DRUM & BASS REVIEWS
WHISKY KICKS [email protected]
burns the imagery of a shower of
rockets loudly illuminating the
backdrop of a black night sky.
Behind the overwhelming screams
roars a beastly pulsating throb of
continuous sound, leaving only a
subtle tinge of the track it once
was.
Mediks
By A Thread (Hybrid Minds
Remix)
AudioPorn Records
8.5
Hidden Element
& Liquid Break
feat Kiyomi
I See The Light
Burelom
9.0
If there’s one part of the
universe that understands
drum & bass like its British
creators and guardians, it’s
Russia. From St Petersburg
comes a new label. Their
first release certainly sets an
unorthodox, exceptionally
high precedent. Tumbling
breaks pay homage to the
Amen-dominated days, while a
poltergeist-frosted vocal soars
angelically over the rough and
rugged backdrop. This stunning
track is a soul searcher and
will cause as much devastation
to the dancefloor as it will
enlightenment through your
headphones.
Drumsound & Bassline
Smith
Nicaragua
Technique Recordings
8.5
While waiting for their telegram
Drumsound & Bassline Smith
celebrate their turn of the
century by releasing Tech 100,
'Nicaragua'. Plucking elements
from their experience of the scene
since the '90s, the track is a mix
of underground and mainstream,
which blends nicely to create
a metaphor to symbolise their
own personal journey to today's
position in the scene. The entire
EP needs to be listened to, but
finale track 'Neighbourhood' is
something quite special.
086 djmag.com.au
Frankee
Harlequin VIP
Ram
8.5
What a 12 months Ram have had.
Another year passes, packed full
of successes, and to celebrate
this they have released their
2013 annual, which of course
includes everyone's favourite
colourful character Frankee and
the exclusive VIP of his track
'Harlequin'. As we've come to
expect from the boy wonder,
we have a mix of infectiously
catchy drum patterns and a dark
pounding bassline, with seemingly
effortless excellence.
June Miller
Empa thy
Ram
8.0
Few artists have such an explosive
effect on the scene so quickly,
but since signing to the mighty
Ram little over a year ago, Anglo/
Dutch outfit June Miller have
gained complete recognition,
bringing us to the second offering
from the label in this month's
reviews. This stunning vocal track
has thundered in the sets of boss
Andy C since the summer, and is
finally out for release. Big bass,
monstrous drops and perfect
production.
Loadstar
Eat My Tears (Rene LeVice
Remix)
Ram
9.0
Following suit, every good debut
album deserves a remix album,
and Loadstar's 'Future Perfect
(Remix)' delivers some tasty cuts.
Label mate Rene LaVice lights
the long wick of 'Eat My Tears'
and sets the track on fire. This
screeching monster of a tune
Like a satisfying soup on an icy
winter's day, this is a drop of
heart-warming liquid that will
surely thaw even lovers of the
darkest, coldest drum & bass.
Calming, sweet and emotional
vocals stitch the track together
with gently plucked strings
providing the core melody.
Crashing cymbals and a graceful
drum pattern implement the
percussion. Both Mediks and
Hybrid Minds are turning the
heads of the scene's most
influential tastemakers, so this is
not an EP to be missed.
Mindstate
Vibes
QUICKIES
D-Region & Code
feat Adria Kain
Fly Away
Emotif
7.0
Despite the
predictability of this
track, from the lyrical
content to the choice of
pads and patterns, this
little dancefloor number
isn't too terrible. It
serves its purpose well
and unashamedly, and
although not generally
to the taste of the more
seasonal club attendee,
it should satisfy the
palate of the fresher
meat.
Ed:it
Sound Killer
SHG:LTD
9.0
voiced warning of the
'Sound Killer'. This
hugely layered track
draws influences from
seemingly every possible
direction. Dub-style vox,
wailing monks, crashing
thunderous drums, techy
metallic samples, you
name it, it's here.
