Back catalogue: Drum And Bass/Jungle

Review: Proper pristine, technical drum & bass here from the Transmute crew, expending far more effort than most junglists in fleshing out the body, weight and polish of each constituent sound. Mostly forgoing sampled breakbeats, the 'DUOS' EP hears refreshingly unusual sound design choices dance over a more straight-up rollage in the rhythm section(s). From the opening washer pads of Abstract Drumz & Optimystic's 'Energy To The Universe', to the closing techstep clanks of Sicknote & Escher's 'Trouble Part 2', this EP brings a variety of emotions to a gestalt whole, unified by its consistently clean production.

Review: Mike Parker, a master of ice-cold wormhole techno, returns to Samurai Music with an EP that pushes the boundaries of 170BPM dancefloor devastation. 'Envenomations' sees Parker apply his steely, rigorous approach to the drum & bass template, crafting a collection of tracks that are as hypnotic as they are relentless. The A-side features two lean, rolling workouts, 'Voc-1 Robot' and 'Ee-Yo', their minimalist aesthetic and atonal synthesis recalling the icy cool sounds of mid-90s Krust. On the flip, Parker delves into more spacious territory with two tracks originally released digitally, their hypnotic grooves and alien textures showcasing his signature sound. With its blend of techno and drum & bass influences, 'Envenomations' is another standout release from a true auteur.

Review: Back to 93! Deep Jungle dig deep into the vaults of a true player... Pascal, the man behind so many big labels and events throughout jungle d&b history. This one was one of his most pivotal pieces. Co-produced with Sponge, both left, right and the unreleased versions of 'Nosebleed' capture that darkside melting pot that was frothing over in all directions throughout the 92/93 era. 'Future' meanwhile captured that icy sci-fi soul that would very quickly merge and melt into deep atmospheric jungle and sounds that Bukem and Fabio would be pioneering at Speed. Straight up seminal.

Review: Pera Sta Ori's Hix Hax EP on To Pikap Records is a nostalgic nod to the 90s rave scene, reimagined with modern production finesse. Across four tracks, the EP delivers furious breakbeat manipulation, pitched vocal samples, and heavy bass, reminiscent of old school jungle vibes. Each track is crafted for the dancefloor, blending classic elements with contemporary techniques to create an electrifying atmosphere. With its seamless fusion of past and present, Hix Hax EP offers a thrilling four tracks worth of rave culture, sure to impress both veteran ravers and newcomers alike.

Review: Periferico makes a fine return here on Undersounds Recordings with a five track EP that pulls together some key tracks that were produced between 1998 and 2009. They have been unearthed on old DATs and sound as good as ever. 'Sixth Event' is a slow motion tech sound with frazzled synths and dreamy chords then 'Car Ride' shimmers with some lithe synths and hip swinging drums and 'Twelve Dances' is another playful sound that has aged to perfection. 'Cuts & Seams' is more experimental with jungle breaks and driving bassline co-produced with Luigi Mussi. The same is true of '2 Weeks' which is another throwback and classy jungle sound.

Review: Neoclassic acid-from-garage movements from Peter Reilley aka. Persian, a favourite of the UK dance music scene since as long as anyone can remember. For 20 years, Reilly has gone his own way, operating in and on genre after genre, up-peggable as he is adept, blending breaks, digidub, electro, garage, house, and jungle across a repertoire of no less than 50 EPs. Though this release serves as his farewell, as Reilly formally steps back from music production, it beautifully showcases his skill in programming, with 'Questions 2' proving a sleight hand for twinging post-funk leads, and 'Questions 7' bringing unprecedented sci-fi desolations to an erstwhile jam-funky tune collection.

