Circles Revisited Reboot (Adam F & Pola & Bryson 2024 Reboot) (4:37)
Review: Adam F has been rolling out a series of rebooted classics on his label, 181 Recordings, co-founded with vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw. As a lead-up to his forthcoming album, he's released revitalized versions of 'Brand New Funk' and 'Music In My Mind.' Now, he turns his attention to Circles,' his iconic Drum & Bass track, presenting both a fresh reboot and a new version in collaboration with Pola & Bryson, which has been making waves on d&b dancefloors globally. 'Circles' was a groundbreaking track for Adam F, allowing him to blend his diverse influencesifunk, soul, reggae, and jazziwithin the framework of Drum & Bass, a genre that evolved from hardcore rave and jungle roots. According to Adam F, the track's enduring appeal lies in its deep textures, with saxophone, trumpet, keyboards and synthesisers creating a fluid arrangement that reflects his passion for jazz and his imaginative soundscape. This reboot of 'Circles' retains the essence of the original while introducing new layers and elements, ensuring its place as a timeless piece in the drum & bass genre. It's a legendary track, now refreshed and finely tuned for a new generation.
Review: As well as this one coming on pink wax, Adam F is also dropping it on nice classic black vinyl. It features his classic track 'Brand New Funk,' which emerged after he acquired a second-hand Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Vocoder, and Clavinet D6 Honerikey instruments of the funk era. This track pays tribute to its predecessors by blending classic funk elements with intense drum patterns, merging the vintage funk spirit with modern sonic complexity. Revived and refreshed, 'Brand New Funk' represents one of Adam F's most innovative and enduring sounds.
Review: That the word 'funk' should take on an almost entirely new meaning under the aegis of drum & bass is telling, but that shouldn't deter us from interrogating the ideaistic chain connecting the funk of the 1960s and 70s to today's modern, 170BPM+ *neuro*-funk, *drum*-funk etc.. Take, for example, Adam F. His classic track 'Brand New Funk' came about after he bought a second hand Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Vocoder and Clavinet D6 Honer. All staples of the funk era, the ensuing track paid solid homage to that era, combining compelling collieries with dastard drums and, in so doing, effortlessly fusing the spirit of the former funk with the synaptic sonic overloads of the latter. Now rebooted and revitalised, 'Brand New Funk' bespeaks a timeless retelling of one of Adam F's most ingenious eureka moments.
Subarctic Signal - "Subarctic Signal" (Subwave remix) (5:37)
Review: Five new elysian liquid come techfunk tracks from Rotterdam's Fokuz Recordings, the cornerstone of Dutch drum & bass since 1999. A relentlessly dreamy energy is immediately conveyed on the pragmatically named 'Remix EP', led up by Alpha Rhythm, Ritual and Rezilient with 'Venus Fly' and 'One Day At A Time' on the A-side and Etherwood, Subwave and Natus on remix duties of former releases 'From The Ashes', 'Subarctic Signal' and 'Tranquility' on the B. This is liquid drum & bass of a certain character; the handicraft is impeccable, each track giving off an ultra-sleek yet still impactful post-singularity character.
Review: Anile's latest release exemplifies his mastery in blending emotive melodies with intricate drum patterns. The tracks are meticulously crafted, each offering a journey through deep basslines and atmospheric textures. This collection not only pays homage to the roots of drum and bass but also pushes the boundaries with contemporary production techniques, resulting in a sound that's both nostalgic and forward-thinking.
Review: Okbron Records welcome Atlantiq to the roster, and in so doing reccy an uncharted subaquatic terrain, in which drum & bass production requires specialist handling. Limited to just 350 copies, and bundled with the statement "No repress."- full stop duly noted - Okbron are implicitly aware of the (anti-)gravity of this release. 'M33' sounds as if its liquid jungle source deposits housed a yet undiscovered respiratory gas for an unidentified life-form; its all-to-easily recognised breakbeats are the only orthodox productive choice on the title track, whereupon every other element sounds born of a hidden underwater civilisation, not a mere synthesiser, and surrounds the mix as though we'd embarked on a serene coralline safari. B-sider 'Nothing To Lose' takes a seedier turn in terms of vibe, with sistrum rattles and brooding crime-drama basses hearing whackout breaks set to an otherwise ruminant sonic mystery.
