Monthly Archives: March 2015

Seba – Nothing Can Replace / Too Much Too Soon (Remixes) [Secret Operations]

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Secret Operations returns and this time Seba has recruited John B and Blu Mar Ten for remix duties on tracks from 2013’s Identity LP. The former turns in a big bouncy dancefloor relick of Nothing Can Replace. Gone are the slightly 80s sounding synths of the original in favour of warm bass stabs and a pretty infectious hook.

Blu Mar Ten opt for a less drastic shift of tone for Too Much Too Soon, turning in a trademark deep liquid roller that captures the essence of the original (mainly thanks to the unusual vocals) while switching up the melodies enough to make it their own. Check out the clips below and look out for this one dropping on vinyl and digital very soon!

Cirrus – Dark Skies EP [Alchemic Breaks]

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Alchemic Breaks cement their reputation for quality, forward thinking beats with a fresh new EP from Terra Null Recordings boss Cirrus. The Dark Skies EP lives up to its name, with all four tracks bringing ominous, foreboding vibes with dark textures and plenty of atmosphere.

All four tracks are well worth a listen, from the punchy drums of of Dark Skies through the skittering glitches and rich, throbbing bass of Lost In The Desert. The Hannibal-sampling Ugly Variables proves the standout track, with it’s mix of perfectly programmed drums and spooky vocal clips, leaving Wind Like This to close the EP with something slightly more melodic.

Cirrus and Alchemic Breaks and definitely both on our “to watch” list for this year on the strength of this release! Check out the clips below and grab the release from your favourite digital store from Mar 16th.

Boston – Catch Your Breath / For Grace [Symmetry]

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Young Welsh producer Boston touches down for his second single on Symmetry Recordings with two slices of impeccable deep liquid. Taking the energy and melody back a couple of notches compared to his excellent label debut, both tracks exhibit the flair and musicality which makes Boston such a rare and exciting talent.

Catch Your Breath is an exercise in understatement; resisting the temptation to over-egg the elements, the bass is warm but not too aggressive, the melody poignant but subtle, and the breaks simple but effective. Jazzy licks round off a super deep slice of liquid brilliance. Over on the flip, For Grace takes the energy up a couple of notches for a more playful, less contemplative track with more warm bass and beautiful guitar work. D&B for a jazz bar perhaps? Beautiful either way. Check out the clips below and grab this from March 9th via the Symmetry Store.

DLR – Seeing Sounds [Dispatch Recordings]

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The wait is finally over – DLR’s debut solo LP Seeing Sounds has arrived, and it’s every bit as good as I’d hoped it would be! Having deliberately avoided listening to the preview clips I sat down with the full LP for a start-to-finish listen, and I wasn’t even remotely disappointed.

Understandably enough, this record feels like a spiritual successor to Octane & DLR’s 2012 LP Method In The Madness. The same cinematic sampling and atmosphere is present, as is the sonic detail and creativity. DLR’s sound has been refined further over the past three years, and the album seems less bent on complexity for complexity’s sake; the emphasis seems to have shifted slightly towards groove and weight over technicality, and the compositions really shine for that emphasis.

Above all else this is a record that firmly injects the funk back into the techstep sound, from the playful basslines of Charlie Brown and Break collab Human Error through the chunky lower tempo breakbeat workout of I Found Out and plenty more besides. There’s room for some surprises too, such as the melancholy liquid of Hydro collaboration Empyreal and the jazzed up tech of Minds Eye. There are also two fantastic MC-led steppers, with Gusto repping the mic on The Author and Fokus providing vocals on the politically minded Ask The Question.

Many of the LPs best tracks have been pressed loud and proud onto four slabs of that black crack we love so much, and having given them a thorough mix on the decks I’m happy to attest they all sound as tight and punchy as you’d expect from the Dispatch family. The vinyl releases are already sold out via the Dispatch Store, though the digital version is still available and the vinyl plates can all be picked up via Redeye.

The first couple of listens give me the distinct impression that this is an album which will grow and grow over the coming months while we wait with anticipation for DLR’s collaborative LP with Mako. Check out the clips below and go grab yourself a copy of what is undoubtedly one of the best D&B albums we’ll hear this year.

