Beats News

Critical come extremely correct once more with what is bound to be an early summer smash as a certain Dub Phizix picks up where the almighty 'Marka' left off. Teaming up with fellow Manchester scene stalwart Fox proves an inspired choice here which Critical just couldn't ignore, so invited him back to drop these two more astonishingly fresh tracks for this, his second outing on the label. Simply put, 'Never Been' is baaaaaad man business. A lean, stripped back percussive intro leads us to a breakdown where Fox greets us with the sickest of vocal hooks that you'll be trying to decipher until the end. When the tribal half-time break drops it's time to bounce as the undulating b-line rolls heavy throughout with Dub Phizix teasing with awesome drumedits and Amen shakedowns. Riddim! Cinematic soundscapes and a solid beats combine on 'Codec', a more bass-led slab of equally dance floor drum & bass that retains the Dub Phizix air of originality with an experimental break the kicks like a mule. Another winner without doubt from a very exciting splinter cell coming out of the north of the UK right now.

* Idealz has been involved with Kniteforce since the early Influential days, all the way through KFA and into this new relaunch of Kniteforce Records. This EP is a long time coming - Idealz should always have had a Kniteforce release under his belt, as he has always been, and remains, a distinct sound within the label. This EP brings his unique sound to its perfect place - proper Jungle / D'n'B, but in the old style, and on vinyl where it deserves to be. Run The Tune is one of the best examples of this style released this year, and would fit in perfectly in any 1994-96 jungle set. It is a classic slice of precision jungle, one that moves the dance floor and the mind equally.
On the flip side, Ice Breaker and War On Jungle take the same themes but twist those vibes into other directions. This release, and Mannik's (KF73) really put the flag in the sand for Kniteforce. We do old skool the way it should be done, and embrace all the styles. This is a proper EP for the real underground!

Club / DJ Support
Billy Bunter, the Fat Controller, Glowkid, Slipmatt, Dj Jedi, Dj Luna-C, Dj Brisk, Clayfighter, Jimni Cricket, Bustin, Sc@r, Doughboy, Saiyan, Dave Skywalker, Ponder and many others

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Includes download card.
Austrian producer Mefjus has taken the scene by storm over recent months and this latest release is further proof of his incredible
talents. The Contemporary EP is his first EP for Critical and features a collaboration with Shogun Audio's Icicle for the lead track. 4
tracks that showcase this exciting talents deft touch for hard hitting drum and bass and incredible production.

* Paul Bradley is a long time hardcore soldier, someone who has lived and breathed the breakbeat scene since its inception, and who finally took the plunge into producing relatively recently. His music is direct and uplifting, with no time for subtlety or overly clever trickery. Each track on the EP is dedicated to moving the dancefloor into a state of euphoria, frenzy, or both. Pounding breaks and piano lines are compliments by some strange and amusing sample choices, leaving you never quite sure of what will happen next.

Club / DJ Support
Billy Bunter, Slipmatt, Dj Jedi, Dj Luna-C, Dj Brisk, Bustin, Sc@r, Doughboy, Saiyan, Dave Skywalker and many others

Club / DJ Support
Billy Bunter, the Fat Controller, Glowkid, Slipmatt, Dj Jedi, Dj Luna-C, Dj Brisk, Clayfighter, Jimni Cricket, Bustin, Sc@r, Doughboy, Saiyan, Dave Skywalker, Ponder and many others

* Shadowplay's debut EP does exactly what it says in its title - splitting the music into two halves, dark and light. The A side hands you two stunning, uplifting, and (dare I say it) almost traditional Kniteforce piano workouts, both of which are firm favorites already on Kniteforce Radio and with pretty much any old skool head that hears them. Meanwhile, the flip side takes a darker path, twisting soulful and thoughtful jungle and d'n'b vibes into a pair of heartfelt but devastating bass driven tunes. The EP is the yin and yang of old skool, taking you to the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows, which as any true raver knows, are also highs ha ha! You cant afford to miss this EP, its a classic before its time....