Matt & Kendo
Booster
Dubbed
5.5
Fresher floorfiller bass,
best used for a string
of clubs named after a
pair of big jungle cats or
huge aquatic regions. In
saying that, the bassline
is thumping, but the
synths used are just too
hands-in-the-air.
It prowls powerfully
before quickly pouncing
with an almighty drop,
signaled by the deep-
QUICKIES
Fisso & Spark feat
BBK
Earthquake
(Drumattic Twins
Remix)
Ground Level
7.5
The Drumattics take the
straight-up, noisy, wobbly
breakbeat original and
turn it into an electronic
disco-funk piece that’s got
way more funk.
Krafty Kuts
Could You Be Krafty
Madd-Inc vs Sax3
FreQ Nasty feat
Spoonface
Why? (Mr Bill
Remix)
High Chai
7.5
The FreQ lets Mr Bill loose
on his drum & trap-step
original, leading to a jerky
glitch-garage reworking
that somebody like Si Begg
might have come up with.
B-Side feat
Kymberley
Kennedy
free download
Dope Rider (General
Narco Remix)
A Krafty bootleg of the
Robert Nesta Marley
singalong classic, with
added beefed-up beats and
an MC filling in a few gaps
in-between. Krafty always
makes an unexpected
bootleg work.
Ghetto Funk
7.5
8.5
The ghetto funk original
is spiced up by General
Narco, who orders plenty
of hyper-kinetic beats and
sends a bad-ass b-line out
to battle with the feelgood
vocals of Kymberley
Kennedy. This General is
set to be a major force in
beats, bass and breaks.
Liondub International
8.0
The jump-up crew love a rough and
dirty feel, something to summon
the skank and warrant a war face.
With its drilling sub, ragga vox
and utter bombardment of dub
sirens, 'Vibes' certainly delivers
the goods. Dark in atmosphere,
this track will have no issues
tearing down the dirtiest dances;
however, its drum pattern, paired
with the dub elements, take this
track to the more accessible level
of ravers outside of the jump-up
arena.
NFM & HLZ
Rota
Horizons
8.5
With previous releases on Headz,
Playaz and Shogun to name the
bare minimum, NFM & HLZ really
need no introduction. Horizons
are now the latest label to be
added to that list. The sound of
'Rota' is classic and clean and
precise to the point of medical
obsession, with an air of malice
which ominously lingers like
a reaper over a bed, before
snatching its prey, dropping into
the descending helter-skelter of
bass.
BREAKBEAT/BASS MUSIC REVIEWS
CARL LOBEN, [email protected]
The Dubkinetik EP feat
Papa Levi & Daddy Colonel
Sub Slayers
9.0
“The first track taken from our ‘TECH100 EP’. The narrator’s epic introduction
heightens the excitement here and all builds for a blazing drop.”
02. FRICTION & METRIK ‘Legacy’ Hospital
“Lush nostalgic chords set the tone perfectly, then escalate into a euphoric
roller.”
03. LYNX ‘Take Back The Night’ Ram
“His debut single on Ram does not disappoint. Funky intro, topped with a beautiful vocal, leads to a naughty ‘trademark Lynx’ drop... big tune!”
“Very proud to have this on Sub Slayers, Jane Fraser and Class A on vocals.”
02. PYRAMID ‘Leads To Nothing’ Funkatech
“Typical huge Pyramid production, sounds huge in a club.”
04. DRUMSOUND & BASSLINE SMITH ‘Breakin’ Badboy’ Technique
03. SCHEMA FEAT CHESHIRE CAT ‘Fumin’ Sub Slayers
05. HAZARD ‘Mark Q’ Playaz
04. JACKAL ‘Shake Down (Je Boogie Edit)’ IBWT free download
“Another ‘TECH100’ track. The intense build-up always seems to capture the
imagination here. Just how Heisenberg likes it.”
“Been around for a little while now, but it’s another killer from the man like
Hazard. As expected, pure vibes and essential selection.”
