Review: No introductions necessary: Suburban Base shaped and fuelled rave music as knew it. Uncle Dugs documents, celebrates and champions rave music as know it. On this quarter-century retrospective Dugs brings everyone up to speed as he moves through the 90s and, in turn, the development of hardcore into jungle and drum & bass. 50 seminal tracks deep, from Remarc's soundclash slewing "RIP" to Marvellous Cain's jungle blueprint "Hitman" via Q Bass and E Type's early explorations into synthesis on "Hardcore Will Never Die" and formative junglism from DJ Hype, our affable Uncle continues to join the dots with the past and the future with supreme levels of detail and knowledge.
Review: Swiss DJ Sassy J now curates the second compilation in the Patchwork series, for Dutch imprint Rush Hour. For the past 14 years, she has run a night of the same name in her hometown Bern, and another in London. Showcasing music by many of the artists that have joined her throughout the years in clubs, on the radio and at home, this release is made up of new and unreleased tracks, capturing a sound that has continued to evolve in its restless search for new musical directions. From the deep, soulful and emotive tones of Warm's "Blue Sunrise" or 2000Black's "Plastic Jam", to Afro influenced spiritual life music as heard by the lady herself (with Alex Attias) on "Jelly Bubble Rise", through to RH label staple Aardvark's hi-tech soul deconstruction "Aap Noot" and Mr Fingers stone cold classic "Survivor" - Sassy J takes you on an evocative sonic journey from start to finish.
As One - "Where Did He Go... & Why" (Plaid remix) - (4:38) 107 BPM
A - "Fermionit" - (5:53) 100 BPM
Review: Most box-set releases tend to focus on reissues and re-releases, but on Brainbox De:tuned opts for a different approach. The compilation features artists who defined European techno and electronica's golden age during the 90s, but the Belgian label has commissioned new or unreleased material from these acts. Fans of that era will be thrilled by B12's moody electro, the raw, analogue warmth of John Beltran's "Nineteen Eighty Nine" and the resonating bass-y techno of In:Sync's "Crack in the World". While not every track impresses - Move D's contribution sounds tepid - there are enough jaw-dropping piece of music on this compilation, witness the autumnal majesty of as One's "Where Did He Go & Why" to make Brainbox an essential release.
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