Review: Four cuts of timeless hardcore jungle from respected and rising Aussie break butcher 12 Bit Jungle Out There. Hugging you like it's 92 but booting you like it's 2032, each track is littered with edits, twists, turns and superb stretches. From the ragga-fronted bubbler 'Dutty Gunman' to the rave-echoed 'Desire & Love', there's a hearty party spirit that's so good for those choppy, blast-em-up mixes. Trust us, he's has been squeezing his Octamed super hard for this one!
Review: Alphonse pens a love letter to jungle on this new EP for Klasse Wrecks. It's a flurry of drum breaks and powerful rhythms all served up through a classical lens with hefty bass underpinning each tune. This is a real journey into jungle with epic 12-minute plus opener 'Android Mash' twisting and turning through a flurry of tumbling snares, police sirens and yearning vocals. 'The Eagle' is a more soulful sound but still dense in its arrangement and tense in its rhythms. 'Elevation' closes down with plunging basslines and dark soul atmospheres.
Review: Originally released on the cult V4 Visions label in 1991 & 1994, Ashaye's 'Dreaming' and 'What's This World Coming To' epitomised the essence of street soul, a genre blending soul, r&b, and hip-hop that resonated across London's pirate radio stations in the 1990s. With the surge in UK soul's popularity in recent years, DJs and tastemakers have championed these tracks which has in turn elevated their demand and value. 'Dreaming' has become nearly unattainable on the second-hand market, while 'What's This World Coming To' commands prices upwards of L50. Snap up this fully licensed RSD release however and you will have both tracks for an affordable price.
Review: Simon Huxtable's Aural Imbalance is one of drum & bass's most cultured projects. It's a pretty prolific one too, with great new music coming on a steady basis on labels like his own Spatial and Okrbon. It is the former he returns to now with a lush translucent blue vinyl 12", Retrospective Feelings. 'Blue Sky' is a deft mix of ambient cosmic synth work and meticulous drum patterns that suspends you in mid-air. 'Starburst' douses you in dazzling light and 'Frozen Tears' is deeper, tighter, more melancholic. 'Moonlit Clouds' is the classy closer which again pairs a lightness of rhythm and melody into something heavenly.
Review: Aural Imbalance is in a super productive and super good run of form that has seen him serve up a wealth of great EPs over the last year. Now he is back on his own Spatial platform. This latest one comes on translucent grey smokey and green splattered vinyl, starting with the busy and unrelenting amen breaks workout of 'Spacewaves' then pulling back into more suspensory and delicate synth realms on 'Tranquil Sea'. On the flip, the crisp snares and underlapping drum loops of 'Concordia' have you in a state of meditation and then last of all is another sublime bit of ambient laced and dreamy jungle in 'Fading Fields'.
A Soft Mist Production - "Upside Down Rainbows" (5:01)
Dr Sud - "Zaffiro" (Jazz cut) (3:59)
DatSIM - "Influx" (4:40)
The Rabbit Hole - "Tail Groove" (4:27)
Review: No matter your particular preference in the deep house world, this various artists' outing from Q1E2 Recordings is sure to have something for you. Mike Riveria & Marco Ohboy, for example, tap into an early sound on 'Euphoria' with its big, brash piano stabs and whistles, while A Soft Mist Production keeps it all cuddly and deep with languid chords draped over gentle drums on 'Upside Down Rainbows.' DatSIM brings in some space-tech vibes for a deft rhythm and neon infused sound on 'Influx' and The Rabbit Hole's 'Tail Groove' has a mad double bass sound jumping about beneath frantic jungle breaks.
Review: A bittersweet release... Laffin Buddah and Parallax link up to reissue last year's rave treasure trove 'Palomas' and help raise money for the family of The Bridge Project member Stuart Heath who sadly passed away this year. The original rave energy and crucial 4x4 stompage of 'Palomas' is matched by a brand new cut penned by the other half of the project Lee Shilton named 'Tune For Stu'. A firing, darkwave tear-up with all the blasts, shreds and twists Stu would have demanded himself, it's a fitting epitaph to a man sorely missed. Show some support!
