Juno Recommends Drum & Bass April 2020

Review: No one does grimy, dense, high pressure tech-step like Trace. Sludgy, rough and heavier than a brace of bulldozers, both tracks hit home from the off. "Twister" is all about the cyclone distorted bassline and persistent techno stabs. "Apocalypse" brings a little more paranoia into the mix with its droning bass fading in and out and icy minor key pads. Cold, unnerving, eerie. Dark times call for dark beats.

Review: Last year the Droogs label released a sole EP of "hard hitters for wild dancefloors" - a split 12" featuring quality cuts by Holsten and Artilect. They've repeated the trick here, offering up a pair of slammers featuring contributions from four artists. Jesta and Kalu join Gremlinz on formidably heavy A-side "Monolith", a thrusting, mind-mangling fusion of crunchy jungle breaks, warped sub-bass pulses, scattergun percussion fills and creepy sonic textures. In comparison, Friske's flipside cut "City Limits" is positively laidback, though the creepy blend of sustained chords, short vocal samples, fizzing electronic flashes, raw bass and hot-stepping D&B drums are still formidably floor-friendly.

Review: Oh gosh. Last spotted on the mothership label in 2015 on Mikal's "Where They At" EP, Danger Dutchman Nymfo returns to Metalheadz with his first full EP for the label. It's every bit as heavy and badass as you'd hope it to be. "Sting Blade" rolls out with a skinny-fit break and a bassline so flabby and bulbous it folds over the edges. It's backed by two more monoliths; "What's Happening" sees fellow Dutchy Martyn join the action with just a touch of classic Blue Note style jazziness. Finally, "No Choice" settles the matter on some 23rd century twisted Optical style funk. Easily one of Nymfo's finest moments so far (which is saying something).

Review: For his first release of 2020 ASC pays homage to mother nature's strongest push-me-pull-you - the "Zenith & Nadir" of the universe... And he does so in the form of a score to a movie that's yet to be made. A smouldering slo-mo analogue weave of synths and drum machines; from the synth-wave subtle triumph of "Anthe" to the unnerving, skin-rippling intro "Cryogenic" to the melancholy finale "The Milankovitch Cycles", he provides the sounds - you create the pictures.

Review: Following its CD and digital download release last autumn, London Elektricity's fine new album - Tony Colman's eighth studio set - finally gets a vinyl release. For the uninitiated, "Building Better Worlds" builds (sorry) on the "big band" concept Colman unveiled at Hospitality In The Park in 2017, offering soaring, orchestrated tracks that take drum & bass to musically expansive new heights. There's barely a drum machine or sample in sight, while what electronic sounds that have been included are used sparingly. The results are undeniably impressive, with the assembled collective's warm and soulful tracks providing enjoyable listening throughout. It might raise a few eyebrows amongst jungle purists, but ignore the haters: this is a very fine album indeed.

Review: What a repress! Pre Total Science era business from Q and Smithy right here as their first ever release together sees the light of day for the first time since 93. Written during their peak free party era, the vibes ooze off the edges as we're thrust onto a rave rollercoaster that takes off with the sweeping chords of "Sinister Connection" and lands with the Detroit-edged tension "Mellow Rif". In between we have the introspective, deeper feels of "The Bongo" and the breakbeat mischief of "Lively Connection". It's a connection that remains just as deep today as it did 27 years ago. Stone cold dons.

Review: FFF is back one again with the renegade jungle beats on 7th Storey Projects. The self-styled breakcore DJ, producer and live act from the Netherlands has been hard at it since the 90s and continues to find interesting new styles within his own sound. This latest EP will twist you inside out right from the off. Opener "Alert & Waiting" is a real synapse twitching affair that never sits still, "They Know" settles into a smoother and fluid groove while "The Way" is a busy, throwback jam with stoner chords and a hefty bottom end. Closer "So Good" is an all out assault drenched in reverb.

Review: Rising London newcomer and regular DJ at the legendary Rupture Decibella makes her debut on Stretch's AKO Beatz with two straight-up jugular-cutters. Both writhing in the dark art of break craft, these are straight up jungle jams tailored for the dance. "Outta London" is the most forthright track of the set with its heavily layered breaks and dynamic flips from soft to savage while "Be True" nods back to the hardcore era with its euphoric pads, classic rave vocal line and more drums that were carved straight from the leathery soles of the devil's dancing feet. Expect more noise from Decibella very very soon.

Review: Now this is how you start a label in the new decade. Following the carnage of Cocktail Party Effect's release late last year comes the label boss Monic with three far-out adventures, two of which are of a heavily junglised nature. "Regeneration" comes first, a brass-melting riot that sits somewhere between Paradox and Bass Clef in its spirit and attitude. "Research Methods" is more of a drum & bass design, all steppy and paranoid and nodding heavily in the direction of No U-Turn. Last but not least we have the jazzy halftime drum odyssey "Always For Tomorrow". Don't wait until tomorrow for this one.

