Monthly Archives: May 2014

Q&A – Digital – Figjam EP [Horizons]

Posted on by
1

Scene stalwart Digital brings his wares to Horizons Music with an EP of tasty new leftfield rhythms. Figjam kicks things off with big reese bass swells set over a drum line that starts slow with nothing but kicks and hats on the intro before dropping into a syncopated frenzy of processed breaks a few bars after the drop.

Waiting heads for deep territory with a simple yet hypnotic melody layered over warm sub and a crisp, stepper’s break, with soft synthetic strings adding character. Therapy proceeds to drop things down into dubby half-time territory with varied percussion and hordes of atmosphere. Finally the Slowjam mix of Figjam rounds things off by turning the title track into a 140BPM workout drenched in delay and reverb.

To find out a bit more about the EP we caught up with Digital for a quick chat. Read on for his thoughts on track names, the D&B scene and the best studio snacks!

Continue reading →

Atic – The Message / Crystal [Free Love Digi]

Posted on by
Reply

Denver based producer Atic takes time out from his Critical Waves collaborative project to bring a pair of solo tracks to Quentin Hiatus’ Free Love Digi imprint. The Message evokes the spirit of 90s techstep, with crisp breaks, dark bass and sci-fi samples. There’s more than a hint of classic Ed Rush & Optical to this one, but it’s definitely more homage than plagiarism.

Crystal continues the vibe, with creepy pads on the intro dropping into a hollowed out bassline and a stepper’s break with some distinctive snares; ominous and insistent. Check out the clips below and grab this from your favourite digital outlet now.

Optiv & BTK – Breakthrough / Midnight Nation (2am Remix) [Commercial Suicide]

Posted on by
Reply

Optiv & BTK come correct with the latest in their seemingly endless slew of singles, this time for Klute’s Commercial Suicide imprint. Breakthrough builds atmosphere on the intro with lush synth work before hitting down with a rugged drop and tons of energy.

Over on the flip the 2am remix of Midnight Nation follows a similar pattern, building things up with tasty pads on the intro before the crisp drums and kinetic bassline kick things into gear, with the echoing bleeps in the bridge proving a nice touch. No nonsense dancefloor business! Check out the clips below and grab the release on vinyl and digital now.

Anodyne Industries – Seed Planet [Free Download]

Posted on by
Reply

Hopskotch celebrate the recent release of Anodyne Industries’ Decoder EP with a freebie from the same sessions in the form of Seed Planet. Stomping drums in a half time rhythm punctuated by the odd bar of full tempo breaks and dirty bass modulations make for a great workout, bringing enough womp without descending into uninspiring tearout territory. Check it out below and grab yourself a free download via Soundcloud or Bandcamp.

The Upbeats – Rituals EP [Blackout Music]

Posted on by
Reply

Black Sun Empire’s Blackout Music imprint is steadily establishing itself as one of the premier sources of up front dancefloor neurofunk and their latest EP from The Upbeats proves no exception to that rule with five huge tracks including a collab with InsideInfo featuring some tasty LFO modulations and a nicely swung beat.

Asides from the full roll of Rituals and hefty riffage of Def Cresent we’re treated to a nice bit of skittering drumstep on Replacement, while Corposant provides one last riffy stomper for good measure. Check out the beats below and grab this exclusively from Beatport now, with full release following from May 19th.

Mako, DLR & Fields – Old Soul [Utopia Music]

Posted on by
Reply

With all his recent collaborations with head honcho Mako (and word of an album from the duo forthcoming) it seemed only a matter of time til DLR touched down on Utopia and their latest single sees exactly that. Old Soul proves another fruitful Utopia family jam session with Fields and Mako joining DLR in the studio for a big atmospheric techstepper that effortlessly blends soulful musicality and meaty basslines to great effect.

Over on the flip DLR goes in alone on Bridge The Gap, building tension with lush soundscapes on the intro before dropping into a crisp rolling break punctuated with tasty filtered bass stabs. The tune has all the hallmarks of a DLR composition but make no mistake, his style is in no danger of sounding formulaic. Check out the B side below and grab this one on vinyl or digital now!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjvTEQ2dzYk]

BCee & Bladerunner – Moonstruck / Crash [Celsius Recordings]

Posted on by
Reply

BCee & Bladerunner team up on a pair of deep liquid rollers for Fokuz sub label Celsius Recordings. Combining BCee’s ear for melodic flourishes and Blade Runner’s jungle tinged bass and breaks, the two tunes tread a nice line between dancefloor business and musicality.

Moonstruck makes good use of a wobbly bassline and a tight break under soft strings and pads to create an atmosphere that is energetic but slightly melancholy. Crash heads for jazzier territory with upbeat piano and saxophone over throbbing bass tones and another great rolling break; summer business on this one. Check out the beats below and grab it from your favourite outlet now!

Duoscience – Choices / Report Notes [Such Music]

Posted on by
Reply

Duoscience returns to the fray with a pair of his trademark liquid rollers for Such Music. Choices gets a good groove on with an insistent break, warm sub and an understated yet infectious hook.

Report Notes heads for more melodic territory with some classic organ warbling on the intro giving way to a playful bassline and warm, soulful chord hits. Happy roller ahoy!

Watch out for this one dropping at all good digital outlets from May 5th.

Wreckless – Hard Light (Deficit Remix) [AutomAte]

Posted on by
Reply

AutomAte keep up the pressure on their many sub-labels with the first release on their green label, this time with label head honcho Deficit at the controls! Wreckless’ Hard Light gets the remix treatment, with the original’s angularity replaced by a hefty rolling break in much of the tune. Abrupt switch ups give the tune much of it’s character alongside a spooky lead echoing around the upper echelons of the track.

Over on the flip the too team up to deliver a hefty stepper with bass stabs and sweeps knocking down the doors left, right and centre while the beat drives the tune steadily forward. Despite the varied bassline the tune treads a fine path, never descending into the hyperactive ADD territory that some tracks occupy. Watch out for these two dropping May 5th at all good digital outlets!