Review: Zed Bias's superb recent single with Shumba Youth is a modern fusion of dancehall and ragga that is perfect for loud deployment on top sound systems. Here though it comes in four different versions, all of which tap into different aspects of the UK hardcore continuum. The 4x4 Garage mix is just that and perfect for grotty warehouses, the 4x4 VIP Refix has a more prominent baseline feel and the Jeftuz UKG remix is a broken beat killer with wub-wub goodness. Last of all is the restless and kinetic 2-step mix to close out a high grade remix EP.
Review: Last year Chilly got all up close and personal with the brutal ball-busting 'Close To Me' on a cheeky VIP pack Bruised dished out on Christmas Day. Now the gifts continue as man like Agro brings a little Sub-liminal sickness to the blend with a much moodier, thicker bassline and little glitches into more contemporary jump-up sounds. Laced with loads of little details along the way, Agro's pulled a blinder here. Get close.
Review: Back in the ring again... Big Lou and his gang and are throwing their weight around like a Royal Rumble on this third volume of the label's flagship VA series 'Black & Blue'. As always, it's a brutalist affair that's right on the forefront of drum & bass dancefloor, neuro and jump-up fusion. Cuts like SHANXX's high voltage 'Tracing', Roche & Teezy's minimalist horn-squeezing strutter 'Neruyoko', FMS's absolutely epic neuro-inspired 'Executioner', Medicine's mischievous screamer 'Badman' and Neffa's bouncy, twisted take on the classic early 2010s jump up sound 'Drill Dub' are just some of the many highlights. Trust us, this will batter your dancefloor silly. It's a knock out!
Review: Oh gosh! Every Welcome To The Jungle collection is a big deal but this latest edition from Euphonique and Dazee is a whole other rain forest. 96 tracks and a mix that weighs in over two hours, this is the sound of two of the most foremost and inspiring Bristol-based DJs going IN in every single direction. Loaded with a great range of classics, exclusives and left-of-centre vibes, highlights across this massive collection include Aries and Euphonique's massive 'Amen', Dazee & Jinx's 'Shake It Up', Sweetpea and Chickaboo's 'The Jump Off' and the recent skat-dancing fire-up 'Skip De Du Dat'. And that's not scratching the surface. This is an epic collection. Essential.
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: 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: 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!
Yantra (Planetary Assault Systems remix) - (6:28) 138 BPM
It's Time (to Move Your Body) (Truncate remix) - (4:42) 138 BPM
Review: Len Faki's "Fusion Remixes 01/03" on Figure delves into the acclaimed album "Fusion," reimagining its diverse tracks through the lens of renowned techno artists. This release presents a fascinating exploration, showcasing contrasting interpretations and highlighting the versatility of Faki's original work. While remaining rooted in techno, the remixes delve into various subgenres, showcasing the versatility of the original tracks and the talent of the remixers. From the stripped-back industrial of O [Phase]'s "Temple" remix to the euphoric trance influences in Planetary Assault Systems' take on "Yantra," each track offers a unique perspective. Each remixer brings their own magic. rRoxymore's "Tor 8" remix pulsates with dark energy, while Djrum's "Don't Be Stupid Day" is a distorted, raw dancefloor weapon. Pangaea's "Space Cowboys I" remix adds a touch of light and groove, making it an infectious earworm.
Review: Skov Bowden lands on Beard Man with a distinctive dance floor EP. "Squad" samples tribal chants and resounds to a ghetto swing. On "Class_C" and "Projektor", he opts for a different approach. Based on minimal rhythms, tweaked tones and utilitarian percussion, it is inspired by the 90s minimalism of Steve Stoll. "Unmute" also focuses on a stripped back approach - but on this occasion, Bowden layers insistent riffs that build and build over the angular rhythm. "Driver" is built on concrete kicks, which act as the basis for him to weave in tripped out vocal samples. Gene Richards Jnr delivers a raw and ready take on "Squad", which is led by a pulsing bass and jittery percussion.
Faced With A Formful Of Clever People - (4:49) 135 BPM
Probation - (5:56) 136 BPM
Mary Got A Quarter - (5:29) 137 BPM
Weather Radar - (5:37) 135 BPM
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: Shall Not Fade has reached the ripe old age of eight, a cause for celebration in these troubled times for artists and labels. To mark the occasion, the Bristol-based imprint has offered up this vast, 34-track compilation featuring new and unheard cuts from its ever-expanding family of artists. Naturally, it not only reflects Shall Not Fade's output, but also that of its various offshoots and series. So, there's plenty of high-grade deep house and immersive, breakbeat-driven deepness, but also surging, high-tempo rave-era nostalgia (see the tracks by TESTPRESS and Sheffield sorts Adelphi Music Factory), bassline (ABSOLUTE & HRSN), futurist techno (Marc Brauner), deep electro (Halo), hip-hop revivalism (Lydia Eisenbatter), progressive house and trance-influenced loveliness (MNL), and much more besides.
