Beats News

Next up we have a new dnb EP from label head Alix Perez - the Phantonym EP. One can really hear the many years experience and influences that have helped shape this masterpiece. It is beautifully complete, and is undoubtedly some of his best work to date. This is jungle/drum&bass in its truest unfiltered form.

This EP covers the whole spectrum from signature Perez soulful dnb (SWRV qand Vibrations), to gritty bubblers (Trinity), and finally the harder minimal percussive dnb he is renowned for (Phantonym). Mature, concise, and graceful dnb at its best. Out September 13th 2019 on 1985 Music on vinyl and digital.

We welcome back the sub frequency specialists from Brussels for their second LP on Samurai Music. Peppered with a sizzling selection of like-minded collaborators, Grassroots continues the enhanced exploration into dub infused, stripped back Drum and Bass, deftly splashing breakbeat shards over their rolling grooves.

DJ Trax returns with 3 slabs of funked up deep jungle!!

After more than 25 years of active absorption of Drum and Bass music, the pandemic finally scrambled my daily life and cellular imprint enough to clear a path for a solo musical contribution.

Many people that were around in the mid/late ’90s are still living off the charge that the unbridled innovation those few years gave us all. RATS is built on this energy.

• Second Drop Records follow up their first two sold out EPs with another slice of old school wizardry. Featuring label owners and long time Kniteforce artists Paul Bradley and The Lowercase, here you have a four track ep that shows their various talents to the fullest, with impeccable production and tracks that leap off the vinyl and wont sit still. Proper old skool hardcore for those in the know…

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

* New from JUNGLE CAT RECS. comes a slamming, tuff release ‘Number 1 Crew’ from Dub-Liner & Omen Breaks.
Coming with the East Coast hip hop flavour, the wax comprises of 2 big and heavy tunes for all Jungle/Hip Hop lovers.
The B side tfeatures another heavy tune with a hip hop vibe ‘Dub-Liner - Blow Sh*t Up’

*Repress*

Eveson has been around a few years now, having released on labels such as V recordings, 31, Creative Source, Horizons & Good looking. After hearing his guest mix on Bailey's show, we hit him up to see how he felt about releasing on Ingredients. 'A Dystopian Romance' was sent over and immediately snapped-up, a sublime summer tune. He was in the studio with Halogenix from Ivy Lab & they worked on 'Grey Dawn' which we felt was Ingredients all-over! Finally 'Deluge' is Eveson showing his versatility. We're really happy with this release, versatility & vibes in abundance.
* Limited to only 300 copies on 140g black vinyl.
* Press / Promotion:
* Radio / Internet:

Label owner Kingsize gets his first release on the label, 25 years in the game as a producer but the first solo outing since 2006. These tracks sit firmly in with the 94/95 drum & bass / jungle sound.
Get My Loving is a pad and piano filled beauty of a track. The piano line is straight out of the Omni Trio piano handbook. The track eases itself along at a lovely mellow pace showcasing the musical elements before dropping down to a minimal stepping section, which is the calm before the storm. We then enter an amen workout in typical 94/95 fashion before the grand musical finale. Fantastic stuff.
Dream tracking has received praise from all angles. Being championed by Jay Cunning on his show it has become the most anticipated track to be released on Time Tunnel.
Again pianos and pads are the key elements here and the vocal narration on the track helps take things onto an ethereal level. When the track drops you are transported back to AWOL at the Paradise. The dreamy breakdown sections are a stark contrast to the deep moody drops, this leads to the dark/light balance that so many crave for being presented perfectly.
A future classic.

more of his wares on his first solo release. This 3 tracker dives straight into that oldskool dark side hardcore sound that NewKiller has already becoming known for.
Lurking Among Us is bleak, minimal, dark and unsettling. It’s the kind of track where you feel yourself getting pulled into some kind of dark void. Truly Haunting.
On the flip, Random Acts Of Cruelty is the complete opposite. NewKiller locks into that high speed 93 sound that combines heavily edited breaks, deep sub bass and obscure samples. A rusher of a tune that would tick all the boxes for lovers of the Bizzy B sound from this era.
The bonus track is a stripped down reworking of the lead track from the now hard to find TUNNEL001. All of the Chernobyl samples are stripped away to reveal the bare bones of the track and it is an absolute screamer. Amens, 808 bass and moody synths are all there. The sort of thing you would hear on the dance floor at the Lazerdrome in Peckham back in 93!

