Select Files #2 [CIA Records]

CIA are on a retrospective tip once again with the second volume of their Select Files series and they’ve dug out another fine selection from the label’s near 20 year back catalogue. Leading the charge is the instantly recognisable Squash; that synth riff should bring back some fond memories for the older ravers!

There are tons of other fantastic rollers in the pack here including Marky & XRS’s jazz-hands-inducing Get Down, Chroma’s Knock Knock and Break’s satisfyingly chunky remix of Breakfast Club. Best of all you can grab all 14 tracks for a mere five British pounds from Bandcamp; can’t say fairer than that! Check out the tracks below and grab the compilation at your leisure.

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DNB Dojo Mix Series #TBT Edition: Hex

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We’re celebrating #TBT in style today with a special all vinyl classics mix from Dojo boss Hex! Featuring some of his favourite plates from over a decade of vinyl releases and more than a handful of instantly recognisable D&B anthems, this one should put a nostalgic smile on your face, and then some.

As usual you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Mixcloud, Hearthis.at or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Dropbox.

Rawthang – Scorned [Black Sun Empire – 2003]
Noisia – Block Control [Moving Shadow – 2005]
dBridge & Maldini – True Romance [Metalheadz – 2004]
Chris.Su – Solaris VIP [Subtitles – 2006]
Nu:Tone & Logistics – Bleeper [Hospital – 2010]
Trei – Thunder Biscuit [Samurai – 2009]
Ewun – Hate Machine (Spor Remix) [Barcode – 2006]
Photek – Ni Ten Ichi Ryu (Teebee Remix) [Photek Productions – 2006]
T.E.E.D. – Garden (Calibre Remix) [White Label – 2011]
Fracture & Neptune – The Limit [Astrophonica – 2010]
Spor – Lose It [Renegade Hardware – 2005]
Break – Your Time Will Come [Dispatch – 2011]
Concord Dawn – Morning Light (Klute Remix) [Tymeless – 2004]
Black Sun Empire – Milkshake [Black Sun Empire – 2009]
Commix – Faceless [Shogun – 2006]
Spectrasoul – Mimic [Subtitles – 2009]
Noisia – Facade [RAM – 2006]
Ben Sage & Savvy – Sleepless VIP [Evol Intent – 2004]
Noisia – Brainstitch [Shogun – 2005]
Ulterior Motive & Codebreaker – It’s On [Subtitles – 2012]
Bad Company – Bullet Time (Spor Remix) [Bad Taste – 2009]
Calibre & MC Fats – Drop It Down [Signature – 2004]
Break – Is This What You Want [Symmetry – 2008]
Ewun – Screw Up [Lifted – 2006]
Optical – Slip Thru [Virus – 1998]
Data – Compassion [Metalheadz – 2010]
Konflict – Messiah (Spor Remix) [Renegade Hardware – 2005]

Classic Track: Apollo Two – Atlantis (I Need You)

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This one should need no introduction; LTJ Bukem’s seminal 1993 release has been played, sampled, remixed and rinsed to death in the 22 years since its original release on Good Looking Recordings, and yet it’s a track that will never get old. From the infectious hook and iconic vocal sample to the satisfyingly crunchy breakbeats, this is blissed out rave euphoria at its best and one of the finest jungle tracks ever made. If you’ve somehow missed this one then check it out below; for the rest of you, give it another play and relive the golden age of jungle one more time…

Classic Album: Seba – Return To Forever

Regular readers have probably noticed that we’re big fans of Seba here at the Dojo. The man’s ability to bend classic breaks to his will and layer them over fantastic synth backgrounds, combined with a versatility that sees him producing everything from dark amen smashers to beautiful rolling liquid has cemented his position as one of the finest names in the scene.

On to today’s #TBT feature then, and the fantastic news that Seba’s 2008 debut LP Return to Forever is being given the digital remaster and reissue treatment via his own Secret Operations imprint following the demise of its original home, Combination Records.

From the uplifting euphoria of Blaze & Fade Out through the driving darkness of Special Ops and out into the hypnotic syncopations of Crocket, Seba’s debut sounds as fresh now as it did seven years ago and punchier than ever thanks to the new mastering treatment.

The high energy tracks are broken up nicely by jazzy downtempo number Silicone and a Jesper Dahlbäck techno remix, and for an added bonus we get the slightly different 12″ mix of Blaze & Fade Out included too. Can’t say fairer than that! The LP is out right now via all good download stores so go grab a copy at your leisure.

 

Classic Track: Ulterior Motive – Featherweight

Before they ascended to the ranks of Metalheadz and knocked out their rather impressive debut LP, Ulterior Motive began their career with a slew of great singles for Teebee’s Subtitles imprint, and my favourite from that period is undoubtedly Featherweight.

Bringing together punchy techstep drums, grimey but stripped back bass modulations and a cheeky Mobb Deep sample, the groove on this tune is just undeniable, and it’s a track I keep coming back to. “Featherweight…gunshots will make you levitate” – boom!

Classic Track: Manifest – OG Returns

When it comes to raw, nasty hardstep it doesn’t come much bigger and badder than Manifest’s gangsta anthem OG Returns. Originally released on Renegade Hardware back in 2004 as part of the Skool Of Hard Knocks LP, this one packs quite a punch; hard hitting amens, dirty bass stabs and a solid selection of rap samples make for a track that takes no prisoners. “Raise the fuck up”!

Classic Track: Unknown Error – The Yearning

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Unknown Error are chiefly remembered for their hefty neurofunk outings for the likes of Lifted Music and Renegade Hardware but the duo also had a knack for the deeper side of D&B as evidenced by their 2006 single for Horizons Music, The Yearning.

Combining rough breaks with soft pads, the track explores the “liquid with teeth” style that other producers like Chris.Su have since taken up, and the track walks the line between deep euphoria and darker dancefloor sensibilities with finesse. Tasty stuff, and a record I’m yet to tire of.

Classic Track: Teebee – The Force

The sad news that Renegade Hardware will be closing its doors for good immediately had me digging for classic Hardware via the old Future Beats mix series, and while listening to Chris Renegade’s instalment The Force jumped right out at me.

While far from the only D&B track to make use of a few cheeky Star Wars samples, their use in this track is subtler and altogether more rhythmic than in most other tunes. Combine that with the rolling break and instantly recognisable bassline and you’re onto a classic that still moves floors. RIP Hardware, and long live Teebee!

Classic Track: Camo & Krooked – History Of The Future

Before they became the Hospital superstars they are today Camo & Krooked were already busy writing dancefloor bangers, including this personal favourite for Audioporn. Dropping from D&B tempo on the intro into a cheeky electro house breakdown before stomping back up to full speed, this one is an unashamed jump up classic. Sure to wreck any dancefloor, any time!

Classic Track: DaVIP & Encode – Vamonos

Lifted sublabel Breed 12 Inches has been responsible for some absolute stompers since it’s inception in 2008, the biggest and badest of which is undoubtedly DaVIP & Encode’s appropriately named Vamonos.

If you’re looking for subtlety or soul then this one probably isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a track that will slay floors every time however, this is the one. The first time I heard this track the response was pretty much “fuck off!”, and it still hits just as hard now…absolutely slamming!