Tag Archives: Techstep

Headroom EP Part 5 [Viper Recordings]

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Viper Recordings serve up the latest installment of their Headroom EP series with fresh new tracks from tech and neuro producers across the scene. Sadly Prolix’s Ringtone Raver proves a bit one dimensional (especially compared to the superb tracks on the recent Project Trendkill album) but elsewhere we’re treated to solid dancefloor business from Trei, NC-17 & Soulculture and Insomniax.

The highlight of the EP by a big stretch though comes on KG’s Woodblock Riddim, combining a tribal percussion line (with, you guessed it, woodblocks) with some tasty mid bass growls and some excellent atmospheres. Check out all the tunes below and grab the release from your favourite digital store now!

SCAR – Fair Game / Later [Horizons]

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SCAR follow up their epic debut for Dispatch Recordings with another pair of finely crafted slices of dark techstep for Horizons Music. Fair Game goes in with a rolling break and big, warm bass swells and a hint of wobble in the modulation…definitely one for the steady skanking crew.

Over on the flip Later kicks things off with echoing chords and weird squelchy samples before hitting down with massive bass stabs and a rough break which brings to mind the classic era of hard hitting techstep from the early 2000s.

You can pick up advance white labels of this from the Horizons Shop now – eyes peeled for general release over the next few weeks.

Sensus – Primal EP [Chaos Audio]

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The next release from Lancaster-based Chaos Audio comes from Canadian producer Sensus who drops an EP of dark, brooding techstep. All three tracks head for grimey territory with punchy synthetic drums and crunchy bass, the highlight for me being Pulse. Check out the tracks below and watch out for the release dropping from March 28th.

Depth of Vision Vol. 2 [AutomAte]

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Automate return with the second of their Depth of Vision EP series featuring another four fresh cuts from up and coming producers. D.R.O.P.S. kick things off with the tight, dark and rolling beats of Utopia, while None Decay heads for more tribal territory with the insistent half-time kicks and morphing bass of the appropriately named Gully.

Into the latter half of the EP we’re treated to some crisp drum syncopations on Beaton’s Something From The Jungle, with spooky pads and vocal echoes moving in and out of the mix. The leftfield beat arrangements and some great use of stereo width really make this one! Lastly Ruffie delivers an industrial tinged stomper in the form of Strife, mixing hard kicks and treated snares with haunting, reverb drenched pads.

Check out the clips below and watch out for the EP dropping at all good digital outlets from April 7th.

Binary – Etched / Polaris [E-Motion]

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Binary returns to E-Motion with a pair of dark, minimal steppers in the vein of Icicle et al. Both tracks emphasise deep sub and crisp drums over in your face lead segments and aim for groove rather than heft, and the overall effect is very satisfying.

Etched heads for dark, angular territory while Polaris softens the mood slightly with lush pads on the intro and bridge segments and a more rolling break compared to the hard drums of the A side. Check out both tracks below and watch out for the release dropping from March 24th at all good digital stores.

SCAR – Call To Arms EP [Dispatch]

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Dispatch return with a storming EP from Survival and Script in their new SCAR collaborative alias. As you’d expect from both the producers and the label this is heavy tech D&B at it’s finest with every kick, snare and mangled bassline perfectly placed for maximum impact.

Burnside gets the EP off to a fine start with a precise yet raw slice of dark, rolling drum & bass. Call To Arms ups the ante with a seriously broody intro the builds suspense all the way from the initial snares, through the ominous stab samples and into the groaning bass of the drop. Screwfaces at the ready!

Out into the back side of the EP the duo get creative on Time Constant with some nice clattering breaks and plenty of tasty drum edits, while Dodgy Dalek aims for sheer groove and succeeds in ample measure. SCAR are clearly a duo to watch this year if this EP is anything to go by. Head on over to the Dispatch Store or Surus to grab it now!

Dose – Mind The Future LP Sampler [Commercial Suicide]

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Commercial Suicide wind up for the release of Kiwi producer Dose’s debut LP with a 12″ of his best work since his two singles for Subtitles in 2012. Both tracks provide the sort of heavy hitting dancefloor techstep that Dose has always excelled at manufacturing, and will doubtless get a few floors bouncing over the coming months.

It’ll be interesting to see whether the album holds any surprises, but even if it’s more of the same it should be a blast! Check out the clips below and watch out for the sampler dropping on digital and limited edition vinyl from March 17th.

Teddy Killerz – Big Blow [ProgRAM]

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Teddy Killerz latest release sees them take their foot off the gas slightly compared to the face melting material they’ve built a rep with, but that’s not to say this EP is lacking in teeth, just imbued with a little more subtlety. Big Blow kicks things off with a nice combination of classy piano and slow drum rolls on the intro before the main drop kicks in with a familiar D&B impact and some nicely modulated bass.

Jackyl & Hyde heads for more familiar territory with MC Coppa on board for the ride but to be honest it just doesn’t have the punch of other Coppa tracks like On Like That or Pocket Full of Drops. Era meanwhile makes great use of atmospherics and heavy techstep kicks and snares for an angular workout. Lastly Una Mattina closes out the EP with a bright, trancey lead, swung beats and a wobbly bassline that it’s difficult not to enjoy. Check out the beats below and grab this on vinyl or digital now!

Xsetra – Tectorum / Zub Zero [Transmission Audio]

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Leeds based Transmission Audio return with their fifth release and keep the dark, techy vibes rolling with two new beats from Xsetra. Tectorum sets the mood nicely but for me it’s all about the eclectic percussion and squelchy basslines of Zub Zero. Atmosphere and heft in equal measure! Check out the beats below and grab this one from all good digital outlets now.

Break – Symmetry Sessions Vol. 1 [Symmetry]

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Break returns with the latest release on his Symmetry imprint featuring a quality selection covering all the styles of D&B. Calibre turns in two different remixes of They’re Wrong in his signature smooth liquid style, and DLR gets in the studio with break on the mighty tech destroyer New Design.

Elsewhere NC-17 & KC dish in another big bad slice of tech with the positively militant Slimeville and Break explores his deeper side on jazzy D&B stepper Wondering Why and dubby downtempo outing Dem Babylon. Overall it’s another essential release from one of the best labels in the scene! Check out the beats below and grab your copy on vinyl or digital now.