Review: No one did bedtime stories gorier than Brothers Grimm and no one hits the contemporary rave game harder than Kniteforce. Especially when big names like Floyd Dyce (look him up) and J Majik are involved like they are here. Taking a 1992 Production House banger and flipping it into a timeless floor burner, J Majik goes for the jugular with drum switches and a big breakout into the classic dub sample. The original B-side Field Of Dreams also goes under the knife, this time by Kniteforce regular Stephano who whips up an almighty hardcore storm. Sweet dreams!
Review: The Brothers Grimm aka bass badmen and legendary duo Dyce and Acen deliver a timeless classic with this iconic EP that has been meticulously remastered from the original DAT tapes. Both tracks are exceptional for their sheer potency and masterful drum programming, but the flipside jam 'Exodus' stands out as one of the earliest jungle anthems and still a banger to this day. Its powerful breakbeat and distinctive vocals capture the essence of old-school rave and jungle, which set a benchmark for the genres and still hold up now. A definitive piece of music history, do not sleep on this one.
Review: Dyce and Acen aka The Brothers Grimm have many classics in their oeuvre and this is one of them. While their earlier and groundbreaking cut ' Exodus' gained immediate fame upon its release, this gem steadily earned its legendary status over time. A seminal piece of early '90s jungle, it showcases the duo's innovative approach to pushing the genre's boundaries and paving the way for future jungle productions. With its forward-thinking sound and raw energy, these gems take you right back to the jungle heyday and are sure to continue to captivate the club.
Review: Everyone's talking and no-one is listening... Unless Chatta B is chewing your ear off with his militant breaks - because then we're all ears over here. Unleashing the ghosts of 93 with big sacks of sheesh and oh my gosh, each of these cuts hits hard with the neck-snap breaks and big hooky samples. 'Watch Out' sets the scene with energy, 'Real Badman Sound' goes full-on rudeboy, 'The Exit' is a big sing-along moment while 'Easy Take It Easy' sends us off into the sunset with mixed sentiments... The vocals are like a sweet rum punch while those rattling breaks on the rhythm are more like a tum punch. Talk to us.
Review: True to the name, on his latest dyst-opiate ear ingestible drug for Sneaker Social Club, longtime breaks-crud experimenter Christoph De Babalon does no favours nor holds no hands of new initiates to his cult craft. This legend's debut EP on the concretist audio graffito label hears Babalon lower the tempo to a relatively slower pace than usual, allowing for a cruddier, tape-hued texture to emerge. The theme is as grave and dangerous as ever, finding a perverse enjoyment in themes of utter hopelessness and despair. The more eclectic heads will roll at the B-side's trickier treats: 'Jaded Memory' uses designer breaks and artificially harmonic belfry yanks to dread-inducing effect, while the closer 'Dearth Mill' hints at themes of depleted resources through its freq-buried, cogjammed breaks.
Review: Stop creeping and start leaping! Headset are back with more breakbeat-flavoured timeless goodness and it comes direct from one of their most consistent and local family members - Creep Woland. A consistent energy on the label since Headset 001, CW goes in over four foundation jungle licks ranging from deep, floating and cosmic ('Ramb0 Biz') to much more intense, Detroitian adventures ('All Dogs Go 2 Heaven') Timeless to the core and steeped in emotion, it's another big hitter from this Scottish collective.
Review: Certain names in dance music do well to predict the future - and Digital Pressure is one such name. Originally released on A Guy Called Gerald's label Juice Box in 1993, this phonkout beast of an EP came via the joint efforts of producers SDR and Subsonic aka Adrian Lloyd and Kelly Bowers. The twizzling melody and tunefully sawing breaks delays that kick this one off reflect the "digital pressures" of today perhaps more so than it did back then; 'Watch Dis Space' and 'Strictly Drug Related' make unique use (for jungle) of glitching phone chip stinger sounds, reminiscent of the twinkly "coin get" sound effects one might hear on carting about an old Watara games unit. If only handheld games consoles and uncommonly sighted mobile phones were the extent of our digital woes; now we've a heck of a lot more to worry about, and doesn't the further ironically named 'Back 2 Da Future' know it with its Twilight Zone topline and clunky robo-vox! Limited run of 350.
