Beats News

Hyped On Acid (Limited Hand Stamped 12'')

Foxy Jangle returns with a cheeky one: a special re-issue of Bones & Natty's classic '95 jungle 12" - Pow / Thunder.

Originally slated for release back in the day on 24 Karat, this monstrous 12" alas never made it past the white label promo stage, becoming one of today's most sought-after jungle records

Lovingly remastered by Bob Macc at Subvert Central, pressed at Record Industry and with hand-stamped artwork by Dublin artist CISTO, this vinyl-only release is most definitely not to be slept on!

Vintage amen choppage at its finest.

Ibiza Records label was established back in 1989 and was one of the main contributors to the UK underground music scene. Those behind the label were the innovators of Hardcore Jungle, Jungle Techno and Jungle genres in the 90s stemming from Warehouses to clubs and now festivals. Ibiza Records Label returns today with some new releases and a back catalogue of gems for the real Junglists out there.

Another 3 track EP comes out of Ibiza Records archive vault's called Archives Vol 4 produced by Noise Factory. Each of these tracks represents 'The Original Jungle Sound' from back in the 90s.
This 3 track EP called Archives Vol 4 comes from out of Ibiza Records archive vault and produced by Noise Factory. Each of these tracks represents 'The Original London Jungle Sound' from back in the 90s.

A.JUNGLE MYSTIC - This track made back in 1999 produced by one of the member's of Noise Factory aka Drumpella Black. Keeping with the original sounds of Noise Factory and the elements of techno and hardcore the early developments of Jungle.
AA.CAN YOU FEEL IT - This track made back in 1999 produced by one of the member's of Noise Factory aka Drumpella Black feat. Tremma T on the vocals. Keeping with the original essense of jungle, piano stabs and hardcore flavours.
AAA.ROLL WITH ME - This track made back in 2000 produced by one of the member's of Noise Factory aka Drumpella Black feat. Jnr Dangerous on the vocals. Once again showcasing the true elements of jungle.

Peshay Returns To Infrared Records With This Stunning 4 Track E.p On 2x12" Limited Vinyl.
This Release Is Limited To 250 Copies And Will Never Be Repressed.

Three ultimate Jungle Techno tracks, two new and one reloaded Dubplate tune that DJ Ratty used to play in 1993, totally remade from scratch. One of those records you will regret not buying. 10/10

* Wilsov's second EP on Knitebreed builds on the success of his first - a debut which shone in both style and content and sold out real quick in many stores. This new EP takes a slightly darker, more underground approach but maintains that original rave vibe, the sound of 1992 and 1993 through and through...twisted stabs and clever edits merge with a deep low end and even some funk on the final track.

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

Wislov might be a new signee to Knitebreed, but he has been releasing material for years, and the Spanish (not Russian) maestro is already known around the world for his awesome breakbeat creations. It was only a matter of time before a label snapped him up, and he is a producer easily capable of dropping huge tunes in both dark and lighter stsyles. This EP showcases his talent, with four tracks specifically designed to compliment the Knitebreed sound while carving his own niche into the label.

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

Right here, right now ADF are the most important band in Britain. NME 1997
Rafis Revenge originally peaked at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart and was shortlisted for the 1998 Mercury Music Prize, with Bobby Gillespie hailing them at the time as the best live act in Britain. This 21 year anniversary reissue includes a limited edition, coloured 2xLP plus expanded digital & CD editions with bonus tracks selected by Adrian Sherwood. To celebrate the release the band are playing at Rich Mix, London on 28th March.
By the time they recorded Rafis Revenge in 1998, Asian Dub Foundation were primed to explode. Having initially emerged from East Londons grassroots Community Music project as a largely studio-based collective, the band had galvanised themselves into a riotously exciting touring machine by the late Nineties. Their extraordinary live shows around this period were electrifying to witness, kinetic and dynamic, incendiary and euphoric, confrontational yet celebratory. For sheer roof-raising energy, they were unrivalled. ADF have evolved enormously over the last two decades, of course, but their breakthrough album remains a fascinating chapter in the real, complex, unwritten history of Britpop. Expanded and enlarged for this anniversary edition, these multi-layered musical treasures still dazzle and delight with their grandiose ambition and riotous energ

