Versus LP [Free Love Digi]

Posted on 10th July 2015 by DNB Dojo

US label Free Love Digi have been making moves recently with some top releases from both homegrown stateside talent and other producers worldwide, and their latest project sees them bringing together 17 tracks from the extended label family for a massive compilation showcasing all the styles of D&B.

Label boss Quentin Hiatus contributes a few tasty collabs, including a spacey footwork-tinged venture with Resound and the quirky rhythmic groove of The Struggle 2 with Sinistarr. Elsewhere there are chunky rollers from Fade, theStandard and Kaset, liquid from Stunna, and gritty halftime from Goreteks and Dominic Ridgeway.

There’s even space for some lush downtempo from AE on Forevergreen and Ghast on the absolutely serene New Lust. Overall it’s a fantastic selection of tracks, showcasing the breadth of FLD’s artists and the scene as a whole. You can check out all the tracks via Atic’s promo mix for the LP below; watch out for the release dropping July 20th at all good digital stores.

Ever the generous bunch, FLD have also teamed up with D&B Arena to give away a free track from Ghast to celebrate the release. Check that out below and head over to D&B Arena to check out their interview with Ghast.

Fuj – Broadside EP [Scientia Music]

Posted on 6th July 2015 by DNB Dojo

Australian bass technician Fuj joins the Scientia ranks with an EP of dark, crisp tech. Dauntless collab Genesis and the titular Broadside keep the vibes heavy and rolling while Best Before and the ominous March Of The Fall stomp along to more minimal but nonetheless hard hitting riddims. Bad sound! Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite store right now.

Kasra & Enei – Inside The Box [Critical Music]

Posted on 27th June 2015 by DNB Dojo

Critical’s latest sees label boss Kasra teaming up with Russian production stalwart Enei for an EP of varied tracks tied together by that heavyweight Critical sound. Kicking off with the stomping 85BPM hip-hop of Inside The Box, seguing into minimal halftime on Words and then heading for rolling territory on the excellent DRS-vocaled Overthinking, they clearly didn’t want this EP to fall into any obvious sub-genre pigeon-holes.

Out into the digital exclusives we’re treated to more dark minimalism on Arcana followed by a straight up tech thumper on Greed, which is sure to be smashing up the dance over the coming weeks. Another great release from one of the most influential labels in the scene – hit up the Critical store to grab this on vinyl and digital right now.

Villem & McLeod – Ain’t No Way [Warm Communications]

Posted on 26th June 2015 by DNB Dojo

Villem & McLeod continue their extremely fruitful collaborative efforts with a new selection for esteemed US imprint Warm Communications. Ain’t No Way builds the tension with lush but faintly ominous synths before an old school combo of big whomping bass and tough breaks kick the tune into orbit. Heft!

Make Tomorrow follows in the footsteps of Inner Revolution, showcasing the duo’s knack for crisp liquid rollers; soft piano, well articulated breaks and warm sub are the order of the day here, but the track is definitely far more than the sum of its parts. Last up, Saved You takes things grimey once again with a dark stepper to close the EP.

Neither Villem & McLeod nor Warm Comms have disappointed lately and this release is no different – look for it on 12″ (with the first 100 copies being white & red marbled) and digital from June 29th.

Classic Track: Teebee – The Force

Posted on 25th June 2015 by DNB Dojo

The sad news that Renegade Hardware will be closing its doors for good immediately had me digging for classic Hardware via the old Future Beats mix series, and while listening to Chris Renegade’s instalment The Force jumped right out at me.

While far from the only D&B track to make use of a few cheeky Star Wars samples, their use in this track is subtler and altogether more rhythmic than in most other tunes. Combine that with the rolling break and instantly recognisable bassline and you’re onto a classic that still moves floors. RIP Hardware, and long live Teebee!

Futurist EP Vol. 2 [Faded Music]

Posted on 22nd June 2015 by DNB Dojo

Faded Music return with a fine selection on their latest EP featuring beats from Fade, NotioN, KAI, Fawce & P Fine. Fade sets the tone with a big raved up roller on Graviton, with a high energy lead over a punchy rolling break. Next up are NotioN, who keep things rolling but take things a bit grimier on the insistent and robotic Find It Out.

