Technimatic – Flashbulb EP [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 15th July 2015 by DNB Dojo

Technimatic return to Shogun Audio for their first release since last year’s debut LP Desire Paths. As you’d expect, it’s crisp, melodic liquid business from start to finish, and the boys manage to keep it warm and summery without succumbing to anything too cheesy.

Highlights come on the bouncy halftime of title track Flashbulb (more liquid producers should really explore this idea…) and the soft but insistent Remember You, with Secret Smile and Dirty Hands proving capable rollers to boot. Check out the clips below and hit up the Shogun Store to grab yourself a copy right now.

Icicle – Entropy Remixes [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 30th June 2015 by DNB Dojo

Shogun have recruited some of the heaviest hitters in the neurofunk scene for their latest remix project, with material from Icicle’s Entropy LP in for the relick treatment along with a bonus remix of Dreadnaught from Neosignal badman Phace. The iconic stabs and SP:MC vocal are retained but the bass and beats are amped up to the energy levels you’d expect from a Phace mix, and it’s a fresh take on a tune which should be familiar to everyone in the scene.

Joe Ford injects a punchy new rhythm and a playful tone into Neutralize, while Black Sun Empire deliver an absolutely disgusting rework of The Edge – this one is absolutely off the hook! Sadly Ulterior Motive’s remix of Will You Be Mine proves a little disappointing, being practically indistinguishable from the original, leaving it to Proxima to up the ante once again with a devastating new mix of Isolation.

As usual you can pick this up on vinyl and digital from the Shogun Audio store; pre-orders are up now ahead of the June 29th release.

Joe Ford – All Of Us EP [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 25th May 2015 by DNB Dojo

Joe Ford returns to Shogun Audio for a big new EP delivering detailed dancefloor neurofunk in spades. If you’re expecting much in the way of surprises you’ll probably be disappointed, but the tracks on show here hold the same appeal of Ford’s previous material, leaning towards the heavier end of his sound.

Standout tracks for us here at the Dojo are the titular All Of Us and the absolutely brutal Icicle collab Crossbreed; both of these should slay floors without any issue at all. For those who like their 140 there’s also a cheeky dubstep bonus track featuring the vocal talents of Miss Trouble. Tasty! Check out the clips below and grab this on vinyl or digital now.

Friction Vs. Volume 2 [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 13th March 2015 by DNB Dojo

Shogun Audio present the second of the Friction Vs. series and this time the label boss has teamed up with Icicle and Technimatic for two fresh new collabs. Crucifix yields a slab of weighty dancefloor neurofunk which won’t win any prizes for innovation but will certainly shake down your bass bins more than adequately.

Floating Frames is the real star here though; insistent, melodic, and euphoric without becoming outright cheese, showing Technimatic’s mastery of the deep liquid roller. Check out the clips below and look for this on vinyl and digital from March 15th.

Classic Track: Total Science & S.P.Y – Gangsta

Posted on 8th January 2015 by DNB Dojo

The recent release of Shogun’s 10 Years compilation reminded me of one of my favourite tracks from their back catalogue (and one of the most worn 12″s in my collection). 2010’s Gangsta is a straightforward roller, but one that bears the hallmarks of some of the best producers in the game. Proof that less is often more, this one has serious groove and an instantly identifiable break/bassline combo. Certified dancefloor killer!

10 Years of Shogun Audio

Posted on 1st December 2014 by DNB Dojo

Friction’s Shogun Audio are celebrating 10 years in style with a massive bundle of new tunes. The 10 Years compilation features brand new beats alongside remixes of some Shogun classics, and comes in a beautiful six piece vinyl box set.

