COCO BRYCE レコード& CD

Review: There's just no stopping Coco Bryce, who casually drops his third LP of the year on MYOR like it's no big deal. As low-slung opener 'High Commander' demonstrates, this isn't a one-trick jungle dump, but an album proper with nooks and crannies to get lost in. There are of course plenty of dazzling breakbeat excursions to savour - this is Coco Bryce after all - but even then his style has a refreshing, dynamic quality which makes for listening music as much as shockout juice. The low tempo beatdowns are just as incredible, full of vibe and bursting with inspiration, proving, as we already said, there is NO stopping our bredda in Breda.

Review: Our love for Coco Bryce is well-documented on these pages. To get news of a new album from the legendary Dutch drum & bass producer, then, is, well, music to our ears. Computer Love is a double pack on his own label MYOR that explores downtempo sonic landscapes, deep drum & bass and occasional forays into UKG and breakbeat. It's a kaleidoscopic listen with meticulous craft in each tune and overflowing with fresh melodic ideas as well as his famous smart samples. Previously released singles 'Night Safari' and 'Trust Issues' are standouts amongst a slew of other more left-of-centre sounds.

Review: Jungle revivalists Coco Bryce and Tommy The Cat are old pals who've released numerous joint EPs over the years. Here they inaugurate a new series of split twelves - snappily titled 'CocoCat' - on Tommy The Cat's own Cat in the Bag label. Bryce handles side A, delivering the nostalgic jungle-techno thrills of 'You Care Before They Do'. It's a pleasingly energetic affair in which bleep techno style melodic motifs - think LFO, Sweet Exorcist etc - and shimmering futurist chords rise above a sweat-soaked jungle break and weighty bass. Over on the flip, Tommy The Cat doffs a cap to the early days of deep, jazzy d&b, successfully cloaking a punchy, Amen-driven beat and heady bassline in the dreamiest of chords.