We’ve got a very special exclusive from scene stalwarts Need For Mirrors and Phil Tangent today as we present the premiere of the lead track from their new EP for CIA Deepkut, ‘Polaroid’! Shimmering pads, simple breaks and a memorable vocal sample make for a blissful deep liquid jam; perfect Sunday listening.
Long time D&B rhymesayer Stapleton teams up with Manchester bass slingers North Base for his latest work, and they’ve recruited a weird and wonderful array of remixes for the release. The original combines Stapleton’s swaggering UK hip-hop flows with a hint of wompy dubstep for a cheeky little ode to slacking off and fucking about, but the remixes are where the release really shines.
Need For Mirrors delivers a tripped out, tough edged roller, turning the playful vocals to an altogether more ominous vibe. Resound switches the vibe again, crafting beats with a hint of Trap but keeping the synth vibes airy to the point of near-ambient stylings. Last up, Signs come with a bizarrely angular and thoroughly enjoyable half-time flex. This one was definitely not the aggy neuro remix I was expecting! Check out the clips below and grab this one right now.
BCee’s Spearhead imprint celebrate a decade in the game with a massive new compilation celebrating new sounds alongside the best in the back catalogue. Disc 2’s Future Sounds include a lush, summery VIP of Technicolour’s Centrifuge, top liquid rollers from Villem & McLeod and LSB and plenty more besides. Without bothering to describe every track, suffice to say they’re all well worth a listen.
As if that wasn’t enough, Disc 1 features 12 of the best from the back catalogue remastered specially for this release. Legendary tracks such as Netsky’s I Refuse, BCee & S.P.Y’s Is There Anybody Out There? and Redeyes’ Luv & Haight are among a tremendous selection of the label’s best and brightest rollers. Personally I don’t understand why Captured In Time wasn’t in there, but everyone must have their own personal favourites that didn’t make the cut.
Ridiculously enough you can cop this tremendous selection on double vinyl and CD for the incredibly reasonable price of £20 from the Spearhead Store, or you can pick up the 3CD set (including a mix from BCee) alone for a tenner. If you’re into your liquid this is the steal of the century – go grab a copy while you still can!
Need For Mirrors & HLZ reunite once again in the studio to bring us something a little “out there” for Fokuz Recordings. One foot remains firmly planted on the dancefloor throughout the Opium Dream EP but the pair seem nonetheless unafraid to explore more unusual musical influences.
Slash proves the most straight forward track on the release, with crisp breaks and warm bass combining for subby dancefloor roller. Opium Dream meanwhile explores some pretty psychedelic territory with mad saxaphone samples echoing in and out of the mix over a backbone of sturdy beats and bass.
Out into the second half of the EP Nostalgia continues the eclectic sampling with creepy chiming melodies, while Pinch provides a relatively stripped back composition with a few more unusual atmospherics layered over the top. Overall this is a nice little EP that proves you can play around with a massive range of musical styles within the basic D&B template. Check out the clips below and look for this on vinyl and digital right now!
The latest release on esteemed US imprint Warm Communications comes from the ever reliable Need For Mirrors. Verve sees the London-based producer deliver a stomping slab of dancefloor tech with both eyes firmly on the dancefloor; crunchy breaks evoke the spirit of the 90s techstep golden era and the bass riff here is a pure head-nodder.
Berners Street Dub dials the agro back a couple of notches, heading for deep, subby territory with more classic D&B sounds updated for the modern generation. Finally Blue Go Purple chops up more crunchy breaks for a dark, angular stepper that has the warmth and fuzz which only analogue gear can produce. If you’re looking for super-clean mixdowns this might not be for you; if you want genuine music with a vibe then this should hit the spot! Check out the clips below and look for this one on vinyl and digital from Feb 9th.
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!
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.
For anyone who’s wondering what DJ Trace has been up to lately, it seems he’s been busy founding a new label in the form of 117 Records. Apparently having tired of the neuro sound he’d been championing for over a decade at DSCI4, he shut that label down and started 117 with a view to releasing a slew of music from producers who have been harnessing a more old school sound in combination with modern production techniques.
The label’s latest output is an absolutely gigantic LP featuring D&B and Jungle cuts which are dark and at times techy but definitely a shade different to the neurofunk sounds that defined DSCI4. The two LP bundles available are split between 8 tracks in a vinyl only bundle (available at Redeye here) consisting of 4 limited edition clear 10″s, and a 24 track digital bundle.
Particular highlights from the vinyl bundle come on from Kid Lib with the manic jungle syncopations of The Rifle, Gremlinz & Homemade Weapons absolutely menacing Scar-H and the equally brutal roll of Genotype’s aptly titled Aggression Snare. The digital bundle meanwhile plays host to some treats such as the hyperactive amen cut ups of X Nation’s remix of Trace’s Never Felt This Way, the distinctly old skool stabs and breaks of Fade’s Phobia and Trace and Nico’s clattering Monkeys.
The whole LP is well worth a listen so check out the clips on Soundcloud and pick your own favourites.
Dabs brings another pair of innovative beats to the ever busy Horizons Music roster. Stentah sees MC Kwality step up on vocal duties, providing a ragga style toast to a distinctly dub and dancehall influenced riddim. Hints of jungle peak through the unusual drum arrangements, keeping the energy D&B while refusing to drop into an obvious rolling break.
Half Truth brings HLZ and Need for Mirrors into the mix for a deep, melancholic roller. Crisp, insistent high hats and hefty sub provides the backbone of the tune, with a liberal sprinkling of piano and strings giving the beat character and soul.
Head over to the Horizons store to grab this on vinyl or digital now.
Recently relaunched V Records sister label Chronic Records is back with a bang with Warehouse Music, a 24 track compilation showcasing a great selection of D&B with a CD mixed by Bailey to boot.
Stylistically the compilation leans towards dancefloor friendly material, with rolling tech, old-school jump up and rolling modern jungle making an appearance. Bladerunner delivers a classic jungle-tinged roller on Lockoff, Capone hits us with the old skool stabs on I’ll Be Your and Command Strange’s infectious and recognisable Disco Ball finally sees release.
Elsewhere there’s tons more on show including beats from Optiv & BTK, Serum, Nitri, Need For Mirrors and L-Side. You can check out the tunes below, and the full compilation will drop on CD, vinyl and digital from Feb 24th.