The Untouchables & Resound – Seperate Reality EP [Translation]

Posted on 3rd February 2016 by DNB Dojo

Esteemed US imprint Translation returns with a fantastic new 12″ EP from crafty dubslingers The Untouchables, with a couple of guest appearances from the equally crafty Finish Beatsmith and collaborator extraordinaire Resound.

If threatening, dubbed out minimalism and tribal rhythms are your bag then you might as well just stop reading and buy this right now; the EP delivers in spades on that front, and the halftime fanboys / room 2 train-spotters are doubtless already salivating over this release. Rightly so; the material here carries that blissful combination of hefty bassweight, crisp but spacious beats and terse atmospherics that made the early dubstep sound and the thriving deep halftime scene so satisfying.

This EP isn’t full of surprises by any stretch but the hypnotic echoes and resonating sub pull you in over and over, like a warm blanket of sound encasing you completely. Those that find the halftime rhythm slow / boring aren’t likely to be any more sold based on this outing, but it’s their loss; one for the heads that know! Check out the clips below and hit up the Translation Store to grab this on vinyl or digital right now.

DNB Dojo Mix Series 24: Fuj

Posted on 1st February 2016 by DNB Dojo

For our first mix of 2016 we welcome Fuj to the DNB Dojo Mix Series! With some cracking releases under his belt for AutomAte Deep and Scientia and a fresh remix just about to drop for Cirrus’s Terra Null imprint, Fuj’s deep, dark style has been turning heads for some time, and we’re big fans here at Dojo HQ.

For his DNB Dojo mix he’s compiled a selection that is threatening and thoughtful in equal measure, featuring deep cuts from the likes of Module Eight, Loxy & Overlook alongside techier business from the likes of Amoss and Fre4knc, and of course a few of his own beats for good measure. Grimey business…

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.

Ghostek – Velvet (Forge remix)
Thing – Atomica
The Untouchables – Weapon X
No Rules & Torn – Massacre
Loxy & Overlook – Harbour
Pessimist – Gas Heads
Mystic State – Spirituality
MTWN – Spinal Groove
Amit – Pripyat
Space Matters – Westend
Skadi – Quick March
Mystic State – Lost Cause
Fuj & Dauntless – Deadweight
Paragon & Gremlinz – Oranda
Synx – Hollow Point
Foreign Concept & Xtrah – Harsh Reality
Paragon – Heirship
Survey – Deflection
Skeptical – Square Breathing
Fuj – Death Trader
Survey, Tehpra & Arkoze – Pattern
Amoss – Crooked Arm
Fuj – Rogue Inferno
J.Robinson – The Tribal Effect
Acid Lab – Hybrid
Module 8 – Meltdown
Last Life – 85 15
Mako – Let The Truth Be Heard
Danny Scrilla – Fallout (Goth Trad remix)
Fuj – Pressure Plates
DBR UK – 2-Shots (feat. Gremlinz)
Jaydrop – Camo
Fre4knc – Marching Cube VIP
K-Rob & Kevlar – Hostile Visitors
Cirrus – Angel (Fuj Remix)
Homemade Weapons – Beowulf VIP
SKV18 – Falling
Concealed Identity & Mental Forces – Nomad
Overlook, Loxy & Resound – The Lodge
Antagonist & Paragon – Deadly Design
Fuj – The Prow

January Roundup Part Two

Posted on 31st January 2016 by DNB Dojo

Another month has flown by in a flurry of wind, snow (here in Scotland at least…) and beats, so it’s time for another roundup! New material from Ed:it, Ghast, Saxxon and more after the jump… Continue reading →

Classified V2 [CIA]

Posted on 29th January 2016 by DNB Dojo

CIA are back with another storming selection on Vol. 2 of the Classified EP series and trust us, these are some pretty essential dancefloor selections. Ed:it & Pennygiles collab Set Theory gets the remix treatment from Ulterior Motive who keep the alterations subtle, retaining the vibe of the original but tuning it up for maximum punch. Next up, ST Files team up with Response for a characteristically deep outing on Wanna B 3; mellow high end floats along under an insistent, rolling break that seems primed to warm a floor before the bigger guns are broken out.

Label bosses Total Science join forces with FD for a classic liquid roller on Found A Reason Why, delivering that uplifting break-driven business that Total Science have made such a name for. Lush, sultry and sure to put a smile on your face! Last but not least, Villem & McLeod take things grimey on a stripped back halftime workout in the form of Strange You.

