ASC Vinyl & CDs

Review: Tek-notic drum & bass from audio astronaut ASC, whose practice assembles at the chair of a group mooting of cosmically-minded artists, Eusebeia and Aural Imbalance also included in said the Situation Room panel. 'Next Time You Fall' brings us arresting breaks hypnotics and relentless thruster pulses as ever, with 'Fear Of The Deep' packs a chiming sound palette, and 'Concentric Circles' having a wonderful ride-symbolic quality about it, its crosstick rhythms and jazz polytimes wringing the best out of an otherwise choppy and minimal scape. 'Say It' mirrors the EP's titular, lettered urgency, spurning jungle's often dirty commands for a contrastingly seductive piece.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


ASC's Reflections is a masterclass in drum & bass and ambient music. The album is awash with deep, melodic soundscapes and old-school 90s beats that will transport you to another world. From the gentle pace of 'Glaciers' to the more upbeat 'Prototype' each track on the album is a sonic journey that will leave you wanting more. ASC's production is impeccable, and his use of samples is nothing short of masterful. The result is an album that is both nostalgic and fresh, with a sound that is uniquely his own. Whether you're a fan of drum & bass, ambient, or simply good music, Reflections is an album that you won't want to miss. In addition to the stunning music, the album's packaging is also top-notch.

Review: After two albums on A Strangely Isolated Place as Comit, James Clements returns under his ASC alias and does so with yet another brilliantly fresh and introspective approach. Original Soundtrack shifts focus to the piano and so invites you to construct your own interpretations within an imaginary cinematic framework. Known for his mastery across genres from autonomic and jungle to ambient, techno and IDM, Clements narrows his focus here with great results. Crafting eight evocative pieces centred on the piano is not something he has done before but it results in another deeply personal and immersive work that adds a new dimension to ASC's artistry.

Review: Mind Over Matter', the latest release from ASC, continues his explorations into atmospheric, breakbeat-driven soundscapes with striking results. Opening track 'Desire' sets the tone with a lush beat structure, punctuated by sharp cymbal strikes. Subtle whale song samples are woven into the mix, accompanied by a warm bassline and tender piano melodies, while swirling strings ebb and flow, creating an almost tidal sense of movement. 'Voidscaping' follows, launching immediately into crisp, striking breakbeats. The throwback pads recall the heyday of Good Looking, but ASC's meticulous sampling and deep reverb work keep the track fresh, merging nostalgia with modern complexity. On the flip, 'Let Go' brings in the sounds of nature, with metallic bongos and a restrained choral vocal riding over playful, energetic hi-hats. The atmosphere builds, layering strings, synths, and ASC's trademark vocal elements, each listen revealing new intricacies. 'Meltdown' wraps things up with a darker, more anxious vibe. Minimal breaks and elusive hi-hats give the track a creeping tension, while ambient pads and a yearning female vocal add a layer of emotional depth. It's a finely balanced track, blending melancholy and intensity in a way that ASC has mastered.

Review: Mindgames' dedication to capturing the golden era of jungle while incorporating modern production techniques aligns seamlessly with ASC's unique style. In these two EPs, the maestro blends the vast soundscapes of his Spatial releases with the raw energy of his 2020 jungle trilogy for Samurai Music. From the driving beats of 'Shadow Of The Beast' to the smooth, deep stepping vibe of 'Phaaze' and the expansive sounds of 'Cells Interlinked,' ASC demonstrates his deep jungle expertise once more. 'Snowblind' is a gem that pays homage to Photek's space jazz, while 'Flux' features a mesmerising groove wrapped around an infectious bassline. What an EP.

Review: Musical talisman ASC joins Mindgames for Mindgame 6, twinned with the concurred release Mindgame 5. Mindgames' commitment is to capture the essence of golden-era jungle while infusing it with updated production techniques, a mission that perfectly complements ASC's approach. On these two EPs, ASC bridges the expansive soundscapes and raw dynamisms of his 2020 jungle trilogy for Samurai Music. From the heads-down launchpads of 'Shadow Of The Beast', to the deep-stepping glides of 'Phaaze', and onto the epic 'scapes of 'Cells Interlinked', ASC pens a sonic manifesto for the master-crafting of deep jungle.

