Maztek – Slight Funk [Free Download]

Posted on 21st July 2013 by DNB Dojo

Italy’s very own neurofunk don Maztek gives us a nice little freebie in the form of Slight Funk, a tune that’s all about the glitchey, futuristic drums (which remind me of Spor’s classic Stoppit). Slightly robotic sounding synthetic sounds pad out the main kicks and snares of the break to great effect, and the tune is reinforced nicely with a moving neuro bassline and simple yet lush pad work.

All you have to do to get a copy is go and like Maztek’s Facebook page. Check out the tune below and get liking!

Callide & Intraspekt – Shark Bite / Dimensions [XEX Audio]

Posted on 19th July 2013 by DNB Dojo

Cygnus PR guru and general D&B badman Callide teams up with fellow southerner Intraspekt to deliver two slices of techy, dancefloor oriented business. Shark Bite builds nicely with a sci-fi vibe both from the eerie synths and the choice sample before dropping into a militant array of bass stabs, distorted reece and pounding drums.

Dimensions backs up the A side nicely, dialling things back slightly and concentrating on epic filtered synth swells which positively sing through the tune. Beats-wise the duo have come up with a nice “three-quarter-step” style drum pattern for the tune, filling in the space between the kicks and snares with insistent hi-hat syncopations that keep the tune bubbling along nicely.

Check out the clips below and watch out for these dropping July 29th.

Craggz & Parallel – Fragments EP [Product Recordings]

Posted on 8th July 2013 by DNB Dojo

Craggz & Parallel bring us a varied EP for their own Product Recordings imprint. The EP hits heavy from the start, with opener Metal Plate sounding like a modern homage to Digital’s classic Deadline. The synth stabs and clattering percussion combine nicely with a monstrous bassline to create a hefty stepper with a sci-fi tinge.

Fragments turns up the heat, dropping bigger, harder breaks over an industrial strength reese line with some nice brass sounds adding to the mix. Nobody switches things up nicely, combining a classic jungle riddim with 8-bit sensibilities and a distinctly garage-influenced vocal cut-up on the intro, before slapping you around the face with a massive kick line and some beefy sub bass. Finally Get Smart rounds things off nicely with a classic techstep roller.

Check out the tunes below and look out for this dropping July 22nd.

Depth of Vision EP Vol. 1 [Automate]

Posted on 6th July 2013 by DNB Dojo

Automate return with another quality release, this time bringing together four tracks from a selection of up and coming producers. Opening the EP, D.R.O.P.S. deliver a moody techstep roller with a hint of the Critical sound to it, characterised by a crisp break and a restrained yet edgy bassline. Vince Grain steps in next with a stepper that’s all in the percussion, deep leftfield vibes on this track.

Over in the back in the back end of the release Protocol gives us the reverb drenched sounds of Chromatic, a tune packed full of atmosphere and some nicely modulated bass synths. Finally Ruffie closes the show with the tribal, skittering sounds of Refugee. Watch out for the EP dropping on August 5th.

In The Mix…The Upbeats

Posted on 5th July 2013 by DNB Dojo

Kiwi neurofunk legends The Upbeats bring us a mix full of brand new cuts and huge double drops to celebrate their appearance at Playaz x Fabriclive last Friday. The tracklist is 100% Upbeats material, featuring cuts from their recent album alongside older beats such as their remix of Ewun’s Screw Up and some of the releases from their own Non Vogue imprint. Fans of the heavier end of D&B should definitely check this one out!

In The Mix…Teddy Killerz

Posted on 2nd July 2013 by DNB Dojo

Teddy Killerz get on the 1s and 2s for the latest episode of the Eatbrain podcast, delivering 68 minutes of rolling neuro goodness. The mix is packed full of new material from Teddy Killerz (including a bunch of new Bad Taste dubs) alongside beats from the likes of Audio, Aeph, Mefjus, Mindscape and Gridlok. Hard and heavy from start to finish, get to know!