Review: Adrian Sherwood lends a generous remixing hand to the label Dubmission and their flagship productions duo come solo artist Pitch Black (Mike Hodgson), producing an effects-laden leap through four dub drastics all based on original music first recorded by Mike. This is an exemplary case of "don't meet your heroes" being disproven, as 'Echoes Of The Night' and its filial sonic friends all worked as source material for an anything but disappointing remix bundle by Sherwood. The opening 'Transient Transmission' version is lilting enough, but the gears really get meshing on 'Third Light', which brings a turntablist's whistle, a wet yet naked guitar, and a dubstep flavour to things; finally, B-siders 'A Doubtful Sound' and '1000 Mile Drift' deconstruct things to complemetary effect, effecting dually electric Lee Perry vocals and halved trumpet importunes, the latter of which is heard set against a conspiratorial vocal sample.

Review: Presha's Sacrifice: Rituals EP undergoes a transformative journey as a handful of esteemed producers delve into its sonic depths, reshaping each track with their unique perspectives. Dom & Roland's remix of 'Raven' sets a menacing tone with its hard-hitting beats and ominous atmosphere, invoking a sense of impending doom. Forest Drive West takes on 'Anaconda,' infusing it with languid, slow techno vibes that gradually evolve into a spacey light drum n bass pattern with soundscapes, characterized by dark undertones and hypnotic rhythms. Meanwhile, Homemade Weapons brings a nostalgic nod to 90s jungle with their remix of 'Temple,' featuring vocal samples and urban-inspired beats that transport listeners to the gritty streets of the past. Finally, Torn's remix of 'Sacrifice' delves into the depths of growling jungle, immersing listeners in a menacing and dark sonic landscape. With its deep, menacing tones, this remix encapsulates the EP's theme of ritualistic sacrifice. Overall, Sacrifice: Rituals displays the versatility, creativity and power of Jungle a nd Drum & Bass music.

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: Hardcore drum & bass flavours lent an ethereal, darkside sonic twist. Welcomed to the Samuari Music shogunate for the first time ever - despite a longtime, shared presence on the scene - Pugilist, Tamen and Onyx make for a thoracic, thudding collab. Suspensory pads lock us in vial-pods of stasis on the opening 'Conquer', on which our somatic reserves end up totally vampirised by precision shellage. Scapular breaks break our kneecaps on 'ESS', which comes squared off by tweezed hats, while 'Resu' and 'Mise' go on to bloodlet a jungular jugular, with the final track meliorating the soul with its tuned 808s, sculpted distortion and pulsate, futuro-spa ambiances.

Review: More moody grooves from this long-standing Northern partnership as they lay down four wide-ranging cuts on their own Northern Front imprint. The first release on the label this year, it's big old statement as they flex across the spectrum. 'Criminal' hits with a Metalheadz headbutt, 'Dominion' swaggers with a venomous bounce that you could imagine coming from a collab between Amit and Total Science. Then we have 'Muscle' which is an exception piece of breaks that nods heavily at the foundation but keeps a contemporary twist. Finally 'Catastrophic Disclosure' closes with a hard, noisy Dillinja dig in the solar plexus. Savage scenes. This is some of Response and Pliskin's best work to date.

Review: At this point Okbron is a byword for the best atmospheric d&b coming out these days and while they may have drawn people in with their archival and reissue offerings, they're just as vital for platforming new music. Response & Pliskin represent the best of Manchester's d&b scene, and they've delved into a particularly mellow sound world for this release. 'Soon Forgotten' is a dreamy, subtly haunting roller with a clean, crisp beat and fulsome subs you can just float on, while 'Mainstream' deals in more layered, evolving pad tones and diced up breaks without losing that light, airy feel you want from a proper atmospheric release.

Review: Aaron J's Sure Thing kicks on towards its tenth release with a superb new 12" packed with fresh techno jams. Myriad different mods, grooves and tempos are on offer here starting with the puling rhythmic depths of Vardae's 'Pahlevan' then moving on to Kick21's 'Bright Interface', a dark and haunting low-end wobbler. Atavic's 'Subconscious' is a heady one with ambient cosmic pads over deeply hurried, supple rhythms then while Tammo Hesselink & DYL combine to mesmeric effect on the carefully curated broken beat brilliance of 'Accent Award.' A forward-thinking EP for sure.