DNB Dojo Mix Series 49: ConVuse

Austrian DJ ConVuse steps up to the Dojo decks for our latest exclusive mix! As co-founder of the Sound In Motion promotion crew, ConVuse has been bringing the vibes to the scene around Gmunden/Vöcklabruck/Salzkammergut since 2010, booking the likes of Phace, Mefjus and Octane & DLR and throwing some of the country’s best parties.

For his Dojo mix Stefan has dug deep with a selection of rolling beats spanning tech and liquid styles with tracks from the likes of LSB, S.P.Y, Phentix and Spectrasoul. Classic D&B vibes! You can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.

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Break – 10 Years of Symmetry

When you think across the biggest names in the scene, it’s hard to find one both as well regarded and as prolific as Break. The Symmetry boss somehow manages to churn out a breathtaking quantity of originals and remixes, all possessing his trademark crisp drums, warm but punchy basslines and organic musical flourishes. If there were an award for the hardest working man in D&B, we’re pretty sure it would go to Break every year without fail.

This year sees him celebrating 10 years of Symmetry Recordings and for the occasion he’s put together a cracking new LP of material featuring collabs with many of the label’s familiar faces and some solo material to boot. Alongside big, stomping slices of dancefloor tech like Total Science collab Betamax and solo cut Ain’t No Turning Back there’s space for a take on the 20/20 sound on Inside (written with Spectrasoul), a reggae infused roller on Overdub and a couple of distinctly jungle-tinged beats like the cracking closing track Not Forgotten.

While none of the tracks here are particularly breaking the mould or pushing the envelope, the love, care, and detail that’s gone into their production shines through and the presence and vibe is absolutely undeniable; another fine album from a scene legend at the top of his game. Check out the clips (and a wicked 30 min promo mix) below and hit up the Symmetry store to grab a copy right now!

Competition: Win Tickets to Shogun Audio Leeds!

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Shogun Audio hit Leeds later this month with a huge lineup of label favourites and special guest Culture Shock, and we’ve got two tickets to give away! To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is like the DNB Dojo Facebook page and send an email to competitions@dnbdojo.co.uk with your name and the subject line “Shogun Audio Competition”. We’ll draw the winner on Thursday Oct 27th – good luck!

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March Roundup Part Two

As another fortnight slips away it’s time for another roundup of the best of the rest from the Dojo inbox. Read on for fresh releases from SpectraSoul, Philth, Quentin Hiatus, Dead Man’s Chest and more… Continue reading

10 Years of Shogun Audio

Friction’s Shogun Audio are celebrating 10 years in style with a massive bundle of new tunes. The 10 Years compilation features brand new beats alongside remixes of some Shogun classics, and comes in a beautiful six piece vinyl box set.

Dancefloor tech is well represented among the new tracks with beats from Icicle & Prolix, Friction, Joe Ford and Fourward all bringing the hard and nasty vibes. There’s also rolling liquid from LSB and Technimatic, a new genre bender from Rockwell and something a little unusual from Spectrasoul in the form of Ben. On the remix front, Spor’s anthemic Aztec gets a pretty hyperactive rework from Calyx & Teebee, Aliz Perez and Spectrasoul get the liquid refix treatment from Calibre and Etherwood respectively, and Fourward turn in a chunky new mix of Dark Days. Last but by no means least, Total Science & S.P.Y bring us a new VIP of another back catalogue fave – 2010’s Gangsta.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the set also includes a poster, stickers, 3 CDs and a DVD; the CDs provide the new tracks in digital form, a selection of classics from the Shogun back catalogue and a fresh mix from Friction, while the DVD features a 10 Years documentary. There are only 500 copies of the full bundle available so head over to the Shogun Audio store pronto if you want to bag one, or save your wallet and grab the CD or digital package.