Dancefloor tech is well represented among the new tracks with beats from Icicle & Prolix, Friction, Joe Ford and Fourward all bringing the hard and nasty vibes. There’s also rolling liquid from LSB and Technimatic, a new genre bender from Rockwell and something a little unusual from Spectrasoul in the form of Ben. On the remix front, Spor’s anthemic Aztec gets a pretty hyperactive rework from Calyx & Teebee, Aliz Perez and Spectrasoul get the liquid refix treatment from Calibre and Etherwood respectively, and Fourward turn in a chunky new mix of Dark Days. Last but by no means least, Total Science & S.P.Y bring us a new VIP of another back catalogue fave – 2010’s Gangsta.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the set also includes a poster, stickers, 3 CDs and a DVD; the CDs provide the new tracks in digital form, a selection of classics from the Shogun back catalogue and a fresh mix from Friction, while the DVD features a 10 Years documentary. There are only 500 copies of the full bundle available so head over to the Shogun Audio store pronto if you want to bag one, or save your wallet and grab the CD or digital package.

Joe Ford – Off Centre / Knock Down [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 1st November 2014 by DNB Dojo

Joe Ford returns to Shogun Audio after the success of his previous single The Moment with the more experimental vibes of Off Centre. The intro teases with what sounds like a hypey build up to a huge drop, but this is all a cunning ruse; the drop in question is all nuance and groove rather than the usual high energy danger you’d expect from an A-side on a prominent label. It’s nice to see that Shogun are still willing to take some risks with a less than conventional tune!

Knock Down meanwhile ticks all the usual boxes for well produced, rolling dancefloor D&B; squelchy bass, heavy hitting drums and a catchy hook form the mainstay of the tune, with some nice atmospherics on the intro and bridge sections. Fans of Joe Ford will know what to expect here! Check out the clips below and look for this one on digital (November 2nd) or attractive purple vinyl (November 3rd).

Icicle – Problem / The Edge [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 26th September 2014 by DNB Dojo

Icicle teases his forthcoming LP for Shogun Audio with a pair of MC-led beats. Problem combines the unusual style and delivery of Manchester MC Skittles with a heavy combo of kicks, claps and bass growls; the influence of grime and hip-hop clearly flows through the veins of this tune.

Over on the flip The Edge sees Metropolis (better known as one half of Foreign Beggars) lending his vocal weight to a more conventional slice of up front tech D&B; all groove and swagger, and sure to move a dancefloor. Check out the clips (and the rather impressive video for Problem) below and look for the single dropping September 28th, with more news on the album sure to follow.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNNtGFHe-jE]

Technimatic – Desire Paths [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 22nd July 2014 by DNB Dojo

As we approach the July 27th release date gradually the good folk at Shogun Audio are revealing more and more of the new Technimatic album, and it’s shaping up to be well worth a look for fans of the melodic end of the genre. From the super mellow Music is Music and the interesting rhythms of Perseverance to the more dancefloor friendly stylings of Beneath The Skies and Tectonic, it’s difficult to argue with the quality of the tracks on show so far.

My pick of the bunch has to be the insistent yet understated piano and crisp breaks of Looking For Diversion, featuring the delicate vocal talents of Lucy Kitchen, but there are plenty of other highlights too including the drumfunk workout of Lost Times and the downtempo funk of Mucky Jeff. Check out the clips below and watch out for the album dropping very soon on vinyl and digital.

Rockwell – INeedU / 1_2_3_4 [Shogun Audio]

Posted on 12th July 2014 by DNB Dojo

Rockwell returns to Shogun Audio with a fresh single that is sure to prove as divisive as it is innovative. Indeed the comments on the various social feeds are already polarising between love and hate! A side INeedU knocks down the door with a four-four backbeat, a melodic set of hooks and vocals and a slightly hyperactive array of FX and sonic details – it’s difficult to take it all in at first listen. You can hear the influences of disco, techno, D&B, footwork and who knows what else being smashed together here; D&B purists are sure to loathe it, and in a way that only makes it more brilliant.

Over on the flip the imaginatively titled 1_2_3_4 continues where previous Rockwell banger Detroit left off, combining influences from Techno and Ghettotech with Rockwell’s ludicrously tight engineering and that D&B energy we all know and love. Punchy sub bass and rapidfire beats should have any party bou-b-b-b-bou-bou-bouncin’, though once again the purists will likely be unimpressed. Haters gonna hate; make up your own mind from the clips below and watch out for the release dropping on digital from July 20th and vinyl from August 4th.

DNB Dojo

Drum & Bass News and Reviews

Tag Archives: Shogun Audio