Beats News

Damon Kirkham (Kid Drama, Instra:mental, Jon Convex) Presents Mikarma - Passes Kirkham's newest album comes in the form of a project under a new identity, Mikarma.
The album is a cathartic project for the accomplished electronic musician. A catharsis of emotion coupled with a restriction in studio equipment that leads to new creative means and avenues. Speaking on the reasons of the self-imposed minimal studio set up he states "Sometimes when you have too much equipment wired up it can be overwhelming and you end up just playing around for the most part."It become apparent that there was a need for the producer to get the best out of his parameters, a process he was already familiar with "When we started back in the 90's we had a minimal setup... and because of that you would get the most you could out of each bit of kit."Kirkham goes on to elaborate on the cathartic nature of the album "Breaking up in a relationship with the woman you love is a really draining emotional experience, I'm a person who finds it hard to outwardly express my emotions, I hold it in which is pretty unhealthy but i think writing music releases some of the pressure built up. The sad thing is my best work is normally when I'm at my lowest."

Red & Black clear vinyl in die-cut logo jacket. Seba, Paradox & Manos are back with a brand new vocal 12' perfect for summer 2015.

'Because' sees the trio return to their early collab roots with its dreamy pads and accompanying b-line. Two contrasting breakbeats switch positions with synth hooks whilst Manos's vocals let the music breath. Inspired by the groups Sunandbass festival appearances, summer is here in the shape of PM030.

The ingredients of Rhode keys, subtle chords and strings grab you on the flipside. Classic breaks, deep bass and a vocal tale courtesy of Robert Manos combine for the infectious 'Lie to Me'. Sit back and relax in the sun with Seba, Paradox & RobertManos.

* Almost two years on from his incredibly well-received debut album and Etherwood is back with the highly anticipated, Blue Leaves' LP a body of work showcasing the sheer talent of one of the UK's most exciting artists in electronic music. Within this fourteen-track LP, Etherwood has not only displayed his perfected production skills but also outshone more than ever before with his own vocal performances and instrumental prowess.

* Captivating listeners with his creativity, Etherwood explores the finer soundscapes of drum & bass, relaying the liquid beauty that his continually growing following have come to love him for. Included are the already popular 2015 releases, You'll Always Be a Part of Me', Souvenirs' featuring Zara Kershaw and most recent single, Light My Way Home' featuring Eva Lazarus, premiered by BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac. Within fourteen tracks, not one is undeserving of its place on what is a truly outstanding album.

* Enriched with sublime symphonic sounds, For A Time I Was You' and Cast Away' drift through epic elevations and enrapturing orchestral outbreaks that will undoubtedly stop all in their tracks. Powerful string sections, moving piano-led melodies and rolling percussions exude elegance, staying true to Etherwood's signature sound.

* The heart of Blue Leaves' lies within Revive', rich with raw emotion and Eva Lazarus' unforgettable vocal hooks - a musical match made in heaven between Etherwood and longstanding Hospital Records signee, Logistics. The album's soul is sparked with a S.P.Y collaboration in "We're Nothing Without Love", a testament to Etherwood's growth as an impressive singer/songwriter. * Similarly, Caption', Breathe It In' and Sunlight Splinters' highlight his completed skill set, with crisp percussions and soft waves of bass bound by his own powerful vocal performance. Finally, the breath-taking finale of The Last Hour' draws a quaint close to the Etherwood 2.0 experience.

* Since signing to Med School, Etherwood has risen from a humble underground following to gaining support from some of the world's most respected DJs and broadcasters with his most recent releases receiving regular airwave play on BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra, Kiss FM, Capital Radio and Rinse FM. The Blue Leaves' LP is sure to set Etherwood on the same promising path showcasing his ever-growing repertoire of electronic masterpieces for one of the most inspiring drum & bass albums of the year.

