Review: Hitting us like clockwork, every three months since last October, Exit 100 EPs have been an exceptional journey into the label and everything it's stood for since launching 21 years ago. Over the last two EPs we've had all kinda of beat wizardry and boundary burning but for this one it's all about the cutting edge drum & bass. Each cut is a highlight but Loxy & Resound's 'Tyranny' is a direct trip back to 97, Skeptical & Kid Drama's 'Scorn' is a hearty homage to Krust and Mark System's 'Chinook' is every bit the take-off tune you'd expect from it title. Get to the chopper!
Review: The most prolific man in drum & bass, Conrad Subs returns to Ray Keith's Dubplate Dread for the first time since 2020 with a humungous wedge of wallopers. Seven cuts in total, each one of them tailored for those magic 3am moments, big moments range from the gruesome growls and grizzles of 'Octavirus' to the pure raucous shreds and slaps of the title track 'Real Dread', a cut which really does live up to its name. Oh boy, this could well be Conrad Subs' mightiest EP so far, which is really saying something. Real talk.
Review: Man like Kublai returns to Total Science's label with some of his darkest, dankest, dirtiest designs to date. 'Big Talk' takes the lead with a big old b2b2b in the studio as Kubbie, TS and Minor Forms all get mucky in the action. Elsewhere 'The Imposter' goes for a classic wormy bassline tension, 'Trippin' is pure filth laced over scattershot drums (with more filth thrown in for good measure) while 'Sullied' closes the EP on a pranged out drone tone. Exceptional drum & bass craft here.
Review: Next up from the ever-ready Liondub International, a throwback filled to the brim with lethal flavours as Conrad Subs touches down to deliver four tracks of pure dancefloor fire. We open up with the unpredictable synthetic twitches and reesey rumbles of 'Rave Report', setting the tone of the project nicely before 'Dough' gives us a more minimal fusion of growling bass notes and sharpened drum designs. Next, 'Big Chungus' opens up the roof for an even harder hitting sub-line, upping the ante even further as we move forward, with Speaker Louis providing some additional work on the well thought out rhythmic arrangements of 'Shots Fired'. Another tidy collection from the Liondub dynasty.
Review: Usually known for more jumpier takes on D&B - especially with his 2Ton project - Corrupted Mind follows up the Jungle Jam single with a full EP of the same gully, uncompromised and blistering breakbeat jungle style. Each cut gnarlier than the last, Nuusic's signature fizzy energy has been reimagined in an exciting way as CM goes in on all the little details: 'Rinse Out' comes with serious tension, 'Murder Tune' is all about the militant percussion while 'War Cry' is just pure bassline aggression. What an EP!
Review: Throughout their decade-long career, Alma Negra has combined their love of disco and deep house with percussion, instrumentation and ideas excavated from African, Caribbean and tropical musical cultures. On this EP, they largely ditch the latter inspirations, instead delivering full-throttle revivalist disco sounds where the Basel-based band's organic instrumentation and vocals combine with colourful synth sounds and heady horns. The headline attraction is undoubtedly 'Madrugada', a warming and thickset, subtly deep house-influenced take on the turn-of-the-80s NYC downtown disco-not-disco sound. It comes backed with two revisions - an extra-percussive, dubbed-out Yuksek tweak and the band's own dub disco-goes-deep house 'Dub Mix' - and the riotous, party-starting brilliance of 'Funky Fever'.
Review: Melinki and Shodan on Rebel Music? Now this is a serious meeting of the minds! Proper adult tackle, too, as you'd expect. 'Revenant' is all about the boa constrictor like bassline slugging around the gaff, prone to crush at any minute, while 'I Don't Need' takes us more of a rampant junglised spree, all turbo breaks and a gritty sense of urgency. Finally we hit the sonic skids with 'Bleak'. Proper grumbly, grizzly moody drum & bass for late night basements. High grade.
