Hex returns with another big selection of D&B from the Dojo inbox this month including new material from Quentin Hiatus, Amoss, Ulterior Motive, PRTCL, Soul Intent, Current Value and many more.
You know the drill by now…check out the podcast via Soundcloud below or head to Youtube or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Google Drive.
We’re back with US posse Free Love Digi for today’s exclusive as we present a cut from the brand new DLX EP Ain’t It Funky. Harnessing crazy drum patterns, a hint of jungle and some serious exuberance, Predator Dance Battle Party is exactly as whimsical and chaotic as the title suggests, and so so good for that vibe! Check it out and watch for the whole EP hitting digital stores later today.
The latest entry in our exclusive mix series comes from a bona fide scene legend as we welcome DJ Trax to the Dojo decks! With over 25 years experience in the scene and releases for the likes of Moving Shadow, Outsider, Paradox Music and many more, Trax has been plying his breakbeat-driven style across the world and shows no signs of slowing down.
For his Dojo mix Dave has gone in with a selection of drumfunk riddims including cuts from his brand new EP for Tempo and forthcoming music from Djinn, Tim Reaper, Ilk and longtime collaborators Nucleus & Paradox. If you appreciate the art of break chopping then this one is for you!
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.
Hertfordshire label Repertoire have been making quite a name for themselves as purveyors of some of the best modern jungle productions of the last few years, and their latest release is no different! Two tracks from Law get the remix treatment and we’ve got the exclusive of Outer Heaven’s new take on Emptiness Is Form. Full of break switchups and creepy atmospherics, this is moody breakbeat exploration at its best; watch out for this dropping June 2nd on vinyl and digital alongside a tasty new remix of Sophine from Law & Wheeler.
Love Love Records are back with a seriously tasty jungle EP from Richard Wilson under new alias Rognvald. Best known for his eclectic acid output as Beatwife, Wilson’s latest sees him chopping the breaks and drawing on influences from classic jungle, drumfunk and breakcore for a dark and chaotic selection of tracks.
From the outset it’s obvious that any concerns about DJ friendliness or adherence to the common confines of electronica have been chucked straight out of the window in favour of the open ended progressions and freeform danger that makes modern jungle and ‘core so enjoyable. Opener R.O.G.N.V.A.L.D wastes no time in building terrifying atmospheres amid a whirlwind assault of beats, segueing effortlessly into a haunting beatless bridge and back out into more of those crunchy drum chops. Next up, Whistle Posse lightens the mood with a distinctly tongue in cheek ode to classic nonsense jungle; wobbled up bass, helter skelter snares and of course, whistle samples a-plenty!
Out into the second half of the EP, Lowcol Junglist employs spacey pad sounds and distant ragga vocals for a tripped out ride as the beats crash down around the listener’s ears. Once again the pace is breakneck and all the tools in the breakbeat arsenal have been employed with just the right balance of precision editing and low-fi scuzz; mid 90s vibes updated for 2017. Last but by no means least, Asbiorn voyages into intricate drumfunk territory with the beats coming up a little cleaner and crispier. Replete with satisfying drum edits and haunting samples, this one is truly hypnotic.
Love Love are on fine form once again with possibly their best jungle release yet! Check out the clips below and hit up the label Bandcamp page to grab the EP on vinyl or digital now.
The Dojo Mix Series reaches its 50th instalment this month as we welcome Kiwi producer InDifferent to the decks! Featuring beats from his brand new Hip-hop Will Incarnate EP for Free Love Digi alongside a host of other D&B, Paul’s mix takes the listener on a journey through future jungle, halftime steppers, deep riddims and finishing up on an old school roller tip. Beats from the likes of Greazus, Thomas B, Crypticz, War, Bladerunner & Total Science inside…check it!
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.
Andy Skopes is a producer we’ve always rated really highly here at Dojo HQ, and one that sadly we don’t hear enough from! His latest work for Inperspective is the first solo outing this year, and very much feels like the spiritual successor to the excellent True Chord Redux from Utopia Music in 2013 (which incidentally we’re still rinsing hard…)
Combining old school breakbeat manipulations with shimmering atmospherics and cinematic sample snippets creates a fantastic duality between tough beats and softer musical backgrounds, both on the full frontal drum assault of Who Are You and B side Laterality. As is so often the case with Andy’s work, this is all in the drum programming and that craft has been lovingly honed to perfection. Check out the tracks below and hit up the Inperspective Bandcamp to grab the single on digital or 12″ picture disc right now.
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Our latest premiere comes from Manchester-based THUGWIDOW as he drops some serious jungle vibes for Lifted Contingency! Old school break chopping and a hypnotic lead line alongside the vocals of Sarah Zad make for a potent combination; pure vibes with a 90s twist. Check it out below and look for the release dropping April 17th at all good digital stores.
Tim Reaper joins the Blu Mar Ten Music family with two sublime jungle outings, taking us back to the sounds of the early 90s in superb style. A-side All Right is pure euphoria, with a soft, bleepy melody and pitched up vocal hook layered over chunky breaks and warm sub hits for a disarmingly simple yet utterly beautiful track. This one evokes memories of simpler times…
Over on the flip Reaper joins forces with Parallel for the deeper, darker Innerspace. Hard amens, gunshot FX and classic ragga samples get things off to a flying start in the first half, while shimmering pads in the back end of the tune progress the vibes into a more atmospheric, faintly psychedelic ebb. Nostalgia for sure, but difficult to argue with when it’s done so well!
All Right / Innerspace is out now on Blu Mar Ten Music. Hit up their Bandcamp Store to grab the digital direct or start scouring Discogs if you want a copy of the vinyl…
Eveson’s retro jungle alias Dead Man’s Chest returns to Ingredients with more crusty break chopping vibes, 90s style. The aptly named Trilogy is available as a double-sided cassette mix featuring material from his initial trilogy of EPs alongside six previously unheard dubs, which Ingredients have also dropped on three new limited edition 10″ singles.
Fans of the project will know exactly what to expect; crunchy jungle breaks, deliberately rough and ready mixdowns, psychedelic textures and more than a few nods to the iconic era of jungle and hardcore. As with previous releases, the new material on the Trilogy Dubs 12″s varies in tone. Fade Away and Fresh Nation draw on classic dub elements, Open Your Eyes and Rinsa feel darker and more break-focussed while Tears (Fantazia Version) is blissed-out rave euphoria at its finest.
Alex’s knack for capturing what made early rave music so special is definitely still present here, so if you’ve enjoyed the first three EPs as much as we have this is essential listening. What remains unclear is whether Trilogy marks the end of the Dead Man’s Chest project, or just the end of chapter one; time will tell. Check out the new Trilogy Dubs below and hit up Beatport to grab a digital copy of the mix. If you’re keen for a copy of the cassette or the 10″ singles, time to start scouring Discogs…