Review: Is anyone 'Out There'? It's the question humankind has been asking itself since the dawn of eyeballs. Now 10AD is joining the celestial quest... And he's got a whole troop of badboy astronomers with him; Froidy, Nexus, MC Steve and Smuggler are all on board for this cosmic conundrum and the results are every bit as planet-colliding as you'd hope. From the gruff swing of 'Pure Evil' to the twisted spiralling sound design of 'Insane' via the alien textures and stutters of 'Room', there's a whole stack of evidence that other life forms don't just walk among us... They make drum & bass too. Essential misfit music.
Audio & Black Sun Empire - "Disruptive" - (4:53) 172 BPM
Bedlam Axis - (4:13) 172 BPM
The Fang - (4:57) 172 BPM
Burnt Bridges - (4:55) 172 BPM
Nirmata - (5:01) 172 BPM
Ruins - (4:33) 172 BPM
From The Ashes - (3:29) 174 BPM
Review: Blackout are certainly raising the bar this year. We've barely started to recover from Ed Rush's album and look who we've got here... Audio laying down the foreboding futurist law with his seventh album Where The Chaos Lies. Created with a narrative and theme of AI (both his fear and interest in it), it's some of his rawest and intense work so far. His metal-flavoured collab with Akov's Aenygma project 'Blood On Our Hands', the scorching, brazen attitude of 'Rave Machine' (with Burr Oak), the breath-taking hurricane of 'The Fang' and the wild, fittingly-titled 'Disruptive' (with Blackout bosses Black Sun Empire) and the outrageous punk-like tear-out funk of 'Burnt Bridges' are just some of the mind-bending displays of raw power and technical tenacity on show here. King moves.
Review: Hold tight Bryan Gee and the family. Now rolling 30 years deep! Naturally they're releasing some absolutely exceptional music to celebrate. Next up in this epic three decade gully marathon are three utter tear-ups. Voltage goes old testament on the jungle slap-about 'Lion Of Judah', Krust and Need For Mirrors' Cloud Lord go ultra trippy and cosmic on 'Ghost Train' while Command Strange and L-Side get pure filthy on 'Angry Tune'. Many happy returns V!
Review: If you're worried about producers spending too long in their studios and not getting enough fresh air, or producers inappropriately dressing for an occasion, then save those thoughts for another artist as Agro is most definitely okay: he's currently out on the piste and he's most definitely wearing the correct gear as 'Ski Mask' will get those cheeks nice and warm with every slope-bound slap. Elsewhere 'Murk Nothing' wriggles and rants with the energy and mischief of a young Tyke, 'Porridge' will heat you up with its sludge, warm oaty vibes while 'Scum' closes on an ice cold vibe. Wrap up warm from face to foot.
Review: For those moments when life gets too sweet, along comes Heskk with a big sack of cocoa. Please say hello to 'Living Wonka', a real life chocolate factory of bangers so fat they're almost guaranteed to get you stuck in a tube full of milk. Flavours are full-on throughout the EP but only someone with no tastebuds would say no to the crunchy surprise of 'Fantasy' or the chewy cosmosis of 'Surfer'. As for the trippy finale 'Pike', it'll have you hurling Oompa Loompas around the nearest field within seconds of pressing play. Golden tickets, each and every one of them.
Review: DJ Hybrid's Deep In The Jungle imprint is forever at the forefront, uncovering fresh new talent and bringing us the best of their skills. Take Tee9, a young Bournemouth talent who's resident at Rewind and only ever dropped free downloads until this release. Four slabs of timeless scorchio, this is straight up jungle breakbeat funk with all the trimmings. Highlights include the subby slap and tickle of 'Badlife' and the ultimate celebration of all DJs... 'Hold Tight The Selectas'. 9 thumbs up.
Scout 22 & Joe Ford - "Underground Damage" (Joe Ford remix) - (3:27) 174 BPM
Review: And so Eatbrain's Divergence saga continues... With another 19 massive tracks from some of the most exciting and forward-thinking names in the neuro game! Honestly, we've not seen any VA series quite as epic, explorative and expansive as this. From the steamroller funk of Mob Tactics' 'Tonka' to the outrageous drama and impact of TRCD & Transforma's 'Kamikaze' to the ultra-fizzy fire of Mizo & 2Whales's industrial strength tear-up 'Party Jumper', this collection is absolutely teaming with talent. Utterly unmissable.
Review: Paying us in full since 1990 long time, Ego Trippin ante up once again with a massive dancefloor tear-up 'Pump Up The Volume'. Cranking up with a massive much-loved sample, 'Pump Up The Volume' hits with pure funk and some fantastic drama. It's in good company too as the rest of the EP is soaking in rude, brash dark funk tear-ups; 'Drop Bass' teases for ages before going full croak, 'Can You Feel It' flexes on some brilliant pent up energy and a brilliant build-up while 'Boogie Man' closes the EP with some of the ugliest sounds you'll find this side of your local Home Bargains. Naughty.
Review: If you're reading this then you will know that Instinct is one of the UK's powerhouse garage labels. Run by Burnski aka James Burnham it deals in serious tackle for rude boys and nasty girls. The drums hit hard, the reversed bassline burn goose old school cool and there gun finger salutes come thick and fast throughout this EP from Mance. 'Checkpoint' opens with the dusty drum shuffles and bulbous bass, then 'The Going Is Rough' is a little more soulful and sweet with its rolling basslines and silky pads. 'Beat 93' closes down with a seriously OG garage sound that takes you back to the mid-90s.
Review: Some three-way collaborative action here, as sometime Simma Black contributor The Checkup joins forces with DJ Merci and Mona Lee for the very first time. All involved seem to have got the best out of each other, with 'You Make Me Stronger' sounding like a dustier, extra-percussive take on some of label boss Kerri Chandler's best works of the mid-to-late 90s - all sweat-soaked deep house beats, heady acid bass, twinkling piano motifs and improvised female vocals. Simon Shaw remixes, turning it into a wobble bass-propelled slab of turn of the Millennium 4/4 UK garage revivalism with a 21st century twist.
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