Drum & Bass Recommendations September 2013

Review: As if his barnstorming album Identity wasn't quite enough, here comes another new music mission from Swedish D&B maestro. Bright, breezy and emotional, "Shades Of Me & You" leans back on thick weaves of synths while a breathy vocal ties all the elements - heated subs, skippy breaks and atmospheric pads - together. For added depth and uncontrollable spine-tingles head for Blu Mar Ten's remix. Both are very reminiscent of Hospital Records' work circa early-mid 2000s. Get shady.

Review: Drum & Bass legends Total Science add the Shogun Audio label to their stacked discography here, debuting in style with the double plated See Your Face EP. Longtime Total Science collaborator Riya lines the opening title track, adding a lush vocal element to a typically crisp arrangement from Smith and Greenhalgh, which contrasts nicely with the fractured Jungle abstractions of B Side ruffhouser "Hush Ya Mouth". Onto the second plate and the mood remains grizzly with the decidedly old skool business that is "Just Want You" whilst Side D sees Alix Perez turn in a remix of another Riya collaboration "Suspicious" trading the dark garage vibe of the digital only original in favour of something truly soulful.

Review: Fresh from overseeing that excellent second Mosaic compilation, Exit Records boss D Bridge aligns on R&S Records with the heavy-duty 3 track Move Way EP. Given the label's recent techno centric direction, the presence of D Bridge on R&S might be surprising to some, yet the producer's work pioneering the Autonomic approach demonstrates his appeal stretches far beyond the realm of Drum & Bass. From the off, there are levels of outright rudeness that few can match, with the title track adopting a highly pressurised junglist swagger that's made all the more deadly by the snarling, aggressive vocal sample. Alongside this "Death Of A Drum Machine" sounds like the kind of vintage jazz flecked rollers Amon Tobin first made his name on, with added B movie Horror strings, whilst "Plain To See" applies the Autonomic approach to fizzing, downtempo synth play.

Review: Om Unit is killing it right now. Whether he's mesmerising minds at the 80/160 axis or ripping out full-on audio attacks, his sonic execution is spotless. "Sleepwalkers" pays homage to the uncompromising Metalheadz motifs; all icy riddims and metallic bass. "Grey Skies Over Chicago" is a deeper vibe; ethereal synths moan and cry of a bed of tightly diced breaks and subtle, star-gazing arpeggios. "The Hand" completes the set on a more frenetic note; the drums are skittish, barely tamed by the faraway, naval-gazing synths and psychedelic flourishes. Each track a true treat, you won't be sleepwalking to this... You'll be sleepraving!

Review: Prague-based producer Rido gets the full Metalheadz treatment, and he's cooked a serious beat feast to celebrate. The title track comes straight outta Planet Sci-Fi, all alien grizzles and cinematic string power. "Back To The Future" comes armed with some of the most touching D&B piano work this side of Calibre's studio. "Cockroach Funk" is an angular stop/start stutter jam with Codebreaker MC's vocals cutting through with venomous clarity and "They Think That" completes the set with a cheeky blend of Hollywood strings and Alexander O'Neil. Yup, you read that right... This needs attention!

Review: Initially released digitally back in May, a second twelve inch pressing of the Gutterfunk assisted collaboration between DJ and singer Jenna G arrives with the emphasis on the remixes this time. Given the radio friendly nature of the original version of "1000 Soul Singers" there's plenty of scope for innovation with regards to the remixes which is fully evident here with tribal house and hypey footwork-tinged DnB efforts courtesy of Jus Now and Break respectively.

Review: Firesome fractured beatwork ahoy! Nic TVG pushes and processes the breakbeat template as far as it will go across each track. "Timelapse Of A Tuesday" is all stuttering edits and insane fills while "The Clown" takes the minimal two-steppy breakbeat flavour and gives it a trippy sheen where the concept of time no longer seems to matter. Flip for remixes; Dgohn gives "Friday Nights With Heather" a classic jazz jungle swing while Anstam warps "Then I Disappear" into a distorted, muffled pattern of soulful scariness. Unique.

Review: It's a Brazil-meets-London showdown as Marky hooks up with Invaderz for two dreamy rollers on Commercial Suicide. After Midnight pays homage to early Metalheadz sounds with lush subs and tight percussion. Break The Spell, meanwhile, is undiluted summer soul with shimmering guitars and big splashy cymbal action. Spellbindingly essential.

Review: The Blu Mar Ten championed Ed:It nails his gritty formula once again with this excellent platter for Klute's Commercial Suicide. "Ideology" is the sound of heavy industry pumping against oceanic neuro currents. Sopping wet but rusty as hell and driven by a sharp steppy rhythm, it's the ultimate sonic fusion. "Defects" tones down the aggression with more of a rolling groove complemented by the lush, warm vocal. Delivered by way of a hand-stamped gold vinyl, this is a very impressive release.

Review: Solo Banton, Rodney P, Roots Manuva and Darrison - what an MC roll call! Skitz and Engine Earz must have pulled in some big, big favours when they created the original version of "The Never". This bubbling, sub-soaked jungle remix from label bosses Dialect & Kosine is 100 per cent official and sounds so good you could easily convinced this is the original version! Flip for "Move Fwd"; Another remix, this one sees Dialect and Kosine take on Brighton's finest ska act Samsara, fine-tuning their harmonies and polishing the distinctive Eek A Mouse style lead vocals. Bona fide jungle business.