4 Pure Jungle Techno tracks from the mind of Dan Silk (New Zealand)

"Peer Pressure" is dark stomper full of Intricate beats and twisted pads. "Ravenous" is pure Sound Entity style, Dan doffing his cap to the Jack Smooth productions of the early 90's but bringing a groovin' baseline to the party too. "Pulse" gets serious with a heavy vibe and Synth line that wouldn't be out of place at Helter Skelter in 93.
"Q.I" treats us to lush pads before returning to the rolling heavy baseline driven Techno that typifies this EP.
4 quality examples of modern Hardcore Underground Music.

UK Jungle heavyweights Supa Ape and Lady Soul join forces to create a fiercely unique live act, performing tracks from their upcoming collaborative EP 'Supa Ape Meets Lady Soul', as well as some of the freshest amen breaks on the planet. The pair joined forces in early 2017, and the success of their track (and subsequent music video) 'Approach With Caution' inspired them to work on four original pieces to be released in both vinyl and digital formats on the UK Jungle Records imprint. Together they possess a musicality, depth and a raw energy scarcely found within the jungle / dnb scene, and deliver a live performance unlike anything you have ever heard.

This record features full coloured artwork sleeves which will be the eye catcher of anyone's collection.

Om Unit and Cosmic Bridge announce "Earthbase" a new club focused release series. Over to Om Unit for the full announcement.

"I am excited to announce 'Cosmic Bridge - Earthbase Series' a new series of releases that will showcase the more 'club' side of what we do at Cosmic Bridge. The EARTHBASE catalogue numbers will represent music aimed at the dance, whilst Cosmic Bridge's main label series will continue to examine the possibilities offered by exploring the depths of space..."

Earthbase begins with TMSV - a label favourite who with his past releases for Cosmic Bridge, have showcased his unique approach to 160-170 bpm music, melding tropes from dubstep, footwork and jungle with apparent ease. as TMSV, Tomas Roels has influenced a new generation of producers operating at these tempos while simultaneously being a central figure in the modern dubstep movement, where he continues to release explosive sound-system weapons.

For our tenth release we are extremely excited to introduce to you The Return EP from Section and Flashback.

As a celebration of reaching this milestone we decided to press 300 12" vinyl versions, as we felt this release deserved to be released in this format.

This EP is Flashback's first release in over 20 years, making it even more special. 'The Return' is an amen-driven track with low, pounding 808s. The gem of this tune is the second drop, which has been destroying dancefloors whenever it's played.

'Crank' is an atmospheric roller with a clever switch to keep the dance bubbling.

'Light In You Mind' uses the famous think break to create nostalgia, but its contemporary arrangement and effects ensures that it will stand up in any DJ set.
'Unusual Weapon's' stabs hark back to the mid 90's and its chopped amens and Reese's are a nod to the legendary Digital and Spirit.

Ron Wells J-Tek EP for 2017. Four different tracks in Ron's trademark style. An essential for all Jungle Techno fans.

Two proper Jungle Techno tracks from Stormski

Over the course of his first two releases, Jeunesse 7 wants to tell the tale of the 6 Jeunesses that preceded him.

'Hobbies galore', an effort to describe the lives of Jeunesse 5 and 6, is the logical follow-up to Nividic. These lives happened to be longer than the previous ones; successes and failures led to fuller, richer and more exciting chapters. The two sides of the tape patiently narrate a journey through different landscapes and let you follow the two Jeunesses as they spend their days with various hobbies, from calmer, soothing ones to more active and exhausting ones.

The tracks are charmingly lo-fi and warm; the beats slow and crackly.

A Detroit ghettotech style of dancing is called the jit, which relies heavily on fast footwork combinations, drops, spins and improvisations. It originated from 'the Jitterbug,' a stateside dance style from the 40's that became a worldwide sensation by way of US soldiers spreading it during WW2, quickly getting banned by authorities on account of being rude, vulgar and against the interests of the war effort. The movements are characterized by a highly energetic and ecstatic movements, and the frenetic mixing style reflects the highly improvisational nature of the dance, and the DJ's who spin ghettotech wildly blend together chicago juke and footwork, jungle, miami bass, electro, hard techno. This is the first in a series of Jit compilations transmitted from planet Detroit and beamed directly into the ghetto of your mind. Elevated Jit is dedicated to the jitters and and to the loving memory of Andre 'Erotek' Brown. Jit the Planet !