Review: With the Waveforms series, spacefaring drum & bass titan ASC moves away from the pure cosmic thematics for a much more formal take on his craft. Having released these tracks in wavy serial form since at least the end of 2023, specially on 10", these 'Waveforms' could be said to track a tidal movement in ASC's psyche, with the releases therein following his many capricious oscillatory whims i.e. as he sees fit, whether in response to lunar cycles or otherwise. Still, that hasn't stopped him from releasing over three additions to the series, though: now, waveforms 11 and 12 emerge. Both tracks extirpate ASC's sound as something purely formal - without the usual metaphysical or outer-spatial fetishisms - yet still take up huge amounts of bandwidth (though not to the point of sounding undynamic) and stir up a primal rancour in us by way of militant techstep on the A, and string-baked Arcadian amens on the B.

Review: Cosmic drum & bass voyager ASC once again proves that his sound is like no other, topping up his now likely uncountable backlog of time-dilatory journeys with a fresh four-tracker, 'Moving Through Dreams'. Indeed, for those in the know, the boundary between outer space and inner unconscious astrals can be blurred; it's clear ASC is clued in in this regard, with this hat-trick-plus-one of both rollers and breaks frenzies showing off an understanding of the format than only seasoned somn-journalists can handle. On the dreamier end of the spectrum, there's 'Things Left Unsaid', a wordless foray into the latent parapraxes that only real dream work can consciously upturn; and on the wilder end of things, there's 'Contrast', which apposes, in stark *contrast* - the industrial scrape of a techstep break with the depth-scouring swells of nebulaic pads n' basses.

Review: ASC's Reflections is a masterclass in drum & bass and ambient music. The album is awash with deep, melodic soundscapes and old-school 90s beats that will transport you to another world. From the gentle pace of 'Glaciers' to the more upbeat 'Prototype' each track on the album is a sonic journey that will leave you wanting more. ASC's production is impeccable, and his use of samples is nothing short of masterful. The result is an album that is both nostalgic and fresh, with a sound that is uniquely his own. Whether you're a fan of drum & bass, ambient, or simply good music, Reflections is an album that you won't want to miss. In addition to the stunning music, the album's packaging is also top-notch.

Review: James Clements (ASC) has been one of the most highly regarded artists in ambient, ambient techno and IDM scene since his evolution into the sound about 15 years ago. His ability to create deep soundscapes over lush beats and atmospheres come from his liquid drum n bass background prior to working with more cinematic tracks. ASC is back with a new release and it finds a home at the Past Inside the Present stable where he had put out a few EPs on the last couple years. This haunting and beautiful release Loss, explores various moods and atmospheres to great success. Tracks like the amazing and spacious 'Sensory Disintegration' to the poignant 'What More Can Be Said' which adds a lush airspace to a stunning piano piece. Some soundscapes are majestic and triumphant while others are minimal and then foreboding. New age and ambient fans will rejoice after hearing this magical album. Available in limited quantities so act quickly! Comes with download code inside.

Review: If you don't love ASC, do you even like electronic music? The master studio technician never makes anything less than thrilling sounding whether exploring ambient, jungle, or in-between worlds. Both characterise this new EP on Spatial which comes on lovely splattered vinyl 12". 'Synergy' pairs busy Amen breaks with lush pad work, 'Suspended Animation' is an icy and deft jungle workout in the farthest reaches of deep space and 'Repetition' is a super chill, slick and emotive excursion to the stars. 'Pharaoh' is another pristine production with infectious drum funk at its core.

Review: Samurai sign out of 2023 with this stunning expedition from longstanding craftsman ASC. One of the deepest to do it, here on 'House Of Leaves' he whips up a beguiling sense of atmosphere as we gradually ramp up the intensity from the tense and stretched out title track opener to the savage cymbal slaps of the finale 'Exploration #4'. In between we find our souls soothed by the relentless drumfunk of 'The Navidson Record' and our brains shattered by the cosmic turbo zaps of 'The 5 1/2 Minute Hallway'. Far out.

