Review: Long live team Alpha Pup, an excellently organised project that have moved onto the third edition of their epic '20/20' compilation series, exploring the most lethal reaches of underground bass music. Featuring hard hitting originals from the likes of Ivy Lab, Dismantle, Rocks FOE, Bakey and more, it's clear that the team have gone all out on this collection, with sounds ranging as wide as the hardcore inspired mysticism of 'Naananaana' from Rohaan, to the industrial techno-flavours of Ila Brugal's 'Cynical'. The whole project packs a punch, but our highlights would have to include both the intense metallic madness of Deft's 'OKURTHEEXPERT', alongside Manni Dee's monstrous 'Wet Slide' creation. Top work all around!
Review: The legendary DJ Hybrid is back in business with another top quality collection, unloading four garage-inspired bumpers on this brand new EP. The title track 'Flex Ya Chest' takes centre stage from the off, exploring old school garage vocal overlays and hard hitting sublines to kick the EP off in serious style. Next, a 140 VIP mix of 'Big Four Five', utilising a hard hitting vocal line atop a bed of quivering LFO lines and choppy drum textures, before the super smooth sub notation of 'All For You' gives us another thunderous display in close pursuit. Finally, 'Area Code' ups the pace significantly with a dancefloor-ready rumbler, focussing on fidgeting synth lines and smooth pads to give us a slightly alternative closer.
Review: Blank Mind Recordings, based in London, has tapped into the significance of a particular strand of jungle and breakbeat hardcore music prevalent during the period of 1991-1994. Their latest compilation showcases eight tracks characterized by dense atmospheric breaks, featuring artists such as DJ Mayhem, Luxury, and Skanna from that era. The standout track, 'Inesse' by Mayhem, serves as the focal point around which the compilation is curated. Against the backdrop of a tumultuous political climate, notably marked by the passage of the stringent anti-rave Criminal Justice Act in 1994, this record and its pulsating compositions take on a renewed significance, reframed within a context of resistance and social justice.
Review: Having recently appeared on the Federation Of Rytm III compilation, Sonic Propaganda now deliver a full EP for Mutual Rytm. While the tempo and intensity levels position it at the harder end of techno, Native nonetheless draws on a diverse range of influences. The title track is a frenetic tribal track, while on "Soul Pressure", Sonic Propaganda deploy the kind of menacing bass and firing percussion last heard on the Waveform Transmissions series. "Terminal" is a deep cut, with dramatic synths sweeping over a rolling, tribal groove. While "Basic Path" is more stripped back, the duo ensure it has a soulful edge thanks to the use of repetitive vocal samples. The atmospheric, Sterac-style roller that is "Body Empire" completes the release.
Review: Another top quality drop here from Amen Brother, a breakbeat label that continues to impress with their high octane roster out in full force. This time around, DJ Pooch is on hand to unleash four high energy creations, opening with the 2023 mix of 'Mind, Body & Soul', a thumping, carnival ready ramp up that focuses both on gritty bass notation and eerie vocal overlays, before 'Rush On Me' takes a classic 'Dibby Dibby Sound' vocal and lets it loose over an old school hardcore arrangement. Next up, 'I Need U' unloads a more old school feel, focussing on organic drum sounds and euphoric synth lines, before the chirpy chord progressions and acidic basslines of 'Hypnotising' close us off with a bang.
Review: Bass Agenda Recordings have struck gold with this latest mission as they welcome the explosive production skill sets of Orlando Voorn inside for three hard hitting breaksy originals, jam-packed with originality from start to finish. We begin with the slumberous rhythmic twists and packed out sub sections of 'Hunting Season', a technophone's nightmare, stuffed to the brim with bleeps and crashes. From here, 'Quick Thinking' then delivers something a little more industrial, focussing on pacey bass bumps and skippy drum sweeps, before the emotive melodies and tooting horn lines of 'The Point Of No Return' arrives for a hard hitting finale. Top stuff indeed!
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