New releases last two weeks: Drum And Bass

Review: Rarely do garage and jungle ever hear any kind of fusion, but more than several perfect examples can be heard on this latest collab EP between Amy Dabbs and Coco Bryce. The second in their collaborative 'Slightly Involved' series, in which they set out to interpret each other's tracks and production techniques, the likes of 'Decipher' and 'Lust Issues' immediately pique the ears as sweet, engaging fidgeters, not backing down from the emotive swing endemic to the former genre while also playing up the pace of the latter. The A-side's listless synthetic pangs are matched in vibe by the B's comparatively by-the-book, dreamatic dolphinny junglisms, with 'Banshee' going ham on the slice-ups and 'Still You See' oscillating between string-laden suspense and light, downtown sunday-midafternoon breaks.

Review: Originally released in 1994 and now reissued in 2024, confirming the resurgence of interest in the classic jungle sound, 'Watch Out' is a hard-hitting jungle track with a relentless 'Amen' break, while 'Media' offers a more complex and atmospheric soundscape with a deep, broken bassline.. 'Watch Out' immediately grabs attention with its pounding bassline and heavy drums, the tribal percussion adding an exotic flavor, while the heavy Amen break provides the relentless drive that characterises jungle at its best. The track is relentless and hypnotic, perfectly capturing the energy of the early scene. 'Media,' in contrast, is a more experimental tune. The jungle breakbeats are present, but they are more subdued, providing a backdrop for the track's deep bass notes. Together, 'Watch Out' and 'Media' offer a snapshot of the golden era of jungle music. They are essential listening for anyone interested in the genre's roots and its continuing evolution.

Review: Nia Archives has burst through and made a gigantic impact that now stands her at the forefront of the latest jungle era, and pretty much has done since she first made waves in 2020. Her collagist soundscapes have brought an all new sense of energy and rejuvenation to the genre that has in turn brought in plenty of new fans. While some may label her a revivalist, she emphasises that that aspect of the genre has never really gone away. The 24-year-old's debut album has been much anticipated by fans who have fallen in love with her weightless jungle tracks and intense basslines and they aren't let down here as those sounds resonate throughout.

Review: Contemporary jungle Renaissance crew Omni Music continue to look back over their vaults for more vinyl reissue gold. This time, two tracks from Pariah's 2017 'Selected Works' series. Two very different approaches to the jungle style; 'Meltdown' is a big dreamer of a track with its lush pads and subtle sense of drive and momentum while 'Metal Hero' is a much more punishing affair with uncompromising breaks and an aggy energy that will cut into any mix creatively. Both absolutely slap.

Review: Polish party vibes courtesy of Riffz. 'Twilight Rhythm' brings the ephemeral rave feels with its big airy pads and big sweeping jazzy breaks. It's in good company; 'Why' asks all the hard questions over some tightly rolled drums and dank, slimy aesthetics, 'Second Thoughts' switches up the drums into a much fresher, cosmic brew while 'Game Over' (with Subreachers) closes on a poignant, thoughtful note. Deep jungle perfection.

Review: .Stepping into spring with true style and just the right amount of nostalgic sass, unpredictable Finnish artist Otto Taimela follows a string of techno dispatches with this sublime four track jungle narrative that's perfect the sunnier seasons. With its lively, unkempt edits and jumps, 'Sunflower' has a powerful warmth of a timeless jungle dancefloor tune while carrying a certain amount of nostalgic IDM haze. It's a vibe which is maintained throughout the EP; 'Sunwarmed Window' has a dreamier edge that wouldn't have gone amiss on Warp at any point during the early to mid-90s, 'Sunshine Reloading' rides a much busier drums palette while 'Imagined U' brings us back down to earth with a gentle beatless ambient kiss. Stunning.

Review: Waveforms is a brand new label spearheaded by ASC and Presha who the already revered minds behind Spatial/Auxiliary and Samurai Music respectively. They say they are on a mission to dive deep into the menacing world of early 90s jungle and cook up tunes reminiscent of that era and then serve them up lovely slabs of 10" wax. And right from the off the man who never misses, Tim Reaper, transports us back to the driving breakbeats and raw energy of that time with a pair of tunes that layer up a flurry of snares and booming low ends with wiry synths the sense of futurism that still holds true to this day. Sure to captivate old-school heads and new listeners alike.