Review: Oh gosh! Whether you're massively into Deep In The Jungle but you've got a few holes in your collection that need filling, or you've just started getting into this side of the music, this 60+ anthem collection is an amazing resource for all modern day junglists. Curated by bossman DJ Hybrid, this collection takes us back through the label's history and cherry picks an amazing array of peaktime wounders, bruisers and bubblers. To pick one or two highlights from such a generous collection doesn't feel right so let us advise you to take in that tracklist, press play and totally vibe out to some of the best jungle bangers made in the last 11 years. Mad love to the DITJ crew!
Review: In an industry where the term 'veteran' is bandied about far too freely, Colin Curtis is the real deal! His DJing career goes all the way back to legendary Northern Soul club The Golden Torch in the late 60s. In the 70s, he was a resident at Blackpool Mecca alongside Ian Levine, where he became one of the first DJs to introduce the more modern sound of jazz-funk to the scene. By the mid-80s he'd become an early UK champion of house, too, but these days it's on the jazz-dance scene that he's most revered - and here he serves up a 26-track connoisseur's collection that shows why. Ranging from straight-up jazz and soul to soulful house and leaning heavily towards the Afro- and Latin-flavoured, some of these cuts are recent offerings, some date back as far as the 70s, but on jazz-dance floors, all will go down a treat.
Review: Shim Shimah who got the keys to the beemer? Probably Shimah himself judging by the state of these purring futuristic grooves. Taking us right into a new dimension with his debut album, Shimah shows us how far he's come since his early moves on Playaz around 10 years ago. Flexing a vibe that one part sci-fi, two parts heavyweight and fully unique, Shimah's sound hits with that cosmic vibe that could fit between myriad of D&B subgenres with ease and style. Highlights include the album's twinkling title track, the heavy emotion and autonomic style halftime intro on 'Levitation' and rich trance elements of 'Disintegrate'. Stunning.
Review: SHDW's label marks its twentieth release with this weighty compilation. Drawing on some of the most respected names in techno, volume three is full of peak-time bangers. There's the lean, rolling techno of Chlar's "Inside Us", while Dax J showers the listener with waves of acid tones on the steely, peak-time "Celestial Dub". The Advent's "Randomized" is a bruising and quite brilliant industrial techno workout. While Blawan's hyperactive "Don't You Dare Squawk At Me" hovers just below the 160 bpm mark, not all of the compilation is as intense. Vocals are mixed with chiming chords on Gary Beck's "Fold" and Z.I.P.P.O's "Broken Game" is a deep Detroit techno track.
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: Eusebeia and Artificial Red Join up with "Mindgame 4," a three-track EP on MindGames, a sub-label of Samurai. The opener, "Sweet Memories," sets the tone perfectly. Lush pads wash over a downtempo groove, while Eusebeia's vocals shimmer with a touch of longing. Then it is "peace of Mind," offering a sense of resolution, with a gentle melody and ethereal vocals. However, a subtle tension lingers, suggesting that inner peace may be a fleeting state. Rounding out the EP is "Cloud Nine," a blissful soundscape that brings the release to a peaceful close. Ethereal vocals and shimmering synths create a sense of weightlessness, leaving the listener feeling uplifted and serene.
Review: On Taken Away, MORD's offshoot continues its mission to deliver hard-edged but inventive techno. The work of Ruman, it applies experimental sensibilities to the dance floor. The brilliantly-named "They Were Dying of Old Age, That's It" is led by gnarly kicks and noisy percussion, with Ruman layering in intense bleeps. Similarly, "Faced With A Formful of Clever People" resounds to high-paced, bass frequencies. While the dense, rolling "Look At It" and the grainy drums of "10,000 Hours" both point to a clubbier approach, the overall approach is intense and visceral - most ably embodied by the grating riffs and high-paced industrial techno of "Mary Got A Quarter".