Impish – Friday [Blendits]

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Blendits are back and this time they’re bringing the liquid flavours with two new tracks from names that should be familiar to anyone who keeps an eye on the Fokuz release schedules. Impish brings a lush roller to the table in the form of Friday, combining crunchy bass and crisp beats with a cheeky selection of vocal cut-ups for a nice little outing with equal parts energy and soul.

Over on the flip production duo Soligen & Type-2 team up with vocalist Wednesday Amelia for another slick roller, amping up the melodic vibes to great effect. This one reminds me a lot of Naibu’s best work, with a great balance between the melodic elements and the tough beats and bass that drive the tune along. Check out the clips below and give the official video a watch – this one is out right now at all good digital stores.

Krakota – Ice Hands / Ghosts [Hospital Records]

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Hospital’s latest single sees Krakota stepping up to the plate with a pair of eminently dancefloor-worthy beats for Tony Colman’s well respected label. Ice Hands sees the relatively young producer tapping into the teched-up, hardstep sound that the likes of Evol Intent made famous on labels like Renegade Hardware circa-2005 – no messing around on this one!

Over on the flip Ghosts relaxes the tone for a subby jungle-tinged roller which brings to mind Bladerunner & Serum’s classic Who Jah Bless. Tidy selections! Check out the clips below and grab this one from the Hospital store right now!

AMIT – 4 Stories EP [AMAR]

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Fresh material from AMIT is always a treat, and a relatively rare one at that. The elusive producer seems content to buck the trend that sees many in the scene releasing new records as much as twice a month, preferring to bide his time and hone his craft, and the quality of his output is a fierce testament to that ethos.

As with the previous two releases this latest selection of beats comes via AMIT’s own AMAR imprint, and spans a variety of tempos while exploring his very distinctive sound. Hunted follows in the footsteps of Human Warfare and Killer Driller, blending ominous vocal samples and old school reese bass with a half-time gate and more than a hint of techno as the kick drums drive the tune on. Chalvey Town meanwhile brings a dub vibe to the table set over another techno-esque kick beat, bending the 170BPM tempo to his unusual template and sending it out to space.

Frequent vocal collaborator Rani pops up on Survivor, which sees the tempo drop to 140BPM and the tone back in haunting, creeped out territory. Last but not least, Mind Over stops the flirtation and jumps into techno territory with both feet, to great effect. Check out the clips below and look for the EP on vinyl and digital via the AMAR Bandcamp.

Nuage – Cloud Maps Vinyl Fundraiser

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Attention Nuage fans! Ever wished you could get your favourite tracks from the Russian producer on vinyl? Now’s your chance; Translation have launched a crowd funding campaign to press a triple LP featuring 12 of the most requested tracks from his back catalogue. Check out the video below and head over to IndieGogo for full details on how you can get involved!

Classic Album: Evol Intent – Era of Diversion

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It’s hard to believe that seven years have passed since US D&B legends Evol Intent dropped their debut LP Era Of Diversion. I remember the release vividly and still rinse out tracks like 8 Bit Bitch and Middle Of The Night regularly in my sets, and the album is still a fantastic listen from start to finish. Being the generous coves that they are, the trio are celebrating the album’s anniversary by giving away a download of the whole thing for nothing! You’ve got a week to take advantage so check out a stream below and head over here to grab a download.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iz_HSLwifE

Mystic State – Tactic Systems EP [Flexout Audio]

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Mystic State are back with a really varied EP for Flexout Audio showcasing the duos ample talents. The vocal talents of Lucy Kitchen open the EP over the beautiful melodies and deep atmospheres of Slip Away, a track which feels more aimed at the armchair than the dancefloor. Gremlinz collab Don’t Start switches the tone, heading for darker territory with Megatron MC on the mic.

Far Cry continues that trend with more weighty halftime shenanigans that ooze dark atmosphere. Last but not least, Faded heads back to warmer and more musical territory, with a playful back beat, hypnotic melodies and a hint of dub. It’s great to hear the duo pushing the envelope in terms of what the 170 sound can encompass! Check out the clips below and look for this at all good digital stores from Mar 30th.