Back catalogue: Drum And Bass/Jungle

Review: Drum & bass giants Hospital Records get involved with this year's Record Store Day by serving up a limited white vinyl that also serves as further 25th anniversary celebrations. This is on top of the huge 25 rack album that came back in March and features a load more essential remixes, reworks, VIPs and covers of NHS drum & bass classics. Together they serve as a fine snapshot of the label's past, present and future with Camo & Krooked, S.P.Y, Kings Of The Rollers, Lynx, Think Tonk, Kessler, Villem and The Caracal Project all coming correct.

Review: Hospital Records' latest outing is a welcome return to releasing from DJ Hazard, pioneer of ostentatious jump-up drum & bass (of the second, not first, kind; heads will know there might as well have been two movements bearing the name, with the blurring point between them somewhat indistinct, yet the former more definitively jungly than the latter). Here we get stuck in to a four-track lesson in the jump-up sound that most know today: rolling basslines, eerie atmospheres & crunchy drumwork galore. From the opening horror film-sampling 'Behind The Mask' - on which wheezy leads and syncopated snaps steep and wring the mix to a high twisted heaven - to the mid-section sonic dentata 'Drill Bit' and 'Cloud Drift' - on we're met with an illicit power-driven (hopefully just dental) procedure and a clouded liquid miasma respectvely - and to the final 'Break The Silence' - which brings an anti-violence hip-hop sample to a playful excruciation of imp-bass and spit-snare - this is everything befitting of a contemporary Hazard EP, a sure health hazard if we know one.

Review: Since signing to Hospital last year Krakota has delivered a progressively on-point stream of rollers and bubblers. Hot on the heels of "Ice Hands" and "Ghosts" comes the Bournemouth artist's first fully fledged EP and it's something of a vibe marathon: "In The Area" soothes with soft harmonic basses in a similar way to early Netsky or perhaps Nu:Logic material, "Citadels" is a floaty, cosmic meander through the jungle milky way. Looking for Krakota's harder side? Look no further than "Crash Pads"; all Experience-era detuned synths and swashbuckling amens, it's undiluted rave juice. Finally "Lazy Bones" brings us back to earth with a piano-shaped cushion... Before packing us off to sub boot camp with some very devious but subtle bass dynamics. Krakota's best release to date, without question.

Review: Hospital Records is celebrating 20 years of Logistics' iconic drum & bass track Together with a special repress that pairs it with the underground favorite 'Krusty Bass Rinser' on Side-2. Together remains a standout in the genre, known for its uptempo energy, crisp production, and unforgettable melodic hook. Originally a dancefloor staple, it crossed genre boundaries, appealing not just to liquid drum & bass fans but also to jungle and techno enthusiasts. This repress offers a chance for collectors and new listeners to own a piece of drum & bass history, especially as original copies have become increasingly rare.

Review: The usually prolific Matt Gresham has been a little quiet since the release of his eighth album, "Hologram", in 2018. We suspect a new album is on the way, because this new EP comes hot on the heels of the long-serving producer's sole single of 2019. Whether or not that is the case, "Headspace" is superb, with Gresham flitting between snappy and soulful vocal drum and bass ("Stay True"), sweet, synth-laden intergalactic rollers ("Rebuild"), rapper-sporting liquid goodness (the festival-friendly positivity of "Brand New Beginning") and nasty deep space intensity (the appropriately titled "Headspace").

Review: Nu:Tone is a drum & bass giant and a longtime mainstay of the legendary Hospital label. He hasn't put out any solo material since his last album way back in 2014, so this new two tracker is a big deal indeed. After all the classics on that record he has a lot to live up to but does so, with both tunes showing this artist's pioneering approach to drum & bass . Opener 'Sweeter' is the heartfelt and super soulful cut we all need right now with London-based singer and songwriter Maiday providing the icing on the cake. Do It Right' is a nostalgic roller with big rave pads, Av it.

Review: Coventry-based Whiney returns to drum 'n' bass institution Hospital Records With Bubblers: Part Three' marking the last edition in a series. Teaming up with North London-based MC Subten on 'Headlines', a grime-infused stepper, followed by 'Freedom Dub' which is an intelligent liquid roller. B-side cut 'Yesterday' will hypnotise you with its rich tapestry of synth textures while his immaculately programmed rhythms maintain the energy levels. Legend Laurent Garnier is said to be a fan of the young producer's work, and a track like this is a good example why. This might be his last Bubblers EP, but it's definitely not the least.

Review: Hospital's secret weapon, Whiney is up there with S.P.Y when it comes heavyweight Hospital tackle. Bubblers through and through, each of these cuts shows off the young artist's darker dancefloor style. 'Deep End' is a Verse-front groove you could imagine deep in a Randall set, 'Caught Up' busses up a little bashment in the woozy, bumpy flow, 'Old Flame' balances sultry soulful vocals with a stinky rubber ball bassline (think a really moody Danny Byrd) while 'Roll Out' brings Parly B into the fold for a final ragga happy slap hoorah. Bubbling.