Review: Bournemouth's Vinyl Fanatiks - formerly a reissues outfit of the 1998-founded label Underdog Recordings - offer up the downcast, moody 'Vexxed/Chill Out' by DJ Fokus, harking back to the furthest, earliest, most Blade Runner-esque reaches of the jungle sound: that transitory moment between breakbeat and "170", when basement DJs "discovered" the tempo fader. 'Vexxed' evokes the ideal but unattainable character of a future cyborg; demure, calculating, yet still liable to become charged with rage, while 'Chill Out' impresses further with its rubberball bass and fractious, rapid choppage.
Review: Hospital Records' latest outing is a welcome return to releasing from DJ Hazard, pioneer of ostentatious jump-up drum & bass (of the second, not first, kind; heads will know there might as well have been two movements bearing the name, with the blurring point between them somewhat indistinct, yet the former more definitively jungly than the latter). Here we get stuck in to a four-track lesson in the jump-up sound that most know today: rolling basslines, eerie atmospheres & crunchy drumwork galore. From the opening horror film-sampling 'Behind The Mask' - on which wheezy leads and syncopated snaps steep and wring the mix to a high twisted heaven - to the mid-section sonic dentata 'Drill Bit' and 'Cloud Drift' - on we're met with an illicit power-driven (hopefully just dental) procedure and a clouded liquid miasma respectvely - and to the final 'Break The Silence' - which brings an anti-violence hip-hop sample to a playful excruciation of imp-bass and spit-snare - this is everything befitting of a contemporary Hazard EP, a sure health hazard if we know one.
Review: A rare slice of authentic breakbeat hardcore to be threshed among many chaffs, DJ Rap & Aston's premier collab from 1993 hears a perfect remaster and reissue via Suburban Base, who initially released this gemstone just two years into their publishing career. A powerful rave rouser which commands an almost equally reassuring quality, the leader is Freestylers' remix of 'Vertigo', which irons out the OG tune with a breathaking, synth pipe organ-powered view out and above the squat party; the track soothes the collective listener with repetitious "baby, we're fine" affirmations, providing august contrast to the much nimbler, spryer 1993 version, which humours us rather than quashes us: "show me... show me... show me how you laugh!" Then, of course, Rap & Aston prove how far they've come with a wild UK hardcore version of an unprecedentedly fierce, post-Kaybug weight.
Review: One of many seminal prototypes from DJ Trace, 'By Any Means Necessary' gets a reissue from current revivalist kings Deep Jungle. 29 years later and it's still sounding as foreboding and creepy as it did in back then. It's sounding fresh, too as DJ Harmony has secured the much sought after 'Promised Land VIP' version and a superb stripped back unreleased version that brings things right back to those bulging subs and skippy breaks. Complete with the famous Speed mix, this is a crucial atmospheric jungle blueprint.
Review: In 2019, Vinyl Fanatiks launched with the debut of the Ellis Dee Project series across two parts. Fast forward five years, and the label is back with Part 3, which is a real monster of a release that's well worth the wait. 'Don't Stop Rocking' is raved-up, jungle-inspired, hardcore breakbeat fun with drilling basslines and yelping vocal sounds and some playful breakdowns and curious melodies. The remix of 'Dance Factor' on the flip from Rennie Pilgrim is another all out assault with rave horns and unrelenting drum pressure. Incidentally, his first-ever remix was of Ellis Dee, so this is a nice circular moment.
Review: It never rains but it pours for fans of Etch at the moment, with not only an extensive long player set to drop on Sneaker Social Club in November 2024, but also this four tracker on that other much loved and consistently wonderful label Ilian Tape. His work is stepped in the textures of jungle, drum & bass, grime, dubstep and bass but rarely enslaved by their limitations. Admittedly, the final of the four tracks here, 'Clockwork Romance', vaguely resembles a late 90s techstep workout, with a hint of junglist roughneck-ness, but the other offerings are very much their own beasts, from the clattering turntablist-constructed beat of 'Jack's Design' to the gnarly, scratchy groove of 'Asami' - imagine Basic Channel and Burial jamming - and the breezy, sunny-sounding opener 'Liz's Track'. Eclectic, individual and bursting with rich flavours.