Review: New gen energy with old school frequencies, Digital's protege Tim Clay lets rip with a level-upping dispatch. 'New Beginnings' is a statement in every direction. By far his heaviest hitting drums to date, you can feel the Function force on this one! 'Body Move' takes more of drum & bass approach with its strident piano stroke and sensual vocal - think Total Science or early Headz. Finally 'Information Overload' is a right old grizzly 95-era Bristol groaner. Rude in sonic and health. Big moves from Monsieur Clay.
Chris Coco - "Yawa Ze Asfos" (instrumental) (4:02)
Jake Slazenger - "168B" (3:47)
Global Goon - "Untitled" (4:39)
Ruckus (4:47)
Jodey Kendrik - "Thanx" (5:56)
Gavin Masih - "Unknown Track 1" (6:55)
Monika Subrtova - "Alata" (7:08)
Review: Furthur Electronix's first two Furthur Journeys Into compilations tune plenty of heads and shift plenty of copies. The third one keeps the quality levels high with more explorations around the periphery of underground electronics. Chris Coco opens with a soothing synth sound before Jake Slazenger brings crystalline synths and abstract modulations to the mid-tempo '168B.' There is more pace and twisted acid energy to Global Goon's untitled contribution and then old school jungle comes to the fore on the super stylish and atmospheric Gavin Masih cut. Monika Subrtova's 'Alata' is a serene and widescreen ambient synthscape that brings things to a suitably poignant close.
Review: This new one from Cyberlife might be rooted in techno but it is closer day a much wider world of sounds. The opener for instance rides on a nice loopy minimal rhythm you might find the likes of Batu or Pev' crafting. It comes with a lovely and dubby low end and then 'Endless Waiting' gets a little more light, with sci-fi sound effects fizzing about the mix as a dystopian automated groove takes you onwards with a hint of ancient tribal ritual to it. 'Reflexive Perspective' brings the sort of synths you'd find in some IDM over cavernous low ends and sombre, sustained chords and 'Backpropagation' shuts down with a watery and languid rhythm full of celestial depth.
Review: On a mission to "make d&b great again", Finland's Straight Up Breakbeat pass through once more with the second of three EPs formed to showcase modern junglism. Kicking off, 'Mystery Machines' sees Glastonbury's Dead Mans Chest slam down some deadly amen choppage reinforced by haunting vocal FX and paranoid drones. Aeon Four & FFF's 'Look Inside' is a jungle-tekno roller, served with chunky hardcore style amens and a side of warm old-skool pads. Keeping the mid-90s vibe alive, the tripped out 'Green Fields Forever ' from Fanu - which drops hot on the heels of his greatly received remaster of Source Direct's 'Stars' - delivers airtight amen trickery, weaving synth washes and blissful dubby basslines. Esc & Mineral round things off with 'Photosynthesis', a pensive stepper highlighting cut-up breaks waltzing with cheeky synth nudges and a wide, rugged bassline. If the pioneers had buried some beefed-up tracks in a time-capsule to inspire future generations, they would probably sound a lot like 'States of Art II'.
Review: Exclusive! Over Shadow unleash these two super-hot rarities from around 93/94. Both big tunes on dubplate at the time, especially 'Close Your Eyes' which was a big tune in Fabio's early Speed sets, they finally see the vinyl light of day after all these years. 'Close Your Eyes' is a beautiful atmospheric whirlwind while 'Destroyer VIP' lived up to its name. Still sounding heavier than a helicopter over 30 years later.
Review: Seminal business: DJ Rap's 1995 anthem 'Intelligent Woman' remains one of the most relevant and iconic jungle tracks to this day and still demands a reload 27 years later. Fully backed up by a harder, more D&B-focused 2020 re-lick, Kniteforce pay respect to Rap and her influence on the drum & bass game with this long-awaited repress. Grab it and invest in a slice of serious history.
