Double Helix – Engine EP [Ammunition]

Austria’s Double Helix drops his latest neurofunk weapons for Ammunition Recordings, bringing two fierce new tracks to the table. As with previous releases this is high impact, precision tech D&B at its best; Engine leads the charge with some seriously meaty beats and bass while Deep Down switches things up to play with a shuffling drum pattern and ominous atmospherics.

Check out the clips below and cop this one from your favourite store right now. If you want more from Double Helix, be sure to check out his exclusive mix for DNB Dojo from last year too; tasty neurofunk goodness all the way.

Classic Track: Goldie – Timeless

Few producers would have the audacity to call a track Timeless. I’m sure at the time many saw Goldie’s vision as naive, even arrogant, but Timeless has proved to be exactly that; 20 years on from its original release the 20 minute opus is just as breathtaking as it has ever been. Drum & Bass at it’s most epic and cleverly arranged, and still punchy and beautiful despite the obviously 90s production style.

If you’re not already a firm fan of the album this heads up you should be able to find a copy on CD easily enough; better still you can see Goldie performing it live with the Heritage Orchestra in London this July. Between now and then sit back and soak in arguably the best track from one of the genre’s true innovators.

Spirit – Life Goes On / 107 [Blu Mar Ten Music]

Spirit is a name you should already be more than familiar with. A constant and innovative presence in the scene for nearly 20 years, both as a solo artist and with regular production partner Digital, Spirit’s productions are as varied as they are plentiful and that looks set to continue based on the strength of this release.

Life Goes On drops in with a playful acid bassline that bucks all the current trends for both liquid and tech D&B, bringing a classic sound but taking it in an unusual direction. 107 goes deeper, powered along by shimmering synths, growling bass yawns and a distinctive ratcheting drum break; this is one to get lost in. Both tracks have that crisp engineering that only experience can bring, and should prove rewarding at home or on the dancefloor.

Check out the clips below and hit up the Blu Mar Ten store to pre-order this one now ahead of the April 13th release.

MachineCode – Airlock EP [Subsistenz]

MachineCode (aka Current Value & Subsistenz boss Dean Rodell) are back with another EP of tough edged, technoid D&B blending the groove of hard techno with the savage bass of neurofunk. The tracks on show here are all pretty belting but the rapid fire stabs and intense build up of Forward Gravity mark it out as the Dojo favourite. Check the clips below and grab this one from all good stores now!

RoyGreen & Protone – Warman [Demand Records]

RoyGreen & Protone touch down on Demand Records with a new EP showcasing varied sounds within the 170BPM spectrum. Lead track Warman blends together ragga vocals and a tough half-time drum rhythm for something a bit tougher than the duos usual stylings; this one is sure to get a few rewinds in the dance.

Homeground proves to be a nice little roller straddling the territory between tech and liquid; melodic samples sit side by side with a warm, crunchy bassline providing a nice contrast. Last but not least Navarro ticks all the warm liquid boxes to close out the EP with a soulful jam. This one’s out today – hit up the Demand Store to grab a copy on vinyl or digital.

Redpine & Solo – The Smoke City EP [Studio Rockers]

Leeds based duo Redpine & Solo serve up a new EP for Studio Rockers blending influences from Future Garage, Jungle and beyond. Title track Smoke City blends classic break chopping with cinematic elements and a distinctive vocal line for a tasty track with tons of contrast, while Stay True drops the tempo and lightens the tone for a breakbeat garage workout that’s more than a little infectious.

I Am Someone continues the broken beat cross-breeding on a track with a housey groove, while The Love drops things down even further for a downtempo/trip-hop type of vibe. All the tracks display an aptitude for composition and atmosphere which makes them well worthy of your attention – check out the clips below and look for the EP dropping at all good stores from April 14th.

Silent Witness – Black Raven EP [Triple Seed]

Silent Witness brings the fire once again on the latest release for his own Triple Seed Recordings imprint. Gutter Level and Black Raven provide crisp, rolling tech with tons of detail and plenty of bassweight, while Rising Sun amps up the melodies for a crisp liquid roller. Tasty stuff all round! Check out the clips below and hit up the Triple Seed store to grab the EP now.

Reso – Ricochet [Hospital]

Reso is an artist I’ve been keeping an eye on ever since I first heard his productions in the (then burgeoning) dubstep scene; his work stood out from the pack of 140BPM stuff for the detail of his tracks, with much more complexity than other tracks at the more tearout end of that genre’s spectrum. His early forays into D&B proved equally as exciting, and his apparently permanent move into the higher tempo realm has already yielded some excellent releases.

Thus we arrive at Reso’s second LP which dropped last week on Tony Colman’s esteemed Hospital imprint, and a varied treat it is too! The first thing that stands out about the tracks on Ricochet is the drum work; the precision, detail and impact on the percussion across the entire album is absolutely unbelievable. Debates about the best drums in D&B are sure to have a fresh contender to the throne.

Stylistically the material feels like a continuation of the themes and sounds that Reso has been playing with for nearly a decade now, but with a confidence to explore softer tones alongside the stomping material. Compared to the relatively relentless bassweight of Tangram, there’s more variety to be found here, with the different tones bound together effectively via the incredible drum programming.

Highlights come on the soaring arpegiated melodies of What Is, the deep chiming IDM-esque drumfunk of Echo Loss and sublime album opener Taiga, with monstrous heavy hitters like Move It and The Blob punctuating the more melodic material perfectly. Simply put, this is an LP I can find little fault with. Check out the previews below and head to the Hospital Shop to grab a copy on CD, vinyl or digital now!

Classic Track: Lynx – 5am Soul City

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Today’s classic track selection comes from Lynx on his own (now sadly dormant) Detail Recordings imprint. Released in 2011 as the flip to the altogether darker Dirty Red5am Soul City lives up to it’s name with a deep and melancholy vibe set to a crisp, rolling break. If Drum & Bass were to play the Blues it would sound like this!

Inertia / Ghost Palace [Blendits]

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Rotterdam-based imprint Blendits return with possibly their most varied release to date featuring four fresh new tracks from up and coming producers in the scene. Chromatic kick things off with grimey tech roller Inertia that hits the ground at a hefty pace with a catchy bass riff and tight, funky drum lines. Bredren & Philth keep things moving along at pace on Ghost Palace, taking the vibe deeper with booming sub and creepy atmospherics.

Le Tricolore changes the vibe completely, bringing the melodies to the fore on a liquid beat built on cheeky melodic flourishes and soaring pads. Last but not least Bredren close things out on an experimental tip with the sparse, melancholy halfstep of Passing Period. One for the deep heads! Check out the clips below and look for this on vinyl and digital from April 13th.