Look out for volume 2, coming soon.

Distributed by Rubadub
Mastered by Will Web and Brendan Zacharias
Pressed at Intakt! Berlin

The entire tape was made using a cursed Roland Sp404 sx, filled with broken beats, warped vocal samples and playful synths and glitches. The sounds range between meditative ambient, lo-fi beats to study to and jungle. The composition is relaxing and zen, but in the meantime will give you enough quirky details to hold on to.

We introduce Comfort Zone, a young producer from Montreal, who has been making music for around 7 years now. He is inspired by "music from late 90s/early 00s video game soundtracks and the occasional snippets of electronic music I heard as a kid". We find that statement very much reflected in this release, as he masters the challenge of blending mysterious samples and different styles to form harmonious compositions.
On one side of the 4-track EP we have 2 groovy House tracks, reminiscent of early 2000s House by the likes of Lance DeSardi, Ian Pooley and Atjazz, on the other side 2 classic Jungle tracks which uphold our tradition of releasing timeless music.

SOUND ENTITY RECORDS PRESENTS A REMASTERED, DJ FRIENDLY, LIMITED EDITION 4 DISC ALBUM, THAT DEFINES THE SOUND OF JUNGLE TECHNO AND ILLUSTRATES ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO INTELLIGENT DRUM & BASS. ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR RELEASE IN 1995 BUT ONLY 30 TEST PRESSINGS WERE MADE. THIS ALBUM INCLUDES MANY UNRELEASED TRACKS SHOWCASING THIS EXPERIMENTAL JOURNEY IN OVER TWO HOURS OF MUSIC.

God Of Discogs EP

The Hedgehog Affair (Ron Wells & Spencer Thomas) present their legendary series of 90's Hardcore Jungle Techno, remastered and issued on Sound Entity Records. Cut & Repressed in the UK as part of an ongoing project by the Music Preservation Society to preserve Old School classics and keep them available for future generations.

"Mano LP" a vinyl picture disc, comes in Gatefold sleeve (made of recycled material) with a CD, 16 pages photo album + hand numbered certificate. Limited to 300 copies

IJO is Lithuania music producer that has been making music for over 15 years. Mano LP is a showcase of his many musical faces and tastes. From Ambient to Jazz to Jungle. An emotional and mathematical rollercoaster

AKOB017 is the mighty Dub-One who has already featured on the label with his big remix of Dem Deh! This 3 track 12 holds no punches and Dub-One brings his trademark break chopping, deep subs, pads you know the science. Combination Style - Dub-One teams up with Blatant to deliver what can only be described as one for the wall slapping crew!!

* 'Inventing Massive Attack, Soul II Soul, Tricky, Portishead, Bjork, Mo'Wax, trip hop, The Bristol Sound, Roni Size and just about every British dance record since 1988 that has attempted to meld dub, ambient and hip-hop beats. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Smith & Mighty.' Garry Mulholland, from 'The 500 Greatest Singles Since Punk and Disco'

* 'Though most people will think of Massive Attack, Portishead or even Roni Size when asked about Bristol's influence on UK music in the late 80s and 90s, really none of them have had anywhere near as much of an impact as Smith & Mighty. With a hand in the development of jungle, dubstep and the particular of-Bristol-ness that so defined the aforementioned artists, their influence is comparable to that of the city itself.' Crack

* 'Smith & Mighty are producers and originators. From 1985 onwards they took lovers rock, mixed it with heavier modern beats and came up with a new sound. All you needed was the drums, the voice and that spatial dub awareness to create something special.' Test Pressing