* Nymfo returns to Spearhead Records with the ‘Leap Of Faith’ EP.
* Teaming up with flowanastasia for the full vocal title track Leap Of Faith, Nymfo shows us the his more musical side with a result that has been causing many people to immediately comment ‘ID ID ID’ when played on any live stream.
* Sleepwalking demonstrates that classic liquid roller sound with a perfect blend of melody and melancholy.
* Head Spinnin is a nod back to the sound that Spearhead was founded on.
* Riya lends her vocal & writing talents to Reflections to perfectly round off this four tracker.
* We might not be able to get to a club at the moment but these tracks are made to be turned up loud, so turn them up and let them rattle everything from your studio monitors to your car to alexa and your phone.
* Support from Hybrid Minds Kiss FM Show, BCee, London Elektricity, DJ Marky and more…

Fokuz Recordings presents 'Fifty Five' a release that displays a wide variety of drum and bass styles by various artists around the globe! Expect the freshes beats from Fokuz residents Command Strange, DJ Clart, Incident, talented newcomers like Soligen, Type-2, Joakuim and rising stars Hybrid Minds, Paul SG, PennyGiles & Mr Joseph.

For part one of the vinyl series Hybrid Minds takes up Bcee's classic tune 'Changing Faces' creating a fresh rework. High quality production right here while maintaining the vibe and dynamics of the original!

For the B side Chartstalker steps up with a track called 'So Confused'. The bouncy drums, bubbly vocals and an overal feel good vibe make you feel like relaxing in the sun with a cold drink, absolutely big!

Fokuz is back again with another batch of lovelyness.. Fokuz its latest addition to the force Command Strange is doing rounds atm and its obviously why when hearing "Its All Over"

Following the release of Masters At Work remixes of ‘Antigravity Love’, taken from electronic hero Krust’s critically-acclaimed album ‘The Edge Of Everything’, the A-list versions keep flowing with Four Tet, Batu and Damian Lazarus each re-working a different track from the LP.

Sparkling like stars with a pretty melody, Four Tet’s interpretation of ‘Negative Returns’ also packs a deceptively heavy punch, maintaining the original’s hurtling velocity, fuelled by a huge sub-bass engine.

The spiralling beat-and-bass science of fellow Bristolian Batu’s version takes ‘Space Oddity’ and deconstructs it like a cubist portrait, matching the main man himself in pure outside-the-box expression.

Crosstown Rebels boss Damian Lazarus maintains Krust’s epic adventure narrative, retelling the tale in his own words, taking recognisable parts from the original and transposing them into a groovy cosmic house odyssey.

Repress

Arad, real name Dara Smith, first joined the VOITAX catalogue in June 2020. Back then, the Irish artist served us up with "Radiance Haze" - a 6-track EP, spanning from heavy-hitting breaks to the ethereal ambience, with heavy features of Smith's vocals. Known for his multidisciplinary vision on music, he has also previously made seminal moves with his work as one half of Lakker, alongside Eomac, dropping groundbreaking music on heavyweight labels such as R&S, Blueprint and Stroboscopic Artefacts. For his second EP on VOITAX, Smith now returns with five beautifully crafted tracks that he titles "Augmented Fantasy". While following a similar approach, he does not fail to expand his repertoire of celestial dream-like atmospheres, which he carefully surrounds with a whole variety of vocals, and accurately placed broken drum patterns. In addition to his own singing, Arad also presents two impressive collaboration tracks, in which one of them features the voice of Stine Omar, also widely known as one half the Berlin-based pop duo EASTER. Driving rhythmics and processed, grainy vocals turn this piece into guaranteed hit material. Another collaboration with the befriended vocalist and music producer Nina Hynes serves as a touching closing chapter for this brilliantly produced, eclectic 5-tracker. All pieces are perfectly glued together while keeping their very individual character and soundscapes. The listener is certainly left with an augmented fantasy, as well as a curiosity to hear more to come from the Irish talent.

The next edition of the Dispatch Blueprints series comes from NC-17 and Kumarachi. Inspired by the original breakbeats / drum sampling production techniques, NC-17 continues the Blueprints ethos with two spectacular tracks that celebrate the old skool drum and bass flavours.

Whilst working on the latest edition of NC-17's ongoing album series "Most Violent Year" we received the two tracks that make up this release and all agreed that they would find the perfect home on the Blueprints imprint.

"Cache" is a drum heavy collaboration with Kumarachi that makes perfect use of rasping bass synths, razor sharp drum edits and well timed vocal samples, channeling the energy of a Blue Note era banger.

