Drum & Bass Recommendations November 2014

Review: 2014 is a special year for Dom Angas. Not only is he turning 40, but it also marks 20 years since the release of his first single under the Dom & Roland alias. As part of the celebrations, he's handed over the parts to a string of classic productions to a veritable who's who of D&B talent. They provide a series of dark, pulverising, rolling and occasionally intense reworks, all designed to cement his reputation as one of the greatest exponents of the artform. Highlights are naturally plentiful, from the classic jungle breaks and rave-era rush of BTK and Optiv's rework of "Jungle Beast", to the exotic melodies, foreboding stabs and tech-tinged textures of Mindscape's mighty rub of "Mindfeeders".

Review: Last year's Lasers Not Included album confirmed what many had suspected; Wilkinson is a bonafide star producer with the capacity to drive Drum N Bass back into the commercial force it once was. It's been a rapid rise for the South West Londoner who used to spend his days potting plants in Ronnie Wood's favourite garden centre and the foundations laid by his LP are expanded on with this new 12" for RAM. "Dirty Love" sees Wilkinson team up with silky voiced UK vocalist Talay Riley and it's a partnership that should be explored more as the former's production is the perfect accompaniment to the latter's killer vox. Flip over for a remix from TC that lovingly adds some dirt to proceedings.

Review: Many Zinc fans would love to see him back on a drum & bass tip. And while he's definitely shown more interest in the genre than he has for many years, he's still resolutely house proud... And smashing it, too, as proved by the unavoidable hammerations of "Show Me" throughout the summer. These D&B rubs, however, are a great consolation as Sigma and Calibre both deliver serious goods. The number-one smashing former exploit every nuance of the Zinc's bubbly bass, applying a breezy rolling groove to the blend for good measure. Calibre, meanwhile, strips the vibe back to include more space and soul within the groove. Classic Zinc, classic Calibre, classic Sigma. All parties stand up here.

Review: A brand new label from the baldy prince of neurofunk, Piranha Pool is a new outlet for Ed Rush to explore the techiest tendrils of D&B. Igniting with a consummate mission statement, both "Scarabs" and "Boxcar" are instant classics! "Scarabs" comes with an almost psy-like texture to the bass as it digs deeper and deeper into neuro science. "Boxcar", meanwhile, looks back to the tech step days with wasp-like basses and a great vocal snippet that's executed with the perfection and attention to detail you'd expect from Mr Rush. Apparently there's a whole solo album ready to drop next year, too!

Review: Launched over the summer, the Rasta Vibez label looks to bridge the gap between drum and bass and classic dub and reggae that has grown somewhat since the heyday of Jungle. If you were swayed by the distinct charms of the debut drop Jungle On Broadway, it's highly likely you will be compelled to check out this second 12". There's no complex science to either "Ice Cream Sound" or "World A Jungle Music" just a well executed take on a formula that has worked perfectly well many times over; delay and fx meet classic dub strains and jungle rhythms uptown

Review: Bournemouth production unit Ulterior Motive have done nothing but go from strength to strength since signing to Metalheadz. Being very public about their aim for this album in interviews, they've explained how their debut album is 100 per cent drum & bass and pays respect to both the genre and Metalheadz. The result is a refreshing long player that doesn't dip into multi-genre territories, but rather explores the 170 genre and all its many sub flavours. From the growling, ominous roller "Inta National" to the tech steppy sci-fi weird-out "Short Circuit" to the Full Cycle-style jazzy badness of "Sideways" this is a love letter to drum & bass and a calling card for two of the most creative producers operating in the game right now.

Review: His first proper Hospital 12" since signing earlier this year, Krakota showcases just why the mega-indie snapped him up in the first place... "Xylo" is appears light and sprightly on entry; all positive chords on a steel drum riff, but the underbelly that mirrors every top line move is a really dark and heavy affair. The result is a perfect example of infectious sonic contrast. "Irregular", meanwhile, is just straight-up dark. All gritty and scratchy with elements of neuro production, it's a proper heads down business that wouldn't go amiss at a Renegade Hardware bash.

Review: Since signing Bournemouth duo Ulterior Motive to his Metalheadz imprint last year, Goldie has acted as a kind of mentor, supervising the recording of this debut album. In many ways, it makes a lot of sense; Ulterior Motive's brand of jungle-influenced drum and bass no doubt appeals to the producer-turned-celebrity's rave sensibilities. The Fourth Wall is a confident and engaging debut, with spangling, piano-laden rave moments - see the early '90s revivalism of "Tape Pack" - nestling side by side with dark, twisted rollers and deeper, more experimental fare. It's this latter strand - and most particularly the James Sutherland collaboration "Muted" - that makes The Fourth Wall such an impressive debut.

Review: Strictly for the vinyl heads! SCAR - easily one of the best collab projects to happen in drum & bass this year - step up to the Metalheadz Platinum template with three tracks, including two exclusives. "So Suddenly" is like Break circa-mid noughties... A lush vocal ignites proceedings before we drop into an outrageously tearing bassline. "Ruby" is a much deeper alien funk workout thanks to immersive bass plunges, cosmic synth weaves and an inherently heads-down groove. "Old Ground" closes the show with a timeless grunt; rifle-like breaks, crude oil subs and paranoid synth elements ensure this will sound great 20 years ago and in 20 years time. Flying DeLorean permitting.