Product Of The Streets (feat Sleazy F Baby) (4:10)
Product Of The Streets (instrumental) (4:10)
Review: The dream team Dogger & Mindstate return to TNQ wax with this hearty package of soulful, hip-hop-influenced D&B flavours that was originally unleashed digitally last summer. Representing both their pathways into this music, from north to south, the duo recruit the likes of London's Verbz and Manchester's Sleazy F Baby to vocal and narrate their delicate, subtle but ultimately heavyweight rhythms. From the deep jazz of 'Different Roads' to the symphonic dynamics of 'From The Concrete', this is one of the hardest hitting and emotional records Dogger and Mindstate have made so far.
Review: Following his latest album Against A Dark Background, the inimitable Dom & Roland continues to forge his own unique near-30 year path with the launch of a brand new label. Fittingly entitled Individual, it kicks off with two exceptional - not to mention uncompromising - cuts. 'Burn Bright' is your quintessential hardcore jungle d&b with big stabs, massive splashing cymbals and iced out atmospheres stretches over the top. 'Being' meanwhile is a hyper jazz jam with brutalist steppy drums, treacle subs and wild blasts of muted trumpet. Far out.
Review: More dark arts from the man and his machine; Dom & Roland tears 2025 a new one with four powerful drum & bass compositions. Provocative and unapologetic, 'Under The Spell' snaps the firmest of wands and does so for the best part of 10 minutes. A real hypnotic showdown. 'Re-Resistance' meanwhile takes us into much more industrial, abstract territories in a way that you might imagine Krust or Amit might. 'I'm Here To Stay' is a much more placid, spacious affair laced with lush pads and a smouldering vocal that induces euphoria at 50 paces. Complete with a tearing remix of 'The Storm', it's another essential 12" from one of d&b's most consistent artists.
Review: Since 2017, KOKOKO! have been trailblazing Kinshasa's sonic revolution while earning global acclaim for their unique sound and vibrant performances. Recognised as the best live band by AIF, they've been featured on NPR Tiny Desk, Boiler Room, and major festivals like SXSW and Pitchfork. Their debut album, Fongola, received rave reviews, and now they are back with another album that is unlike much else you will have heard. BUTU, which is inspired by Kinshasa's vibrant nightlife, has been proceeded by the lead single 'Mokili.' The album has further cues taken from Kinshasa, Kwaito, and 90s dance music and channels the band's hometown's frenetic energy with a sense of social activism into a powerful statement.
Review: Forest On Stasys takes the plunge here and launches a new label, Aura Sonora, which debuts with a hugely limited and high-quality new 12" from the boss. The imprint will be "a platform designed for sound experimentation" and the first missive backs that up with a great blend of drum & bass, half-time and techno. 'Magnetismo' is a prickly opener with slippery rhythms underpinned by bold bass. 'Domo' is a darker sound with menacing low ends and prickly percussive patterns while 'Sideral' is another late-night prowler with low sling sounds, eerie atmospheres and a real sense of futurism. A great start to life for Aura Sonora.
Review: Dark Knite renegade Hannibal Selector returns with a broad bounty of militant steppery. 'What A Shame' is a gritty tech step number that's reminiscent of Dom & Roland around the 'Cant Punish Me' era. 'End Of All' meanwhile is more a whole warehouse of chainsaws being let off at the same time, then sped up by some type of dark d&b sorcery. Finally 'Necrodancer' closes on more of a sinister bone rattler flex. Hard, acidic but still bouncy. What an EP.
Review: Deep Jungle has always dealt in sounds that hark back to the golden era of the mid 90s, whether they are carefully chosen reissues, forgotten rarities or new releases. This time it is bossman Harmony who steps out with his version of things starting with the epic 'Now Massive' which is a hefty amen number with ragga vocals and love retro Reese bass. Flo over this one and you will find 'Ohh Baby' which although is decidedly more laid back, the heavy rolling breaks never let up and keep you moving physically and emotionally. Two more essential and timeless sounds from this jungle powerhouse.
