Lockjaw – Chasing Shadows / Ions [Vandal Records]

Posted on 7th May 2015 by DNB Dojo

Vandal Records continue their relentless release schedule with a new single from Australian tech producer Lockjaw. The production quality on show here is more than ample evidence of just how far he’s come since early releases for Lifestyle and Mindstorm, with a ridiculous level of precision in the beats and bass.

Chasing Shadows keeps things punchy as hell with stacatto drum rhythms set to an equally stabby bass pattern and plenty of creepy atmospherics. Ions follows suit with more punishing bassy body-blows…in fact this single is so stabby it might as well be called “Knife Fight”! Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite digital store now!

Classic Track: Apex – Inner Space

Posted on 7th May 2015 by DNB Dojo

Not long after the relaunch of Subtitles in 2010, Teebee’s label treated us to a fantastic track from one of my favourite producers, Rob Dickeson aka Apex. While I discovered Apex initially through his harder tech and neurofunk productions on Lifted Music (and earlier as one half of Unknown Error), I later fell in love with his more musical output which featured on Horizons and Hospital, and this gem is definitely up there with his best.

Inner Space explores lush, synthy ambience and remains downtempo until the second verse at which point that familiar, crisp D&B break kicks the track up a notch. The whole thing is just beautiful and unusually serene for even liquid D&B, and it’s a track I never get bored of hearing. Unfortunately this 12″ would prove to be one of his last before his apparent retirement sometime in 2012, and his output is much missed (by me at least). Check it out below and go look out a copy on vinyl or digital!

Tonic – Latitude / Prime Number [AutomAte Deep]

Posted on 5th May 2015 by DNB Dojo

AutomAte expand their roster once again with the latest release on their Deep imprint coming from Kiwi producer Tonic, who explores atmospheric D&B with a little more pace than some of the label’s previous “Deep” releases.

Latitude keeps the beats pounding away under a selection of atmospheric hits and swells, making great use of space and stereo imaging. Prime Number provides a more dancefloor friendly outing with an altogether more insistent tone and plenty of funk via the multitude of break fills and melodic stabs. Tasty!

Check out the clips below and head to your favourite digital store to grab this one now. You can also hear a bit more about the tracks from the man himself over at this interview with D&B Arena.

KOAN Sound – Forgotten Myths

Posted on 4th May 2015 by DNB Dojo

Anyone who keeps an eye on the wider bass music scene should already be familiar with KOAN Sound – the Bristol-based duo have gained fairly widespread acclaim for their dubstep, glitch-hop and other lower-tempo material on Skrillex’s OWSLA label, Inspected Records and beyond.

Their latest release sees them concentrating on the 170BPM sound more than usual, with two of the four tracks playing with the D&B template. Strike hits down with intricate drum programming around a halftime kick/snare rhythm and plenty of the duo’s trademark squelchy bass, while Forgotten Myths goes full roll after a pretty epic atmospheric build up.

Elsewhere on the EP we’re treated to lush, melodic glitch-hop on Sentient and soft, almost ambient tones set to rolling 140BPM breakbeats on View From Above. Overall it’s a top notch EP, and best of all you can grab it on a “pay what you like” basis from their Bandcamp. Check out the tracks below and grab it right now!

Paradox – Rockdown / Divination [Paradox Music]

Posted on 3rd May 2015 by DNB Dojo

The original junglist b-boy Paradox is back with another superb 12″ for his own Paradox Music imprint. Rockdown is a pure drum workout, chopping the breaks with the finesse or a man who’s been at it for the best part of two decades. Combining funk drum chops with hip-hop sampling sensibilities, this one is a stone cold killer!

Divination takes things deeper for the flip, opting for a less rolling drum line and darker bass and atmospherics. It’s great to hear Paradox keeping the drumfunk sound alive and refusing to conform to current trends that have left the style all but dead. Check out the clips below and head to the Paradox Bandcamp to pre-order now ahead of the May 4th release date.

Moresounds – Pure Niceness EP [Astrophonica]

Posted on 2nd May 2015 by DNB Dojo

Moresounds returns to Fracture’s Astrophonica imprint with a new EP featuring more of his crossover footwork/jungle sound. Pillaging the classic breaks and ragga vocal samples from 90s jungle but reworking them to an entirely different set of rhythmic syncopations, the tracks here have at once an air of old school nostalgia and an up to the minute freshness.

Picks of the bunch for us here at the Dojo are the chopped up, dubbed out skank-up of Pure Niceness and the crusty breaks, jungle vox and classic pads of Fracture collab Dead & Bury. Check out the clips below and head to the Astrophonica store to grab this on vinyl or digital now!

Kalima EP [Mayan Audio]

Posted on 1st May 2015 by DNB Dojo

Mayan Audio return with their fifth release collecting five tracks from five of the label’s fresh new faces; you could say they’ve got something going on with the number 5. I bet there’s a Sesame Street joke in here somewhere…

As fans of the label will already be expecting, we’ve got energetic, detailed neurofunk in spades on offer here and while the styles may not be the most innovative they carry more than enough polish and vibe to make up for it! Highlights come on the bouncing Lazer Eye from Tuff Touch, Traced’s rugged stylings on Phobia and Kritix’s cheeky VIP of previous Dojo favourite Traction.

Check out the clips below and hit up Beatport for this one right now, with full release following from May 11th.

Crypticz – Magnets [Inflect Audio]

Posted on 1st May 2015 by DNB Dojo

Bristol label Inflect serve up their latest slice of future beats from young upstart producer Crypticz. Whipping together Grime, Halfstep D&B and Footwork into a tasty bass-laced cake, the beats on show here should definitely float your boat if you’ve been enjoying the vibes that the likes of Fracture, Stray and Sam Binga have been kicking out recently.

Magnets leads the charge with skittering percussion and some big bad synth lead action, while Transmission goes in deep enough to need a submarine, opting for dubbed out ambience in spades. Finally French producer and Astrophonica / 31 Records affiliate Moresounds chops up Magnets for a less stomping and more intricate riddim; one for the heads!

Check out the clips below and look for this from May 1st at all good digital stores.

Misanthrop – I Need More [Blackout]

Posted on 30th April 2015 by DNB Dojo

Frequent Phace collaborator, one half of Neosignal, and general all around neuro don; when it comes to credentials few hold a set as impressive as Misanthrop, and while most of his work is done in collaboration his solo releases are no less worthy. Following on from the impressive Greed of Gain EP a year and a half back, Misanthrop now touches down on Blackout with four fresh new tracks exploring his unique take on the neurofunk style.

Interestingly the EP’s opener and title track is easily it’s most restrained and most rhythmic in nature, focussing on punchy drums and progression over aggressive mid range; definitely one for building things up before smashing them down later in a set. The rest of the EP heads for more peak-time neurofunk territory, with Capitalism, Big Data and Rock’n’roll all kicking down the door with the appropriate level of absolute fury! Stomping stuff.

Check out the clips below and look for this on Beatport now, with full release following from May 4th.

Hex – Winged Foes / Slugproof (Frustrate Remix) [TA:LTD]

Posted on 30th April 2015 by DNB Dojo

Dojo boss Hex returns with more of his techy stylings for Transmission Audio’s new TA:LTD sublabel. Winged Foes opens up with creepy atmospherics and then drops into a metallic neurofunk assault with tearing midrange and heavy kicks and snares clattering down from all sides.

Over on the flip Frustrate provides a tasty new remix of Slugproof, adding plenty of grit to the bass and locking the track into a weighty, rolling groove. Check out the clips below and grab this one from Digital Tunes right now!

DNB Dojo

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