"Rules of Hell" is pure NC-17 magic - a dark, broody, cinematic journey through the depths of drum and bass grit. Tuned to make whole dancefloors shake, this one is a real monster. Watch out for that bassline.
Orde

One half of cult techno duo B12 (Warp Records) Steven Rutter pairs up with London-based vocalist and songwriter Bryonii to kick off 2020 with an album on Rutter’s FireScope imprint.

Steven Rutter and rising artist Bryonii have been a solid studio pair developing a sound which is organic yet otherworldly, ever evolving and driven by a mutual appreciation of each other's musical sensibility. The album makes for honest, emotive listening and is influenced by the likes of Atoms For Peace, Portishead and Grimes amongst others. Their debut album is a sultry, soul infused work with bass heavy bottom ends and weighty rhythms.

'Juliet' is intense and brooding, with percolating synths and haunting chords overlaid with Bryonii's breathy but eerie vocals while 'LDLM' is more spacious and eerie, with xylophone sounds ringing out brightly over sparse drums. Bryonii here is more vulnerable and reserved but just as impactful. After the twitchy electronics and scattered riffs of lurching bass tune 'Oxygen' is the taught 'Beltane Baby' with its twanging bass riffs propping up scattered hits. The lush harmony layers of Bryonii's voice sit amongst weird sound designs and sci-fi effects that make this a dystopian take on something similar to trip-hop.

The unsettling futuristic style continues on experimental kaleidoscope 'Obsidian' while the mood is somewhat reset with the dreamy and tripped out lullaby that is 'Room Without A View,' which features Bryonii's most heartfelt delivery. 'Chinese Whisper' is another inventive offering that explores downbeat moods and shimmering chords and synths and stirring r&b styles from Bryonii. 'Sympathy Live' is a heartfelt plea with a devastatingly emotional impact and last of all is an FBA remix of 'Juliet' primed for the dance floor.

This is an avant-garde mix of vocals and electronic sounds that add up to something very real and human, as well as packing some serious bass weight and a wealth of new ideas.

* Spearhead Records bring back some of the most requested tracks from the back catalogue.
* Tracks from LSB, S.P.Y, Riya, Lenzman, Bungle & Electrosoul System.

* Spearhead Records bring back some of the most requested tracks from the back catalogue.
* Tracks from Total Science, Riya & Hybrid Minds, Seba, Blue Sonix, LSB & S.P.Y

Since 2017’s Intimacy & Isolation, Darcy Baylis has gone through several musical metamorphoses, constantly integrating new sounds into his practice.

Darcy’s sophomore album, A House Breaking, sees him weaving through genres with a distinct sense of purpose. Powerful musings on love, addiction, and the sheer danger of growing up are spotlit against a diverse musical backdrop. Breakbeats, autotune, dancehall rhythms and ambient sketches are eloquently woven together throughout the course of the album; seemingly disparate, yet meshing perfectly.

A House Breaking was recorded / mixed in Melbourne by Darcy Baylis & Joseph Buchanan. Mastered by Darren Ziesing.






f A6. ICU VIP

SKINNED ALIVE BY PRINCE FUMU

Green Vinyl Repress -

Serum returns to Critical with his first ever solo single for the label. Raw beats and bass, serious sounds with tongue firmly in cheek.

* Spearhead Records bring back some of the most requested tracks from the back catalogue.
* Tracks from BCee, Mutt, LSB, Technicolour & Komaic (aka Technimatic), Seba & Redeyes.

* Spearhead Records bring back some of the most requested tracks from the back catalogue.
* Tracks from BCee, Alix Perez, Netsky, Riya, Technicolour & LSB.

Homemade Weapons has established himself as one of Drum and Bass’ most vital artists, sculpting a signature style that has garnered wide ranging support from Om Unit through to Calibre, Loxy and on to Donato Dozzy. With his Negative Space debut LP for Samurai Music, Homemade Weapons planted a jagged flag, attracting critical acclaim and igniting a new era of breakbeat manipulation.

Alix Perez returns for his first out-and-out solo EP for his 1985 Music imprint. Shifting back squarely to the genre we all know him for best, Drum & Bass. Dropping 4 tracks of arguably his finest material yet.

Without doubt one of the most revered Metalheadz singles of all time and a pre-cursor to an album that has since been labelled as a blueprint, this is Commix as a duo at their peak. Originally released in 2007 and now repressed for the first time 13 years later, it’s often hard to come across music this synonymous with a whole scene with ‘Be True’ in particular still reverberating across the world on dancefloors, in mixes and throughout homes.

The Groove Boys Project have been members of the Amsem family for a long time, so their first record for the label comes as no surprise.