Review: Deep Jungle bossman Harmony gets busy once again and it's a tale of two bangers. 'Hold It' goes in with the swagger and a hardcore energy. There's a big drive to the breakdown where everything melts into bliss. Need something deep for the weekend? Get your listening gear around 'Star Chaser'. Twinkling flutes, shimming synths, gentle vocal textures. Think Seba and you're in the right cosmos.
Review: Five years has passed since J Majik made an impressive return with Full Circle, an album that dug right back to his Reinforced/Metalheadz roots with uncompromised futurism. Lo and behold these cuts still smack just as hard now as they did in 2019 (and would have absolutely melted us back in 94) 'The Crow Knows' is total sonic brutalism with it thundering drums and powerful sense of tension. 'Codebreaker' is a much colder slice of the jungle pie. Big elongated pads and a general feeling that aliens are about to land at any minute. Majik doing magic things.
Review: ASC's Spatial imprint looks west for inspiration this month as they welcome a certified Reinforced OG who made a return last September after a 25 year break from this particular project (and many years from the game): New Jersey's JLM Productions. Also operating under aliases such as Sky City and P.E.P during the 90s, the JLM name was synonymous with the deeper, atmospheric sounds of jungle. And that's exactly what we have here. Four blissful, subtle and restrained atmospheric jungle cuts. Highlights include the swashbuckling breaks on 'The Navigator' and the dream-like haze of opener 'The Cartographer'. Welcome back JLM.
Review: Spatial is the connoisseur d&b label run by Simon Huxtable aka Aural Imbalance and as well as dropping a new EP from the boss himself this month, JLM Productions also steps up with a fine limited edition purple slab of brilliance. These sounds are more textural and dense than the boss's, with 'Permeate' plunging on heavy drum breaks, while 'Orogeny' is a busy one with crashing hits and more sub-bass drilling down low. 'Subsidence' douses you in widescreen cinematic pads while the drums flutter about the field and 'Lamminar Flow' brings things to a close with a more bright melodic touch and cruising grooves.
Review: Warsaw underground favourite Kampinos emerges onto the wider stage here with two standout jungle and drum & bass infused reworks. The A-side features 'Golden Eggs,' a reimagining of Tenor Saw's classic that comes infected with 90s jungle vibes, heavy amen drums and massive bass drops that will rattle yer bass bins. On the B-side, 'Menino De Outro Mundo' blends the Brazilian sounds of Caetano Veloso with samba rhythms and rolling drum & bass beats for a nice fresh fusion. This is an inventive, cross-genre 7" that honours the roots while pushing forward.
Review: The pairing of LSB and DRS is up there with wine and cheese. Having smashed 2015 with "The View", the pair return with another beautiful, emotion-soaked gem "Missing You". With its soft pianos and space for DRS to ruminate, it's another soulful smash that will stand the test of time. "Tumult" shows the complete flip of LSB's ever-perennial skills as he rolls out a darkside roller with a serious hurricane bassline that's powerful enough to take you back to the 2001. With his debut album around the corner, both tracks do well to remind you just how on-point LSB is.
Review: Since its relaunch in 2017, Deep Jungle has been killing it by serving up previously unreleased tunes from the 90's next to represses of select rarities and new tunes in the vibe of the classic 93-96 era. Here we have Orca ensuring we all have a whale of a time (hey, hey) while lost in the precision-tooled breaks and snares, hits and lunging basslines of 'What Kind Of World.' 'Camyx' is a more trippy sound with liquid synths shimmering and raga vocals during the beatdown. 'Echoes' is a driving and physical workout with high seed loops and minimal pads.
Review: Ready to take a deep dive? Some long lost Orca dubs resurfaced on Deep Jungle last year and here comes the reissue. One of Kosheen co-founder Decoder's earliest projects, Orca's ripples date back to around 92 and seminal labels like Lucky Spin. Here we have a few reloads and few unreleased moments from that era. Highlights include the wonderfully rushy 'Spacetek' with its bellowing pads and springy beats and the didge-blasting wobbler 'Skylab' but the whole EP is fantastic. Have a whale of a time.
