Cern – Hollow Moon VIP [Dispatch Recordings]

After a bit of a hiatus, Dispatch return with the fourth instalment of their Dispatch Dubplate series and this time it’s Cern on the buttons. As per previous releases in the series there are some new VIPs and one vinyl exclusive track, with Hollow Moon and Tiamat both getting the VIP treatment and new Mayhem collaboration Hydraulic on the wax for the vinyl buyers.

As you’d expect from Dispatch and Cern the EP features three tracks of rugged techstep, with a nice balance between bassline scuzz and atmosphere. If you haven’t yet snapped up a copy you should move fast – pre-orders are already flying out of the door via the Dispatch Store and Redeye.

Theme – Scenes 1-4 EP [Samurai Red Seal]

Berlin-based producer Theme returns to Samurai Music after a popular release on their Horo imprint with a new EP blending halftime D&B with elements of dub techno, and the results are pretty stunning. Shimmering synth progressions, reverb drenched snares and a muted yet euphoric vibe characterise the tunes, and the compositions really draw you into the abstract world of their creator via a hypnotic, enveloping array of sonics.

While words like “hypnotic” and “meditation” get thrown around willy-nilly when discussing electronica that draws on ambience or floaty synths, these descriptions seem entirely fitting here. What exactly Theme is meditating on via these tracks is probably known only to him, but the body of work certainly carries a serene, thoughtful aesthetic which isn’t common in drum & bass…but then to many this isn’t drum & bass, and isn’t really trying to be either. The overall tone certainly shares more in common with dub techno, though the tempo and drum structures give away the influence of 85/170BPM music, call it what you will.

Pointless chin stroking regarding “true genre” aside, Scenes 1-4 is a breathtaking selection of tracks and one of the best attempts we’ve heard recently at the kind of musical zen producers of Theme’s ilk endeavour to create. Check out the clips below and lose yourself in it all…then head over to the Samurai Store and grab a copy on vinyl or digital, out right now.

If you want more from Theme, be sure to check out his mix for the Samurai Podcast below; 58 minutes of dubbed out halftime selections.

Brandon Miles & Tricky Pat – Crazy Pills EP [Faded Music]

US duo Brandon Miles & Tricky Pat bring their experimental stylings to Faded Music with a four track EP of genre-bending 85/170BPM business. Hints of IDM, hip-hop, jungle, juke and a general taste for all things ravey have been chucked into the sonic blender and the results are chaotic, unpredictable and generally really good fun.

Particular highlights come on the sludged-out, crunked up, gurn-inducingly bassy halftime hip-hop of Get Em’ and the irresistibly hyperactive rave-up of Memory Shot. Check out the clips below and grab the release from your favourite digital store right now!

Future Ghost & Tim Reaper – Back To Basics [Guangzhou Underground]

Guangzhou Underground impressed us a few months ago with a ruffneck jungle remix from Tim Reaper and their latest release sees Tim back in action going head to head with Future Ghost.

The aforementioned Ghost provides the first two tracks, serving up a smooth, vibesy hip-hop-infused roller with an infectious groove on 139 and Lennox before heading for more melancholy territory on the deep and thoughtful Truant Muse.

Reaper lives up to his usual stylings in the back end of the EP, bringing junglist breaks and plenty of lush soundscapes on 220 to 319. If you’re looking for a smooth ride the original mix might float your boat, but for us it’s all about the frantic break chopping of the chaotic VIP. Check out the clips below and hit up Beatport to snag the tracks right now.

Premiere: Red Army – Yergacheffe

Those of you with a taste for the dark, brooding halftime style of drum & bass pushed by the likes of Amit over the past few years should already be familiar with Red Army. Hailing from Sacremento, James Fuhring has been racking up releases for the likes of Dust Audio and Onset for some time and his latest work heads up the esteemed Translation Recordings’ new EP, Bassment Beats Vol. 2.

Packing some serious bassweight, driving kick drums and a fantastic progressive groove, we’re proud to present the premiere of Yergacheffe! Check it out below and keep your eyes and ears on the Translation pages for more clips going live ahead of the August 24th release.

