18 year old Bryzone has already developed a keen sense for the deeper side of D&B as evidenced by the smooth liquid vibes of his latest work for Soulvent Records. A side Trial Run makes good use of the soft vocals of Jenny Mayhem over a crisp break and simple piano arrangements, while Stargaze lets the melody take centre stage over a slightly more angular yet break, retaining that soft quality to a different rhythm. Look out for this one now at all good digital stores.
Protect Audio take a break from their usual dark and minimal aesthetics for a softer set of beats from Cruel Culture & Keosz. Sorrow blends rolling breaks with microfunk-esque percussive touches and a nice piano hook for a great slice of deep liquid.
Thought keeps the vibe mellow with lush, shimmering ambience on the intro giving way to warm sub bass vibrations and a deftly crafted drum line as the musical elements fade in and out of the mix overhead. Those who like their D&B a little less dancefloor oriented should definitely give this release a look. Check out the clips below and watch out for the release dropping from March 31st.
Commercial Suicide’s release schedule shows no signs of letting up with another essential 12″ following hot on the heels of the recent Dose LP Sampler. The legendary Calibre gets behind the controls for a rolling liquid refix of My Black & White in the mould of his previous remixes for Spectrasoul and TEED; this one hits the spot in the same way his productions always do.
Over on the flip CS boss man Klute dishes up the fresh (and oddly titled) Speak No Fish. Soaring melodic bleeps lead the tune over a backbone of techno-esque rhythmic sub bass and a sturdy, rolling break. This is definitely a tune with enough bounce for a dancefloor but enough beauty for the living room. Check out both tunes below and watch out for the release dropping on vinyl and digital from March 31st.
The arrival of a new Calibre album is always a special moment, and the unexpected release of Shelflife 3 proved no less so than with previous efforts from the legendarily quiet producer. Despite being made up of the “off cuts” from Calibre’s various hard drives over the past few years, the tracks on show here are full of the soul and depth we’ve come to associate with his work over the last decade, and exemplify his “less is more” approach.
Much of the work is far from revolutionary, with tracks like Miraculous and Honey Dew providing classic piano-led rollers while Make Me Feel Alright and Fear of Letting Go hit all the usual soulful notes. There are a few surprises though, like the menacing bass swells of Instant and Off Key, the odd tones of Rooftops and the orchestral sampling of amen workout To And Fro.
Overall Shelflife 3 is a great selection of tracks, and a great addition to anyone’s record collection. Head on over to Surus to grab it on CD, LP or Digital and keep an eye on the newly established Signature Facebook page for more news from the world of Calibre.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7JuCEUAXrs&list=PL6FuEnLcUZw9z8sMJgYuf3poKkX6Vuev2]
Automate return with the second of their Depth of Vision EP series featuring another four fresh cuts from up and coming producers. D.R.O.P.S. kick things off with the tight, dark and rolling beats of Utopia, while None Decay heads for more tribal territory with the insistent half-time kicks and morphing bass of the appropriately named Gully.
Into the latter half of the EP we’re treated to some crisp drum syncopations on Beaton’s Something From The Jungle, with spooky pads and vocal echoes moving in and out of the mix. The leftfield beat arrangements and some great use of stereo width really make this one! Lastly Ruffie delivers an industrial tinged stomper in the form of Strife, mixing hard kicks and treated snares with haunting, reverb drenched pads.
Check out the clips below and watch out for the EP dropping at all good digital outlets from April 7th.
Samurai Music steal Sam KDC away from ASC’s Auxiliary imprint for a 12″ on their Red Seal arm and as usual it’s a treat. Deep, dubby vibes and plenty of crackly atmosphere pervade the tracks; a lazy description of “Burial makes 170” is tempting, but while apt doesn’t really do the tunes justice. Burial with more punch, perhaps, particularly on the more energetic B-side Erogenous.
As usual the release will be served up on wax for the vinyl collectors out there, with this particular release featuring excellent artwork from the talented Petra Zhivkova. Check out the clips below and watch out for the release dropping from March 17th.
Transmission launch their new Sub:mission sister imprint with an EP of deeper beats from Dead Electrics. While the mixdowns are a little rough, the EP showcases a compositional talent across four tracks of “liquid with teeth”. Tough beats and basslines give the tunes energy and power, with melodic elements washing in and out of the mix to give the beats depth and soul.
Check out the tunes below and grab yourself a copy from your favourite digital outlet now.
Rotterdam based Club Night and label Blendits return with their second release featuring two deep collabs. Soligen & Type-2 deliver an intricate and soulful roller with a hint of techstep teeth on Pretending, which proves detailed and rewarding on repeat listens.
Over on the flip dutch duo Mindmapper & Silvahfonk come correct on Polygraph, blending crisp, tough drums, airy synth work and warm sub for a roller that is danceable yet understated.
Check out the beats below and grab a copy from your favourite digital outlet!
Nickbee is a producer we’ve been keeping a close eye on for the past couple of years here at the Dojo and 2013 in particular has seen him cementing his position in the scene with tunes on Noisia’s Invisible imprint, a single on Bad Taste and a huge EP for Jade’s Eatbrain label. It seems somewhat appropriate that his debut album sees him return to Dispatch Ltd, the label that put out one of his first releases in 2011.
The Ukrainian producer has taken full advantage of the scope of a full length release to explore other tempos, with interesting takes on Dubstep (Inspiration), Deep House (Kloe) and Garage (Subterra collaboration Black & White) appearing alongside the usual tough D&B rhythms. There’s even some downtempo on Moonlight, a track absolutely drenched in atmosphere and space, and album closer One More Breath.
The D&B doesn’t disappoint either, with highlights coming of the titular Empty Your Mind and Updown, both proving to be well produced slices of rolling techstep. The only criticism I can really level at the album is that the transition between tracks sometimes jars a little; some interludes or a mixed version of the album would have been a nice touch, but this is a minor complaint in the scheme of things.
Check out the clips below and grab yourself a copy on vinyl or digital now!
Fokuz sister label Celsius have prepped a tidy pair of deep liquid rollers from Macca & Hosta for the 77th release in their formidable catalogue.
New Beginnings is definitely a roller from a pair of producers who’ve been worshipping at the altar of Calibre, with a crisp, precise break, warm sub and soft pads dominating the composition. Nothing To Prove follows a similar pattern, with the vocal talents of Jodi adding extra atmosphere to the hypnotically smooth beats. Watch out for these dropping from March 10th.