06. TAXMAN FEAT DIANE CHARLEMAGNE ‘Rebirth’ Playaz
“Sampler taken from his forthcoming album ‘No More Anthems’. Taxman showing
another side artistically here, and boy is he on top form. Stunning vocals from
Diane Charlemagne too.”
07. DRUMSOUND & BASSLINE SMITH ‘Can You Feel It VIP’ Technique
“We’ve reworked one of our classics, given it some 2014 love and the response
has been incredible.”
08. DIMENSION ‘Crowd Reaction’ Cyantific
“A young producer who’s been simmering for some time now, and 2014 could
just be his year.”
09. DRUMSOUND & BASSLINE SMITH ‘Serious Business’ Technique
“It’s a back to your roots, jungle homage here. This is not for the faint-hearted.”
10. THE PROTOTYPES ‘Pale Blue Dot’ Viper
“Arguably the hottest producers in drum & bass right now.”
“Really feeling this, big Cheshire Cat fan and Schema have taken good care
of him.”
“Squeaky little number.”
05. MADD-INC FEAT SAX3 ‘Dubkinetik’ Sub Slayers
“Great jiggy reggae vibes to get the gyal dem movin’.”
06. SLYDE FEAT MAKIIN ‘I Cant Help It (Deekline & Laidback
Remix)’ Rat Records
“Solid Deekline track, love the space in this one and the top line is a killer.”
07. VINYL JUNKIE & SANXION ‘Wages of Sin’ Sub Slayers
“Dutty — simples.”
08. DJ FIX ‘Dollar Bills’ Illeven Eleven
“Kinda Miami vibe on this one but super solid, very warm and pleasing.”
09. BREAKING NEWS FEAT ALASKA MC ‘Freeze (Se7en Deadly
Breaks Remix)’ IBWT
“Always gotta rep the Se7en Deadly Breaks, going from strength to strength.”
10. SCRUFFIZER ‘Kick It’ Black Butter
“Both mixes of this are sick, little slice of Black Butter goodness.”
Those dastardly RadioKillaz start
‘All Massive’ with some skanking
breakbeat riddims, echo, delay and
natty ragga vox. A deep burrowing
bassline soon joins the fray before
fizzy electro synths glide it into
the first drop. Scything tear-out
bass and blistering beats then
transport the dubwise sensibility
into a full-on hardcore assault that
can’t fail to nice up any dance.
‘Don’t Wanna 9-5’ on the flip has
a Rasta vox expunging the joys
of unconventional working over
flicked drumstep beats, with
mournful horns adding to the
outlaw feel. Wicked and bad.
7.5
Rebel Sketchy has been feeding
breakbeat tracks into the scene for
a good few years now, yet with his
‘Goodbye Gravity’ album he’s cast
his net a bit wider. ‘So It Goes’ calls
on Californian rapper Bukue One to
rhyme over a bass music bed, with
vocalist Agne Motie purring sweet
sonnets in-between. It’s quite commercial, radio-friendly and poppy, yet
will still pick up early doors club play.
The Bert On Beats remix tickles with a
tropical underbelly, while Kwerk turns
it into more of a straight-up electroid
breakbeat banger.
7.5
01. ED209 ‘Electric Friends (Remix)’ Sub Slayers
9.0
Ground Level
Top Drawer Digital
ED209 SUB SLAYERS
Rkz Recordings
So It Goes feat Bukue One
& Agne Motie
In the Dark EP
01. DRUMSOUND & BASSLINE SMITH ‘Nicaragua’ Technique
All Massive/
Don’t Wanna 9-5
Rebel Sketchy
Lucas
DRUMSOUND & BASSLINE SMITH TECHNIQUE
RadioKillaz
Hardcore legend Lennie De Ice and
Kool FM’s Madd-Inc come together
with a couple of vintage ragga
chatterers — Papa Levi and Daddy
Colonel — for a dubwise juddering
growly bashy original that contains
all the elements to make it ripe
for some Sub Slayers mainstays to
overhaul. Liondub turns it 175bpm
jump-up jungle, while King Yoof
takes it into the realms of 140bpm
future jungle with his trademark
steely beats and reggae stylings.
