UK Hardcore Juno Download

FEATURED RELEASES

Breaking through the surface last year with a sweet run of releases via the likes of E-Beamz, Sneaker Social Club and Lobster Theremin, the Sheffield three-piece Denham Audio return to the latter with another five-track missive: Transcendence. Taking in the slightest of bleep references atop a jungle groove and soundboy lyrics is "Run Da Ting", get a second bite out of something similar (only graced by rave) in "Retort". Its lead track "Transcendence (feat 7ip7o3)" sees a lo-fi, trippy and drum and bass sound flirt with vocals and textures that evoke imagery from the film Lost in Translation, while for something retro, housier and garage tipped its all about "Top Boy" and "Club Culture".

Rhythmatic

The Rhythmatic EP Network

Between 1990 and '92, Nottingham's Mark Gamble and Leroy Crawford released a series of Bleep-influenced cuts that have since become classics. This expansive EP gathers together some of their most potent cuts, throwing in a few lesser-known tracks for good measure. The key cut is 'Take Me Back', an excitable mixture of Unique 3 style raw bleeps, rumbling sub-bass, shuffling drums and rave-igniting synth stabs. Gamble's 2020 update is tastefully done and arguably even more potent than the original mix, while the 1990 'Bass-Head' mix and sub-heavy Rob Gordon Edit are both essential. Elsewhere, 'Frequency' joins the dots between bleep and dreamy Italian house; 'Wind Me Up' is simultaneously sleazy and rush-inducing; 'Night People' is deliciously low-slung; and 'Splat' a successful exercise in deep, melodious Bleep & Bass.

Bazza Ranks

Neon City Vol 1 Spice Bag

Rising up through the ranks of Shango, Raider and Irish Moss Records, Bazza Ranks outta London is a consistently fresh name when it comes to throwing down all manner of house, techno, garage, jungle and RnB to rave, dancehall and breakbeat influences. With a wholly informed UK style of urban dance music and other classic genres added to his arsenal of tricks, Neon City Vol 1 provides yet more fanfare to the mix with two glitter bombs of happy house & hi nrg - aka energy energy - with Bazza's chord progressions and breakbeat drum patterns on show at large in "Don't Break Up". "Lights On" then goes for a linear groove, as if flirting with hints of progressive house before sustained strings offer a nod to classic disco that allows filtered synth lines, nostalgic rave, hardcore and old school house melodies to build themselves up into an explosion of dancefloor colour.