The Drizzle - "Unruly (Hit The Deck!)" (DJ Sofa remix) (4:45)
Review: Two standout tracks on one release. 'Awe' dives into a deep, atmospheric journey, rich with layers and haunting basslines, provided with a powerful remix by drum & bass and jungle veteran Equinox, who amplifies the intensity with signature breaks. Meanwhile, 'Unruly (Hit The Deck!)' is an anonymous track from The Drizzle. A moody and sample-driven piece that DJ Sofa reimagines with precision, adding new energy and rhythm
Review: Onetime halftime exclusivist Fixate has set his sights on new temporal horizons. 'Conundrum' is one such dance musical venture, clocking in at a rough 130ish BPM while also securing enough of an atmospheric likeness to earlier releases so as to remain Fixated on the same vibe. A six-track mini-album debuting on the artist's resident Exit Records, 'Conundrum' flaunts a formerly undisclosed affection for house, electro and techno; in the artist's own words, "I made these tracks to fit into my own DJ sets, bridging the gap between tempos when playing out." Functional intentions do often still lead to excessively wicked results and the tracks here all provide a serious underfoot scalding, their 808 snares and underhand grimey melodies sure to make you hoo, hah, suck teeth and dance.
Review: If you like your drum & bass hardcore then add this one to the basket immediately. It's a banging fifth outing from the Oldschool Shoes crew that comes in the form of a three-way collaboration between Flex Luthor, Msymiakos and Riffz. Opener '777' is brain-fryingly intense with a barrage of rusted drums, snares and drilling baselines all set to explore any set. 'Abyss' keeps the pressure on with more manic drum programming and 'Ripples' then explores more stripped back but no less kinetic patterns. 'Delayed Response' shuts down with thrillingly dark soul.
Review: The 'Dope Demand EP' by Fokuz is a masterful blend of drum & bass, with hip-hop flair adding a nostalgic kick to each track. On Side-1, 'It's A Party' brings the heat with a high-energy drum & bass rhythm layered with Busta Rhymes' unforgettable anthem, setting an intense, dance-ready vibe. 'Freaky Like Me' follows, flipping Adina Howard's 'Freak in the Morning' into a smooth yet punchy groove. Side-2's 'Back By Dope Demand' amps up the tempo, infusing King Bee's classic lines with a fierce, head-nodding rhythm, creating a raw throwback feel. Closing with 'Flower Bombin'', Fokuz slows things down just slightly, layering Wale's 'Lotus Flower Bomb' over deep basslines, making for a mesmerising finish. The EP is a dynamic crossover of breakneck beats and hip-hop essentials that fans of both genres will enjoy.
Review: Forest On Stasys takes the plunge here and launches a new label, Aura Sonora, which debuts with a hugely limited and high-quality new 12" from the boss. The imprint will be "a platform designed for sound experimentation" and the first missive backs that up with a great blend of drum & bass, half-time and techno. 'Magnetismo' is a prickly opener with slippery rhythms underpinned by bold bass. 'Domo' is a darker sound with menacing low ends and prickly percussive patterns while 'Sideral' is another late-night prowler with low sling sounds, eerie atmospheres and a real sense of futurism. A great start to life for Aura Sonora.
Review: Furney, a UK producer with a distinct and recognizable sound, continues to impress with his ability to blend genres seamlessly into dance rhythms. His track 'Spyro Gyro,' a drum'n'bass reinterpretation of the 70s funk classic 'Masterpiece,' originally released digitally on DJ Nookie's Phuzion label, finally gets the vinyl treatment it deserves. The track is packed with energy, featuring bold horns and strings that give it the feel of an action movie soundtrack, all while maintaining a drum'n'bass pulse that keeps the momentum high. On the flip side, 'Just Fine' takes a more relaxed approach. Produced around 2003, this track combines acoustic guitar with summery background sounds, creating a laid-back vibe that's perfect for those chill moments. The rolling bassline adds depth, making it a versatile addition to any set. Together, these tracks showcase Furney's versatility and knack for drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical influences.
Review: Repress! Myriad have been cooking up beefy bits this year with Madcap's 'Heaven' EP and the recent remix collection with Loxy, Villem, Nectax and T-Cuts last month but now time to reflect on earlier releases as their second 12" gets a reissue and we're reminded of how sweet that classic sample-based liquid sound can be when it's cooked right. 'Shine' lives up to its name and you can hear both Furney and Madcap shining in it... Furney's ability to roll out for days and Madcap's punchy breaks both hitting all the right spots. 'Thursday Nite Club' is a little more blended. Deep jazzy cosmic overtones but a big old subby undertone. Could fit anywhere from a film noir score to a 2 Bad Mice set. Myriad vibes.