Review: The mighty Suburban Base returns with a second collection of blueprints that helped to shape one of the most important cultural phenomenons to happen in the UK since The Beatles - Jungle. A sound, style and mindset that still seems futuristic to this day, nothing sounded like these records at the time and they all still stand tall - and incredibly relevant - to this day. Highlights include the utterly seminal 'Babylon' by Splash, DJ Hype's choppy anthem 'Dawn Of The Fever', Lick Back Organisation's FSOL-sampling 'Music Of The Future' and the supreme euphoria of Dextrous's 'Jungle Theme'. Massive.
Review: Pull the trigger! Krust is back with the penultimate volume of his 'Irrational Numbers' series that digs deep into his Full Cycle, Talkin Loud, Dope Dragon and V Recordings output throughout the 90s and early 2000s. As always there are unreleased gems of yore; this time a tripped out twist on 'Asian Dance' and an alternative mix to the beautifully vibrant 'Burnin'. Elsewhere we have the bassline bumper V classic '21st Century', the quintessential Bristol anthem 'Angles' and the venomous 99-era hip-fronted battering ram with Saul Williams 'Coded Language'. What a selection from an endless trove. No one comes close to Krust.
Review: Klote, a producer on a relentless tear, brings his sonic alchemy to Mindgames, a sub-label of Samurai. This four-track EP transcends formulaic jungle breaks, offering a masterclass in genre-bending production with stunning clarity. The opener, "Eternity," exemplifies Kloke's innovative approach. It lures you in with a hauntingly beautiful, almost ambient intro. But Kloke doesn't stop there. He injects the track with vibrant, underwater-like sound design, creating a truly unique and captivating experience. This spirit of exploration permeates the entire EP. Each track boasts its own distinct personality, bursting with intriguing melodies and mind-bending ideas that practically leap out of the speakers. Kloke's meticulous production ensures every detail is crystal clear, making MINDGAME 3 a sonic feast for the discerning breaks aficionado. If you're looking for fresh, genre-defying jungle breaks with immaculate production, MINDGAME 3 is a must-have.
Review: Since their label inception back in 2018, the team over at Wisdom Teeth have done a great job at both cultivating and innovative forward thinking electronic music, with their roster featuring a number of true veterans of the game. This latest compilation takes the title 'Club Moss' and sees them assemble 14 fiery original creations, featuring the likes of Facta, K-Lone, Maya Q, LUXE, Purelink and more, all of whomst deliver naught but quality in their chosen creations. For us, despite this being a longer project, there are two clear standout recordings, the first of which is of course Cousin's atmospheric drifter in 'Tooth 4 Tooth' which gives us a spacious, exploratory feel. Alongside this, the moogy sub bounces of Tammo Hesselink's 'Cupboard Cylinder Salon' original also tops the list for us, showcasing the variation of styles that sits within the Wisdom Teeth camp.
Review: It's the ultimate breakthrough tune... Released back in 2014, 'Badboy' was the tune that changed the game for DJ Hybrid and boosted him to the levels he's known and respected at to this day, how he's celebrating its legacy with a series of outstanding remixes from some very talented artists including Zapya, Bish, Toby Ross, Kartoon and Lavery. Highlights range from the modern day rave slappery from Zapya, the slower breakbeat bubbles from Toby Ross, Bish's steamroller session, Lavery's face-melting drum work and Kartoon going for a classic jungle twist. Hell even Hybrid himself has delivered a killer VIP. What a package!
Review: A massively expansive label, Unchained Recordings welcomes in Thematic to its fold following stand out releases on labels like Sofa Sound, Four Corners and Lifestyle. Bring dub, jungle, drum and bass, UKG, rave and touches of house to this Moon Warriors EP, the artist showcases his flair and flexibility. Sending it into groovy territory with "Lookout", the title track gets low slung and atmospheric alongside some bonafide steppers in "The Fuss". Closing out the EP then is "Signal" with is liquid rhythms, darker atmospheres and frenetic percussion. Big up Thematic
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