Phace – Shape The Random [Neosignal]

Following on from last month’s sampler release, Phace’s brand new LP Shape The Random is upon us! Featuring 14 new tracks from the German neurofunk mastermind, the album stays true to the signature Phace sound but still manages to throw in a few surprises.

Empty Talk yields the first of those, achieving the same kind of high energy that his tracks are known for via a relentless staccato rhythm. Emphasis here lies in the sub and highs, mostly eschewing the aggressive midrange that has become somewhat predictable across the neurofunk style. The album’s single collab provides another surprise; with Mefjus in the studio one might have expected a tearout banger, but The Mothership proves to be a creepy, suspense laden exercise in relative minimalism, packing a punch but exploring unusual percussion and FX over sheer aggression.

There’s still plenty of space for the precision, high impact neurofunk Phace has become well known for, as evidenced by the likes of Fraktal TotalBite The Edge and the titular Shape The Random to name but a few. Exit Plan rounds the album off nicely with a another punchy, groove-laden and faintly robotic track. Phace remains at the top of his game and the cutting edge of the scene! Check out the clips below and pick up the album from the Neosignal bandcamp now!

Soul:Motion/Modu – Remixes [Inform Records]

The latest release for Inform Records sees Tokalosh and Soul:Motion on remix duties, reworking two tracks from the previous Summer Selection EP Vol. 2It’s tough to pick between the two tracks, both proving worthy deep liquid rollers, but Soul:Motion’s remix of Why We Make Mistakes narrowly edges it out as the Dojo favourite; effortless vibes. Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite digital store now!

Quentin Hiatus – Passive Boycot EP [Translation Recordings]

When two of the most innovative names in US D&B get together, you know you’re in for a treat! The latest release on Translation Recordings comes courtesy of Free Love Digi bossman and general 170BPM badman Quentin Hiatus, who regular readers probably already know we’re big fans of.

Melting down glitch, techstep, footwork, soul and more into the pot, QH comes correct with an eclectic selection that should be capable of moving both your feet and your braincells. The EP explores the slow/fast thing the likes of Om Unit have been pushing, playing with the shuffling half-time D&B pattern across a variety of tonal palettes.

The ultra-insistent, hyper-syncopated conga drums of Obsessive Nature and the swaggering bassline shenanigans of Keep It Gangster stand out as highlights among a strong four track selection which you can hear below. Hit up the Translation Bandcamp to pre-order now, and look for this one dropping at all good digital outlets from March 16th.

Fracture x Chimpo – From Early / Hard Food [Metalheadz]

Leftfield D&B innovators Fracture & Chimpo land on the mighty ‘headz imprint with a fresh new 12″ showcasing their unusual take on the 170 sound. From Early taps into the swaggering half-time sound with more than a hint of LA bass, but for us at the Dojo it’s all about the old school stylings and fantastic drum work of Hard Food. Check out the clips below and head to the Metalheadz store to pre-order a copy now, with full release due from March 16th.

Friction Vs. Volume 2 [Shogun Audio]

Shogun Audio present the second of the Friction Vs. series and this time the label boss has teamed up with Icicle and Technimatic for two fresh new collabs. Crucifix yields a slab of weighty dancefloor neurofunk which won’t win any prizes for innovation but will certainly shake down your bass bins more than adequately.

Floating Frames is the real star here though; insistent, melodic, and euphoric without becoming outright cheese, showing Technimatic’s mastery of the deep liquid roller. Check out the clips below and look for this on vinyl and digital from March 15th.

Marso & Gala – Promise / Monochrome [Blu Mar Ten Music]

Blu Mar Ten welcome a pair of fresh new talents to their ever expanding roster with a new single from Siberian duo Marso & Gala. Promise kicks things off with massive, sweeping, Vangelis-style synths that lead an airy composition set at 170BPM but bearing little in common with most D&B. Gala’s vocals drift effortlessly over the mix, icing a lush cake drenched in ambience and style.

Monochrome drops the tempo to dubstep territory but once again eschews genre tropes in favour of more shimmering melodies and atmospherics. Gala takes a slightly more prominent role this time, with warmer bass driving the tune onwards under her rich, soaring, reverb-drenched vocals. Check out the clips below and look for this at your favourite digital store now.

Icicle – Entropy Live

icicle-LIVEONLY-portrait

Icicle is teaming up with Skittles to take a new project on the road called Entropy Live which promises to be something a bit different from the average DJ set. The man himself describes it as follows:

Entropy Live is based on hardware, controllers, live synthesis, sequencing and analogue mixing. There is no digital audio workstation involved and I cannot simply press play and take a step back. Sonically the show is a re-imagining of my album Entropy with some additional music from my earlier career and live improvisations. I think this show is about technical excellence as much as it is about depth, and Skittles is the embodiment of that sentiment holding a microphone.

Check out a teaser for the tour below and hit up Icicle’s website for tour dates across Europe over the next few months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCltupm5R6Q

Classic Track: Rawthang – Scorned

We’re digging in the BSE Recordings vaults again for today’s classic track selection, Rawthang’s 2003 neuro epic Scorned. Featuring the haunting vocal talents of Kari Rueslatten and an utterly infectious trancey lead line set to some pretty menacing breaks and a bit chunky reese bassline, this is golden-era sci-fi neurofunk at it’s best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2RfPdt2_Io

Djrum – Plantain [Samurai Red Seal]

Samurai Music continue the relaunch of their trio of labels with a new single from Djrum on Red Seal. Samurai’s expansion beyond the confines of traditional D&B and into the wider worlds of electronica seems set to continue, with the tracks on this single melting down the merest hints of jungle into a sonic pot alongside a plethora of other influences to create something almost impossible to pigeon-hole.

Plantain brings together ethereal soundscapes, hewn from soft strings and mournful vocal samples, with constantly evolving percussion lines which at once seem quite junglist in heritage and on the other hand are anything but. The unusual combination of sounds bring to mind some of DJ Shadow’s best work, albeit without the hip-hop shine.

The rather obtusely titled What I Was Doing When I Was Doing What I Was Doing ups the tempo somewhat, with more insistent yet unusual drumwork layered under a tapestry of weird samples and spaced out atmospheres. The detail present in both tracks is incredible, with every crackly edit and drum hit seeming perfectly and lovingly placed. As usual Samurai can be counted on to push the envelope in exciting and unusual directions, unconcerned with genre tropes or mainstream popularity. Check out the clips below and grab this one from the Samurai Store now!