Review: 'Wow War Tonight' is a cover by Amano Airi and Himegami Shano, originally performed by H Jungle with T. The lively track served as the ending theme for the anime D4DJ First Mix. Tetsuya Komuro and in addition to solo versions by Amano Airi and Himegami Shano, a special version featuring Call of Artemis was included in their debut album in 2023. This 7" features a playful Two Million mix and a Karaoke version of the original. It's lively and unique, to say the least.
Review: Deep Jungle don Harmony returns to wax with three superb jungle work-outs. If you follow the label's output digitally there's a chance you'll already know these... 'Return' hits with such uncompromising breaks and sinister samples it's a hard track to forget. 'Sweet Dreams' is a much more introspective piece laced with space, soul and a very sudden switch that takes things to much darker places than the intro gives away. Finally Orca gets his jazz on by way of a remix of Harmony's 2020 deep cut 'Abbey Road'. Listen to those crystal clear breaks and silky chords and we guarantee you'll be running up and down zebra crossings for days. Peace!
Review: Reinforced legends Underground Software and the Immortal Minds have been digging in their DAT tape archives and turned out some previously unreleased tunes which now make their way to this heavyweight 12" n ALO Major Defence. 'No Stopping' opens up with a dark and dystopian jungle sound that is dense with whirring snares and drilling basslines as the choppy amen motor on, while 'Moves You' is a beautiful roller with blissed out synths and a sense of d&b serenity.
Review: Koherent make a powerful return to Overview with their latest EP, Grunge. This marks their first full EP release since 2022, and the duo doesn't hold back, delivering a hard-hitting project that reaffirms their place in the drum & bass scene. Collaborations with liquid maestros GLXY on 'Darling Sky' and label favourite Azotix on the widely supported 'Gutter' add a fresh dynamic to the EP. Fresh from a New Zealand and Australia tour, Koherent's second label appearance of the year showcases their continued momentum, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Review: KRaeK steps onto Flexout's main label with a striking debut EP, collaborating with Ukrainian artist NickBee. Their music emerged from an intense creative connection forged in the chaos of war. NickBee's contributions, crafted amid the turbulence of his homeland, give each track a visceral weight, charged with survival, anger and flickers of hope. This EP stands as a raw, uncompromising expression of friendship and resilience, capturing an experience that transcends beats and basslines. It's a sobering reminder of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and a show of solidarity with those still enduring.
Review: To Sweet Sensi Records come Krugah with a wicked turn of techstep, ragga jungle and drumfunk. The Brooklyn producer breaks brash ground on this latest 12", squashing mountains of freq-y sound below liminal, scraping drum toppers. Opener 'Tonne Weight' truly does weight a tonne for this very reason; our weighing scales barely make it out alive for the ensuing audio assault that is 'Wickedness Increase', which samples the raggamuffin ragings of an old clash tape of god-knows origin. 'Nuh Sound Curse' brings nitrate echoes to the same ragga sample, layering breaks-matics and three-note dreamoid melodies, while 'Off Di Scene (Dance)' bestows a bubbling experiment, by far the oddest but coolest of the lot.
Law & Kola Nut - "Symptoms Of Love" (Krugah Blue Power Strain mix) (6:13)
Law & DJ Sofa - "More Bells" (6:12)
Law & Haste - "Give Me" (5:31)
Review: The R Whites label is back with a fifth self-titled new various artists EP and it finds Law collaborating with a range of fresh talents on four standout jungle cuts. First up it is with Kola Nut on 'Lost Time' which is all high-speed hits and drunken percussive sounds and soulful pads. Then comes a Krugah Blue Power Strain mix of 'Symptoms of Love' which is kinetic and textured, with serene pads softening the toughness of the drums. Law & DJ Sofa then get all harmonious and liquid on the brilliantly deft but devastating 'More Bells' before Law & Haste shut down with the soulful vocals and lovely piano chords of 'Give Me.'
Review: The man, the machine, the legend! Anile makes his return with two utterly outrageous remixes of LSB's classic 'Potshot'. First up comes the d&b version that plunges you down to submarine levels before pull you up too quickly and giving you the bends. Need something a little slower with more swing but hits just as hard? Jump on that garage version. Holy moly. Welcome back Anile!
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