BTK has largely been on a significant holiday over in the techno scene for the last few years, so it’s great to see him back on Dispatch and packing a full length LP to boot! We’ve got an exclusive from said LP today in the form of Guidance – deep, dark, rolling techy goodness as only Vini delivers. Check it out and hit up the Dispatch store to grab the album right now!
Tuesday rolls around once again so it’s time for another slamming dancefloor selection! This week’s Damager comes fresh from the studios of Virus head honcho Optical and labelmate BTK and as you’d expect it’s gritty, rolling and punchy as hell, all the while buoyed along by an infectious (a-ha) vocal snippet. Not much more to be said; check out the clip below and hit up Beatport to grab the track right now, with general release following from Friday.
The news that the legendary Hardware would be shutting it’s doors in February next year came as an unpleasant surprise here at the Dojo, but it seems that the label is planning to go out in style with plenty more releases on the books between now and next year.
Their latest EP presents four fresh tracks with something of an old school tinge to them, harking back to the golden era of techstep that Hardware played such a big part in. BTK & Cold Fusion play with soulful lyrics over a monstrous bassline on Not Your Idol, while Battery serves up a clattering roller propelled furiously forward by Photek-style bass stabs.
Elsewhere Loxy & Ink keep things gritty with old school break chops set to a throbbing low end and creepy high-end atmospherics, leaving it to NC-17 to close the EP with another massive roller, tinged with classic jungle samples. Massive business as usual from Hardware; check out the clips below and hit up their store to pre-order a copy now.
Nymfo returns to Commercial Suicide for a tasty new EP featuring four chunky slabs of D&B. Brain Feeder and BTK collab Shelter provide the dancefloor weapons while Planetarium and Shivers explore deeper territory, with lush synths on the former and deep bass and intricate percussion on the latter.
To quote the ever droll label press release, ‘Here we have you the next instalment of the “Nymfo releases music on Commercial Suicide” story. Gather around and rejoice this occasion.’ Rejoice indeed! Check out the clips below and hit up the Commercial Suicide bandcamp to get this right now!
Hardware continue their unstoppable onslaught of neurofunk batterers with a fresh new EP of collabs from some of the biggest names on their roster. Maztek & Cern team up for the titular Multiverse, dropping big beats and a disgusting, squelchy set of bassline modulations. Next up regular duo Optiv & BTK get together with Cold Fusion on a techstep roller that harnesses the spirit of 90s sci-fi influenced D&B to great effect.
The pick of the bunch for me comes on Dose & Cern’s irresistible One At A Time – rolling breaks, tight atmospheres and a memorable vocal snippet combine for a lethal dose of dancefloor tech with some tasty drum edits for added flavour. Finally the label’s upstarts get together to close out the EP with a solid slice of glitched up neurofunk from Subtension, Trilo & Minor Rain. Check out the clips below and grab this on vinyl and digital from June 9th.
As an added bonus, Subtension has recorded a cheeky studio mix to promote the release and it’s packed full of fresh dubs from the man himself alongside tracks from the EP and cuts from the wider world of D&B, all with a rolling techy vibe. Check it out!
Eatbrain return with another slice of dark, hefty neurofunk to round out an exceptionally strong 2013 that has seen huge EPs from the likes of Nickbee, Telekinesis and Teddy Killerz.
This time Hungarian veteran and longtime Jade collaborator Mindscape steps up to the plate, and fans of his previous output won’t be disappointed. Rat Pack hits home with massive snares, wonky bass and some apt sci-fi style samples, while Brightness proves to be a full on assault of aggressive midrange sawtooth and skittering breaks.
Elsewhere BTK gets in on the action for the super catchy bass hooks and hypnotic lead melody of Road Rage, before Space & Time closes the EP with frenetic bassline modulations and a glitched up vocal slice. Check out the clips below and grab a copy on vinyl or digital from your favourite retailer!
Black Sun Empire launch their new Blackout Imprint in style with an EP of huge new beats from Optiv & BTK. Fans of the duo’s previous work on Virus, Dutty Audio and beyond should definitely check this out, big bad neurofunk stompers all the way and engineered with the precision we’ve come to know and love. Check out the clips below and look out for the EP dropping May 16th via Beatport.