Eagle-eyed scene-watchers will doubtless have already noticed news of the return of Kemal over the past few months but what may have passed people by is the slow drip-feed of both new and classic material onto a new Kemal & Rob Data Bandcamp page.
Apparently top quality Drum & Bass albums are likes buses…you wait a while for one, then four come along all at once! November has seen the release of some absolutely essential artist LPs, so we though it only right to give you a quick roundup…read on for our thoughts on the new records from Philth, Misanthrop, Kimyan Law and Klute.
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…
When it comes to legends of the D&B scene, there are fewer more unsung (or at least under-sung) than Muffler. Producing since the tender age of nine and releasing music for nearly twenty years, Muffler has notched up releases with Spearhead, Hospital, Moving Shadow, DSCI4 and dozens more, flying the flag for Finland with a wicked cross-section of tracks that span the spectrum from dark to light and hard to soft.
Just before Christmas he dropped his fifth album, launching new imprint Muffler Music into the bargain, and we’re extremely pleased to report that it’s full of the sort of high class, emotional music that has made Muffler a Dojo favourite ever since we heard his 2003 Sounds of the Future LP.
The first few tracks of the album are an absolute treat for anyone who likes a charged piano roller, with Heavy Heart and Composer both standing out as masterclasses in key-work. Zürich Jungle lives up to it’s name with a nod to the more break-focussed style of days gone by, while Dark Funk and Low Frequency show that Konsta still knows how to lay down dark club bangers with ease.
While it might not be pushing too many envelopes, Composer is a love letter to the classic D&B form, and one penned by a supremely talented producer at that. Check out the clips below and hit up your favourite outlet to grab a copy right now.
When it comes to pristine A&R, Blu Mar Ten Music might just be the most consistent label in the scene. Chris’s knack for signing innovative artists to produce albums is pretty much unparalleled, and every single one has been superb, from the cinematic depths of Conduct, to the eclectic sounds of Kimyan Law and through the dark jazz of RQ. Now we can add another name to that list, as Akuratyde drops his debut long player for the label following on from his excellent Embrace EP back in 2015.
Tonally the album occupies a similar space to that EP; a mixture of natural instrumentation and synthetic elements, soft but warm tones, and bright, uplifting atmospheres. Where the LP differs though is in the tempo and energy of the compositions – where Embrace leaned towards the ultra-deep, autonomic-esque end of the beat spectrum, Past Lives isn’t afraid to bring in more up-tempo percussion and heavier bassline elements.
That trademark Akuratyde depth is still present though, and while there are more obviously “drum & bass” numbers by way of Monika collab Come True and sublime break-driven roller Lost Summer, the rest of the tracks tread that middle ground between more autonomic and even ambient territory and full tempo rollers, with breathtaking results.
Overall this is a stunning debut from a producer who can make detailed and intricate compositions sound gliding and effortless, and despite the obvious production effort that’s gone into the album it never feels over-engineered; no mean feat in the current age of D&B. Check out the previews below and hit up the BMT store to grab a copy on vinyl or digital now.
We first came across Mitekiss here at DNB Dojo back in 2014, when he released a crisp little single for now defunct Leeds imprint Sub:mission Audio. From there the young producer moved on to running his own label Goldfat, before catching the attention of first Shogun Audio and now Hospital Records. Now he lands on Tony Colman’s legendary liquid imprint for his debut album, and we’re pleased to say it’s everything we’d hoped it would be.
Naturally there’s plenty of that emotive liquid that we’ve come to know and love over the years, with higlights coming via Goolab and it’s effortless cascades of piano, the sultry licks of Body Move and the crispy breaks of Hutan. There are also tasty outings into different stylistic territory to enjoy though; rumbling tech aptly vocalised by frequent collaborator Mr Porter on Lenz and a nod to classic jungle on Human being the highlights.
At first glance Crate Six Seven could be dismissed as just another selection of D&B rollers, well-produced but forgettable, but there’s a lot of depth hidden away in these compositions; give it a few listens and we’re sure that the album will get under your skin, just as it has for us here at Dojo HQ. Check out the clips below and hit up the Hospital Store to grab a copy on vinyl, CD or digital now.