* Celebrating 30 years since their first release, on November 9th foundation laying forefathers Smith & Mighty release 'Ashley Road Sessions'. This special one-off double label partnership between Pinch's Tectonic and Peverelist's Punch Drunk is an endeavour in homage to their Bristol neighbours, whom they both hold in high regard.
* "Smith & Mighty are true pioneers in music whom I've found deeply inspirational on many levels. Tracks like 'Closer', 'U Dub' and 'Same' are some of my all-time favourites. To be putting out these unreleased gems is such an exciting project for both me and Tom. We both took a great deal of influence from Smith & Mighty - especially from 'Bass Is Maternal' - the album and era from which most of this compilation's source material originates." Pinch
* It's irrefutable and well documented that Smith & Mighty are integral to the story of Bristol music, but the duo (and occasional trio) are accountable not only as key proponents of that local sound, but also for propagating the wider array of much urban and electronic music, to this day.
Despite being inextricably linked to the South West England sound, 'Ashley Road Sessions' proffers an array of styles, the breadth and spectrum of which might surprise. Breakbeat, hardcore, balearica and acid house all feature as prominently as the dub, reggae, hip hop beats and soul for which they're most commonly associated. 'Smith & Mighty's lack of genre tribalism and melting pot approach certainly influenced how I make music', comments Peverelist.

* Especially timely in light of the recent breakbeat and jungle revival, this important document feels both historical and relevant, with the classic hip hop sample, crisp breakbeats and Gat Décor bass of perky opener 'Always Be There (Step Up)' sounding remarkably current.

* Airborne dub fx float around heavy beats on the sparse pulse of 'Stalagnate', which wouldn't seem out of place on Bokeh Versions, sounding both vintage and very now.

* The aptly titled 'Morning Light' surely soundtracked the end of long orbital rave nights, straddling funky hardcore breaks, emotive melody, sub bass and heartening Balearic optimism.

* The deft break chopping of 'Film Score' shows they could do deep jungle as well as anyone, contrasting with 'Higher Than Tempo' - a cerebral slow IDM trance dance, that was post 'E2 E4' and pre 'Landcruising'.
'Dub Song' seamlessly blends hardcore, jungle and steppers with a smooth liquidity, whilst frenetic sixteenths, hard snares and purring bass drive the skeletal head-snapper 'Through A Dark Cloud'.
Percussion and drum machines meet melodic chords on 'Leaving Pt 1 & 2', which exemplifies the plaintive, melancholy British bass, later made famous by Massive Attack.

* As FACT so aptly put it, 'with their productions it's all about the separation of sounds. The sense of size and distance between that massively present bass and the far distant subliminal instrumentation gives a sense of immersion, plunging you into an opiated dream of future cities.'


History:
* Bristol in the early eighties had both strong punk and reggae/soundsystem scenes, which birthed The Pop Group and later Rip Rig & Panic.

* One of the city's underground hangouts was the infamous Dug Out club, where DJs like Daddy G and Manfred from Def Con played soul, funk, post punk, reggae and eventually electro and hip hop.
In those days, Rob Smith was playing guitar in a local reggae band, while Ray Mighty belonged to the Three Stripe Soundsystem.

* They eventually met musically whilst in another local band named Sweat, where they discovered a mutual punk/DIY ethic and interest in linking beat machines, synths and sequencers together, which was relatively new at the time.
When Sweat eventually split, the pair got together, built a studio in Ray's flat on Ashley Road in St Paul's and started a label called 3 Stripe, in order to release their own records. They were not prepared for the interest this would generate.
1987 saw S&M's first release of sorts, whereby their version of 'Gymnopedies' by Erik Satie had vocals added by Mark Stewart (& The Mafia), who released it as his 12' 'This Is Stranger Than Love'.

* In 1987 Jackie Jackson visited Ashley Road, voicing 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' and 'Walk On By'; two sixties hits made famous by Dionne Warwick. By the following year Rob & Ray had worked the first of these recordings into a downtempo sound which blended dub, reggae, hip hop beats and even samples of the original track. After an introduction by Grant (Daddy G) to Lloyd at Revolver distribution, the pair released their first four track 12' 'Anyone' in 1988. The EP was to stay at the top of the indie chart for weeks. Smith & Mighty were up and running.