01. I Will For Love (feat. Will Heard)
02. Never Let You Go (feat. Foy Vance)
03 .We The Generation (feat. Mahalia)
04. Love Ain't Just A Word (feat. Anne-Marie & Dizzee Rascal)
05. Rumour Mill (feat. Anne-Marie & Will Heard)
06. Common Emotion (Feat. Mnek)
07. Go Far (feat. Will Heard)
08. Foreign World (feat. Anne-Marie)
09. Too Cool (feat. Ella Eyre)
10. Bloodstreamvon Ed Sheeran and Rudimental
11. All That Love (feat. Anne-Marie)
12. Needn't Speak (feat. Lianne La Havas)
13. Lay It All On Me (feat. Ed Sheeran)
14. New Day (feat. Bobby Womack)

* Anile has been an artist on our radar for some time now so when the opportunity arose for us to release these 2 quality offerings we (Total Science) jumped at the chance.
* "All This Time" featuring the classically trained vocal excellence of (Hannah Eve), the track alone is superb and puts you in a extremely pleasing state of mind but with Hannah taking the mic the outcome is as pleasurable as having a full body massage with a happy ending!
* "That Night" (feat Jess Bingham) is a sultry and smokey affair but Anile has cleverly transformed its laid back groove to give the track enough energy & emotion to work as well on the dance floor as it does if your in need of some musical therapy, pure class.
* Track listing:

Massive package on Broadband Noise!

Ambra Recordings gears up for their third vinyl release this time featuring drum & bass heavyweights Lynx and Random Movement on remix duties.

Fresh of his debut album on Hospital, the the A side sees 'Lynx' bring the ruckus flipping 'Moon Love', an already strong original by Ambra headhoncho Emery together with Garo and Umiko. Clever, distinguished sound design and outstanding vibes coming from the man known for his malificent, dark-toned melodies and progressions. The playfull and clever drum programming with little edits and percussion is underlined by an undulating bassline that provides an intricate look at his unique style of production.

On the flip we continue with a producer that needs no introduction. We'll give him one anyway! Random Movement, one of the most renowned Statesside producers out there, proves once again he definitely possesses the Midas touch turning Simplification's laid back roller 'Love Forever' into a bouncy, extremely addictive groove with his trademark sound plastered all over. There are plenty of wah-wah's and repeating vocals to be heard wich make a great combination together with the superb bass that has plenty of (random) movement and grit in the mid section. Strong stuff once again from the Ambra Recordings camp!

A. Best served cold - Mutated Forms deliver there first 12 for Deepkut and boy have they gone in on this one. Best served cold is a heavy funked out roller which is doing damage on dancefloors all over the world right now!

Mutated Forms 2nd visit to CIA Deep Kut after their massive "Best Served Cold" release last summer & this time the boys employ the huge talent of the well respected & admired MC Tali.
* A . Tiny little pieces - is a fine example of boundary pushing DnB / electronica, the rhythm track gives the song a half speed glitch hop feel with it's cutting edge drums & evolving synths, add to that the powerful vocals of Tali & you have a fine piece of modern musical art!
* AA. Tiny Little Pieces Total Science Remix - Label head honcho's Total Science Remix delivers a trademark class techno tinged slice of liquid d&b excellence. One for the dance floor & purists alike.
* DJ Support, Total Science, Mutated Forms, S.P.Y, Lenzman, Marky, Bryan G, Fabio, Nymfo.

Nymfo returns to the CIA camp after clocking up releases on numerous quality labels with two excellent examples of why he's a force to be reckoned with in wide world of drum & bass."Whenever You Need Me" - Shows his ability and skill to create a deep soulful masterpiece that oozes an emotional presence that moves the soul but still works wonders in the club."On a Chase" - Is an all out slice of modern day jungle, with deep dub bass and instantly memorable vocal hook this has been killing it on the dance floor since its first play.

Boddika's Nonplus label will release a series of 12-inches mixing classic Source Direct with new remixes.

Jim Baker is a pioneering drum & bass and jungle artist who's been recording solo as Source Direct since 1999 (before then the project was a duo with Phil Aslett). On June 8th Nonplus will issue a 12-inch that has a Blawan remix of "Black Rose" alongside the 1996 original. That'll be followed by a record featuring '95 cut "Approach & Identify" backed by a remix from Demdike Stare. These release will be available on vinyl and digital formats—it'll be the first time the original tunes have been available digitally.

