Juno Recommends Drum & Bass: May 2025

Review: Seba & Paradox reunite on Metalheadz with their first joint release for the label in over five years, reaffirming the synergy of two of drum & bass's most distinct voices. Known alike for their brooding musicalities and breakbeat precision, the pair unite styles once more on 'Cypher' and 'Orlean', resulting in a razor-sharp two-tracker through surgical drum edits and cleaving depths; the kinds of immersions both artists are celebrated for. Their return feels both timely and timeless, reminding listeners of the subtle power in expertly crafted, uncompromising d&b.

Review: Goldie revives his genre-defining Rufige Kru alias for Alpha Omega, a new double LP on London Records. The record secures the first new release under the name since 2009. Though the proverbial kru once consisted in Goldie (Clifford Price), Linford Jones and Mark Rutherford, Price characteristically dominated it. Rufige finally came to with the seminal 'Darkrider' release on Reinforced Records: the track was a handed down later version of what started as a plundering of Japan's 'Ghosts Of My Life', giving the classic new wave title the mood of a broken-window metropolis, and it became the object of much cultural theorising for its influence on d&b's reflection of class politics. Now, Goldie faces the city of glass again, exposing the dirt behind the neon with longtime collaborator Submotive, enlisted to propel the project further into the "rufige": classic roots crusted by high-presh, concrete crud.

Review: Rufige Kru, the legendary alias of Goldie, has long been a cornerstone of breakbeat enervation and innovation. First tizzwozzing dancefloors in 1992 with the hardcore classic 'Darkrider', Rufige Kru delivered pivotal tracks like 'Ghosts of My Life' and 'Terminator'. Now, for the first time since 2009, Rufige Kru returns with new LP Alpha Omega, featuring longtime collaborator and krumate Submotive. Leading the charge is 'Still The Same', a heavyweight single featuring CASISDEAD, fresh off his BRIT Award win, interceded by 'Goldikus' with Cleveland Watkiss, a chance early jazzstep pioneer from the far-flung realm of piano jazz and soul.

Review: A significant return to the core of Goldie's pioneering drum & bass project, here in collaboration with Bournemouth beatsmith Submotive. Since the early 90s, Rufige Kru have ve redefined breakbeat science, with Goldie's early tracks like 'Darkrider' and 'Terminator' laying the foundation for modern drum & bass. Now, over a decade since their last release, the duo's chemistry is palpable, revisiting their roots while steering the genre forward. The opening track, 'Alpha Omega', sets the tone with intricate beats and emotional intensity, while 'Goldikus' (feat. Cleveland Watkiss) layers jazz influence with expansive soundscapes. 'Still The Same' (feat. Casisdead) blends grimy vocals with atmospheric pads, reaffirming their connection to the genre's experimental edge. With tracks like 'Mercury' and 'The Guardianz', the album remains rooted in the soulful, deep bass culture Goldie helped create. A fresh chapter in the legendary Rufige Kru legacy.

Review: Rave friends Shadow Child and DJ Haus link up for more Rhythm Forces and the results are double edged sword; 'Mystik Vortex' is a straight up 3am junglistic nug that's more cosmic than the contents of a wizard's pocket after a night out on the astrals. '3030 In The Mist' brings us back down to earth with slow and stately breaks and atmospheric washes so startling and refreshing you'll feel like you'll never get dry again. Maybe you won't? The force is that strong on these ones!

Review: The latest EP from Rotterdam drum & bass outfit Vibez 93 is a peaking roll-tastic high. 'Tokyo & Paris' spatters four liquid d&b tunes of various shape and size, with 'M38' opening on an anthemic note to contrast the dynamic liquid sub squirms of the A2's 'Green Eyes'. The B1 hears a sampled verse breezily cruise the Italian Amalfi Coast, before its foil emerges on the hip-d&b title track closes on a stoner-step homage to European travel, soundtracked by the sounds of a concrete jungle.

