Premiere: Gremlinz & Jesta – Confrontation Pt. II

Today’s exclusive comes from a special new project on Paradise Lost Recordings entitled The Gates of Charon. Featuring a mixture of D&B and experimental electronica, the album is billed as an original soundtrack and features a strong sci-fi concept, deftly weaved by a variety of producers including Fre4knc, HLZ, Survey, Boot, Rakoon, DYL and more.

For our premiere we picked gnarly amen banger Confrontation Pt. II from Canadian breakbeat heroes Gremlinz and Jesta. Short but sweet, the track builds atmosphere via terse sound designs before dropping into a frenzy of breakbeats, but as soon as that chaotic drop arrives it’s gone, as the track fades out and into the next part of the story. Check it out below and watch out for the album coming Jun 22nd. 

Continue reading

Displaced Paranormals – Secret Space LP [Inception Audio]

Displaced Paranormals have been moving from strength to strength this year with a nice remix for Counterpoint and a track featured on Renegade Hardware’s Final Chapter LP, and now they bring us their debut album on long standing partner label Inception Audio.

The first thing that stands out about the album is the atmosphere. From the very beginning the pace is gentle, and the soundscapes are detailed and stark; a big bag of dancefloor rollers this most certainly is not. The crew have recruited promising underground producers like No Rules, Torn and Picota & Kumbh to help them out, and the resulting twelve tracks carry a grimey, industrial edge, which drives along despite the comparitively relaxed beat structures.

Fans of the kind of moody halftime grooves found on Samurai Music, Ronin Ordinance and the like will find plenty to enjoy here, and the level of sound design and imagination puts this up there with the best producers in the scene. As an added bonus, they’ve given DNB Dojo an exclusive free track to celebrate the album’s release; check out Gremlinz collab Paradox below (download via Soundcloud or Google Drive) and hit up Juno to grab the full album right now.


Overlook – Smoke Signals [UVB-76]

In a new musical era where the “banger” single is king, it’s refreshing when an artist, especially a drum and bass artist, puts together an LP which is meant to be a cohesive work in itself, to be listened to in progression. In the case of Overlook’s new album, Smoke Signals, out last week on UVB-76, both the album as a whole and its individual tracks can be appreciated on multiple levels.

Smoke Signals accomplishes its cohesive LP structure because of a few key elements, most of which hearken back to the structure and styles of the late 90s and early 00s. First, there is a binding theme in the form of a horror movie motif. The album opens with a beatless ambient track full of almost industrial-sounding samples and spooky noises, and almost every track thereafter has direct dialog samples from horror movies or thrillers. The other binding theme is that of ambient or intelligent drum and bass beats and samples. Snare-heavy beats and amen breaks pervade every track, as well as one-off synth samples the like of which no one has heard since about 1998.

There is plenty of diversity in Smoke Signals as well, and Overlook even crosses genres fully throughout the LP. The album moves from old school ambient-style snare tracks like Out of the Unknown well into industrial territory with the very next track, Who Is this Who is Coming. Apparition, featuring Ruffhouse & Gremlins, is probably the most grinding track on the album, followed by more industrial-tinged beats with The Dream Unfolds. From there it launches right into the very jazzy, almost Mushroom Jazz-y Travelling Without Moving and Into the Night. 

By the end of the album, the listener will feel a very distinct mood but find him or herself going back over favorite tracks. It’s a triumph of both the LP and single formats, and a great look back at dark ambient drum and bass. Smoke Signals can be streamed or purchased on Bandcamp and Discogs.

Written by Layla Marino

Blog: (Dropping) Weird Science
Twitter/IG: @dropweirdsci

October Roundup

October has seen an unbelievably large amount of music land in the Dojo inbox, so we picked out our favourite of the pack of recent and shortly forthcoming releases. Read on for new beats from Seba, Stoner & Dotter Poison, Moresounds and more! Continue reading

Mystic State – Tactic Systems EP [Flexout Audio]

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.

Future Beats – The Album [31 Recordings]

The relaunch of Doc Scott’s 31 Recordings imprint has been the cause for much celebration across the scene, and the label’s output has been absolutely stellar. Rounding off 2014 in style, they’ve unveiled a massive 24 track compilation featuring artists from across the D&B spectrum, and frankly pretty much all of it is excellent.

