We’ve hyped to have a premiere for you today from the UVB-76 stable as they present the fourth outing on their DROOGS imprint. Holsten delivers the A side, transitioning from ominous soundscapes on the intro to a fearsome assault of chopped breaks and weighty sub. Doom and bass anyone? The single drops May 17th; pre-orders are up now on Bandcamp.
Trace’s return to Drum & Bass production over the last year has been most welcome. While his work as an A&R / label boss for both jungle-focussed imprint 117 and legendary techstep label DSCI4 has been thoroughly on point, his brand of no-nonsense rolling darkness has been thoroughly lacking from the scene until the surprising drop of the Zone EP last year. Clearly Trace is back on it with gusto, and this year we’ve got four new cuts courtesy of Kid Drama’s CNVX.
If ever it was possible for a release to sound both retro and futuristic, Trace’s productions here do. Stylistically they’re not dissimilar to his legendary output in the heyday of the late 90s techstep explosion, and they definitely hark back to that slightly forgotten sound…but at the same time the ethos of that material always drew on sci-fi for an ethereal, futuristic sonic palette, which definitely feels more than present here. Combine that with the razor sharp production available in 2019 and you’re back to the future in a big way.
For anyone sick of the ever-so-slightly-ADD hyperactivity of modern neurofunk, the Opaque EP is the perfect antithesis. Rolling breaks inject the funk, dark bass riffs give the tunes their weight, and the focus is very much a less-is-more aesthetic; groove and progression over endless variations and switchups. We don’t know what Trace has been listening to but maybe there’s a techno influence in the song writing creeping in here? Either way this is a delicious collection of techstep grooves, and a cracking take on a vintage sound. Hit up the CNVX Bandcamp to grab it straight from the source now…
Soul Trader boss Surplus is on the 1s and 2s for our latest guest mix, and this one is straight up rollers! Moving through darker tech sounds and deep, emotive liquid and featuring a host of forthcoming Soul Trader dubs, this is a journey through classic 2-step rhythms as they sound in 2019. 90 minutes of class!
As always you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Experimental, synth driven vibes on today’s premiere as Primate drops a top new EP for VALE. Rich melodies, warm bass and ultra detailed drum work remeniscent of some of Reso’s drumfunk inspired programming…this is definitely not your run of the mill 2-step beat. Look for this coming May 6th at Bandcamp!
The Dreamers return with a new VA LP entitled Rem Phase, and this time they’re turning their attention to bassy halftime swagger, as you can hear in our exclusive from Litothekid! Room shaking low end and hip-hop style beats punctuated by a smattering of breakbeat skittering; sickness…look for this coming May 6th at the usual stores.
Murky halftime vibrations on today’s exclusive as Liepzig’s Dark Drum&Bass Convention launch their first release as a label! Heatwave is among a spread of talented producers delivering material for the Assembly compilation LP, and Anchor 9 delivers his trademark driving, industrial edged sound full of creepy atmospherics and rumbling low end. Wicked tune; look out for the LP coming on vinyl and digital from May 18th.
Fuj and Kit Curse join forces on today’s exclusive, delivering a deep slice of atmospheric halftime for stalwart US label Onset Audio. Driving percussion, weighty sub and eerie melodic touches define a proper head nodder…dark and moody, just how we like it. Look out for this coming May 17th at all the usual stores.
The Dojo podcast reaches it’s thirtieth instalment! 95 minutes of fresh music with Hex at the controls as always; this month we’ve got rolling tech from the likes of Wreckless and Signal, a bumper halftime section with new material from Greazus, Blockdata and K2T, liquid from Basic Biology and Dan Guidance, and tons more besides! There are also unheard dubs from Spokesmen and Jayrola so keep your ears peeled for those…
As always you can check out the podcast via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Today’s premiere comes courtesy of Taelimb; taken from his forthcoming EP for Mystic State’s Chikara Project imprint, the appropriately titled Grot Bag is a fantastic slab of murky tech minimalism powered by infectiously simple hits, gravelly bass and razor sharp drums. Sick tune! Look for this coming April 29th at all the usual outlets…
Haunting business from Martyn Nytram on the latest single for Peer Pressure; rolling tech pressure characterised by crisp drums, groaning synth hits and a stark, desolate vibe. Doesn’t get much moodier than this! Watch out for Hostile coming Apr 26th…