DNB Dojo Mix Series 69: Lao Wai

Posted on 1st June 2018 by DNB Dojo

Our latest exclusive guest mix comes from up and coming producer Lao Wai as he prepares to drop a fresh new EP for Delta9 Recordings. Following on from cameo appearances on DSCI4, Nurtured Beatz and Horizons (alongside Manchester’s Release), his recent solo EPs for Blu Saphir and Avantgarde have won him plaudits across the scene, notably from UKF who named him among their 18 to watch for 2018!

For his Dojo mix Lao Wai keeps things deep and rolling, blending liquid and tougher tech tunes from Monty, Calibre, Marcus Intalex, Submarine and more, and of course there are some brand new dubs from the man himself thrown in for good measure. Wicked stuff!

As always 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.

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Classic Track: Unknown Error – The Yearning (Remaster)

Posted on 13th April 2017 by DNB Dojo

Unknown Error are chiefly remembered for their hefty neurofunk outings for the likes of Lifted Music and Renegade Hardware but the duo also had a knack for the deeper side of D&B as evidenced by their 2006 single for Horizons Music, The Yearning.

Combining rough breaks with soft pads, the track explores the “liquid with teeth” style that other producers like Chris.Su have since taken up, and the track walks the line between deep euphoria and darker dancefloor sensibilities with finesse. Tasty stuff, and a record we’ve got a lot of time for here at Dojo HQ. Best of all it’s been remastered and reissued for 2017! Check out the new audio below and hit up the Horizons Store to grab the limited clear 12″ release now…

Naibu – Corners LP [Horizons]

Posted on 21st January 2017 by DNB Dojo

Naibu returns to Horizons music for a fresh LP outing following last year’s Case Study for Scientific Records. According to his own words in the press release, “it was time for me to go back to the DJ format and try to make the best danceable album I could”, but thankfully the Parisian producer hasn’t gone all RAM Records on us; while the tracks are all firmly D&B tempo and underpinned by danceable breaks, this is still a collection of material that works as well in the living room as the club.

The softness and organic instrumentation that have long been hallmarks of Naibu’s work are present and correct here, and even darker tracks like The Way You Turn and Traces still find space for those touches in between the tough breaks and throbbing basslines. There’s plenty of variety on show here too, from liquid rollers like Corners and No Return to more experimental numbers. Help Computer plods along at a halftime gate powered by eerie pads and the ominous vocal refrain, while Burning brings together a hypnotic bleed melody and tripped out echoing chimes for an enthralling and faintly psychedelic journey.

Once again Horizons and Naibu proves to be a winning combination of dancefloor chops and musicality, illustrating once again that the depths of what is possible in D&B have yet to be plumbed even twenty years on from the genre’s inception. Check out the clips below and hit up the Horizons Store to grab a copy now.

Heist – Rejected Love [Horizons]

Posted on 28th June 2016 by DNB Dojo

Heist isn’t a name we’d normally associate with Horizons Music, nor a producer we’d commonly cover here at DNB Dojo since we’re not big fans of the Jump Up sound he’s most associated with. His work for the long running London label sees him moving outside his traditional sphere of influence with two cracking tracks which amply demonstrate the man’s skills; no surprise given his recent work as principle engineer for Goldie.

A-side Rejected Love is a beautifully minimal outing, harnessing elements of Bop-esque microfunk and the autonomic sound for a soft, thoughtful piece full of expansive synths, twinkling melodic florishes and crisp, glitchy drum work. Seriously lush!

Flip-side Charybdis amps things up, keeping some of the glitchy percussive elements but adding a rolling drumline and scuzzy tech bass for a dancefloor worthy roller with an abundance of groove and character. Wicked stuff! No sign yet of a general digital/vinyl release but we believe it’s in the works, and the truly dedicated can grab these on advance white label 12″ from the Horizons store right now.

Classic Track: Unknown Error – The Yearning

Posted on 30th July 2015 by DNB Dojo

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!

Digital – Deathwish EP [Horizons Music]

Posted on 4th December 2014 by DNB Dojo

Digital returns to Horizons (after his rather excellent Figjam EP) with a fresh EP of deep 170BPM explorations. Deathwish kicks things off with a deep, dubby slice of tribal halfstep, while My World changes track, taking things in a minimal, almost liquid direction.

Damage sees Outrage joining Digital in the studio for a dangerous slice of break chopping and old school synth work, providing the EP’s most obviously dancefloor focussed track. Joker sees regular partner in crime Spirit in for the collab, blending acid synths, frantic syncopations and dubby echoes over a solid backbone of bass. Last but not least, Cold Case takes things dark and minimal for a moody close to the release.

As usual Digital is bringing the vibes! Check out the clips below and head to the Horizons store to grab this on vinyl now, with digital to follow shortly.

Need For Mirrors – Food EP [Horizons Music]

Posted on 1st July 2014 by DNB Dojo

Need For Mirrors return to Horizons for a follow up to their excellent Rotor EP. She kicks things off with rolling breaks and a wonky, squelching bass riff. It’s difficult to tell exactly what the titular feminine persona of the track might be up to, but it’s certainly something energetic. Food takes the octane down a few pegs for a deeper vibe, all sub and tribal vibe over another crisp, rolling break.

Oscillator 3 flips the vibe once again with bizarre vocal echoes, bass stabs and surreal FX punctuating a tight kick/snare riddim. Pedestrian meanwhile has a really ominous tone to it with the bassline stalking along through the tune like some strange, menacing character not quite on screen. Last but by no means least Kink comes in as a digital-only bonus providing another stripped back subby roller.

Check out the beats below – this one’s out now on digital and the vinyl will be available very soon via the Horizons store.

Amoss – Bleed It VIP / Calokan [Horizons Music]

Posted on 19th May 2014 by DNB Dojo

Amoss return to Horizons Music with another essential 12″ for fans of their deep, grimey stylings. Bleed It gets the VIP treatment with a heavily syncopated rhythm and deep sub bass giving a nice new spin on the original’s more rolling flow.

Over on the flip Calokan continues the trend for odd beat arrangements with a shuffling, kick led drum line punctuating a wide array of odd atmospherics and a generally gloomy vibe. There’s a nice switch up on the second drop too, just to keep the crowd guessing. Check out the beats below and watch out for this one dropping from May 26th.

Q&A – Digital – Figjam EP [Horizons]

Posted on 9th May 2014 by DNB Dojo

Scene stalwart Digital brings his wares to Horizons Music with an EP of tasty new leftfield rhythms. Figjam kicks things off with big reese bass swells set over a drum line that starts slow with nothing but kicks and hats on the intro before dropping into a syncopated frenzy of processed breaks a few bars after the drop.

Waiting heads for deep territory with a simple yet hypnotic melody layered over warm sub and a crisp, stepper’s break, with soft synthetic strings adding character. Therapy proceeds to drop things down into dubby half-time territory with varied percussion and hordes of atmosphere. Finally the Slowjam mix of Figjam rounds things off by turning the title track into a 140BPM workout drenched in delay and reverb.

To find out a bit more about the EP we caught up with Digital for a quick chat. Read on for his thoughts on track names, the D&B scene and the best studio snacks!