Marso & Gala – Promise / Monochrome [Blu Mar Ten Music]

Posted on 12th March 2015 by DNB Dojo

Blu Mar Ten welcome a pair of fresh new talents to their ever expanding roster with a new single from Siberian duo Marso & Gala. Promise kicks things off with massive, sweeping, Vangelis-style synths that lead an airy composition set at 170BPM but bearing little in common with most D&B. Gala’s vocals drift effortlessly over the mix, icing a lush cake drenched in ambience and style.

Monochrome drops the tempo to dubstep territory but once again eschews genre tropes in favour of more shimmering melodies and atmospherics. Gala takes a slightly more prominent role this time, with warmer bass driving the tune onwards under her rich, soaring, reverb-drenched vocals. Check out the clips below and look for this at your favourite digital store now.

Northern Zone – Faint / Abyss [Limitless]

Posted on 22nd February 2015 by DNB Dojo

Belgian label Limitless Recordings dish up their latest slice of rolling liquid from German producer Northern Zone. Faint heads for jazzy, upbeat territory in a similar vein to Random Movement, with a big fuzzy bassline driving the tune along nicely. Abyss keeps the crisp breaks and warm bass, but swaps the melodies for something slightly more understated, bringing soft, soothing piano to the fore. Check out the clips below and look out for this from Feb 23rd.

Bensley – Fandango [RAM Records]

Posted on 19th February 2015 by DNB Dojo

RAM’s latest signing Bensley makes his debut on the label with a warm, melodic instrumental with soft yet soaring leads and a nice chunky bassline. The track should prove a useful DJ tool for those who like to genre-hop, dropping tempo from D&B in the first half to a garage-y shuffle in the bridge, before returning to that familiar 170BPM. Check out the track below and hit Beatport to grab it now!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu9y4dwYyeo]

Loz Contreras – The Nicked Technics EP

Posted on 17th February 2015 by DNB Dojo

We got some sad news earlier this week – liquid producer Loz Contreras was the unfortunate victim of theft outside his flat in Leeds, and has had his Technics 1210s and mixer stolen from the boot of his car. His flatmate has started an appeal to raise the cash to buy new equipment for Loz, and the man himself has generously offered to give away an EP of his hottest dubs to anyone kind enough to chip in. If you’re looking for uplifting liquid rollers it doesn’t get much better than the tracks on offer here, so check the clips below and head to the GoFundMe page and sling Loz some cash.

Touchwood – Ad Astra EP [Reserve Audio]

Posted on 3rd January 2015 by DNB Dojo

Czech label Reserve Audio return with a fresh new EP from Touchwood. The tracks blur the boundaries on the edges of 85/170BPM electronica, taking in spacey melodies and a hint of jazz, and bring to mind some of the releases on the (sadly now defunct) Space Cadets imprint.

Starglider lives up to it’s name with lush synthwork and a generally “out there” vibe, while Zen Garden heads into that loungey downtempo territory that The Flashbulb has turned his hand to so well in the past. Mothership brings a darker and more ominous tone to the table, with bleepy melodies over a backdrop of growling bass and intricate percussion. Last but not least, Back in 1995 provides a love letter to the classic “intelligent D&B” of Good Looking and the like.

Overall this is a really enjoyable listen – if you like your electronica a bit on the cerebral side or just want a change from the endless dancefloor bangers, definitely give this a listen. The tracks are available now at the Reserve Audio Bandcamp and all good digital stores.

Virtue – You And I / Whatcha Gonna Do [E-Motion Records]

Posted on 8th December 2014 by DNB Dojo

Virtue returns to E-Motion with another top notch single. Hannah Eve steps up for vocal duties on You And I, providing the perfect accompaniment to the familiar but nonetheless pleasant liquid trappings of the tune. The breakwork is absolutely spot on for this one.

Over on the flip Whatcha Gonna Do sees Virtue teaming up with Soul Culture for a jazz infused, bouncy dancefloor roller – the perfect contrast to the more melancholy vibes of the A side. Check out the clips below and grab this from your favourite digital store from December 8th.

Escapism 2 LP [Liquicity]

Posted on 29th November 2014 by DNB Dojo

Liquicity return with a sequel to their successful Escapism LP and they’ve upped the stakes with another big selection of melodic liquid D&B featuring well known names and newcomers alike.

Highlights come on the ultra deep, hypnotic vibes of Seba’s Lose Control, Maduk & Champion’s tasty relick of Future Prophecies classic September and the soft, understated melodies of Rameses B’s Memoirs VIP. The LP also features plenty of uplifting rollers from the likes of Logistics, Loz Contreras and Fliwo; dancefloor liquid fans definitely shouldn’t sleep on this.

For a flavour of the tracks on offer you can head to the relevant Soundcloud or Youtube channels, or check out the promo mix from Hugh Hardie below. Head on over to the Liquicity store to grab this on CD or find the digital at your favourite outlet now.

Jungle Ballad EP [Fokuz Recordings]

Posted on 28th November 2014 by DNB Dojo

The latest EP from Fokuz features another fine selection of melodic liquid rollers, with tracks from BCee, RoyGreen & Protone and Rowpieces all gracing the release. The Spearhead boss gets the A side, with his customarily rich sound in full effect on the smooth, laid back Breath In.

Over on the flip RoyGreen & Protone bring us a jazzy ode to precipitation, while Rowpieces showcases his finest break chopping skills on Jungle Ballad; no prizes for guessing the influence he might be drawing on for this one. Last but not least, digital buyers are treated to a nice bonus in the form of Renaisance, with RoyGreen and Protone going slightly off piste with a selection of unusual FX and atmospheres set to another crisp, rolling beat.

All in all another fine Fokuz release! Check out the clips below and grab this on vinyl or digital from your favourite store now!

Phase – Do Not Look Back EP [Fokuz Recordings]

Posted on 25th November 2014 by DNB Dojo

Fokuz return with another great release, this time from Belgian producer Phase. A-side Our Love serves up a pleasant (if predictable) slice of rolling liquid funk featuring the vocal talents of La Meduza, but Don’t Look Back on the flip is the real star of the show.

Jazzy elements, twinkling FX, dynamic strings and perfectly placed piano all combine into beautiful composition, and the contrast between the relatively rugged beats and bass and the soft, melodic elements really makes the track stand out. Check out the clips below and grab this from all good digital stores from November 24th.

Classic Track: BCee – Captured In Time

Posted on 20th November 2014 by DNB Dojo

A track that stands out as one of my favourite liquid tunes of all time, BCee’s Captured In Time is just an effortless listen. Soulful vocals, warm bass, rolling breaks and stunningly beautiful melodies combine to create a classic liquid roller that never fails to move a dancefloor. Blissful stuff.

DNB Dojo

Drum & Bass News and Reviews

Tag Archives: Melodic