Tag Archives: Renegade Hardware

Classic Track: Future Cut – Ghetto Style (Evol Intent Remix)

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We’re digging in the hardware vaults once again for this week’s classic track and looking back to the golden era of hard as nails techstep. 10 years ago Evol Intent’s remix of Future Cut’s Ghetto Style saw release on Renegade Hardware’s Reloaded EP Part 1, and their rework absolutely knocks the track out of the park.

Rattling breakbeats, huge distorted bass hits and that trademark Evol Intent glitchwork along with a set of memorable hooks on the intro make this a firm favourite, and better still it got the remaster treatment as part of EI’s #TBT weekly giveaways! Check out the remaster below and grab yourself a free download from their Soundcloud.

Maztek – Three Point Zero LP [Renegade Hardware]

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Maztek brings his inimitable neurofunk stylings to Renegade Hardware once again and this time we’re being treated to a full length LP featuring some tasty dancefloor workouts. Fans of Maztek’s style won’t be disappointed, with plenty of gnarly dancefloor workouts like Sprocket,  BTK collab Wraith and the appropriately titled Stompin’ nestled in amongst the tracklist.

For me the highlights came on the impeccable sound design of Tokiwa, the mangled, slouching half-time rhythms of Disprove collab Bad Body and the relentless, rolling beats of Three Point Zero, but the whole LP is well worth your attention; crisp beats and sonic detail are the order of the day here without a doubt. The sampler drops tomorrow so check out the clips of that below, and keep your ear to the ground for clips of the full album before its release on December 15th.

Classic Track: Ink & Perpetuum – Jungle Book

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junglebook

A mere five years old but still one of my favourite slabs of vinyl, Ink & Perpetuum’s Jungle Book harks back to a simpler time in D&B despite its relatively tender pedigree. A tough but loose break, weighty but relatively simple bass and an instantly recognisable stab sound make this a bit of a dancefloor weapon. Check it out below and grab a copy from your favourite digital outlet (or hunt down a vinyl copy on Discogs).

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H8laA1N4V0]

Subtension – AK47 / Leaving [Renegade Hardware]

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We’ve been keeping a close eye on Subtension ever since his rather tasty Black Haze 12″ dropped for Samurai Music last year and his latest release for the veritable Hardware imprint doesn’t disappoint either. AK47 kicks things off with a rolling break and staccato bassline rhythm doubtless designed to invoke the rapid fire of an assault rifle; it’s a neat sonic trick and an innovative break from the usual neurofunk bassline fare.

Leaving sees the young Slovakian producer moving into more experimental territory, retaining the bassline grit we’ve come to associate with labels like hardware while playing with a drum rhythm more in keeping with recent material from Exit or Diffrent. It’s nice to see Hardware willing to push the more experimental side of 170BPM music; more of this please! Last but not least the digital buyers amongst you are treated to a third track in the form of Offset, which proves a tasty if somewhat formulaic slice of rolling techstep.

Worldwide release hits on October 13th but if you can’t wait til Monday you can get your grubby mits on this one on vinyl or digital from the Hardware store. Check out the clips below and get your orders in!

Trilo – Enterprise / Prozac [Renegade Hardware]

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Fresh from contributions to the recent Multiverse and Compound One EPs for Hardware, Trilo delivers his first solo release for the label with three excellent new tracks. Enterprise gets the ball rolling with a crisp break, punchy bass and an emphasis on groove, while Prozac shifts focus slightly with a mildly hyperactive bassline set over another tidy backbone of solid breaks and futuristic atmospheres.

Digital buyers are also treated to another hyperkinetic roller with plenty of b-line character in the form of Barracks. Tons to like here, and tons of potential – we look forward to more from Trilo in the future. Check out the clips below and watch out for the release hitting the streets from September 8th on vinyl and digital.

Classic Track: DJ Ink & Dylan – Need You

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Today’s classic track selection sees us winding the clock back to 2001 for DJ Ink & Dylan’s seminal Need You. Back when times (and tunes) were a little simpler, the tune is pretty sparse compared to modern productions, but the irresistible vocal hook, rolling breaks and catchy stabs combine for an instantly recognisable tune which still rips up dancefloors. For the dedicated D&B historian, there’s also a very respectable Calibre remix that came out a year later. Vibes!

