Another month has slipped by and another quality selection has crossed the Dojo inbox, so it’s time for the best of the rest, or as Deficit put it last time “Its like Top Of The Pops but better”. Read on for the latest from Inception Audio, Eatbrain, Syncopix, HLZ and more…
Blu Mar Ten Music continue winding up towards the release of their latest solo artist album with a second single from the rather talented Conduct. As we’ve come to expect from BMTM the musicality on show here is breathtaking, providing ample proof that D&B can be about so much more than just forgettable dancefloor fodder.
The solemn guitar work on lead track Bat Country brings to mind equal parts latter-day Earth (check their excellent album Hex; or printing in the Infernal Method) and the soundtrack to a tense saloon stand-off in some imaginary Western. Said licks combine surprisingly well with the obviously synthetic bassline elements later in the track for a decidedly moody aesthetic.
Over on the flip, Beta’s Error goes in super deep, eschewing any kind of rolling or stepping drum pattern for sparse, echoing kicks and percussive glitches, allowing the creepily treated vocals and melancholy atmospheres space to breathe. The influence of shoegaze and post-rock definitely seeps into Conduct’s sound on this one, and the results are sublime.
As usual you can pick this one up from the Blu Mar Ten store on vinyl or digital, and we’d encourage you to grab a copy right now, because this is undoubtedly one of the finest pieces of music to cross our inbox this year.
We’ve been eagerly awaiting new music from Boston since his last release for Symmetry and true to form he’s back on Break’s imprint with four new silky smooth rollers that glide along effortlessly.
As with previous releases, Boston’s compositions are characterised by live guitar licks, crisp percussion, rich synths and a hint of jazz. That hint of jazz is handled subtly too, unlike some of the rather sax-heavy “jazz’n’bass” stylings employed by other producers in the scene, and that subtlety really makes the music shine.
Treading that beautifully fine line between being musical enough for the living room and hefty enough for the club with style and aplomb, this is another superb EP from a producer whose style has found the perfect home on Symmetry. Absolutely lush. Check out the clips below and hit up your favourite store to grab a copy right now.
When you’re presented with two dope new singles from the same production duo within a week of one another, clearly there’s only one legitimate response; review double feature!
Everyone’s favourite Swedish D&B producer Seba has teamed up with stateside experimentalist Method One once again and they’ve crafted some pretty groovy tracks. Dawn Patrol leads their 12″ for Commercial Suicide, featuring customarily floaty Seba pad work and crispy breaks a plenty, while Eidolon takes things in a heavier direction with more crunchy breaks and a funky bass hook. Noice!
Not content with a more than capable outing on Klute’s label, the boys have also signed a pair of moodier tracks to Samurai Music, featuring more polished drum work, deep sub and creepy synth leads; atmospheric business. Silicon Nature edges out as the Dojo fave on this one, but both tracks are top notch as you’d expect from producers with this much experience.
Personally we’re hoping to hear more from Seba & Method One in the not too distant future! Hit up the Commercial Suicide and Samurai stores respectively to grab these on vinyl or digital right now.
We’re big fans of Nurtured Beatz here at DNB Dojo so naturally we jumped at the chance to get label co-owner Spindall on board for a mix! He’s turned in a 100% Beatz selection featuring a ton of dubs and true to the label’s ethos the selections are deep, dark and absolutely heavyweight.
As usual you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Mixcloud, Hearthis.at or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
M-Soul & S27 – What Matters The Most [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Interline – Mentality (Red Army Remix) [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Kalm & Spindall – Six Foot (Tephra & Arkoze Remix) [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Kolectiv & Retraflex – General Dub [Nurtured Beatz]
Subtle Element – Zulu [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Meta4 & Urbicide – The Funk [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Meloki feat Mr Porter – Handle Weaponry [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Quantum Mechanix – Scars [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Kolectiv – Nephilim [Nurtured Beatz USB Exclusive]
Genotype – No Remorse [Nurtured Beatz]
Kolectiv – My Right [Nurtured Beatz]
M Soul, S27 & Cult – Self Awareness [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Kolectiv – You Don’t Know VIP [Nurtured Beatz USB Exclusive]
Precision – Jah Real Words [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Subtle Element – This Sound [Nurtured Beatz Dub]
Dubplate Exclusive
Kolectiv – Black Cat [Nurtured Beatz USB Exclusive]
Metalheadz have been on quite a roll for the last couple of years; after arguably a little bit of a lull their recent release schedule has seen a stream of quality releases that even other labels of similar heritage have struggled to match. Their latest offering from Total Science continues that recent trend, bringing five tracks of crisp, forward thinking D&B to the table in typical ‘headz style.