* 1988 saw the duo release a further 3 12' singles on 3 Stripe Records: R+R 's 'Acid Off A Way PT1&2', 'Walk On' (their second with Jackie Jackson) and 'Clash Of The Beats' featuring M.C. Kelz. That year also saw S&M mix and produce Massive Attack's first release - 'Any Love' - featuring Daddy Gee and Carlton.
In 1989 Smith & Mighty continued working their mixing and production magic with top 10 chart hit 'Wishing On A Star' by Fresh 4 Featuring Lizz. E (an act that included future D&B stars Krust and Suv), plus remixes of Neneh Cherry's worldwide smash 'Manchild'.

* They also signed to major label London records offshoot FFRR in '89, who in 1990 released the S&M-produced album 'The Call Is Strong' by Carlton. The album 'stiffed', but was later cited by critics as an unsung British soul gem.
'Steppers Delight EP', which featured the proto jungle track 'Killa' was released in 1992, then in 1994 they were dropped by FFRR, who didn't understand what the duo were about, expecting 'hits', in typical major fashion. This may have been a blessing in disguise, as the 'compromised' album they were coerced into delivering was permanently shelved.
Bruised and confused but bouncing back, they returned to the independent underground and formed More Rockers Records in 1995. They went back to the studio, salvaged some of the cooler elements from the failed deal and made a completely fresh and much more representative album - the now classic 'Bass Is Maternal' - released in 1998.
Interest in their sound picked up again almost immediately and they were invited to record a mix for the 'DJ Kicks' series on !K7. This new relationship proved fruitful and a 3 album deal was signed.
After the success of new album 'Big World, Small World' in 1999 and extensive world touring, 'Bass is Maternal' was reissued by !K7 with a much bigger release campaign. A difficult third album released in 2002 was met with mixed response.

* Rob Smith went on to release albums with Grand Central Records and Japanese labels Rush and Zetai Mu. Then one day whilst shopping in Bristol's Rooted Records, he had a conversation with Tom Ford AKA Peverelist, which led to a 12" release on Tom's Punch Drunk label, under the name RSD (Rob Smith Dub). This was the first in a string of 'dubstep' releases, that quickly attained classic status within the burgeoning and world-recognized Bristol scene.

First production of the label Sound Crack Records, 'Organic Feeling (Tool
Mix)' is a run through the jungle, savage, tribal, the raw nature animals of
Mama earth bring the feeling of being in the middle of them, the TR08 add a
kick to the efficient duo live drum Fleury Saint Denis. A real tool for house
and techno DJ's to pump the energy to the top.
On the B side comes 'Before Midnight (Evolution Mix)'. This techno track is a
trip in the urban jungle, when the city sounds are coming out of nowhere, the
melody of the steel tongue drum live played by DJ GSD is bringing the human
vibration to heal the soul. An old school touch of Detroit techno, mix with a
meaningful speech of Kennedy will take you travelling through the evolution of
mankind.

The Hedgehog Affair (Ron Wells & Spencer Thomas) present the first of the legendary series of 90's Hardcore Jungle Techno, remastered and issued on Sound Entity Records. Cut & Repressed in the UK as part of an ongoing project by the Music Preservation Society to preserve Old School classics and keep them available for future generations.

The Hedgehog Affair (Ron Wells & Spencer Thomas) present the second of the legendary series of 90's Hardcore Jungle Techno, remastered and issued on Sound Entity Records. Cut & Repressed in the UK as part of an ongoing project by the Music Preservation Society to preserve Old School classics and keep them available for future generations.

The Hedgehog Affair (Ron Wells & Spencer Thomas) present the third part of the legendary series of 90's Hardcore Jungle Techno, remastered and issued on Sound Entity Records. Cut & Repressed in the UK as part of an ongoing project by the Music Preservation Society to preserve Old School classics and keep them available for future generations.

The Hedgehog Affair (Ron Wells & Spencer Thomas) present the forth part of the legendary series of 90's Hardcore Jungle Techno, remastered and issued on Sound Entity Records. Cut & Repressed in the UK as part of an ongoing project by the Music Preservation Society to preserve Old School classics and keep them available for future generations.

The Hedgehog Affair (Ron Wells & Spencer Thomas) present the fifth and final part of the legendary series of 90's Hardcore Jungle Techno, remastered and issued on Sound Entity Records. Cut & Repressed in the UK as part of an ongoing project by the Music Preservation Society to preserve Old School classics and keep them available for future generations.