Club / DJ Support
Billy Bunter, the Fat Controller, Glowkid, Slipmatt, Dj Jedi, Dj Luna-C, Dj Brisk, Clayfighter, Jimni Cricket, Bustin, Sc@r, Doughboy, Saiyan, Dave Skywalker, Ponder and many others

* The Timespan was a regular artist on the famous Kniteforce subsidiary label, Remix Records. One of Luna-C's many aliases, The Timespan has always been on a mission to make simple, effective hardcore. This EP takes that formula and applies the years of knowledge gained since 1994 to make something that sounds...almost the same as it would in 1994. Only better. Full on pianos, running break beats, happy vocals, hip hop snippets and hectic stab patterns, this EP was made almost entirely on hardware rather than software. The result is that it contains not only the ideas of the old skool, but the warm analogue soundscapes from that era. It also features a 'revisit' by label mate Cru-l-t of the Timespan's classic track 'Music' - an updated and rebuilt from the ground up version of that tune.

Club / DJ Support
Billy Bunter, Slipmatt, Dj Jedi, Dj Luna-C, Dj Brisk, Bustin, Sc@r, Doughboy, Saiyan, Dave Skywalker and many others

By popular demand Future Retro brings 4 of the most demanded remastered classics on 12" vinyl. Now one of the real international superstars of Drum & Bass, Netsky had one of his first releases on Future Retro. Now remastered for 2018 this classic is sounding heavier than ever. BCee's Glitter Balls still sounds as fresh as it did when it was originally released and this Lenzman & Redeyes remake is a match made in heaven. Random Movement & Mutt round up this EP nicely with remastered versions of their tracks Ain't Going Nowhere and The Motions which both ooze soul.

Gunmen is the cooperative project of junglist Tony Anthem and PsychoFreud. On this vinyl you get the long time requested vocal hits Chant Down Babylon and Steppin Razor!

Reverberating out of the darkness but still lurking behind the shadows, the Pitch Black EP is the debut solo release from talented Austrian producer Phentix. He's no stranger to the Cyberfunk family, having made quite the impression with his previous outing on the label, Hoax, he returns with an arsenal of fresh to unleash via Xtrah's ever growing imprint - now onto its third release. Opening with the title track, Pitch Black moves with an unrelenting twisting bassline fully reminiscent of bygone era Virus. Clean sounding yet with tons of grit, Pitch Black is a merely the opening salvo of fire to come on this EP. Vicious sees Phentix team up with Italian producer Disprove. Adopting a less is more mentality, Vicious is stripped back breakbeat heaviness, the crisp drums do the talking on sparse but funky bass stabs. With one collaboration already under their belts, Signal returns the favour on the minimal yet rolling Informer. Shuffling along at a frenetic pace, Informer rattles along as fast as it's busy hi-hats will let it while atmospheric pads and bass interplay making for moody, cinematic cut. Afterlife is a lesson in unbridled simplicity in terms of sound but no less deadly for it - it's drum and bass in it rawest form with no frills and a structure DJ's will love. Cyberfunk is steadily building an impressive catalogue of material and releases like Phentix's Pitch Black EP show that the label and it's small but close knit bunch of acts are definitely heading in the right.

For 19 years Fokuz Recordings has been an unbending pillar for quality, soulful drum and bass. It has provided an outlet for some of the scenes most prominent names a home for their music and continues to foster the growth of the next generation of producers. From the elite class of Calibre, AI, Zero T, and Lenzman, to the new school sounds of Satl, Kasper, Macca, and Bert H, the Soul Derivatives LP blends names and generations together creating a magnificent musical showcase. If good music is timeless, then the Soul Derivatives LP confirms that there is no end in sight for this illustrious Dutch label. The Soul Derivatives LP - FOKUZ092 - is available in Vinyl, CD and Digital in March 2018.