Opener Notes of Blue is undoubtedly a nod to the legendary Blue Note sessions from the late 90s that proved such a formative time for so many notable D&B producers. Eerie sound designs and the merest hints of jazz combine with deep dubby sub and beautifully processed breaks for a track that is at once playful and thoughtful.
That trend for “thinking man’s” D&B continues throughout the EP, with one foot rooted firmly on the dance floor while the other meanders off into less genre bound territory. From the soft vocal manipulations of Soul For Sale through the tough jungle breaks and dubbed out echoes of Contraband, the EP works well both as a DJ tool and a selection of tracks for the listener alike.
Digital bonus tracks All Massive and Man Down round the selection out with two odes to the classic era of 90s D&B referenced in the EP’s title; the old school samples and the style of break manipulation still sound fresh today, and those polished modern mixdowns give them some serious punch.
We were pretty sure that Metalheadz and Total Science would prove to be a winning combination but this EP outstripped our already high expectations admirably. Check out the clips below and hit up the ‘headz store to grab a copy now.
As another fortnight slips away it’s time for another roundup of the best of the rest from the Dojo inbox. Read on for fresh releases from SpectraSoul, Philth, Quentin Hiatus, Dead Man’s Chest and more… Continue reading
Liquid rollers all the way on the latest instalment of the Dojo Mix Series! Marcus Tee delivers the goods, serving up a label showcase mix featuring nothing but cuts from the Bay 6 Recordings catalogue, and the result is an hour of deep, melodic, emotional, beautiful 170BPM music. Can’t argue with that!
As usual you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Mixcloud, Hearthis.at or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Colossus – Lost In Time
Iandys – Point Of Departure
Eugenics Eight – Fade To Black
Ayshot Prod – Wooden
Kairos – Ho2k
Kairos – All That I Know
DFlect – Autumn Groove
Eugenics Eight – Enjoy The Silence
Midn8runner – Silver Lining
Iandys – Find A Way
Midn8runner – I Miss U
MoveMode – Nashik Rain
XCUZMe – From The Ashes
Marcus Tee – Rush Hour
MonoScript – Down 4 U
DFlect – Howling Winds
Pulsate – Coastlines
MonoScript – Calling
Amphix – Twilight Town (Pulsate Remix)
Amphix – Never Let Go
Kairos – Voyage
Ayshot Prod – Waterflow
XCUZMe – Turin Jazz
Marcus Tee – Bigger Than This
Britewall – Dover Woods
5-HT – Colossus
Pulsate – Chasing Saturn
Cityskape – Morning Commute
The mixes are coming thick and fast this month as we welcome The Untouchables to the DNB Dojo decks! With a superb new EP just out on Translation Recordings and previous releases gracing the likes of Alphacut, Cylon and Samurai, their distinctive dubby sound has been rumbling the bassbins at Dojo HQ for some time now. Serious weight!
As usual you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Mixcloud, Hearthis.at or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Following hot on the heels of our last mix from Fuj, Terra Null Recordings boss Cirrus steps up with the 25th instalment of the DNB Dojo Mix Series! Whether via the excellent releases on Terra Null or his other work for Terabyte, Nurtured Beatz and AutomAte, Cirrus has been making waves within the dark D&B world for a couple of years and that looks set to continue.
His selection for DNB Dojo features new dubs from the catalogues of Terabyte, Alchemic Breaks and Terra Null alongside a host of Cirrus productions and beats from the likes of Ruffhouse, Red Army and Skeptical. Militant head nodders and grimey textures all the way on this one.
As usual you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Mixcloud, Hearthis.at or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.