Another month, another podcast! Dojo boss Hex is back on the decks with a 75 minute selection of the month’s best cuts with varied material from Klute, Radicall, Mr Frenkie, Dyl, NotioN, Data 3 and many more…check it.
You can check out the podcast via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Australian artist Lockjaw joins forces with Dean Rodell and Machine Code for the latest release on his Locked Concept imprint, with surprising results; given that all the artists concerned are primarily known for finely tuned dancefloor neurofunk at the dark end of the spectrum, this EP marks quite a stylistic departure.
Machinecode solo cut DoubleGate serves up a tidy slice of deep, rolling tech, easing off the bassline distortion in favour of progressive pads and warm sub, but the further two tracks are where the EP really gets interesting.
The intro to Array positively shimmers as synth arpeggios wash through the mix, eventually breaking into a driving but understated beat which serves as a perfect backbone to the melodic arsenal. Creeping into the second half of the tune the influence of 80s-style synth jams make their presence felt, adding to the trance-esque euphoria of the composition.
Last but by no means least, Phenotype closes the EP with an expansive and melancholic piece rolling together glitch and even elements of post-rock into a glorious halftime composition reminiscent of the work of 65daysofstatic. The piano and guitar work here is simply sublime, and it’s fantastic to hear artists primarily known for blunter and more abrasive material airing their soft side so emphatically.
Check out the clips below and look out for LCKD008 dropping March 26th.
Frequent partners in crime Sam Binga & Om Unit return to their infrequent but consistently excellent “Trans Continental” EP series this month, delivering the 3rd and final instalment through their self-run BUNIT imprint.
As we’ve come to expect from these producers and this series of EPs in particular, this is another melting pot of genre influences as dub, grime, jungle and footwork are smashed together into a funk-laden boogie-stew across four playful tracks sure to put a smile on any bass connoisseur’s face. There’s certainly tons of variety too; opener Optimist Prime lives up to it’s name with a buoyant, victorious lead line set to a driving halftime clap groove, while 2000 Dogs melds squelching acid bass with some tasty jungle break chopping.
Fans of the crossover footwork sound will definitely enjoy Up & Under; a frenetic array of percussion keeps this one moving at a breakneck pace, while Baby Steps takes us way out with a glacially paced, spaced-out dub jam. Sick vibes all round from two of the most innovative names in the scene! Check out the clips below and hit up the BUNIT Bandcamp to grab a copy direct on vinyl or digital.
Our latest exclusive mix comes courtesy of Moscow artist AX Farel who brings his blend of techno-infused 170BPM experimentalism to the Dojo decks! Deep, dubby vibes and some tasty new dubs feature alongside music from the likes of Impish, Resound, The Untouchables and Clarity. One for the halftime heads! If you like what you hear in the mix, be sure to check out AX Farel’s new single for Occulti LTD which drops later this month.
You can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Respected US producer and Ground Mass label boss Mark Kloud brings us the latest exclusive DNB Dojo guest mix! Mark has dug deep for this one, delivering a 90 minute mix packed full of dubs including unreleased material from dBridge, Om Unit & Sam Binga. There are even some top secret tracks alongside plenty of the man’s own material, all of which makes for an enthralling journey through the deep end of the 170 sound. Get to know…
You can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Dojo boss Hex is back with the latest in the monthly Dojo podcast series featuring 85 minutes of the best D&B to land in the Dojo inbox over the last month. As always we’re representing all the styles of D&B with bassy halftime, techstep, liquid rollers, minimal cuts and dancefloor neuro all featured in the mix. Brand new tunes from HØST, Klax, Mark Kloud, SCAR, Mikal, Dead Man’s Chest and many more…
You can check out the podcast via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
Experimental jungle-tinged riddims a-plenty on today’s exclusive as we premiere Mark Kloud’s Get War. Taken from his new EP forthcoming on Vermont label Party Guy Records, Mark’s flair for experimental drum patterns is on full show here with a satisfyingly chaotic assortment of kicks, claps and breaks flying around the mix atop a layer of meaty bass vibration. Sick one!
Today’s exclusive comes courtesy of our pals at Free Love Digi and new project Onism Qi! Representing the combined musical intelligence of Quentin Hiatus, Thomas B and Ghast and bringing the thoughtful, experimental flavours, their new EP Null Explodes is something of at treat.
Lead track Fear Death Love brings together a face melting bassline with tripped out melodies and quirky vocal loops, spread over a progression from halftime D&B, down to something vaguely dubstep and up again into a fearsome crescendo finale. Some tune! Watch out for the EP dropping 6th March at all good digital stores.
Kid Drama’s CNVX imprint has always been an eclectic outlet; from the IDM-esque melancholy of his Mikarma alias, through beats from dBridge, Resound and Abstract Elements, the label certainly doesn’t like to be pigeon-holed. All of which brings us to the imprint’s latest offering, a quirky and sublime slice of autonomic pop courtesy of Drama himself and vocalist Alia Fresco, who you may recognise from her collaborative project with Loxy and Resound, The Levels.
The production here is stripped back to the barest essentials, minimalist arrangements that bring to mind The xx, albeit entirely lacking in indie-rock guitar twang. This use of space gives Fresco ample room to breathe, and her voice fills the tracks beautifully. From the brooding reflections of Ordinary Thing and Guys Like You through the more uplifting Let You Go and into the absolutely electrifying Break Me Out, the EP is powerful, gripping and original; a pure blend of autonomic aesthetic and heartfelt lyricism. My only complaint is that at 15 minutes, it’s nowhere near long enough. Give us an album!
The Alia Fresco EP is out now on vinyl and digital via CNVX.
Russian producer Still has really impressed us with his latest EP for Diffrent Music; weird and wonderful soundscapes, crazy sound effects and hints of techno play into a truly innovative selection of electronica on the fringes of the D&B sound. We caught up and asked the man for his Top 5 influences; check it out for a walk on the weirder side of the sonic spectrum.