Review: He's probably not a fully qualified medical practitioner and we're not sure Prozac is his real surname either, but man this quack whips up some serious bloodclart jungle tonics. The clue is in the title as we're taken from rave nostalgia on 'Bloodclaat', we're given a first class trip through wobble town on 'Hybrid Dub', we're wooed by flutes on 'Snake Charmer' and we're finalised by the piledriving dancefloor-bumping siren-blazing conclusion 'Alarmist'. Trust; no amount of apples are going to keep this doc away.
Review: It's not that often an EP comes along with a genuinely unique vibe, but this one from Droma and James Timms absolutely has accomplished that, with the former on productions and the latter on vocals throughout. Normally EPs like this sit within one subgenre, but the pair here move around between frolicking liquid and bassier territory, a combination done particularly well on 'Hold Up', which features upbeat sampling and jazzy notes overlaid onto a subby foundation. Timms is fantastic throughout, and we especially love his contribution to Tears For You, which by all accounts is a proper rip roarer. Big ups.
Review: Aseity's No KIllah EP on Viral-Mental isn't one of those releases for people who like to sit back, sip on a mug of matured whisky and debate the stylistic evolution of music. It's not about pretention, it's about having a good time and for that purpose it's ideally suited. Four tracks full of dancefloor vigour, Aseity has achieved his presumed goal of making music that'll get people moving. 'Coke Wa*k' has that Dispatch-esque forcefulness to its percussive lines; 'Want You' hits that suspense in the build perfectly; 'You Aint No Killah' has a naughty bassline; and 'One More' nails the big, wide snare sound. Nice stuff.
Review: Dr Prozak has actually nailed this one. For real. Viral-Mental are back and they're back with an absolute corker courtesy of the aforementionedDr Prozak, who's Rude Boy EP is aptly named and which simply slams start to finish. The title track is a fluid, motional number with a wobbling back end that wraps itself round the percussion in gloriously satisfying way fashion. 'Fuc The Beat' is a steppier bit of work, with clean jungle drums and a growling bassline that warps and morphs into sine territory. The other three are also top-notch, with Dr Prozak really nailing that combination of D&B, jungle and reggae influences. Wicked stuff.
Dr Prozak - "Free Your Spirit" (DROMA remix) - (5:39) 174 BPM
Fear Of The Jungle - (6:04) 174 BPM
Vivid Imagination - (5:32) 172 BPM
Review: Droma isn't a name we're overly familiar with but they've come out with a properly good collection of tracks here, tunes with an urban-edged spin on modern D&B and jungle. They're tunes which you can imagine hearing out your mates' car, and that's a very good thing. Despite the name, 'In The Jungle' is actually a rolling number and it's one with a wicked little sub-bass and a satisfying sense of sparseness in the drums, a pulsating yet expansive cut that'd go down well just about anywhere. 'Fear Of The Jungle' is the proper breaksy stuff, the broken drum stutters and old-school sampling giving it that vibe that only jungle music can impart. Wicked selection.
Review: Hektic is responsible for this four-tracker and to be honest, it's absolutely wicked. If you're into your proper UK sound, that combination of stuttering breaks and rolling beats, ragga sampling and bouncy back ends then this is for you. 5 Man Crew conjures up the atmospherics of Notting Hill Carnival and Boomtown, summers in Bristol parks and student accommodation. Its party music, basically, and Hektic has done a bloody good job of it. 'Bad Muthafucka' is a good example, with an instantly recognisable sample on the drop, the tune is classic UK underground and filled with more attitude than you can handle. This is a genuinely wicked release - don't be put off by the somewhat amateurish artwork.
