Tag Archives: Halftime

Germanovski – Promise / Confession [Plush]

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Denver label Plush Recordings come with a nice little slice of halftime jungle from Germanovski, and it’s not hard to see why these cuts have been getting support from the mighty Om Unit!

A suave combo of intricate slow/fast percussion and chopped up R&B vocals define Promise, giving it a hint of garage as well as the obvious junglist sensibilities. Confession meanwhile carries a far more tribal, hypnotic vibe, losing the carefree melodies for a more introspective ambience. Promising stuff from a producer we’re gonna keep an eye on! Check out the clips below and hit up your favourite store to grab a copy now.

Red Army – Badmon EP [Nurtured Beatz]

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Nurtured Beatz continue their fine tradition of heavy hitting halftime D&B with a new EP from US producer Red Army. Ranging from the up front bass driven stomper Badmon to deeper moody territory on Interline collab Solution the EP brings a range of styles to the table, with crisp percussion and atmospherics giving the tracks a consistent feel.

While the title track is probably the most dancefloor friendly and accessible, the EP’s best material arguably comes on the back end as Red Army teams up with fellow American Epilleptech for two fantastic new beats. Fear slaps the listener about with massive kicks and snares and a positively snarling bassline while Jungle Thief goes in on tribal percussion and creepy pads for a tidy swansong to a really strong EP.

You can pick this one up exclusively from the Nurtured Beatz Bandcamp right now with full release coming from Monday.

Cirrus – Way Out / Strange Things [AutomAte Deep]

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When an artist we love and a label we love join forces, chances are we’ll enjoy the results, and that couldn’t be more true of US producer Cirrus’s latest work for one of our favourite imprints, Bristol-based AutomAte.

Unsurprisingly for those familiar with AutomAte’s triple-headed label family, Cirrus brings his creations to the leftfield “Deep” arm, continuing the legacy carved out by Fuj, Deficit, Tonic and the rest of the label’s experimental production roster. Drawing on cinematic sampling and rich, ominous soundscapes, both tunes play with the halftime drum & bass template to great effect, conjuring up weird and wonderful imagery over a backdrop of steady, driving beats and bass.

It’s all about the detail on these tracks, with different elements perfectly mixed, faded and reverbed to form a sonic tapestry full of intricacy and intrigue. Deeper beats powered by deeper thoughts. Check out the clips below and hit up Beatport to grab the single now!

Ahmad – X EP [Turbine Music]

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If you’re looking for dark, threatening halftime beats then this one should make you feel warm and fuzzy in all the right places (or dark and threatened maybe, we’re not too certain on that one). Turbine Music’s latest comes from German producer Acid Lab’s Ahmad alias and it doesn’t get much grubbier than this!

As usual with the darker and less up front styles, the emphasis is on consistency and groove, with spooky pads, throbbing bass and crisp, echoing percussion fills characterising the tracks on the EP. A wide array of collaborators grace the different tracks but they maintain a nice consistency despite this. Fans of the likes of AMIT, None Decay and Red Army will definitely enjoy this! Check out the clips below and look for the EP at all good digital stores from September 4th.

Handra – Eyes On You EP [Addictive Behaviour]

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Following on from their rather tasty single for the label last year, Handra return to Addictive Behaviour with new material that continues their style for techstep with a deeper vibe and unusual elements.

Lead track Eyes On You sees the duo team up with Mortem for a track that marries a solid tech backbone of beats and bass with a truly weird vocal line…either the vocalist was pretty agitated during the recording session or the boys have done some pretty wacky processing, but either way the results catch your ear immediately and provide a unique take on the D&B template.

Next up comes a remix of Coat Of Dust from Russian techstep maestro Eastcolors. True to form this is crisp, techy and warm, with tough beats contrasting nicely against the more melodic elements. Last but by no means least, Far Away sees Handra going in super deep on a beautiful slice of mellow halftime D&B with a soft, melancholy air and tons of feeling. It’s definitely the least dancefloor friendly tune on the release but also the most heartfelt, and it’s definitely out favourite on a really strong EP.

You can pick up the EP on vinyl or digital direct from the Addictive Behaviour store right now. Check out the clips below and go grab it!

Homemade Weapons – Clarion Call EP [Samurai Music]

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Seattle based producer Homemade Weapons has carved out quite a reputation for himself as a purveyor of stark, militant beats and his latest EP for Presha’s esteemed Samurai Music imprint is possibly his finest work to date. The title Clarion Call (and indeed the cover art, featuring images of riot police fighting protesters) should give you some idea of what to expect; this is angry music with more than a little edge to it.

