Category Archives: Releases

Audeka – Lost Souls LP [Methlab]

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Methlab’s foray into record label territory over the past few months has resulted in some seriously impressive releases, and their latest from US production trio Audeka is undoubtedly the label’s most ambitious project to date.

Unsuprisingly given Methlab’s heritage and artist roster and Audeka’s previous work, the first thing that jumps out about Lost Souls is the quality and detail of the sound design. Bassline production geeks will definitely find plenty to be impressed by here, but despite the technicality the results are powerful and emotionally resonant. Neurofunk and it’s related lower-tempo cousins can sometimes become a biggest-bassline dick-waiving contest and thankfully Audeka have avoided falling into that trap.

There’s also a versatility on show here with the album’s first two tracks alone showing a huge range, jumping from dubstep-esque industrial-tinged destruction to beautifully soft trip-hop. Most of the tracks on the LP definitely lean more towards the former than the latter, but even within that signature Audeka sound of groaning bass distortion and heavy hitting percussion there’s room for tons of experimentation with both rhythm and sonic texture.

Most ambitiously still the album attempts to tell a complex story of a man’s journey from a small village through a forbidden underworld as he attempts to rescue his wife from the clutches of a dark magic. Given the album’s largely instrumental nature it’s difficult to imagine this narrative coming across without prior knowledge, but it’s nonetheless interesting to bear this in mind when listening to the sounds and moods of each track; it certainly conveys a journey through myriad fantastical landscapes.

Overall if you like your electronica a little avant-garde and have ever enjoyed productions from the likes of Broken Note, Amon Tobin or Noisia then this album is absolutely essential listening. Lost Souls is available right now from the Methlab Bandcamp; grab it straight from the source and net yourself some attractive artwork posters into the bargain.

dgoHn – Ralph [Love Love]

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We’re suckers for a bit of old school break chopping here at Dojo HQ so news that dgoHn would be returning to Love Love with more of his ruffneck jungle stylings was met with rapturous applause and jubilant celebration (not really, but we were pleased). Side-note: if you missed his rather excellent All The Fuckin As EP earlier this year then definitely go and give it a listen.

The Ralph EP sees dgoHn (pronounced “John”, apparently) treading a well-worn path of breakbeat manipulation, stopping short of the full on breakcore of artists like Venetian Snares but nonetheless injecting a fair bit more chaos into the drums than is to be found in most modern drum & bass. The attention to detail is palpable too; every edit, glitch, reverse and FX stab feels placed for maximal efficacy, keeping the listener engaged with an onslaught of unpredictable kicks, snares and hats for a beautifully anarchic rhythm.

Asides from the two dgoHn originals, the EP also features a tidy remix from Rephlex producer Jodey Kendrick, who twists the relatively light and playful tones of the title track into a darker and more ominous flex, playing with tempo on a glitched-up halftime intro before knocking into full-roll choppage later in the track.

Tasty business all round; fans of Paradox, Fanu and the higher end of the beat mangling craft should definitely give this one a listen. Check out the clips below and look for the release on vinyl and digital from Sep 30th; pre-orders up now at the Love Love bandcamp.

Glados EP [Inspected]

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Youtube channel turned record label / clothing brand Inspected are back with another tidy neurofunk selection in the form of the Glados EP (for the non-gamers out there that’s a Portal reference).

There’s a fine selection of dancefloor bangers on show here – Malux is on hand with a big morphing bassline on Rubix, Posij turns in a sparse but groove-heavy roller on the screwface-inducing Killer and Billain brings the heat as usual with his signature high-precision, high energy relentlessness.

The star of the show for us though is Culprate’s fantastic halftime VIP of Diablo; pitching down the iconic intro of the original and replacing the full-roll assault with a swaggering 20/20 style drum & squelch riddim, this one is rude! Check out the previews below and hit up your favourite digital store to grab a copy now.