"I first met Jim around '97/'98 at The End nightclub in Central London," Boddika told RA. "I wasn't sure who he was when I first met him. I thought he was one of the guys from Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels at first, but soon realised he wasn't. By that time I was an avid listener of anything Source Direct were doing and their tracks were 'buy on sight' for me. The Source Direct discography was in many ways a blueprint for lots of jungle/d&b that would come throughout the following years and has stood the test of time unbelievably well."

He adds: "There are a few reasons why we decided to re-release and remaster the SD Recordings catalogue, the first one being that it's never been available digitally before. The second is that we both think it's something that needs to be heard by a new generation who have never had the privilege and who may not own a turntable. Some of the records are hard to come by these days and if you do find them on Discogs, they'll set you back a few quid.

Thirdly, it's something we've spoken about a few times over the last couple of years and I personally thought now is a better time than ever to unleash this project, especially as there's been a growing interest in old jungle recently—it wouldn't be right to leave this music out of the loop! We also wanted to breathe new life into the project by getting remixes done to accompany the original tracks. We decided to ask artists from different scenes and genres to make use of the samples and get their interpretations on the original music."

More remix 12-inches will follow, culminating with most of the Source Direct back catalogue, much of which has never been made available digitally, being remastered and re-released. We spoke with Baker via email to discuss the project.

What are your thoughts on having your music remastered and reissued for a new generation of listeners

I'm extremely excited about working with Boddika. This gives a new generation the chance to own tracks that haven't been available until now and also introduces the Source Direct sound into the techno/deep house scenes—music I've always been a fan of and an avid buyer of since an early age. I always felt my music was ahead of its time, even within the early years of D&B. The Source Direct sound has always stood out from the crowd and I've consistently pushed myself creatively to produce original, cutting-edge club music that also sounds great within many other listening environments. So to release the original Source Direct tracks for this new generation who missed the golden years of infamous clubs and raves gives them the opportunity to re-live the excitement and energy I got from going out in my younger days and the chance enjoy that buzz of getting your hands on a new vinyl release.

What do you think of the Demdike Stare and Blawan remixes

Blawan's remix of "Black Rose" perfectly captures the dark tensions of the original track and uses the samples in new creative ways, which make a stomping techno track that retains the menacing visual concept of the original. Being the first artist to remix a Source Direct track is something I was looking forward to, and Blawan has certainly produced a great remix. Both the remix and the re-mastered original sound totally fresh and unique among current techno and D&B.

Demdike Stare have completely ripped up the script with their remix of "Approach & Identify," taking it into realms I never thought possible. It transports you a million light years away, upon which you enter new worlds of imagination. You can only hope for a wormhole 'out there' to return to normality. I'm very proud of both these releases and am looking forward to letting the future projects free within human kind.

killer EP in fresh, stripped down, dubbed-out, half-stepping Drum & Bass mode

Repress release date 25 Sep 2015
Liquicity Records proudly presents her second album project "Escapism". Unlike the Galaxy of Dreams album, Liquicity has gathered a series of melancholic, chilled and mellow tracks that form a harmonious journey through todays Liquid Drum and Bass. 14 exclusive new tracks by artists such as Bachelors of Science, Bcee, Maduk, Keeno, Fliwo and Champion. The 12" sampler contains the tracks by Bachelors of Science and Maduk and the album will be available on CD as well.

The second predecessor to DJ Hidden's Directive album showcases two dark, relentless drum & bass tracks. Both designed for dancefloors and home listening alike, they combine

Limited to 150 numbered copies Pink Vinyl pressing. Somewhere over western Europe, an un-identified falling object crashed landed causing a massive bang, and a ginormous Banana shaped smoke cloud. Frederic, a local artistic young chap was so inspired by this hilariously funny giant cloud that covered the whole sky as far as he could see; he ran indoors to take cover, and wrote a little summer step d&b beat, called 'Laughing at Clouds' - which seemed to draw a lot of attention. Out of the studio window, Frederic could see what seemed to be a pink giraffe giving it some serious head-nodding action. By the second drop Leonard (The pink giraffe) was dancing so heavily that he caused a small tremor somewhere over in the states, where young up & coming producer Melo seemed to pick up the transmission. While in his sonic laboratory he managed to transfer his latest project (Affirmation) through the current, where Frederic decided to make his first remix project, which pretty much made Leonard pass out after all the summer stepping....