The EP’s first half hits the hardest, with tough break chopping and brooding sub a-plenty, with highlights on the positively snarling Clarion Call and the relentless kicks and breaks of Mileena VIP. The digital only tracks on the second half take things deeper, keeping the ominous tone but reeling in the breaks in favour of more spacious halftime stylings.

Overall the EP is a fearsome selection of material for those who like their beats at the moody end of the spectrum. Check out the clips below and hit up the Samurai store to get a copy on digital now. Vinyl heads, if you haven’t already grabbed a copy direct from Samurai you’ll need to keep an eye on the usual outlets when the record reaches general release.

If you’re looking for more from Homemade Weapons the man himself has just mixed the latest installment of the Samurai Podcast; check out his murky selections below.

Mystic State – Clockwork EP [Nurtured Beatz]

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We picked out Mystic State earlier this year as one of our top 5 to watch, and their latest EP for Nurtured Beatz adds another solid release to their already impressive catalogue. If you like your beats deep, moody and groove focussed then this one should hit the spot nicely!

Clockwork lives up to it’s name with a steady halftime groove built around chiming percussion and a distinctly mechanical feel. Submerge continues the halftime trend but takes things darker, with bassline and heavy snares evoking brooding, murderous tones.

The second half of the EP ups the ante with full-roll collaborations with Howz & D-Side; the murky aesthetic is still present and the style remains stripped back, but the sludgy halfstep beats are swapped out for a crisp, insistent 2-step. The Room 2 heads will definitely be feeling these!

As usual you can pick up the whole EP direct from Nurtured Beatz via Bandcamp at a reduced price, or grab them from all the usual digital stores. Check out the clips below and go cop the release right now!

Altered Perception – 1144 EP [PowerON Records]

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Sam Altered Perception is a busy man. Between co-running five (five!) record labels and a nearly constant stream of new productions, we’re not quite sure when the man finds any time to sleep or eat.

His latest EP for 50/50 sublabel PowerON is some of his finest work to date, exploring the halftime D&B template with an emphasis on intricate percussion. Title track 1144 brings some serious bassweight to the party, growling away behind a plethora of skittering percussion inside a tight kick/snare riddim. Synchronicity takes things deeper, with floaty synths, heavy sub and almost drumfunk style fills driving the tune along.

Last but not least, Space Invaderz takes things in a ravier direction with old school stabs and a staccato feel to the composition. This one hits hard! The halftime style continues to prove an exciting dimension to the D&B sound, and we hope to hear more from AP in this style in future. No release date as yet, so keep your eye on the relevant Facebook feeds for news.

Theme – Scenes 1-4 EP [Samurai Red Seal]

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Berlin-based producer Theme returns to Samurai Music after a popular release on their Horo imprint with a new EP blending halftime D&B with elements of dub techno, and the results are pretty stunning. Shimmering synth progressions, reverb drenched snares and a muted yet euphoric vibe characterise the tunes, and the compositions really draw you into the abstract world of their creator via a hypnotic, enveloping array of sonics.

While words like “hypnotic” and “meditation” get thrown around willy-nilly when discussing electronica that draws on ambience or floaty synths, these descriptions seem entirely fitting here. What exactly Theme is meditating on via these tracks is probably known only to him, but the body of work certainly carries a serene, thoughtful aesthetic which isn’t common in drum & bass…but then to many this isn’t drum & bass, and isn’t really trying to be either. The overall tone certainly shares more in common with dub techno, though the tempo and drum structures give away the influence of 85/170BPM music, call it what you will.

Pointless chin stroking regarding “true genre” aside, Scenes 1-4 is a breathtaking selection of tracks and one of the best attempts we’ve heard recently at the kind of musical zen producers of Theme’s ilk endeavour to create. Check out the clips below and lose yourself in it all…then head over to the Samurai Store and grab a copy on vinyl or digital, out right now.

If you want more from Theme, be sure to check out his mix for the Samurai Podcast below; 58 minutes of dubbed out halftime selections.

Brandon Miles & Tricky Pat – Crazy Pills EP [Faded Music]

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US duo Brandon Miles & Tricky Pat bring their experimental stylings to Faded Music with a four track EP of genre-bending 85/170BPM business. Hints of IDM, hip-hop, jungle, juke and a general taste for all things ravey have been chucked into the sonic blender and the results are chaotic, unpredictable and generally really good fun.

Particular highlights come on the sludged-out, crunked up, gurn-inducingly bassy halftime hip-hop of Get Em’ and the irresistibly hyperactive rave-up of Memory Shot. Check out the clips below and grab the release from your favourite digital store right now!