Tag Archives: Dark

Vince Grain – Nyctophilia / Drones Over Berlin [AutomAte Deep]

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Vince Grain returns to AutomAte for the latest release on their deep imprint with a couple of dark, weighty beats. Nyctophilia (that’s an abnormal preference for night over day, for the uninitiated) combines deep sub pressure and a plodding half-time beat with beautiful melodic flourishes sampled from a Japanese Koto.

Drones Over Berlin meanwhile opens up with dark, atmospheric synth work and before dropping into a grinding bassline and another plodding half-time riddim; after a few bars this gives way to a full tempo break filled in with an assortment of distorted amens and deft percussive touches. The beauty of the A side is entirely eschewed here in favour of relentless gloom, and it works a treat!

Check out the clips below and watch out for this one dropping from June 2nd at all good digital outlets.

Forbidden Codes LP [117 Records]

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For anyone who’s wondering what DJ Trace has been up to lately, it seems he’s been busy founding a new label in the form of 117 Records. Apparently having tired of the neuro sound he’d been championing for over a decade at DSCI4, he shut that label down and started 117 with a view to releasing a slew of music from producers who have been harnessing a more old school sound in combination with modern production techniques.

The label’s latest output is an absolutely gigantic LP featuring D&B and Jungle cuts which are dark and at times techy but definitely a shade different to the neurofunk sounds that defined DSCI4. The two LP bundles available are split between 8 tracks in a vinyl only bundle (available at Redeye here) consisting of 4 limited edition clear 10″s, and a 24 track digital bundle.

Particular highlights from the vinyl bundle come on from Kid Lib with the manic jungle syncopations of The Rifle, Gremlinz & Homemade Weapons absolutely menacing Scar-H and the equally brutal roll of Genotype’s aptly titled Aggression Snare. The digital bundle meanwhile plays host to some treats such as the hyperactive amen cut ups of X Nation’s remix of Trace’s Never Felt This Way, the distinctly old skool stabs and breaks of Fade’s Phobia and Trace and Nico’s clattering Monkeys.

The whole LP is well worth a listen so check out the clips on Soundcloud and pick your own favourites.

Naked Objects – Polar Shift [Default Recordings]

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Naked Objects - Polar Shift DEF010

Default Recordings celebrate their tenth release with an interesting new single from Naked Objects, featururing two distinct mixes of the same tune. The South Mix provides a heavier hitting drumstep rhythm and plenty of low end growl, while the North Mix heads for dark roller territory, swapping the half-time rhythms with a full tempo break and emphasising the sub over the growlier bassline elements.

Check out the clips below and grab this from your favourite digital outlet now.

Invisible 007 [Invisible Recordings]

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Noisia’s Invisible Recordings imprint returns with another various artists EP showcasing the deeper side of the 170BPM spectrum. Nickbee returns to the imprint with a rolling slice of tech with plenty of atmosphere, but to be honest the other tracks on the release prove far more interesting.

Bop and Diagram’s Abstract Elements collaboration make their first appearance on the label with the angular microfunk of PMS!!!, complete with one of the oddest samples I’ve heard in a tune for some time. Fre4knc serves up a dark, industrial slice of half-step business with some interesting rhythms on Cardiome, and finally Berlin duo Survey deliver a distinctly tribal sounding rhythm in the form of Swim.

Check out the clips below and watch out for this dropping on vinyl from Monday with digital following on the 26th.

Anodyne Industries – Seed Planet [Free Download]

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Hopskotch celebrate the recent release of Anodyne Industries’ Decoder EP with a freebie from the same sessions in the form of Seed Planet. Stomping drums in a half time rhythm punctuated by the odd bar of full tempo breaks and dirty bass modulations make for a great workout, bringing enough womp without descending into uninspiring tearout territory. Check it out below and grab yourself a free download via Soundcloud or Bandcamp.

Hyroglifics – Why Don’t You / The Forest [Vandal Records]

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Vandal Records have lined up quite a release schedule for 2014 with their latest selection of dark tech following hot on the heels of some big releases from Nickbee and Primal Therapy. This time it’s Hyroglifics at the controls who comes in with a pair of tasty collaborative tracks.

Ed:it collab Why Don’t You hits down with a heavy break and modulated bass, plus a nicely chosen vocal hook which brings to mind Break’s classic Slow Down. Over on the flip Philth gets in on the act, building atmosphere on the intro with eery synth work before a crisp drop and a big hulking bassline shuffle the tune along. Grimey! Check out the beats below and watch out for the release dropping from April 20th.

Kelle – Respirator / Radiophobia [ProgRAM]

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Over the years RAM has steadily become, for better or worse, more and more focused on big room, dancefloor D&B from the likes of Wilkinson, and has moved away from the more experimental side of D&B production. It seems their new sibling label ProgRAM is seeking to change all that though, and the latest release from Hungarian producer Kelle takes things deep and dark.

Respirator opens up with a massive throbbing sub line, skittering percussion and a tribal rhythm that drives the relatively simple composition along nicely. Radiophobia ups the ante somewhat with more insistent snares and a slightly more rolling beat. Creepy synth stabs on the intro give way to a heavy steppers beat on the drop and more of that dark sub bass action.

Overall this release smacks of a producer who’s only just getting started; definitely one to keep an eye on over the rest of this year! Grab this one from your favourite outlet now.

SEVA – Translation EP

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SEVA’s free EP for NeurofunkGrid caught our attention a while back so news of new material dropping piqued our interest. Sadly it’s under rather unfortunate circumstances as Alex is selling this collection of tracks to help him get back on his feet, having recently found himself homeless.

Charity aside, the EP showcases a fine selection of deep, dark beats with a neuro tinge, showing a versatility compared to the impressive but rather pedal to the floor work on his previous NFG EP. Check it out below and grab the whole EP for the bargain price of £2!

[bandcamp width=400 height=274 album=2134068238 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 artwork=none]

Fractals – Forward In Time EP [Killscreen Recordings]

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Killscreen Recordings step up with their 6th release, this time coming from Manchester based producer Fractals. Dark techstep vibes are the order of the day this time around!

Of the four tracks on the EP, the pick of the bunch to my ears comes on the rolling breaks and hefty bass of Ego. Elsewhere Dark Matter explores some interesting LFO modulations on the lead sounds over a rather off kilter beat and Electro Dub drops down to a halftime riddim with a distinctly dubby edge. Check out the beats below and watch out for the release dropping at all good digital outlets from April 7th.

None Decay – Choke / Stockbroke [None Decay Music]

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Cambridge based duo None Decay are slowly building a rep for all things deep, dark and 170 and their latest self released beats continue that trend nicely. Choke kicks down with a heavy halftime riddim and some serious bassweight from the subs, driving things along to a tribal shuffle.

Stockbroke meanwhile proves a more energetic workout, replete with the same atmosphere but imbued with an insistence from a selection of beats, stabs and bass growls. You can pick up the tracks now from the None Decay Music bandcamp page so check out the clips and get to grabbing them!