Tag Archives: Techstep

Cern – Hollow Moon VIP [Dispatch Recordings]

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After a bit of a hiatus, Dispatch return with the fourth instalment of their Dispatch Dubplate series and this time it’s Cern on the buttons. As per previous releases in the series there are some new VIPs and one vinyl exclusive track, with Hollow Moon and Tiamat both getting the VIP treatment and new Mayhem collaboration Hydraulic on the wax for the vinyl buyers.

As you’d expect from Dispatch and Cern the EP features three tracks of rugged techstep, with a nice balance between bassline scuzz and atmosphere. If you haven’t yet snapped up a copy you should move fast – pre-orders are already flying out of the door via the Dispatch Store and Redeye.

Calibre – Fourfit EP 4 [Soul:R]

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The fourth in Soul:R’s excellent Fourfit EP series comes from the mighty Calibre, and he brings a fine selection of dancefloor oriented rollers that lean towards the darker end of his sound. Bogeyman Bullshit leads the charge with a simple but effective combo of rolling breaks and wobbly bass, in that classic stripped-back style that the maestro does so well. Next up, Marcus Intalex & Bricktop get in on the action, serving up a beautiful moody roller in the form of Smother.

Multitasking ups the menace level with a healthy layer of distortion on the bassline and a more angular break. Dream of You serves up the EP’s surprise track, and possibly its best, a playful, dubbed out slice of halftime with hordes of reverb drenched character and sonic detail. Tasty stuff! Check out the clips below and hit up the Soul:R Bandcamp to grab it on vinyl or digital now.

Soul Intent – Wanna Fight EP [Commercial Suicide]

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Commercial Suicide are back and that means (among other things) another amusingly spurious press release! This time Klute would have us believe that Soul Intent produced the EP “entirely on a Kindle in his tent on a mountainside using the latest in solar energy technology”. I think we’ll assume that’s a bit of a fib.

Klute’s sense of humour aside, the EP offers three solid and entirely distinct tracks worthy of any discerning fan’s attention. Funk Lick kicks off the EP with a stripped back tech stepper with (you guessed it…) a hint of funk, while Move Your Body opts for blissful melodies set to chaotic amen-chopping that is reminiscent of classic drumfunk and even older jungle in equal measure.

Last up, Soul Intent teams up with Chromatic for a big, nasty slab of bass led dancefloor filth for the titular Wanna Fight. Hopefully it’ll inspire bassface and rowdiness on the dancefloor without actually initiating any punch ups! Check out the clips below and hit up the Commercial Suicide bandcamp to grab it on digital right now. There’s also a promo mix from the man himself (embed below the clips) featuring some suitably rolling selections.

Nucleus & Paradox – Blade 9 / Break North [Metalheadz]

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When it comes to chopping up the breaks, it’s harder to find a duo more dedicated and skilled than Nucleus & Paradox. Their latest outing sees them landing on Metalheadz with two crisp, dark and dangerous slices of old school tinged D&B which carry that unmistakable ‘headz vibe.

Blade 9 is definitely the more upfront of the two tracks, with a relentlessly rolling break pared with big, dirty sub stabs for maximum impact. Over on the flip Break North goes in darker, leaving more space between the beats but slamming down kicks, snares and sub with a dangerous level of menace. This one will shake you in your chest cavity on a proper rig!

Hit up the Metalheadz store to grab this one vinyl including a limited edition A2 print. Noice!

Amoss – Crab Stance [Flexout Audio]

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Flexout bring us possibly their biggest release to date with three fresh tracks from well established grit-merchants Amoss. Crab Stance opens things up with a deep head nodder, keeping things simmering with tight percussion and nice mid range textures without ever allowing the mix to boil over into more aggressive territory.

Liqer ups the ante slightly, rolling steady with more crisp textures and atmospherics to create a powerful groove. Last but not least M Set & Deefa’s All Consuming Fear gets the remix treatment with the boys letting loose on a more insistent bass and beats arrangement to match the aggy vocal line.

The EP is out right now via all the usual outlets, but you can get it cheaper and support the label directly by grabbing it through their Bandcamp page. Get to it!

Free tracks from dBridge!