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

Classic Track: Spor – Dreadnought

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Before Lifted Music and before the height of his fame, one of Spor’s first big breaks came on the Tactics EP for Renegade Hardware in 2005. The lead track from that EP, Dreadnought, still packs just as much of a punch nearly a decade on. The robotic FX and monstrous warped basslines give the tune both character and energy, and the detail in the production is incredible. Every element of the tune sits perfectly, and the result is a dancefloor weapon complete with a cheeky tempo drop for a breakbeat breakdown.

Dreadnought was a taste of what was to come from a producer who’s presence in the scene is very much missed since his departure to lower tempos under his Feed Me alias. Check out the tune below and relive the past glory.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHNI3JPlyrI]

Various – Multiverse EP [Renegade Hardware]

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Hardware continue their unstoppable onslaught of neurofunk batterers with a fresh new EP of collabs from some of the biggest names on their roster. Maztek & Cern team up for the titular Multiverse, dropping big beats and a disgusting, squelchy set of bassline modulations. Next up regular duo Optiv & BTK get together with Cold Fusion on a techstep roller that harnesses the spirit of 90s sci-fi influenced D&B to great effect.

The pick of the bunch for me comes on Dose & Cern’s irresistible One At A Time – rolling breaks, tight atmospheres and a memorable vocal snippet combine for a lethal dose of dancefloor tech with some tasty drum edits for added flavour. Finally the label’s upstarts get together to close out the EP with a solid slice of glitched up neurofunk from Subtension, Trilo & Minor Rain. Check out the clips below and grab this on vinyl and digital from June 9th.

As an added bonus, Subtension has recorded a cheeky studio mix to promote the release and it’s packed full of fresh dubs from the man himself alongside tracks from the EP and cuts from the wider world of D&B, all with a rolling techy vibe. Check it out!

Chroma – Territories / Brain Strain [Renegade Hardware]

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Following their appearance on the Limber EP last year it seemed likely only to be a matter of time until more Chroma tunes surfaced on Hardware and the new 12″ about to drop sees the boys on fine form with two tough techstep offerings for the legendary label.

Territories keeps the beats skittering and meshes traces of dub nicely with dark bass and rugged beats, while Brain Strain heads for more rolling territory, bringing tasty bass modulations and finely crafted percussion lines sure to move a dancefloor. Check out the beats below and watch out for the release on vinyl and digital from April 7th.

December Mixtape Roundup

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With so many good mixes touching down over the past few weeks it seemed only right to do a wee roundup of the best we’ve heard here at the Dojo. So in no particular order…

Joe Ford presents the 41st episode of the London Warehouse Events mix series with a short, sharp selection of dark techy D&B from the likes of Noisia, Maztek, Mefjus and Nickbee, including some new (and unlisted) tunes. JF dubs perhaps?

Mikal celebrates the impending release of his Immaterial EP for Metalheadz with a 30 minute promo mix featuring tracks from the EP alongside beats from Jubei, DLR, Villem and more. Watch out for the release dropping from December 16th.

Chris Renegade presents the 23rd episode of the Lifted Music podcast featuring brand new cuts from Aeph, Memtrix, Prolix & Gridlok and more, alongside a new dub from Inward Phase, a classic from the Konflict vaults and plenty of random half-cut banter.

While actually recorded back in October the audio from Fracture’s appearance at the Boiler Room Machinedrum special has recently surfaced on Soundcloud, and as usual it’s an eclectic treat. Definitely one for the deep heads to scope out.

To celebrate the recent release of his M-Theory EP for Renegade Hardware, Maztek brings us a 30 minute mix packed full of top class techstep and neurofunk belters.

Warm Communications head honcho EHL has recorded a nice mix of all things deep ahead of the labels latest release from Mako.

Finally The Upbeats celebrate their recent appearance at Japan’s Hangover D&B night with a mix full of tidy D&B belters and a few unexpected surprises.