ALEX C
alexcdnb@gmail.com
frequency leaps into the unknown. An EP full of studio wizardry that unnerves and electrifies your cans, but it’s a little hard to wind yer waist to, as it were! But maybe that’s the point.
Need For Mirrors
Vimana/Snubnose Playaz 8.0
Cyantific
Liberty EP Cyantific Music
10
As the legendary MC GQ used to say. Oh. My. Gosh! Far and away the best Cyantific release. Hasn’t left the playlist since receipt. ‘Streets Of Rave’ harks back to halcyon days using classic elements, satisfying nostalgic cravings through Big Daddy Kane samples, rushy keys and a dirty bass. Then the frankly filthy ‘Tomorrow People’ has a rabid gurn-riff, Nightmares On Wax-style bleeps and a pristine stepper blend, and ‘Walking Away’ is a de- rigeur skybound energiser. Essential like oxygen. Literally breathless!
Amit Killer Driller/Colour Blind
feat Rani Metalheadz 7.0
Eerie unsettling vibes shatter your cranium with a garden spade from an artist who’s an accomplished grandmaster. A half-speed presentation, where a belly-kicking bass drum and nerve-numbing snare desperately hold on to a semblance of sanity while a tinny radio mic-style voice scarily chants “Mind killer, soul killer, killer driller”. Additional unspeakable sins committed in this M-O come from terror- filled echo chamber effects and grinding vox. A blood-curdling slice of psycho dub.
Black Sun Empire
From The Shadows LP sampler Black Sun Empire 8.0
While the Mefjus EP on this page is a neuro-tech piece that veers on the side of home listening, this is psychosomatic dangerous dnb
Need For Mirrors have until now languished in a darkened den of seething animosity, delivering sparsely brash boasts of their technological audacity via subtly portrayed uncanny moods. This is something a little different, a playful but still bizarrely lurid disposition that couldn’t help but be snapped up by the all-conquering Playaz empire. An addictive beat reminiscent of Jonny L’s ‘Piper’, a playfully rude, bouncing slurp bass and tongues firmly in a grazed, bloody cheek. Destroys speakers when loud.
Various
that rocks on dancefloors too. With imagery firmly grounded in deep sci-fi and a memorable dropout quote that speaks of eyes getting used to darkness, the opening of ‘Eraser (Neonlight Remix)’ is easy to mix with and gives way to a crescendo of teeth-clench arpeggio until finally releasing all the tension with a glob of stomping poisonous electro mash.
Fleur & Cutline Broken Mirror (Metrik
Remixes) Strictly Rhythm 9.0
The super-producer of the moment strikes again with a mighty blow from iron-spiked gauntlets, bringing us another piece proving his versatility and punching power. His remix here is a clever combination of guttural booms, spine-tingling vibrations and melodic synthesiser whistles to a supersonic drum bonanza that all gel and lock together with verve and style, making this an instant floor-filler. Includes vocal and instrumentally remixed versions to cover all bases.
Mefjus
Double Tap EP Trust In Music 7.0
This champ enjoys much critical acclaim, however I’m a firm believer in the groove which seems a little lacking here. ‘Bilateral’ coils synthesised metallic tentacles around nervous vocal undulations, whilst ‘Double Tap’ is more of a head-nodder with frightening shocks and low
The Shape Of Things To Come Wyatt Noise Recordings
7.5
Fans of letting it all hang out and senselessly dribbling bubbly foam on to the dancefloor should look no further than Rich Raw’s ‘Filthy Raver’. Reminding me of Krust’s ‘Warhead’ with a rocket up its ass, this one builds up in delicious stages to a resonating, all- conquering doom-slide of a bass boom over a pillaging two-step rhythm — and takes no prisoners in its merciless approach. No pretensions or affinity with an intelligent approach, just a hugely enjoyable gabber romper- stomper.
Emperor
The Fire/Smokescreen Neodigital 9.5
Big choon with a drop that makes the Grand Canyon look like a suburban kerbside. Awe-inspiring. The introduction belies the electro ferocity that follows, as kinetic keys and a plodding drum lull you into a mind-slumber, then a sudden slam of pulsing ferocity slices off yer eyelids with a dirty razor. The method of percussion used and the way the electro bass pulses snake their way around here is a joy to behold. After the drop, it gets even crazier. Brain matter through a blender.
METRIK VIPER RECORDINGS
01. METRIK ‘Freefall (xKore Remix)’ Viper “xKore brought something awesome to the table with his remix of my new
single.”
02. BROOKES BROTHERS ‘LoveLight’ Breakbeat Kaos “Brookes Brothers strike back with an outstanding uplifting track with a very
infectious bassline.”
03. MEMTRIX ‘Mind Control’ Lifted “Amazing to believe this producer is only 16 and already making blinding
tunes.”
04. S.P.Y ‘What The Future Holds’ Hospital Records “It’s not often a record this good comes around. Breathtaking string ar-
rangement.”
05. LOADSTAR ‘Black & White’ Ram “Taking it back to basics. Simple but effective. Very refreshing on the ears.”
06. SHOCKONE ‘Chaos Theory’ Viper Records “Huge album on its way from my mate ShockOne. Currently destroying
dancefloors.”
07. DJ FRESH ‘The Feeling (Metrik Remix)’ Ministry Of Sound “Fresh was such an important artist for me when I was growing up, so being
asked to do this felt extra special.”
08. CYANTIFIC ‘Walking Away’ Cyantific Music “Vocal-driven peak-time smasher with an old school flavour. Big track.”
09. MADEON ‘Icarus (Fred V & Grafix Remix)’ White “Fred V & Grafix are some of my favourite producers around, and this remix is
just spectacular.”
10. OM UNIT ‘Ulysses VIP’ Civil Music “Restrained, sophisticated and melodic but still packs a sub punch.”
www.djmag.ca 105
DRUM & BASS REVIEWS QUICKIES Metrik
Break, Mako, Fields & Villem/Getz
Diligence/My Soul Utopia 8.0
A crowded studio with four dudes coming up trumps, a midnight opening segues into brash break-chopping and slick, metallic bass layering. An augmented lioness stalks her prey.
Fathom Audio
Promises/Ridges Diffrent 7.5
Sparse and minimal — not for all but in terms of surreal, moody atmospherics there’s nothing like this. Retro keyboards and selective pauses give this an avant-garde, opium- fuelled vibe.
Freefall (Mixes)/Drift Viper 8.5
An angst-ridden vocal tone plays a clever, floor- filling juxtaposition game where ballad- style singing and an introspective riff combine astutely with TNT drums and power- grid overload bass. Class.
Raw Q
I Want Him Dead EP Intrigue 6.5
Interesting ditty from the States with themed pieces like 1940s big band-inspired jazz loops to Robert de Niro ‘Untouchables’ quotes or samples of car horns from an NYC pavement.
MONEYSHOT!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126