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We normally find it pretty tough to find space to cover free tracks here at the Dojo but we make exceptions when those free tracks are from the mighty dBridge! The Exit Records boss has apparently been in a generous mood over the last day, slapping no fewer than nine tracks from various periods up on his Soundcloud for all to download and enjoy.

The tracks include end of Bad Company/start of Exit Records-era techstep, Autonomic style cuts and two jungle tinged rollers written specially for the recent Exit vs Headz clash in London. Can’t say fairer than that can you? Check out the tracks below and hit up Soundcloud for the downloads.

DNB Dojo Mix Series 17: West

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MixSeries17_West

Default Recordings crew member West comes to the DNB Dojo decks for the latest in our exclusive mix series, and the selections don’t disappoint! Seguing seamlessly between tech and liquid, the mix features new cuts from LSB, Chroma, Calibre and Eastcolors alongside fresh Default dubs and a handful of classics. Fiya!

As usual you can check out the mix via Soundcloud below or head to Mixcloud, Hearthis.at or iTunes to stream. You can also grab a download from Dropbox.

Eastcolours, Traffic & Noel – Dreams VIP
Calibre – The Sweet
Dabs & Cern – Hell Rose (Villem & Mcleod Remix)
Atic – Reality Sound
LSB – Snap Funk
L-Side – Starways
Phil Tangent feat. Steo – Bedouin
LSB – XLRS
Total Science – Whoonga (Chroma Remix)
FD – Ice 690
BTK – Try
NC-17 vs. The Voss – Pull Up
Naked Objects – Thank You
SpectraSoul feat. Lily McKenzie – Shelter VIP
LSB – Loop of Love
Eastcolours – Mad Day (Ed:it Remix)
Projekt – A New Age VIP
Calyx & Teebee – Long Gone
Saxxon feat Jon Scott – Never Give Up
Commix – Painted Smile
BCee – Typical Description (Calibre Remix)
Cern & Dabs – Leverage
Paul T & Edward Oberon – Tempt
Sweet & Sikka – You Ain’t
Ed:it – Radio Ghetto Soul
FD – Change Please
Phil Tangent – Affinity

Not Your Idol EP [Renegade Hardware]

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The news that the legendary Hardware would be shutting it’s doors in February next year came as an unpleasant surprise here at the Dojo, but it seems that the label is planning to go out in style with plenty more releases on the books between now and next year.

Their latest EP presents four fresh tracks with something of an old school tinge to them, harking back to the golden era of techstep that Hardware played such a big part in. BTK & Cold Fusion play with soulful lyrics over a monstrous bassline on Not Your Idol, while Battery serves up a clattering roller propelled furiously forward by Photek-style bass stabs.

Elsewhere Loxy & Ink keep things gritty with old school break chops set to a throbbing low end and creepy high-end atmospherics, leaving it to NC-17 to close the EP with another massive roller, tinged with classic jungle samples. Massive business as usual from Hardware; check out the clips below and hit up their store to pre-order a copy now.

Break – Simpler Times LP Sampler [Symmetry Recordings]

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The legendary Break gives us the first taste of his forthcoming third album Simpler Times with a two track sampler. The LP’s title track sees Kyo on vocal duties for a quality chunky roller with that unmistakeable Break balance of bass weight and soul. There’s nothing particularly surprising in the composition but the balance of the track is just too perfect not to enjoy, from the crisp breaks to the warm bass and up to the melodic flourishes sprinkled over the top.

Over on the flip we’re treated to a sampler exclusive tech roller in the form of Top Shooter. Apparently extensively road-tested by Break over the past few months, this one will certainly do the damage on the dancefloor. Check out the clips below and hit up the Symmetry store to grab this one now; digital is already out, with vinyl to follow in two weeks.

Jubei – True Form EP [Metalheadz]

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Jubei returns to Metalheadz. What else do you need to know? All joking aside, fans of the man’s work should know what to expect by now – crisp, rolling techstep with tons of low end weight and an old school ‘headz vibe. It’s all about Cold Corner and Out of Sight on this release for us.

Check out the clips below and pick your own favourite; the EP is available at the Metalheadz store right now.