Mathew Jonson's 'Decompression' was first released on Minus in 2004. To celebrate 13 years since it's release Mathew has commissioned 11 artists to remix this classic split over 4 releases. The first EP of the series features remixes from dBridge, Konrad Black and Nathan Jonson, each artists contribution provides a fresh approach to a package fuelled by the influence of Drum & Bass. dBridge steps up for two remixes, the first is warped and deconstructed, the second a high energy Drum & Bass belter. Konrad Black slows things down with a darker groove whilst Nathan Jonson's 'rewind to 96' utilises rave tropes and chopped vocal samples. The package is a magnificent addition to the legacy of 'Decompression' and coming next will be remixes from Seth Troxler, Deadbeat, Mike Shannon and Natalia Escobar. Mathew Jonson's 'Decompression' was first released on Minus in 2004. This is the first release on Mathew Jonson's new label entitled 'Freedom Engine' Mastered at Scape Mastering

Sonny is a mysterious new Danish musician landing on a brand new Danish label Koldt Bord with a lavish, cosmically-tinged four piece EP that refuses to let you go. The wild narrative and dynamic momentum of "Agoraphobia", the soft lilted and mistiness of "Alone In Ginza", the strange tropic short, sweet skit of "CE" and the journey-like ride into the unknown of "Some Velvet Morning" comprise to create something of its own world. Sitting somewhere between Cinematic Orchestra and fellow Dane Kenneth Bager, this leave you wanting more..

The Lone Star State terror Textasy joins the Craigie Knowes firm with 4 hardcore and electro heaters. For club use only! Extra inside sticker in every copy, bang.

* Brazilian producer L-Side releases his highly anticipated new album 'Carnal Mind' on the 6th April.

* Featuring American rapper Jeru The Damaja, British rapper DRS, dancehall/grime artist Lady Chann, and drum and bass vocalists MC Fats, MC Darrison and MC Conrad, the release is via the legendary drum and bass record label, V Recordings.

* Taking his influence from Hip Hop artists such as Jazz Liberatorz, The Pharcyde and Tribe Called Quest, L-Side is making his mark in the world of raw dancefloor focused drum and bass. Originally producing hip-hop beats before branching into Drum and Bass, he is known for his meticulous mix of upfront and aggressive sounds merged with funk and soul styles, forging a flawlessly fresh take on drum and bass.

* Leonardo de Jesus Silva, aka L-Side, began his career as a DJ and Producer in 2008 and the Sao Paulo born producer has gone on to cement himself as one of the most formidable producers to hail from the flourishing and highly respected Brazilian drum and bass scene, which is home to some of the most inventive and funkiest contributors to drum & bass this century.

* As a nation bursting at the seams with prolific and highly talented producers, L-Side has managed to emerge as one of the most exceptional and 'Carnal Mind' proves the point.

* 'Holding On' ft. Lady Chann, is a dark, brooding, half time number, full of menacing atmosphere - infusing elements of dancehall and grime, complemented perfectly by Lady Chann's ferocious, trademark vocal delivery while tracks like 'High Times' unleash unrelenting breakbeat right from the gate. Pulsating synths add momentum, channelling subterranean depths as MC Fats patois-tinged vocals ride overhead. The dark storm clouds clear briefly, allowing celestial pads to momentarily reset the atmosphere before hurling the listener straight back into the thick of it.

* Having released music on such labels as Philly Blunt, Chronic, Celsius and Soul Deep, his music has been supported by DJs from around the world, including DJ Marky, Bryan Gee, LTJ Bukem, Bailey and Doc Scott, while new single 'Holding On' received it's first official play from Mista Jam on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

* In addition to his solo recordings, L-Side has collaborated with fellow V producers, Subsid, Andrezz and Critycal Dub among others.

* The legendary drum and bass record label, V Recordings, was set up in 1993 by Jumpin' Jack Frost and Bryan Gee. Few record labels can claim to have changed the face of their respective scene. Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2018, since its birth, the label has released over 100 cuts from the likes of Marky & XRS, Krust and Die, Adam F, Lemon D, Scorpio, Dillinja and Roni Size

Logistics, one of Hospital Records' most prolific artists, is back with his seventh studio album 'Hologram'. Inspired by his travels to Hong-Kong and New Zealand, this universally admired drum & bass figure presents a vibrant 16-track collection soaked in his signature groove, soul and liquid-funk stylings.

Opening track 'Lotus Flower' sets a warm springtime tone with fluttering harp-like arpeggios and atmospheric pads. 'Broken Light' follows on from the success that singer/songwriter Thomas Oliver brought on Logistics' collaborative LP with brother Nu:Tone. A sombre tone matched with melancholic lyrics bring a blissful beat to the album.