As usual CIA walk the line between musicality and dancefloor chops with ease and finesse, providing another fine selection for your record bag. Check out the clips below and hit up the CIA Bandcamp to cop the release on vinyl or digital right now!

January Roundup

Posted on 16th January 2016 by DNB Dojo

2016 is already looking like a great year for drum & bass, so without further ado we’ll be taking a look at some of the worthy releases that have hit the Dojo inbox so far this year. Read on for new beats from Genotype, PIN, Sully and more… Continue reading →

Get To Know…Bay 6 Recordings

Posted on 4th January 2016 by DNB Dojo

Regular readers may well have picked up on the fact that we quite like Bay 6 Recordings. In fact we’d go so far as to say it’s one of our favourite small liquid imprints around right now, and that’s in the face of some fairly stiff competition to boot. 2016 felt like the perfect time to resurrect our ‘Get To Know’ label showcase feature, so for the first of many we present the finer points of the Bay 6 discography. Continue reading →

December Roundup Part Two

Posted on 31st December 2015 by DNB Dojo

We’ve been a little less active than usual with the posts this festive season so for our very last post of 2015 we’re rounding up the best releases this month which might otherwise have slipped the net. Read on for new beats from Trilo, Was A Be, Sikey and more… Continue reading →

Lurch – Long Road Back [Flexout]

Posted on 16th December 2015 by DNB Dojo

Flexout Audio continue their impressive run of releases with two fresh tracks from Lurch. Long Road Back brings together Lurch’s aptitude for melancholy liquid elements with a growling bassline and a heavy hitting halftime drum line, creating a great little hybrid of light and dark. Beer Belly Dub ups the ante, going in full roll on the drums and bringing in tons of movement in the low end for a perfect balance of grime and funk. This one’s out now at all good digital outlets; get to know!

Sabre – Yoga (Alix Perez Remixes) [Plasma Audio]

Posted on 12th December 2015 by DNB Dojo

After an initially slow cycle of releases Melbourne’s Plasma Audio have kicked things into gear this year, knocking out some really forward thinking music. Their latest release sees them close out 2015 in style with two new remixes from none other than Alix Perez.

It’s always a pleasure when a label picks one of your favourite artists to remix one of your favourite tunes from their catalogue, so when I saw the promo land in the inbox I knew I was in for a treat. Fresh from his storming collab work with EPROM, Perez has taken the chunky hip-hop spirit of Yoga and put his own distinctive touch to it, healthy with that low-slung, crunked-out vibe that he’s so good at dishing up.

In addition to the more obvious club mix, we’re also treated to a less convention bound (and less DJ friendly) rearrangement on the warped mix. My only complaint here is that it could be more warped; asides from the intro the deviations from the club mix aren’t that pronounced, which is a shame given the possibilities for experimental wonkyness. Still, this is a minor quibble in the face of a really enjoyable rework.

This one will be dropping on vinyl in January; hit up the Plasma Store to pre-order the wax, and look out for the digital at all the usual outlets from December 14th.

Grand Royal Vol. 1 [Vandal LTD]

Posted on 9th December 2015 by DNB Dojo

Vandal LTD’s latest release sees them celebrating a collection of tracks at the edge of the halftime D&B sound where the waters begin to get muddy and the influence of hip-hop, footwork and other bass music mutates the sound in new and interesting ways.

Signs, SKS & Skank get together for the EP’s opener, the swaggering and audacious Bliss Flop. This one undoubtedly owes a little to Ivy Lab’s seminal Sunday Crunk, but it’s still a fantastic slice of halftime hip-hop with a grin-inducing bassline and heaps of attitude.

Tim Reaper’s contribution to the EP (alongside Vanar and Mieur) takes things in a totally different direction, with a distinctly techno influenced beat driving along under spooky soundscapes for a hypnotic journey through 5am clubland and into weird early morning psychedelia.

Elsewhere the EP features some nice tracks influenced by the Chicago footwork sound, the best of which is undoubtedly Lumumba’s Exhale. Frantic high hats and rap vocal cut ups may well be overplayed by now but this one is still a hugely satisfying listen, and it’s nice to see this sound spreading and being played with by so many in the D&B community.

The Grand Royal EP is out now at all good stores, so check out the clips below and grab yourself an unconventional selection of beats at your leisure.

DNB Dojo

Drum & Bass News and Reviews

Tag Archives: Halftime