and freshers sets, keeping that delicate balance of authenticity.
Review: Viper collide with one of America's biggest bass champions Bassrush for a third year. A full album is en route, here's the first sampler and fittingly it's nationally balanced as UK (Wales to be precise) goes tune for tune with US. Bmotion takes the lead with "Something So", a genuinely unique track that takes a big disco lick and subverts the life out of it in a really cool dynamic and refreshingly different way. Meanwhile EDC champions Consouls and fellow US champs Kronology kick up enough dust to cover the entirety of Las Vegas with "Like That", a jet engine bass turbine that hammers in a way that could easily be compared to the levels of TC or The Prototypes. Bring on the full album... We can feel another rush coming on.
Review: Viper/Hospital collaborators Brookes Brothers and Danny Byrd go way back with numerous hook-ups dating back to 2008. Both acts' signatures are in full effect; Brookes' anthemic, disco-tinged dynamics and Byrd's peppering of glitches and shake-ups don't just complement each other but amplify one another. Throw in an emphatic vocal and you've got yourself a serious sunshine banger right here.
Review: Brookes Brothers' second album Orange Lane is just over the horizon and they've treated us to another one-track tease - "Flashing Lights". A disco-rolling, soul-surging, uplifting thrust of peaktime vitality with add Brookes signature sweetness, it's the type of tune you already sing along to before you've even finished hearing it the first time. Massive set-opener, mood-lifter or end-of-night hug-your-mates tune, Brookes Brothers never disappoint. Bring on the album!
Review: Anticipation is rising for Brookes Brothers' long-awaited second album Orange Lane. And, to keep us from barging down to whatever area of London they're from in a massive rabble and bashing their door down for the album, they keep us sweet with this sparkling soulful summer number: "Movin' On" Gilded with powerful and infectious vocals, big instrumentation and a warmth you'd usually get a from cuddle or late night spoon from a dear friend, if this is a sign of things to come, then the album is going to be dope times infinity. Vibes.
So Many Times (Blaine Stranger remix) - (4:14) 174 BPM
Now I'm Found - (3:48) 174 BPM
Now I'm Found (Hillsdom remix) - (4:11) 174 BPM
Review: Two of the many tropical, discoid charmers from the Brookes Brothers' long-awaited second album Orange Street, both "So Many Times" and "Now I'm Found" both enjoy two on-point remixes from two hotly-tipped next-gen D&B acts. Aussie firecracker Blaine Stranger kicks "So Many Times" right up the jacksy with a devilish reese-led drive while "Now I'm Found" is reworked by Hillsdom who broke through on Pilot last year. Taking the classic elastic Brookes-style bassline and re-weaving it with a slightly darker twist, it's the perfect example of a remix complementing the original. How many times will you play it?
Review: Phil & Dan Brookes strike soulful gold once again as we eagerly await their second album: "Good To Me" sparkles with gossamer keys and warm kicks, all wrapped up in Majesty's sentimental falsettos. Breaking down into an 80s groove midway, this has all the hallmarks of a radio summer anthem. For a gullier summer slammer jump on BMotion's bear-hugging remix. Good to go!
Review: Friends say you're acting crazy? Friends always saying you're the loser? We don't care what you do to them, just be good to Cyantific. Because he's cooked up a serious summer jam right here. Taking a classic Beats International vocal and laying it gracefully over some rising, rippling seashore synths, if this doesn't have your dancefloor singing along then you're playing at the wrong raves. Massive.
Review: Power funk! Cyantific counters his gully gut-puncher "Robotic" with this vibrant, slightly head-bending summer slammer. The synths come on blast so hard and so fast yet so funky, you really won't know what day of the week it is... Or care for that matter. With an equally high impact vocal element looping with similar levels of insistency, this brings Viper's ever-growing new funk hype to a whole new level
Review: The 80s synth vibes as heard on the Netflix show Stranger Things have taken hold in the funniest places. Here we see Miami Vice style 80s FM synthesisers influence Cynatific, whose "Under The Neon" sounds like Hall & Oates hanging with Kavinsky at a DnB night in Fabric (not something you hear everyday). On the digital flip "Hollywood keeps the pace with some fresh breaks action and harsh bass goodness. The heat is on!
Review: When is a remix not a remix or a VIP? When it's a second part. Like this show-stopping update by Cyantific. Taking the anthemic original from last year he's maintained elements of the riff but completely recontextualises it with a different arrangement and a darker, grainier palette. By the time the main riff kicks in on the second drop the dancefloor will be putty in your hands for the rest of the night.
