The mighty Zero T lands on CIA this month for the first of the label’s 25th anniversary celebrations, and we’re hyped to bring you the premiere of Radicall Step! Keeping things crisp and understated, this is a deep, jazzy stepper with just enough sizzle…one to keep the dancefloor simmering. Watch out for the EP coming Jan 29th at all good stores!
As Dispatch draw close to their landmark 100th release their latest main-label offering treats us to some stunning reworks from Gerra & Stone’s Unbreakable EP, and as usual from Ant TC1’s seminal imprint the results are among the finest underground D&B in the scene.
First up, Dublin legend Zero T is on hand to turn in a rolling liquid refix of title track Unbreakable. The soft vocal flourishes and melancholy melodies of the original are still present and correct, but the quirky drums and off-kilter bass of the original have been swapped out for a thoroughly trademark Zero T bongo roller break and warm sub textures. This one is sure to prompt smiling faces and dancing feet, and there’s an instrumental mix included for good measure.
When it came to the thoroughly Photek-esque vibes of Plates there was only ever one production team we wanted to hear on the remix so we were more than happy to see Blocks and Escher on the buttons. The duo flip the script on this one, dishing up a moody, stripped back take which swaps the chopped up drums of the original for an ominous percussion routine that keeps the tension bubbling away.
Last but by no means least, Mako brings his signature funk stylings to Almost U with a new version that is all about the drums. This perhaps isn’t the most adventurous mix in terms of changing up the original melodic elements, but when the parts are this lush and the new drums are this sharp it’s still impossible to argue with.
Another sick release from Dispatch! We’re hugely looking forward to hearing what they have in store with DIS100… meantime you can check out clips of the EP below and hit up the Dispatch Store for full length previews and WAV/MP3/12″ purchases.
Zero T has been a busy man of late, with an album out on Dispatch, a track on the new Soul:R EP and now the Dice Game EP for Fokuz. The title track fires straight in with a rolling techstep vibe, while flipside Thirty Four heads for more melodic territory with warm, inviting synths and hints of jazz in the mix. Tasty stuff from a producer at the top of his game! Check out the clips below and look for this one on vinyl and digital from October 23rd.
After quite a period of preparation since we first learned of Anamorphic in Feb this year, the new Belfast-based label is ready to unleash their first release from Dan Guidance, and it’s definitely been worth the wait. The appropriately named Dub Bomb leads the charge with a nice rolling skank, while Up In The Air brings together lush melodic elements with a healthy bassline for a slice of liquid that’s still more than capable for the dancefloor.
Perhaps predictably though the star of the show here is Zero T’s slamming remix of Dub Bomb. The kicks and snares have been sharpened up considerably and the bassline carries some seriously tasty extra scuzz, making this one a sure fire weapon for smashing up the dance. Noice! Check out the clips below and look for this on digital and vinyl from August 26th.
The latest on ‘headz comes courtesy of Beta 2 & Zero T who serve up three crisp, grooving tracks for the Platinum imprint. Election provides a straight up slice of dancefloor tech with crisp breaks and a catchy bass riff, while The Edge strips things back for a tight stepper with an infectious melodic arpeggio and more grimey bassline business. Last but not least, What’s Wrong drops the tempo to 140 for a cheeky dubstep outing with tons of atmosphere. Check out the clips below and grab yourself a copy on vinyl or digital from the Metalheadz store now!
Dispatch Recordings get busy with a big 12″ featuring a pair of techy dancefloor rollers from some of the biggest names in the game. Bailey makes a rare production appearance to remix Zero T & Script’s Guessing Games, taking the atmosphere and heft of the original and turning in a tougher relick. Those drums! Punchy business.
Next up production wonder-duo SCAR return to Dispatch with Spectre, aiming for the chest with a rolling break and savage bass hits. This one’s sure to provoke a few gun fingers on the dancefloor!
Those of you who’ve kept your eyes on the Dispatch Store may already have snagged a (now sold out) advance vinyl copy. For the rest of you, check out the clips below and watch out for the full release dropping from June 23rd.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX8sA240PoY]
Sun & Bass continue their tradition from last year and release another stellar compilation featuring cuts from the festival’s regular DJs, with a host of big names on board. The first half of the compilation leans heavily in the deep liquid direction, with a collection of rollers and steppers from Triad, Fracture & Mark System, Seba, Alite & Arp XP and more. Tokyo Prose steal the show for me with the sublime, twinkling piano and crisp breaks of Goodbye Hands…truly a tune you could lose yourself in.
