Drum & Bass REVIEWS
QUICKIES
ALEX C
Total Science/
ing musical bass lay the
Digital foundation for gentle whis-
S.O.S/B.U.R.N.Y pering dreamy elements.
PO Bo
Violence
Reminiscent of the classic
x 7
‘Music Is So Special’. 502, London, N22 6QN
Two superb slicers. ‘SOS’
uses ‘Terminator’ flanged Spirit
drums, raw uncut Amens
Connected/Fantasy
and deathly warehouse
Deep Kut
riffs, while the flip is cool
echoed dub reggae, Digital
A deep, engrossing and
style.
engulfing roller. Major
deep bass chocolate slides,
Q Project refreshing and invigorat-
Holy War/24/7 ing off-beat sharp riffs
Machine Funk
and lively drums. A mixture
that pleases!
Classy Amen skipper with
a gleeful, hypnotic quality. DJ Sly
Epic chants and musical
Try Some Fing Else/
Klute
MONE
Y
effects, sub-sine bass and
Rock ‘N’ Roll
Ashram/Trust Me
SHO
T!
Finn People
Commercial Suicidecide
chattering, traditional
of Prolix and the mind-malfunctioning
drum rolls. Sweat inducer.
Crazy combinations of
The word ‘mammoth’ is rarely used on these pages because it’s a powerful phrase
drums of Technical Itch. A bloody slice of
Naibu
ebony metal slides, angry
saved only for those groundbreaking, grizzly behemoth d&b pieces that arrive
razor-sharp vinyl from across the pond.
Fireflies EP bee buzzing sounds and
only every once in a while. Well, here’s one. Like a master craftsman, Klute has
Horizons
splurging basses. Lively
carved elegant sheen weaves of Asian vocal musings intertwined between a high-
The Invaderz
For All The People/Let’s Try
skipper that when slotted
roller break and a smooth-as-Guinness-foam Reese Project bass. Hear how on
Liquid V Talented editing of the
in correctly does damage.
erstwhile occasions it switches pitch and adds renegade interest. Floors fill the
‘Think’ drum and boom- Android food fight.
instant the drop occurs, trust.
Breezily soulful but downright dirty,
making you kick your legs out with a
Polar
tions of high energy d&b. I love the
smile on your face. A well snipped and
In The End EP pitched down old skool “rude boy”
pasted introductory set of rare groove
Warm
vocals here, announcing the start of
Rhodes keyboard swishes and calming
cool keyboard riffs, serrated bass booms
brass opens up, then a warm and ami-
For three years we’ve heard nothing and a mixture so chocka with variety
able voice announces and echoes “for
of Polar. Now he’s back, keeping the it can be played right through to the
the people” and the capacity-cramming
quality flow consistent, his philosophy end. All spiced up with drum peaks and
blend ensues, using a wonderfully fold-
of haunting, weird takes on jazzy instru- troughs that contribute to your daily
ing and flopping bass that drives the
ment collages still in effect. Go straight diet of devastation. A happy lurcher,
funk but keeps it a little dark. Strong hot
to ‘I Don’t Remember’ for a prime exam- with subtle hints of junglism.
coffee on a sunny, chilly morning.
ple of his developed, polished platinum
sound. Weird bell/xylophone washes are Various
Benny Page & Zero G
Panpipes/Trigger Finger
stretched, contorted and snapped back
DAT Music 2 Part 1
Soul:R
Digital Soundboy
together again as a solid backbone of
beats. A more than proficient producer
Following the Caspa remix of TC’s
provides a new slant on spectral, surreal
Nobody can create that minimal, mel-
‘Where’s My Money?’ and Chase &
but beefy jazz.
low but intense sound like the Soul:R
catalogue, the one that simultaneously
Status’s devastating ‘Eastern Jam’
The Upbeats
freezes and caresses your psyche — and
here is another take on dubstep-style
Masked Warrior/Tear Down here’s another welcome addition. As a
slower speed d&b. But it doesn’t deliver
Ganja-Tek
four track EP, highlights include haunt-
unfortunately. If the beats are to be
ingly hypnotic rhythms, chocolate slide
slowed right down then the sorcery
The Upbeats really do have a unique bass and a late night feel to ‘Underwater
and swordsmanship mantle should be
HEIST COLAB RECORDINGS
sound. Like most quality d&b it’s griz- Scene’ by Commix, the fathoms-deep
compensated with a bass brimming with
01. ORIGINAL SIN ‘Overfiend’ Playaz
zled, dirty and smells rotten but there’s bass and hypnotic rhythms of ‘Close
character, variety and body-shuddering
Disgusting! Full on madness! Seriously disturbing bassline business.
also a distinct hint of sharp, incisively Encounters’ and a polished Detroit
weight. Which is not so here. Basic
02. HEIST ‘Robots Rebellion’ Dubplate
clean production that balance it out techno feel to Calibre’s ‘Can’t Get Over
booms, bleeps and jaw-locking key-
Some cheeky cyberfunk from myself!
perfectly. The little touch that stands You’. Dizzy low wizardry.
board riffs sound out of place with the
03. DILLINJA ‘Love Child’ Valve Dubplate
out amongst all the ferocity and frivolity
slow beat. Sorry.
Once again proving why he’s the daddy.
is a crazy bongo fill that darts around, Dieselboy & Evol Intent feat
04. TAXMAN & HEIST ‘Untitled’ Ganja Dubplate
lending the track urgency. There’s also
Ewun
The Qemists
Lined up for DJ Hype’s Ganja label.
Dem Na Like Me feat Wiley
a re-fried bass punctuated by pitch-
Midnight Express 05. DIRTY HARRY ‘Wait for It’ Ganja Dubplate
Human
Ninja Tune Hazard goes undercover, absolutely sick!
bending air-raid sirens, well-greased
and sliding across the plate of beats.
06. HEIST ‘Specimen’ Dubplate
The Qemists’ latest bash at pushing
Another newie that’s recently been getting some love.
Delightfully disgusting.
Crazy arpeggios open this, insistently
bleeping and aurally stabbing your
d&b out of the underground has the
07. TAXMAN ‘Sleeze’ Dubplate
Terravita
brain cells. Being even more effective in
right ingredients but somehow doesn’t
Slaps up floors like a Stella-infused anger management trainee.
Beantown Boogaloo/Adult that they take you completely unawares.
have the requisite bite. Starts with
08. DILLINJA ‘Untitled’ Dubplate
Robot Kung Fu VIP
As do daringly low-pitch ominous “we
reggae-style sung voice borrowed from
When he gets it right, there’s no stopping him on the dancefloor.
Technique
are on a mission” stresses. An acidic,
Sub Base’s ‘Dark Stranger’, as a cascade
09. HEIST ‘40 Hertz Skank’ Dubplate
frenetic offbeat bass plundering follows,
of grimy key stabs add emphasis. Then
Ultra-low bass is the order of the day.
Another floor-friendly bruiser from
which is a cross between the unpredict-
rap lyrics enter with a half-speed harsh
10. TAXMAN ‘Evasion remix’ Propaganda Dubplate
Technique, a label that seamlessly glides
able low-frequency scrapping of Noisia,
drum style. Sounds like it’s going for the
Nifty rework of one of his earlier tracks. Grimey!
between different quality representa-
the precise synthesiser instrumentation
sing-a-long, pump-yer -fist crowd.
084
www.djmag.com
DJ470.D&B.indd 84 16/1/09 16:36:40
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