AE Productions Vinyl & CDs

Review: Chrome+ (Chrome Plus) is a project name up of four men and featuring Chrome (who provides the super rhymes) DJ Super JB (who is responsible for the beats and cuts) as well as Phil Critten (on guitar and adding some backing vocals) and Tom Hanna (on bass). They have put together a debut album that will be out soon on this label but before then comes 'Popcorn,' a fine lead single. It gives a great idea of what to expect from the album with plenty of ducking and diving old-school hip hop beats, funky bass and some mad scratching as turbo-charged rhymes come up top. 'Pieces Will Align' then slows it down and offers a more deep-cut sound.

Review: Bristol producer Sir Beans OBE is also a real wizard on the decks. He has been a featured producer or guest DJ on a number of projects on the AE label before now (including the Truck and Aroma long players) but this marks his first proper solo drop. A-sider 'Part Of It' (feat Kelz) is a classic bit of boom-bap with raw rhymes and punchy drum work cut up with great samples and eerie chords. 'DEF= Defeat Evil Fools' (feat Zaeb Dust, Blaktrix & Medusa) slows it down for a late-night trip with live-sounding drums and more great bars over the top.