Repress release date 25 Sep 2015
Maduk strikes again with this first vinyl for Liquicity called 'Take You There & Avalon'. With this EP, Maduk combines both ingredients of chilled piano play with the fiery fury of oldskool organs to make the perfect Drum and Bass explosive.

Repress release date 25 Sep 2015
After the worldwide success of the "Galaxy of Dreams" album earlier this year, Liquicity Records is back with a fresh EP by the Dutch youngster Maduk. In this EP Maduk is combining the dance floor vibes in "Believe" with the mellow and soulful "Kings & Queens" on the flip side.

Beside the label, Liquicity has also set a huge step in their events this year. With sold out parties in Amsterdam and Antwerp, owners Maris and Mark can look back on a successful year for Liquicity.

Sick Cycle's new extended play 12" brings a nice variety and 11 minutes of music per side. Keep the bass rollin'!

3 the hard way returns with vol 4 ft some legendairy vocal talents With the asbo team ,getting things started is duo the ragga twins alongside Diamond Geezer flipping a 2015 fix on a classic twins vocal for the hands in the air massive ,steping up next is the heavily respected reggae star Tippa Irie alongside Rassterlin & Mixmuffin with this dark side ,reece filled herbalist's jungle anthem ,and finally asbo fav Sterling Sound teams up with dancehall legend Daddy Freddy to mash up dancefloors with Control The Boarder !!

Dj Support

RAY KEITH ,Nicky Black Market, uncledugs, Aries, Vinyl Junkie, Storm, Marcus Visionary, DJ Aphrodite

Clive Ingredients celebrated the 5 year milestone in 2014 of releasing cutting edge underground drum & bass from relative unknowns and progressing to remixes from artists such as dBridge & Jubei, and singles from Marcus Intalex & Digital. Known for it's deeper side of the genre, Ingredients has become a firm favourite for many and has had fantastic support from Hospital Records' Tony Colman to Fabric Nightclub.

* Known for finding new producers and nurturing them to the top, he has compiled a new album with varied producers across the scene whilst retaining that Ingredients sound. 'Substance' is Clive's take on both depth & meaning, keeping the identity of it's cause and not bending towards what might be popular.

* One of his findings Skeptical, delivers the incredible 'Square Breathing' while The Invaderz feature for the first time & 'Waterworld' is a solid dj friendly roller. Total science also appear with the seductive 'New Beginnings' and DBR UK & Genotype's 'Zombies' has been in huge demand. Response appears with 'Deeper Still' while there's an Ingredients debut for Altitude with the excellent 'Make Believe' & Mute & Mako return with 'Photstep'.

* 9 tracks on a 3 x 12' triple pack, we hope you enjoy the selection.

An addition to Red Bull Music Academy class of 2015 Hyroglifics is a name stirring up excitement across electronic music for his genre bending take on 170 breakbeat.

Having previously released on Critical's digital only Binary series he now makes the step up to full-blooded Critical release for his new EP.
Vinyl includes MP3 of full seven track release including 3 digital exclusive tracks...
1) No Drama
2) Cloud Cover
3) Hallelujah
4) Astraya
5) Thoroughbred ft. Redders (digital exclusive)
6) Each & Every (digital exclusive)
7) Little Heart ft. Bogues (digital exclusive)

Other People is excited to debut the work of 19-year-old Russian producer Gena Volgarev, aka InLensk, with the Obratno EP. Translated as backward, or conversely, Obratno seems obsessed with and frustrated by a sense of nostalgia that can never lock its focus. Finely etched, highly detailed rhythms retain a cerebral cool fluttering over, under, and around melancholic digital melodies that bend and degrade sporadically. Meanwhile, the tactile use of filtering, extreme pans, and hypnotic microprogramming reveals an interest in sound's ability to shift temporal perception and evoke a purely neural response. Yet there's an intuitive warmth to a track like 'U 1', where a percolating guitar-line seeps through the austerity of a woody, lo-bit groove. Inspired by the artist's childhood in the provincial village of Lensk (thus the pseudonym), Obratnoliterally looks backward for its world. The track titles codify minute, yet impactful aspects of Gena's past. 'V 4', for example, translating to 'in 4', references his tight quartet of best friends, skipping along with an appropriately jocular bassline, tottering cowbell, and a deep, accentual 'Hahaha.' Wherever wistfulness appears there's also anxiety, manifest acutely in the unpredictable percussion. A snatch of Amen break cuts to a strike of open hi-hat and then a roll of heavy toms, never repeating texturally, even if there is a constant pulse. It's the contrast of speed and weight, between the drums and the melody, that creates a provocative air of avid melancholia — grasping for something not too far in the past that's fading faster than it should.

