Back in stock: Drum And Bass/Jungle

Review: As well as this one coming on pink wax, Adam F is also dropping it on nice classic black vinyl. It features his classic track 'Brand New Funk,' which emerged after he acquired a second-hand Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Vocoder, and Clavinet D6 Honerikey instruments of the funk era. This track pays tribute to its predecessors by blending classic funk elements with intense drum patterns, merging the vintage funk spirit with modern sonic complexity. Revived and refreshed, 'Brand New Funk' represents one of Adam F's most innovative and enduring sounds.

Review: Okbron Records welcome Atlantiq to the roster, and in so doing reccy an uncharted subaquatic terrain, in which drum & bass production requires specialist handling. Limited to just 350 copies, and bundled with the statement "No repress."- full stop duly noted - Okbron are implicitly aware of the (anti-)gravity of this release. 'M33' sounds as if its liquid jungle source deposits housed a yet undiscovered respiratory gas for an unidentified life-form; its all-to-easily recognised breakbeats are the only orthodox productive choice on the title track, whereupon every other element sounds born of a hidden underwater civilisation, not a mere synthesiser, and surrounds the mix as though we'd embarked on a serene coralline safari. B-sider 'Nothing To Lose' takes a seedier turn in terms of vibe, with sistrum rattles and brooding crime-drama basses hearing whackout breaks set to an otherwise ruminant sonic mystery.

Review: Just as they were likely originally intended, two of Calibre's said-to-be most coveted productions come remastered fresh from the vaults, and reissued on black vinyl via the sonic conservationists over at Signature. First comes the 2001 remix of Badmarsh & Shri's 'Signs', to which Calibre lends an extra rolling signification, its no-nonsense industrial break and tensing, two-note pads doing most of the legwork here. Then there's the original 'Soul 80', a unique fusion of dub-delayed chipmunky vox splices, modular synth piques, and a massive, untechy breakbeat.

Review: The Brothers Grimm aka bass badmen and legendary duo Dyce and Acen deliver a timeless classic with this iconic EP that has been meticulously remastered from the original DAT tapes. Both tracks are exceptional for their sheer potency and masterful drum programming, but the flipside jam 'Exodus' stands out as one of the earliest jungle anthems and still a banger to this day. Its powerful breakbeat and distinctive vocals capture the essence of old-school rave and jungle, which set a benchmark for the genres and still hold up now. A definitive piece of music history, do not sleep on this one.

Review: Gun Fevah' and 'Wise Man' are the latest offerings from Champion Sound, blending halftime rhythms and jungle aesthetics into a seamless package of dub-infused tracks. Formed in the Russian underground, the crew behind this 7" came together through a shared love of reggae. Neekeetone's drums and Koondoongoo's bass laid the foundation, with the pair meeting Distant Roots at Dub Raw Camp in the Caucasus. It's clear that these global influences have seeped into the record. Released on 45Seven, a label known for pushing the boundaries of dubby jungle, this release feels both rooted in tradition and forward-thinking. 'Gun Fevah' opens with echoing horns and skanks before plunging into a murky jungle atmosphere, driven by sharp halftime snares. It's all about building tension, the kind of track that doesn't rush to make its impact but lingers, unhurried yet potent. On the flip side, 'Wise Man' takes a more familiar route, evoking Sesame's Treat with its playful energy, carried by a bassline that's endlessly rolling and hypnotic. The duo's mastery of space and depth makes these tunes perfect for sound system sessions, where each element resonates fully. It's dub music with a jungle twist, looking both back to its origins and ahead to its future.

Review:  In 2019, Vinyl Fanatiks launched with the debut of the Ellis Dee Project series across two parts. Fast forward five years, and the label is back with Part 3, which is a real monster of a release that's well worth the wait. 'Don't Stop Rocking' is raved-up, jungle-inspired, hardcore breakbeat fun with drilling basslines and yelping vocal sounds and some playful breakdowns and curious melodies. The remix of 'Dance Factor' on the flip from Rennie Pilgrim is another all out assault with rave horns and unrelenting drum pressure. Incidentally, his first-ever remix was of Ellis Dee, so this is a nice circular moment.

