Horizons 10 [Horizons Music]

Posted on 6th December 2014 by DNB Dojo

Horizons Music celebrate 10 years in the game with an excellent new compilation featuring 14 fresh cuts from names that will be familiar to anyone who’s been following the label in recent times. The compilation takes a look back at the label’s very first release, with Jubei and Amoss both turning in remixes of Skitty’s 10 Steps, but for the most part they’re looking forward with new material from some of the best names in the scene.

It’s difficult to pick highlights from such a strong selection, but a few stand out from the pack. Silent Witness brings a perfectly balanced combination of melodic elements and rolling, dancefloor tech on Fields, Amoss explore their deeper side on the subby liquid of Piano Licks and DLR turns in a trademark chunky stepper on Outta Time. The whole LP is well worth a listen, so check out the clips below and head to your favourite outlet to grab this on CD, vinyl or digital now!

Dispatch Dubplate Series

Posted on 25th October 2014 by DNB Dojo

Dispatch have been making waves once again with the launch of their latest project, the Dispatch Dubplate series. Featuring new tracks, remixes and VIPs from the Dispatch Stable (including one vinyl exclusive track per release) and a limited press of 300 copies per release, vinyl fans will need to be quick off the block to lay hands on these!

The theme from the series so far has been no nonsense rolling techstep, with the first release featuring a big dirty Break remix of DLR, Hydro, Mako & Villem’s The Formula and DLR & Xtrah’s long sought after Direct Approach. Vol. 2 is no slouch either, with Survival serving up the Outlook VIP of Dub Soldier and the flip featuring two fresh cuts from SCAR, including a vinyl only VIP of Call To Arms.

Volume 1 has already sold out on the Dispatch store and volume 2 looks set to follow, so head over to Redeye or the Dispatch store swiftly if you want to pick up the vinyl releases; digital is set to follow from November 10th. The latest news from the Dispatch Facebook feed has unveiled the tracklisting for Vol.3 including Break & DLR’s Murmur VIP, a new VIP of DLR’s Tugboat and a fresh new DLR track in the form of Regeneration, while Ant TC1’s latest mix for Bassic reveals that Zero T & Alix Perez’s 2007 banger Ladders is set to finally receive a release via the Dubplate series.

Here at the Dojo we’ve enjoyed the first two releases so much we decided to put together a cheeky vinyl only Dispatch Dubplates mini-mix; check that out below (or directly on Mixcloud here) and head over to your favourite outlet to grab the plates while you still can!

[mixcloud http://www.mixcloud.com/DnBDojo/dispatch-dubplate-minimix/ width=580 height=300 hide_cover=1 hide_tracklist=1]

DNB Dojo Mix Series 11: Hanzo & Randie

Posted on 15th October 2014 by DNB Dojo

The eleventh installment in our exclusive mix series comes from Avantgarde alumni Hanzo & Randie. The duo celebrate their forthcoming track for the label’s Theory of the Avantgarde LP with a tasty mix focussing on the techier end of the D&B spectrum but still with place for melody and soul. Check it out via Mixcloud below or head to Hearthis.at for streaming and Dropbox for a download.

Tracklist:

Inward – Monochrome (Avantgarde dub)
Cern – Tiamat (Dispatch)
Ulterior Motive – Longshot (Metalheadz)
Dabs – Objection (Dispatch)
Break & DLR – New Design (Symmetry)
Concept Vision & Segment – Deserted (Blackout)
Alix Perez, Phace, Misanthrop – Burn Out (Shogun Audio)
Enei – Hot Plate (Critical)
Dabs, ArpXP & Grotesque – Keep Shut (Avantgarde dub)
Spinline and Hydro – Perimeter (Demand)
EBK – Strength (Dispatch)
Break – Love So True (Symmetry)
Enei and Emperor – Liberation (Critical)
Inward, Hanzo & Randie – Tetra (Redlight)
Concept Vision & Segment – Mindshaker (Blackout)
Signs – Desert Storm (Cause 4 Concern)
Maztek – Limber (Renegade Hardware)
Noisia – Running Blind (Vision)
Stealth ft. Codebreaker – Nightfall (RAM)
DLR and Script ft. Martyna Baker – Blue room (Metalheadz)
Hybris, Quadrant, D-Struct & Iris – Graphene (Dispatch)
Animal Defection – Arcadia (Avantgarde dub)
Kasra & Enei – Breath (Critical)
Blu Mar Ten – In Your Eyes (Ulterior Motive Remix) (Blu Mar Ten)
DLR, Nymfo, Need for Mirrors and HLZ – Totem (Dispatch)
Heavy1 & P-Fine – Melee (Avantgarde dub)
Hanzo, Randie & Bayou – Totentanz (Avantgarde dub)
Foreign Concept – Ask yourself (Critical)
Sabre and Riya – Injustice (Critical)

DLR – Your Mind EP [Metalheadz]

Posted on 10th August 2014 by DNB Dojo

New material from DLR has consistently proved excellent since his split with production partner Octane (who sadly has been pretty quiet by comparison), and his latest EP for Metalheadz is no exception. While retaining plenty of dancefloor heft on the tracks, the overall vibe seems atmospheric, and even contemplative; appropriate given the title of the release.

The title track sees DLR joining forces with Mako for a skittering drumfunk extravaganza; soft pads and a plethora of percussive elements give the tune most of it’s character, but there’s some tasty bass pressure for good measure too. 10 Steps sounds more like a “conventional” DLR track by comparison, with a rolling beat and slightly more dancefloor sensibilities. An ominous and slightly hypnotic melody stalks throughout the tune, bringing to mind a slightly altered consciousness.