Subtitles boss TeeBee has described new young Russian protege Pavel Khudyakov's sound as 'like aliens mining a colony out of metal'. This 12" is crushingly intense minimal tech cold forged from the finest elements - creating robotic dancehall murkage.
DJ support from Noisia, Doc Scott, Rockwell,

Fokuz Recordings present their next vinyl installment with Break on remix duties beefing up Soligen & Type-2's stellar track ''Can't Go'' that was released early 2014 on Celsius Recordings.

On the flip we find an artist who's quickly establishing himself as a go-to guy for musical but danceable beats with plenty of soul, but a little bit of grit as well. Impish comes correct once again with ''So Sick'' as well providing us with two digital exlusives in the form of ''Closer'' & ''Digital Bath''.

Following the huge success of their release for Horrific 001 last year . One year on, Horrific Recordings, the worlds first modern day vinyl only D&B label returns. After recent vinyl hits from the man Digital (Horrific003) & Response (Horrific002) we are very proud to present our 4th Horrific release, a superb 12' from the Nottingham duo dRamatic & dbAudio. Only available on vinyl format, limited press run of 250 copies , 140gram MPO vinyl . Mastering Engineer : Stuart Hawkes, Metropolis, London. Special Full colour 12' Sleeve art on the New York Subway graffiti tip by founding Burning Candy Crew member & London artist James Jessop .

Soul Rebel is back!!.

* Need For Mirrors return to V Recordings with 4 new tracks that continue to push the boundaries of Drum & Bass music. Delving deep into the genres history for inspiration, whilst pushing forward the future thinking blueprint on which the music was founded, the Chariot EP is pure V, and pure NFM.
* With a love for conceptual composition, and a commitment to creating emotionally charged dance music, these tracks will make you move, but don't be fooled, there's many layers to uncover. 9 In the past 5 years Need For Mirrors is a name that has positioned itself among the greats of modern Drum & Bass, whose relentless output of high-quality and original material has secured releases on the scene's most prestigious labels including V Recordings, Metalheadz, Symmetry, Playaz, Spearhead, Hospital, Dispatch Recordings and more.

* LABEL MARKETING: Features on V Recordings Podcast, Dedicated newsletter to 85,000 V Recordings subscribers. 80,000+ Facebook reach through label controlled Facebook and Twitter. Press on websites across the globe.

*G.H.O.S.T continue the screen print series with this summery 12' release****

* 3rd in the series from Goldman Records, G.H.O.S.T come with some classic breaks and sample driven drum and bass.

* 'Sometimeish' has big summer time pads and apache breaks floating on the top of some heavy weight sub bass tones - while 'Mini Ripper' brings the tempo down a touch with hard breaks from the off, soaring vocals throughout and big bad bass stabs.

Born and raised in the ghetto of Vila Guilherme located in Brazil's São Paulo, Carlos Almeida Jr. aka Junior Dread represents the new generation of conscious reggae music worldwide. His sound brings a positive message of love and understanding to the world.

He has released singles with respected international artists such as Mungo's Hi- Fi,Dubateers and Gorgon Sound to just name a few. In 2015 he teamed up withMoonshine Recordings to release remixed versions of his biggest tracks 'Wonderful Feeling' and 'Freedom'. Supported by influential artists like Om Unit, Kahn, RadikalGuru, Doc Scott and many others.

Gorgon Sound's take on 'Wonderful Feeling' sends positive vibrations through 2015's dub culture. They have kept Junior Dread's founding voice to rule the top-end vigorously, while catchy instruments levitate original intentions. The duo hit unity with blessing chords, chest-rumbling waves of bass weight and a righteous steppa rhythm that fits the Moonshine outfit perfectly.