Review: There's seemingly no end to ASC's offerings to the drum & bass world and so it continues on this beautifully packaged black splattered yellow 10" from the Waveforms series. 'Waveform 03' is an airy jungle excursion with explosive amens set off against vast expanses of pads, while 'Waveform 04' locks into a sleeker, techier approach where the icy atmospherics have more space to stretch out. No one is even close to the quality and quantity of ASC, and this is yet another essential addition to his huge legacy.

Review: Space jungle master ASC returns with 'Hiding In Plain Sight', except this one is certainly not part of his usual repertoire. Rather than being drum n' bass, the producer focuses entirely on atmosphere and unusual rhythmic ambientscapes, leaning into electro when beats do pick up. Largely, though, this is a project that encourages sublime awe at the cosmos through huge synthwork, rather than drawing attention to its beats - a common trope for ASC. Favourites of ours include 'Orbiting Neptune' and 'Galaxies', both of which prove ASC has much more up his sleeve than most of his EP bits might reveal.

Review: Their first ever collaborative LP, drum & bass brilliants ASC and Aural Imbalance share Duality, consummating a long working relationship, which has also seen two 12" EP exquisites from 2023, 'Interstellar Transmissions' and 'The Other Side'. But, as this is their first full-length album together, Duality is less floor-centred and works in a relatively conceptual mode, tracking a strong but measured arc from left-right pad sculptings to designer breaks. The cosmic theme of both artists' music is omnipresent as ever, though there's an extra dash of titular spiritualism; we move from the literal celestiality of 'Sunset On Mars', into a B-side's figurative celestiality with 'Seraphim' and 'Prism Of Light'; a steady vibe-shift into angelic, alary buoyancy.

Review: Past Inside the Present's 'Pulse' series is an investigation into ambient tech and beat-driven ambient sounds. Who better for the job on this second edition than master craftsmen ASC and Joachim Spieth? ASC opens up with 'Tidal Disruption Event', an understated, underwater rhythm with jittery percussive patterns and bright shards of melodic light piercing through the mix as more coarse soundwaves break over the top. Spieth's 'Subtle' is just as artful and delicate a mix of persuasive rhythm and melodic beauty. A classy Nitechord remix closes out this fascinating EP.

Review: Hyaku marks the 100th vinyl release for Samurai Music, so shout out to the crew for staying dedicated to the format. It also celebrates nearly 17 years of dedication to quality music and timeless design and, for this milestone, the label has assembled producers who epitomise the current Samurai sound. Each track offers a unique take on that from the crunchy breakbeats of ACS to the relentless energy of Sam KDC's 'Mutilate.' Together, these contributions form a diverse collection that highlights the artistry and innovation of this talented crew while also reflecting the journey Samurai has been on for all these years. Here's to many more.

Review: Emerging from the ether in July 2024, Surfacing is the third collaborative long player from ASC and Sam KDC. Producers known for their ability to create and set moods with comparatively abstract ambient soundscapes, their latest is no exception. A collection of work which opts for an un-rushed approach to creating big feelings and moments from relatively consistent sounds and noises. Not much seems to happen, until you realise how much has been happening. In many ways, it's a maximalist thing - attempting to pick apart tracks like 'Mirage' and 'Shimmer' reveals the density of these sonics. Walls of sound that are acoustically and melodically light enough to float on air, yet actually so thick they swallow the listener hole, with little hope of escape until the final refrains fade.

Review: Past Inside The Present welcomes back accomplished and prolific ambient master zake, this time alongside Oss and Fax who released the original featured track, 'Polymorph' on Module. Here it gets revisited by a top contemporary team after the hazy and absorbing extended mix kicks things off. ASC then goes dark with his mood rework and Zake himself remixes with a more optimistic sense of crepuscular synth lushness. Aural Imbalance layers in some fizzing and malfunctioning electronic sounds, Ossa suspends you amongst his heavenly rays and Influx brings gently broken beats. Fax shuts down this varied offering with a more edgy ambient sound.