The huge selection takes in half-time beats from Sinistarr and Ital Tek, future jungle from Moresounds, liquid rollers from Bungle and Calibre, rowdy techstep from SCAR and plenty more besides. Special mentions have to go out to the broody, militant syncopations of House of Lanterns’ Take Control, the ethereal atmospherics of Hidden Turn’s Dream of Tron and the bleepy, atmospheric vibes of Gremlinz Forlorn, but honestly the whole LP is of such a high standard that picking favourites is pretty tough. Check out clips of all the tracks below and head over to the 31 Recordings store to preorder the compilation on vinyl or digital now – the release drops on December 15th.

ArpXP – Seems Like [Absys Records]

Absys Records present their seventh vinyl release featuring new beats from ArpXP, Glyph and Gremlinz. ArpXP heads for warm, rolling liquid on the A side while the flip sees Glyph and Gremlinz on a militant half-step stomper with plenty of mean bass reverberations and creepy pads. The Belgian duo also turn in a cheeky digital freebie with more menacing bass and some nasty amen chop ups; dark business. Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite store now!

Forbidden Codes LP [117 Records]

For anyone who’s wondering what DJ Trace has been up to lately, it seems he’s been busy founding a new label in the form of 117 Records. Apparently having tired of the neuro sound he’d been championing for over a decade at DSCI4, he shut that label down and started 117 with a view to releasing a slew of music from producers who have been harnessing a more old school sound in combination with modern production techniques.

The label’s latest output is an absolutely gigantic LP featuring D&B and Jungle cuts which are dark and at times techy but definitely a shade different to the neurofunk sounds that defined DSCI4. The two LP bundles available are split between 8 tracks in a vinyl only bundle (available at Redeye here) consisting of 4 limited edition clear 10″s, and a 24 track digital bundle.

Particular highlights from the vinyl bundle come on from Kid Lib with the manic jungle syncopations of The Rifle, Gremlinz & Homemade Weapons absolutely menacing Scar-H and the equally brutal roll of Genotype’s aptly titled Aggression Snare. The digital bundle meanwhile plays host to some treats such as the hyperactive amen cut ups of X Nation’s remix of Trace’s Never Felt This Way, the distinctly old skool stabs and breaks of Fade’s Phobia and Trace and Nico’s clattering Monkeys.

The whole LP is well worth a listen so check out the clips on Soundcloud and pick your own favourites.

Gremlinz & Ahmad – Nibiru / The Orchard [Paradox Music]

Paradox Music return with an unusual release – their first 12″ to feature music from artists other than Paradox since 2010’s PM020 (featuring Equinox on the flip). Toronto badman Gremlinz teams up with new name Ahmad to provide two rough and tough slices of dark jungle.

Nibiru gets straight down to business with heavy hitting breaks, meaty sub and old school stabs – this is a beat crafted via years worshipping at the school of Photek, positively oozing 90s D&B soul. Over on the flip The Orchard trades in the full tempo breaks for a kick driven half-time beat punctuated with distorted amens and reverb heavy toms, while bass growls and haunting synths slither in and out of the mix.

As usual the release will be available on a beautiful limited edition vinyl pressing and the standard digital formats – watch out for this one dropping from December 9th.

 

Dream Thief 4 LP [Horizons]

Horizons gear up to launch the 4th in their varied Dream Thief LP series, featuring a selection of cuts from the extended label family crossing the styles of drum & bass. Highlights include Amoss’ excellent MC led stepper Bleed It, DLR’s melodic yet techy Trading Places and the percussive intricacies of The Shield from Gremlinz & Rumbleton.

Elsewhere on Detail delivers possibly the most innovative track in the collection with his sublimely creepy Human Trust; glitchy percussion, deft sub throbs and some fantastic atmospherics combine to create a brilliant slice of leftfield 170. Finally for those who like a bit of deep liquid there are some nicely polished cuts from Eveson, Naibu and Nitri.

Vinyl lovers will find the LP available as a 4 track sampler and a further 8 track LP collection, while the digital buyers amongst you will be able to grab the files from all the usual sources. Check out a selection of the tracks below and head to the Horizons Store for previews of the rest and to buy your copy!