Review: It was only a matter of time before Andrew Ferguson made his debut on 2 Bad Mice's Over/Shadow; his tenure in the game, his authenticity, his lack of compromise and his timelessness as an artist (both as Outrage and his more 140-oriented alias Nomine) is a perfect fit. Here are two examples; 'Goodbye' says hello with oceanic waves of disarming pads, bellowing subs and spacious breaks while 'In The Dark' brings a little more 1990 unity vibes thanks to the sensual vocal and subtle piano charm. Outrageously good.
Review: Priori's 'Pareidolia' EP proved a big hit so it makes sense that the Midgar label now drops a selection of remixes of it. The hi-fidelity master Forest Drive West delivers two remixes, including one mesmerising half-time twist up of 'Hazard' and a more slow, wonderfully murky techno workout. Montreal's Maara transforms 'Memory Palace' into a dub techno delight that will have you floating above the floor while Notte Infinita adds a seductive drum & bass vibe to the title track. Last but not least, Amsterdam's Upsammy brings a typically innovative and playful touch that makes 'Glass Shards' a lively rhythmic workout.
Review: The Time Is Now label single-handed ushered in a new era of garage if you ask us. That was a few years ago but the label continues to lead from the fort here with a new EP from Samurai Breaks & Napes who make their label debut in explosive fashion. They are skilled studio talents who are nudging at the boundaries of the current UK bass sound and here they hybridise bassline, jungle and garage. You won't easily be able to fit these into one stylistic box but they will do damage on the floor, from the ghetto restlessness of the opener to the manic melodies of 'Correct Technique' and onto the turbocharged 'FrogMob'. Thrilling stuff.
Review: Swedish d&b pioneer Seba continues to roll out more reissues from his Secret Operations label vaults, taking back over 15 years to some of his most career-defining work. The swaggering opener 'Your Deepest Love', the ice cold finale piece 'Legion' and the breath-taking 'Forever' all take us back to the mid-2000s (2006/7 to be precise) when Seba and his label really started to make their own independent mark in drum & bass. For good measure and balance he's also including 'Inkasso'. A little more recent in his discography at only eight years old, but just as hard hitting and timeless - Seba always hits the spot whatever era you find him at.
Review: Silent Force Records unleash a brand new series SFR Titans and its down to the mighty giant Sicknote to launch it. Naturally he tears the series a new one before it's even started. 'Craw' takes the lead as Sicky links with old mate and long-time collaborator Escher for some tense, emotional volatility. For 'Lates' on the B-side old Notey chops goes solo and takes us proper darkside. Think 'Angel Fell'-era Dilli with a slice of old Digital and you're in the right armshouse. Titanic.
Review: Bay Area badness! Soeneido lets rip on his own Lotek imprint once again with four absolutely savage jungle cuts. Comprising pure drummage and slight elements of hardcore throughout, each cut hits hard and unapologetically. Those looking for a little mystic charm and space should head for the A where 'Midori' and 'Choose The Sword' err on a deeper, eerie touch while those on a hunt for pure breakbeat adrenaline should flip for the wild industrial drums of 'Ninja Hunter' and the heavyweight finale 'Noon Saibot'. Blimey.
Review: Sonic Deadline AKA Party Force AKA Eyeski AKA Master Editor boils up the Hard Boiled machine once again with an eggsellent four-tet of rave fizzers. Strictly vinyl, all four cuts slap with a playful housey hardcore edge. 'Memories Of Blue' is a proper Dred Bass style springy breaks cut with mega scratches galore and 'My Feelings Can't Explain' shows some seriously twisted Saturday loving (if you catch our drift) Meanwhile on the B: 'Road To Nowhere' takes us into a darker state of emotional consciousness while 'Our Mind Was Trapped' closes with a big bouncy, hands-in-the-air hoorah. Times up.