Review: Planet Rhythm continues its commitment to supporting new artists on this fine split release. Shabaam & Aladarus kick-start the EP with "Colossal", their debut for the label. Led by surging chords and tight percussive bursts, it lives up to its title. Lenny San's "Orbital" follows in a similar vein, albeit with a more intense take, as chords bluster and build over tough kicks and insistent hi hats. OFF / GRID, who has become a regular artist on Planet Rhythm, fuses tight percussion and steely drums with a looped synth on "Inner City Blues". Maintaining this tough but musical theme, Rove Ranger's "Onakum" integrates vocal snatches with hissing hi hats and dubby stabs.
Review: The team over at YosH have done a fantastic job over the years in pushing out some of the most innovative and unique bass and garage combinations that we have seen across the UK, with this latest remix drop from dubbleT, OHKAY & Jamie Hai being a great example of that. We in fact open up with the remix, which sees a selection of sand-shifting sub sweeps and warm vocal displays fromdubbleT &OHKAY reworked into a party-ready roller by Jamie Hai, taking elements of both UKG and bass in its creation. For contrast, the original recording also sits on the EP, providing not only a great A/B flip, but also a great example of how much difference a good remix can make.
Review: Longtime friend of Worst Behavior, Doctor Jeep, drops the electrifying "Deep Red" EP, showcasing his signature versatility and collaborative spirit. This NYC-based producer, known for his dancefloor-igniting beats and genre-bending explorations, delivers a diverse sonic journey across four tracks. "Deep Red" kicks things off with the infectious title track, a collaboration with UK artist Grove. Grove's punk-infused energy and appreciation for soundsystem culture merge seamlessly with Doctor Jeep's production prowess, resulting in a head-turning banger. Further collaborations unfold with Australian producer Hedchef, known for his off-kilter club constructions. "I'm Rushing" blends breakbeat rave energy with a futuristic twist, guaranteed to keep bodies moving with its rolling grooves and wonky basslines. In "Hammerhead," Doctor Jeep pays homage to his Brazilian heritage by weaving Brazilian vocals with electro elements and a sparse, heavy beat reminiscent of club and grime influences. Next, Doctor Jeep delves into halftime territory with "Destroyer," a collaboration with Canadian producer Tamarak. The track builds slowly and deliberately, layering intricate techy breaks and percussion over a minimal soundscape. To close this EP, "Deep Red," receives a dubstep makeover courtesy of J:Kenzo. This high-energy remix transforms the original into a driving jungle and drum & bass beast. A genre-bending cracker here!
Review: The legendary Jeremy Sylvester is back in fine form with this fiery display, unloading four dancefloor-ready rollers with some real throwback feelings, courtesy of course of Time Is Now. We open up with the nostalgic chord progressions and heavily reverberated soundscapes of '90's Man', which sets the tone perfectly, followed by 'Flashback', a sleeklike roller doused in electronic energy. From here 'In The Morning' arrives to unleash a more subtle bubbling feeling, focussing on moogy basslines and refreshing pad arrangements, before the heavily sampled vocal chops and icey synth sweeps of 'Wickedest Sound' close off the EP with a bang
Review: The Exhibit series aims to showcase emerging artists who operate at the raw end of the techno spectrum. While not a new act, label owners Slam get the ball rolling with their own "Exhibit 3", which revisits the raw, jacking sound of their Snapshots release. EJA's "Detachment Theory" represents a more contemporary take on underground techno. Led by a pumping, heads-down groove and relentless, doubled-up claps, it also features mysterious synth builds. Similarly atmospheric sounds inhabit Skjöld's "Stearic Acid" - but on this occasion, they are woven into a stripped back, percussive groove. Favouring a more abrasive direction, ANNĒ's "Keinlicht" revolves around a visceral rhythm and ominous synth lines, echoing vintage Steve Bicknell.
Review: Honorio first made his name as a drum'n'bass producer, but as Endless Love demonstrates, he is also adept at making dance floor techno. The title track features Theo Nasa's ominous vocals unfolding over robust tribal drums and dynamic percussive twists, making for a moody techno track. "Gunz Blazin" is a house-influenced affair. Led by filtered samples and a rolling groove, it reveals a lighter side to Honorio's sound. On "Stabbed In The Heart", he opts for a deeper approach - focused on tribal drums and spaced-out synths, it's an expertly measured homage to Octave One. The release also features a sleek, steely take of the title track by label owner Len Faki under his Hardspace alias.
Beat-Breaker - "All Night" (original mix) - (4:15) 136 BPM
Review: This latest helping of futuristic goodness from the Top Drawer Digital team sees them dive into their third full length compilation drop, once again expanding the 'Abstractions' series with a solid helping of new school breakbeat flavour. Featuring 36 creations, this selection is a DJ's secret weapon for certain, with the likes of Kefford, Sub Fusion, Outrage, Sanxion, S.U.R.E and Nyxen alongside many more delivering top quality additions to the track listing. For us, this is a project best absorbed through the attached continuous DJ MIX, but our standouts would have to include the brain-boggling wave synth work of The Rumblist's 'Mind Blown', alongside the more throwback metallic dinks of Lucas's 'Light & High Beauty' original. Sensational stuff from all involved.
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