Soul Intent – Delusions of Grandeur [Lossless]

The LP format; still a lofty goal for many D&B producers, and not a project to be embarked upon lightly. Making the transition from single and EP releases into a coherent body of work across an entire album is a quite a feat, and perhaps it’s for this reason that Soul Intent’s debut full length is only surfacing now, ten years into a healthy career.

Thankfully that decade honing his skills both in the studio and the DJ booth has left Alex more than equipped to create Delusions of Grandeur. As anyone familiar with his recent work would expect, the album has a huge range; it basically plays like a love letter to all the facets of drum & bass, or at least as many of them as Alex has had time to explore. Melancholy liquid rollers are represented in force, with a smattering of dancefloor smashers, some spacey halftime and a hint of jungle.

The string that joins the tracks together is definitely soul; apt given the production moniker in question. Even harder tracks like Test Fire and Cry For You bring character and emotion to the table, with analogue sensibilities and clever use of vocals giving the tracks depth and character. While more than punchy enough to compete, this album is the antithesis of the hyper-clean, slightly sterile production that dominates some corners of the scene.

Overall the album succeeds admirably in delivering ten tracks of emotionally charged yet dancefloor worthy D&B, and while not necessarily pushing the envelope it makes for a hugely enjoyable and genuine listen. Check out the clips below and hit up the Lossless Bandcamp to grab the album direct from the source.

Silence Groove – Blue Sky EP [Fokuz]

Polish-born, Bratislava-based Silence Groove has been impressing us a lot over the last couple of years and his latest work for Dutch liquid powerhouse Fokuz Recordings finds him at the top of his game. From the smooth and summery Blue Sky, through the rapid amens and floaty melodies of Shift and out into the funky hometown ode that is Bratislava, this is a masterclass in uplifting rollers.

Granted there’s nothing especially ground-breaking about an EP of lush melodic drum & bass in 2017, but Silence Groove has found that elusive sweet-spot where shimmering melodies, crisp breaks and warm basslines connect, and better still he manages to make tracks that are positive, even euphoric without ever running into the cheesier territory that ruins some of the more obvious liquid productions. We know what our summer soundtrack looks like, and this EP is definitely gonna get some heavy play; check out the clips below and hit up your favourite digital store to grab it now.

DNB Dojo Mix Series 53: Riot

We’re very pleased to welcome Portuguese DJ and producer Riot to the DNB Dojo Mix Series this month! Perhaps best known for his involvement in the legendary Buraka Som Sistema, Riot is currently focusing on his solo drum’n’bass output to great effect; last year saw him featured as a guest collaborator on Mikal’s excellent Wilderness LP for Metalheadz, and he has a solo EP dropping soon via Lisbon label Skalator Music.

For his entry to the Dojo Mix Series Riot has stepped up with a big selection of dancefloor rollers with an emphasis on the dark and techy, including brand new dubs, cuts from his Destroyer EP and beats from the likes of SCAR, Serum and Vromm. Sickness! As always 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.

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Premiere: SYK – Fatality

Deep liquid business on today’s premiere as French duo SYK land on new Bristol label A R Records! While the EP showcases a variety of tones including more gritty tech-driven beats, Fatality is a calibre-esque soft roller with melancholy piano and an ease of spirit; more Sunday afternoon pints than Saturday night rave-out. Check it out below and look for the EP at all good digital stores from June 9th.

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Premiere: Quantum Mechanix – Dirty Tricks

We’ve got another tidy exclusive from our pals at Nurtured Beatz today as we present the title track from the new Quantum Mechanix EP Dirty Tricks. This one is a groove-driven techstep roller with a classic beat and a wicked morphing bassline; infectious business. Look for this dropping June 12th at Bandcamp and June 19th everywhere else.

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DNB Dojo Mix Series 52: Skeletone

The latest exclusive Dojo mix comes from Polish producer Skeletone who delivers a mix rammed full of exclusive dubplates! With releases on Fokuz, Celsius, Occulti Music, Flight Pattern and Soul Trader, Rob has been carving quite a name for himself as a purveyor of top notch rolling D&B and his Dojo mix showcases exactly that talent.

No tracklist on this one since 90% of the tracks are yet to be released, but expect them to surface over the next few months…til then you’ll just have to guess! 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.

Moby – The Drum & Bass Remixes [Shogun Audio]

Shogun Audio present a very special release this month as four of their label family go in on remixes for the legendary Moby! Tackling such iconic and recognisable material is both an honour and a daunting challenge, but thankfully each of the artists has risen to that challenge and turned in some really memorable new versions within the D&B template.

Pola & Bryson and Technimatic turn in perhaps the most obvious remixes of the collection, sticking to their strengths and bringing some delicious liquid reworks to the table. The P&B remix of Porcelain in particular is just so lush; all the instantly familiar parts of the original are there, within a crispy framework of rolling breaks, warm bass and bubbling arpeggios.

Fourward also do a commendable job on their remix of Go, with the classic string segment matched by swelling reese basslines before a rough techy drop. Possibly the best of the bunch comes from Icicle though, harnessing the piano and vocals of Natural Blues into one of the wonkiest halftime compositions we’ve heard in a while. The beats and bass are positively lurching on this one, giving a really seasick lilt to the lyrics. Sick!

As with all the best remixes these are instantly recognisable yet entirely distinct from the originals; the Shogun camp have smashed this one. Check out the clips below and hit up your favourite digital outlet to grab the EP now.

Current Value – Scalar EP [31 Recordings]

News that Current Value would be dropping an EP on Doc Scott’s much revered 31 Recordings imprint came as something of a surprise. For all that 31 has showcased dancefloor tunes over the years as well as deeper fare, they’ve certainly never been known for the abrasive, hyper-technical sounds which have characterised most of Mr Value’s recent output.

Perhaps it is to be expected then that the Scalar EP sees Current Value showcasing his softer side, though that’s not to say he’s betrayed his roots and put out an EP of liquid groovers. The tracks on show here almost sound like CV remixes of deep rollers; the trademark precision percussion is there, and there’s certainly some bassline grit, but there are also lush pads, and a general air of reservation. If the average Current Value tune is up at 11 on the energy scale, these ones weigh in more in the 6-7 range.

The resulting aesthetic makes for some of the most interesting material the German producer has come out with in recent times, with more emphasis on contrasting sonic elements and interesting grooves. The atmospherics in particular are top notch, particularly on EP highlights Bigger Picture and Reconsider. Here’s hoping Current Value decides to give us more of these delicate compositions in future! The Scalar EP drops May 5th; hit up the 31 Store to grab it on vinyl or digital.

Premiere: Low:r – Harmonize It

Another brand new exclusive for you today from UK liquid producer Low:r who lands on Terra Firma with cracking melodic roller Harmonize It. Playful chimes, warm bass vibrations and tight breaks make for an exuberant production worthy of both the living room and the club. Nice! Watch out for this coming on the Terra Firma Vol. 1 EP; Beatport exclusive from May 8th with full release following on the 22nd.

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