Top Tracks of 2014

Following our run down of our favourite albums of the year, we felt it was only right to put the spotlight on our top tracks. These are the ten tunes that haven’t left our record box since their release…

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Dom & Roland – Get Up Remixes [Dom & Roland Productions]

KMag teamed up with the mighty Dom & Roland recently to run a remix contest, and the winning mixes are now available to purchase. As you’d expect Dom has picked two fairly relentless slices of dancefloor-friendly neuro with an edge of the jump-up vibe. Mr. Frenkie’s remix edges out at the Dojo favourite, but they’re both worthy additions to your library; check out the tracks below and head to Beatport to cop the release now!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDplH6l4r2o]

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9cBHoc8yLg]

Best Albums of 2014

2014 has been a great year for D&B and another great year for LPs, so with the year drawing to a close we thought we’d run down our favourite full length releases this year. In no particular order…

Kimyan Law – Coeur Calme [Blu Mar Ten Music]

Kimyan’s debut LP impressed us greatly upon it’s initial release, and it’s an album that has only improved upon repeated listens. Blending influences from D&B with elements of soul, world music, ambient and plenty more besides, this is one of the most musical releases this year and a great start to what should be a promising career.

Tokyo Prose – Presence [Samurai Music]

Samurai’s reputation for quality and depth is legendary, and the debut LP from kiwi producer Tokyo Prose fits that MO perfectly. Featuring some excellent collaborations with the likes of Synkro, LSB and Lenzman, the album features a coherence and flow that many LPs lack, and some of the finest deep liquid tracks of the year. Essential listening.

Cern – Under Another Sky [Dispatch Recordings]

Cern’s LP slipped under the radar here at the Dojo on initial release, but thankfully we got the chance to catch up with it over the holiday season. The level of atmosphere and depth on show here is stunning, not to mention the precise engineering, intricate drum programming and overall detail that Cern has brought to the table. The album is an unapologetically dark, experimental release, with few (if any) of the tracks aimed at the dancefloor, and is all the better for it.

Future Beats: The Album [31 Recordings]

31 Recordings late entry to the 2014 LP battle has garnered near universal acclaim, and with good reason; few other compilations bring such a breadth of styles at such a high quality across such a massive selection of tracks. It’s great to see the label supporting new producers alongside old hands like Calibre and Klute, not to mention pushing the envelope with truly innovative sounds.

Ulterior Motive – The Fourth Wall [Metalheadz]

Last but by no means least, Ulterior Motive’s sonic journey through their experiences of Drum & Bass has provided both dancefloor anthems and deeper vibes. Tracks like Tape Pack and INTA-National have been killing floors at raves across the world since the LPs release, and the duos range has never been stronger.

Break – Temptations / Right Now [Symmetry]

Break brings us a tasty stocking filler just in time for the festive season! Temptations is all about groove, providing a funky but minimal D&B jam that lives up to the usual quality of the man’s productions. Right Now heads in a totally different direction, harnessing the spirit of 90s jungle for some serious break chopping. Ruuuuude business! Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite store right now!

Sustance – False Data EP [Citrus]

Sustance serves up the latest release for prolific Dutch neurofunk imprint Citrus, and it holds true to the sort of quality we expect from one of the longest running labels in the scene. Tight, heavy drums, impressive bass modulations and maximum dancefloor energy characterise all the tracks on the EP, with Chicanery proving a particular highlight with it’s combination of lush atmospherics and an infectious bass riff.

Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite digital outlet now!

Tephra & Arkoze – New Blood / The Gunman [Nurtured Beatz]

Nurtured Beatz round off a great year with another impressive release, this time from Tephra & Arkoze. Sticking to the label’s MO for deep, dark, innovative beats, both tracks bring together detailed percussion, growling low end and a talent for atmospherics for a pair of tracks that should shake a few room 2 soundsystems over the coming months. Check out the clips below and grab the release from your favourite digital outlet now!

Bowsar & Double Helix – Hyperbolic / Circuit [Full Force]

Double Helix’s previous releases for Deep Field Audio have really impressed me so the news that he was teaming up with Bowsar for a new single on Full Force was appropriately exciting! The tracks don’t disappoint either, delivering the kind of high octane, precision neurofunk that so many try but so few actually pull off.

Hyperbolic builds from a solid backbone of high impact drums, adding in an obscene level of bassline detail and modulation for a hyperkinetic badboy of a tune! Circuit goes for a slightly more sparse approach, allowing the bass riffs to breath a little between the beats but still keeping the energy and impact high. Fans of Phace et al should definitely give this one a look. Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite digital store now!

Audio Habitat – Parameter EP [T3K Ltd]

T3K Ltd’s latest release comes from German four piece collective Audio Habitat who bring their tight, technical sound to the label. Technical Shit kicks things off on a deep note, with rumbling sub and precise percussion building a brooding vibe. Twelve Minds amps up the energy a bit, keeping the tribal drums but bringing in some pretty aggressive midrange sweeps, a pattern followed on the titular Parameter.

Last but not least, Under Pressure provides the EP’s most dancefloor friendly cut with skittering drums and a rising lead keeping the tune moving at a fair pace. Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite digital store now.

Hex – Tin Man / Skitta [Transmission Audio]

Dojo bossman Hex steps up to deliver the latest release for Leeds-based Transmission Audio. True to the label’s MO the release features two dark, techy cuts, with Tin Man bringing hard breaks and metallic bass while Skitta keeps the energy flowing with rising reese bass and plenty of atmospherics.

Check out the clips below and grab this from your favourite digital outlet now!

Do They Know It’s #Critmas? [Critical Music]

If you feel like doing something charitable this festive season (and you think that Bob Geldof should do one) then Critical Music have the answer! Kasra’s label have collected together a full album of tracks from the label’s usual suspects and all you have to do to get your mits on it is head over here and donate some money to Oxfam.

The LP features a selection of stomping new tracks from Enei, Mefjus, Foreign Concept, Halogenix, Emperor, Kasra, Hyroglifics and Klax, and the quality is every bit as high as you’d expect from the Critical stable. Check out the clips below and give generously!