Acid War – Acid Jungle EP [Safety Zone]

Posted on 12th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

The latest release on Safety Zone Records sees the cleverly named (not…) Acid War dropping two tracks of what can only really be described as Acid Jungle. Does what it says on the tin then! The blurb on the EP claims that releases from Acid War are “rare as rocking horse poop” too, so fans of the genre may be pretty excitable.

For those of us not indoctrinated in the ways of Acid Jungle, you can expect rough breaks and those classic acid synths in abundance. There’s little (if any) of the polish associated with modern drum & bass but the release definitely has it’s charm, mainly due to the irresistible quality of those synth lines. Somehow the acid sound is never gonna lose its appeal.

I suspect this one will prove a bit marmite, so have a listen to the clips below and make up your own mind. You can grab the release for a whopping 50p from the Safety Zone bandcamp, out now.

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Dead Electrics – Connected EP [Sub:mission Audio]

Posted on 12th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Transmission launch their new Sub:mission sister imprint with an EP of deeper beats from Dead Electrics. While the mixdowns are a little rough, the EP showcases a compositional talent across four tracks of “liquid with teeth”. Tough beats and basslines give the tunes energy and power, with melodic elements washing in and out of the mix to give the beats depth and soul.

Check out the tunes below and grab yourself a copy from your favourite digital outlet now.

Teddy Killerz – Big Blow [ProgRAM]

Posted on 11th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Teddy Killerz latest release sees them take their foot off the gas slightly compared to the face melting material they’ve built a rep with, but that’s not to say this EP is lacking in teeth, just imbued with a little more subtlety. Big Blow kicks things off with a nice combination of classy piano and slow drum rolls on the intro before the main drop kicks in with a familiar D&B impact and some nicely modulated bass.

Jackyl & Hyde heads for more familiar territory with MC Coppa on board for the ride but to be honest it just doesn’t have the punch of other Coppa tracks like On Like That or Pocket Full of Drops. Era meanwhile makes great use of atmospherics and heavy techstep kicks and snares for an angular workout. Lastly Una Mattina closes out the EP with a bright, trancey lead, swung beats and a wobbly bassline that it’s difficult not to enjoy. Check out the beats below and grab this on vinyl or digital now!

Snake & Wolf – Lost & Found [Free Download]

Posted on 10th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

It’s always interesting to hear what the mainstays of the D&B scene get up to musically when they’re not thrashing out 170, and the latest set of uploads to The Upbeats’ Soundcloud page showcase exactly that. Lost & Found proves a rewarding collection of breakbeat, house, dubstep, hip-hop and other assorted electronica. Better still it’s all absolutely free, so have a listen and grab the tracks via Soundcloud.

Fre4knc – Tellurian EP [Samurai Music]

Posted on 9th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Fans of the tough, dark and minimal end of the D&B spectrum should already be familiar with Fre4knc (that’s pronounced “frequency”, right?). His latest EP for Samurai continues his trend for a sound which mixes darkness and precision to great effect.

Opener Tellurian strikes down with insistent tribal rhythms, while The Source makes great play of an alternation between dubby half-time beats and schizophrenic drum break syncopations as scratchy old breaks are pushed to the limits. Drumfunk heads are in for a treat with this one! Finally Flink rounds the EP off with a mean combination of hefty sub hits, an infectious scattershot lead and crisp, rapid drum rolls.

As usual from the Samurai camp the release is available on beautiful marbled wax and both the physical package and the music contained within are pretty damn stunning. Pre-orders are up now at Surus and the release drops on Monday 10th March.

Soligen & Type-2 – Pretending [Blendits]

Posted on 8th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Rotterdam based Club Night and label Blendits return with their second release featuring two deep collabs. Soligen & Type-2 deliver an intricate and soulful roller with a hint of techstep teeth on Pretending, which proves detailed and rewarding on repeat listens.

