NickBee – The Gears EP [Eatbrain]

Posted on 8th November 2016 by DNB Dojo

Ukrainian producer NickBee has had a busy year, with releases for Invisible, Ignescent, Mindtech, Concussion and many more, and now he brings his latest work to Jade’s Eatbrain imprint on The Gears EP.

For the EP we’re treated to two instrumental cuts and two more featuring vocalist Joanna Syze. While The Gears and Together With Future are perfectly accomplished hard-edged dancefloor rollers, the two tracks with Syze undoubtedly steal the limelight.

Nowhere To Run builds tension with sparse drums and Syze’s distinctive vox before moving into a rollout featuring unusual melodic touches and more of those haunting vocals; definitely a bit different than your average neuro roller, but more than capable of moving feet in the dance nonetheless. Second vocal cut We Fight closes the EP in style, with a euphoric build-up and more of those lush vocals giving way to a trademark stripped back NickBee banger.

It’s great to see artists pushing the more musical side of D&B while keeping their eyes firmly on the club, and NickBee has always trodden that line well; here’s hoping for more Syze collabs! Check out the clips below and hit up your favourite digital store to grab a copy now.

Win Concussion Records Vinyl!

Posted on 24th October 2016 by DNB Dojo

Our pals at Concussion Records are celebrating their third birthday, and being the kind folk they are they’re offering up the chance to win their first four vinyl releases (including their yet to be released fourth single from Kantyze) and a poster to boot! All you have to do is Like and Share this post on Facebook (embedded below) by 11PM on 31/10/2016. Can’t say fairer than that can you? If you’re not familiar with the Concussion sound then check out their last release below; rolling neurofunk business from Bowsar with a sick remix on the flip from Dose. Yes yes!

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Competition: Win a copy of the Peace of Mind LP!

Posted on 7th May 2016 by DNB Dojo

Featuring some seriously heavyweight new beats from leading players and rising stars in the neurofunk scene alike, Mindtech’s Peace of Mind LP is a force to be reckoned with and then some; essential listening for fans of hard impact, forward thinking D&B sounds.

The nice folk at Mindtech have given us a CD of the album and some stickers to give away to one lucky winner! To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is like the DNB Dojo Facebook page, like the Mindtech Recordings Facebook page, and send an email to competitions@dnbdojo.co.uk with your name & address and the subject line “Mindtech Competition”. The winner will be drawn on May 21st.

Meanwhile you can check out clips of the album below – hit up Beatport or the Mindtech store to grab a copy right now.

February Roundup Part Two

Posted on 29th February 2016 by DNB Dojo

Once again we’ve been inundated with quality music in the Dojo inbox and despite the bonus extra day February has vanished before we could write it all up! Here’s some coverage of the best of the rest including new music from Alix Perez & Ivy Lab, Calibre, Hanover, SCAR, Bone and more…

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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!

Invisible 007 [Invisible Recordings]

Posted on 11th May 2014 by DNB Dojo

Noisia’s Invisible Recordings imprint returns with another various artists EP showcasing the deeper side of the 170BPM spectrum. Nickbee returns to the imprint with a rolling slice of tech with plenty of atmosphere, but to be honest the other tracks on the release prove far more interesting.

Bop and Diagram’s Abstract Elements collaboration make their first appearance on the label with the angular microfunk of PMS!!!, complete with one of the oddest samples I’ve heard in a tune for some time. Fre4knc serves up a dark, industrial slice of half-step business with some interesting rhythms on Cardiome, and finally Berlin duo Survey deliver a distinctly tribal sounding rhythm in the form of Swim.

Check out the clips below and watch out for this dropping on vinyl from Monday with digital following on the 26th.

Nickbee – Empty Your Mind LP [Dispatch Ltd]

Posted on 3rd March 2014 by DNB Dojo

Nickbee is a producer we’ve been keeping a close eye on for the past couple of years here at the Dojo and 2013 in particular has seen him cementing his position in the scene with tunes on Noisia’s Invisible imprint, a single on Bad Taste and a huge EP for Jade’s Eatbrain label. It seems somewhat appropriate that his debut album sees him return to Dispatch Ltd, the label that put out one of his first releases in 2011.

The Ukrainian producer has taken full advantage of the scope of a full length release to explore other tempos, with interesting takes on Dubstep (Inspiration), Deep House (Kloe) and Garage (Subterra collaboration Black & White) appearing alongside the usual tough D&B rhythms. There’s even some downtempo on Moonlight, a track absolutely drenched in atmosphere and space, and album closer One More Breath.

The D&B doesn’t disappoint either, with highlights coming of the titular Empty Your Mind and Updown, both proving to be well produced slices of rolling techstep. The only criticism I can really level at the album is that the transition between tracks sometimes jars a little; some interludes or a mixed version of the album would have been a nice touch, but this is a minor complaint in the scheme of things.

Check out the clips below and grab yourself a copy on vinyl or digital now!

Nickbee – Terra Formation [Vandal Records]

Posted on 29th January 2014 by DNB Dojo

Man of the moment Nickbee continues his excellent run of releases with a pair of atmospheric techsteppers for Vandal Records. Terra Formation blends Nickbee’s ear for beats and bass with eery atmospherics and a memorable yet understated lead hook.

Night Stalker lets a scuzzy reese bass take center stage over metallic snares laid down in a helter skelter beat patter, with a hypnotic synth lead coming in as the beats break down into an obviously techno influenced pattern before breaking down into nothing for the bridge.

Watch out for the release at all good digital outlets, out now!

Various – Invisible 006 [Invisible]

Posted on 12th November 2013 by DNB Dojo

Noisia’s Invisible imprint continues to showcase the experimental side of drum & bass. Nickbee opens the salvo with the sublime Third Entity; beautiful atmospherics on the intro give way to monstrous bass stabs and some super crisp percussion work throughout the track gives it that polish that separates the 1% from the rest of the D&B scene.

Axon moves things along with the hyper syncopated trap-infused sounds of STTR – comparatively stripped back but packed full of rhythm and an infectious groove. Noisia themselves contribute the cinematic sounds of The Tower, drenched in gloom and a beat pattern so sparse it’s almost non-existent, and Fre4knc closes things out with a tidy sub-heavy stepper.

Check out the beats below and grab this on vinyl or digital now from your favourite outlet.

Nickbee – Animal Rage EP [Eatbrain]

Posted on 28th October 2013 by DNB Dojo

Jade’s Eatbrain imprint continues the assault on your ears with another EP of fresh neurofunk beats, this time from Ukrainian beatsmith Nickbee. Apollo 18 kicks things off with a heavy hitting roller; tasty sci-fi atmospherics on the intro give way to squelching bass action and hard snares, with a few echoing chord stabs thrown in for good measure. The titular Animal Rage builds suspense on a long intro with swelling pads, cymbals and strings all adding to the tension before a growling bass drop kicks things into gear.

Gain The Energy delivers more techie sci-fi business with a hypnotic lead that fans of Black Sun Empire are sure to love, before Nickbee throws us a curveball on Blackline, dropping the tempo down to 130 for a nice chunky breakbeat track with more teeth than the average. Neurobreaks? Whatever, it’s awesome. Check out the beats below and grab a copy on vinyl or digital now!

As if the hefty release wasn’t enough, Nickbee has also put together a slamming mix for episode 10 of the Eatbrain podcast. Check it out and grab a free download below.

DNB Dojo

Drum & Bass News and Reviews

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