58 D&B reviews
D&B
ALLEY CAT ATOM BCEE L.A.O.S. RESOUND
SWEET SPOT / VACCINE AUTOMATIC / NIGHTFLIGHT GENERATIONS EP SOMETHING IN THE AIR / CARBON SOUL / SNOW & SMOKE
RADIATE OFFSHORE SONOROUS SPEARHEAD GTGD FT. KALEB HORIZONS
SPIN
Alley Cat’s ‘Sweet Spot’ is an ‘Nightflight’ has drum sounds and ‘Generations’, the first track on ‘Carbon Soul’ has dense, tight drum
experimental track, broadly fitting rhythms familiar to those used by BCee’s EP of the same name, is su- ‘Something In The Air’ is an amaz- programming and a bass riff that’s
the ‘minimal’ mould but with a more the minimal D&B camp but adds a perb. A sad but beautiful female vocal ing, genre-defying track that takes instantly catching. This is definitely
wistful, hopeful sound. The distant warmth and flow that is rarely pres- leads the tune, which features spar- in a range of dance influences to future-looking jungle, with every
trumpet sounds and synths work ent in minimal’s spare productions. ing drums and massive, resonating create an exuberant, house-style element precise and funky as hell
well together, though the unorthodox The track has a slightly hypnotic, bass. ‘Glitter Balls’ has a similar float- D&B number that has to be heard (check the scorching shaker). On the
snares might make this track hard to dreamy sound, clearly influenced by ing, spacey quality with its snatches to be believed. On the flip, ‘GTGD’ flip, ‘Snow & Smoke’, with vocals
mix. On the flip, Vaccine’s dubstep- electronica artists such as Boards of of high-pitched vocal and deep is a raucous hybrid of liquid D&B from Finnish singer Laura Ryhnen,
tempo offering ‘Radiate’ is all gentle Canada. On the flip, ‘Automatic’ is a bassline. BCee’s collaboration with and Ibiza house anthems, complete has a theatrical, almost gothic quality.
electronic weirdness and soft percus- gentle, atmospheric tune, with soft S.P.Y. is also heavy on the echoing with ‘pumping’ synths as in Eric This unusual track may confuse some
sion loops. Don’t expect this to work pads, warm tones and a rim-shot female vocals, while Logistics’ remix Prydz’s ‘Call On Me’. Check out the listeners, but the flashes of fierce
on the dancefloor. A cerebral release, snare. This is chilled out D&B suitable of ‘Consumed’ has a more dancefloor hands-in-the-air squealing melody Reece bass and taut percussion show
unusual not just because of how it for slow, sunny afternoons. sound. An excellent, reflective release and the down-tempo mid section, Resound is very much at the top of
sounds: both Alley Cat and Vaccine from Spearhead. something you never hear in D&B. It his game.
are female. shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does.
Exceptional.
DATA RANDOM MOVEMENT & SILENT WITNESS GROOVE DIGGERZ ELECTROSOUL SYSTEM
THE CAUSEWAY / DELICATE MIXMASTER DOC TEMPEST / NO KEY GOOD TIMES ON THE RUN / WHALE DANCE
INFLUENCE RATTLED SYSTEM / BIG CHANGES TRIPLE SEED BREAKIN EVEN ALLSORTS
INTEGRAL
More dark and brooding business Silent Witness has picked two big Heist’s remix of Groove Diggerz’s Electrosoul System can always be re-
from Data, who is fast establishing a ‘Rattled System’, which samples a tracks for his first release on new 2006 smash ‘Good Times’ is pure lied upon to produce a soulful roller to
reputation as one of the figureheads Bjork track named ‘Foot Soldier’, label Triple Seed. Both tunes have a heavyweight dancefloor power. please the liquid funk crowd. ‘On The
of the new minimal sound. On ‘The seems an odd combination on first dark, rolling vibe. On ‘Tempest’ the From the thumping snare to the Run’ features rising piano chords and
Causeway’, echoing drone sounds listen. The bouncy, electro-funk bass bit-crushed bass tosses and turns bouncing, bit-crushed bassline, this vocal fragments on a long, jazz-tinged
shimmer in and out of hearing, before and stop-start drum beats make throughout the track, providing a is unashamed jump-up D&B. And it’s build-up. Slick drums and gentle subs
a deep, menacing bass starts a long, a strange pairing with Bjork’s airy, focus for the synth stabs and occa- huge! Already doing the rounds, this complete a track that definitely bears
slow growl. Occasional fragments spaced-out vocal. But listen again to sional bongos. The flipside, ‘No Key’ track is destined to smash up count- the classic Electrosoul sound. On the
of drum breaks disturb the distant, the sublime voice, mixed with funky features rolling hi hats, switched-up less raves this summer. The Greenfly flip, ‘Whale Dance’ explores a more
techy drum sounds. The arrangement production – this tune is a thing of breaks and growling bass. The mix is scarcely any gentler, but differs electronic sound with futuristic pads
on ‘Delicate’ is even sparser, with beauty. On the flip, ‘Big Changes’ unearthly pads and techno-style in choice of vocal and features a and bouncy synth lines. A smooth and
half-hidden bass, long pauses and drops the ‘Worm’ break alongside percussion give this tune a futuristic deeper, rolling bassline – another big refined journey.