Review: Onetime halftime exclusivist Fixate has set his sights on new temporal horizons. 'Conundrum' is one such dance musical venture, clocking in at a rough 130ish BPM while also securing enough of an atmospheric likeness to earlier releases so as to remain Fixated on the same vibe. A six-track mini-album debuting on the artist's resident Exit Records, 'Conundrum' flaunts a formerly undisclosed affection for house, electro and techno; in the artist's own words, "I made these tracks to fit into my own DJ sets, bridging the gap between tempos when playing out." Functional intentions do often still lead to excessively wicked results and the tracks here all provide a serious underfoot scalding, their 808 snares and underhand grimey melodies sure to make you hoo, hah, suck teeth and dance.

Review: To Sweet Sensi Records come Krugah with a wicked turn of techstep, ragga jungle and drumfunk. The Brooklyn producer breaks brash ground on this latest 12", squashing mountains of freq-y sound below liminal, scraping drum toppers. Opener 'Tonne Weight' truly does weight a tonne for this very reason; our weighing scales barely make it out alive for the ensuing audio assault that is 'Wickedness Increase', which samples the raggamuffin ragings of an old clash tape of god-knows origin. 'Nuh Sound Curse' brings nitrate echoes to the same ragga sample, layering breaks-matics and three-note dreamoid melodies, while 'Off Di Scene (Dance)' bestows a bubbling experiment, by far the oddest but coolest of the lot.

Review: The 20th-anniversary edition of Squarepusher's Ultravisitor showcases Tom Jenkinson's groundbreaking blend of live and studio recordings, remastered for new depths of sound. Spanning frenetic breakbeats, jazz-funk explorations and atmospheric fusion, this album captures the complexity and eclecticism of Jenkinson's work. Tracks like 'Iambic 9 Poetry' deliver sunlit jazz tones, while 'Tommib Help Buss' brings serene electronic bliss. Although Ultravisitor might feel overlong at nearly 80 minutes, its sprawling length doesn't diminish its innovation. The title track encapsulates Squarepusher's signature drum-n-electro-pop, while pieces like 'Circlewave' and 'I Fulcrum' balance virtuosity with thematic exploration. Jenkinson's improvisational drumming and bass solos, such as on 'I Fulcrum', demonstrate his command over both instruments and composition. Jenkinson's eccentricity shines through, making Ultravisitor an essential listen for both long-time fans and newcomers. This edition reaffirms Squarepusher's pioneering role in electronic music, blending technical brilliance with intriguing, if at times chaotic, compositions. It's a record that intrigues and impresses, pushing the boundaries of beat-driven electronic music.

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.

Review: On limited heavyweight black-label vinyl come yet more samurai-themed various arts from the Berlin d&b dramaturgists at Samurai Music, clocking in at an insanely portentous 13 tracks. Also marking their hundredth vinyl release, the label honour their nearly 17-year existence with aspirant, boundary-pushing, dark drum & bass numbers, all sourced internationally. Representative of the Samurai Music sound is an intense brand of technically scratchy, yet smoothly intoned atmoss - one that doesn't fall prey to overburdening by drums and retains an emphasis on nyctophonic, serene scapes. Its star selections - the sonic katanas that refract the most light in the dark - have to be ASC's techno-informed 'S100' and Mako's intricately designed mammoth of a track, 'Get Away With It'.

Review: One too many tabs... or so the insinuation goes on 'Too Much Acid' EP, the latest outing by Zerozero. After their smash hit with MC GQ last year, 'Too Much Acid' is the duo's debut on Flexout and features man of the moment Teej on remix duties of their cult classic, 'Anything Can Happen'. Two further originals come in the form of 'Confidence' and 'Too Much Acid', both of which opt for spitty rollage and furtive growls snarking under droughty drums. Also clock the one-off liquid number 'Thinking Over It', featuring Riya, a demure and circumspect track sporting aloof vocal airs and tactical lead stabs.