Review: South Korea junglists representing! Following a series of more house / beatsy focused missives, Sambo up the tempo for this Seoul breakbeat showdown. Local donnies Slowpoe and Kim Han get busy on 'Soju Skanking'. Big reggae licks and a sing-along chorus (even if you can't speak Korean), this is a warm-as-toast weapon ready for the summer. Setting the energy for the EP, the rest of the 12" stretches its legs in all directions; 'Groover Han' takes a deeper twist before more associate breakers join the fray... Noah1luv deconstructs the funky beat on the rock-inspired/early 90s inspired 'Def Leppard', SGSY remixes his jungle band Kom Agens into a super warm lick while DJ Funny lays down the real head-turner of the EP in the form of the heavily emotional 'Hot N Cold' before Yetsuby brings the EP to a dreamy-but-skatty close. Sweet.

Review: Let's step back in time as Future Retro reissue this walloping four-piece from 2023. A multi-mate affair, the entire 12 is packed with contemporary jungle talent. On side A we have the German misfit Chromz going toe-to-toe with bossman Reaper on two ice cold cuts. 'Forever Dubbed' is a dreamy, choppy serenade with more unexpected twists and turns than an AI drawn hand while 'Diff Selection' is all about that rattling snare. Flip for two startlingly fresh cuts from Bristol badboy Artificial Red; 'Subconscious' is all about those big splashy drums and cosmic whirls while 'Something I Know' sends us off to other planets as the EP comes to an end. Solid.

Review: Brenda's debut for Rupture LDN is a love letter to the dancefloor in all its phases, from early anticipation to late-night transcendence. Hailing from the UK and embedded in the country's long rave lineage, she draws on 4x4 jungle techno, deep d&b and spoken word to map out a personal and emotional arc. 'Come Undone' captures the energy of the night in full swingirushing breaks, euphoric pressure, the kind of track that commands the room. Elsewhere, 'Benda Brenda' and 'Total Danger' are raw-edged and jungle-rooted, while 'Rolling With Fabio' is deeper and more rolling. It all closes on 'A Deep Shade of Rave (Outro)', a poem dedicated to her long-running Ferry to the Underworld sessions at Corsica Studios. Spiritually full, physically rinsedithis EP nails what it means to live for the rave.

Review: Terrace keeps it concrete with the second release on Kniteforce's vinyl-only imprint Deadly Dubs. Following big street smashers on Karma Recs and recent outings on Erupt there's a distinctly euphoric foundation to the vibe running throughout ranging from opening salvo of pitched up vox and pianos of 'Aappy Happy' to the closing acid house style piano evangelism of the finale 'Quadratic'. Elsewhere 'Show N Tell' has us melting at the knees and begging to stay one more night with Uncle Phil and 'Come Down' has us all doing award winning air piano. Happy days.

Review: Harmony and Modified Motion's Subjects alias continues to lay down timeless junglistic heat and the vibes fly out in all directions. 'In The Morning' is a full strength breakbeat assault with a pitched up vocal and rising sense of euphoria. 'Yummy' meanwhile brings those rushes on instantly with delicate pianos taking the lead and the drums driving more of a hardcore dynamic to the groove. Stunning - as always with Deep Jungle!

Review: Shadow Child mints his new label TBC with a rave-ready release that taps into playful jungle influences with driving club rhythms that are likely to go down a storm over summer and beyond. Early support from heavyweights like Scuba, Horse Meat Disco and Gerd Janson mean you may have already heard some of these jams and also hint at the EP's broad appeal. Standout tracks are, well, all of them. 'The Street' is a nimble stepper with pruning basslines, 'In My Dreams' is a percussive fenny with another brilliantly old school low end, and an untitled gem brings rave-ready pianos and old school energy. 'Bubble' flips the script with a rugged bass-driven house workout.

Review: Bristol's Technical Itch returns with a long-awaited full-length on Over/Shadow and it serves up a relentless dose of darkside energy hot on the heels of the 2024 prelude single 'Fear & Fantasy. Here, Mark Caro dives deep into his signature sound which is a blend of moody steppers, cinematic dread and brutal amen workouts. It's everything fans have come to expect from the master of atmospheric darkness, all wrapped in precision engineering and raw intensity. With nods to techstep and futuristic jungle alike, this is Technical Itch at his uncompromising best and a heavy, immersive odyssey through the darker corners of drum & bass.