Fawce & KAI team up with P Fine for another grimey number in the form of Vengeance, before KAI totally switches things up with Take Away; this one has a great combo of soft, floaty melodies and growling low end for a pretty unique and quite stripped back tune.

Last but not least, Fade explores the more minimal half-time stylings on the dark, industrial sounds of Molfar. Tidy stuff as ever from Faded Music! Check out the clips below and grab this one from your favourite digital outlet right now.

DNB Dojo Mix Series 16: Fearful

Posted on 21st June 2015 by DNB Dojo

We’ve kept an eye on Fearful ever since his release for AutomAte Tech in 2012 and have had the pleasure of watching his style and skills develop nicely, as amply evidenced on the Mechanism EP released by Diffrent earlier this year.

Pushing a deep, dark and unique style, we felt it was high time Fearful got involved in the Dojo Mix Series, and Chris has obliged with an hour of techy, underground selections. Fresh dubs, VIPs and heavyweight business from the likes of Amoss, Skeptical, Kush T, Perverse and many more; this one is definitely one for the heads.

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.

Fearful – Shock
Lakeway – Guns For Hire
Amoss & Fearful – Carcosa
M:Pathy & Kush T – Bleepers
Fearful – Mechanism
Transparent – Hustler
M-soul, S27 & Mombosh – As I’m Drifting
Conscience – U Make Me Feel
SVB – The Solution
Perverse – Petrichor
Skeptical – Imperial
Fearful – Tongues VIP
Co.Lateral – Coast Killers
Kush T – Delirious
Kasra & Enei – Arcana
Hyroglifics – Astraya
Kasra & Enei – Inside The Box
Lockjaw – Idol (Euph Remix)
M-Set – All Consuming Fear (Amoss Remix)
Shiver – Fragmented
Lynx & Kemo Feat. Alix Perez – Dangerous
Transparent – Patriot
Rakoon – Guard

Hedway – At You EP [Black Tuna Recordings]

Posted on 17th June 2015 by DNB Dojo

West-coast Canadian label Black Tuna kick off their promising release schedule with the debut EP from local producer Mike Heath aka Hedway. The titular At You opens the EP with a slick liquid roller, keeping the breaks crisp and the melodies understated.

Strange Guy switches things up, bringing the darker vibes on a thumping tech monster. Crunchy beats and old school reese bass action keep the energy flowing nicely on this one. Last but by no means least, Tonight brings the jazz licks for a cheeky liquid stepper to close out the EP.

Overall the EP is a varied statement of intent from both Hedway and Black Tuna, and we’re sure there’ll be plenty more from both. Check out the clips below and watch out for the release dropping June 23rd at all good digital stores.

Nausika – Dominion / Echoes [Blu Mar Ten Music]

Posted on 17th June 2015 by DNB Dojo

Blu Mar Ten Music’s output continues to be as varied as it is excellent with a cracking new single from Leeds young team Nausika. Dominion provides a study in minimalism and bassweight; punchy percussion, brooding sub and sparse atmospheres define a tune that keeps things stripped back and allows the percussion to evolve along the full length of the track.

Echoes keeps things deep and crisp, once again defined by weighty sub and precise percussion. As with Dominion there’s a steady and subtle progression to the track, with what feels like a nod to the aesthetic of minimal techno. Tasty stuff; check out the clips below and hit up the Blu Mar Ten store to grab it on 12″ before they sell them all!

Depth Of Vision Vol. 3 [AutomAte]

Posted on 13th June 2015 by DNB Dojo

AutomAte present the third volume of their Depth Of Vision EP series with four new tracks from up and coming producers in the scene. Fon serves up some nice chunky breakwork on Mistaken Coincidence, while Beaton provides the release’s most up front track in the form of the absolutely rolling Phantom.

The standout tracks of the EP for us here at the Dojo come from PRTCL and Scottish newcomer Maze. The former dishes up a weighty tech groover in the form of 5am, a track which should be more than capable of working the floor regardless of the precise hour on the clock. Maze meanwhile delivers the superbly wonky I Want To Live, chopping the breaks and throwing down glitched out FX left, right and centre. Tasty!

As usual you’ll be able to find this at all good digital outlets come release day on Monday, so check out the clips below and keep your eyes peeled!

DNB Dojo

Drum & Bass News and Reviews

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