The flipside coming from DJ Madd is a darker affaire that hints back to the early Jungle days. His 'Freedom' remix exerts deeply resonating 808 basslines that propagate below a defined threshold. Junior Dread's dub basics are kept close to the heart of the Hungarian producer, which leads to a rework that makes the perfect B-side to this heavy 12' plate from the Moonshine Recordings camp.

10" Dubplate with competition entry and D/L card

Over the past 18 months London based DNB concern Addictive Behaviour have been steadily building an impressive library of quality music. They return with a 3 track offering available on both digital and vinyl formats that will enhance their ever growing popularity. Polish duo Handra provide the ammo aided by fellow badman countryman Mortem, making his inaugural appearance on the label. And the mighty Eastcolors is called to duty for a re-lick of "Coat of Dust". A top notch release, oozing quality.

[bA] CD 2-1 | What Can You Do for Me [Drumsound & Bassline Smith Original Mix/Remix] - Utah Saints
[bB] CD 2-2 | Louder [Drumsound & Bassline Smith Remix] - DJ Fresh


[bE] CD 2-5 | Broken Record [DJ Fresh Future Jungle Mix/Remix] - Katy B
[bF] CD 2-6 | Light Up (The World) [Benny Page Remix] - Yasmin



[bJ] CD 2-10 | T-10 [Dillinja Remix] - Distorted Minds






[bQ] CD 2-17 | Fire [Urban Shakedown Mix/Remix] - Prizna

[bS] CD 2-19 | Mutant Jazz [DJ Trace Mix/Remix] - T-Power
[bT] CD 2-20 | Dubplate [Total Science Remix] - Wots My Code

A stringent prototype was smashed by Rene LaVice's 'The Calling'; it was propelled onto Radio1's A-list whilst crossing the boundary between commercial and underground, pulling in fans from the depths of both audiences. And since his move to London last year, he's certainly made his mark felt in the world's drum & bass capital... Both on stage and across the radio airwaves.'Hotblooded' is the next output from Rene, which perfectly follows up the success of its predecessor. A creeping, eerie vocal track which explodes on impact and ricochets throughout, 'Hotblooded' yet again exposes his monstrous capabilities as an electronic producer.The cinematic roller hastily brings you forward on clashing percussion and a distorted reece, creating a conundrum of carefully crafted chaos, but one which Rene's commands. Perfecting his art, it ingeniously merges a more humanistic element with the smash, crash and reverberating instruments which have given him notoriety. Then up next is pulsing riddim 'Bill Folderson'. A snarling slab of bass propped against driving, pounding drum loops, it's a nasty flipside which pedestals Rene's spectrum of creativity. Snips of sample separate shaking hi-hats after a resounding break. Compact, yet an intimidating roller, it embodies a murkier side characterised by former productions such as 'Pipe' and 'Freudian'. And finally, comes 'Combustible'. Rene is no stranger to dipping into a wide range of genres. With elevating synths and pumping bass, 'Combustible' offers up a fresh uptake and clearly points to Rene's background across an array of styles. A seismic build up leading into a stomach-lurch drop gives images of packed out club-nights and the late-night atmosphere which this kind of record is renowned for detonating. So here comes the highly-anticipated next single from Rene LaVice. After the attainment of his last single, and the critical acclamation which was met by remixes from the likes of Nero, The Prodigy and Rae Morris, prepare for the spotlight to be held firmly on Rene for quite some time.

* SPEAR060 sees the return of BCee as he brings us his 3rd full length studio album.
* BCee has drafted in the vocal talents of Rocky Nti, Philippa Hanna, Frank H Carter III & Saint Louis to keep things fresh.
* Also featuring special guests Hybrid Minds, S.P.Y, Villem & LSB.
* This will be released as a double pack gatefold coloured vinyl with CD included as well as a CD only and digital version.
* Support from Friction, Drumsound & Bassline Smith, Bryan G, Blu Mar Ten, Doc Scott, Technimatic, S.P.Y, The Risky and a whole load more...