Review: Fresh off the presses of Jungle Cakes Records comes the "Survival" EP, a four-track journey guided by the skilled hand of Gold Dubs. No stranger to production, Gold Dubs leverages his years of experience and diverse influences - from bassline to DnB - to craft a dynamic and electrifying listen. The EP kicks off with the aptly titled "Survival," a collaboration with Kalum featuring the distinctive lyricism of Rider Shafique. This track hits hard, both sonically and thematically, with pulsating basslines, warped sub frequencies, and expertly layered FX. Next up is "Infinity" a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a distinctly 90s vibe. Think sharp sub bass, heavy percussion, and vocal samples and synths that evoke a bygone era. Offering a stark contrast, "Bliss" lives up to its name. Soaring, spacey risers and futuristic basslines create a sense of weightlessness, perfectly complemented by the mesmerizing vocal effects. The EP closes with "Too Late," a showcase of Gold Dubs' mastery of the bassline genre. Warped subs, pulsating basslines, and tastefully sparse synths combine with captivating vocal samples to create an infectious groove. This is a track that will leave you hitting repeat and craving more.
Review: "Shut The Lights Out" is a funky throwback brimming with infectious energy, courtesy of Berlin production duo Lovebirds and vocalist NILE. Lovebirds channel their well-regarded love for 70s and 80s sounds into a groovy production. The foundation is an arresting funk beat, bolstered by classic disco instrumentation and dreamy synths. NILE's vocals are the perfect compliment, with a motivational spoken-word style that adds another layer of interest. The package is completed by a remix from disco aficionado Birdee, who takes the original's sparkling energy and adds their own signature touch. Birdee's remix is an upbeat and spacey take, perfect for extending the dancefloor journey.
Review: Barcelona-based Arnau Obiols has chalked up releases on such respected labels as Local Talk, Ibadan and Compost, and now returns to the latter in the company of Zurich's KAYYAK. Together they serve up two tracks that draw heavily on 70s Afro-funk for inspiration, with 'Faith' coming with a slightly mellower remix courtesy of Medlar & Dele Sosimi while 'San Diago' gets two rerubs, with Rahaan giving the track a slightly jazzier, more leftfield makeover while Prins Thomas's Diskomix transforms it into a slab of percussive, slo-mo disco. Any/all should go down well on floors where Afro-oriented beats are in demand.
Review: Sasha's latest single Fleuron Drift marks yet another milestone in the electronic maestro's illustrious career. Collaborating with Theo Kottis and Kassian for remixes on his own label (Last Night On Earth ), Sasha continues to redefine the boundaries of sonic intrepidation. The original track is a deeper journey, meticulously crafted with evolving synth layers and hypnotic drum patterns that culminate in a euphoric breakdown. Theo Kottis injects his remix with dynamic energy, featuring tech-leaning drums and glitchy textures for peak dance floor moments. Kassian's rendition then offers a quicker pace, blending funk-infused drums with soaring synth tension, promising to transport listeners yet more electronic bliss fit for a final night on this world. Drift away.
Review: Four typically solid contemporary funk jams here from Sound Exhibitions regular Funk Windows, coming just two weeks after his/her/their last release, the 'Africa Funk' EP. This time out, the Afro stylings are put on a back burner; instead you get the slow-building title cut (which would make a fine set-opener), 'Roller Night' which has a slightly more wonked-out/off-kilter feel, and then 'Bisca' and 'Low Down', both of which up the jazz ante somewhat, the former rocking some fine sax and a cut-up, chipmunk-y vocal while the latter has a similar MO but busts out the flutes. The EP as a whole is a headnodder's delight.
Review: Four-piece "producer collective and DJ team" The Niceguys hail from Switzerland and have a long string of releases under their belt for labels like Bomb Strikes, Westwood Recordings and Ghetto Funk. Here they return to the former with four cuts that would work on funk-breaks and modern soul floors alike, with the Bobby Saint-vocalled 'Irie' and 'Strip It' rocking a Prince-like vibe, 'Don't Let Go' sporting a full-lunged soul vocal from Justina Lee Brown, and 'Dance' having something of a Smoove & Turrell-like feel. 'Don't Let Go' takes the gold for this writer but it's all good so feel free to disagree!
Review: Laurent Garnier and Scan X's label does a great job in showcasing emerging and established talent, and this split release is no exception. The brilliantly named Return Of The Luddites deliver the raw electro-techno of "Scream Into The Darkness". In stark contrast, Detroit techno-inspired tracks also loom large, courtesy of Skatman's string-filled "Tribute To A Dancefloor" and Squal G's more ominous "Waiting 4U". Mirroring Garnier's own wide-ranging tastes, the release also features the call and response hip-hop/drum'n'bass crossover of Joaquim Plossu, Salem Focus and Phoebe Train's "Theory Of The Tide". Taking the tempo down, Yes Basketball's "Next" is a slowed down, bugged out beatsy track.
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