Review: Submorphics deals in a unique sound: lo-fi drum n' bass. Yes, what was once reserved for a new style house can definitely be abstracted into other genres, contrary to what the less open-minded among us would have you believe. 'Verona Highway' is just that: working in old soulful house samples and self-recorded highpassed radio synths, the Netherlands-based artist works in a serene palette of sounds to convey a drum n' bassy idea of a late night Detroit to Chicago road trip aesthetic.
Review: .Stepping into spring with true style and just the right amount of nostalgic sass, unpredictable Finnish artist Otto Taimela follows a string of techno dispatches with this sublime four track jungle narrative that's perfect the sunnier seasons. With its lively, unkempt edits and jumps, 'Sunflower' has a powerful warmth of a timeless jungle dancefloor tune while carrying a certain amount of nostalgic IDM haze. It's a vibe which is maintained throughout the EP; 'Sunwarmed Window' has a dreamier edge that wouldn't have gone amiss on Warp at any point during the early to mid-90s, 'Sunshine Reloading' rides a much busier drums palette while 'Imagined U' brings us back down to earth with a gentle beatless ambient kiss. Stunning.
Review: Sadly this month marks seven years since we lost Tango. A true originator to come out of the Timeless camp along with the likes of Total Science and Digital & Spirit, Tango (alongside Ratty) was one of the true renegades of early drum & bass as it was forged from hardcore, jungle and many other influential corners. Both 'Understanding' and 'Spellbound' are great examples of his sound and near-mystical signature. Released in 96, now remixed by two exceptional modern renegades, 'Understanding' gets the full choppage twist from L Major while Ricky Force keeps all of the cosmic charm of 'Spellbound' while beefing it up in all the right places.
Review: Waveforms is a brand new label spearheaded by ASC and Presha who the already revered minds behind Spatial/Auxiliary and Samurai Music respectively. They say they are on a mission to dive deep into the menacing world of early 90s jungle and cook up tunes reminiscent of that era and then serve them up lovely slabs of 10" wax. And right from the off the man who never misses, Tim Reaper, transports us back to the driving breakbeats and raw energy of that time with a pair of tunes that layer up a flurry of snares and booming low ends with wiry synths the sense of futurism that still holds true to this day. Sure to captivate old-school heads and new listeners alike.
Review: Undercurrent is an artist based in LA and a New Palm resident who shows his studio skills across a trio of new cuts here. 'Beliefs' is a loopy breakbeat roller with jittery rhythms that lock you into their loops and keep you there. 'No Data' is similar but more punchy, with real edge and drive in the breaks while fat bass stabs power things along from below. The same track then gets a remix from Charlie Edward that is more spaced out with searching synths and a more rubbery bassline. Last of all is a floating ambient cut that eventually has a jungle breakbeat rise up through the mix to take you into the next dimension.
Review: MELMAK's new 12" is entitled All Stars: The Rave Years which gives you an idea of what to expect. These are high-tempo, dense and rave ready sounds from the drum & bass vanguard. There is plenty of space out cosmic energy to the exploratory leads of X Termal's 'Tragnal Kozze' then 'What If' (The Doulo Klan edit) is a tightly coiled stepper. Bugger lays down a hyper speed rhythm with drilling bass and slapping hits on 'No Silence Now' and Umbra's 'The Big Dumb' is a real slow-motion churner with textural synths and alien sound designs. All four are ready to get the party going in different ways.
Review: Since he first landed on our radar via Vivid a few years back, Yosh has dished out enough high grade garage and breakbeat gear to fuel the scene on his own. Not only a prolific producer, he's also got a razor sharp flair which edges him in front of a crowded scene, and now he's back to Vivid to show us exactly what he's about with a 12-track double-pack, his biggest release to date. In one sense you should know exactly what to expect - elevated steppers and deft rollers, but the fundamental appeal of Yosh is all those ear-snagging traits which make his tracks sparkle, and you never know what they're going to be until the needle's tracking in that groove. Now you can enjoy that sensation 12 times over - a good deal if ever we saw one.
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