Review: Gritty, inherently underground sensations from Dispatch once again. Seattle collective Quadrant, Kid Hops and Iris gather to create more trademark, low-rolling badness. "Microsleep" is a cosmic whirling dervish, peppered with trippy sounds and an undulating bassline that flickers with frenetic mischief. Ant TC1 and DLR's twist on "Convergence" ensures ultimate heads-down heaven. Finally "Warsaw" ends with a jugular-juggling grunt and shuffle. Reminiscent of Ram's late 90s output, it's undiluted, teeth-baring fun.

Review: As Nucleus and Paradox, Dave Simms and Dev Pandya racked up a bounty of drumfunk classics for the likes of Reinforced, Metalheadz and more between 1997 and 2009. Coaxed back into the studio together earlier this year for a killer drop on Metalheadz Platinum, it was clear the old studio chemistry between Pandya and Simms had not dissipated one iota so the sight of further Nucleus and Paradox material is no surprise. Adding Samurai to their collective collar, lead track Prism is a prime time roller filled with hefty break beats, classic jungle vibes and trademark Nucleus and Paradox sub bass. The flip "Electropaque" finds the pair in a more contemplative mood without any concession to rhythmic punch.

Review: Maduk and Nymfo - two Dutch dynamos collide for a trio of bright, breezy modern day D&B rollers. "Motions" is all about the soothing chord sequence as we glide effortlessly one bar to the next while "Tatta Ganja" embraces the original jungle spirit with a classic drum set, a hooky bass melody and a series of soft skanks. Maduk goes solo on "Approaching Me". Coated with an emotional vocal, the bassline isn't dissimilar to Chase & Status's "Take Me Away", which is quite the complement. Go through the "Motions" today.

Review: Undiluted dark style business on vinyl-only imprint Horrific... Digital is an ideal candidate for the label. And, as with anything this man has ever put to wax, it's a sure-fire smasher. "Corrupted Soul" is a subby, dubby jungle original with tightly diced breaks and unpredictable bassline gurgles. "Glue Tune" grunts with a "Terminator"-style bass hook that slaps like a sheet metal boxing glove. Nothing short of heavyweight.

Review: Fresh from his appearance on Med School's recent New Blood album, Slovenian artist Subtension continues to lay down the badness on Renegade, a label that's been heavily supportive of him this year. "AK47" lives up to its name; a jittering sinewy middy bass rifles across the mix with such funky abandon, you could gun down floors of thousands and still have heaps left in the chamber. "Leaving", meanwhile, deftly plays with the halftime paradigm with a strange tripletty signature and a woozy funk that's developed neatly with groaning bass and lush strings. Machine gun fingers at the ready!

Review: Having impressed with his debut on Shogun earlier this year, it's little surprise the label have tapped young blood Joe Ford for some new material. Lead cut "Off Centre" may well be Ford's deepest production to date, with a touch of techno to it's loopy hook, yet it still rolls with an undulating warmth building into a beautiful atmospheric drop that will pique the interest of many. Thirsty for the firing Ford who first smashed into the game with Noisia-levels of neuro angriness? Flip for the brutal, no-holds-barred "Knock Down". The title says it all. Shoe-off time!

Review: Its not like Metalheadz have ever been away, but it feels like the label has been working with a renewed creative vigour in 2014. Fresh off dropping the excellent Ulterior Motive LP, Metalheadz switch it back to matters of a 12" nature with this killer double upper cut of moody rollers from crew members Arp XP, Nitri and HLZ on the METHXX series. Up top Arp XP & HLZ collaborate on the prime slab of 97 style D &B that is "Good Old Days" watch out for that ghostly saxophone wedged deep beneath the finely cut drum edits and twisting bass. Down below HLZ goes solo on the agro "Gaia", a cut where the drums are rolled so tight you can feel the tension almost snapping, whilst classic jungle flavours abound on release highlight "Makes Me Wonder" from Arp XP and Nitri!

Review: Fracture and Sam Binga are a collaborative match made in minimal heaven. Teaming up with Bristol mic man Rider makes this pact all the sweeter. Sleazy future dancehall vibes, the lean arrangements allow Rider's steamy dancefloor poetry to enjoy maximum effect as he explains his methods and techniques with the fairer sex with baritone abandon. Highlights include the tropical uplifts of "Bubble" and Logos cosmic twist on "She Want It Ruff". "FDGD" FTW.

Review: Random Movement's Marley-sampling roller was a sure-fire smash 18 months ago. Now Rubik return with two killers remixes and delivers them on grey marbled wax for good measure. Sinistarr gets his footwork-flavoured steppy vibe on, all cut up and twitchy. Bcee and Saxxon, meanwhile, opt for a string-heavy emotional roller. Representing D&B's widest, most exciting spread, both versions absolutely kill it.