Keeping true to the craft, 'Chant' flips to Logistics' jungle style with molten-hot flair. A powerful punch of expertly sliced breaks and vocal stabs are the ingredients for this dancefloor weapon.

It's safe to say that this has been worth the wait. Although titled from the ever-growing illusion of the digital-age, 'Hologram' is an example of Logistics' very real talent and is a welcomed addition to his impressive repertoire of drum & bass classics. Quantity, quality and a fierce musical character is everything we have come to expect from this Hospital staple.

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Secret Operations enter the new year with 'Heavy traffic'. A heavy roller from Sweden's finest Seba teaming up with San Franciscos finest Method One. Heavy bassline, steppy beat, and chopping amen breaks is what this track is all about. The flipside 'Mr. downstairs' is more laidback, and draws the memories back to the Good Looking days, back in 96-98 era. Watch out for secops 016. This time Seba collaborates with Finnish Producer/DJ Physics. It's already got support from Storm on her Ministry of sound show

Black & Clear Mixed Vinyl

aniel Schwerdel aka Acid Lab has been a familiar face on Lossless Music and Dope Plates over the last few years. Turning heads with his tracks 'Ancestors' and 'Tundra', Dan has laid the ground work for a bigger project, a solo album. 'A Matter Of Time' is a stunning 10 track breakbeat odyssey which sees Dan draw on influences from the past as well as futuristic visions which combine to form a body of work that perfectly fits the Dope Plates ethos.

Red Vinyl

Straight off the back of BCee's 'Northpoint' album, he's back with two fresh cuts for 2018. BCee teams up with Degs for title track 'Magic Words'. 'Wanderer' is a classic BCee track and just oozes soul. As a bonus, BCee has remixed Galactus Jack's '100'.

FDX Black 005 sees a welcome return for breakbeat butcher Dub One, his first full 12' for Foundation X gifts us with two dubbed out amen gems! Expertly combining tearout drumwork with spine tingling atmospherics on both cuts. These tunes are simultaneously deep and dirty, exactly what you would expect from FDX Black and Dub One.Brothers Unite - Starting off with melancholy chords and heavilyreverbed vocals, the inevitable barrage of amens soon hits hard and create an emotional journey down a path of twisted beats and beautiful soundscapes. What Goes Around - Dub one brings a more dubwise roots offering for the flipside, but it's no less brutal on the dancefloor as his expert level breakbeat programming and super weighty sub bass cause mayhem once again

Label stalwart HumaNature's track Eleventh Hour gets a remix treatment by Zero T. We have an altogether different beast. Stripped back to that infectious groove which he is renowned for, Zero T delivers a funk laden remix. Eyes down business.

On the flip we have Polish wonderboy SATL on the remix duties! He gives his own unique spin to the track Untold Stories by HumaNature & Critical Event.

I cannot think of a better way to kick off our vinyl catalogue

Despite appearing on the label many times over the years, Paradox's new single will be his solo debut on Metalheadz. Teeming with funk, the two-track release carries huge influences from hip hop and b-boy culture and serves as a reminder why Paradox consistently stands out in the genre.

* Rockwell's 'User' EP is a perfect example of a genre striding artist in their prime.
'Easy' is a combination uppercut of two generational disruptors. Not the most obvious of partnerships, they connect to pop off some shots at anyone sleeping.
'09 Track' is another nod to the roots of our scene and offers a sample blessed banger.
Rockwell's no stranger to coaxing the best out of vocalists and 'Inventor' utilises an absolutely killer instrumental and Flowdan's heavyweight character on the track.
'User' is a ballad fit for 2018 and with extensive support from the likes of Zane Lowe, Rene La Vice, Mistajam, Annie Mac, UKF, Mixmag and many more, Rockwell continues with his take on modern day drum & bass.

Limited 140g 12" white vinyl, 45 RPM + download code

* "Enter Rogue Style, an EP series dedicated to b-boy culture, to share their own b-boy story through the language of drum & bass and footwork." Bandcamp daily, June 2017
For Rogue Style 2 EP we continue the mission for a global b-boy homage with artists from England (Digital), USA (6Blocc, Calculon, Shamanga), Finland (Fanu) and Iceland (Agzilla).