Beatnok – Binary Lust EP [Air Mass]

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It’s always a pleasure to come across a new producer and be instantly enamoured with their work, and our discovery of Beatnok via his Binary Lust EP provoked exactly that reaction. Hailing from Detroit but with more of a taste for dBridge’s autonomic stylings than his native city’s famous techno, Beatnok’s productions come across as deep, detailed, and emotionally articulate; a relative rarity in the sometimes over-clinical world of 170BPM music.

The first thing that makes the tracks here stand out for anyone familiar with the wealth of halftime out there is that this isn’t cookie-cutter “gritty” minimalism; the drums hit hard when they need to and the synth sections certainly sound foreboding at times, but the tracks carve their own style somewhere between the darkness of artists like Clarity and the softer synth action of the original autonomic series.

While undoubtedly influenced by both the early autonomic records and the more recent Heart Drive / Pleasure District releases, Beatnok has harnessed both the spirit of experimentation and the effortless use of space and reverb which make those records such a joy to consume. The sound is sparse enough to allow the elements to breathe without being so minimal as to be dull, and the progressions feel natural, avoiding the tedium of obviously DJ friendly buildups and breakdowns. Armchair listening for the discerning D&B aficionado, and so good for it.

You can check out some all too brief previews of the EP below but it’s really best experienced in full, so go grab it from the label’s Bandcamp for the bargain price of $4; you won’t regret it.

M-zine & Scepticz – Play EP [Blendits]

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Rotterdam imprint Blendits has undoubtedly become one of the most dependable smaller D&B labels around over the past two years, playing host to varied and interesting productions from some of the best names in the underground scene. Their latest EP sees Belgian duo M-zine & Scepticz join the label roster and the results are a treat for anyone who’s a fan of chunky, detailed rollers.

Title track Play goes in heavy, with a satisfyingly thick bassline, sci-fi leads and stomping tech drums for a solid dancefloor workout. Singularity changes gears, stripping back the elements for a spooky, cerebral composition; this one is all in the drums and those faintly eerie pads.

Consonance pulls the classic bait and switch, lulling us into a false sense of security with what sounds like a lush liquid intro before dropping into a tough edged high-energy roller. The combination of heft and soul is reminiscent of some of Digital’s older work, and the results are equally impressive. Last but not least, we get gully again on the dark and dangerous sounds of Glimpsed.

Overall the Play EP presents four precise and deep yet utterly dancefloor-worthy slices of classic 2-step D&B business, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need. Check out the clips and hit up the Blendits bandcamp to buy the EP direct.

War – Invisible EP [Methlab BNKR]

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Given their roster of artists one might have expected Methlab’s new BNKR imprint to be dishing out the neurofunk smashers a la Eatbrain, Blackout etc, but so far the label’s output has shown a surprising depth and diversity, much to our delight here at Dojo HQ.

Fans of Utopia Music, Dispatch, Horizons or any of the other esteemed imprints he’s released on should already be familiar with French-born, Bristol-based War. Despite being only 23 years old he’s already made quite a mark on the D&B scene, both with his frequent collaborators Hydro and Mateba and on solo joints like his latest EP for Methlab.

On then to said solo EP, and the first thing that stands out is the drums. Drawing on the long heritage of precise yet organic percussion honed by the likes of Mako, DLR, Photek and so many other producers, the tracks all harness a raw funk so often lacking in today’s 170BPM stylings. This isn’t the over-polished crispness of Hospital’s liquid breaks or the synthetic pew pew lazer snares of modern neuro; this is the sound of the funkiest drum machine out there, channelling breaks, kicks, snares and fills through the mix with a touch of analogue distortion and tons of soul.

If the drums are the first part of the equation that binds these tracks together, atmosphere is the other; from the skittering, tribal halftime of title track Invisible through the hypnotic stabs of The Hundred Lights and out into Metalheadz-esque tech smashed Snow Blind the EP is replete with subtle pads, and a faintly ominous tone, beckoning the listener in to War’s slightly dystopian world.  