Way of the Warrior 2 LP [Shogun Audio]

After the success of 2011’s Way of the Warrior LP, Shogun return with another installment and 12 new tracks spanning the D&B spectrum. DLR brings us soulful vibes with a techy undertone and some superb percussion on Sleep Talk, and Rockwell and Joe Ford vie for position with Fourward and Mefjus to see who can turn in the dirtiest neuro belter!

Elsewhere on the LP Spectrasoul, Total Science and Technimatic serve up some smooth liquid rollers and Friction gets on the remix for Addison Groove and Sam Binga turning in a trap-infused rework of RZOR. Something for D&B heads of all tastes here. Check out the beats below and watch out for the release from November 10th.

Spectrasoul – Delay No More – The Remixes [Shogun Audio]

Spectrasoul - Delay No More - The Remixes

Shogun bring us another eclectic selection of remixes, this time of tracks from Spectrasoul’s recent LP Delay No More. dBridge delivers a respectable leftfield 170 rework of Momento with some nice filtering on the main break and James Zabiela delivers an appropriately catchy house reflex of The Curb, but ultimately the highlights are found in the other remixes on show.

DLR turns in a tidy remix of Sometimes We Lie, fusing the soulful elements of the original with a beat and bassline combo that’s techy enough to move a floor without overpowering the tune. Next up the ever innovative Rockwell gives Echo Park the glitched up trap/juke/hip-hop treatment, creating a fantastic blend of synth euphoria, hip-hop back beat and hench bass stabs. Methinks Mr Rockwell has been listening to a lot of EPROM lately, not that it’s a bad thing!

Lastly CMX (nee Commix) turns in a superbly weird rework of Away With Me, dropping the tempo way down and creating a break from distinctly unconventional samples. In the wake of the ludicrously smooth Calibre remix of this tune that dropped last year, it’s good to see other producers taking a totally different direction. Look out for the EP dropping July 22nd.

Shogun Audio London Warehouse Party

Shogun Audio come correct with another massive warehouse party in London on April 26th. The lineup is nothing if not epic, with sets from Noisia, Friction, Spectrasoul, Icicle, Alix Perez, Rockwell, The Prototypes, Om Unit, Technimatic and more! Those in the capital definitely shouldn’t sleep on this one. Check out the Facebook event for full details.

Spectrasoul – Away With Me (Calibre Remix) [Shogun]

Spectrasoul‘s latest single sees them moving away from their drum & bass roots and into other tempos. While the original is a decent slice of deep house, the remixes are far better; Kito has delivered a quality dubstep rework, and liquid funk legend Calibre has provided an absolutely beautiful drum & bass mix. The trademark crisp breaks sit perfectly alongside a warm bassline , crisp breaks and a soulful vocal to form a deep, silky roller. One for the 5am crew!

Check it out below and grab yourself a copy of the single from the Shogun shop.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUlA5zm16s]

April Round-Up

April has been yet another fantastic month for Drum & Bass with so many good releases it’s been difficult to keep track! Here’s our pick of the best tracks recently released and forthcoming this month.

First up is the brilliant new EP from Nether, out April 16th on Space Cadets. Fans of ASC, dBridge and the more minimal styles of d&b should check this out for 3 tracks of atmospheric microfunk.

The Shogun release schedule has been packed as ever, with Rockwell‘s new single Tripwire dropping at the end of last month. This time they’re back with the first single from the forthcoming Spectrasoul LP. The A side is a nice piece of atmospheric liquid with a great vocal by Terri Walker but Shackles on the flipside is the highlight of the release, combining super tight amen breakwork with a  tidy ragga vocal from Fox. The single is out today so go grab a copy from your favourite digital store.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycow5TTwToI

Total Science & S.P.Y have cooked up a lovely piece of melodic liquid aptly titled Piano Funk which is out now on Tool Room Records. Riya’s trademark soulful vocals on top of a beautifully laid back melody make this a must have for those who appreciate the deeper side of the genre.

Last but not least the good folk at Neosignal have dished up another episode of their podcast which delivers the usual storming barage of neurofunk bassline and hyper compressed kick drums.