Dark Soul – Stay Behind You [Kill Tomorrow]

Danish neurofunk label Kill Tomorrow dish up their latest release from Dark Soul, and while it’s not the most innovative slice of D&B you’ll hear this year the tracks have power and groove in abundance. Stay Behind You is full-on, balls-out, neuro tearer business. Stomping business on this one!

Over on the flip Complete takes things deeper with a rolling break, deep sub and some tasty percussion fills, keeping the energy high but backing off the bassline gas a little. Check out the clips below and grab this from your favourite digital outlet right now.

Calibre – Fourfit EP 4 [Soul:R]

The fourth in Soul:R’s excellent Fourfit EP series comes from the mighty Calibre, and he brings a fine selection of dancefloor oriented rollers that lean towards the darker end of his sound. Bogeyman Bullshit leads the charge with a simple but effective combo of rolling breaks and wobbly bass, in that classic stripped-back style that the maestro does so well. Next up, Marcus Intalex & Bricktop get in on the action, serving up a beautiful moody roller in the form of Smother.

Multitasking ups the menace level with a healthy layer of distortion on the bassline and a more angular break. Dream of You serves up the EP’s surprise track, and possibly its best, a playful, dubbed out slice of halftime with hordes of reverb drenched character and sonic detail. Tasty stuff! Check out the clips below and hit up the Soul:R Bandcamp to grab it on vinyl or digital now.

The Re:Birth EP [Utopia Music]

Utopia Music have had something of a hiatus recently (probably due in no small part to Mako’s extensive work with other labels) but the label is back with a new EP and for the first time they’re going digital only. According to the press release the previous strict vinyl-only release policy is now being relaxed to try and get more of the label’s signings out into the world, so expect to see more digital releases over the coming months.

As usual from the Utopia Camp the tunes are all top quality, but the vibes are even deeper than usual, with the imprint making it’s first forays into halftime D&B. Hydro, War & Mateba go in on 87 with some pretty spooky synths over a chunky back beat, while Coerce serves up floaty, almost ambient business on Merkava.

Israeli producer PLK switches things up with a chunky slice of angular D&B with a techy edge, leaving it to label boss Mako to close things out with a blissful “ReDub” of Sunchase’s previous release for Utopia, Nathennia. The track lives up to it’s name, being entirely dubby and almost entirely unrecognisable from the original.

You can grab these right now from the Utopia store, and if you want more Utopian vibes be sure to check out Hydro & War’s brand new mix for our exclusive mix series!

Soul Intent – Wanna Fight EP [Commercial Suicide]

Commercial Suicide are back and that means (among other things) another amusingly spurious press release! This time Klute would have us believe that Soul Intent produced the EP “entirely on a Kindle in his tent on a mountainside using the latest in solar energy technology”. I think we’ll assume that’s a bit of a fib.

Klute’s sense of humour aside, the EP offers three solid and entirely distinct tracks worthy of any discerning fan’s attention. Funk Lick kicks off the EP with a stripped back tech stepper with (you guessed it…) a hint of funk, while Move Your Body opts for blissful melodies set to chaotic amen-chopping that is reminiscent of classic drumfunk and even older jungle in equal measure.

Last up, Soul Intent teams up with Chromatic for a big, nasty slab of bass led dancefloor filth for the titular Wanna Fight. Hopefully it’ll inspire bassface and rowdiness on the dancefloor without actually initiating any punch ups! Check out the clips below and hit up the Commercial Suicide bandcamp to grab it on digital right now. There’s also a promo mix from the man himself (embed below the clips) featuring some suitably rolling selections.

DNB Dojo Mix Series 18: Hydro & War

MixSeries18_Hydro_War

For the latest in our exclusive mix series we’re extremely excited to welcome Utopia Music’s Hydro & War to the DNB Dojo decks. The boys have crafted a fantastic mix spanning rolling techstep, deep halftime, downtempo, hip-hop ambient and even a little jazz. We hope you’ll all enjoy the varied selections as much as we do!

No tracklist on this one but be sure to listen out for Hydro, War & Mateba’s latest cut for Utopia, 87, and forthcoming Hydro, Habstrakt, War & Mateba cut The New Age (again out on Utopia very soon).

As usual you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Mixcloud, Hearthis.at or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Dropbox.