Tag Archives: Halfstep

Alchemic Breaks 001

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Apparently running three D&B labels and finding time to produce and DJ just wasn’t enough for Leeds-based D&B obsessive Altered Perception, as we’ve just gotten wind of a brand new imprint from the Terabyte/Transmission/Sub:mission boss in the form of Alchemic Breaks. Judging from the first release the label’s MO will be focussing on the deeper and more experimental side of D&B, with minimal stylings at play throughout the tracks.

Jaydrop serves up a tidy slice of tribal half-step business on Camo, while Transmission/Terabyte alumnus Automate brings the dark drumfunk vibes on the appropriately titled Breaksrus. Xsetra delivers the EPs heaviest hitting track with a showering of hard kicks and snares set to a backdrop of warping bass modulations, while Mystic State and Hidden Life team up to close the EP with the dub and IDM-tinged vibes of glacial halfstep number Defrost. Check out the clips below and watch out for the release dropping at all good digital stores from November 22nd.

Lakeway – Arroyo / Things You Say [E-Motion Records]

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Lakeway returns to E-Motion with more punchy, experimental 170BPM beats following the success of his excellent Digital Serotonin single for the label earlier this year. Arroyo kicks things off with a dark, futuristic vibe and a precise, heavy hitting beat; the kicks and snares really pop, and the unusual rhythm drives the track nicely.

Things You Say meanwhile channels influences from hip-hop and LA bass on the intro before dropping into a minimal drum workout with rapid hats and tons of syncopation. Fans of Stray’s recent hip-hop and footwork infused beats will definitely enjoy this one. Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite digital store now!

ArpXP – Seems Like [Absys Records]

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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!

Vromm – Prototype EP [31 Recordings]

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After a period of quiet for some three years Doc Scott’s 31 Recordings is back in full swing, and since last year the label has released a solid stream of great new music. The latest EP release comes from Vromm, the new solo project from one member of eclectic electronic collective Various Production.

The beats on show here carry a deep, dark, tribal quality; while they were clearly designed with big soundsystems in mind, there’s a definite “Room 2” vibe to the tracks. Intricate percussion, deftly crafted atmosphere and weighty groove define the EP through and through, and fans of the output on labels like Samurai Music and Nurtured Beatz are sure to lap this one up too. The EP is out now; check out the clips below and grab a copy from your favourite outlet.

You can also check out a guest mix from Vromm for KMag below, featuring tracks from the EP alongside beats from the likes of Dub Phizix, Gremlinz and Ink. Deeper beats!

Enorme – Stoneface [None Decay Music]

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Blackdub Sessions host and all around bass badman Enorme makes his debut on None Decay Music with the hefty, tribal sounds of Stoneface. Fans of the halfstep sound are in for a treat here, with a deep, detailed riddim and a huge wall of sub bass providing the backdrop for a plethora of little sonic details.

On the flip, Mystic State up the ante with a slightly more insistent refix, swapping the plodding half-time beats for a tasty stepper’s break. The essence of the original remains intact, but the duo have monkeyed around with the elements enough to keep things interesting. This one dropped today so head to your favourite digital store and grab it now.

For anyone wanting a bit more from Enorme you can hear his fine selections every Tuesday evening 19.30-21.30 GMT/BST on UK Bass Radio. Head over here for a Soundcloud archive of previous shows.

Fuj – Terror Firmer / Pressure Plates (Remixes) [AutomAte Deep]

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Automate Deep return with a bit of tasty remix pressure as Dexta and Mtwn rework Fuj’s tunes from his previous release for the label. The Diffrent boss kicks things off with a half-time refix of Terror Firmer, all stomp and growl with an insistent riddim and bassline modulations taking centre stage against a backdrop of reverbed atmos and FX sprinkles.

Mtwn step up for the B side with a deep, dark re-imagining of Pressure Plates, stripping the tune back to it’s basic elements and working it into a twisted, dubby vibe with off kilter percussion landing left, right and centre. Check out the clips below and watch out for this one dropping at all good digital outlets from July 7th.

EP.2 [Blind Music]

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Blind Music continue their anonymous sonic experiment with three more slabs of 170BPM goodness and no clue as to who’s been pressing the buttons. BLND#4 pushes the boundaries of the 170 sound with a stomping half-time beat, ominous pads and a catchy vocal sample. BLND#5 takes things tribal with more ominous synths, dark sub bass and an insistent riddim. Finally BLND#6 heads for glitchy, minimal territory with idiosyncratic percussion and some great sampling.

Check out the beats below and pick up the release from Bandcamp now.

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Sam KDC – Survive / Exist [Samurai Red Seal]

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Samurai Music steal Sam KDC away from ASC’s Auxiliary imprint for a 12″ on their Red Seal arm and as usual it’s a treat. Deep, dubby vibes and plenty of crackly atmosphere pervade the tracks; a lazy description of “Burial makes 170” is tempting, but while apt doesn’t really do the tunes justice. Burial with more punch, perhaps, particularly on the more energetic B-side Erogenous.

As usual the release will be served up on wax for the vinyl collectors out there, with this particular release featuring excellent artwork from the talented Petra Zhivkova. Check out the clips below and watch out for the release dropping from March 17th.

Amit – The Parallel EP [AMAR]

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Amit presents the second release on his own AMAR imprint, once again teaming up with Rani for vocal duties and presenting his signature style at both 170 and 140. I’ll Cut You Down treads a similar path to Human Warfare, with chunky half-step beats and tons of atmosphere, while Mr Clark goes dark and hypnotic, combining heavy sub, an old school reese lead and intricate, syncopated percussion.

On the flip side the 140 tunes come out, beginning with the classic dub sounds of Your Native God. Horns, sirens and sub are all in full effect here but the whole thing still has that signature Amit creepiness. Fans of The Bug’s King Midas Sound project should enjoy this one. Last but not least, Daaku strips things back to the bare essentials and gets that old school lead back on the go for a tidy slice of modern dubstep.

Check out the clips below and watch out for this one dropping on vinyl and digital from March 3rd.

Jaquan – Telepath [Free Download]

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When the likes of Om Unit, Doc Scott and Fracture are giving you props you know you’re doing something right. That’s the case for Jaquan, who’s latest freebie Telepath shows an aptitude for the kind of heavy hitting halfstep that has been rocking dark basement rooms in the D&B scene for the last few years.

The tune is a masterclass in hefty yet simple bass and intricate percussion, and is moody and deadly in equal measure. Check it out and grab yourself a free download below.