Digital: "Myself and my older brother have been into hip hop and b-boy culture from an early age. It showed me music wasn't just something you danced to, it demonstrated togetherness, passion and the amazing life you can have through music."

6Blocc: "I was lucky enough to be born in 1970, so around 1982 when the NYC club / DJ / MC movement made its way to Los Angeles I started my DJ career playing hip hop, electro funk and DJ battles. In the late 90's I produced hard jungle vinyl releases under the name B-Boy 3000 because to me jungle music was hip hop fast forwarded 1000 years ahead in a time when lyrics no longer exist and all is just sample sounds modified by computers."

Calculon: "As a teenager in San Diego I was exposed to underground hip hop Kool Keith and DJ Shadow, and it was scratching that inspired me to save up and get my first set of turntables. Going out to local 'cypher' events in the late 90s/early 2000s was inspiring as it was clear there was a community of DJs and MCs and dancers and artists that lived and breathed this music."

Shamanga: "B-boying has been a huge part of my life since I was nine years old. I began DJ'ing in 1988. One particular crew, 7A3 inspired me to take my abilities to a new level. I purchased an HR-16 drum machine and bought a bass guitar. A few years later, a couple of the gangsters in my neighborhood wanted to become rappers, so they bought an Ensoniq EPS16+. Once they realized they didn't want to learn how to program the machine, they gave it to me, with one stipulation: I was to produce beats for them to rap over. This was 1991. I have not stopped since."

Fanu: "No-one can deny that drum machines did play a big part in creation of hip hop. In my tune for Defrostatica, I wanted to employ my Machinedrum for the job. Those who know hip hop may spot a familiar sample or two there as well."

Agzilla: "The disciplines of hip hop, graffiti, turntablism, and breakdancing have been subtle undercurrents throughout my design and music. The era of discovering groundbreaking sounds, dancing, and style in the 80's left a deep imprint on me. And out of that wellspring grew my journey into the liberating universe of electronic music. The aura of b-boy culture has been with me ever since and remains both fascinating and deeply inspirational."

The latest 2 track vinyl/digital release from TRY UNITY on Rave Radio Records - 'Time To Believe' & 'Energy Impact'. Both tunes are inspired by the early 90's hardcore/old skool/rave scene and continue on the vocal breakbeat tip with classic rave stab patterns, blistering breakbeats, booming sub bass lines and melodic arpeggio sythesis.

The A side track 'Time To Believe' rings through a vocal message from start to finish with intelligent changing sections throughout whilst the B side is a slightly slower dance floor banger with overlayed euphoric layers to the production.

The 12 inch vinyl release will be a stamped white label with the Rave Radio Records logo on one side and the TRY UNITY logo on the other.

After ZeroZero's excellent Syndrome EP doing the damage last Month, we present the next instalment in our special edition series.Bone is something of a Broken Audio regular, with a succession of tracks featuring on our Musical Currency compilation releases, we thought it time to offer him a debut solo outing. One of our favourite production talents, Marek never fails to impress with the range and quality of his Music, and in sending him away to conjure a club focused EP of note for this release, he came back to us with the sonic equivalent of a sledgehammer. The lead track Killa Sound pulls no punches whatsoever, the clue really is in the title... Looking for a gully Reece filled roller Check Hollow... How about some old school break influenced bangers Go for Adaptor or Second Chances... Want something a little more melodic... Emerald is the one.This release features a special edition crystal clear 12' vinyl limited to just 25 hand cut & individually numbered copies. A download card is also included with each EP purchase, providing free access to the full digital release in WAV format through the label website.

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"I've said it before, but dancehall and its influence on UK music has been a massive inspiration for me, going way back to hearing Chris Goldfinger on Radio 1 playing music that was like nothing else I'd heard before. I love that fundamental rhythmic pattern, and I love how within the same world you can have some tunes that are built around the sweetest melodies and harmonies, and others that are built around super-tuff minimal drums and crazy squeeks and bleeps.

