Don't Be Afraid Vinilo y CD

Review: Don't Be Afraid serve up their final release of a most impressive 2013, presenting the third edition of their transatlantic flavoured DBA Dubs series sees which another label debut. As his recent turn out on The Kelly Twins Happy Skull label demonstrated, Adjowa has a talent for refracting boogie, house and Italo that makes him a perfect candidate to follow Claws For? and Kelpe. His excellent "Science & Soul" track is treated to a quite distinct "Snares Down The Stairs" remix from Future Times captain Max D, which the label quite aptly states draws on "grime, jungle and breakbeat hardcore tropes to create a truly otherworldly banger."

Review: Don't Be Afraid sub-label DBA Dubs pulls out an intriguing single, pitching tastings of Bristol bass, middle-eastern themes and watery tabla rhythms of D-Malice with Canada's house faithful Basic Soul Unit. This D-Malice release, somewhat of a surprise inclusion to the label, follows music by Claws For?, beat fusionist Kelpe, Adjowa and No Corner and Idle Hands artist Lily. Both tracks fit a house tempo and it's the percussion of the original that's the real hook, while BSU's thumping remixing delivers a menacing Vermona kick drum with swathes of heavy, dub techno-spheres. A versatile release.

Review: Although Don't Be Afraid have had a busy year in 2013, adding DBA Dubs and DBA Special Editions to its label family, and issuing the Synthetes collection from Mr Beatnick, label owner Semtek has still found time to uncover some new talent in the form of unheralded Finnish producer Halvtrak. Little is known about the producer aside from a fondness for Chicago house, but the music on his debut Dust Under Bridges EP for DBA more than speaks for itself; opener "Finding Yourself" combines rumbling bass, searching chords and acidic textures in a Legowelt vein, while the frantic pace of "A Thousand Years" sounds almost UK funky-inspired. The dark melody and bubbling acid of "Barracuda" sees a return to restless sci-fi inspired melodies while "Face Two" delves into hypnotic 303 territory.

Review: Since she last released some original music, Ikonika has been through a lot, including - in her own words - "pregnancy, depression and therapy". It's undoubtedly great to have her back in business, not least because "Bodies" offers a reminder of her undoubted musical talents. She begins with the spacey, bass-heavy slipped electro attractiveness of "Your Body", before opting for even bolder bass, more futuristic electronic motifs and broken beats on the arguably even better "Nobody". Turn to the flipside for the punchy, machine-gun breaks, drowsy chords and warped analogue riffs of "What Kinda Pain Are We Talking About", as well as the snappy, all-action electro/breakbeat fusion of ghostly and intergalactic closing cut "Bodied (Roller Mix)", the EP's most sweaty and percussive moment.