Aeph – Black Hoax / Hudson Hawk [Lifted Music]

Posted on 1st July 2013 by DNB Dojo

Hot on the heels of Memtrix’s excellent Numbers single comes the latest from the Lifted Music camp with a pair of tasty tunes from Italian producer Aeph. Maksim (who Lifted fans will recognise from his contribution to last year’s Struggle and Pain) steps up to provide vocals on Black Hoax, vibing off the distinctly glitch-hop into nicely. You’d be forgiven for thinking Lifted was toning things down…til the drop hits; huge squelchy neuro bass and synth stabs give the tune it’s character while synthetic drums drive things along at a hefty pace.

On the flip Hudson Hawk keeps the energy high with another rolling drum break and some seriously 80s synth action on the intro; Night Rider on speed? Bass modulations a plenty give the tune movement and weight in equal measure and the vocal sample adds bite before the tune drops into euphoric chords on the bridge. Aeph has mastered his craft on this release, treading that neurofunk tightrope with finesse; high production values while retaining grit, and tons of energy without descending into Skrillex-esque hyper-wobble.

Check out the clips below and grab this from your favourite digital outlet now!

Break – Steam Train [Symmetry]

Posted on 30th June 2013 by DNB Dojo

In the wake of the excellent The Other Side LP and a seemingly endless series of remixes and collabs for other labels, the ever prolific Break has found time to cook up another doozy for his own Symmetry imprint. Steam Train rolls into the proverbial station with some nice hissing samples, classic chord stabs and a beefy bassline that’s sure to move the crowd.

Over on the flip Detail & Tiiu go in deep with Days Go By. Mournful synths and an echoing, folorn vocal intro the tune before a brooding sub rumble adds the bass weight. Soulful, introspective and brimming over with musicality, the simplicity of the production is what makes this tune; rather than crowding the mix with unnecessary layers, Detail has stripped it back to the bare essentials.

Watch out for these dropping July 15th on vinyl and digital.

Reanimation EP [Renegade Hardware]

Posted on 29th June 2013 by DNB Dojo

Hardware bring us another selection of sick techstep cuts with a remix EP featuring contributions from the biggest and best in the scene right now. Taking pride of place is InsideInfo’s update of the legendary Usual Suspects belter Killa Bees. This one has been destroying floors across the world for months, and for good reason; retaining the vibe of the original but updating it nicely with modern production values and that trademark InsideInfo synth detail, this is setting a benchmark for modern updates of classic tunes.

Elsewhere on the EP Maztek turns in a typically gritty refix of Optiv & BTK’s Inception, with the duo dropping a huge rework of Maztek’s Limber in return. To be honest I think Optiv & BTK won this round, but both tunes are well worth a listen.

Finally Verb has been let loose on another classic, putting the modern polish on Future Cut’s Whiplash. This still sounds as eery as it did way back in 1999 and fans of the original will be pleased to note that the absolutely tearing drum-line has been faithfully recreated and reinforced. Watch out for the full EP dropping on vinyl and digital July 15th.

Seismix – Code / Sincere [Violation Music]

Posted on 28th June 2013 by DNB Dojo

Usually I’m skeptical of press release hype but I think Violation Music are genuinely onto a “hidden gem” with this release from up and coming producer Seismix. With releases on BTK’s Dutty Audio imprint and DJ support from the likes of Sabre, Octane & DLR, Insideinfo, Cern and Hybris, I wouldn’t imagine he’ll stay hidden for long mind.

Code delivers dancefloor tech at its best, combining atmospheric synths, rolling drum breaks, deft synth work and that all important bass growl to create a tune that will fit right into any dark D&B DJ set. Over on the flip, the man shows us a little more depth with a half-time tune that’s all about the percussion; natural hits and fill abound, with the warm sub adding to the deep, tribal feel.

Watch out for the single dropping July 1st via all good digital outlets.

DNB Dojo

Drum & Bass News and Reviews

Tag Archives: Techstep