When it came time to build another EP for Critical, I decided to link up with my good friend and long-time collaborator Rider Shafique, who has a much deeper knowledge of this music than me, and together create something that references both old and new dancehall, while still being playable in the kinds of sets I've become known for. There's no 'halftime' and no chopped-up jungle breaks here - we wanted to make something really focussed and even 'disciplined' - and hopefully we've succeeded.

Big shouts to the vocal collaborators - super hyped to work with Stush on a tune, Irah came through with the righteous fire, and Tiffanie Malvo absolutely bodied her beat - but ultimate biggups have to go to Rider. This wasn't a project where I made the beats and Rider voiced them - for pretty much every tune, we worked and reworked the riddims together. We're both stoked on the results, and it seems like people in the dance feel the same way."

- Sam Binga









S

Skeleton kick start 2018 with the first of a series of double artist releases

Jem-One started his journey into the Drum and Bass scene during 2007 with signings to many labels such as Mac 2, 36 Hertz and Vampire Records. After a break of a few years, Jem-One is back and firmly establishing himself within the deeper, darker, underground jungle scene and is definitely one to keep your eye on. Footsteps and Frequency takes his sound down the tech steppy, hard hitting path.

Vince Rollin has been producing since 1993 and started receiving attention in 2017 after remixing the jungle classic 'Screwface' by Brainkillers, which was released on Kemet Records.

2017 also saw Vince throwing down releases on 36 Hertz and Skeleton, with a host of remixes, collabs and solo productions, finding support from some veterans of the scene. Prometheus and Symbiosis have that trademark heavyweight sound of his that shake the walls of any dancehall.

Peter Darker makes his long overdue return to 7th Storey Projects with Nights R Darker EP. Featuring 4 more tracks of frenetic, darkside jungle!

Dead Man's Chest aka Alex Eveson makes his debut appearance on Myor Massiv sublabel Diamond Life alongside head honcho Coco Bryce.

It's been a long time coming digging through the archives, legendary UK acid don Luke Vibert drops an exquisite solo record on the Belgian De:tuned label. On 'pHlacid' and 'Arcadia' Luke shows off his ability to produce funky yet quirky acid tracks that will put a smile on your face. Both 'Balath' and 'Worry Ledge' are intense uptempo electro workouts with enough 303 squelch to melt your brain, proper warehouse vibes!
The artwork for this release was designed by the wonderful gents at The Designers Republic. Mastered by Matt Colton at Alchemy and pressed on 180 gr vinyl. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!

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This is the 3rd and final Plate of Method in the Madness Album.

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Ras G and Moresounds explore the outer reaches of sound system culture for Dub-Stuy's new collaborative series of EPs. Brooklyn-based label Dub-Stuy kicks off 2018 with the inaugural release of a new EP series dedicated to unearthing and celebrating the outer reaches of sound system culture. Taking its cue from the classic dub releases where two producers would face off with their own versions, Dub-Stuy's Meets series brings together artists who have a clear dub influence but do not operate solely within the sphere of the dub and reggae world. The first such meeting is between Los Angeles beat supremo Ras G (Brainfeeder, Stones Throw) and Paris junglistic dub scientist Moresounds (Cosmic Bridge, Astrophonica).

Ras G Meets Moresounds features two brand new productions from each artist exploring the more experimental side of dub. On his side of the release Ras G freaks traditional dub riddims in a hip-hop style by slowing the bpm down, amping up the bass and smothering the tracks with echo and reverb. Gorilla Glue' adds animal sounds and a hypnotizing flute melody reminiscent of Augustus Pablo, while Global Shit-uation' goes deeper by juxtaposing bright keys with a wall of sirens and computer noises, as if Sun Ra had landed in Kingston for a jam with Tubby.

For his half of the release Moresounds taps into the melting pot of energy he's become best known for, a perfect blend of dance music, hip-hop and dub. We A Tribe' brings together traditional dub melodies with menacing synth lines, a steady kick snare pattern and a rowdy bassline. Deep Base' taps into the steppers vibe with a marching drum beat and floating percussion rubbing against ominous melodies and an ocean of sampled sounds.

A celebration of the timeless impact of dub on modern music, Ras G Meets Moresounds shows how versatile dub music can be today and how far it has come from its Kingston roots. Strap in, light one up and get ready for a deep dub dive.