DRUM & BASSREVIEWS Dose
What Lies Beneath Sgn:Ltd
5.5 Lenzman
Empty Promises Metalheadz
9.0
Merely glancing at the combination of the imprint and artist should instantly signal to any informed junglist that ‘Empty Promises’ is going to be an exceptional work of beauty. A warm and radiant sub compliments crisp breaks and heart-stirring vocals. Decorated with twinkling and glistening SFX, this track has the Lenz signature style proudly stamped all over it. Backed with a Makoto remix of ‘Broken Dreams’.
mastered to outstanding quality, this track sounds perfect in headphones and is guaranteed to smash the dance.
Frankee
Flintstone Program 8.5
Chris Octane
Synthetics CO:RE 8.5
After last year’s album cemented the duo’s credentials as two technically skilled masters, Octane & DLR decided to part ways, resulting in Chris Octane’s first release on his own imprint. ‘Synthetics’ is essentially a collection of seemingly random but wonderfully matched musical SFX, a vast assortment of dislocated drums and the odd pluck of an electric guitar. On paper this looks like a mess, but sonically this collage of sound is an accomplished work.
Emperor feat Georgia Yates
Begin Critical 9.0
Emperor is a fitting pseudonym for a young producer who is commanding attention with his exquisite production skills and concurrently ruling his corner of the scene. Velvet vocals are harmonically layered as the track builds to an understated drop, where a slowly wobbling bassline oscillates alongside a collection of metallic sounds. Mixed and
70
This is the last cut from Frankee’s ‘Turning Point EP’, a growling roller coloured with slabs of stone-age humour. A playful crash sets tweety birds spinning about the head of the track, before a “pop” and a cartoon scuttle runs away with the drop. The classic Hanna-Barbera SFX which pepper the entire length are a nostalgic reminder of the fun that can be had with drum & bass.
Indigo feat Poppy Roberts
Reaching For The Source Samurai Horo 9.0
This track is reminiscent of the misty, experimental talent that goes by the name of Burial. Masking the track’s tempo to the point of non-recognition is a skill which makes this track unassuming, beautiful and a pure pleasure to listen to. But it also makes it hard to place in a world of genre boxes; with our scene being so vast, who can really say where the boundaries lie for the box marked d&b?
Loadstar feat Takura
Refuse To Love Ram 7.5
Loadstar have managed a feat not yet matched by many, with drum & bass in a never-ending struggle to reach a wider commercial audience without selling out the sound. ‘Refuse To Love’ blurs the boundaries between radio- friendly and dance destroyer
to the point of non-existence, mixing anthemic melodies and vocals with hard-hitting live drums. Included on this release are two remixes worthy of their own A-sides. Solid track from the Bristol boys.
Sub Zero
Your Flex (Majistrate Remix) Playaz 7.0
Playaz’ new ‘Sub Zero Remixes EP’ is a collection of six, yes, you’ve guessed it, remixes of Sub Zero tracks. Majistrate’s remix of ‘Your Flex’ is a high-energy, jump-up roller just as you’d expect from this filtration of producers. The track is similar in style and substance to the original, but has harsher, more gravelly undertones, without reaching that gutter level of filth. The EP also includes remixes from Konichi, Supreme Being, Krakota and Jaydan.
Task Horizon
Perfection Evolution Chamber Recording 6.0
This one’s a grower. At first listen, it’s completely plausible to smell a whiff of cheddar from its Euro electro-pop -echoing vocal and its vibrating drumstep bassline. However, after a few extra portions, it is possible to slice through the cheesy topping and appreciate the catchy track and skilled production that lie beneath. Hours later, you may even find yourself reminiscently singing along, even trying to replicate the faint Swiss accent.
There seems to be a new wave of producers creating what can diplomatically be called high-energy d&b, but is more realistically described as noisy d&b. Vigorous crashing drums and hardly any room for musicality to breathe. However, good production skills on this track, if you like this style.
M-Zine & Scepticz
Point Of No Return DISLTD 8.0
Three of Belgium’s finest exports collectively create this shady EP, and the first track is brought to us by duo M-Zine & Scepticz. ‘Point Of No Return’ is sculpted with scientific precision, and a clear-and- concise understanding of manipulation of the sonic
WHISKY KICKS
whiskykicks@live.co.uk
QUICKIES world is displayed.
Shockone feat Metrik & Kyza
Lazerbeam Viper 5.5
A high energy stepping track, adorned with a lickle something of soundboy- style vocals, which without doubt save this track from drowning in a sea of over- used sounds and styles.
Stray
Ginseng Smash Modulations
7.5
Classic jungle breaks are layered with a timeless- sounding jungle sub, and iced with looped hip-hop vocals. ‘Ginseng Smash’ could have seamlessly slipped into the sets of ‘97, but still sounds fresh today.
ALIX PEREZ SHOGUN
01. ALIX PEREZ FEAT TWO INCH PUNCH‘Broken Heart’ Shogun Audio “Two Inch and I talked about working together for a while, and I’m glad it came
together for my album.”
02. OM UNIT & SAM BAOBINGA‘Squares’ Exit “A straight down half-step discombobulated bassline killer.”
03. STRAY‘Akina’ Critical “85bpm footwork/808 niceness from Stray.”
04. ALIX PEREZ FEAT THEY CALL ME RAPTOR‘Heroes 1 Villains 0’ Shogun Audio “This is a forthcoming track from my new ‘Chroma Chords’ album with London vocalist They Call Me Raptor. A mix of grime, hip-hop at 85bpm.”
05. DIGITAL & SPIRIT ‘Phantom Phorce (Fracture’s Astrophonica’s
Edit)’Dub “Fracture takes this classic bassline to half-time territory — has been in every set since receiving.”
06. SKEPTICAL‘Eyes Down’ Exit “Skeptical again comes correct with an off-groove stepper that will have you question
where the start or end of the hook is.”
07. ALIX PEREZ FEAT D.ABLO‘Playing Games’ Shogun Audio “Straight-up drum & bass soulful roller, very reminiscent of my early work. Piano
chords, strings, plucks and D.ablo’s very own sultry vocal work.”
08. JAI PAUL‘Jasmine’ XL “I really cannot get enough of this guy’s music.”
09. CALIBRE‘Spill’ Signature “As always Calibre never fails to impress and as expected, this album delivers the
goods.”
10. BEASTIE RESPOND‘One More Second’Exit “Synth-driven hip-hop with a touch of ‘80s, keep a look out.”
www.djmag.ca
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