Leading d&b figure DJ Rap, no
less, turns in a slightly out-of-sorts
electro-dubstep revamp, and MaddInc himself ruffs it up into deebee
too. Killah!
The title track on the Top Drawer Digital label bossman Lucas’s new EP is
dark dynamic neurofunk, kinda like a
Photek album track battling it out in a
cave with cartoon demons. ‘Sweeney
Todd’ features a sinister spoken word
vocal sample, which could actually be
a demon barber whispering in your
ear as you sit in an electric chair that
vibrates to a vintage Depth Charge
piece. Finally, ‘Scared’ is gnarly
breakbeat that could function equally
at a late-night free party or in some of
the more grimey clubs.
Freestylers feat Laura
Steel
Falling
Rub-A-Duck
8.5
An artcore tropical breakbeat intro
to ‘Falling’ is soon augmented by
some lush Laura Steel vox, and then
the gently menacing wobbly bassline
enters the fray — lurking like a Predator behind a tree. This original is very
simply constructed — but sometimes
simplicity is just what the doctor
ordered. The Stanton Warriors carve
out cavemen beats for the intro of
their overhaul, giving the vocal space
to breathe before dropping down into
a rolling, trap-inspired disco-funk
cut that features ‘Good Vibrations’
yelps and pared-down block-banging.
Wickaman supplies the d&b version.
Dutty Moonshine
Rauchestra Vol 2
Rocstar
8.0
Feelgood party ghetto-funk cut ‘No
Doubt’ featuring Jimi Needles kicks
off this collaborative EP from the
Dutty duo of Michael Rack and Alex
Furley. It’s followed by ‘Real Thing’
featuring Captain Flatcap, which is
bona fide electro swing with flutes
and everything — and this page loves
a bit of electro swing sometimes.
Rocstar bossman Cut La Roc guests
on ‘Keep the Crowd Hype’, a funloving breakbeat-funker with a neat
b-line and Beiderbecke horns in the
background.
Rico Tubbs
The Return
Bass=Win
5.5
This is indeed the return of Rico
Tubbs, although put alongside his
bass music classic ‘Gangsters’, it does
seem to be going through the motions a tad. The template is the same
and the constituent parts — wobbly
bass, hype slippy-slidey garage beats,
arcade game noises etc — are all
present and correct, but it doesn’t
quite gel.
Schema
Fumin’ feat Cheshire Cat
Sub Slayers
9.0
These Jersey boys sure have been
quiet for a couple of years, but return
here with a rolling minimalistic
steppa that calls on legendary rapper
Cheshire Cat (Leftfield) to deliver
some on-point irie conscious rhymes.
The stripped-down nature of the
original is quite a surprise, but the
remixes up the ante in various ways.
Sub Slayers mainstay Toronto Is Broken turns it freewheelin’ drum & bass,
while Gella excels with a burbling
bashy bagatelle drumstep piece. Jinx
In Dub starts in dub before building it
into a raw polyrhythmic junglist slab,
and Atomic Drop turn it anthemic
dubstep.
NAPT & Roska
Roar/Mr Oscar
Fool’s Gold
9.0
So this is what Roska has been up to,
collabing with the NAPT boys Tomek
and Ash — with pretty wicked results,
t oo. ‘Roar’ intros with a pretty neat
build-up, pivoted around sparse
rolling beats and a pressure-cooker
siren wail. After the first drop, the
hype bashy beats and “Hup” yelps are
joined by cowbell — gotta have more
cowbell! — and then clanging old
hardcore keys. Impossible to genre
categorise, ‘Roar’ would make Katy
Perry shrivel up behind a bush. ‘Mr
Oscar’ is a pared-down percussive
feast, part-funky bashy bass and partclanging deep tech house.
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