Rounding the EP off with another cracking curveball, Methlab have recruited the ever versatile Djrum for remix duties on Invisible, and true to his eclectic pallet he’s twisted it into a throbbing slice of techno well worthy of a dingy Berlin dancefloor. Overall this is a cracking EP for those that like their D&B to tread the line between dancefloor sensibilities and cerebral appeal; check out the clips below and hit up the Methlab Bandcamp to grab a copy right now.

Kelle & Juha – Mystery / Snowflakes [E-Motion]

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After something of a hiatus E-Motion have returned in 2016 and their latest single from Kelle & Juha sees the label rejuvenated and back to full strength once again, bringing their brand of deeper 170BPM to the table with relish.

Both Mystery and Snowflakes keep the drums sharp and the melodic elements warm, floaty and intriguing; two more tunes to lose yourself in and essential listening for fans of the liquid sound. Check out the clips below and grab the release from your favourite digital store right now.

Nucleus & Paradox – Ubiquity [Esoteric]

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Fresh beats from Nucleus & Paradox are always gonna put a smile on our faces here at the Dojo; we just love a crusty old breakbeat and these guys are the masters of manipulation when it comes to those funky riddims.

Their latest work for Esoteric isn’t exactly breaking new ground; more honing their established artform, and honing it well. Ubiquity keeps the beats relatively minimal, layering them in between squelchy bass and old school pads for a warm slice of analogue depth.

Foundation ups the ante with more insistent percussion and light, jazzy chimes giving the tune that characteristic Paradox b-boy flavour. Wicked stuff! As usual you can find this via the Samurai Store with orders going out tomorrow; move fast as this will surely be gone before you know it!

Jubei – To Have Or Have Not Remixes [Metalheadz]

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Cuts from Jubei’s memorable To Have And Have Not LP get the remix treatment on the latest EP from the ‘headz camp. Skeptical turns in a characteristically stark refit of Incognito while Ulterior Motive turn in a big banging rework of Tip The Scales, but for us it’s all about the two new versions of Goldie collab The Prayer.

Blocks and Escher are the first to get their mits onto the tune, and they’ve turned it into quite the religious experience. Building some epic tension on the intro as creepy monastic vocals give way to a throbbing bassline, the eventual drop at nearly 2 minutes in is a bombastic assault of growling low end and rip-roaring percussion; old school vibes with new school production and so much danger. Those drums!

Om Unit meanwhile completely flips the tune around, thinning out the drums for one of his signature sparse but skittering halftime riddims. As with so much of his work the essence of classic jungle is present but it’s been twisted and morphed into something uniquely new; one foot in the past while the other meanders into the future. Ethereal and fantastic.

As usual you can grab this from the Metalheadz store on digital or 12″; check out the clips below and go grab it!

Handra – Forget EP [Addictive Behaviour]

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Regular readers are probably already aware that we’re big fans of Addictive Behaviour; pretty much every release from the burgeoning London label has been a treat, and that tradition looks set to continue for some time based on their latest offering.

The Forget EP sees Polish duo Handra follow up the success of their previous releases for the label with two new tracks following their usual deep-leaning style. Forget kicks things off with another beautiful Tiiu-voxed roller, bringing together tough bass with soft piano and the Russian singer’s delightfully delicate strains. We’re suckers for a melancholy number here at Dojo HQ and this is up there with the best of them.

Arcane sees the energy levels rising as Mystic State join Handra in the studio for a gritty, vibe-full roller; simple but effective business as big splashy snares punctuate the growling bass under a layer of echoed rap vocals. Finally Ed:it rounds things off with a chunky remix of Far Away, swapping the deep halftime flex of the original with quirky but rolling drums and a more stripped back sound.

Once again the Addictive family are on top form! Check out the clips below and look for this on vinyl and digital right now…and if you can’t get enough Handra, go listen to their Showcase Mix for D&B Arena.