only the occasional appearance of a more funky-yet-chilled bass sounds vibe, while nevertheless sounding party tune. The digital release also
shiny ride cymbal. and clean production. Fresh, fresh and gritty. features a D&B dub mix.
different, clean.
SERUM vs NORTHERN LIGHTS XRS ESCHER TECHNICOLOUR & KOMATIC DANNY HOWELLS
DANGEROUS / RUSH TROPICAL FUNK / MAD SCIENTIST AUSTERE / SLICE PREACHER / INNERVISION FLIGHT HOME (MATRIX REMIX)
ZOMBIE INSIDE FUTURE THINKIN WORLDWIDE AUDIO DIG DEEPER
Northern heroes Steppa and Kitcha Deep, rolling vibes from Brazilian Harking back to the heady days of Formerly featured in these very On which the man like Matrix over-
deliver the goods once again on this producer XRS on this release for mid-90s when the likes of Source pages as an unsigned producer, hauls ‘Flight Home’, a slice of warm
banging 12” for Twisted Individual’s Horizon’s offshoot Inside. ‘Tropical Direct and Photek ruled the roost, Technicolour has gone from strength electronica from Danny Howells on
Zombie camp. Under their Northern Funk’ is a warm yet subtle track Brighton based up-and-coming pro- to strength since signing with his Dig Deeper imprint. Matrix does
Lights guise, the boys team up with melodic flourishes and hints of ducer Escher presents two expertly Drumsound & Bassline Smith. Here what Matrix does best with soaring
with Serum for the aptly named tinkling pianos and the like, which crafted lessons in minimal d&b for he collaborates with Komatic on strings and uplifting vibes. Layered
‘Dangerous’, an energetic jump-up give us a nice summery glow. Flip the Future Thinkin label. ‘Austere’ is ‘Preacher’, a warm, rolling liquid track synths and a funky bassline give this
workout which should do more than for ‘Mad Scientist’ which switches the more upbeat of the two tracks with an uplifting vocal and shim- a truly classic feel, much like his
enough damage to the average things up with urgent percussion and on offer, all moody atmospherics and mering strings. Flipside ‘Innervision’ usual output with production partner
dancefloor. The flipside ‘Rush’ opens phat bass, offset by futuristic, reverb Boymerang style beats. ‘Slice’ takes loops a distinctive vocal sample over Futurebound. Take a ride deep into
with a beautifully melodic intro before drenched stabs and a filtered vocal things deeper, keeping it simple but another house influenced d&b rollout, the future on this one, just make sure
dropping into another no-nonsense sample. Definitely a return to form for coming up trumps once again. Expect complete with jazzy organ solo, this you’ve got your arms in the air...
wobble excursion which takes no this talented producer. to see a whole lot more from the man one for the summertime crew. Big
prisoners. like Escher in the coming months... release from this promising producer.
www.kmag.co.uk
K52-59_Reviews.indd 58 29/4/09 13:17:37
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