Over on the flip dutch duo Mindmapper & Silvahfonk come correct on Polygraph, blending crisp, tough drums, airy synth work and warm sub for a roller that is danceable yet understated.

Check out the beats below and grab a copy from your favourite digital outlet!

DNB Dojo Mix Series 07: Double Helix

Posted on 7th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

The seventh in our exclusive mix series comes from Deep Field Audio alumni and neurofunk wizkid Double Helix who lays down a storming selection of dark, futuristic bangers. There are some tasty new DFA dubs in the mix alongside big tunes from Phace, Noisia, Misanthrop and many more! Stream via Mixcloud below and grab yourself a download from MediaFire.

Thing – Nightfall (Double Helix Remix) [Deep Field Audio, dub]
Rockwell feat. Zero T – Bone Structure [Critical Music]
Bowsar & Wintermute – Augmentation [Dub]
Mefjus & Inside Info – Repentance [Critical Music]
Voima – Epiprocta [Deep Field Audio]
Rawtekk – Photone Recruits (Phace Remix) [Hospital Records]
Black Sun Empire & Noisia – Hideous (Double Helix Remix) [Free DL]
State of Mind & Black Sun Empire – Unconscious [Blackout]
Cern feat. Receptor – Formless [Renegade Hardware]
Misanthrop – Deadlock [Neosignal]
Black Sun Empire & Jade – Deadhouse (Inside Info & Mefjus Remix) [Blackout]
Voima – Apoplexy [Deep Field Audio]
Place 2b & Paimon – Secret Mission [TAM Records]
Icicle – Nausea [Shogun Audio]
Double Helix – Microgravity [Deep Field Audio]
Bowsar – Helios [Modulate Recordings]
Noisia & Icicle – Driftwood [Shogun Audio]
Dub Phizix feat. Fox – Never Been [Critical Music]
Double Helix – Nebula [Deep Field Audio]
Rawtekk – Working Man [Med School Music]
I Am Legion – Dust Descends (Ft. Strange U) [OWSLA]
Double Helix – Muffler [Deep Field Audio]

Xsetra – Tectorum / Zub Zero [Transmission Audio]

Posted on 6th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Leeds based Transmission Audio return with their fifth release and keep the dark, techy vibes rolling with two new beats from Xsetra. Tectorum sets the mood nicely but for me it’s all about the eclectic percussion and squelchy basslines of Zub Zero. Atmosphere and heft in equal measure! Check out the beats below and grab this one from all good digital outlets now.

Rawtekk – Sprouted & Reformed [Med School]

Posted on 6th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Following on from the release of Rawtekk’s Sprouted and Formed LP on Med School recently comes a remix package featuring some heavy hitting reworks.

Phace delivers a typically robotic and monstrous rework of Photone Recruits and Mefjus turns in a nicely textured new mix of No More Vaccine, but for me it’s all about Billain’s epic take on Amber’s Love Was Like a Marble. The suspense on the intro is masterfully crafted on a creepy intro which gives way to a high octane build-up and then a drop that only Billain could have crafted. Evil business!

Rawtekk himself also gets in on the act, delivering both a rolling dancefloor edit and a lush, ambient rework of Snowflakes. Check out the previews below and watch out for the release dropping from March 10th.

Compound One [Renegade Hardware]

Posted on 5th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Hardware start a new chapter for up and coming producers with the first in their Compound series of EPs. Trillo turns in an accomplished dark stepper with Defer and Minor Rain delivers an energetic neuro workout on Regenerate.

For me though the highlights come on Klax’s Vendetta with its heavy half-time tribalism and Subtension’s big bad MC led stomper Break The Rules. I’ve been looking forward to more from Subtension since his excellent release on Samurai Music last year so it’s great to hear new beats landing on the mighty Hardware!

Check out the beats below and grab this one from your favourite digital outlet now.

DNB Dojo

Drum & Bass News and Reviews

Monthly Archives: March 2014