Monthly Archives: January 2014

31st January 2014
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Drum & Bass, Releases

Silent Witness – The Arc Light EP [Dispatch]

Silent Witness returns to Dispatch Recordings for a solo EP packed full of rolling techie goodness. The titular Arc Light kicks things off with a big bad bassline and a precise break withsome lovely hi-hat work.

Lost keeps the energy flowing with a rapidly moving bassline that has a hypnotic, faintly technoid quality to it. Out into the digital exclusives, FMB strips things right back, letting sci-fi samples breath in between the sparse beats and bass swells. Last but not least Aura lulls us into a false sense of security with a beautiful guitar led intro before the bass and beats smack down for another lesson in who to write rollers.

Pre-order your copy from the Dispatch Surus store and watch out for the release from Feb 3rd.

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30th January 2014
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Drum & Bass, Releases

Quentin Hiatus – Zanj Rebellion [Translation Recordings]

Translation Recordings continue their excellent run of forward thinking releases with an EP from Quentin Hiatus. Zanj Rebellion combines shimmering pad ambience, warm low end and heavily syncopated, off-kilter rhythms to create a sound that feels like the spirit of drumfunk channelled via recent footwork influenced production.

Over on the flip Solidify continues the trend for heavily syncopated rhythms but with more of an industrial vibe, and hints of dub and techno sitting prominently in a mix that features some excellent stereo separation.

As if that wasn’t enough there’s also a free track available for download in the form of Summer in Winter, featuring more in the way of rich synths and weird rhythms, this time overlaid with some Burial style vocal echoes. Check out the tracks below and grab the release from the Translation Bandcamp.

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29th January 2014
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Drum & Bass, Releases

Nickbee – Terra Formation [Vandal Records]

Man of the moment Nickbee continues his excellent run of releases with a pair of atmospheric techsteppers for Vandal Records. Terra Formation blends Nickbee’s ear for beats and bass with eery atmospherics and a memorable yet understated lead hook.

Night Stalker lets a scuzzy reese bass take center stage over metallic snares laid down in a helter skelter beat patter, with a hypnotic synth lead coming in as the beats break down into an obviously techno influenced pattern before breaking down into nothing for the bridge.

Watch out for the release at all good digital outlets, out now!

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28th January 2014
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Classic Track, Drum & Bass, Releases

Classic Track: Bad Company – The Nine

It’s been a while since our last Classic Track retrospective, so we figured what better reason than the re-release of possibly the most iconic track from the 90s Techstep era? Bad Taste Recordings have gone back to the original DAT tapes for a brand new digital remaster of Bad Company’s legendary tech roller The Nine, preserving the flavour of the original but adding a wee bit of extra crispness to the sound. Check it out below and head to the Bad Taste store to pick it up on vinyl or digital now!

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27th January 2014
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DNB Dojo Mix Series, Drum & Bass, Mixes

DNB Dojo Mix Series 05: DJ Vapour

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For the latest in the Dojo Mix Series we’re proud to present an exclusive mix from DJ Vapour! A veteran of the scene and head honcho at 36 Hertz, Vapour knows his way around the 1s and 2s to say the least. His mix for the Dojo keeps things rolling and full of dancefloor flavour – packed with Dubs and a few cheeky classics to boot. You can stream via Mixcloud below or grab yourself a download from MediaFire.

Hazard – 0121 [Playaz]
SR & Digbee – Nightmare [36 Hertz Dub]
NC-17 & Nusense – Inferno [36 Hertz Dub]
Jonny L – The Bells [Pirahna]
DJ Vapour – Anti Gravity [Dub]
Delphi Productions – Proteus [36 Hertz Dub]
Optiv & CZA – Ziplock [C4C Dub]
Jaybee – Dirt Magirt [Mac II Dub]
Scott & Keith – Get Busy Crew (Madcap remix) [Stepback Sessions Dub]
Seba & Krazy – Imperial Movement [Metalheadz]
Takiego Chlopaka – Mikromusic (Social Security Remix) [Dub]
Total Science – Shelter [Dub]
Marcus Intalex – Temperance [Soul:R]
SR & Digbee – Nostromo [36 Hertz Dub]
Rewind – I Got A Feeling [Frequency]
NC-17 – The War Master [Dub]
Roni Size & Die – The Calling (Goldie Remix) [V Records]

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26th January 2014
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Drum & Bass, Releases

Ed:it – Sound Killer / I Would [SGN:Ltd]

Ed:it ups the ante for SGN:Ltd with the monstrous Sound Killer. Dubby chords and a ragga vocal sample provide the icing on a warped, twisted cake of heavy kicks, reverb drenched snares and monstrous bass.

Over on the flip I Would shows the deeper side of Ed:it’s production, with a nice vocal cut up layered over a meaty package of bass and beats. This one doesn’t pull any punches either! Check out the A side below and watch out for the release dropping Feb 16th on vinyl and digital.

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25th January 2014
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Drum & Bass, Releases

Seba – Mesmerism EP [Secret Operations]

Seba follows up on last year’s Identity LP with a varied new EP for his Secret Operations imprint. Mesmerism gets the EP off to a fine start with a skanking half-step beat and lilting, spacey leads over dubbed out low end. Next up Physickl shifts the tone with rich synths and playful acid sounds building up to an insistent stepping beat layered over an irresistibly stark hook.

Of course it wouldn’t be a Seba release without at least one trademark deep liquid tune, and Life Is delivers that sound we’ve come to know and love – understated melodies and warm, deep sub bass. This one isn’t quite up there with Under The Sun’s masterclass in liquid euphoria but it’s still a worthy addition to Seba’s impressive back catalogue. Finally Science Fiction heads for darker territory with detailed, angular percussion on a tune that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Fracture set.

Once again Seba and Secret Operations proves to be a force to be reckoned with. Check out the teaser below and look out for the release dropping very soon.

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24th January 2014
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Drum & Bass, Releases

Eastcolors – Toys / Creeper [ProgRAM]

Russian producer Eastcolors follows up his contributions to the ProgRAMmed EPs with a new single for the RAM sub-imprint. Toys shows a great flare for combining dancefloor sensibilities with more musical elements, lush chiming chords taking centre stage on the intro before giving way to clean breaks and weighty sub.

Creeper takes things a bit darker with a jungle influenced break and heavier filtered mid-range characterising the tune; this one is definitely the beast to the A-side’s beauty. Check out the beats below and grab the release on vinyl and digital now!

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23rd January 2014
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Jungle, Releases

Back To 92 EP [36 Hertz]

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36 Hertz take us back to the old school once again with the appropriately titled Back To 92 EP. Featuring four top notch 90s style breakbeat hardcore cuts from DJ Vapour, SR & Digbee, ESP and Indigo Virus, this one does exactly what it says on the tin; amen cutups, hefty sub bass and rave stabs abound.

Grab your hat and whistle and check out the mini mix below! This one drops on Juno and the 36 Hertz website from Feb 3rd.

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22nd January 2014
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Drum & Bass, Releases

Impish & Vasilisa – Haze [Burelom]

From Russia with love; Audio Plants Recordings bring us a new sub label in the form of Burelom (pronounced ‘boorelom’). Their first release comes with two great collabs, with Impish & Vasilisa teaming up on vocal-led techstep roller Haze while Hidden Element, Liquid Break and Kiyomi explore deeper territory with the ambient drumfunk of I See The Light.

Watch out for this one dropping on vinyl from Jan 27th.

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