Cooked in their beautiful parisian Studio 937, the five tracks off their «Something Special» EP feels like a per- fect introduction to those who haven’t had the chance to experience their soulful and passionate live shows. This record will take you on an ecstatic journey from Chicago to Paris, from peak-time classic house to deeper, early-morning cuts, bringing in their friends and collaborators Lucas Piette and Rawai¨ along the trip, culminating in a epic Drum’n’Bass number that should set many dancefloors ablaze.


About the label
The story started 8 years ago, when Gabriel Mester and Marc-Antoine Rousseau met in high-school, despite being serious students, they quickly realized that they were together sharing a common passion: a love for electronic music, as well as a nai¨ve dream: creating their own independent music label.

During this period, the Mesma Records’ adventure began, a demanding and adventurous Parisian-New York based label combining electronic and experimental music.

A few years later, Amsem Records was born. This second label was initiated by Gabriel and Marc-Antoine, joined on occasion by his’ brother, Constantin. This label aims to be a real living laboratory of parties and creativity with a simple goal: celebrating music that brings together with unstoppable grooves and moments of collective madness, accompanied by a return to the roots of the club culture they loved so much.

For two years now, Amsem Records has been developing a plural and rich universe through each of its releases (vinyl and digital), visuals, clips and Parisian evenings.
The label began producing its events at the Nouveau Casino, which was immediately suc- cessful. On the strength of its reputation, other clubs such as Rex Club and
Badaboum then agreed to open their doors to them. Amsem is determined to continue crossing the threshold of the best clubs in France and Europe.

Pushing the doors of creativity even further, Amsem arrived with fresh energy and original ideas. Its latest project? An official brand of clothing. Designed in New York, made in Portu- gal and screen printed in Paris, this brand makes the label the herald of music that can be danced as much as it is worn.

REPRESS!

In 2019, ASC decided it was time to return to the music that he grew up on. With a gentle nudge from Presha, the breakbeats were back in the mix and a slew of mid 90’s-inspired drum & bass ensued. The majority of the heavier break-oriented and edit-ladened were set aside for projects with Samurai, however, there were a grip of tracks that were more at home with the older atmospheric / intelligent styles of drum & bass from the mid 90’s. Ideasthesia is the culmination of that work. Four tracks of atmospheric drum & bass in its most unadulterated form. No drum machines at work here, just sped up breakbeats, heavy 808 bass, blissful pads, and ethereal textures. Ideasthesia is a true love letter to a golden age of music which sadly seems long forgotten.

Hungarian producers duo 'Incident' present their first 12inch on Fokuz Recordings.'High Explain' is a piece of sublime and serene liquid drum and bass with its trumpets, rolling breaks, humming bass and blissed out atmospherics. On the flip 'Streamlight' provides a deeper touch to this EP with some bleepy beats in a sparse soundscape, glitchy FX and naughty synth play.

* Spearhead Records Moodswings series returns for a third instalment.
* Featuring 7 brand new exclusives and 5 of the ‘best of’ 2020 that haven’t previously had a vinyl release, Moodswings 3 showcases the cream of the Spearhead crop.
* The best of the bunch include Emba’s debut single with DRS ‘Move Steady’, Villem & McLeod’s Siren feat. Leo Wood and the next level Phaction remix of Technimatic’s Mirror Image.
* Unleashing the exclusives, Riya steps up for her debut solo track with the jungle infused ‘Ripples’ & Tempza also makes his solo debut with ‘Find Another Way’.
* Cyantific & L-Side are drafted in on remix duty alongside newcomer Terror and Spearhead favourites The Vanguard Project.
* Support from Rene LaVice (Radio 1 d&b show), BCee , London Elektricity, DJ Marky, and loads more.

DLR joins the 31 Recordings roster with 2 naughty cuts, classic 31 style.

Komatic and Command Strange return to the Fokuz imprint each taking a side on this 12inch.

'When You Come Home' by Komatic has his signature sound over it: pounding but rolling drums, great atmosphere and a spacey vocal. On the flip Command Strange takes over with a track called 'Forgive', expect a deep bassline, sample work like only he can do it, everberating lyrics and crisp, punching breaks.

New EP by the German record producer and DJ Christoph de Babalon.

Still here? Further lamentations from a dead city.

Silent Mantras and hectic Movements. Delicate depression. Post hope.

How to get out?

Inner emigration? Inner conflict. Escape? Give me a light.

Artwork by Nicola Tirabasso
Mastered by Rashad Becker