Review: Zinc was a busy busy boy in the 90s. Especially those foundation years. His work with Hype and Bizzy B around this time was legendary but besides his UKG moniker Jammin' years later, less is spoken of his various aliases. Jack Ruby had a cool run of cuts in 94 and 96 including this almighty slab of breakbeat drama 'Ophelia'. Big pads and a breath-taking arrangement. It's your quintessential deep or atmospheric jungle cut that has all the hallmarks of a Good Lookin jam. 'Beyond Reality' (which came out in 95 under his Tyranny alias) follows a similar sweeping sense of triumph but a little jazzier and cooler in its roll-out. Timeless.

Review: OG business! Majik and his label Infrared have been charming the dance since the very roots and he's back once again with this superb trio that originally ran last autumn. Fresh to wax, 'Ghost Train' charges along with real old school hardcore vibes, especially with those booming detuned synths. Things get deeper as we skip further into the EP; 'Above The Clouds' is goes all icy and introspective while 'July' closes with a nod to Detroit. Powerful.

Review: A neat selection jungle and drum & bass gems by Fuze, also known as Dave Ivy i one half of Blinded By Science alongside Rob Pearson. It's the first time these DAT-sourced tracks have seen the light of day since their early 90s conception, and the result is a razor-sharp, brilliantly preserved insight into the raw energy of the era. Based in the US but with deep ties to the UK scene, 8205 specialises in archival material, and this one lands fully intact: 'The Alpha Omega' and 'Like The Thunder' are tough, rolling and atmospherically heavy, all punchy breaks and moody subs. 'Substrata Phase' feels slower-burning and eerie, while the Dev/Null remix flips it into something far more breakneck and manic. '6am' and 'So Damn Fresh' capture the looser, rave-adjacent side of early jungle, full of snap and character, and Tim Reaper's closing remix of 'The Alpha Omega' is the final blow i tight edits, deep pads, and that unmistakable future-facing precision. A new release, but one that's been waiting patiently for decades, finally given the care and context it deserves.

Review: True to the name, FFF's releases do tend to make us teeter on the edge of profanity, inciting us to utter a hearty "FFF...!" whenever one of his pre-drop seatbelt warnings is sounded. With what sounds like a copyright lapsed, twilight zoney TV sample musing on the terror of true freedom kicking off the opener 'No Holds Barred', we're inducted into a true blue jungle asepsis here, with an unstoppable, untainted 808s extending over both tracks, full time and halftime alike. Only the breakbeats on the A singe the mix to the point of well done break steak, where the track's atmospheres are otherwise clean and twinkly; FX's remix, on the other hand, hovers dirtily and indubitably between jungle techstep and trip-hop, delivering a consciousness expanding mind mutator.

Review: It's a nearest and dearest thing; Polish craftsman Offish calls up his pals from around Europe for this epic collaborative free-for-all. Taken from the full digital album that comprises 13 bleeding edge slabs of timeless brutalism, this vinyl sampler highlights its extremes with these four powerful cuts. 'Eviscerate' (with Forgiven Soul) nods to the Quarantine sound with strong elements of Digital and Spirit (RIP) while 'Mushrooms' (with Greg Lvov) is an immense and hypnotic weave of percussive elements. Elsewhere the ominous dubbed out minimalism of 'Look For Patterns' (with NonRev) set us up for the disarming depths and cosmic charm of 'Cautionary Tale', making this this is an exceptional trip for DJs, dancefloors and listeners alike.

Review: Warsaw producer Kampinos delivers a knockout trio of tunes for GAMM here that collide soulful drum & bass with deep musical roots. The standout opener is 'Good Looking Pepe,' which flips Pepe Bradock's seminal house love-in 'Deep Burnt' into a lush, jazzy roller a la LTJ Bukem. On the B-side, 'Joi' explodes with gospel fervour and raw amen breaks to make for an irresistible jungle anthem built for dancefloor uplift. Rounding things off, Kampinos offers a rich, emotive refix of Little Simz's 'See You Glow' which is both warm and intense. This is rather unexpected yet effective outing for GAMM with a fine mix of soul and roughness.