Sense Of Wanting continues this trend with another dancefloor friendly slice of techy business, impeccably constructed as ever. Seek Knowledge meanwhile sees Mako back on board and Rider Shafique on vocal duties for a track that sounds like the spiritual successor to the excellent Setup The Set from Octane & DLR’s Method in the Madness LP. Lastly Outbound rounds off the EP with a halfstep beat plodding along in a dubby fashion amidst creepy pads, jazzy FX and a plethora of swirling, groaning bass.

As we’ve come to expect from the Metalheadz new school this is another essential purchase – grab it now from your favourite outlet on vinyl or digital.

Mako, DLR & Fields – Old Soul [Utopia Music]

Posted on 6th May 2014 by DNB Dojo

With all his recent collaborations with head honcho Mako (and word of an album from the duo forthcoming) it seemed only a matter of time til DLR touched down on Utopia and their latest single sees exactly that. Old Soul proves another fruitful Utopia family jam session with Fields and Mako joining DLR in the studio for a big atmospheric techstepper that effortlessly blends soulful musicality and meaty basslines to great effect.

Over on the flip DLR goes in alone on Bridge The Gap, building tension with lush soundscapes on the intro before dropping into a crisp rolling break punctuated with tasty filtered bass stabs. The tune has all the hallmarks of a DLR composition but make no mistake, his style is in no danger of sounding formulaic. Check out the B side below and grab this one on vinyl or digital now!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjvTEQ2dzYk]

Break – Symmetry Sessions Vol. 1 [Symmetry]

Posted on 4th March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Break returns with the latest release on his Symmetry imprint featuring a quality selection covering all the styles of D&B. Calibre turns in two different remixes of They’re Wrong in his signature smooth liquid style, and DLR gets in the studio with break on the mighty tech destroyer New Design.

Elsewhere NC-17 & KC dish in another big bad slice of tech with the positively militant Slimeville and Break explores his deeper side on jazzy D&B stepper Wondering Why and dubby downtempo outing Dem Babylon. Overall it’s another essential release from one of the best labels in the scene! Check out the beats below and grab your copy on vinyl or digital now.

Mako, DLR, Villem & Ant TC1 – Hungry For Atmosphere [Metalheadz]

Posted on 12th February 2014 by DNB Dojo

Metalheadz continue their winning form with a super collab from Mako, DLR, Villem & Ant TC1! The four D&B masterminds apparently ensconced themselves in Mako’s Bristol studio to write this one, which blends beautiful deep pads and cinematic sample work with a tough break and some fantastic warped bass. This one is all about texture and delivers it in spades.

Apparently Ant TC1 had to return to the real world but the other three continued the sesh and went in hard on the B side. A Certain Flavour delivers kick snare sucker punches a plenty with a big dirty bassline to boot and is sure to be doing the damage on dancefloors. Serious business.

Check out the clips below and grab this on vinyl or digital from Monday!

Way of the Warrior 2 LP [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 10th November 2013 by DNB Dojo

After the success of 2011’s Way of the Warrior LP, Shogun return with another installment and 12 new tracks spanning the D&B spectrum. DLR brings us soulful vibes with a techy undertone and some superb percussion on Sleep Talk, and Rockwell and Joe Ford vie for position with Fourward and Mefjus to see who can turn in the dirtiest neuro belter!

Elsewhere on the LP Spectrasoul, Total Science and Technimatic serve up some smooth liquid rollers and Friction gets on the remix for Addison Groove and Sam Binga turning in a trap-infused rework of RZOR. Something for D&B heads of all tastes here. Check out the beats below and watch out for the release from November 10th.

Dream Thief 4 LP [Horizons]

Posted on 9th October 2013 by DNB Dojo

Horizons gear up to launch the 4th in their varied Dream Thief LP series, featuring a selection of cuts from the extended label family crossing the styles of drum & bass. Highlights include Amoss’ excellent MC led stepper Bleed It, DLR’s melodic yet techy Trading Places and the percussive intricacies of The Shield from Gremlinz & Rumbleton.

Elsewhere on Detail delivers possibly the most innovative track in the collection with his sublimely creepy Human Trust; glitchy percussion, deft sub throbs and some fantastic atmospherics combine to create a brilliant slice of leftfield 170. Finally for those who like a bit of deep liquid there are some nicely polished cuts from Eveson, Naibu and Nitri.

Vinyl lovers will find the LP available as a 4 track sampler and a further 8 track LP collection, while the digital buyers amongst you will be able to grab the files from all the usual sources. Check out a selection of the tracks below and head to the Horizons Store for previews of the rest and to buy your copy!

Nitri – Secrets EP [Horizons Music]

Posted on 30th September 2013 by DNB Dojo

Horizons gear up for their 70th release from Brazilian producer Nitri. In typical Horizons style, the EP blurs the lines between deep, tech and liquid, pushing a forward thinking sound with no stylistic limitations.

Secrets and Lies both head for melancholy liquid territory, rolling beats and deep bass driven along by the vocal talents of Grimm. Next up Secrets gets the re-rub from DLR who it seems has been taking a few lessons from Break on how to turn a soulful roller into a techie beast! This one will do the damage on the dancefloors. Last but by no means least, The Map switches things up completely with a minimal, percussion driven stepper with some tasty sub swells and tons of atmosphere.

Check out the beats below, grab a white label copy from the Horizons Store and watch out for the full artwork/digital release shortly.

DNB Dojo

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