The second half of the selection sees the heat turned up with harder beats from Klute, Chris SU and Nymfo, Dom & Roland and more. Ulterior Motive turn in a strong, squelchy stepper with Fragola Invisible and Audio Habitat collaborates with Mad Vibes for a good old fashioned dirty roller. The LP closes up with a few more soulful numbers from dBridge, Code 3 and Zero T for good measure.
Check out all the beats below and watch out for the release dropping on digital from December 16th. Don’t forget you can also pick up the sublime Calibre/Paradox remix 12″ from Surus now!
Gerwin’s excellent Lying Portraits single was one of the highlights of IM:Ltd’s output in 2012 so the news it was getting the remix treatment from none other than Zero T and Bungle was music to my ears, if you’ll forgive the pun.
Zero T “reprints” Lying Portaits to great effect, replacing the stepping beat with a rolling liquid break and dropping the 2Shy vocal entirely, leading to a deeper, more cinematic vibe, though retaining some of the bassline’s edge. Meanwhile on the flip, Bungle turns in a deep, dark rolling mix of Soul Truth, with the majesty of his work for Soul:R but a bit more oomph on the low end.
Check out the beats below and watch out for the release dropping on vinyl and digital from October 16th.
DJ Enorme steps up to deliver the second episode of our exclusive mix series! Enorme started building his rep in the UK scene under the guise of Doom Boy and soon started making regular appearances around the north of England warming up for names like Andy C, Shy FX, Noisia, TC and more at nights including Turbulence, Curves, Bass Militia, Lockdown and the now defunct Syndicate.
Since moving to The Netherlands, Enorme now represents the deeper side of Techstep, holding down a residency at Drum Addict in Amsterdam and presenting the Blackdub podcast with regular mixes from upcoming and established artists alike. For this mix he’s dropped a tidy selection of forthcoming releases alongside some older classics, keeping things simmering nicely with deep but rugged beats. Check it out below and grab a free download from Mediafire, or check out the mix over on Mixcloud.
Chris Octane – Synthetics [Forthcoming CO:RE]
Arclight – Pluroform (Raiden Remix) [Forthcoming AutomAte Tech]
Cern – Hollow Moon [Dispatch Recordings]
Andy Pain & Z Connection – Outsider [Demand Records]
Hybris – Face Of Change [Dispatch Recordings Freebie]
Freeze – Calm Your Ego [Proximity Recordings Freebie]
Nymfo – Air Jacks [Commercial Suicide]
Naibu – Use Of Weapons (Fracture & Neptune’s Astrophonica Remix) [Warm Communications]
Clarity – Cold Blank [Samurai Music]
???? – ???? [????]
Isotone – Trip [Obsessions]
L33 – Ironic [Syndrome Audio]
Icicle – Dreadnaught feat. SP:MC [Shogun Audio]
Cause4Concern – Paranormal [Cause4Concern Recordings]
2Sides & Kije – Black Planet [Structured Music]
Survival & Silent Witness – Speedbag [Dispatch Recordings Freebie]
FD – Blue Sky Research (Sun & Bass VIP) [Sun & Bass Recordings]
Zero T – Tavistock Dub [Nu Directions]
The release of new material on Total Science‘s CIA Records imprint is always a pleasure, with the boys always keeping the quality ridiculously high and only putting out releases when they’re good and ready. This latest LP (the sequel to Tuned In some eleven years on) showcases that quality from a variety of artists across pretty much all the styles of Drum & Bass, and even among a year of so many LP releases shines through as a great album.
The LP delivers deeper tracks like Lenzman’s remix of Past Lives and the beautiful Stolen Moments from Riya & Zero T alongside techier numbers from the likes of Spirit, 8-Bits & Q-Project and Beta 2, along with some standout leftfield drumwork from Fracture on The Breaks. You can stream a few of my favourites below, so check it out and go grab yourself a copy from your favourite store!
Riya & Zero T – Stolen Moments
Beta 2 – Perceptions
Spirit – Dream Demon
Fracture – The Breaks