Back catalogue: UK Hardcore

Review: We already knew what a talented and innovative producer FFF has proven himself to be, but on his new and much awaited album Eternal Mind he finds new heights even by his own high standards. He wastes no time in sweeping you off your feet with some electrifying synth work and almost juke like drum programming on the opener 'Axehead' and from there explores all manner of drum & bass sound worlds, from minimal steppers like 'Magnetic Mountain' to cosmic future funk workouts such as 'What We Once Where' and on to ice cold and warp speed gems like 'Curve of Forgetting.' Sensational work.

Review: On Curve 1, Mura Masa takes a detour from pop-infused collaborations and returns to his roots with a record steeped in the spirit of club culture. Released on his own Pond Recordings, this fourth album is a statement of independence, reflecting both a shift in direction and a rejection of the narrative-heavy, hyper-commercialised approach that has often surrounded modern music releases. Curve 1 is enigmatic, playful, and ambiguousidesigned to resonate in both solitary listening sessions and the intensity of packed, sweat-drenched dancefloors. Mura Masa describes the album as a manifestation of a personal philosophy: to ignore the noise of the attention economy and focus on what truly matters. In this light, Curve 1 becomes more than an albumiit's an invitation for listeners to strip away preconceptions and find their own meaning within its layers. Tracks bounce between euphoric highs and introspective moments, leaving plenty of space for tension and release. With the launch of his own label and creative space in Peckham, Mura Masa continues to position himself at the heart of youth culture, pushing boundaries and fostering new talent. Curve 1 marks the beginning of this new chapter, full of possibilities and free from convention.

Review: Those interested in the roots of UK bass music have been well-served of late, with a number of books and compilations focusing on the first wave of British dance music in the late 80s and early 90s. Soul Jazz's latest compilation is a superb addition to this growing list. It showcases music made in the post-bleep and early breakbeat hardcore period, where basslines got bigger, drum breaks faster, and ragga influences started to come to the fore. The selections are on-point throughout from the dub-wise rave rush of Babylon Timewarp's "Durban Poison" and the bleep-and-breaks-meets-proto-jungle shuffle of DJ Dubplate's "Tings A Go On", to the rave-rap goodness of The Freaky's "Time & Age" and the heavily edited darkcore/early jungle insanity that is Krome & Time's terrific "Ganja Man". In a word: essential.

Review: Did you know that Iceland had its own rather influential rave scene back in the 1990s? Whatever the answer to that question, you will want to check out this first-ever collection of anthems from that era which is now on vinyl for the first time. This collection came on Thule offshoot label TMT Entertainment as a CD in 1992 and features memorable and timeless tracks from back then, many of them now with cult status. It's called Alsaela, which translates as "ecstasy" and gives you some idea of what to expect from it. It features a non-stop selection of old school rave alongside some lost and previously unavailable classics by Agzilla & DJ L.S.K and some unreleased gems from AJAX. A great bit of history that still does the trick.

Review: Grab it while you can! Kniteforce Records continue to juice up their never-to-be-reissued-or-repressed KFW series with this walloping VA featuring an exciting range of old names and new. Highlights include the rushy vocal throwback 'Genesis' from Sunny & Deck Hussy, the cloud-smashing dreamy vibe out 'Close To Nowhere' from Sub Fundation and the wild piano finale from both Beeno & Alk-E-D and Ross Fader as their tracks ('The Weekender' and 'Dream Catchers' respectively) end this epic EP with so much euphoria you might just go out, hug a random stranger and offer them some chewing gum. Source material.