Review: Fresh from his far-out fire-ups on Re.St and Repertoire in recent months, Eusebeia makes his debut on Dead Man's Chest's Western Lore with four more uncompromised journeys. All founded in the classic rudiments but reaching well into the future, as always the focus should be squared fully on the breaks as we're whipped, slapped and torn in myriad directions. Highlights include sudden twists in drum energy on "Seckle" and the raw, system-melting subs and heavens-opening pads of "Respect". Show some respect for Eusebeia.

Review: Following his entry appearance on the label's cracking "Edition" V/A a while back, Welsh deepsmith Cesco makes his full debut on Alix Perez's 1985 with four sterling stripped-back steppers. "Angry Waves" sets the pace. Pneumatic drums, clipped vocals and the groaniest bass you'll hear this side of quarantine, anger never sounded so good. Elsewhere "ABR" whips up graveyard feels, "Ping Pong" plays pocket billiards with your brain while "Chair Dub" brings home the bacon on a moody 140 tip. What a label debut. Keep Cesco on your radar.

Review: 21 years later... One of Reinforced Records' strongest and most consistent artists during the mid-late 90s Colin Lindo returns with another adventure around The Ninth Level. His first journey to that mythical level was in 1999 and was a key record in that heavy, boundary-breaking late 90s technological surge. Now we're taken for a return with this collection of unreleased tracks and dubs. Ranging from the swinging jazzy whirls of "The Get Down" to the rasping, interstellar rocket fuel reeses of "First Contact" by way of the exfoliating breakbeat thrust of "Formants", it's another timeless trip from Lindo and AKO. Level up!

Review: This 9th edition of Jungle Cat opens with "M0the3rfuck3r"and it sees old time sparring ragga jungle sparring partners Dub-Liner and Omen Breaks collide for an incredible jungle jam. Humungous subs, crisp breaks and occasional chatter; this will kick serious jacksy when spun through a good system. "Big Wheelin'" maintains that big sub signature but with much choppier, chaotic drums. "Diss Me" brings the finale heat in sweary, savage slap-about fashion. Potty mouth party power!

Review: Since signing to Hospital in 2018, Degs has been on a quick train to the top. This long-awaited debut album is likely to increase the hype surrounding him. It's a hugely vibrant affair in which he adds his own vocals to tracks he wrote and produced, sometimes in collaboration with an all-star cast of guest artists (think S.P.Y, Logistics, Unglued and LSB for starters). There's much to enjoy throughout the hot-stepping, soul-fired set, with highlights including the fizzing D&B soul of opener "Driving Under Lights", the downtempo beauty of "4 Days", the soaring brilliance of "Colour My Soul", the floor-friendly hustle of previous single (and Adamski/Seal cover) "Killer", and the synth-sporting punchiness of closing cut "Pamoja Forever".

Review: Finland Freshness! Straight Up Breakbeat celebrate the heaviest of homeland hurters with this collection taken from their full compilation. All national badmen, all remarkably forward thinking in their dynamics and uncompromised weight, label boss and Finnish jungle OG Fanu takes the lead with a smoky, slower jazzy cut "Aura Eleven", newcomer HMR keeps the spacious mood going with "Prophecy" where more tidal wave breaks are soften by smoky horns and sci-fi soul. Flip for the ruffage as the mysterious DDOG gets wild on the clattering breakbeats and Infader closes with the most militant track of the record "Marble Madness". What a celebration of homegrown talent. Let's hope this becomes a series.

Review: A Sides and Sun And Bass go together like gin and tonic. The perfect, long-standing tradition between an OG and the true mother of D&B gatherings, once again their connection levels up with this crucial quartet. "Arctic" (with Fats, another certy SAB soldier) hits the spot instantly. Sweeping, emotional and super soulful, it's yet another precision collab from the pair. Deeper into the wax we hit dubby rolling gold on "Follower", get bouncy in the jazzy depths of "Need" and get torn to pieces on the moody halftime steps and warps of "Conscious Dub". High grade as always from all concerned.

Review: 25 years later... Foundation Bournemouth imprint Underdog return with the long, long, long awaited 013. The title couldn't be more fitting: "Original Jungle". Old label, old values, new names. Dark Dean and Mc Stevie A have been part of the Destiny raves since the mid 90s but this is the first time they've translated their years of service onto wax. Collab-ed with new-gen prospects Hankinson and Carmen Naida, each cut - from the bubble and skank "In The Area" to the hurricane breakbeat jam "Elevate" - rattles with jungle authenticity while punching with modern production welly. Welcome back Underdog.

Review: Building on an epic bedrock of downloads over recent years, DJ Jedi's Cantina Cuts continues to develop its vinyl presence with another slab of unfettered rave wax. This time we head to Poland as Radicall takes us from zero to white gloves in less than 20 seconds. "One Moon, One Star" reminds us how effective pitched up vocal samples can be when treated right. Pure fun, no ulterior motive, this sets the bonkers theme that runs throughout. "In The City" gets busy with the pianos and rolling four-to-the-floor breaks, "In The Zone" goes much darker with its down pitch stabs and sudden bass plunges while "Channelling" brings us to a dark 92 flavoured finale. Whistle crew?