For all that we love a classic 2-step roller, one of the things that makes D&B in 2018 so exciting is the diversity of releases within the scene, and particularly those releases which blur the boundaries between what is traditionally considered “drum & bass” and other areas of electronica. So then, to the new Books LP for Detuned Transmissions…
Following on aptly from 2016’s Ensō EP for Ortem, the Station LP explores the deepest chasms of the 170 sound, working with ominous atmospherics and plodding halftime drums for a sound that owes as much to ambient, techno, industrial and noise as it does to D&B or jungle. That cross-section of influences has been melted down in some other-worldly sonic furnace, and the results are stark, ominous, bizarre and rewarding in equal measure.
From the creaking bass vibrations of halftime stomper Block1, via the throbbing textures of Endless Depths, through the biting drums of 7.7766 Gauss and out into the beatless space of Hopeless Unromantic, this album is a journey through soundscapes that while tonally dark and somewhat minimal are nonetheless rich and detailed. A desire to experiment with no consideration for the needs of the dancefloor or the DJ booth has led Books to produce a body of work designed purely for listening, and it’s all the more powerful for that focus.
The Station LP is out now at a variety of digital stores; follow this link to grab a copy.
Alphacut has always been a great source of the deeper end of D&B, and their new EP from DYL is no exception. Infinite Dylays (do you see what they did there?) spans a wealth of deep and atmospheric 170 sounds, presenting DYL’s finest work to date, at least to our ears here at DNB Dojo.
From the spacey cinematic halftime of We, through the microfunk influences of Ioana and into the harsh, beatless industrial soundscapes of Space Program, DYL plays with both light and dark and a variety of different sonic textures. Over on the flip we’re treated to the ominous tones and skittering percussion of Mechanism, techno influences on Undefined and spooky halftime vibrations on final track Alpha.
Overall Infinite Dylays presents a proper journey through some of the richest experimental D&B you’re likely to hear this year, and it’s definitely worth your time. Check out the clips below and hit up Redeye to grab a copy on wax right now…
Toulouse production crew Visages are only on to their second release, but they’re already making waves; following on from a top debut for Impact Music earlier this year they’ve just dropped a follow up for Flexout’s Onyx series and it features three cuts of razor sharp dark techstep that are well worthy of your attention.
Kicking things off is Para Days, featuring a simple but effective vocal hook from Messy MC; this one is a classic stepper with a solid progression and an infectious vibe. Next up the crew join forces with fellow Toulousian Trail for a hypnotic, techno-infused roller. Shifted is a proper earworm with one of the best synth leads we’ve heard in some time; subtle but absolutely vibing.
Last up, Mellow Honey brings a more soulful edge to the proceedings, keeping things minimal but adding some soft pads and sultry vocals to the crisp drums for a deeper workout. Overall it’s a great statement of intent from a crew that clearly have a lot of talent; we’re already looking forward to their next outing, wherever it might land. In the meantime, you can grab ONYX008 right now over here.
It’s always exciting to see what an artist will do with the breadth of a full album, especially an artist who has been pushing the envelope as consistently as Lockjaw. In this case, the answer would be “a lot”; the Australian neurofunk producer has sidestepped the trap of producing twelve entirely-too-similar bangers and conjured a varied selection, while maintaining a coherent sonic identity and tone – no mean feat!
There are certainly a couple of more obvious modern neuro number in the form of title track Human Research and Current Value collab Passing, though both are interesting and impeccably engineered. Elsewhere though there are bizarre angular rhythms, jacking neuro-house, liquid-esque emotional rollers and cinematic, downtempo soundscape explorations. From dark and nasty to effortlessly effervescent, Human Research takes you on a journey through the vivid musical imagination of Lockjaw, and it’s a journey we’d thoroughly recommend you take.
The Human Research LP is out now on Locked Concept; check out the clips below and hit up Bandcamp to grab a copy now!